There are many practical reasons why we spend our working lives in offices, meeting and conference rooms, but it doesn’t mean it’s doing us any good.

I was chatting to a fellow runner recently, while on our regular 5km route, about my work in helping individuals switch jobs. They expressed the frustration they experience when their organisation changes their role from underneath them. This led me to think about transitions coaching being useful for individuals to navigate organisational change, not just those undertaking key career moves.

As an employee, when you consider undertaking learning and development, you’re most likely to be thinking about how that particular training course or new qualification is going to benefit you, whether that’s in terms of improved skills, enhanced knowledge or potentially a career boost.

In China it is very common for people to gather in parks, or under flyovers, indeed anywhere there is an open space. Some time ago, the term Zhong Guo Da Ma (中国大妈) was created.

Business success is a cycle that justifies itself. Having the skills and determination to deliver success is all that seems important on the way up. But when you reach the top as a CEO or entrepreneur, it can start to seem more like a trap - a bubble of habits and behaviours that’s holding you back.

Being single I take many of my holidays alone, and I have a preference to travel under my own steam rather than go on guided tours. My most recent trip was to Guangzhou in China. It isn’t a major tourist destination so not a lot of English is spoken, and my Mandarin is ok but basic.

Online learning – or distance learning as it is sometimes called – is becoming increasingly popular. Advances in technology are making it easier to access, and it has broad appeal with a modern workforce that values its flexibility.

We always say you should never stop learning. That includes during your leisure time by the way, as sometimes it is when you’re at your most relaxed that you’re most open to learning valuable lessons that can help you in your day-to-day work.

In February 2019, we invited HR and L&D professionals responsible for investing in the development of their organisations' high potential employees to join us at Chelsea Football Club to explore Cranfield's new General Management portfolio, meet our tutors, and learn how to align the different development pathways with the specific needs and challenges embedded within their own organisational context. 

February 2019 saw the launch event of Cranfield's refreshed General Management portfolio at Chelsea Football Club. 50 HR and L&D professionals came together to explore the new courses, meet the tutors, discuss how to invest in the development of their organisations' high potential employees and learn how to align the different development pathways with the specific needs and challenges embedded within their own organisational context.