Darren A Smith
Comment & OpinionHelp your workplace ‘talker’ cut the chatter and be more efficient
Talkative people so want to be heard, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter. The problem is that the exact opposite happens
Comment & OpinionPractical steps to improve confidence and stand out more
The people coached by Making Business Matter’s Darren A Smith can normally identify one of three things they can do to improve their confidence levels
Comment & OpinionConflict at work: how to manage it and prevent the blowfish
One blowfish per conversation is bad enough, two is a disaster, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionUnhelpful comparisons: a lesson from the pool
Making Business Matters’ Darren A Smith on the ‘dawning moments’ swimming etiquette can provide
Comment & Opinion10 self-development books that aren’t a waste of your time
It is not worth wasting your time on 99% of these ‘self-development’ books. Here are some Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter says are worth committing to
Comment & OpinionUse the three great persuaders to make your work life easier
Making Business Matter’s Darren A Smith ponders what he’d do with the Bruce Almighty-style power to persuade
Comment & OpinionHow hotel query can help us check in with customers better
Think about what questions you’re asking and why, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionThe tiresomeness of the chase: how to get better responses
If a person keeps missing the deadline, and there are no consequences, why, asks Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter, would they complete the task?
Comment & OpinionStop digging with the assumption shovel and open up your next negotiation
The assumption shovel is shaped by your past experiences, biases and expectations
Comment & OpinionPlay chess, not draughts, with these top negotiation tips
Negotiating is harder to do than haggling, taking more time, effort, and skill. Here’s Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter’s guide
Comment & OpinionIn negotiations? Make sure you know GSCOP and competition law
Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter on some horror stories from his travels training suppliers
Comment & OpinionOne-to-one meetings: why they don’t work and how to fix them
There are three key ways to help drive performance via one-to-one meetings, says Making Business Matter’s Darren A Smith
Comment & OpinionA fresh approach to training could stop us being ‘stunted sharks’
Chat GPT says emails, and meetings are 70% of what we knowledge workers do. It certainly feels like it sometimes, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionSeven techniques to help you solve the big problems at work
Soft skills like problem solving are becoming increasingly important, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionFour ways to keep people focused in screen meetings
Jaden Smith’s house headwear got Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter thinking about Microsoft Teams
Comment & OpinionYou can’t manage time – but you can stop firefighting
‘Time management’ is a paradox: you can’t manage it, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionHow the World Prawn Forum taught me to be good at networking
Here’s what 20 years of networking in person and online have taught Making Business Matter’s Darren A Smith about how and why we must network
Comment & OpinionDo better than saying ‘hope you’re well’ in emails with the push/pull method
‘Hope you’re well’ is the equivalent of the paper straw cover in McDonald’s, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
Comment & OpinionUse the Presentation Compass to keep your audience engaged
If you’re monotone, don’t move, and aren’t engaging, then it is likely that the audience won’t engage either
Comment & OpinionDon’t be a butterfly, hit the big tasks with a 20-minute focus
We can definitely focus for 20 minutes. Proven research tells us this. The rest is up to you