News

Handling meetings – as Chair and Participant

This article was first published in Business Times on 21 December 2019 Handling meetings – as Chair and Participant John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Meetings get me down. I don’t mind the informal ones where everyone says what they think and nobody is trying to get their own point of view endorsed. I like chatting…
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Making the interview work for you

This article was first published in the Business Times on 7 December 2019 Making the interview work for you By John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International What is the greatest genuine flattery you can be shown? I’m not talking about creepy praise from subordinates – or from superiors who want you to cover for them. I’m…
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When you (don’t want to) fire a customer

This article was first published in Business Times on 23 November 2019 Management Unleashed – When you (don’t want to) fire a customer John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Customers can be a pain. I’m sure you know that already. They fall into several categories. At the top, the most desirable customer is the company (or…
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Do personal relationships matter in business?

This article was first published in Business Times on 9 November 2019 Management Unleashed – Do personal relationships matter in business? John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International The man who was my mentor in business for some twenty years liked me. I liked him, too. We had similar senses of humour and although he was cleverer…
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Management Unleashed – The role of intelligence in business and how you measure it?

This article was first published in Business Times on 26 October 2019 Management Unleashed – The role of intelligence in business and how you measure it? John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Academics often regard business people as not particularly intelligent. Business people similarly sometimes regard academics as rather theoretical. Both seem somehow right when considered…
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How to promote and demote employees

This article was first published in Business Times on 12 October 2019 How to promote and demote employees John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Think how you reward your children. When they are tiny you give them something to eat, maybe a visit to somewhere they like. You pat them on the back and tell them…
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No such thing as a ‘bad employee’

This article was first published in Business Times on 28 Sept 2019 “No such thing as a ‘bad employee’ John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International Have you ever been told you are a bad employee? I don’t mean about some specific issue, some small sin of commission or omission that was probably caused by forgetfulness. I…
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Management Unleashed – Bribery, does it have a role in today’s business?

This article was first published in Business Times on 14 September 2019 Management Unleashed – Bribery, does it have a role in today’s business? John Bittleston, Terrific Mentors International A substantial part of a company’s compliance today has to do with bribery. Bribery is the act of giving or receiving something of value in return…
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Management Unleashed – Clash of Greens and Sales

This article was first published in Business Times on 31 August 2019 Management Unleashed – Clash of Greens and Sales John Bittleston, Founder and Chair, Terrific Mentors International 2019 may well go down as the year the world really started to wake up to the implications of climate change. More than 50% of the planet’s…
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Management Unleashed – The Retail Revolution

This article was first published in Business Times on 17 August 2019 Management Unleashed – The Retail Revolution John Bittleston, Founder and Chair, Terrific Mentors International Most people enjoy shopping. Saturday afternoon at the shops used to be something of an outing for the family. The exercise involved in walking through a town or mall…
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