“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” Thomas Jefferson. We have a tendency to ‘communicate’ too much. Too many fillers when we speak – circumlocution which we think displays erudition, but in fact avoids getting to the point as we talk round the core issue but evade making the proposition or asking a direct question. Similarly, too many extraneous phrases when we write - ‘in the event of’, ‘on the occasion of’, ‘the July time

There's no obvious label for Tape Face's entertainment. Mime, perhaps? Silent comedy? Both conjour up former practitioners (Marcel Marceau, Buster Keaton), but neither accurately capture what he does. Actually, it's not what he does that's most important. It's what he doesn't. In a world drowned in management speak and leadership oration, Tape Face is a timely reminder of Albert Mehrabian's "7-38-55 Rule" - the percentage weighting of words, tone of voice, and non-verbal sign

Four months since I last blogged; four months of Client activities, family milestones, personal ill-health, and - oh yes - the world politically turning upside down. Of course, at the time the reason for not posting wasn't as clear. That's the reality of explanations; they all make perfect sense after the fact. So, for future reference, let me go on the record to explain why I am dusting off my keyboard and re-starting the blog now: It's a recent LinkedIn posting from someon

This series of ‘TGJTC’ blogposts was originally prompted by an email signed by the Chief Deputy Auditor. Not Deputy Chief (the second in line) but Chief Deputy. I imagine that there were more than one ‘Chief’ at that level too, just to keep everyone on their toes. TGJTC #1 started with my General Manager role, which was a misnomer at best. I’ll come back to that in a moment. Subsequent postings about VP, CMO, Director and Partner tried to give each some context, definition an

William Muir has known more plucked poultry than you've had hot dinners. As professor of Animal Sciences at Purdue Agricultural University, he's an expert in breeding and genetics. Not that he always roosted on the lofty perches of Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks. His studies started with flour beetles. Specifically, Muir examined the beetles' evolution in an (artificial) environment of very little food. Those who survived did so at the expense of others: they grew faste

(A belated 're-print' of lessons from one of the greatest physical achievements of the past sixty years - by one of the most modest men. RIP Sir Roger Bannister.) After Olympic and Paralymic over-achievement for team GB, the British public will have an embarrassment of riches to choose from for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. This annual sports shindig has become more glitz than game, yet despite the showbiz presentation, at heart it’s a celebration of what we still need

You may or may not have voted for it, but we are all in this together.

I don’t know the origin of this story; there are several variations out in the digital ether. Sometimes the moral is spelt out explicitly; I prefer a looser interpretation. The professor stood at the front of the lecture theatre behind a large workbench. On it stood a large glass specimen jar, the sort that collectors of the macabre use to exhibit animals with too many limbs. It was the start of term, so he was playing to a full house. From beneath the table he lifted a bucke

40 Books in 2018 Robert Cialdini INFLUENCE 336pp HarperBusiness 2007 Jan and I are visiting our second son, BJ and his parter E in their new flat. Better equipped, decorated and furnished than anything we achieved when starting out. We’ve seen the Nespresso machine (that we gave as a Christmas gift, but we still haven’t had a coffee) the Playstation 4, the cleanser and conditioner collection in the bathroom cabinet - and the obligatory stacked occasional tables. And now we're

40 Books in 2018 Susan Cain QUIET 333pp Penguin Books At a schoolfriend’s 16th birthday, the attempted catch was ‘Bubbles’, an exceptionally curvy, lively girl who seemed to connect with everyone. Especially boys. I sat with her on the sofa, making her laugh with my mid-teen jokes. To keep the atmosphere (and my chances) moving positively, I went to the kitchen to fetch a drink. I was only away for 30 seconds, but when I returned ‘Bubbles’ had gone. Even at that age, I could

Back in 2007, my MP - then in Opposition - agreed to talk about working in the House of Commons. As we didn't have a budget, the aim was to create 'content' to promote our small, local business. It turned out to be a frank, open exchange about women in work, careers in politics, managing upwards and self-belief. Here's the interview that Theresa May signed-off for our publication nine years ago. I hope that as Prime Minister, she'd do the same today. Micro CV @ 2007 Educated