The past few weeks and months have seen arguably the biggest exodus and purge of leaders from South Africa’s top companies and state owned companies in recent history, with more heads expected to roll in future. Debbie Goodman-Bhyat, Co-Founder of Virtual Coaching Partners and CEO of Jack Hammer, says the
This article was first published on Entrepreneur.com. Disruption. Uncertainty. Rapid technological advancement. Obsolescence. We all know that the world of work and business is changing and transforming rapidly, even exponentially. I’ve seen some form of a Moore’s Law graph at every conference I’ve attended in the last year,
Only 1% of CV applications result in an interview. Is yours good enough? Our top career experts have helped professionals and leaders around the world achieve their career goals. To help you get ahead of the competition, we’ve developed a highly effective CV template, which you can download below. With
What’s going to put you ahead of the other 1 billion talented people out there? We’d all like to believe that a combination of talent and hard work will lead to career success. This is partly true. Talent and hard work may lead to some success – if you measure
I often reflect on this question and am curious about its source. I’ve realised for me, and many people I have worked with, that it comes from inside. The pressure to succeed, to look good, to know it all, to deliver results, to be the first, to not make any
For many of us, it’s been quite a roller-coaster year. It’s very tempting to spend the last few weeks of the year doing as little as possible, limping to the finish line. This year, you might like to try something different, and end STRONG. Here’s how: Ask yourself 3 key
Virtual Coaching Partners Co-Founder, Debbie-Goodman-Bhyat, shares her top tips for getting promoted. One of the most common career complaints I hear is from professionals who feel that they’re getting overlooked for promotions, or not moving up the career ladder as quickly as they’d like. Here are a few quick
It’s that time of year when your performance at work is being appraised. Your organisation may have some kind of formal appraisal structure, some boxes to tick, or some numbers to score. I’m not a huge fan of these kinds of performance reviews, but if it needs to be done,
In our fast paced, ever accelerating, must be busy all the time world, it seems that the collective and dominant response is to do more, go faster, reach higher and multi task while multi-tasking! And yet…And yet what works best, what reinvigorates, regenerates and refocuses our energy is Recovery. The
Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the “marshmallow problem” — a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average? Watch the full Ted
“For me success comes down to this: If I know myself well, I can lead myself well.” – Gavin Shaskolsky In this Seedpod podcast, Virtual Coaching Partners Co-Founder, Gavin Shaskolsky, explains what drives him, what frightens him, and what inspires him. About Gavin Gavin has been working as an
How important is it to optimise your LinkedIn profile? This video by Link Humans shows 7 surprising LinkedIn profile stats. 42% of hiring managers surveyed by LinkedIn said they view volunteer experience as equivalent to formal work experience. Adding a profile photo could result in 14 times more profile views.
Resignations are never easy. You may have been part of a productive team for many years and have sound relationships built with colleagues and superiors. You may be expecting people you like and trust to wish you well in your next career move – but be prepared for a range
Step-by-step plan for great daily habits How you begin your day, manage your energy throughout it and then close out your day, all have a fundamental and direct impact on what you manage to achieve, and your energy levels. The following steps will help you identify the habits that
Adapted from Forbes Magazine Surveys of typical interview questions reveal that these are the most likely ‘tough’ interview questions to arise in any interview. They may or may not be asked – if they are, you’ll be ready! Word of caution: don’t over-rehearse or speak in generalizations or clichés. Be
Here are our guidelines for putting together a killer CV. Choosing a design or format. There are hundreds of CV template options – take a look online to find something that you like, or design your own. User experience. Whatever format you choose, ensure that it is simple and easy
Interview questions you MUST consider before you walk in the door The better you know yourself, your skills, your competencies, your goals, your desires, and your weaknesses the better able you are to sail through the interview process no matter what question is thrown at you. Here are some key
Some truths about counter offers: When you accept a counter-offer, you should know that an element of trust with your current company is broken. You may be overlooked for future promotions as a result The salary increase you accepted to change your mind wasn’t budgeted for and must come from
VCP Founder and Jack Hammer CEO, Debbie Goodman-Bhyat, recently spoke to Cape Talk’s Koketso Sachane on the topic of interviews, especially that pesky “what are your weaknesses?” question! View the transcript below. Koketso: Such a silly question, what are your weaknesses? “Admitting I have any”. That is what
Your New Job – Top 10 Questions for Success Key questions to ask yourself when you start a new job, to pave the way for a quick and successful transition. What have been the most positive experiences in my new role so far? What have I found to be most
This article was written by Tracy Dawson of Jack Hammer – one of the top three executive search firms in South Africa. In a nutshell – a great referee is EVERYTHING! (almost) Here’s why: Two Executives. One great job. Both executives show up admirably through all three stages of the Jack Hammer
It’s time to invest in face-to-face training that empowers employees to have difficult conversations, says Tamekia MizLadi Smith. In a witty, provocative talk, Smith shares a workplace training program called “I’m G.R.A.C.E.D.” that will inspire bosses and employees alike to communicate with compassion and respect. Bottom line: always let people
Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity — and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen. Watch the full Ted Talk below.
Scott Dinsmore quit a job that made him miserable, and spent the next four years wondering how to find work that was joyful and meaningful. He shares what he learned in this deceptively simple talk about finding out what matters to you — and then getting started doing it. Watch
Adapted from Peter Bregman Spend a few minutes each day strengthening your professional development with these questions and exercises. Morning 5 minutes: Ask: Which of my key priorities can I realistically accomplish today/this week? How much time will this activity take? Schedule the time in your calendar Evening 5
Adapted from Epiphany (www.epiphanycoaches.com) Traditionally, we define our success in terms of our professional lives. There are many different visions for a successful life, beyond our professional lives. Success may certainly be defined in terms of professional achievement, but it may take other forms. Examples of other definitions could be:
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our
DON’T Air dirty laundry about your current company, boss or colleagues. Speaking negatively about others shows you up in a poor light, regardless of how justified your comments are. Ask about package at a first interview. It makes the interviewer think that that’s all you’re interested in. If you know
The objective of this exercise is to gain insights and learnings from your previous career moves, to support your next one. Notice any patterns of behavior or circumstances that repeat themselves. This exercise is loosely based on a reflection in Becoming a resonant leader: develop your emotional intelligence, renew your
Before the interview: Ensure you have the address of venue, and contact details of the person to call when you arrive. Estimate travel time, and then add 20 minutes for traffic issues. Dress code – smart is always best, but suit and tie may be overkill. Check the culture/ style
This article was written by Barbara Hooper of Jack Hammer – one of the top three executive search firms in South Africa. On a daily basis, I deal with executives who lead companies or sizeable businesses in large corporates, are adept and confident around the negotiating table, and orchestrate complex deals but,
Based on Ted Talk by Shawn Achor Over the next 21 days experiment with the following 5 core practices that have been proven through definitive research to increase your levels of wellbeing, happiness, productivity, meaning and purpose in the world. Keep a journal of your learnings, experiences and reflections.
Adapted from Resonant Leadership and Co-Active coaching Introduction: A personal vision is the deepest expression of what we want in life. It is a description of our preferred future, not a prediction of what will be. In this sense, your personal vision should describe what kind of person
Self-Reflection What are the core values which I aim to demonstrate in my leadership? What do I stand for as a leader/person? What am I here to do in the world? What defines my current leadership presence/brand? (How would others describe me?)How would I like to shift and evolve my
Download the journaling exercises below. 10-Minute Daily Practice Key questions to consider 90-Day Quick Change Plan Sharp, swift focus on one key thing you most want to change Defining Success What signifies success to YOU? Getting in the Zone Daily practice for focus and prioritisation Key Priorities Worksheet Identify and
This video was adapted from Captain David Marquet’s talk on Greatness and is based on his book, “Turn the Ship Around”. Watch the full video below.
Renowned conductor and speaker Benjamin Zander discusses the potential to motivate by giving everyone an “A”. Watch the full video below.
We regularly add links to interesting content from across the web. This Is The Contract My Wife And I Wrote To Protect Our Work-Life Balance (Fastcompany.com) What “Facilitation” Really Means And Why It’s Key To The Future Of Work (Fastcompany.com) This Startup CEO’s Email To His Team Is A Masterclass
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