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Communication

Why Sully is a great illustration of cognitive biases

Sully not only shows the importance of psychological safety in a crisis, it’s also a great illustration of how cognitive biases can negatively affect our thinking. The movie recounts the real-life ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. After losing both engines from a bird strike 90 seconds after departing LaGuardia airport in… Read More »Why Sully is a great illustration of cognitive biases

Quiet leadership of introverts: Marty Baron in Spotlight

Many leaders are extroverts. They make rousing speeches. They have charisma that brings followers flocking to their cause. But you don’t have to be an extrovert to be an outstanding leader. Sometimes the quiet leadership of introverts can be just as effective. Introverts have many qualities that can effectively be… Read More »Quiet leadership of introverts: Marty Baron in Spotlight

Crisis communication: lessons from Sully

crisis communication in Sully

Sully recounts one of the most remarkable aviation incidents of recent times: the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. It also offers valuable insights on the importance of effective crisis communication. In January 2009, Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger III and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were flying out of New York’s LaGuardia airport.… Read More »Crisis communication: lessons from Sully

How Churchill mobilised the English language for battle

At the end of Darkest Hour, Winston Churchill’s famous ‘We shall fight on the beaches’ speech wins Parliament’s support for continuing the fight against Hitler, and defeats Lord Halifax’s plan to sue for peace. A surprised aide turns to Halifax and asks what just happened. “He mobilised the English language,” Halifax replies despondently, “and… Read More »How Churchill mobilised the English language for battle

The magic of McDonalds: five lessons from The Founder

The Founder tells the story of McDonalds: its origins as an innovative Californian fast-food restaurant and its transformation to global phenomenon and the world’s sixth largest employer. It’s the story of Ray Kroc, the milkshake machine salesman who persuaded the McDonalds brothers, Dick and Mac, to franchise their restaurant concept before… Read More »The magic of McDonalds: five lessons from The Founder

How Churchill led Britain through its Darkest Hour

Even great leaders have very human failings. In Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill is irascible, insensitive and stubborn.  But cometh the hour, cometh the man. In the early months of World War Two, the British Army faced annihilation as it was driven back to the beaches of Dunkirk in France. England stood… Read More »How Churchill led Britain through its Darkest Hour

Walking the job – lessons from Lincoln

Who’d have thought that ‘Management by Walking Around’ (MBWA) was actually ‘invented’ by US President Abraham Lincoln? MBWA reputedly originated at Hewlett Packard in the 1970s, and was brought to wider attention by management consultants like Tom Peters. But according to historian Stephen Oates, it really started when Lincoln began informally inspecting… Read More »Walking the job – lessons from Lincoln