Make the time
When you really want to achieve something, it’s not about “taking the time” but “making the time”. Be sure to update your language. No longer will you be sorry that you “ran out of time”, “couldn’t find the time” or “didn’t have the time”. Instead, take ownership that you didn’t make the time. It’s a […]
Instruct with context
I’ve found that whenever I’m the sender or receiver of an instruction, it’s always more effective when context is provided. Instead of stating what you think needs to be done, describe the underlying problem. This helps in two ways. First, it helps the receiver understand what your instructions are trying to accomplish so they can […]
Reframing an objective
If you are struggling with a particular objective, try reframing it in a different light. Let’s take writing a book as an example. Writing a book is a common desire for many people, but it can be quite daunting for a number of reasons. However, everyone has written a report at some point in their […]
Vague ask, vague answer
Not all questions are the same. There’s a very big difference between asking a vague question and asking a specific question. If you want a specific yes or no as an answer, then your question needs to be as specific as possible. That’s why so many of our conversations at QLA focus on gaining clarity. […]
The KonMari Fold
Marie Kondo inspired the world to declutter their homes and create spaces of serenity and inspiration. What struck me about this craze was how practical the teachings were for doing everyday things. As an example, we use our wardrobe every day, but were never told how to arrange it effectively. If you’re like me and […]
Repetition replaces creativity
Creativity is needed when we want to change. Something different is required to disrupt our established patterns and forge something new. The new behaviours are then repeated until they are no longer new. But if we focus our energy on routine for too long, we may fall into habits that are different to what we […]
Hallelujah
In 2008, the song Hallelujah topped the UK charts because Alexandra Burke chose to cover it for winning X Factor. Such was the outcry of a reality star covering such a classic, that a group of concerned music aficionados pushed Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley to the number 2 spot at the same time. It’s amazing […]
What don’t you want?
It can be hard to know what you want. It’s daunting selecting just one option from countless possibilities. So why not start with what you don’t want? When the Sorting Hat asked Harry Potter which House he should go to, Harry didn’t say “Gryffindor”. His response was “Not Slytherin”. Refine your options and the choice […]
Cloudy with a chance of…
Isn’t it amazing that everyone hears the same weather forecast but interprets it differently? Let’s say you’re told there’s a 70% chance of rain today. What does this mean to you? Does it mean across the day it will rain 70% of the time? Or is 70% of an area going to receive rain? Or […]
Business is always personal
Over the course of our working lives, we will spend as much time (if not more) on professional endeavours as personal endeavours. We will probably engage more with our co-workers and stakeholders than our friends and family (and maybe our partner). And so we must recognise that our work connections and relationships are meaningful. We […]