At the grand old age of… late 40s, Kat decided it was high time she learned something new, with a bit of a ‘hands on’ feel about it rather than sitting in front of a computer screen. So, what better way than to take a narrowboat navigation day course? My stepdad recently bought a narrowboat,…
DetailsCan a massively important subject be simplified into a single question? Some very, very important conversations have started to shape the debate about organisational design and people policy over the last few years. Diversity and inclusion as a subject has thankfully passed the ‘buzzword and tick-box’ phase in most organisations as the value (commercial and…
DetailsTo celebrate World Photography Day on 19 August, Sue wanted to share a few photos, highlighting this beautiful country she lives in. With the travel restrictions abroad and countries on the red, green and amber travel lists changing constantly, 2021 has been a very ‘staycation’ year. To celebrate our diverse country and to honour why…
DetailsAs many thousands of office-based workers are now working from home for what appears to be the next few months, this might fill the more sociable folk with dread as they start to get to grips with a very new way of working. For Rambutan consultant Mark, this is not new, as he’s been primarily…
DetailsKat chats about International Day of Friendship which is tomorrow, Friday 30 July. Although we have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, I’m still waiting for ‘Eldest Daughter’s Day’ (mine’s a large box of chocolates and a bottle of something nice please), but here’s one we can all get behind… International Day of Friendship. After all,…
DetailsThere’s lots of information out there about leading virtually during these unusual times, and rightly so. We all need some additional support and guidance at these times, but Craig has been wondering how else you could continue your development as a leader or manager. Right now, I’m noticing leaders and managers are starting to consider…
DetailsGemma chats about why wholehearted leadership matters, even for world leaders. We’ve had an opportunity over recent months to observe world leaders in action as they navigate their way through the complicated and ever-changing situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Countless conversations have ensued on their general effectiveness as leaders with ratings on many and…
DetailsLots of David’s career has been spent helping people figure out what to ‘do’ as a leader and who they ‘are’ as a leader, yet he still sees too much focus on the ‘do’ elements in lots of stuff he reads. Who are you? No, I mean who are you really? Who are you as…
DetailsRebecca discusses how social influences can affect your behaviours. At Rambutan, we’re fascinated by people’s behaviours. Our ‘Why people do what they do’ model focuses on personal and cultural factors that influence the way we behave; social influences are one such cultural factor. Most people unconsciously adapt their behaviour to fit their social norms. The…
DetailsTo celebrate World Storytelling Day on 20 March Kat shares one of her stories. World Storytelling Day focuses on the art of oral storytelling and it made me wonder what ‘telling a story’ is all about. What makes a great story? How can you make it interesting? When and why might it be relevant? Is…
DetailsWhile carrying out the task of updating Rambutan’s style guide, Kat has been delving into the Oxford English Dictionary on more than a few occasions and realising that while the English language isn’t the simplest to understand, it can be a lot of fun! Proofreading is a matter of course for the bunch at Rambutan…
DetailsCraig is passionate about growth mindsets and why they’re so important for learning, so he’s shared a few of his thoughts with us. I believe that having a growth mindset is all about seeking out opportunities to develop, having new experiences and ultimately growing as a person; whereas having a fixed mindset tends to be…
DetailsIn another of our chats with Craig, we’re discussing why self-perception versus other people’s perception is so important. Craig, what’s the difference between self-perception and other people’s perceptions? Self-perception is how I see myself, it’s what I think about myself, it’s how I believe I come across to another person. Others’ perception is the reality…
DetailsEmma reflects on International Boss’s Day and what it means to be a boss. My first real boss was when I started at Rambutan. Before that, I’d only worked part-time as a waitress, so I didn’t know what a true boss was like. I started contemplating what others believe a boss should be, so I…
DetailsVolunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution people make through volunteering. Although Covid-19 has stopped some of the things we usually do, Sue reminds us about what we can do and why, now more than ever, it’s important to find ways to keep volunteering. Over the decades (showing your age Sue!) I’ve tried…
DetailsCurrently, with social distancing becoming the new rage, we can’t all spend time physically together. So, how can you still enjoy weekends having fun with friends and family if you’re all in separate locations? Craig spent his Saturday night finding out how! This weekend, like the rest of the country/world I spent my time partly…
DetailsCraig has been mulling over our Rambutan values and what they mean to him My personal values are important to me. They’re my moral compass and I’m passionate about how I live them every day. Equally, our values at Rambutan are just as important to me. They’re closely aligned to my own, and when both…
DetailsReflecting on International Women’s Day, Craig asked Tracy a few questions about what it means to her. Here are some highlights: What is International Women’s Day? To me, International Women’s Day is a day in which we can all reflect upon not only the recent contributions that women have made to the arts, technology and…
DetailsHere at Rambutan, we’re big fans of top tips – examples of best practice, frameworks or new approaches to various business topics (we even produce our own series!). Mark recently discovered a brilliant new online resource of top tips from the BBC called ‘CEO Secrets.’ Here’s what he learned… As a leader or an aspiring…
DetailsEd contemplates Remembrance Day (Monday 11 November) and what the day means to him. On Remembrance Day, we honour those who sacrificed their lives for us. The most famous symbol of Remembrance Day is the poppy. During the chaos of World War 1, the fighting left landscapes across Europe bleak from continuous bombardment. Amongst the…
Details
