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Fictional power imbalances help children grasp systemic injustices

Fictional power imbalances help children grasp systemic injustices

Research suggests that children readily accept and perpetuate group inequalities from a young age, quickly becoming active participants in their maintenance. In adults that buy into systematic inequalities, education on policies, procedures, or political discourses upholding said injustices has been shown to encourage people to fight against them, as well as predict lower levels of prejudice towards low-status groups. For kids, however, wading into the mechanics of the system is typically beyond their capabilities and interest, potentially leaving blossoming unjust beliefs unchallenged. However, new research described in PNAS reveals that there are effective ways to help children learn about power systems and the inequalities they cause, and that certain types of explanation increase their desire to rectify injustices. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
November 7, 2023
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Bullying is not strong leadership

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Bullying is not strong leadership

Many times I have heard some people try to justify bullying behaviours by describing oppressive practices as ‘strong leadership’. In reality, using bullying tactics is a sign of a lack of leadership. A leader is someone who shapes a culture and creates an atmosphere where people want to do well, where they want to be part of a team that works well – they do not need to be coerced or intimidated into doing what is required of them. They feel they belong to an important endeavour and are pleased to be part of it. Bullying is a sign that leadership skills are lacking or that the person in a leadership role has failed to grasp what leadership is all…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 18, 2023
My final career phase – a message from Neil Thompson

My final career phase – a message from Neil Thompson

I’m not quite ready to hang up my boots just yet, but I am now very definitely in the final phase of my career, so I wanted you to be aware of what that means in terms of any interest you may have in my work or my services. I am no longer providing face-to-face or live online training, although I will be speaking at the occasional conference and special event. My work now has four main elements. First, I am continuing to write and I have a number of books in the pipeline, as usual. The second is that I remain active in producing online courses. That includes our annual subscription service that offers a total of 60 courses,…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 18, 2023
Seth Godin’s blog – Evenly distributed

Seth Godin’s blog – Evenly distributed

For the first time, the only time, everyone on Earth was in the same boat at the same time. We’ve long been divided by privilege, by caste, by accidents of birth or by organized hierarchies. Sure, there have been events that struck us all at once. Landing on the moon caused us all to gasp simultaneously. But this time was different. Regardless of class or age or nationality, the situation was right there, in front of our face. And it didn’t go away in a few news cycles. But the responses, of course, were not the same. Some profiteered and hoarded, cutting the line and seeking a profit, regardless of the cost to others. Some embraced panic while others sought…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 18, 2023
Causes of homelessness

Causes of homelessness

Many of the people we see have mental or physical health problems, or have issues with drug or alcohol use. Sometimes people face a complex mix of these factors, on top of more difficult family backgrounds than most. Many people who become homeless had traumatic experiences during childhood. Sometimes it was sexual or physical abuse, other times it was an unstable environment, such as moving between foster homes. For some people, these experiences put them at risk from an early age. In fact, some people we work with say that their early experiences led them to become dependent on drugs or alcohol while still in their teens. Research that we carried out in 2013 showed that 43% of people who slept rough for…
Dr Neil Thompson
October 18, 2023
Spotlight – The Managing People Practice Manual

Spotlight – The Managing People Practice Manual

An organization’s most important resource is its human resource – its people. This wide-ranging practical guide puts the emphasis on the human – empowering employees to be resourceful. If you are involved in managing people, then you will find this to be an invaluable resource. Rooted in a clear theory base, but with a strong practical focus, it covers thirty different aspects of management practice. Available from https://nti.coderra.uk/shop/ or Amazon
Dr Neil Thompson
October 3, 2023
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Value your time

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Value your time

There are relatively few people in today’s world of work who are not under time pressures. This is all the more reason that we need to make sure that our time is used wisely. This is not about petty ways of saving 30 seconds here or a minute and a half there, but rather about having the assertiveness skills to protect our valuable time by not allowing others to seduce us into putting time and effort into activities that are not a priority for us. Demands on our time are potentially infinite, but however skilful we are at time management, the time available will always be finite. Don’t let it be spent too cheaply. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
October 3, 2023