Articles

We all have a default way of looking at problems and our role in them. Whether it’s a minor issue or a full-blown crisis, there is a narrative that automatically plays out in our heads, colouring our perception of solutions. Sometimes, this perception is correct; other times, it’s counterproductive. However, understanding how we approach conflict - and positively reframing our role -can make real solutions possible. This is where the Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle come in. Let’s explore...

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Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychological theory developed by Eric Berne, in the 1950s, that examines interactions between people as transactions. It categorizes people's behaviour into three ego states: Parent, Adult, and Child. These ego states influence how we interact with others, and understanding them can help improve communication and resolve conflicts. TA coaching  uses this model to analyze and change unproductive behavior patterns by helping individuals recognize their ego states during interactions. The goal is to foster healthier communication...

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Imagine your CEO asks you to prepare a crucial presentation with just days to spare, on top of an already full schedule. The stress is real, and it’s easy to lose focus. This is where the Eisenhower Urgent/Important Principle can transform your approach. It helps you prioritize tasks by distinguishing between what’s truly important and what’s merely urgent. By using this principle, you can reduce stress, focus on long-term success, and deliver high-quality work under pressure. Let’s explore how to...

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Our work in organisations across various sectors has shown that building trust between people alone isn’t sufficient to make delegation effective. Leaders must also carefully assess the level of trust in the organisational processes and align their approach accordingly. Delegation continues to challenge many leaders. Whether it's an overburdened manager looking to alleviate burnout or an executive aiming to take a well-deserved break, delegation is often necessary but frequently avoided. Handing over responsibilities can lead to anxiety, tension, or unsatisfactory...

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John Heron’s Intervention Model offers six categories of Intervention that can be applied in any feedback or enabling process. These apply equally to interventions in one to one and group situations. John Heron offers his approach as a conceptual framework for understanding interpersonal relationships and as a means of analysing a range of possible interactions between two people in work or personal situations. Read through the list below and familiarise yourself with each category. Knowing the range of interventions can...

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In his book the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) Covey distinguishes between proactive people – who focus on what they can do and can influence – and reactive people who focus their energy on things beyond their control. Reactive people maintain an attitude of victimisation and blame. The model is based on two circles. The first is our circle of concern. This includes a whole range of things – global warming, the state of the economy, the clothes...

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The Circle of Concern, Influence, and Control is a model that helps people identify and focus on what they can change in their lives. Being able to recognise the difference between the things you can change and those you can’t will help you build your resilience. At times we all focus on things that impact on us but over which we have no influence and control. This reduces our resilience because we expend energy on things we cannot change, instead...

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Understanding action logic helps leaders & teams develop greater self-awareness, adaptability, & effectiveness. Leaders who recognise their dominant action logic can identify strengths, limitations, & opportunities for growth, allowing them to make more conscious decisions & improve their leadership style. For teams, action logic fosters better collaboration by highlighting how individuals interpret challenges, communicate, & respond to conflict. When teams include leaders at more advanced action logics—such as Achievers, Individualists, & Strategists—they become more innovative, resilient, & capable of navigating...

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This exercise raises a client's awareness and allows the client to plan a life that is more satisfying and closer to their definition of balance. It also helps clarify priorities for goal-setting. Balance is personal and unique to each individual - what may be satisfying or balanced for some may be stressful or boring for others. Ask your client to review the 8 categories on their Wheel of Life. The categories should together create a view of a balanced life...

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Values are “fundamental attitudes guiding our mental processes and behaviour” that “produce the belief that life is meaningful and serve as a measure of how meaningful one’s actions are, that is, consistent with that person’s value system” (Vyskocilova et al., 2015). Values clarification involves identifying your personal value system and creating a hierarchy of values to consider when making decisions, choosing ways to ‘be’ and live by. This value system can help you to exit your comfort zone in order...

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Psychometric assessments are becoming a more common tool to support talent management, selection and organisational culture/environment of it. The assessment tools are utilised for a wide range of measurement purposes including selection, succession planning, coaching, and team development. Despite this, human capital and other professionals need to ensure they are choosing the right tests and the right norm groups, whilst administering and feeding-back the results in the right way to the right people otherwise the experience may be ‘nice’, or...

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The idea of leaders adopting a coaching approach is gaining traction across organisations. It is increasingly evident that the leadership capabilities that have worked in the past will not be sufficient for navigating the complexities of the future (Hawkins, 2021). BECKETT MCINROY Consultancy, with the award-winning CoachME Model and process, has been at the forefront of integrating coaching into leadership, demonstrating its power to close critical leadership capability gaps. When leaders coach, they do not merely manage people; they facilitate...

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There is a growing body of empirical evidence to substantiate the impact of Coaching within organisations through a coaching culture and with external coaches. Coaching can enable and facilitate learning and move organisations and teams towards identifying beliefs, motivators and action with sustained results. Coaching is about balance, choices, priorities and values to increase impact.   Source: Organisational Coaching Uncovered Business in Gulf, March 2018

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Have you ever come across a team that seems to generate drama the second they enter the room? Often, individually, each team member seems to be able to separate from the drama and perform effectively, yet – together – there is no cohesion. Sick of the drama in your team? Read on to discover strategies for working through the victim-rescuer-persecutor cycle.   Source: Going Off Script How to Get Out of a Drama Triangle  Business in Gulf, June 2017

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The Ladder of Inference was proposed as a tool for trying to ensure decisions are based on hard reality and facts rather than wrong conclusions or assumptions, its understanding can empower and enable leaders to reduce potentially very damaging business relationships. This was back in the 1970s. The Ladder of Inference describes many moves through a series of mental steps, often very rapidly, to come to a conclusion, based on ‘data’ received. This data can be visual, kinaesthetic, auditory or...

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Team coaching (teams being ‘facilitated’ or ‘coached’ by a team’s leader or by an internal or external Coach) is on the rise. It is a fabulous tool for employee engagement, team development, innovation and creating ideas, as well as a way of reducing toxicity in organisations. To do this a Coach, in addition to the competencies required for 1-1 coaching, requires further specialised competencies.   Source: Team and Peer Coaching – The Way Ahead  Business in Gulf, December 2016

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Although we have been conducting psychometrics in the region for over 15 years, these diagnostics for recruitment, promotion and development are becoming a ‘go to’ tool to support organisational talent management through ability and personality assessments. What is important when choosing psychometrics tools and qualified Psychometrists to provide effective feedback? You need to ensure that you are being provided with the right tests and the right norm groups to meet your needs.   Source: Professional Profiling  BIZBahrain, August 2016

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This is a story about cross-cultural, cross continent, cross sector training and what worked for our client. How can trainers deliver expert subject matter? What’s the best way to train? What’s the ROI for internal v external training? Is a train the-trainer model effective i.e. training subject matter experts or technicians to train? What is the best way to manage global organisation-wide training?   Source: Transformation for Success, Business in Gulf, July 2016

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The Chartered Management Institute estimates women are underpaid by 100 minutes every day in comparison to their male colleagues. Over the course of a year this adds up to a staggering 57 days, which equates to an average 22% of annual salary. Ann Francke, the Institute’s Chief Executive, has also suggested that the bonuses men receive can be twice those of their female counterparts. This has been attributed to: firstly, their bosses and secondly, to the fact that gender salary...

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We know that businesses should stay focused on what is beneficial to shareholders and stakeholders, manage responsibilities, establish operational and societal goals, report regularly to ensure transparency and focus on engagement orientation behaviours for customer trust and reputation as an employer of choice. This is all important. Easy? No so. An efficient and effective Board is pivotal to the success of a company and teamwork is crucial to Board performance.   Source: Coaching-the-Board, Business in Gulf, Bahrain, February 2016

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There are a growing number of Coaches, both in the GCC and globally. Some are trained, some are experienced, some focus on a particular niche, and others are certified and members of international coaching professional bodies. The myriad of coaches may make choosing the best one for you a difficult task. Unfortunately, some people who purport to be Coaches have just basic introductory training and are uncertified and inexperienced. This article supports the need for regulating the coaching profession.  ...

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Human nature leads us to rely on the identities that we are most comfortable with and to allow the others to diminish. Some of us keep our most compelling leadership identities hidden from work, only to keep them alive and well at home, with friends and family, or in our community. We can choose to extend our leadership skills by granting ourselves access to a greater range of leadership identities, increasing our leadership capacity, enhancing collaboration, generating innovation and creating...

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By understanding what an entrepreneur is, how they operate, and the competencies that are needed to ensure success, you will then be armed with the knowledge to decide if an entrepreneurial life is right for you. This article will uncover the makings of an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is now even becoming identified as a career choice in its own right. Harvard Business School have the definition formulated by Professor Howard Stevenson, who defines entrepreneurialism as ‘a pursuit of opportunity beyond resources...

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Despite a relatively slow start, businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are realizing the immense value of social media in driving business growth and building authentic relationships with their consumers. Incorporating social media into your business strategy is essential, but how successful you are may depend on a number of different factors. How do you ensure your venture into social media is a success? Source: The Right Plan, Business in Gulf, Bahrain, October 2015

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