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We all have certain things that get under our skin, things that are likely to get us annoyed, irritated or distressed. These are known as ‘triggers’. Some triggers are shared by a wide range of people (if not by everybody) – for example, losing face or being humiliated. But there are also triggers that are specific to each individual. For example, what gets me really riled may have little or no effect on you, and vice versa. It depends on a number of factors, not least past experiences, future aspirations and, of course, our values. Let’s look at each of these in turn. Our past experiences can be significant in so far as they can leave us sensitive about certain…

Runnymede’s Director, Dr Omar Khan, spoke at the 5th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy, ‘Transforming policy, changing lives’ held in Guadalajara, Mexico 13-15 October. Among the questions the conference addressed were how we can or should measure human progress, whether and how ‘wellbeing’ could replace GDP and other income measures, and how data can better influence policy. He gives his account of the conference. The conference brought together over 1,000 delegates and high level speakers including Nobel-winner Joseph Stiglitz, former Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell, and academics, activists and policymakers from around the world. Runnymede’s presentation was part of a panel on ‘empowering minorities’ and included presentations from speakers from Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. https://www.racecard.org.uk/runnymede-trust/blog/it-will-take-a-braver-political-leadership-to-tackle-racial-inequalities/

As you work on your project (your presentation, your plan, your speech, your recipe, your...) imagine that it's the sort of thing that could be reviewed on Amazon. Now, write (actually write down) two different reviews: First, a 5 star review, a review by someone who gets it, who is moved, who is eager to applaud your guts and vision. And then, a 1 star review, an angry screed, not from the usual flyby troll, but from someone who actually experienced your work and hated it ... https://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2015/10/the-two-review-technique.html

One in five staff in Yorkshire and the Humber admit to checking emails on the loo New research from Mind makes for uncomfortable reading – the mental health charity has found that nearly 1 in 5 workers in Yorkshire and the Humber (19 per cent) who receive work emails sometimes check them while in the toilet. An online YouGov poll of 1,095 English and Welsh workers also showed that nearly 1 in 3 (29 per cent) of those who receive work emails admitted that they often check them outside of work ... https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/calderdale/is-it-that-urgent-one-in-five-check-emails-on-the-loo-1-7428830

I can tell you that, for most executives, interpersonal drama is the least fun part of their job. I spend a lot of time helping people through challenging situations at work. One thing I see time and again is the power of messaging - the simple phrases we use - for navigating these situations and preventing them in the first place. Used effectively, the right question or comment, in the right context, can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your communication and leadership. I’ve started collecting a number of go-to messages that work especially well in those awkward moments that could escalate into conflict. The following four stand out because they come up so frequently. Try these out,…