University of Bristol Business School
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In business today, “soft skills” might seem like a misleading term. These crucial abilities, often undervalued, are actually key to successful leadership. In the blog below, Ben Dowman, an experienced leadership consultant and coach, clarifies the importance of soft skills and illustrates how they significantly boost leadership effectiveness.
On 18th June, the University of Bristol Business School hosted an enlightening event titled “Engagement & Relevance – Point and Counterpoint”, featuring speakers Professor Martin Parker and Professor Robin Holt. The session provided a compelling discourse on the current state of academia, its evolution, and its impact on both research and teaching. This blog post aims to encapsulate the essence of the discussion, highlighting the key points raised by both professors.
Insights and takeaways from the Faculty ECR event ‘How to live well as a researcher?’
Held in an atmospheric suite at Engineer’s House, this event brought together early-career researchers (ECRs) from across the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences, offering an opportunity for a dialogue across different schools. Prof Patrick Capps, the Faculty Research Co-Director, welcomed the participants and highlighted the institutional commitment to providing the ECRs with support to develop their research career at Bristol.
As societies worldwide get older, the debate over raising the state pension age becomes increasingly pressing. Aging populations, coupled with declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy, are reshaping the landscape of public spending, particularly on pensions. Many countries are grappling with this demographic shift by considering, or implementing, increases in the state pension age.
Dr Fiona Spotswood from the University of Bristol Business School and Professor Martin Hurcombe from the School of Modern Languages recently co-hosted a day of events exploring the consumption and representation of women’s sport. Their focus was on the historical exclusion within the realm of women’s sports and the exploration of opportunities for future change.
In today’s globalised world of work, the ability to navigate cultural differences is increasingly crucial for leaders and organisations alike. Drawing from insights shared in the University of Bristol’s recent webinar ‘Cultural Intelligence for Leaders’ led by Dr. Rushana Khusainova, Associate Professor Ekaterina Nemkova from IÉSEG School of Management offers valuable perspectives on the development of cultural intelligence, shedding light on its significance and practical approaches for leadership and management.
2024 will be the year of change. The Marketing and Consumption group at the University of Bristol Business School predicts a shift in the digital marketing landscape as new technologies become more widely available and sustainability continues to rise higher on the agenda. Here our Marketing academics and PhD researchers weight in on the imminent developments in the sector.
In the English language, success and failure can be seen as polar opposites – perhaps even mutually exclusive. Expressing shades of meaning between them is challenging without using phrases like “pipped at the post” or “missed by a country mile.” While linguistic determinism has its limitations, non-native speakers may still struggle with the colloquial nuances in such expressions. The common use of the phrase “being a victim of your own success” reinforces the idea of success and failure as independent states of being. We need a more nuanced view. Success and failure do exist on a variable scale and are not mutually exclusive, even if we don’t define specific words along that scale – particularly when time is involved.
Want to work 20% less hours for the same pay? Here’s a debate to enliven your lunchtime chat, and because pretty much everyone around the table has had a job, or goes to school, everyone will have an opinion. In October 2023, ministers warned English councils not to adopt a four-day week regardless of encouraging data from South Cambridgeshire District Council’s positive trial. In fact, working hours have been reducing over the past century, it’s a trend that’s set to continue, alongside working flexibly, remotely and smarter. Numerous trials expound positive benefits including enhancing employee motivation, loyalty, health and wellbeing…doesn’t it all sound a bit too good to be true? (more…)
We’re delighted to announce that Professor Richard Harris and Dr Manuela Pedio have been awarded funding of £234,000 through Innovate UK for a 2-year KTP project with Fathom Consulting. (more…)