Goals are good for organisations and individuals If you have read John Doerr's Measure What Matters you will be very aware of the organisational benefits of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Backed with excellent examples, Doerr demonstrates that focus on prioritised, specific and action-oriented initiatives that flow from strategic priorities are critical for organisational success. He... Continue Reading →
I have just finished two excellent books. The first is Angela Duckworth's Grit which explains the winning combination of passion and perseverance (or "grit") that powers high achievers. The second, is Daniel Coyle's Culture Code which reveals "the secrets of highly successful groups." Together these books offer learning to both nurture high achievers and create... Continue Reading →
I am missing the energy and interaction of a workshop in a real room. That said, I can concede that virtually delivered projects in these Covid-constrained times can prove more effective. A good example is a recent project for Unilever. Our project objective was to determine the key business model and capability developments that would... Continue Reading →
The painful Brexit debate has sharply polarised the UK public in recent years, but that is changing. According to YouGov in March, 59% of UK adults believe we are closer together Vs 11% feeling more divided. The common enemy of Covid-19 will explain some of our growing togetherness. But our shared admiration and support for... Continue Reading →
Zero waste shops can now be found on 100’s of high streets across the UK. Most are independent start-ups, launched by those seeking to be a catalyst for the behaviour change needed to avert a climate crisis. With more consumers seeking to avoid unnecessary and single-use packaging it is not just climate concerned individuals seeing... Continue Reading →
Persil is a brilliant brand - it promises the core benefit of 'dirt removal' and connects this to a social purpose. As Unilever explain: "Dirt is Good - especially when it’s the result of your kids going out into the world to have fun, explore, learn and experience the very best of the world around... Continue Reading →
There is compelling evidence that when we are happier and positive we are more successful. Shaun Acker calls this the “happiness advantage" and highlights a review of 225 academic studies, by researchers Sonja Lyubomirsky, Laura King, and Ed Diener that found causality between life satisfaction and successful business outcomes. Put another away if you want... Continue Reading →
To grow your brand or business you need to get someone to change their behaviour. That could be choosing your brand in preference to others, consuming more or, perhaps, trying a new product or category for the first time. The problem is that consumers and customers can be very attached to the status quo. The... Continue Reading →
Theresa May's campaign offers learning for any marketer carefully crafting a winning concept for an important launch. No doubt informed by surveys and focus groups her team were crystal clear on their winning benefit (the best Brexit outcome) and why they were believable (the strong, proven leadership of Teresa May). They ended up with this... Continue Reading →
It's that time for personal goals for the new year. If being happier and more successful is your motivation then it is worth considering the findings of Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development alongside those of Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage. Waldinger's study based on 75 years of observing 724 men, 'reveals' that good relationships... Continue Reading →
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