Episode 29: 26th July 2018

This week Tracy has an unseasonable cold which has left her with a deeper and huskier voice than is usual. You might think that would give Heather free reign to talk the hind legs of two donkeys but we think, even with her malaise, Tracy gives us a good run for her money.

Now, whether we like it or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already a very real part of our world. Maybe Alexa is ruling the roost from the corner of your sitting room, perhaps you are tired of being asked to ‘turn around when possible’ when out in your car or possibly you have had to use an out of hours GP call system? In any case all use some kind of AI to deliver their services. Whether we want to dig our heels in or allow ourselves to explore, examine and exploit the key benefits it brings to business and with the wider community, it’s here to stay. So what does this mean for jobs? Find out more at www.entrepreneur.com or via this detailed PWC UK report An International Analysis of The Potential Long Term Impact of Automation.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin ‘nothing is certain but death and taxes’ and HMRC are taking steps to help us realise this earlier in life through their introduction of YouTube video aimed at youngsters called Tax Facts – First Steps Your National Insurance Number and Personal Tax Account.

Our events take us into August and September:

• Question Time For Business – Walsall- August 16th
• Innovate UK Info and Brokerage H2020 – London – September 18th
• PRCA National Conference – London – September 21st

We decided this week to review a ‘thing’ rather than a ‘thing’ so we take a look at Psychometric Testing (cue Heather getting on her hobby horse). Keen to distinguish between personality profiling and aptitude or interest tests, we highlight the uses and benefits of asking others and encouraging ourselves to use these early AI methods to understand what makes people tick.

• Myers Briggs (MBTI)
• Belbin
• DISC
• Watson Glaser test

And finally, our business ‘personality’ this week is a contrast to last week in that the internet is full of stories, interviews and articles about Lady Karren Brady, Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge, CBE.  Youngest ever Managing Director of a UK Plc in 1997 and affectionately known as The First Lady of Football, real life Lady Brady has had an interesting career. And to what does she attribute her success? She follows 10 golden rules all available on her website www.karrenbrady.com

Tracy chose this rule to close the show:

“The people who work for me know exactly what is expected of them: they know what I think, where we’re going, and what the rewards will be when we get there. That’s because I’m very straight. I can’t stand people who say one thing and do another.”

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