Great Circle

It’s morning, my family has left  the house and so begins another day of self-directed work.
Like many days when I am not out of my home office training or coaching people, I am planning to begin with a time of “getting centred”, but wander into the home office for “a second”…

I say to myself, ”I’ll just check [...]

Starting Monday 3rd September, it’ll be my pleasure to host Great Circle’s first Guest Writers’ Carnival.
We’ve all heard of the dubiously titled ”war on terror”. The least said about that the better …
So, I’ve asked some of my favourite writers to contribute a piece around the theme of “How I Won the War on ________ “. They get [...]

Laughter is medicine. Laughter builds rapport and affection between human beings. Laughter is something I love to see happening in workplaces, because work is about more than productivity, and yet productivity is positively influenced by happiness.
Service Untitled had a well-written post recently on the topic of appropriate humor in customer service. Well worth the read…
Laughter [...]

Loved this post by Elly Jolly. It got me thinking about the way I so often utter wellmeaning commitments without thinking them through first.
Deciphering the difference between the promises you do make and the promises you have made in a rash moment helps us to keep in integrity.
Take time out and stop to think if you [...]

I had an epiphany in the shower this morning. (Alright stop that laughing. It’s not a euphemism). I guess I have a lot of epiphanies in the shower; it seems to be a place that’s relaxing enough to have them. (I still hear sniggering, people. Look the word up in the dictionary; I’m trying to [...]

After the success (cough cough) of my Top Ten Customer Service Maxims, I thought I’d try the same thing with managerial behaviours. Again, I’ve left the last 3 blank, not because I’m lazy (cough cough) but because I’m interested in your wisdom here, Dear Reader.
Here are my takes on useful managment behaviours:

When you train, don’t [...]

Got a problem? You do? Good: that means you have goals, needs and aspirations, and that you’re a real live human.
I love problem solving. I hate problems, but love problem solving. And there are some terrific problem-solvers out there who take a creative approach to the task.
Here’s some of my favourite posts and articles that might prompt [...]

Michael Jordan once said:
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

 If you feel like you’re failing at something important in [...]