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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Nov 2018 - 17:21

null Zombies 

  The undead walk amongst us. At first only when it got dark  but now day and night. Initially in remote locations now in shopping malls, and city centres. Once the undead shuffled slowly so could easily be out run but not any more. Their decaying bodies and general lack of hygiene make them very unattractive. Their totally lack of personality make them completely uninteresting.... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Nov 2018 - 17:03

null Ambition

Late forties, early fifties you’re at your peak. You’ve got the experience and you’ve still got the energy and drive. There is this nagging doubt that if you don’t make it by fifty five you probably never will. So now is the best time to go for that top job. You know from your former boss that a well known management consultancy engaged to recruit for top jobs has been making discreet... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Nov 2018 - 21:59

null Gaslighting 

  A scheming senior manager seeks to undermine a colleague by ringing that person at home the night before an important meeting to say the chair has requested the start time of the meeting be put back an hour. In fact the request was for the meeting to be brought forward an hour. The individual arrives just as the meeting is finishing. They apologise to the chair, who is clearly annoyed,... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Oct 2018 - 21:39

null Keeping the Boss happy

The manager really rated the officer in charge of one of three homes for older people she was responsible for. She felt the officer had really implemented choice, dignity and respect in the way the home was run. The symbol of this was the no locked front door approach despite the presence of a number of residents in the home suffering from dementia who were , “wanders”. It was a matter of pride... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Oct 2018 - 13:00

null Lo Ego Leadership

These days to succeed an organisation must promote team work and embrace collaboration there is simply no room room for big egos or there shouldn’t be.  Lo ego leadership is not generally what you expect from a chief executive or chair of the board. Leaders tend to think they are important and their contribution is more valuable than that of others. This can and does get in the way.... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Oct 2018 - 17:55

null Making decisions is the easy part 

You pull a lever and nothing happens. Tony Blair said this about his period in office but I think he was quoting President Bill Clinton. The point being that despite occupying very powerful positions both were frustrated by the long time delay between making a decision and seeing some action and on occasions pulling the levers of government and seeing no action. Cabinet members and Senior... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 Oct 2018 - 16:04

null Non of your business

  Just how much should a manager know about an individual’s personal life? What if you like to keep your private life private but your boss wants to really get to know you, those you live with and what you do when you’re  not at work? Phil Neville the England football manager is adopting a very different relationship with his players. He wants to really get to know them, not just... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
18 Oct 2018 - 09:00

null Should students be warned about the reality of their chosen profession?

  It’s in no ones  interest if students drop out of courses or leave the profession a couple of years after qualifying. It may seem counter productive for those trying to fill courses or recruit people to the profession but rather than just emphasis the ability to help people and make a real difference to their lives we should be frank about the frustrations, limitations and how they... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Oct 2018 - 16:26

null Ambushed or Rescued 

  It can be difficult to get politicians to say publicly something they know will be unpopular. So being a local Authority senior manager and having a cabinet member who requests you write his speeches sounds ideal. But .......     The cabinet member with responsibility for the directorate agreed some difficult things needed saying. He was happy for me as the then... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Oct 2018 - 10:43

null Who is really in charge

Who is really calling the shots in your local council? Is it the leader of the council, the chief executive, the majority party, the cabinet, the officers ,the councillors, the trade unions ( no not these days) or non of these? Central government has always sort to control local government even whilst promoting devolution, localisation and elected mayors. It has always been a source of... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Oct 2018 - 07:37

null Leadership

“Leadership is doing what you believe to be right and having the courage and determination to see it through” Theresa May asserted.  It’s true leaders don’t tend to suffer self doubt and show great determination but a leader has to take people with them and know when to abandon a plan that isn’t working. Other wise they are not a leader just a self deluded autocrat.  ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Oct 2018 - 21:36

null Let social workers sack their boss

  That’s what they do at Oxford, not the county council but the university*.Keeps them on their toes. I assume that the bosses are the senior managers not line managers since it’s usually senior managers that social workers have so little faith in. I don’t know how it works within the colleges but I can imagine the idea would be popular with most social workers.  Rather than simply... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Oct 2018 - 10:35

null London Rules Apply

They may not be written down but everyone knows what they are even if they don’t know them as London Rules. Always, always cover your arse. In local government this can take the form of sending an email to your boss after the event, casually dropping it into your next one to one or speaking to a number of people in HR/Finance until you get the right response. Personally I always thought London... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Sep 2018 - 11:53

null Official Secrets Act

As a student,  a very long time ago, I had a summer job in the then Department of Social Security. On my first day I was required to sign the Official Secrets Act. At the time this sounded exciting and made me think my work might be more interesting than I had anticipated. But no, the work was dull, routine and very mind numbing. My job was to take the days post and try and... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Sep 2018 - 13:09

null Are leaders born or made?

Can any one become a leader?  Can leadership skills be leant?  Are some people just naturally followers? Is it true that in any group a leader will emerge? Can followers become leaders and can leaders follow?  Can you have too many would be leaders? 
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
17 Sep 2018 - 05:31

null The Myers-Briggs Test;you will still think your colleague is “ difficult”

There is a new book on the Myers-Briggs personality test used by organisations around the world ( What’s Your Type by Merve Emre). Most people are curious to know their personality type and that of their colleagues but my experience is that this knowledge will not improve team dynamics or make team meeting less fraught. The management consultants hired to make us operate better as a team... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Sep 2018 - 20:47

null Myers-Briggs personality test: you will still think your colleague is “difficult”

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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Sep 2018 - 13:12

null People who know me like me

Obviously it’s part of the job to make decisions that will please some people and leave others disappointed. I am expected to challenge as well as support. I will defend in public and criticise in private. I’m not saying everyone likes me I know some people think I am opinionated, which I don’t  see as a fault, others think I can be abrasive which is something I need to work on and I have... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
31 Aug 2018 - 16:10

null Why my manager likes me and why my manager doesn’t like me 

My manager likes my positive attitude, my enthusiasm and my creative approach to problem solving. My manager likes that I bring solutions not problems to our meetings. My manager appreciates being kept informed and an early warning when things aren’t going to plan. My manager recognises I do have insight into how my behaviour effects others. My manager is confident that I will deliver on... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
31 Aug 2018 - 14:00

null Getting a top job

After years of interviewing candidates for management posts I have identified the qualities that get people the top jobs.The most significant personal qualities are ambition and bounce back ability. But these qualities say nothing about the individual’s ability to do the job.   It turns out that there are two types of managers those who are ambitious and those who are not. Note I am not... See more
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