Are we mixing up magic and science (again)? It’s always been true that people can manipulate data to fool others. (A index chart with a scale that starts at 50 not zero for instance is a classic and somewhat disappointing feature of some awards entries to exaggerate impact). Now data may be manipulating us as…

The Media Week Awards are back The awards, which Campaign calls “the most highly prized awards in UK commercial media” are now open for entries with deadlines looming in June and July. I’m honoured and delighted to have been asked to judge again.  I have seen the growth of professionalism and rigour in the judging…

The power of minus. The power of “and” has been well documented.  Best selling author Martin Sharp has spoken about the power of a “life of combinations”.  He exhorts people to replace “but” with “and” for a richer existence. Recent business book, “The Power of And: responsible business without trade-offs” by Edward Freeman, Parmar and…

Are you exhausted by video calls? You’re not alone.  Many colleagues and friends have complained of this.  And speculated on why they are exhausted. Some say they miss the energy they normally get from being with team members.  If you are an introvert then Susan Cain’s theory in Quiet might mean that this would not…

Are you looking at the moon, or are you pointing a finger? The Buddha is said to have pointed at the moon to indicate its wonders to his disciples.  They immediately copied him, raising their own arms to point.  They were concerned with getting it right.  They had many questions: Should they point with their…

The RSA’s head of design is fond of advocating the idea that in order to get change and transformation you need to “Push what moves”.  Note, push what moves, not what is most impactful.  The Royal Society for Arts, manufactures and commerce was founded in 1754 with the purpose of finding practical solutions to social…

Let me count (some) of the ways: You are the only woman in the team You are the only person over 50 in the team You are the only person of colour in the team You are the only LGBTQI+ person in the team You are the only disabled person in the team You are…

It’s a small world after all. 2020 (amongst many other things) was also the year when the world shrank.  We could and did collaborate with colleagues from China, New York, Canada and Columbia at no cost of time, travel or to the air pollution of the planet. In 2021, as business begins to return to…

As we enter week whatever it is of lockdown, even with a roadmap in sight and yet with the winter wind still chilling us to the bone and the sunny spells alternating with rain drizzling outside our windows, it is more crucial than ever to look after each other.  We are personally being tested in…

The inability to fill stadia with fans has had a terrible economic impact on clubs of all sizes.  However the lack of fans may have had another effect too.  This season there is less of a divide between how the top teams are doing at, well, the top, and how the rest of the pack…

Extreme ownership by everyone is essential for success in terms of both Digital Transformation and a true culture of Belonging. There are two items to prioritise for most businesses in 2021.  The pandemic has given added importance to both. Digital transformation, in light of the fact that excellent delivery of goods and services via digital…

For years the marketing industry has been busy segmenting.  For a couple of decades it has been common best practice to segment customers into types of people to target everyone else who falls into the same segmentation. These are often expensive exercises and can take months to complete.  They may be of huge use to…