All articles by Darren A Smith
-
Comment & OpinionThe ‘working while ill’ badge of honour and how to end it
Workplaces should embrace the army method of ‘restricted duties’ for ill people who are more likely to make mistakes, says Darren A Smith of Making Business Matter
-
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