ONBoard
Alph Keogh is an author, facilitator, business coach, keynote speaker, an expert in leadership and career development.
He left school at the age of 15, started working in factories and took evening classes up to University level to receive finally a MSC in AI and psychology at the University of London. After a few year in the corporate world he followed the feeling of independence and started his coaching business (2004).
Over the years he got to coach and train in many work places and build an international experience in over 50 countries with XS to XXL organisations.
He enjoys business of performance, human performance, coaching teams and individuals as well leadership development and finding the “Purpose” for the organisation leadership.
3 Things about Alph:
- He started running for a marathon 2 years ago
- When he decides on something he’ll do it. e.g run a marathon, write a book
- He did sport parachuting and
- Reads a lot.
Colour:
Purple. It is an unusual colour and stands out, attracts attention. He is definitely not grey and fits in.
About reading.
Alph started with reading comics as a kid and reads now fiction, business, biography, non-fiction, newspaper. He encourages to read around topics to cross fertilise ideas and understanding.
Reading Advice:
Don’t read business books from A-Z and don’t feel bad if you didn’t read all of it. A fantasy book, roman or similar should be read from front to back to get the story but not a business book. Business books are written so you can pick out the topics you need at the moment and then come back later for more if needed. Alph is reading several business books in parallel picking out what he needs.
Why did Alph write ONBoard?
The idea was to have a “Conversation Starter”. A conversation with yourself or another person. To disrupt by giving you a new lens to look at the topic.
He wanted an honest, authentic noBS book about working and what to expect at a workplace for young people based on his experience. He felt that there was not enough written in an authentic way for the new starter. A book showing the pitfalls too in order to help you prepare and be able to have a good start into your career and happy work-life.
It took him 90 days to write with a good structure, commitment and the right amount of pressure to produce. Not to forget the intention to pull out something that is real; All started with a blank page and his own experience.
About the book:
Working in a company consist of 2 Parts. Yourself - and the Team/organisation you’ll work in.
Start with a reflection about yourself. “Who do you want to be?” “What are you really good at and enjoy?”
Don’t get stuck with the wrong aspect such as salary, title and potential growth
Many get stuck in a job they don’t really like for many reasons, and if they try to move inside the organisation they are not supported.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persist in trying to adapt the world to himself. All progress depends on the unreasonable man” - George Bernard Shaw
Organisations are build on the principle of creating money ASAP and the employees are the workhorses to do so.
“Its only responsibility is to its shareholders…” - Milton Friedman 1970
During the last 40 years that view has changed a bit with Mission and Vision statements. Yet the degree the top management spends in implementing their culture, mission and vision varies a lot and often is not more worth than the paper it is written on.
It is easier to control the culture in a XS company than in an XXL.
Innovation:
Innovation happens were the company meets the world.
Unfortunately too many companies try to formalise innovation twice a year with an event. Innovation should be an ongoing process and it should be driven from outside in and using cross fertilisation. Semistructured.
It needs a good ecosystem and relationships with customers, endusers, partners and a lot of experimentation to have a few ideas that succeed.
How to spot a good manager:
A good manager asks questions rather than demanding and giving answers. He/she’ll be consulting, interested in your work and inquisitive. A certain level of freedom between your manager and yourself increases performance, happiness and reduces stress.
Tips for the job interview:
- Check out the reception. Learn and observe and don’t rush in.
- It is the 1st thing you see and it will give you a feeling of the organisation.
- That feeling needs to be positive. If not that tells you there is a disconnect in the organisation.
- How much effort and attention does the management give to the reception? Is it seen as a part of the organisation and inviting guests or is it more an afterthought and necessity. An organisation needs to look at all parts as equally important.
Being international:
You can read about cultural differences but you need to experience it yourself. Many tend to hold on to their own culture from home when working abroad. So they become more German in China than they would be in Germany for example.
Wellbeing:
Health & Safety has been a part for many years now.
- Safety : Visible
- Health : Invisible
Safety has been successfully implemented in the organisation. Health on the other hand needs to catch up, as it is difficult to measure as you can’t see it and is related to the feeling you have at work, the relationships with the leadership or coworkers.
“Your direct boss at work can do more for your health than your family doctor”
Working Advice:
Don’t expect but Engage, Learn & Prepare
- What you do at work?
- How is your team, your manager?
- How are the relationships?
- Be generous and learn to say “NO”
- When you get stuck take action and move on
Link:
LinkedIN www.linkedin.com/in/alphkeogh/
Book: ONBoard www.amazon.co.uk/OnBoard-need-about-starting-today/dp/1784529087
Referred Books:
Michael Gerber - ”The E-Myth” - Series (Leadership Series)
Bill George - “The Discover Your True North” Authentic Leadership
Stephen Denning - “The Age of Agile”
Jim Collins Level 5 Leadership
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