Blog

leadership and psychopathic behaviour

20 great leadership traits to learn from psychopaths

My poolside read this summer was Jon Ronson’s, The Psychopath Test

This intrigued me enough to keep me turning the pages and my inner hypochondriac set me questioning myself (as he pointed out I would) on whether I am a psychopath. Thankfully, I failed the test pretty comprehensively but, worryingly, I know a couple of people who are well set up for an A*.

According to Mr Ronson, that’s not surprising given the field I work in, as about 1% of the population can be diagnosed as a psychopath and that figure rises to around 4% when you’re looking at business leaders and CEOs.

Here’s Jon Ronson’s story:

 

Read more

A Quiet Word for Anne Marie Morris

A Quiet Word for Anne Marie Morris

Just a few seconds is all it takes for a woman to accumulate a whole raft of derogatory adjectives. No-one can doubt Anne Marie Morris’ passion as she struggles to be heard above a rising swell of predominantly male voices. They laugh and jeer or cheer, depending on which side of the house they’re on, and serve to drown her out even further as she increases the volume even more.

Read more

A Wedding, a Funeral and your Personal Brand

As a caller with the Craigievar Scottish Country Dance Band we’re privileged to play at what is for many one of the happiest days of their lives. As I write this I’m waiting in the ante room before we go on, listening to the groom’s speech and it strikes me that its one of the few times that people are truly positive about everyone.

I was at a funeral recently and of course that’s the other time. At that point, those we love proclaim our footprint to the world in it’s very best light. It’s the sort of feedback we just don’t normally get in our everyday lives – Performance Appraisals simply don’t cover that sort of thing.

Read more