News & Insights
The loudest voice in the room
We’re doing a bit of work on the Bishop brand at the moment. It’s an interesting process, involving reflection on who we are, what we stand for and how we want the world to see us. All without losing the stuff that makes us who we are (was that a plug?!) It’s also turning out […]
Emotional Intelligence and the Art of Dishwasher Emptying…
You can learn a lot about emotional intelligence standing in front of a dishwasher, particularly one someone else was supposed to empty. My kids are a bit older now, but I can vividly remember drawing a big imaginary circle in the air and saying, “I love you.” Then pointing to a tiny dot inside it: […]
The most expensive hiring mistake often happens before an advert is even written
Many so-called bad hires are not candidate failures. They are the predictable result of lazy thinking disguised as urgency before a search even begins. When a new hire doesn’t work out, excuses and explanations arrive quickly. They interviewed well but didn’t end up delivering. They weren’t the person we thought they were. I guess they […]
What will my life look like if I say yes?
One of the most important questions a candidate asks about a new job often has very little to do with the job description itself. It is something much more personal: What will my life look like if I say yes? Of course salary matters. People want to be paid fairly, they want to feel valued, […]
Outplacement – So Much More Than Helping Someone Write a CV
I recently supported someone through an outplacement process that reminded me how easy it is to underestimate what this work involves. In theory, outplacement services should be fairly straightforward: update the CV, prepare for interviews and help someone begin looking for their next role. In reality, people do not always arrive ready to leap enthusiastically […]
Why Multi-Listing Recruitment Roles Can Damage Your Brand
When a role is urgent, it can be tempting to brief several recruitment agencies at the same time and hope that more activity will mean a faster result. On the surface, that feels logical. More recruiters. More candidates. More chance of finding the right person. In my experience, recruitment doesn’t work that neatly. When multiple […]
Curiosity: The Success Factor We Don’t Talk About Enough
When talking with candidates and clients about employee success factors, I often return to familiar themes such as: motivational fit, values alignment, emotional intelligence, communication, shared purpose and the ability to contribute positively to a team. All of these factors are important, commercially relevant and desirable characteristics we want to see displayed. But there is […]
The Unspoken Contracts Between Us
It was freezing in Christchurch this morning and Mrs Bish decided she couldn’t face the bike ride to work so I dropped her in. She had a wee stumble moment as she hopped out of the car, I wound down the window and called out: “Bitterman!” (bonus points to anyone who can identify the slightly […]
A Winning Formula for Emotional Intelligence & Leadership Success
Is striking a harmonious balance between intellect, empathy, and pragmatism the formula to achieving the best relationships?