happy Blogs

The annual UK Servant Leadership conference this month was an inspiring event. This movement is based around the idea, first promoted by Robert Greenleaf, that your purpose as a leader or manager is to serve your people. One example of how this makes simple business sense is SouthWest Airlines, which is clear in its commitment to Servant Leadership. Now the third largest airline in the world, Its record of 40 consecutive years of profitability (unique in the US airline industry) is based on founder Herb Kelleher’s philosophy.

Last week I was in Barcelona speaking to the international conference of the Dogs Trust, and exploring overwork. I asked a simple question of everybody there: Think of a great idea you’ve had in the last year? Where did you get that idea?

Is it time to go beyond empowerment?

For years we’ve talked about empowering people to find their own route to an agreed goal. But is that enough? Does setting the goal itself limit the possibilities? Given the three levels below, what can we do to move to self-management?

About Happy's Introduction to Emotional Intelligence Workshop

Are you finding it difficult to keep your cool in difficult situations? Would you like to be able face pressure at work or at home without feeling overwhelmed, no matter what life throws at you? If the answer is yes, our one-day Emotional Intelligence workshop may be the solution.

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.

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.

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.

Delivering Transformational Training Under Pressure

Friday was such a joy for me. It was the final day of our TPMA Train the Trainer course which culminates in an assessment to be accredited by the Learning and Performance Institute.

The June 2013 issue of Management Today includes an important paragraph, in a debate about "The Changing Face of the Leader"