I spotted this little sign at a museum recently and it really struck a chord with me, because it’s a warning many businesses need to heed. I’m not talking about actual floggings obviously, but the regular beatings we give to employees, whether that’s repeatedly changing their roles, not giving them clarity of purpose or not engaging them properly on issues that affect them. It might not seem like much in the moment, but over time, these repeated batterings to their profession

I’ve recently been working on a comms and engagement strategy for a major change programme and have been a little taken aback by how much emphasis is placed on 'on paper' structures and hierarchies. Apparently I’m a bit of a maverick, because I care as much about what Beryl on reception thinks about the change as I do about the guy bankrolling the project, even though she doesn't appear on the organogram. Now, I’m perfectly aware of the constant struggle between cuddly comms

We’ve all been there. That shop with great product, beautifully-crafted interiors and slick marketing, with disengaged employees who ruin the whole experience. Or the creative agency with free fruit, a ping pong table and inspirational quotes on the walls, where bitching in the open plan kitchen resonates throughout the whole building. Your people can make or break your brand, so it’s vital that you – and they – understand the role they play in your business’ success. Of cour

"The negative effect of a setback at work on happiness is more than twice as strong as the positive effect of an event that signalled progress” – Harvard Business School Most of us don’t need academic studies to tell us that negative experiences have far longer lasting impact on us than positive ones. It’s human nature, but it’s damaging; even more so for businesses looking to drive engagement and cultural change. So how can you dilute negative folklore with positive legends