Apparently, this is how Sergey Brin conducts job interviews according to Fast Company. “Teach me something I don’t know.” Put on the spot, interviewees “…sort of look at you funny and think for a minute, and then their eyes just light … Continue reading Teach Me Something I Don’t Know
Yesterday, I wrote about where expert practitioners learn: from many sources, iteratively. Often, I parse an idea through my kids – the child’s clear eye of genius unlocks an essence long lost by me. So I asked Lola “Where do you learn?” and she immediately pointed to her brain. Of course! Then, she mimed (and why not?!) school, home, outside; then morning, afternoon, and night. And then, she wrote it all down, to ensure I understood. It was a full-body learning experience. Not only did I learn where she learns, but how. Marvellous. ←This Much We Know.→ Continue reading Where Do Kids Learn?
How do you discover information? Where do you learn? I belong to a community of e2.0 practitioners, Change Agents Worldwide, and a question was asked in that community: where do you source your information from? The below graphic, from Joachim Stroh, is the answer. The ability to learn – on your own, every day, in perpetuity – will be a key differentiator in the future of work. These are some very simple places to start… ←This Much We Know.→ Continue reading Where Do You Learn?
I am unapologetically sappy about many things, and none more so than sacrifice. On this day, when we remember the fallen, we will take the kids to the cenotaph at 11am and pause for thought.
My grandfather fought in the second world war; he lost many comrades on his gun ship duties, although he never talked much about it.
Sitting at the dinner table, browser open, Change Agents Worldwide social network status update asking me “What are you working on?” My 5-year old daughter Lola asked me me “What’s that?” and I explained that the group think about the future of work. Then I asked her: “What comes to mind when you think about the future?” She typed: “trees snow flowers dirt animals people nature” and clicked SHARE. Often, I am trying to imagine the future anew; and to synthesize an approach to get there, for me and for others. But, sometimes the future can be the most literal … Continue reading Curious Kids: What Does The Future Hold?
Intrapreneurship is growing. Forbes carries a smart little article on four clear traits of intrapreneurs. It is a good lens to look through – are you ready to perform? What I like is the essence of the intrapreneur not as self-glorifying visionary but as instinctive and alive to what goes on around them. Intrapreneurs aren’t afraid to change course, nor do they fear failure. It isn’t outward bravado that drives them but an inner confidence and courage that every step takes them closer to their ultimate goal. Indeed. Most importantly, intrapreneurs exhibit the traits of confidence and humility—not the maverick … Continue reading Intrapreneurs Wanted!
This excellent WIRED article is worth revisiting again (yesterday, because it highlighted how 90% of everything is crap.) Enabling an audience, as the internet does for free, with zero barriers to entry, makes us work harder to provide value. When our work is stuck on a hard drive, or scribbled in a journal / notebook, it can languish, unloved, badly crafted. When, instead, we work out loud and share, we work darn hard to ensure there is tangible value to be gleaned from the content. Working out loud makes us better – all of us. As I have written before, … Continue reading “Social” Is Good For Us: It Raises The Bar
Which of these personal attributes is most important in someone you are hiring? Capacity Experience Integrity Knowledge Motivation Understanding I asked 25 students this question this week. Three answered ‘Integrity.’ This is the ‘right’ answer, according to Dee Hock – a leader before his time. Founding CEO of Visa, Hock has some great words of wisdom on many topics. Stumble upon more about these words here. I made a prezi to walk through this (see right – unfortunately and erroneously deleted). However, the gist of it goes like this… On hiring associates, Hock opines: “Hire and promote first on the basis … Continue reading Hiring Advice From Dee Hock (Or, Why Experience Is Unimportant)
Interesting infographic on how and what people read online. The data that most interested me: “73% say they process information more deeply, thoughtfully, when they share it.” So, when you share, you care more – about the info, about the recipients. This is something that has heavily impacted the way I work since beginning to work out loud, socially. I am constantly thinking: “(how) would this be useful for others?” I am curating content for my network (how ever small) – I am putting them first, AND learning more at the same time, by concentrating more on the data efficacy. … Continue reading 73% Say: When I Share, I Care…And I Learn
The future of work is coming to an office near you all too soon. We must prepare. And please, no more of these little #hacks like an app that reminds you to water the plants. No. #WorkHacks are fundamental, profound. … Continue reading 10 #WorkHacks To Prepare For ‘The Future Of Work’
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. I retell this story a lot. A few years ago I was a part of a large group of colleagues challenged to discover the secret to, and unlock the potential of, a learning organization. It was a very well-meaning process to get us to be more efficient, to learn from mistakes / the past, to become more innovative etc. The project bombed, it went nowhere, fast. There was a report delivered, and poorly received. The endeavour was still born. Years later, having done so much research and having re-engineered my own work … Continue reading #WorkHacks – Learn To Learn
Millennials are the cohort of people born between 1984 – 2002. They are entering the workforce in droves, and with a seemingly similar number of complaints about their me-first mentality and high expectations of power and pay. Well the rest of us need to get used to it, and it behooves us all to think differently about this group because, according to Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation, Generation-Y / Millennials will form 75% of the workforce by 2025. Say what, now? That’s right, 75%. Millennials will sweep away all in front of them. When I asked some colleagues last week about … Continue reading #WorkHacks – Think Like Millennials
This Much We Know 