The future of leading: 3 essential skills to develop RIGHT NOW.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 5-minute read- because being Super doesn’t happen quickly] In today’s rapidly changing world, the role of managers and leaders is evolving like never before. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the automation of routine tasks being taken over by machines, a focus is clearly developing that highlights one thing: managers WILL have a greater responsibility to lead and manage humans using Emotional Intelligence (EI). What are Super Skills? Super Skills, in the context of …

The Terrifying Reality of Being a Manager

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4 1/2-minute read – but it’s worth it!] Or “Navigating the joys and pains of managing people in the workplace”. It *is* a journey In our previous article ‘Lead yourself? 9 proven ways to do it.‘, we explored the concept of leading yourself and the important role this plays in achieving team and organisational goals. Managing comes with its own set of unique challenges (more terrifying to some than public speaking). From navigating employment legislation, higher …

Powerful Purpose: shaping your business and people.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4.5-minute read] Unlike their big cousins, SMEs in Australia can find themselves caught up in the daily whirlwind of operations, often neglecting essential aspects to their long term ‘thrival’ (this is more than just business survival – it is a business thriving). Part of this will be as simple as establishing Hr capabilities that support a defined organisational Purpose. The point of defining your Purpose, as Jim Collins emphasised in his influential book ‘Good to Great,’ …

3 Recruiter ‘tricks’ you need to know.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] Surviving vs Thriving. In the ever-changing landscape of business, some companies manage to survive while others thrive. The difference between a company that merely survives and one that thrives lies in their ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace new approaches. The difference between a company that merely SURVIVES and one that THRIVES lies in their ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace new approaches. In 2023, the companies that have made it this far have …

It’s time to upgrade HOW you work.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] One of the ‘inflection points’ you’ll recognise in your business is when you see the need to move from one way of working into more specific and [generally] electronic solutions that enhance or complement work. It could be moving from an excel spreadsheet to using a Sharepoint List that links to other libraries of information or upgrading how your team communicates using video or cloud-based technology to work remotely. It might even be subscribing …

Workplace laws are scary, right?

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] Unless you’ve been off in that time-travelling DeLorean again, you will have come to the realisation that Australia’s (ongoing) workplace reforms are an issue for your business you can no longer hide from. Labor governments in WA and Nationally have made no secret of their aspirations to raise working conditions / experience and address a ‘perceived’ imbalance in worker lives…. and this is a driving force behind most of the recent reform. Let’s recap …

Work trends you NEED to know

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] You will be hard pressed to find someone NOT saying the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just fundamentally alter the way we need to work, it also created a ‘jobs crisis’ we’ve not seen for decades. The post-Covid work landscape certainly seems to be ‘super charged’ – global wars affecting supply chains, inflation not tipped to really fall until 2024 and a tight labour market we’ve not seen since the last jobs boom. We recently discussed …

BACK to The Future of Work

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] Unless you’ve been off in your fictional time-traveling DeLorean, you’re likely aware that the way we experience work has undergone a massive change thanks to the global COVID pandemic. Flexible work, online teams, a renewed focus on mental happiness and ‘work/life balance’ are just a few changes of note – and this was on top of the automation that the boffins were talking about as the future of work. Why worry? Worrying about the …

Inspire your people with a Value Proposition.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] If you manage a business, chances are you occasionally lose sleep over the following question: Are my [good] people thinking about leaving? The post Covid employment landscape for many industries has radically impacted this question- especially as ‘employees’ may now find themselves returning to work asking ‘why am I coming to work?’. They may come to the conclusion that the rewards are not compensation enough for their experiences (how they feel) when at work. …

Missing a link to leading better? Lead ‘to’ the Organisation.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] Let’s jump straight to the point… …as a Leader/Manager, you will generally be accountable for: Defining strategy Designing organisational structure Designing productive systems of work Building workforce capability Managing strategic relationships If you’ve read our previous two articles, you’re already aware that achieving this list starts with Leading Self and Leading to Team. But there is one final and important part in becoming a better leader – a ‘missing link’ of Leading to Organisation. …