Entries with tag power .

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Blair McPherson
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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
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03 Apr 2022 - 09:50

null The Macbeths as CEO and Head of HR 

In some organisations HR doesn’t have a seat at the top table. In many organisation HR don’t feel they have the status or influence their expertise and contribution warrants. But this isn’t about those organisations this is about what happens when an ambitious new chief executive hires a ruthless head of HR with the intention of taking complete control of the organisation. Board... See more
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Blair McPherson
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13 Dec 2021 - 14:07

null Succession 

He has been the leader of the council for 15 years. During that time the council’s has acquired a national profile and come to dominate the region. The first to embrace out sourcing. The first to agree a major contract to outsource all back office services. The leader has a reputation as a canny negotiator and a ruthless political manipulator. Which has not always endeared him to... See more
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Blair McPherson
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15 Oct 2020 - 15:30

null Who do you trust more your Dr or your MP ?

That is a simplified version of the government’s attempt to take back power from doctors. It has parallels with local government. How do you get the balance right between the professionals, the managers and the politicians. Should the professionals run the service because they know best or should managers because resources are scarce and budgets finite or politicians/ councillors... See more
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Blair McPherson
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25 Nov 2018 - 11:25

null The Dark Arts 

So you think leadership is about vision, taking responsibility and inspiring others. Leadership is about holding on to power.  We talk a lot about leadership qualities but we tend to skip over the darker skills used by leaders to defeat challengers. I’m referring to isolating, undermining and intimidating.  Getting people on your side in order to isolate any challenger. Emphasising... See more
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Blair McPherson
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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
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19 Dec 2014 - 14:26

null The powerful make things happen or do they?

Tony Blair complained that he pulled levers and nothing much happened. It's a common complaint by leaders in a democracy that they have status and authority but not enough power to make things happen. Margaret Thatcher thought  it was the dead hand of the civil service that stifled radical change and the trade unions, she was determined to reduce the power of both. In local government... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 15:08

null The changing officer member relationship

  "Unfortunately this is unlikely to be acceptable to the politicians". The interim  director was quoting from my report. "This is exactly what I am talking about". The tone was sever and accusatory  but not  address to me but to her senior management team. " Officers seem to think they know better than members, they are forgetting they were not the ones elected. This is... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Jul 2014 - 15:41

null The Directors handbook

How to gain and retain power Better to be feared than loved but ideally not hated The name of the game is manipulation being able to recognise the true motives of other people and using it. Even the most loyal of supporters is expendable Keep the inner circle small She/he who controls the budget controls the organisation.   Blair McPherson author of UnLearing... See more
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