thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Nov 2022 - 10:37

null Your ever so humble public servant 

I once worked for a boss who was fond of telling people he felt privileged to be a Director of social services. Echoing that same ever so humble sentiment. Had the term been prevalent at the time he would probably have seen himself as a servant leader. He wasn’t.  Servant Leadership sounds like a contradiction in terms. A servant is someone who does the bidding of... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 171 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
17 Nov 2022 - 13:44

null Des Res

I am interested in how cabinet members describe their Local Authority and what better place to look than their recruitment adverts for senior posts.  I thought it might fun to characterise the description of place in estate agent speak and add a dash of brutal honesty. After describing the type of person they are looking for the next step is to say what sort of organisation the successful... See more
null 2
null 0 Comments
null 173 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Nov 2022 - 16:14

null A brief history of Time Travel 

A time machine has been invented and then uninvented many times. Creating a time machine has not proved that difficult in the past/future. The problem occurs when you use it, people seem totally unable to resist changing something. So in the end there is no choice but to uninvent the time machine.   Blair Mcpherson 
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 150 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Nov 2022 - 12:31

null Number One’s 

I have a long standing suspicion of numbers when they are used to prove something. I think it started with Led Zeppelin. They were a rock group who refused to sell out by releasing a single when the hight of success was supposed to be a number one single and an appearance on Top of the Pops (TOTPs). Of course I watched TOTPs but only to rubbish acts and ask ,” who on earth is buying that... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 150 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Nov 2022 - 14:55

null Only senior managers wear suits 

The new senator for Pennsylvania doesn’t wear a suit to work. For public appearances he prefers what those in the US call, “work wear” usually a hoodie. He captured the white collar vote and his style of dress is a simple, effective way of saying I’m one of you. Hoodies are also popular office wear for senior executives in Silicon Valley because of their image of being ,”cool” and “youthful”. A... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 162 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Nov 2023 - 14:53

null Grow your own 

Recruitment and retention for management and executive posts has become a big issue of late. In response organisations are reviewing their approach to Succession planning. The traditional focus on certain senior posts with a view to grooming a successor or system of talent spotting  and fast tracking is being replaced by an organisational drive to increase leadership skills at all levels.... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 85 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Nov 2022 - 12:31

null When to stick and when to twist 

“He would say something to you on a Monday, contradict himself on a Friday and you would believe both.” Martin O’Neil on Brian Clough . Management is full of contradictions. A great manager’s success is attributed to the ability to stay focused and stick to their plan despite the doubters. And yet a very successful manager is praised for knowing when to listen to the critics and... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 111 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Nov 2022 - 15:11

null The wit and wisdom of a manager 

Some people like to quote Winston Churchill me I find the sayings of Brian Clough more relevant to management.    He was opinionated - we talk about it for twenty minutes and then we decided I was right    He was abrasive - you can throw all those trophies and medals in the bin they’re worth nothing you got them by cheating.    He was over... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 98 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Nov 2022 - 16:24

null Bad Organisations

I like working for my boss. I like the people I work with. I like the work I do. I don’t like the organisation I work for. It use to be said that people leave managers not organisations. Recently I get the impression things are changing. People want to work for an organisation that they can like. It may be one that is socially responsible, one that is not all about profit , one that... See more
null 2
null 0 Comments
null 169 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
16 Sep 2022 - 12:00

null The clue is in the Chinese proverb

It starts off as a possible missing person enquiry. Then as is often the case suspicion falls on the partner. Is this a murder investigation? The husband is asked to recount the events leading up so his wife’s disappearance so many times to different officers he complains ,”Don’t you lot ever talk to each other”. But this is standard police procedure when their suspicions are aroused... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 176 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Sep 2022 - 16:24

null The gate at the bottom of our yard.

When I was very young, pre school,  I had a best friend who lived across the narrow alleyway behind our house. Every day at some point but usually after breakfast and lunch I would ask my mum to open the gate in the wall at the end of the yard so I could play with Sussie. One day my mum sat me down and in a rather serious voice told me we were moving to a new house, it would be... See more
null 2
null 0 Comments
null 166 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Sep 2022 - 07:31

null From Rotherham with Love 

 Did you ever fantasise about being a spook. Working for the service. If you did I bet you didn’t think it would be like working for the LA! You would have to sign the Official Secrets Act but you  would most likely be office based.    In both cases you would find yourself dealing with office politics, working with politicians, tricky  relations with the media, lots of meetings, need... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 209 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Sep 2022 - 07:14

null A new meaning to hitting the target

 You may have already come across this but for the half of the population not familiar with male public  toilets there are urinals with a difference in some locations. These urinals have a life size,  very realist house fly painted on the porcelain, dead centre. The thinking  is that this improves the users aim as they feel compelled to treat it as a target. This seems... See more
null 0
null 1 Comments
null 185 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Sep 2022 - 15:50

null Cost of living crisis 

There are reports of employers giving their staff hardship grants, low cost meals and vouchers to buy their children’s school uniforms. Others have set up food banks, provided salary advances, are allowing employees children to eat in the staff canteen for £1. and subsidising public transport costs.  But if an organisation needs to set up food banks for it’s employees shouldn’t it... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 220 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Aug 2022 - 13:31

null The obsessive manager

The head hunter is singing the praises of an individual they think is an ideal candidate for the Chief Executive vacancy. There is of course an impressive track record  but it’s the personality characteristics they stress, the obsession with detail, the work ethic, the competitiveness, the disciplined approach, the high standards they demand and the even higher standards they hold... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 245 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Aug 2022 - 14:22

null The boy and his dog 

  In a post apocalyptic world a boy and a dog wander the wasteland scavenging. The boy/teenager in the absence of parents or any adult is uneducated and governed only by basic instincts, the dog due to genetic engendering is well read, very intelligent and telepathic. That same genetic engendering has rendered the dog unable to forage for food. The boy is only concerned with food... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 404 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Aug 2022 - 15:06

null Head Hunters tips 

Your application form gets you the interview your interview gets you the job.    The difference between a CV and an application form is that the application form is written specifically for the post applied for so you are required to organise the section headed supporting information so that it directly relates to each requirement listed in the person specification. You stand a much... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 405 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Aug 2022 - 11:19

null Big personality Big ideas 

 This larger than life person is interesting therefore what they have to say is interesting. Whilst this doesn’t follow people frequently behave as if it did.  “ People don’t believe in ideas they believe in people who believe in ideas” Ze’ve Mankowitz historian  Most employees don’t care about the latest big idea from senior management, but when the controversial new Director... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 433 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
07 Aug 2022 - 12:56

null Is being ambitious still a good thing? 

I set my self a target to be a Director by the time I was 50. According to research by the Family and Work Institute in the US most people stop jostling for promotion at 35 coinciding with child care responsibilities. Not me, I dragged my family around the country in pursuit of my goal. However that was not the most destructive element of my ambition. After 18 months in post I would... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 530 Views
thumbnail
Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Aug 2022 - 11:22

null Powered by People 

The corporate slogan prominently displayed on the recruitment advert was Powered by People. So what does this bring to mind, a treadmill or the John Lennon song Power to the People ? Do you think sweat, effort and mind numbing tedium or management that seeks your views and acts upon  them? The drudgery of work or the uplift from knowing your views are valued?  ... See more
null 0
null 0 Comments
null 710 Views

Showing 121 to 140 of 1,001 entries.