Measure your self-improvement using subjective but quantifiable scales helps you to stay on track (BARS) — Learning isn’t hard, growing is. This difference is important because it also means that setting goals around learning ‘stuff’ is significantly easier than setting goals for behaviours. I remember a leader on one of my training courses saying that his goal for development was to become a better listener. He…

Looking to the animal kingdom to describe the elusive quality of wisdom — Wisdom is my thing. Well, one of my things. But even though it’s a relatively well-known trait, and widely described, attaining wisdom can be a bit like grasping water. In my often Sisyphean pursuit of wisdom, I tend to take a multi-pronged approach (a bit like my approach to using…

Learning from the elderly and the dying how to solve life’s problems and live without regret — Even writing the title for this seems almost grandiose. Apologies in advance if it comes off like that. Personally, I like to contemplate death. Whenever I consider my own mortality I tend to work harder (not just at work but in life and relationships). But it doesn’t help everyone. So…

What if the secret to being happier was making yourself uncomfortable? Welcome to the world of Conscious Rebellion and I Can’t Experiments. — I have an odd hobby. Perhaps it's not so much a hobby but an interest — I like the untold stories behind psychological studies. If you do too, or you think you might try The Psych Files podcast there are a few in the back catalogue. Anyway, the reason I…

Johari’s Window is a powerful tool but is often over-simplified or misused at work. — If you are like me, you have probably come across Johari’s Window at some point at work. In fact, if you have worked with me I probably introduced you to it. It’s a little out of vogue these days but for a while, it was pretty much on every management…

A quick bio article but I’m not very interesting — So lots of people said that it’s a good idea to write a biographical article on Medium. I’ve never been convinced about writing about myself ever and so this whole thing is kind of awkward. But I’ll try. My passions I have the unfortunate affliction of being into lots of things. Sometimes…

Literature and videos as wisdom-growing experiences — This isn’t like my usual articles. I plan on adding to this one over time but in my commitment to not publishing anything clickbait or frivolous, you will see I have started with a fair few resources I have collected that, at least for me, have helped me become a…

Using the power of your subconscious and visualisation to resolve conflict — It’s a Hollywood trope. People get ‘real’ on camping trips and take the time to air their views and grievances. It somehow opens people up. What if I told you you can access this energy without the need for bug nets, rubber mallets and an advanced degree in fire starting? Why do relationships need resolving? …

T S Eliot's masterpiece has value for everyone — I’m an unlikely advocate of the value of literature in advancing wisdom. Unlikely in that I’ve struggled to create a real focus on literature for most of my life. I often prefer non-fiction and, in general, my love of psychology and philosophy is fed primarily through non-fiction. Wisdom is not…