By: Michael McQueenIn the world we are living in, it seems that by the day, information becomes more and more convoluted and issues become more and more complex. Dealing with such a world demands a kind of depth of thought, discernment and understanding that we have previously not had to develop....
By: Michael McQueenIf this time has offered any opportunity to us, it is the radical breaking of convention that businesses, brands and individuals have had to respond and adapt to. It can certainly feel frustrating to have business teams scattered and separated by isolation – communication...
By: Michael McQueenMiriam is quick in the centre but loses heart. Joyce understands the game but could move a little quicker; Audrey places herself well but lacks height. I recently came across this extract from the sports notes section of the annual magazine from a girl’s school in the...
By: Michael McQueenIn a time that is characterised by confinement, disruption and chaos, maintaining a sense of momentum and productivity can prove beyond challenging. One of the biggest enemies of momentum is monotony and in a time like this, it seems as if the one dependable aspect of life is...
By: Michael McQueenWhile a crisis provides a unique opportunity to recalibrate and rediscover the unchanging DNA that makes up your business, it is also worth examining the possibilities and perils of significantly changing your business in the face of crisis and straying too far from your brand...
By: Michael McQueenIn the last few weeks, it has seemed that every day has brought yet another piece of bad news, pushing the world deeper and deeper into crisis mode. With more and more job losses, confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection and uncertainties arising, it is difficult to see the...
By: Michael McQueenIn the existing world of power and politics, the story of David and Goliath has never really rung true. Aside from the odd revolutionary who led a charge against the world’s reigning forces, power has historically always belonged to organisations – be they religious...
By: Michael McQueenIf you had told the manual workers of the previous centuries that one day the average person’s ‘work’ would primarily be conducted from one little device we call a ‘laptop’, they would not have believed you – and they definitely would not have...
By: Michael McQueenOver 30 years ago, a cohort of middle school students was given some mathematics problems to solve. The students were split into two groups. The first group was given what could be described as ‘unconditional positive regard’ style feedback. At the end of each...
By: Michael McQueen “Our trust in technology has rested in a confidence that the technology will do what it’s supposed to do, nothing more, nothing less.” Rachel Botsman makes this point in her excellent book Who Can You Trust. The important principle here is that...
By: Michael McQueenThe need for industries and brands to stay relevant to the next generation has always been important, but today it matters more than ever. Younger generations can either represent a breathtakingly large opportunity or one of the most significant disruptions any brand or industry...
By: Michael McQueen“The electric light did not come from the continuous improvement of candles.” I love the pertinence of this statement of Oren Harari for our culture. As a former business professor at the University of San Francisco, he is sure to know a thing or two about the trends...