Blog

Overview For every manager, the need to get people to perform at the peak of their ability seems a vital but impossible mission. From our work in developing tea;ms and organisations we know that great coaching differentiates high performing teams from the average...

What is it all about? Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI) is a term created by two researchers – Peter Salavoy and John Mayer – and popularized by Dan Goleman in his 1996 book of the same name. EI is defined as the ability to: - Recognise, understand and manage our own...

By Fred Copestake We have got a new member of the household – Bosca the bull. OK, he is not real bull, he is a footstool. However, we have personified him and given him the name Bosca as this is my Spanish family name and he was purchased as a memento of the sale of...

By Fred Copestake A funny thing happened in the gym this morning. A fellow user having completed his set of chest flies dropped the weights to the side of the bench. Unfortunately, his glasses were there and he broke off one of the arms. I pointed this out so that he...

By Fred Copestake This photo was taken at the entrance to a hotel nightclub in Amman, Jordan. I was just passing (honest) but it caught my attention and did indeed make me think. I have written previously about trying to take another person’s perspective (Please Don’t...

By Fred Copestake I don’t like Christmas. There, said it. There’s no specific reason, it’s just not my thing, a personal choice. Yet say this to most people and they either don’t believe you, tell you why you do (I don’t) or immediately start to try to ‘cure’ you…...

OK, so it’s easy enough to take cheap shots at the delusional wannabes on The Apprentice, but when respected business people, honoured for their commercial prowess, keep referring to the practices seen regularly on the ‘shopping list task’ as negotiation it is more...

It’s not exactly novel is it? It’s an example of laziness masquerading as creativity. At this time of year it’s not difficult to come across any number of things that all of a sudden become ‘spooktacular’ as if this quasi-zany addition is going to make is it...

This tired old maxim is often trotted out by salespeople, particularly those who place great weight in the relationship building part of the job. It is clearly not true as many transactions can be made online or require very little human interaction to be...

At the moment ‘Performance Enhancement’ is considered an ugly phrase, particularly when associated with EPO’s, THG’s and other steroids and the like. But the world of business is not governed by such rules. As long as remaining ethical, it would be short-sighted,...

Strategic alliances are in the news every day. And why not? Partnering is a fast way to reach new markets, tap into new talent, and generate new ideas and offerings. The cost is lower than building or buying, and less risky, too. Unsurprisingly many sales scenarios...