What is the most incredible turnaround in a worker that you have seen? And in a manager? HM, London
The Workplace Doctor is intrigued by your question and waits eagerly to hear of the reasons. In the meantime, however, let's think back over the years.
The most incredible turnaround I've seen in an employee was one I witnessed during a performance counselling process over a matter of three months.
Our HR director was known for her fairness and her commitment to those she had hired. Her team was in awe of her expertise, yet on this occasion they started questioning outcomes with the extent of performance management for Paul.
Paul was struggling to fulfil work commitments. At the time this was happening, the laws were starting to change in favour of the employee, placing pressure on the employer to prove beyond doubt that everything possible had been done for the employee to turn his below-standard performance into an acceptable one. This pressure resulted in a watertight arrangement of a four-step counselling procedure, for which three sessions were deemed to be ample. When Paul showed no improvement after 10, documented, one-to-one sessions, the very disappointed and saddened HR director asked him just one simple question: If you were me, what would you do?
Paul replied: I would sack me.
Why was this a successful turnaround, as there was no change in performance? Success comes in many guises and on this occasion, Paul accepted that he was at the centre of the non-performance, he was unwilling to change his ways and it was time for self-responsibility. From the viewpoint of any doctor, including a Workplace Doctor, what great results for sustainable and healthy change in a person.
And now for the best turnaround of a manager.
Many first-time managers have been promoted for their ability to "produce" or complete tasks, an ill-placed reason that does not prepare for managerial success. Promotion into a managerial role took Tim away from production and into the world of leading people to do the job, with which he struggled.
Doctors work with causes and should prescribe accordingly. The Workplace Doctor recognised the cause to be a lack of preparation for the role, a responsibility that the organisation had chosen not to take. The prescription was a concoction of understanding and acceptance techniques, change tips and an action plan for increasing people skills. Why did this result in such a turnaround?
Two years later, when Tim was moving into a new leadership role, he had not one but two junior supervisors ready for the leadership of people. In addition to wholeheartedly embracing the change he faced, he also committed to ensuring nobody else would need to experience the pains he did. Tim allowed his own experience to embed new managerial behaviours, becoming a best-practice example of succession planning for the rest of the organisation to mimic.
The doctor's prescription
Perhaps in both cases, the doctor has become redundant; what a wonderful diagnosis for a Workplace Doctor.
Deb Nicol, the managing director of Dubai-based Business En Motion, is a consultant on leadership and organisational development, strategic change and corporate culture. Email her at debbie.nicol@businessenmotion.com for the Workplace Doctor's advice on your challenges, whether as an employee, a manager or a colleague
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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