July 2007 - Posts

• Second Life – I admit defeat

  ST-LAMBERT, QUEBEC -- I have been thinking for a while that when I just have some time I can figure it out. But I don't think I can. It's an embarrassing admission because I really don't like to lose at much of anything. But Second Life has got me stumped. Read More... Posted 29 July 2007 23:40 by David Ferrabee | 4 Comments Filed under: involvement, Engagement, social media, Technology, motivation, etc., morale

• The drugs don't work

  HYDE PARK -- On my way in to work this morning. I'm cycling by a funfair that is just closing up. And I look at the little cars that go around in a small circle. And I realise that my son, aged 4.5, is bored with those rides. The thrill is gone. The drugs Read More... Posted 25 July 2007 08:12 by David Ferrabee | 0 Comments Filed under: Leadership, People management, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• The secrets of storytelling and culture in business

  FULHAM ROAD -- It's a little after eight and the sun is out, bright and strong like a midsummer day. The traffic is flowing. You can see bleary, flip-flopped antipodeans ducking quickly into pub doors. The Tri Nations rugby tie between Oz and the All Read More... Posted 21 July 2007 11:38 by David Ferrabee | 3 Comments Filed under: Strategy, Culture, Internal communications, Change Management, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• Why is everyone smarter than me?

  LORDS -- I've got some clients at the moment who are definitely much smarter than I am. I'm not worried about it. I always try to work with people who are smarter than me. But I do find it fascinating in a number of ways. 1) Often really smart people Read More... Posted 20 July 2007 21:27 by David Ferrabee | 1 Comments

• Boys behaving badly: Gender differences at work

  RAF Fairford -- A friend was kind enough to invite me to a big international air show today. A first for me. As a father of boys, I should be ashamed. Not least because the weather is so dodgy that we were inside getting tea when the stealth bomber made Read More... Posted 17 July 2007 11:28 by David Ferrabee | 0 Comments Filed under: Culture, People management, Europe, Change Management, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• Swearing in business situations

  THE SOLENT -- Don't ask me why I am writing on this topic. I am sure no good is going to come of it. But one of my colleagues, whose native language is not English, used a semi-mild swear word in an email to me recently, and I was quite surprised. And Read More... Posted 12 July 2007 23:06 by David Ferrabee | 2 Comments Filed under: Culture

• What does the future hold? Your employees will feel it...

  LONDON -- Yesterday we met a futurist. I know. Sounds cool, eh. It was definitely a first for me. And such a cool job title. I wish I had one like that. They say the past and the present tell you everything you need to know about the future. But our futurist Read More... Posted 11 July 2007 12:50 by David Ferrabee | 2 Comments Filed under: People management, Change Management, Conferences, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• The painful pursuit of excellence

  LONDON -- The weekend ended with my son sleeping in my arms at a memorial service for an obscure man who died 194 years ago. But it was a weekend filled with pain and excellence. The conclusion of which had me wondering: Why people are so ready to accept Read More... Posted 09 July 2007 14:14 by David Ferrabee | 1 Comments

• Motivation theory: Hiring your friends

  LONDON -- Just looking through some old theory for a client who is puzzled by employees' apparent interest in knowing what is going on. And I really like a slab of thinking toward the end of the 19th century called the "rational organisation". It suggested Read More... Posted 06 July 2007 10:08 by David Ferrabee | 0 Comments Filed under: Leadership, Culture, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• Corporate Responsibility: Green businesses

  LONDON -- I attended an excellent CSR event last night. A big bank held a party to thank its partners for the work that they are about to do on five continents, affecting millions and millions of people. It was very uplifting. And I am sure will be for Read More... Posted 03 July 2007 11:42 by David Ferrabee | 3 Comments Filed under: Culture, Change Management, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale

• Do we need competition to succeed?

  BATTERSEA ZOO -- It's a question that may be more complex than you think. Most red-blooded capitalists would say yes. It's that urge to do better than others that gets you to do bigger and more interesting things. So, what about Amazon.com? I like the Read More... Posted 02 July 2007 09:51 by David Ferrabee | 0 Comments Filed under: People management, involvement, Engagement, motivation, morale