Speak First Blog | LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
The buck stops with you: Why leaders must make themselves accountable
Leaders don’t have absolute power, and they’re not infallible – even if many would like to think they are. But, they are the ones in charge, and the success or failure of a project or team often ...
Read moreThe art of being yourself: The role of authenticity in leadership
When people look to their leaders, they’re weighing up the many different elements of their skills, style and personality to understand them and start anticipating what they’ll want. Different people ...
The leadership mindset: having a positive outlook
There are many facets to great leadership: a clear vision, charisma to inspire others and the drive to make things happen. But there’s one thing that’s often overlooked – positivity. It’s a simple ...
One vision with many voices: Why leadership training is for everyone
In the words of William Shakespeare: “Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” There are also plenty of people who should have greatness, but never ...
Rise to the challenge: How to be a great leader in a VUCA world
The best leaders develop the direction and vision for their teams, while setting the tone and atmosphere of the organisation. They should motivate, inspire and bring everyone along with them. This is ...
The impact of Gravitas and Levitas: When to project strength or warmth
You’re always making an impression. The way you walk, talk and act all build a picture in people’s minds. The first impression you make is important in the way people think of you and react to you, ...
The interviewer's guide to selecting and securing the best people
When an organisation wants to fill a vacant position, interviews are a very common part of the recruitment process. They’re a good tool for meeting applicants, having a conversation with them and ...
6 tips effective facilitators & chairs follow for productive meetings
A successful meeting should be a positive experience, a joining of minds, an opportunity for group discussions and ultimately a helpful and productive time together. The last thing you want is for ...
Empowering a culture of constant learning: Developing a growth mindset
In school, children are graded, and classes sometimes separated, based on overall attainment. From our very first day in the classroom, exam questions tend to come down to a binary ‘right’ or ...
Generate ideas and develop strategy: Tips for effective brainstorming
Brainstorming is a simple process for quickly generating a lot of new ideas. Whether individually or with a group, you note down every idea that comes to you – evaluating and analysing them later. By ...