Entries with tag leadership .

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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 15:25

null Sometimes you have to ignore the sat nav

Sometimes you have to ignore the sat nav common sense tells you you're going the wrong way.   Driving around Florida was made a lot easier by the Sat Nav we took with us. Pre loaded with all our destinations,hotels, museums and restaurants. We thought it would be particularly helpful in finding our way out of Miami and through the series of spaghetti junction like motorway... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 15:39

null Leaving a lasting legacy

We all want to leave something behind us, something to be remembered by. Managers in different sectors have different ways of managing their legacy.   The voluntary sector, for instance, places greater emphasis on continuity, to ensure the organisation's core values and culture are retained. Departing chief executives get a say in naming their successor and there seems to be a... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 13:02

null Jobs for Mates

Margaret Thatcher used to ask “are they one of us." Tony Blair was accused of surrounding himself with cronies and now Michael Grove is said to be firing people who don't agree with him. But it not just politicians who want to get rid of the awkward squad, the dissenting voices. Most of us would prefer to work with like minded people, so if you get to chose your own team why wouldn't you... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 13:02

null Feeling under valued looking for a new job?

  According to recruiters this is the time of year when people are most likely to consider applying for a new job.  Could be you don't feel valued by your boss, could be the prospect of returning to the same old job after the long Christmas break has made you think about your career or it could be that burst of energy and optimism that comes with a new year has caused you to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:25

null Never complain never explain

  Kate Moss is 40. She has been at the top of her profession for 25 years. She has survived scandals, being dropped by her labels and some unwise decisions in her personal life. She says her mantra for life is  " never complain, never explain". Ok for super models but not for senior managers or patients or relatives or care staff but definitely not senior managers. The temptation... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:39

null To build you must first demolish

If you cut the budget by 50 percent over five years then you are no longer looking at making savings in services you are talking about re building something smaller, more economical and in the case of local authorities managed by someone else, may be the community. To build first you must demolish the old structure. So it is with teams as it is with services. Which is why a new chief... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:32

null Do managers lack compassion?

Public sector senior managers have been accused of being obsessed with hitting performance targets and making budget savings indifferent to the impact on people. So do public sector managers lack compassion, have they stopped caring?  Senior managers have to make unpopular decisions, they make staff redundant, close hospitals, transfer services, cut pay, get tough on absenteeism and... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 13:09

null Man management is a funny old game

Sir Alex Ferguson confirms in his new book that former prime minister Tony Blair asked him “what you would do if your best player wouldn’t do what you wanted him to”. Ferguson answered “get rid of him”. But as Tony Blair discovered, outside the world of football it is not that easy. http://www.hsj.co.uk/opinion/blogs/man-management-is-a-funny-old-game/5064810.blog See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 13:09

null Always look on the bright side

Is there a law that says if you’re a senior manager you must always look on the bright side? You would have thought even the most optimistic of those working in health and social care would have found little scope for positive messages. So I was surprised at the relentless optimism from the leaders of children and adult services coming from their recent conference.  Directors are keen... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:25

null Birthday lunch with the chief executive

Happy Birthday. It’s not everyone who gets to celebrate their birthday with the chief executive.  Well actually it is if you work in a particular audit section of the civil service. Apparently every month the chief executive invites staff whose birthday it is to join him for lunch and a chat. And yes there is cake. One day last month six members of staff, not just managers, enjoyed a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:25

null The job security of a football manager

Another (football) manager loses their job not in itself news worthy unless of course it's related to some bizarre or scandalous behaviour like banning mayonnaise or banging the physio's wife on the half way line. In football managers get the sack because of poor results, the temper tantrums, personality quirks and indiscretions  only emerge afterwards. It's much the same with very... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:26

null Innovation

Why is it that innovation happens in some places and not others? Is it about having the right strategic plan? Is it about a shared vision, a common set of priorities or is it to do with budgets? Why is it that if all these pieces of the jigsaw are in place it still only happens in one locality? In my experience the answer is leadership not the I'm in charge follow me type of leadership but... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:19

null What we don't need is irresponsible leadership

Being ethical and socially responsible is all part of the public sector ethos – but is the business world corrupting the public sector just when business ethics and the role of extravagantly rewarded business leaders are being questioned? Being ethical and socially responsible is all part of the public sector ethos – or it was before business people were parachuted on to NHS boards, schools... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 12:55

null Her comes the consolidator

After the transformation bulldozer the public sector needs a different approach to get the best out of its people. The NHS needs transformers if it is to be transformed. The civil service needs transformers across departments if the culture is to be changed. Local government needs transformers if it is to change the way it operates and live within a dramatically reduced budget. The... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:33

null Am I being paranoid

I think the chief executive is trying to get rid of me. He didn’t appoint me he inherited me. We have very different management styles I am a people person he is excellent at reading the politicians. At the senior management team again this week I found myself alone voice. No one else said anything unless directly asked a question. I am being to think these issues have been discussed... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 15:40

null I welcome the advice I just don't understand it

M*A*S*H famously lasted longer than the Korean War that it was set in. In the final episode Captain Hawkeye has collapsed mentally under the pressure of war. A top army psychiatrist encourages him to recall an incident in which he and a group of refugees are hiding from an enemy patrol but a woman had a chicken that kept squawking and he told her to keep it quiet and she killed it. The... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:10

null Staying in touch with your staff

“Senior managers are so removed they need a telescope to see the front line”. So why are senior managers in most organisations considered out of touch and what can they do about it? See article in Public Servant http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=22295     See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:10

null Interim managers have they had their day?

The imperitive for restructuring, downsizing or merging be it local councils or NHS Trusts looked like a boost for the careers of interim managers. After all if you are thinking of doing away with the post of Chief Executive then a temporary appointment may buy you the time you need, alternatively the type of leader you need to break up the old structure is not necessarily the person best... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:40

null Football managers and leadership lessons

The Guardian ran an article this week on Arsene Wenger’s press conference prior to an important game in the champion’s league. The press conference was news worthy because the Arsenal manager became irritated with the line of questioning and instead of his normal cool, calm and intellectual self he was sarcastic, defensive and prickly. The Guardian compared being a football manager under... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 12:56

null More management less leadership

The message from the business schools, from management gurus and from Government has been consistent. The public sector must change and this requires leadership. Not just leadership from the top but leadership at every level. All managers should be leaders or rather demonstrate leadership skills. It’s not about one charismatic individual imposing change through sheer force of personality but... See more
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