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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
16 Dec 2022 - 15:30

null The Sinking of the Titanic 

Does anyone really still believe the captain should go down with the ship? Must someone always be to blame and should that be the person in charge?   As a senior manager I always signed up to the view that when something goes wrong we should resist the temptation to find out who was to blame. It’s not just that a blame culture makes people afraid to make decisions,  inhibits... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Dec 2022 - 12:15

null No smoke without fire

A few years ago I read an article in the professional press which gave an account of a training programme in support of recruiting more women into the fire and rescue service , not as office staff but as firefighters. The article spoke  of the commitment of senior managers to change the culture within the service. It recognised the historic machoism and the need to challenge sexist... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Dec 2022 - 11:16

null Profile of a Director 

My pay last year was £3.7 million. My last holiday was in the Maldives and antique hunting in France. For relaxation I go to my beach house. I started in retail with a Saturday job in an arts and crafts shop whilst still at school. I have worked my way up from the basement answering queries about wine orders at Harrods to my present post as the highest paid managing Director a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Dec 2022 - 16:20

null Some of my favourite things

My favourite Christmas film is ,” It’s a Wonderful life”. Because it’s about making a difference to other people’s lives often in small ways that can have a much bigger impact than you would ever know.  A Christmas Carol is my favourite seasonal story. It’s a ghost story, it’s a Christmas story, if only the ghost of the future could visit some of present day our politicians it might... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Dec 2022 - 15:28

null What do I dislike most in other people? Negativity. 

Paul noticed office morale seemed low, staff seemed unhappy and discontent. He was aware of the usual moans and groans about workloads and management but wondered if there was any particular issue that was bothering people. His team leaders confirmed his impression but could not give a specific cause. One of his managers suggested regular open staff meetings with him, no specific agenda just... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Dec 2022 - 14:16

null To those who are not racist

Racist behaviour is not limited to those who judge people by the colour of their skin, who think ethnic minorities are inferior or who preach hate. The majority of racist behaviour is committed by ordinary people who are simply insensitive ,unaware and ignorant. Ignorant of other peoples culture and or religion their knowledge limited to lazy stereotypes and myths leading to a lack of awareness... See more
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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
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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
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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 
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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