17th September 2014
I’ve lost count of the number of times we have been exhorted to “think outside the box”. Worthy management gurus parroting clichés and senior managers trying to sound trendy have turned it into a hackneyed and meaningless phrase. The approach it advocates is also self-defeating. It suggests that the box – and the constrained and […]
3rd September 2014
His Majesty King Abdullah will be in Wales tomorrow for the NATO Summit. Why is this meeting important? The Summit will be the largest gathering of world leaders ever hosted in the UK. It brings Prime Minister Cameron, President Obama, Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande and many other world leaders together at a difficult and sensitive […]
20th August 2014
How to help refugees is a major issue in Jordan. As a country, Jordan has offered sanctuary to generations of refugees from many neighbouring countries, most recently from Syria. But the presence of over 2 million refugees from Palestine also presents a major challenge to the country. That is where the role of UNRWA comes […]
6th August 2014
In this month’s slot, I am happy to host a blog written by Richard O’Carroll, who is a Teacher of English at the British Council Jordan. He speaks fluent Arabic and his interests are in helping learners communicate effectively in intercultural business contexts. ‘We have a saying in Arabic which means ‘no one is born […]
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23rd July 2014
by Peter Millett and Robert Jenkins As parents we all want the best for our children. To reach full potential, girls need a loving and secure home environment, a good education and support that encourages their talents so that they can enjoy happy, satisfying and fulfilling lives. Early marriage prevents that from happening. Girls who […]
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9th July 2014
The pace and rhythm of life in Amman has changed now that we are in Ramadan. Many non-Muslims prefer to take their holidays at this time. But just as Muslims are fasting to achieve greater self-awareness, so others can use this month to reflect. Commenting on religion is risky, so a diplomat should tread with […]
25th June 2014
Is creativity something you are born with or something you can learn? It is probably a bit of both nature and nurture: natural talent and inspirational education. For example, a musician can’t improvise until he or she has learnt to master an instrument. The theme of creativity was prominent in a party we held last […]
11th June 2014
The World Cup starts tomorrow. For the next month the beautiful game will be played in 64 matches between 32 teams, watched by people all over the world. It will be the greatest show on earth this year. This extravaganza will be played in Brazil, a country that lives, breathes and sleeps football. As a […]
28th May 2014
A couple of years ago I attended a debate in Zarqa in which teams of young people debated the merits of nuclear power. All the participants engaged in the debate in a disciplined way, marshalling their arguments, responding to their opponents’ points and bringing passion and patience to a controversial subject. Both teams had been […]
14th May 2014
We all face information-overload. How can the leaders of organisations cope with the mass of emails, phone calls, meetings, video-conferences and other demands on their time? And how can we manage our time while also making sure that we deliver results? The answer is through delegation: by pushing decision-making and implementation down to people who […]