Ben Brabyn

Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of London

The Lord Mayor’s Prize – connecting London and the World

Earlier this month, Michael Mainelli became the 695th Lord Mayor of London. Professor Mainelli is a distinguished economist, computer scientist, linguist, bagpiper and author. His motto is “Ordo ex Χάος” (“Order from Chaos”). He has chosen to make connection the theme of his mayoralty. You can watch his lecture entitled “Connect to Prosper – The […]

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Heart and brain image made from coloured wool

What why which

Are you constantly pitching, and frustrated that growth is slow or zero?  What you do is complicatedWhy you do it is simple, memorable and shareableWhich you tell people decides your success Even the most motivated and expert audience will forget most details and look for simple patterns (witness the research of Professor Laura Huang on investor behaviour).

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Image of the front cover of The Social Brain

Leading by the numbers – the psychology of successful groups

How do groups bond, earn trust and create shared identities? How can leaders build environments adaptable enough to respond to shocks and still enable people to thrive together? In The Social Brain, authors Tracey Camillieri, Samantha Rockey and Robin Dunbar (of Dunbar number fame) explore “the psychology of successful groups” (which is also the subtitle

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Should your business be more like a human body – or a fungus?

Traditionally, we view businesses, teams, and organisations as separate, distinct and centralised. We build them and then determine how they will relate to their surroundings, how they will form relationships with customers, suppliers and investors, and how they will recruit new employees or members. Our model resembles our own sense of ourselves, with a leadership

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Which Metaphorical Razor Do You Recommend?

This week I’ve been introduced to two new razors. They’re the metaphorical rather than the literal kind (I’m a wet-shave habitué). These are Hanlon’s Razor and Auden’s Razor. They state, respectively: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” and “If equal affection cannot be,Let the more loving one be me.” These

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