In our global post-Brexit world, business professionals who work internationally have to manage a tricky balancing act. On the one hand they are advised not to discriminate, so they should treat everyone as equal and ignore differences. On the other, we all want to be appreciated for being who we… Read more
Export advice unwisely omits a key point
This recent business article about exporting makes a huge omission. It says: “Exporting in many respects is an extension of the normal way of doing business. The additional challenges arise from unfamiliarity, different customs, practices, language and legal frameworks. Where greater distance is involved it may mean an extended time before payment is received. http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/28302-what-are-the-risks-of-exporting-smes-need-to-be-considering… Read more
Do you hire people like you?
Finally the staffing penny dropped Recently I realised two obvious things: I keep hiring people who are like me when I need people who are the opposite, the ones who do well what I do badly. I need to develop completely different thinking styles for specific contexts. The penny dropped when I realised I wasn’t… Read more
Will poor pronunciation hold you back in your career?
A foreign accent won’t always hold you back. However, if people can’t understand you easily, it will. But perhaps the biggest problem of all is that people won’t tell you the truth. However fluent and correct your English, poor pronunciation can prevent you progressing in your career. And you might never know it until someone gives… Read more
Innovation + Communication = Business Success
I was recently a judge in the Oxfordshire finals of the Young Enterprise schools’ competition. What a great preparation for the workplace. Each school competing has a team of teenage volunteers, aged from 15-17 usually, who start and run their own company, selling a product or service for the 9 months of the school year…. Read more
