By: Michael McQueen
Large and mature organisations tend to be inertial at their core. In nature as it is in business, size is almost always inversely related to agility. Continue reading “A Business Without Bosses”
A Business Without Bosses
5 Megatrends That Will Dominate the next Decade
By: Michael McQueen
Any experienced surfer knows how important it is to keep one eye fixed on the horizon. While a wave is still forming a long way off, that is the time to start paddling, to get into position and get ready. Leave it too long or fail to move at all, and you’ll be wiped out as the wave crashes you. Continue reading “5 Megatrends That Will Dominate the next Decade”
5 Ways Bureaucracy Will Kill Your Business
By: Michael McQueen
When German political economist Max Weber first devised the bureaucratic theory of management in the late 19th century, his intention was to combat the nepotism and unproductiveness rife in the family-run businesses of the day. Continue reading “5 Ways Bureaucracy Will Kill Your Business”
The 7 Tests of True Mastery
By: Michael McQueen
It appears we have never had so many experts roaming the planet than in our modern age.
As I trawl through the LinkedIn profiles of my contacts, everyone it seems is a ‘specialist’, ‘sought-after authority’ or ‘expert’ at something – some even manage to specialise in pretty much everything! Continue reading “The 7 Tests of True Mastery”
5 Truths School Leavers Need to Be Told
By: Michael McQueen
With the next crop of school leavers about to flood into the ‘real world’, here are 5 truths they must be told (and may not have learned at school). Continue reading “5 Truths School Leavers Need to Be Told”
The Vocabulary of the Persuasive Leader
By: Michael McQueen
In the mid-1800s, vast tracts of land in central Australia were granted to immigrants who had, in many cases, just arrived from Europe. These farmers and pastoralists found themselves with a challenge – they were now in control of expanses of land that were, in some cases, almost as large as the countries they had just come from. Continue reading “The Vocabulary of the Persuasive Leader”
Focusing on Friction
By: Michael McQueen
Innovation is often thought of in terms of creation and invention – coming up with new ideas and new solutions. However, working with clients in recent months I have discovered that often the most powerful forms of innovation are more subtle. Continue reading “Focusing on Friction”
Why Open-Plan Offices Aren’t Working – and What to Do About It
By: Michael McQueen
Recent decades have seen scores of offices embrace an open-plan format – as many as 70% of all workplaces.
The rationale for doing away with doors and walls was clear: by bringing down the barriers that divided us, greater collaboration, communication and cohesion would result. In addition, a more flexible and fluid office layout would suit an increasingly mobile and transient workplace.
Or so we thought. Continue reading “Why Open-Plan Offices Aren’t Working – and What to Do About It”
Getting Into the Zone When Working from Home
By: Michael McQueen
We all know the feeling of being in a rut when motivation eludes us and the gravity of inertia feels too great to shrug off. There’s a pile of work to do but you can’t seem to summon the energy or will to get off and go. Continue reading “Getting Into the Zone When Working from Home”
3 Reasons You Procrastinate (And How to Stop)
By: Michael McQueen
What are you putting off right now? Vacuuming the house, walking the dog, going to the gym? Maybe it’s making those phone calls, tackling your inbox or submitting the job application you’ve been ‘working on’ for 3 weeks? Continue reading “3 Reasons You Procrastinate (And How to Stop)”