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Lean in?

I haven't read Sheryl Sandberg's book, Lean In, and may not do so. But I feel that much of her advice applies to men and women. To lean it, you got to show up! Take decisions...some of them may not be easy - life rarely comes packaged that neatly. Some of them may thrill some and annoy others - there are tradeoffs to be made. Oftentimes, the timing of the decision may be more important than the quality - some things can't wait. If you are a leader, these things have to be done. Show up and lean in. Understand people and tap into their strengths. Much of what happens in organisations makes it very difficult for people to do their best. It encourages fear rather than joy! It's time to show up and lean in to change what's wrong with management and our organisations today!

The dire straits of "human resources"

Interesting to see how HR has come under attack this year. 8 June 2015: Why human resources is dead --> Forbes 25 June 2015: Harvard Business Review says its time to Blow Up HR . In 2014, it gave suggestions April 2015: McKinsey says its time to get beyond the bureaucracy in human resources . Why is HR being spoken of in these terms and what can it do to add value to any organisation, public or private sector? In 2014, HBR proposed some suggestions on what it will take to fix HR . Are these workable? Is it more a war for talent today than it is to fix HR? I do know that most issues that affect performance in organisations is caused by poor HR decisions and the inability of HR departments to really understand their role in driving this performance or to convince people of the importance of what it is that they do.

What I'm reading 30 September

Herbivore men and Japan's demographic crisis. And while on Japan, children grow up to be pretty independent, and an informative piece why there was so little looting after the 2011 tsunami. 2,000 people bare their deeper feelings about advertising . (Only) 9 hard-earned leadership lessons. " Ugly truth about women in sports and social media " and a BBC reporter gets harassed while doing a story on street harassment. Baby, you can drive my car? 1 October 1985, Level 42 released their album World Machine. Does anybody remember this stellar song ? Hollywood to help fight ISIS? Improvisation is re-writing management training. “Being relentlessly present is a survival mechanism for life, but people don’t remember it,” Instant coffee has been around for .... 250 Years!!! And 15 other amazing facts , given it's World Coffee Day! Fighting climate change with efficient housing . Interesting piece on why " news " is different. Is there any such thing...

What I'm reading 17 September 2015

Paul Krugman explains Keynesianism . I've started enjoying David Brook's columns in the New York Times since I read this one and this one. Now I want to get his book . Drew Price tried 12 extreme diets in a year. Hear of his experience in his podcast . I'm curious about this book ... Speaking of books, making time for them is good. A new New Order album can only be good news. "Restless" until 25 September. And I am thrilled to see Don Henley's back ! The Boys of Summer will forever remain in my top 10 of favourite songs. A new a-ha album??? So much for Ending on a High Note...but why is it as expensive as a boxed set? Don't use bullet points in your presentation. Five great reasons to change jobs. The first three were spot on! It's true: falling in love is easy!

What I'm reading 13 September

Two stories that I chanced upon today, one that gives me hope, the other that doesn't. Apple: new products - here's Buzzfeed with key video moments from the event - and a new(?) look at Steve Jobs . " In a fascinating interview last year with Graydon Carter of Vanity Fair, Jonathan Ive, Apple ’s famed designer and longtime friend of Jobs, recounted a telling story. He remembered a time when Jobs had been tough — too tough, in Mr. Ive’s estimation — on his team. Mr. Ive pulled him aside and told him to be bit nicer. “Well, why?” Jobs replied. “Because I care about the team,” Mr. Ive responded. “And he said this brutally, brilliantly insightful thing, which was, ‘No, Jony, you’re just really vain,’ ” Mr. Ive recalled. “He said, ‘You just want people to like you, and I’m surprised at you because I thought you really held the work up as the most important, not how you believed you were perceived by other people.’”  How good are you at reading people's emo...

What I'm reading 9 September

Did love really die in 2015 ? Does it really matter? How to stay strong during uncertain times. I like the point which says that some things are really not in our control. It reminds me of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Peak Performance, where Captain Picard tells Data " It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life." London , World War II and the German assault. Never underestimate how small things can have a large impact. Want to improve your r é sum é ? Britain's mafia state ? Britain and mafia in the same sentence...let me think that over, but nevertheless, an interesting article. " Property in this country is a haven for the proceeds of international crime." The book This Changes Everything — Naomi Klein’s opus on how climate change could be our greatest opportunity to reinvent the world before we destroy it — is now becoming the movie This Changes Everything . You should also read Earth in ...