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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Feb 2024 - 14:28

null The opposite of a dysfunctional team is not a nice team

He was a very nice man but an ineffective leader. She was abrasive, opinionated and intolerant of those less experienced.  Together they frustrated and annoyed the rest of the team.   In a dysfunctional team people just don’t get on, they don’t respect the leaders authority and they don’t rate each others abilities. They don’t agree on much, the leader can’t establish a consensus on... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Feb 2024 - 14:41

null 4 days a week

My school maths text book set the following problem. If a boat being rowed by four men can cover a mile in 10 minutes how long would it take a 10 men to row the same distance? The assumption being that the more men rowing the faster the boat would travel. Yet clearly a boat that could accommodate 40 rowers would not go ten times faster than a boat with 4 rowers and cover the distance in a tenth... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Feb 2024 - 15:50

null Be curious

Tattooed on the arm of every Cnief Executive and Council Leader, Portfolio holder and senior manager.   Be curious, ask the right questions, if the rumours persist investigate them.     Blair Mcpherson former director author and blogger www.blaimcpherson.co.uk 
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Feb 2024 - 15:12

null First line managers are both the problem and the solution

  First line managers who don’t look after their people or who don’t know how to look after their people undermine an organisation. First line managers who look after their people enhance an organisation. It’s often the difference between happy employees and unhappy employees. Low turnover and high turnover. Good customer service and poor customer service. A well executed strategy and a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
31 Jan 2024 - 13:42

null The Away Day Hell

I’m not talking about team building trust creating rope climbs or raft making. I’m talking about taking the team away from the office to sit all day in a stuffy over heated hotel conference room whilst a dysfunctional group of people find lots to disagree about. The aim is to draw up a business plan, agree priorities, finalise the budget cut proposals, review the EDI strategy, develop effective... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Jan 2024 - 15:26

null Is AI a car crash waiting to happen?

According to a Guardian article self drive cars will be on UK roads by 2026. According to many business analysts organisations are increasingly reliant on AI to make the big business decisions. Some how the idea of driver less cars on our roads seems more scary than the same AI running organisations. Perhaps it is because it is easier to visualise these cars on the road and easier to imagine... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Jan 2024 - 13:05

null I’m not feeling it today 

 “ They are really annoying especially in the workplace” Joked Jodie Foster famous actor and mentor to a number of young people. “They’re like: ‘  Nah , I’m not feeling it today. I’m gonna come in at 10.30am.’  Are generations Z more annoying than previous generations of young people?  Annoying is maybe the wrong word. It’s just I  can’t help making fun of the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Feb 2024 - 08:07

null As cooperative as a dung beetle but not necessarily smarter

Scientists have discovered that dung beetles are the only creatures that cooperate like  humans in moving an object to over come obsticals. (Guardian 17 January). Which presumably reinforces the view that we humans top the evolutionary development scale when it comes to intelligence. Unfortunately this fact only served to bring to mind that comedy song ,” Right Said Fred” by Bernard... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
16 Jan 2024 - 16:19

null Of course leadership makes a difference but does it make The difference. 

 “ I’m not afraid of an army of lions lead by sheep. I am afraid of an army of sheep lead by lions.”  Alexander the Great. But maybe he should have been a little afraid.  Poor leadership can make organisations less effective, wast talent, miss opportunities, and fritter away resources but can good leadership compensate for inadequate resources, lack of a talent pool, incomplete... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jan 2024 - 12:02

null When work becomes meaningless 

Her expectation of work experience whilst still at school were high and unrealistic almost comical to my baby boomer generation but typical of generation G . After the first day she came home complaining that she had been expected to make tea / coffee for everyone and do photocopying! “I know how to make a cup of coffee and work a photocopier” she said indignantly. The rest of the week didn’t... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jan 2024 - 11:48

null I never sleep well on a Sunday 

For an increasing number of people the working week starts on a Sunday evening.That’s when they look at their diary for the weekend ahead. It’s when they start to think about work. What needs to be done before which meetings, actions to chase up, reports to write and reports to have read in advance. It’s when people can’t put off any longer checking their emails. Not just the ones they didn’t... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Jan 2024 - 11:06

null Operation Crossbow 

I was watching one of those old how we won the Second World War films they always show at Christmas. An early scene in the film shows a security briefing about intelligence reports of the Germans developing rocket propelled missiles  The scientific expert invited to comment on reports states they can’t be true and are probably an attempt to distract and divert our war effort. He states... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jan 2024 - 13:43

null So why do bullies get promoted? 

Bullies as opposed to weak, indecisive or unpleasant managers got to their position of authority because someone,somewhere thought they would be  a good at management. Did they suddenly become shouty and sweary ? Prior to being promoted were they pleasant and supportive? When did they adopt intimidation and public humiliation as management tactics? Were  they always a bully and got... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jan 2024 - 13:38

null To  Err is AI to recognise it is Human 

Machines don’t lie. Machines don’t make mistakes. Machines don’t steal money. People do. This is the logic of believing machines over humans. As AI becomes an increasing essential component of our work lives we should be concerned that when things go wrong it will be the humans that get the blame. When an organisation has invested so much in technology it can’t accept that the technology may be... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Jan 2024 - 14:20

null Follow from the front 

It sounds like a contradiction but it really just means take what the leader says and apply the underlying values and principles to the circumstances and situation you and your team find your self in. But do it with enthusiasm and conviction even if you don’t feel it.    Management is different to leadership but managers are increasingly expected to be more than passive... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Jan 2024 - 13:04

null  What were they really like ?

They were a great leader. Maybe they were once a great leader. They talk and walk and act as if they were a great leader. Were they ever really a great leader?    This type of business and this type of organisation builds reputations and just as easily leaves them battered and dented. It’s no wonder that when reviewing the career of a very successful manager there are wildly... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Jan 2024 - 14:52

null A three body problem 

A 3 body problem- employees, management, customers  Each exert a force which determines the direction and the way an organisation behaves. Like the interaction between the sun, moon and earth. At one time people assumed the sun revolved round the earth and even that the earth was the centre of the universe. Organisation are still debating this relationship. Some have claimed the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Dec 2023 - 11:19

null  Avoiding the language of violence at work

Some words convey action, energy and determination others violence. To launch a project as opposed to firing the starting gun or pulling the trigger. Two organisation may identify they same issues and priorities but their tone and language means they will tackle them in a very different way.  We have seen a determined move away from the macho management style and a recognition of the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Dec 2023 - 15:25

null Let’s see less of each other next year 

Don't really want to work with you but can't say so. Don't really want to be at this meeting but darn't say so. Don't see what's in it for us but better not say so. Don't agree with you but it would prolong the debate to say so. Don't even like you. The this last point may seem unprofessional but in my experience of joint working the biggest factor in determine success is the personal... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Dec 2023 - 12:36

null Good leaders never overlook human collateral damage. 

“Explain to me why it is more noble to kill 10,000 men in battle than a dozen at dinner?” Tywin Lannister ( Game of Thrones) says in defence of that infamous Red Wedding ambush. This statement sums up his fatal flaw as a leader.He can’t see what’s wrong with murdering a pregnant woman at a wedding. All he sees is the result. Good leaders never overlook human collateral damage. They... See more
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