Take an Aspirin
Ever felt that there is so much going on that your head is about to explode? Well believe it or not, Exploding Head Syndrome is a real condition! The physician Silas…
A Year in Review
As we march headlong into the new year we have probably had, or are about to have, the dreaded annual performance review. The truth be told that here at Optimize…
What’s in a Label?
As regular readers know, we have issues with the labels that people give others – labels make it too easy to put someone or a group of people in a box. It is also…
Last Minute Larceny
Leaving things to the last minute is a recipe for disaster and on the way causes stress, anxiety and a series of corners that have been cut. Quality suffers and…
Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink
One of the founding fathers of “nudge” theory has been awarded the 2017 Nobel prize for economics. Richard Thaler co-wrote a bestselling book on the nudge concept…
It's a Slow Fade
When dealing with a lack of engagement amongst the workforce the key is to recognize the early warning signs. Often it really is a slow fade – rarely do people…
Having to Pay the Piper
A topic that consistently seems to be discussed is that of executive pay particularly when there are still recessionary pressures and the government bail outs are…
Do the Do
McKinsey research tells us that 70% of change efforts fall short of the desired results and it is far too easy to blame this on a lack of effective communication. Some…
The Future is Bright
In last week’s blog we bemoaned the lack of wisdom in the world but at Optimize we believe in the credo that we shouldn’t criticize anything unless we are prepared…
Busy Fools?
We are always told that the world is a much busier place these days and we certainly encounter people every day that tell us that they are “really, really busy”.…
You Can Do It….Probably
Motivational posters abound. They shout at us from office walls, from Facebook, from Instagram, at the gym….they seem to be everywhere. Some are funny, some stir…
Learning To Smile As You Kill
Politics in business is an inevitability and so to solemnly declare that you are not going to play the game is rather naive. Simply put, others are playing the game…
The Great Training Robbery
One of the critical foundations of a successful and sustainable company is the ability to generate, nurture and regenerate talent on an ongoing basis. To enable…
Surviving Short Circuits
We have spoken a number of times before about the vast amounts of data and input that modern leaders have to analyze and make judgments on. A number of studies have…
In Sickness and in Health
We often hear and talk about the ‘healthy organization’ and whilst corporate health is talked about quite a lot, a true understanding of the importance of monitoring…
Differing Dimensions
All organizations operate in two dimensions: the dimension of getting the work done (which is the horizontal dimension) and the dimension of reporting relationships…
A Transformation Tale
Transformations call for more than rhetoric and superficial conversations around change. Old and existing habits need to be challenged and potentially discarded…
Meeting Mayhem
With the first day of summer upon us our thoughts naturally turn to BBQ’s, beaches, and vacations. It’s the time of year when we can easily find ourselves daydreaming…
Cracking Complexity
We view complexity in two ways. First there is the institutional complexity – which results from the number and types of interaction within the organization. This…
Simple Service Secrets
Good customer service is considered a valuable asset but the reality is that it’s actually a fundamental in delivering a sustainable organization. If you are aware…