Monthly articles on career success, leadership and productivity

Over-controlling managers may produce great short-term results by constantly getting involved in decision making that is way below their job title. However, this is to the ultimate detriment of their own professional development as well as that of their team’s. No one...

Career changers and job seekers are swamped with information and advice on the ‘right’ way to go about finding a new role. Much of this is anecdotal, or based on out-of-date research more relevant to graduate entry jobs. It’s a bit of a minefield and somehow...

Research shows that traditional biographical interviews have low effectiveness in predicting a candidate's performance. An interview by an untrained interviewer may be no more effective a selection tool than a handwriting assessment. Consequently, many organisations...

It's annual review season. You and your direct reports are probably as keen as each other to get it over and done with. When handled properly, the appraisal can inspire solid performers and reignite the poor ones. When mishandled (and I am thinking particularly of...

Perfectionism is the uncompromising pursuit of exceptionally high standards. This would appear to be a great characteristic to bring to the workplace. These high achievers will use their time and energy in the pursuit of doing a first class job, they will get great...

Here are some observations about clients who have successfully looked for new roles or more freelance work. These are five common factors - some intuitive, some learned - that have enabled them to get what they want within their timescales. They are sustainable ways...

Some of the senior executives on our outplacement and career management programmes are considering leaving conventional employment to embark on a plural or portfolio career. This is usually fuelled by a desire for more variety, freedom and control over their time. Of...

LinkedIn is a critical part of your brand. An effective profile works like an interactive business card, showcasing your expertise. Like offline networking, LinkedIn is about engaging with people and sharing information to build supportive, mutually beneficial...

What does research tell us about goal-setting? You may be setting 2013 goals for you and your team or reflecting on the goals you achieved this year. Most of us set goals but we don't always achieve them. Why not? It may be helpful to look at research findings on...

Feedback from both our recruiter network and our outplacement clients is that - after a summer full of distractions - the market is definitely moving again, albeit cautiously. Employees are more confident about making a move, perhaps to get their careers back on track...

What do you want? Where do you want to be? What is stopping you from moving on? September, October and January appear to be crucial months when people contact us because they feel stuck in a rut in their careers. Instead of feeling energised after their holidays, they...