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Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category

Psychological Safety: A Key Determinant of Success

Posted by Ian Guyah-Low

When Google managers observed 180 of their teams they were shocked to learn that psychological safety was a key determinant of success. Google’s Project Aristotle shone the spotlight on the importance that psychological safety brings to an organisation. This proved more significant a factor than the collective background, experience or education of the team members!
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Allowing People to Be

Posted by Liz McKechnie

At Aspire one of our core values is: Allowing people to be.
In management and leadership roles one of the most difficult skills to learn is allowing people to be their best selves.
As the pressure increases so does the tendency for leaders to slip into command and control, to jump headlong into a sea of “constructive criticism”, to hold on tightly and micromanage their staff. In so doing they can inadvertantly limit the learning, growth and diverse talents that can help support innovation and excellence at the time when it is most needed.

Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – Albert Einstein

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Supporting wellbeing while working remotely

Posted by Annemarie Estess

With so many of us working remotely and generally spending time apart, how can we take care of our mental, emotional and social wellbeing?

Working from home…

This used to be a statement of freedom and flexibility. In the era of COVID-19 it’s becoming a phrase that brings up mixed emotions and logistical complexity.

Here in the UK we don’t yet know a timeline, but likely in the coming weeks and months many people will be working remotely either by requirement or by preference. 

Reframe the phrase 

It may seem minor but the language we use can influence our experience of this situation. Terms like “isolating”, “lockdown” and “social distancing” sound like fast tracks to anxiety and loneliness. 

For the sake of our sanity it’s important that we get clear about what we are really doing and for what purpose: physically distancing ourselves to help minimise transmission risk. We can choose to talk about it as being physically distant and socially connected

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