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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Nov 2021 - 14:07

null The Peppa Pig speech 

The PM’s recent disastrous speech to business leaders reminded me of this piece I wrote a few years ago. You don’t think he read it do you? Being a bit of a comedian  I like a number of my colleagues  had applied for the post of area manager. We were all siting in this room waiting for our individual interviews. Maybe it was nerves but this one guy kept up a steady stream of jokey... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Nov 2021 - 11:20

null You can play without a centre forward but not a goalkeeper 

I can imagine the conversation, a cross party working group has been set up to identify the best process for filling the recently vacated chief executive post. The leader assumed that this would involve deciding which executive recruitment firm to engage, a brief for the lucky firm covering the desire for a diverse long list, the extent of involvement of partner agencies in the short... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 Nov 2021 - 14:52

null We Love Quizzes

  Saturday evening watching television and I was surprised at the number of quiz shows being broadcast. Clearly we are a nation of quizzers. Try as you might it is impossible not to shoutout the answer, if you know it. And the more answers you shoutout the more you get sucked into the show.    How could an organisation make use of our love of quizzes? Trying to get service users or... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
17 Nov 2021 - 12:43

null How many is too many ?

When it comes to HR trends where the US leads we tend to take notice. So a recent article that drew attention to the increased use of multiple interviews peaked my interest. It appears  some companies are asking candidates to attend 5 or 6 even 7 interviews before they make a final decision! Appointing the wrong person can be an expensive mistake. A square peg in a round hole can be... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Nov 2021 - 11:34

null How decisions are made

A week before her first A level,  arrangements for sitting the exam were changed by the school. Just a minor change. The start time was moved forward half an hour along side a reminder that all candidates must be seated 15 minutes before the exam was due to start. Late comers would not be allowed in. During the course of the next few days the start time was changed back, moved forward... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Nov 2021 - 12:03

null Jabs or Jobs 

What’s the best way to stoke up opposition and resentment? Answer tell employees they have no choice they either comply or lose their job. I have noted an increasingly autocratic approach to management in sectors not previously noted for it. In some cases this is linked to organisations where unions are not recognised or union membership has declined and is less than half the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Nov 2021 - 11:58

null Walter wasn’t a great player but he was an outstanding manager 

These days everyone wants a good review. Tell us how well we have done. But if the feedback is less than glowing it may get an angry and hurt response. This is why cautious managers so often play safe with their feedback. To the detriment of employee development.    ” At some stage in your career you’ve got to face up to the fact of how good you are , and let’s face it Walter... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Nov 2021 - 13:55

null  When management communication is just blah , blah ,blah

  Management involves getting your message across, what you want doing , how you want it doing and by when, your expectations of employees/team members behaviour and attitude, or in senior management speak the mission,  the values and the targets.   Communication came within my portfolio of responsibilities. The Head of Communications was part of my management team. Communication, like... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
03 Nov 2021 - 16:53

null Arsey Attitude

Employees who don’t accept the authority of the boss, providers who think the customer is definitely not king and HR professionals who believe their advice is law.    The conversation wasn’t going well. In fact it was going so badly I had to say,” Do I need to remind you who is the Director here”. It was a relatively straightforward issue. There had been a complaint, a lot of... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Oct 2021 - 13:37

null How to recognise a dinosaur

Do you recognise this description ? A large organisation rather complacent about its relationship with customers and employees, performance wise coasting, obsessed with cost cutting,  inward looking, doesn’t feel it can learn much from other organisations because of its uniqueness, reluctant to collaborate due to past experience, made up of a number of management layers and a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Oct 2021 - 13:28

null How can I help? 

He is a very caring human being, with a good set of professional values . He is a terrible manager.   It’s the mantra of the new chief executive. He starts every conversation and answers every question with ,” How can I help you”. At first it’s different, then amusing because of the frequency he says it. But before long it becomes just irritating. We get it he sees his role as... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 Oct 2021 - 15:52

null The Bank Heist

What has an audacious bank robbery got to do with how organisations fail?  The plan is meticulous in its attention to detail. The team have been selected for their knowledge , experience and skills in their specialist areas. They have been through an extensive induction and team building exercise followed by a detail briefing. The plan anticipates the challenges and obstacles... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Oct 2021 - 13:12

null The names Bond ,James Bond 

 007 returns, shaken not stirred, updated but still the cool under pressure, man of action leading a life style normally associated with the rich and famous, living it up in top hotels and exotic locations way beyond his pay grade as a civil servant. It’s fun which is probably why Bond doesn’t complain that after 50 years in post he has still not been promoted! Mind you his record of... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Sep 2021 - 18:07

null Justified 

This is the title of a t.v. show about a US Marshall based in Lexington, Kentucky who was born and grew up in a close knit community in the Appalachian mountains. His unorthodox but Justified methods gets him suspended and then transferred. His superiors send him back to where he grew up to investigate bombings and murders suspected to have been carried by an extreme anti big... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Sep 2021 - 16:31

null Inclusive recruitment is not enough

 An inclusive recruitment process is all well and good but the benefits will quickly be lost if the organisation can’t retain these same employees. An inclusive recruitment process is useless if  not part of an inclusive culture . An inclusive culture is a lot harder to achieve than an inclusive recruitment process.    So you attracted all that diverse talent now what? All too often... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Sep 2021 - 14:26

null Waterloo

The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, so the Duke of Wellington is reported to have said on revisiting his old school. A statement that reflected a belief, still held,  that Eton makes leaders of those born into the upper class. With my background in senior management I share the belief that leadership skills can be developed but I think all managers can and... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Feb 2022 - 13:30

null A proportionate response

The sense of injustice was strong. It was unfair. Every body said so. Every one except the manager I complained to and the chief executive who didn’t bother to answer my email. The Sunday Paper did acknowledge my complaint but said they receive a lot of requests for intervention and unfortunately this was not one they could usefully engage with. My MP was sympathetic but very busy... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Sep 2021 - 11:12

null Have you noticed how often incompetence is rewarded?

It’s the opposite of what you would expect. Instead of penalising employees who regularly mis deadlines and produce poor quality work managers often seem to reward them. Perhaps they raised their concerns with the individual but saw no improvement or even found them selves subject of a grievance by the employee claiming they were being scapegoated, victimised or bullied.    Following... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Aug 2021 - 11:44

null Has the pandemic changed what good leadership looks like

    According to research by a major management consultancy there is evidence of shifts in leadership style and behaviour during the pandemic. This has taken the form of focusing on the short term, taking a more hands on approach, closing down debate in recognition of the need to make decisions quickly, generally adopting a more reactive style whilst working harder and longer in the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Aug 2021 - 11:46

null Corporate Kryptonite

“ I will pretend to agree with you ,boss, but only because I am afraid I will lose my job if I don’t.”    Every business pretends to believe in allowing candour and transparency in its workplace. They pay lip service to the ideals of employee empowerment and engagement but have no intention of letting it, ”get out of hand”. What’s more employees realise this, they know their bosses... See more
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