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Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Don’t be a rescuer

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Don’t be a rescuer

In conflict situations it is not uncommon for one or more parties to feel that they are being persecuted, that they are being treated unfairly. This is often due to the conflict concerned revolving around different perceptions of the situation. For example, where there are two people in conflict it is very common for each to perceive the other as being ‘difficult’ or ‘awkward’ – that is, each seeing the situation in personal, rather than interpersonal, terms. Where this occurs the result can be what is known as the ‘drama triangle’. This is where one person in the conflict (who plays the role of victim) draws in a third party to seek support (to be a rescuer) against the other…
Dr Neil Thompson
March 9, 2021
What do we mean when we talk of allyship?

What do we mean when we talk of allyship?

Let’s face it, looking back on 2020, there have been very few positives. But could we at least say that we have seen an increase in awareness of race equality? There has certainly been a surge in the sales of books on anti-racism, people have protested for more action on racial equality and there have been a number of notable TV programmes about black history. The big question though is: has this awareness translated into action in our workplaces? I think there are some signs that it has, but we must keep the momentum going. Being an ‘ally’ is an important part of this. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
March 9, 2021
How to create a healthier organizational culture in a world of ‘viral’ conflict

How to create a healthier organizational culture in a world of ‘viral’ conflict

Conflict is always in the headlines. Whether it’s the leader of KPMG telling hundreds of staff to “stop moaning” about the impact of the pandemic, the chaotic parish council Zoom meeting, which inspired countless memes, or the latest rift at Buckingham Palace with Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down as working royals. Disputes have always had the potential to harm or even destroy an organization’s reputation, but now it’s more likely than ever. Not only does technology give employees the means to share issues far and wide, but the social climate has changed, and people are more likely to speak out. Leaders need to be aware of the potential reputational risk of mismanaged conflict, and organizations and individuals need to…
Dr Neil Thompson
March 9, 2021
Austerity is alive and well, and giving public services a kicking

Austerity is alive and well, and giving public services a kicking

There are plenty of ways to measure austerity. Before, during and after the budget this week, voters will hear Rishi Sunak herald the end of tight spending as the government builds a bridge from the pandemic to a glorious recovery. What economists do when they want to kick the tyres on such claims is look at the Treasury’s books. They want to see whether public spending is contracting or expanding. And if there is a squeeze, we can be said to be living in a period of austerity. In the period when George Osborne was chancellor, his supporters would claim that after the first two years of his reign, the spending taps were turned on again and austerity was no…
Dr Neil Thompson
March 9, 2021
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Failure is part of success

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Failure is part of success

We tend to see failure as the opposite of success. But this simplistic way of viewing failure hides some very complex issues. It is more accurate and realistic to think of failure as part of success. A one hundred per cent success rate in any significant project is relatively rare. Most of the time, success encompasses failure. Sometimes, it is failing at one thing that enables us to succeed at something else – for example, by seeing where we have been going wrong, what assumptions we have been making that need to change. Furthermore, fear of failure can be a major obstacle to innovation, to a balanced approach to risk and to learning. And, let’s be clear about it, we…
Dr Neil Thompson
February 23, 2021
The road to enlightenment: Work and mental health in the pandemic

The road to enlightenment: Work and mental health in the pandemic

The impact that Covid-19 is having on our mental wellbeing – sometimes referred to as the 'shadow pandemic' – is clear to see in the numbers: Depression - More people are experiencing some form of depression. Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that 19% of adults were likely to be experiencing some form of depression during the pandemic, almost double the proportion (10%) from before the pandemic. Poor coping strategies - Recent research from Bupa Global, for example, found that 38% of UK board-level executives have used drink and drugs to manage pressures of the pandemic. Loneliness - Research from the ONS reveals that at the start of November, with its darker evenings, 8% of adults were…
Dr Neil Thompson
February 23, 2021
The ‘learning styles’ myth is still prevalent among educators – and it shows no sign of going away

The ‘learning styles’ myth is still prevalent among educators – and it shows no sign of going away

The idea that people learn better when taught in a way that matches their specific “learning style” — auditory, kinesthetic, visual or some combination of the three — is widely considered a myth. Research has variously suggested that learners don’t actually benefit from their preferred style, that teachers and pupils have different ideas about what learning styles actually work for them, and that we have very little insight into how much we’re actually learning from various methods. Despite this evidence, a large proportion of people — including the general public, educators and even those with a background in neuroscience — still believe in the myth. And a new review, published in Frontiers in Education, finds no signs of that changing.…
Dr Neil Thompson
February 23, 2021