We have all heard of “Instagram vs reality” but what is the impact of positive negativity within the workplace? Disregarding genuine feelings and masking...Read more about Positively negative: The Smile Strain.
Generation Z – those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s – are entering the workforce in increasing numbers and bringing with them a...Read more about What Gen Z’s approach to communication can bring to professional services firms.
The latest learning and development statistics paint a clear picture: organisations that fail to invest in their people risk losing them. 94% of employees...Read more about Learning and Development Statistics.
If you’re a newspaper reader, chances are you’ll have noticed an increase in articles addressing neurodivergence in recent years. The articles are following the...Read more about Why increased diagnoses of neurodivergence are a good thing for professional services firms
It’s worth being easy to talk to, and to be with, and to work with. We all know that. The benefits are huge, both...Read more about Why are we so bad at relating to others when we have been practising our whole lives? 
The business case for effective communication at work has never been stronger — and the data backs it up. Teams with strong communication practices...Read more about Why communication is key within the workplace.
Is the idea that a gap year is a cop out persisting, or have times changed?   The term gap year first appeared in the...Read more about Mind the gap: Why a gap year doesn’t equate to a skills gap 

Points of View

The Urgency Trap 

Why do we do unimportant things just because they are ‘urgent’?  How do we decide which tasks to attend to at any given moment?...Read more about The Urgency Trap 
Clinging to outdated traditions can cripple even the most established professional services firms. The culture that fuelled their success in the past may not...Read more about Don’t Let Tradition Hold You Back. Why Culture Needs to Change, and How You Can Be the Catalyst.
Caffeine is the world’s most popular ‘drug’, with over 194% of adults in the US drink caffeinated beverages with up to 64% of those...Read more about Caffeine is no substitute for a lack of sleep (and here’s why …) 
Happy Summer Solstice! While 21st June marks the longest day of the calendar year, let’s be honest, for some of us, we often ask...Read more about Is every day the longest day of the year?
Developing storytelling skills for success could be one of the most powerful investments you make — both personally and professionally. The evidence is compelling....Read more about Why telling a story can make you successful.
Read our full Points of View overview.

The Openside Group’s Points of View is an extensive library of thought-leadership built over more than a decade, written specifically for professionals and leaders working in consulting, law, accounting, financial services and other advisory sectors.

The articles are deliberately challenging and thought-provoking, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world practice. Every piece is grounded in Openside’s deep experience of working with professional services firms across the globe and comes with practical recommendations that readers can act on.

The library spans a broad range of topics that matter most to people building careers and leading teams in professional services. On the technical side, readers will find rich content on analytical problem-solving, structured thinking, hypothesis-driven approaches, and critical thinking – the core intellectual skills that distinguish great consultants. Communication and storytelling feature prominently too, with articles exploring how to present with impact, craft compelling narratives and avoid the common trap of turning insight into a data dump.

Business development and client relationships are another major thread, covering everything from winning proposals and navigating procurement to building trusted advisor relationships and differentiating your firm in a crowded market.

Leadership runs throughout the archive – from practical tips for new managers stepping into their first leadership role, to the complex dynamics of Partner performance, development and succession. Alongside this sits a growing body of content on wellbeing, resilience and workplace culture, including a widely read special report on the “always-on” culture that dominates professional services.

More recently, Openside has turned its attention to the future of the profession – examining how AI is reshaping consulting, what the rise of Gen Z means for firms, and how skills-based development is changing the talent landscape.

Taken together, the Points of View represent one of the most comprehensive independent perspectives on professional development and performance in professional services available today.