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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
07 Dec 2023 - 14:43

null Does the job change you? 

I am reading the latest Ian Rankin book. One strand of the story concerns a police officer accused of,” domestic abuse”  and repeated assault. The evidence  is overwhelming but he comes up with an unusual defence. He is claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) due to 10 years in the police force. It’s not so much the horrific traffic accidents, the suicides or murder scenes... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Nov 2023 - 14:56

null Bad Bosses cause losses 

To: All managers email From: HR  The organisations response to the current jobs market is to put the emphases on retention over recruitment. Keeping employees happy is now paramount. The biggest factor in job satisfaction is a good relationship with the boss.   Your relationship with your team members is crucial to the organisations smooth journey through the current choppy waters.... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
28 Nov 2023 - 14:20

null Can you trust an organisation that doesn’t trust itself with the truth? 

In the public sector vacant posts are not just a result of poor pay and overwork but of poor treatment of staff due to institutional apathy towards staff subject to bullying, racism and misogyny. And a perceived lack of support from HR. Recent reports about the NHS, the London Met police force and the London Fire and Rescue service have highlighted a disturbing and persistent culture of... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
16 Nov 2023 - 16:15

null I scored goals

If you were a footballer you might judge your success in goals. If you were a surgeon it might be the lives saved.  If you were a foster carer it would be the lives you have changed for the better. So how should the rest of us judge our careers?   Imagine that somebody asks you the following question: “How successful has your career been so far?” Would it be easy or hard to answer... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Nov 2023 - 20:23

null The lion king, the jackals and the bull

In the Panchantantra animal fables from India cunning, strategy and amorality often overcome all opposition. The good guys don’t always win.( Sometimes it’s not even clear who the good guys are). Which is why these stories seem so relevant to a Local Authority audience.  " One day the lion king was frightened by a roaring noise in the forest, which the jackals knew was the sound of a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Nov 2023 - 05:35

null It’s interesting what the boss thinks is interesting - an unintended experiment in communication.

The over eager  admin support. Recalling the uncorrected draft. Why people read all 60 pages, not just 2 page executive summary-wanted to know what author/senior managers didn’t want us to know. Asked those who read recalled copy, “ what did it say? Surprisingly they remembered and highlighted different things - they were a cross section of office employees.Re named them the review group... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Nov 2023 - 10:25

null It’s not just Guardian readers 

” How do you think you would do in prison? Wrong! You would do really , really badly. Look at you. I don’t knowhow to say this politely but you have “ Guardian reader “ written all over you. “ This is the opening statement in a Guardian review of Time a new BBC t.v. series about 3 young women in prison.  By Guardian reader I take it to mean rather idealistic, optimistic, believer in... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Oct 2023 - 15:17

null You can identify good managers by how quickly they get promoted. 

A piece of research looking at the impact good managers had on the future careers of their direct reports used an interesting definition of a “ good “ manager. The researchers identified good managers as those who had been rapidly promoted through the ranks in this large multinational organisation. There is a certain logic to this , people who are good at their job get promoted, the better they... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Oct 2023 - 14:17

null I would do anything out of loyalty but I won’t do that! 

I like to think I was loyal to my manager but if they resigned on a matter of principle I can’t image I would also resign in support. I would do anything out of loyalty but I won’t do that. I will stand by unpopular decisions. I will challenge anyone who criticises the boss/organisation. I will be enthusiastic and positive  even when things are bad. I will stay when others decide they have... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Oct 2023 - 11:37

null Go Bold or tread cautiously 

Is changed best secured through radicalism , inspiration and impatience or pragmatic , cautious and gradual? Because there is no middle way.  Assuming of course you have a choice which often is not the case as driven by events and the ambitions of an impatient board you go full steam ahead. Most leaders would recognise that whilst there is no middle way success is far more likely if the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Sep 2023 - 11:52

null It’s about convincing people it’s possible 

I wish I could remember the name of the piece. It was played on an acoustic guitar by a popular  folk /jazz guitarist of the 70’s. This was an instrumental piece noted for the speed and dexterity of the playing. Some years latter I heard an interview with the artist who was asked how he developed the technic. His reply was both interesting and shocking. He said we cheated. In the studio I... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 Sep 2023 - 10:25

null People won’t remember 

“People won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel” – a Maya Angelou    I’m glad people won’t remember what I said because I have contradicted my self many times. I did sort of hope they might remember some of the things I did although obviously not when I got things spectacularly wrong. I can appreciate that as a manager people will remember how... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Sep 2023 - 12:17

null Nobody listened and nothing was done 

Said the whistle blower. Not true said senior management.   I raised my concerns on many occasions with my manager, with senior managers and when nothing happened with board members.  We take all such allegations seriously especially if they relate to the safety of vulnerable  people. We commissioned a quick internal investigation by a manager outside of the department.... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
27 Sep 2023 - 12:56

null managers don’t want to be seen as a soft touch 

The policies are progressive, very much in tune with taking employee mental health and well being seriously, but they are not being made use of. At first HR thought managers were simply unaware of the policies so they ran an awareness campaign. The resulting enquiries revealed managers thought it was HR who decided if an individual fitted the criteria. Then there were managers ringing up HR to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Sep 2023 - 10:21

null The Trap

Told from the perspective of three different individuals, the sister of a missing person, a woman who works in the Missing Persons Unit and a serial killer.This is a thriller set in rural Ireland where the tension steadily builds and there are more twists and turns than a country road. The older sister is tormented by not knowing what happened to her younger sister, whether she is dead or... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Sep 2023 - 15:06

null The manager sent the chef out to hear the diners complaints 

The chef stood at the customers table looking very uncomfortable. By his side was the interpreter  The manager was busy hiding. The interpreter spoke to the surprised diners. Surprised because they had made their complaints directly to the manager whose response was an indifferent what do expect me to do about it shrug of the shoulders. The interpreter said .It is important for the chef to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Aug 2023 - 13:48

null Why no one reads this blog any more- except you 

At one time the hits were measured in ten’s of thousands. It was popular in French! Long or short , flippant or serious, topical or a new angle on an old issue the numbers were pleasantly surprising. Then about 18 months ago things changed. Was it that MI5 realised there was no secret coded messages in the text. Perhaps the French department of education no longer used some of the more bizarre... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
28 Aug 2023 - 13:05

null Board games and leadership skills 

Clever people play chess. Managers play backgammon but FIFA and Street fighter 6 are the choice of generation Z.  Chess is about strategy. Leadership involves thinking and planning ahead. So being good at chess would provide useful leadership skills and be a good indicator of leadership/management potential. Or would it? Leadership/Management involves more that thinking strategically for... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
21 Aug 2023 - 15:02

null Is everyone entitled to a second chance? 

A football coach recently made the headlines when allegations of racists comments and behaviour were upheld . However rather than a life long ban that some had expected the disciplinary panel decided a reprimand was sufficient as they accepted the individual had not been ,”consciously racist”. After getting off with such a light punishment you might have assumed that the individual would have... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Aug 2023 - 08:15

null Perfectionists are rubbish to work for 

Saturday morning and I am watching my grand son at football training followed by a practice game. The coach is very encouraging to all the players despite the clear differences in ability. I see one rather shy and uncoordinated lad grow in confidence as the coach praised his efforts. By the end of the session he looks a different player.  Saturday afternoon Burnley v Manchester City as... See more
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