"Blue Monday", and its effect on us at work and play is upon us again, and this year, The Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign hopes to spark conversations between family, friends and colleagues by handing out cups of tea and coffee to turn Blue Monday 2020 into something positive. Fortunately it seems ‘hidden’ health matters at work are also being given some greater focus and profile, and frankly, it’s long overdue
I was talking to a long-term contact yesterday, whom I first met as a bright-eyed rising star in the technology sales sector for which I recruited. My contact has done exceptionally well over these past years, due to his talent, hard work and most importantly, his character. A true leader and team-player, generous with his time and his congratulations, standing by and supporting others in his tribulations. Yet today, his voice was troubled and his usual realistic, positive outlook was dimmed.
As an avid Rugby Union fan and Wales supporter I have been watching the current Six Nations with great interest. Apart from the wonderful qualities of teamwork, dedication, tenacity, resilience and skill shown by these teams, I am particularly taken by the values of respect, self-respect and authenticity demonstrated by Nigel Owens MBE, arguably the world’s leading referee.
In a recent session for M3 Job club*, using a recent real-life experience of one of the members, I decided to demonstrate the value of knowing and clearly articulating their key unique abilities as a way of qualifying the viability of an opportunity.
The scenario was this : after two rounds of interviews, the applicant had been invited to a one hour final interview with the CEO, tasked by the Marketing Director with delivering a 15 minute presentation titled "Your approach to Launch Management”. Five minutes into the presentation, the CEO is looking bored and the Marketing Director twitchy. Picking up the signals, the applicant stopped and took the initiative to uncover what was going on, asking the CEO what he wanted the role to achieve.
