AVB and Chelsea FC – A case of managing change

Managing involves getting the best out of others. It also involves bringing about change, and managing multiple stakeholders — that is why it is stretching.              It is not natural to expect people from different groups, different cultures, different functions to work collaboratively together.  That takes management and leadership. As one of my previous posts  (Only about … Read more

If you can’t lead – use a big stick?

Firstly thank you to all those who have been requesting I put  some attention into the blog again. Those of you who know me well will be aware some personal circumstances have caused me to limit some things. Thank you for your encouragement – and demands to give you more! Enjoy this and future postings. My good … Read more

Goals and coaching – aid or straitjacket?

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to Alice: I don’t much care where. The Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go. Alice: …so long as I get somewhere. The Cat: Oh, … Read more

Motivating knowledge workers

From listening to much of the dialogue surrounding bankers and their bonuses it seems that huge amounts of money are the primary motivation tool – but what do we really know about the requirements of knowledge workers? In some research cited in the impressively revamped Harvard Business Review, Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer reveal the … Read more

Only about 33% of employees say they trust their senior managers

This headline about the lack of trust for senior managers was published today as the result of a survey held by the Chartered Institute Of Personnel and Development.  This quarterly survey of employee attitudes,  explores the fast-changing world of work and emerging challenges for individuals, employers and policy-makers. It’s based on a representative sample of more … Read more

Leaders – learning from conductors

As we enter a new year, indeed a new decade, it’s a great opportunity to consider how you can make the best of your impact and leadership of others. Those of you that know me will realise I’m not one for too much of a recipe approach, believing that you need to create new neural … Read more

Muhammed Ali, penalties – and Curbs

I often use a Muhammed Ali quote on our leadership programmes             “The fight is won far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym and out on the road, long before I dance under the lights” His thought was that your performance directly reflected the preparation you have put in – obvious … Read more

Leading in tough times – connected leadership – a key element

Many people in leadership positions were originally appointed due to their technical skills and their individual capabilities, not for their natural abilities in collaborating and working well with others to achieve a result.  A classic example would be Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, who admits “No doubt I have much to learn about a collective way … Read more

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