The Myth of The Clever Manager: Lessons From Boss Swap
Looking back at the lessons which can be learned from a decade-old TV show, there is still plenty for most bosses to learn.
happy people
Henry Stewart, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer
Henry is founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Ltd, originally set up as Happy Computers in 1987. Inspired by Ricardo Semler’s book Maverick, he has built a company which has won multiple awards for some of the best customer service in the country and being one of the UK’s best places to work.
Henry was listed in the Guru Radar of the Thinkers 50 list of the most influential management thinkers in the world. "He is one of the thinkers who we believe will shape the future of business," explained list compiler Stuart Crainer.
His first book, Relax, was published in 2009. His second book, the Happy Manifesto, was published in 2013 and was short-listed for Business Book of the Year.
You can find Henry on LinkedIn and follow @happyhenry on Twitter.
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Work Less Hours, And Get More Done!
On the one hand we learned last week that Goldman Sachs view of work/life balance was to tell their interns to leave the office at midnight and take Saturdays off, limiting the working week to a mere 102 hours. A very different approach is being taken by Gothenberg City Council, in Sweden. In a new experiment, they have asked half their care staff to work 6 hour days instead of 8 hours to see if they get as much done. There are examples out there that suggest less time can be more productive:
Abel & Cole – Getting the Right People in the Job
The Managing Director for Abel & Cole details how she shifted her recruitment system from scouting for experience into scouting for attitude and the effects it had on her company.
Interface — A Restorative Enterprise
The biggest impact most companies have on society is through the products they sell, the people they employ and the suppliers they buy from. And, of course, the effect on the environment of producing their products. If you are really committed to having a positive effect on society, that is where to start.
One to Celebrate
When it comes to mistakes being made, there is more than one way to look at the situation.
Open Salaries at Piscines Ideales
One thing I find interesting about the concept of open salaries is that, at first, people normally assume the concept is impossible, but when they consider it, they find it makes sense.
Lessons From Tiger Woods
In 2009, Fortune magazine asked Tiger Woods, among others, for the ‘best advice I ever got’.
Nando’s — Happy People are the Key
Nando’s is a popular restaurant chain in the UK, specialising in spicy chicken. Some years ago they undertook research to find out what were the key factors that explained why sales at some of their restaurants grew faster than at others.
Getting Managers Out of the Way
Removing traditional managerial delegation structures can streamline communication and workflow.
The Future of Leadership: Humanity and Compassion
The June 2013 issue of Management Today includes an important paragraph, in a debate about "The Changing Face of the Leader"
