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Management

Experts Agree – or Do They?

The expert is the shaman of our time. The expert offers a guiding arm, steering us through bustling and confusing crowds of information. Experts help us understand complex issues. Experts teach us. Experts help us make choices. Experts help us solve problems. But can we rely on them?

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Why Budgets are Dangerous

In the last week or so, the International Monetary Fund released another of its major economic outlook statements. Business and financial media all over the world earnestly pored over the numbers as if the future had been foretold by some all-knowing wizard. The strong sense was that, with this new-found certainty, decisions could finally be [...]

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Why Bernard Madoff is a name you should have in mind over the New Year

A good friend comes to see you. He’s setting up a securities company and is looking for investors. This friend has impeccable credentials: former chair of a major stock exchange, senior and well respected member of the financial world. Simple decision? Of course. You jump at the chance to invest and you spread the word [...]

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How to Survive Complexity

Seven years ago, in the first of almost 100 articles for this newsletter, I wrote of the modern complexities surrounding the once simple task of packing an overnight bag for a business trip. I noted that I often spend “more time making sure I have a full set of batteries and power cords than I [...]

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Simplicity’s Magic Word

The red rash around the top of the collar gives it away. The urgent tone of his voice only confirms Kate’s hunch. Mark is angry. ‘You said “no” to that urgent order I sent through,’ says Mark sharply. ‘That’s right. We can’t do it in the time you want.’ Kate surprises herself with her outward [...]

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Change Management’s Biggest Hurdle

There are few as fervent as the young environmental warrior. Spurred on by school and media, our youngest has been the driving force behind the energy saving light bulbs on our ceiling and the worm farm in our backyard. At the moment we’re being held to account for any excess packaging which crosses our threshold. [...]

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When Goal Setting Lets You Down

It was a dubious form of punishment. The small cafe was subtly lit, its distressed brick walls and retro furnishings creating an unhurried mood. It was quiet too, the background music contemporary but gentle. The place seemed a world away from the glaring sun and unbridled cacophony of the holiday resort’s teeming main street just [...]

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New Research on Happiness at Work (sort of)

One of the benefits of the mobile phone culture is the ease with which one can do informal social research. It may not be kosher to eavesdrop on one half of a private conversation, but I figure that people who choose to loudly air their wares are willing subjects. This year I’ve noticed a disturbing [...]

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Customer Service is Simple – so Why so Rare?

It had been 20 years been since I last drove into the back of another car. But the memories have stayed with me. So it was with a mixture of cursing and resignation that I sifted through the glove box last week trying to find a pen that still worked and a vaguely blank piece [...]

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Eating from the Table of Giants

I quite like the flavour of a good quote. Earlier this week, however, I may have over-indulged. I’ve just returned from a Sydney management conference which was an all-you-can-eat buffet of words and wisdom from various internationally renowned ‘gurus’. Tuck in your napkin and I’ll give you a taste. I have to say that I [...]

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The Awful Truth About How to Reduce your Stress Level

The first spanner hit the wall with a discordant clang. The second – moments later – struck a truer note and bounced back, hitting Simon on the hand. Expletives followed but were lost in the metallic morass of the engine bay. Simon lifted his shaking head from under the bonnet, slammed it down and ran [...]

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