Enquiring about ‘Are you doing anything special tonight for Valentine’s?’ to a colleague yielded the response, ‘I went out yesterday, it’s awful being in a restaurant and seeing couples there who don’t seem to have much to talk about’. I began to think about the times when we are together as a group,…
Author: verawoodhead
How are you influencing those who matter to you the most?
It was my intention to write this week’s blog on influence and leadership within an organisational context. However a remark by my eldest child yesterday about ‘not waving her off on her way to school anymore because I am always Tweeting instead’ has made me change my context. As a family, we have a limited…
What does being a change agent have to do with me?
This was the question raised when addressing a group of medical professionals last week. The medical curriculum has changed acknowledging that whilst technical knowledge and skills are crucial and fundamentally important, they are not enough on their own (equally relevant in world of business). Changes are afoot within the NHS as it seeks to address…
Shift the way you think about networking to magnify your profile and influence
The word networking has connotations within a business context. We don’t ‘network’ at parties and such gatherings but ‘socialise’. Is the two very different? In our social lives we ‘network’ constantly. Just look at what happens in the school playground – it is usually full of parents chatting and sharing stories whilst waiting to collect their children. …
Don’t be like me: Demand more from yourself
Life has been ticking along for me over these past few months. Usually it is hectic, organising people and events, stretching myself, taking part in a challenge…Then somewhere along the way it became stagnated and comfortable with ‘it’s been a hard year, time for a rest’. Blog writing came to standstill due to a busy…
Be brilliant at networking
Networking is a way of connecting with people of similar interests for the purpose of identifying new business opportunities, sharing experiences, good practice, and information. It’s about getting to know people and building relationships. Over 70% of new business is gained through word of mouth and therefore networking should be an integral part of the…
Unearth your personal brand and use it to develop your business
Many people can instantly recognise the big brands and what they stand for. I am a big fan of Waitrose and the John Lewis Partnership. Their ‘never knowingly undersold: on quality, service and price’ slogan, products that will endure, their employee- owned business ethos and the way they treat their suppliers and customers fits in with my…
Crafting a polished and focused response to ‘What do you do?’
Are you able to give a polished answer when someone asks you what you do? Does it roll of your tongue and leaves the listener wanting to know more? When I first started out in business, and people enquired about what I did, my answer was, ‘I am a coach’. This was often met with…
Woman’s work: A light hearted rant at modern day life
This being the holiday season, my usual work blog is having a rest. ‘A woman’s work is never done’, I muttered to myself as I emptied the dishwasher at 1030 pm before going to bed. Why is it that women have an in- built radar which send them in the direction of picking things…
The world’s your stage: What roles are you playing?
I am writing this as I sit under an olive tree in the Andalusian mountains taking refuge from the hot sunshine. Holidays are great for relaxing, for stepping off the treadmill, for re-energising and for me an opportunity to really reconnect with myself and my family and to take in all that is around me…