If four cars approach a roundabout at the same time from four different directions, you do not want them all to carry on straight ahead at full speed and cause a great big pile up. On the other hand, you do not want them all to stop, each waiting for what seems like an ageContinue reading “On being polite (again)”
Author Archives: Peter Runkel
On being polite
If two people are walking along the pavement, heading straight towards one another, and only look up at the last moment, you do not want the pair of them to carry on regardless and walk straight into each other. On the other hand, you do not want them both to hesitate, step to the sameContinue reading “On being polite”
Busyness
There was a corny 1950s film about the US Navy. A warship was in dock between missions, with the crew carrying out repairs, preparing for the next mission. They had little to do, and the work they had was repetitive and boring, with the crew starting to get restless and to squabble amongst themselves. TheContinue reading “Busyness”
Valentine’s
On the train on my way back from work a couple of years ago on the evening before Valentine’s. The girl opposite me answers her phone (I can only hear her side of the conversation): “Hi, yes.” “Yes, I did.” “Well, if not tomorrow, I thought maybe Friday night.” “Oh. Oh. Yes, I’m tired too.Continue reading “Valentine’s”
The Serenity Prayer
I am not an alcoholic, nor a Christian, but I love the Serenity Prayer. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” It was written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s and later adopted byContinue reading “The Serenity Prayer”
Assertiveness
I recently came across a study on assertiveness. Its objective was to explore the issue of people being overly assertive, notably in the workplace. The study was wide-ranging and complex, but also very thorough. It was maybe 20 pages long, with densely packed text in tiny font, and went into enormous detail on the backgroundContinue reading “Assertiveness”
Running uphill
On my every-other-daily run around Richmond Park, there are two notable hills. Although they are much the same height and length, one of the hills is an absolute killer, while the other is almost enjoyable by comparison (all things being relative). I have often wondered what it is about the two hills that makes themContinue reading “Running uphill”
Man with box on head
In the office where I used to work, there was a picture on the conference room wall of a man with a cardboard box on his head. It was like the photo above only a painting – like a would-be Magritte. If you google ‘businessman with a cardboard box on his head’ there are hundredsContinue reading “Man with box on head”
Hollow confidence
When I was at university (some years ago) there was one class that was dominated by a handful of opinionated English public-school (i.e. fee-paying school) boys whose confidence was completely out of proportion to the value of their contribution. They talked loudly and without hesitation on topics they clearly knew very little about. Maybe it’sContinue reading “Hollow confidence”
Raining on someone else’s parade
There is a joke that Mexicans tell about themselves: An American businessman is on holiday in Mexico and, as he is walking along the beach, he passes a Mexican fisherman with his catch of crabs in an open bucket. “You should put a lid on that,” says the American, “or the crabs will climb out.”Continue reading “Raining on someone else’s parade”
A courage for gaps
Most of us would agree on the importance of thinking things through properly before we act. Thinking time ensures detailed, thorough and sometimes creative solutions. The more important the decision, the more consideration it deserves. But, at a certain point we need to stop deliberating and we need to find the courage to act. EvenContinue reading “A courage for gaps”
Overthinking
I remember my art teacher at school asking me if I thought a particular painting had been done from life or from a number of separate studies. It was Renoir’s ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’. Looking at it now, it is very clear that the answer is that it was a compilation of studies broughtContinue reading “Overthinking”
The power of ‘maybe not’
Our client was faced with a dilemma. Two of its best salespeople had an idea for a new business. But the idea was terrible … The thinking behind the new concept was jumbled, confused and incoherent. The plan could not possibly work. But the two budding entrepreneurs had absolute faith in their idea, so hadContinue reading “The power of ‘maybe not’”
‘Surrounded by Idiots’ by Thomas Erikson
A review of the book, ‘Surrounded by Idiots’ by Thomas Erikson
Empathy and the estate agent
There was a documentary series some time ago about a firm of estate agents in North London. The early episodes focused much of their attention on one relatively new recruit. He was an earnest young man, who made a point of emphasising that he wanted to do his very best to match buyers to theirContinue reading “Empathy and the estate agent”
A fear of horses
Sometimes it is the fear that is the problem, and you learn to fear the fear. I suspect the only solution is exposure. Safe, small steps which teach you to focus on the skills, not the emotions, and help you realise that these things are manageable. Start with a small, fat, old pony, for example,Continue reading “A fear of horses”
The devil and the angel
We have a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil is encouraging us to push ahead regardless and ignore what anyone else thinks; and the angel is telling us we should listen to others and hold back. Except that the devil is sometimes right and the angel sometimes wrong. That’sContinue reading “The devil and the angel”
The power of ‘no’
I need a job where the core skill is to be cynical. That is my real expertise – finding the reasons ‘why not’; identifying all the downsides. It’s a skill I have honed over many years. Unfortunately, most jobs call for people to take a more balanced approach – to weigh up the pros andContinue reading “The power of ‘no’”
Stress, anxiety, fight or flight
We need the courage to push out of our comfort zone, but sensitive people will find this more difficult than others
About resilience
We need both sensitivity and resilience in equal amounts
