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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Mar 2022 - 12:40

null  “ won’t make a difference”

My initial response to the white paper on integration was a flash back to being a young inexperienced trainee social worker. I was sitting in juvenile court as the magistrates told my young offender that basically they would give him another chance to show he could make something of his life. My initial relief that he wasn’t going to get a custodial sentence turned into panic as he... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Mar 2022 - 10:12

null Better to fall on your own sword 

The origins of the expression come from Ancient Rome where a disgraced soldier was expected to commit suicide by stabbing themselves in the stomach , literally falling on their  sword. Today to fall on your sword means to do the honourable thing and resign rather than wait till you’re very publicly dismissed.  It’s a specific skill to persuade someone to, “ fall on their sword”. A... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Mar 2022 - 10:07

null A few bad apples 

You don’t want management that is distant and detached but neither do you want management that is so tight with their staff they can’t see the faults and so are dismissive of criticisms and complaints.    Senior managers are often accused of being detached from the front line and therefore out of touch with how the workers on the ground feel with no real understanding of the challenges... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Feb 2022 - 15:52

null Why do organisations appoint the wrong people? 

There are many reasons why the wrong people get promoted but its not a new thing. Disgruntled employees used to say ,”It’s not what you know but who you know “ to get on in this organisation. Academics identified a tendency for organisations to promote individuals to their level of incompetence,  meaning people were promoted as a reward for their performance in their previous post... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Mar 2022 - 11:24

null A hard look at soft skills 

  There is nothing “ soft” about a police interrogation in Line of Duty. It’s intense and systematic . There is no shouting, verbal abuse or threats of violence. The aim is to get the individual to talk, to give an account that can be tested out against the evidence. Any inconsistencies will be probed. To do this effectively the officer must demonstrate empathy to gain the suspects... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 Feb 2022 - 14:42

null How to survive  in a ruthless organisation 

A successful financial planner finds that his business partner has been doing the books for a Mexican drug cartel. What’s more he has been skimming off the top to fund an extravagant extramarital affair. The cartel kill his partner only sparing him and his family because he persuades them he can repay the stolen money. He will use his financial planning skills to set up a money... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
18 Feb 2022 - 12:26

null The Borg don’t do Diversity

  In Star Trek when the Enterprise first encounters the Borg they announce themselves with the now infamous phrase   “  We are the Borg,  resistance is futile , you will be assimilated.”   Is your organisation like the Borg seeking out people from different cultures and backgrounds to add their knowledge and skills to benefit the company  but expecting them to give up their... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Feb 2022 - 11:50

null Another reorganisation, another major change initiative 

Those made redundant , relocated or required to apply for their own job  have long suspected that leaders of organisations are often guilty of change for change sake. The new chief executive wants to make their mark and what better way than a reorganisation, a modernisation, a downsizing, or a merger. This is not to deny that organisations need to respond to a fast changing world,... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Feb 2022 - 16:15

null  Lack of career obstacles for the incompetent and over confident.

The best way to smash  the glass ceiling, the most effective way of getting  a diverse senior management team and how to ensure managers have good people skills.    Organisations that want to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion should stop appointing incompetent managers.    I believe most HR professionals would describe their role as removing obstacles to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Jan 2022 - 15:08

null Should I stay or……..?

Even if your employees think the organisation stinks , senior management are incompetent idiots  and the work life balance is all wrong they will stay longer if they feel their line manager values them because people leave managers not organisations. This fact is very relevant when you consider that the biggest challenge facing HR over the next year is employee retention and... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
20 Jan 2022 - 16:24

null Managers you want to do well for.

I consider my self to be very self motivated when it comes to work. Even if I had lost faith in the organisation and fallen out with my line manager my professionalism would not allow me to just go through the motions. However there were some managers I worked for who really got the very best out of me. Managers who I really wanted to do it for. They were very different individuals,... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jan 2022 - 12:32

null Survival of the friendliest 

As we know it’s not the fastest, the strongest or the cleverest that survive but the friendliest. Admittedly in reference to evolution it’s survival of the fittest , those who adapt most quickly to their environment  but I am referring to the workplace. People who are seen as friendly, cooperative , easy to talk to and get on with tend to survive and prosper. They survive the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jan 2022 - 11:31

null Probably the best….

Once upon a time management was about managing budgets and people plus possibly but not necessarily buildings and equipment. Information management would be missed off many people’s lists. But now Big Data is the big thing. It’s advocates are evangelical in their enthusiasm for the benefits of bid data, not only does it tell us what we have done in forensic detail but if used... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jan 2022 - 09:46

null With a little help from my friends 

I read an article that asked the question, “ Is HR ever your friend?” My first thought was this must be a reflection on how HR’s first loyalty is to the organisation despite presenting themselves as the people who will help you if you have a bully for a manager, experience racism in the workplace or fallout with a colleague. Whilst I wouldn’t  tell my HR colleagues,” Your my best... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
31 Dec 2021 - 13:06

null The Understanding manager

You can make tough decisions when required. Just because you’re understanding and supportive that doesn’t make you soft.    Everyone wants a supportive manager some one who recognises your value to the team and acknowledges your skill and work ethic, some one who is sympathetic when some difficulty in your personal life makes you less effective than normal, someone who is understanding... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Apr 2022 - 07:45

null “Brain surgery…. It’s not exactly rocket science is it?”

A recent study ( published in the festive edition of BMJ) to decide who is the brainiest, neurosurgeons or aerospace engineers has found that neither are necessarily brighter than the rest of us. It’s not that brain surgeons and rocket scientists are better at everything but they are better at certain things which make them very good at what they do. It occurs to me that the same... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Dec 2021 - 14:07

null Succession 

He has been the leader of the council for 15 years. During that time the council’s has acquired a national profile and come to dominate the region. The first to embrace out sourcing. The first to agree a major contract to outsource all back office services. The leader has a reputation as a canny negotiator and a ruthless political manipulator. Which has not always endeared him to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Dec 2021 - 12:21

null The Ketchup Wars  

There are two types of senior manager those who believe success is built on long hours, dedication and hard work ,sacrifice and those who think the best results come when people feel valued, empowered and trusted, fulfilment.  I’m not saying there can not be a mix and max but generally senior managers lean one way or the other. Some of the most successful are the most extreme. The... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Feb 2022 - 16:59

null Domination and Cooperation

Hundreds of years into the future humans have colonised the solar system. Earth and the Moon are in a state of cold war with the much bigger and far more prosperous Mars. Further out lie the numerous clusters of small colonies on the asteroid belt off Jupiter and the Moons of Saturn. These outer planets are totally dependent on Earth and Mars, surviving on the export of the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Dec 2021 - 11:14

null Now? 

When the chief Executive takes the trouble to call you in to tell you what a good job you and your team did you should just accept the praise shouldn’t you?  You might say it’s all down to the hard work and dedication of your team because that’s the done thing. So when the chief executive is saying how sir what’s his name from government office said how impressed he was with the... See more
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