Entries with tag communication .

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Blair McPherson
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11 Nov 2023 - 05:35

null It’s interesting what the boss thinks is interesting - an unintended experiment in communication.

The over eager  admin support. Recalling the uncorrected draft. Why people read all 60 pages, not just 2 page executive summary-wanted to know what author/senior managers didn’t want us to know. Asked those who read recalled copy, “ what did it say? Surprisingly they remembered and highlighted different things - they were a cross section of office employees.Re named them the review group... See more
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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
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Jul 2022 - 11:13

null Is it such a good idea to make AI more human? 

Is someone working on ensuring AI understands sarcasm?  Being to literal could be a real problem. On the other hand who wants a sarcastic robot!   
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Mar 2022 - 11:41

null Middle managers are part of the solution and part of the problem

  When it comes to getting the message across and driving lasting change  are middle managers the problem ? Is the solution to bypass them and appeal directly to their staff?    I found my self  agreeing with an article in Human Resource Director ( February). The authors were saying how important it was to engage with middle managers if an organisation wanted to drive lasting ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Nov 2021 - 14:07

null The Peppa Pig speech 

The PM’s recent disastrous speech to business leaders reminded me of this piece I wrote a few years ago. You don’t think he read it do you? Being a bit of a comedian  I like a number of my colleagues  had applied for the post of area manager. We were all siting in this room waiting for our individual interviews. Maybe it was nerves but this one guy kept up a steady stream of jokey... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Nov 2021 - 13:55

null  When management communication is just blah , blah ,blah

  Management involves getting your message across, what you want doing , how you want it doing and by when, your expectations of employees/team members behaviour and attitude, or in senior management speak the mission,  the values and the targets.   Communication came within my portfolio of responsibilities. The Head of Communications was part of my management team. Communication, like... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Mar 2020 - 14:43

null The need for curiosity 

I have never seen it written into a management JD or identified as an essential requirement in a person specification but recent events have confirmed the need for curiosity amongst senior managers. I am referring to the  inquiry into the behaviour of a rogue consultant in the NHS and the failure of those charged with protecting patients to ask questions. But it could just as easily... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Jun 2019 - 16:55

null Being a bit of a comedian 

I like a number of my colleagues  had applied for the post of area manager. We were all siting in this room waiting for our individual interviews. Maybe it was nerves but this one guy kept up a steady stream of jokey comments and soon the polite laughter and mild groans turned to silent irritation. The guy had a reputation as a bit of a comedian but this was not the occasion to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Apr 2018 - 08:18

null To the mananager who says I don’t need to explain

To the manager who says I don’t need to explain my decisions . I say you do. When things don’t work out, targets are missed and decisions are questioned the manager needs to respond. Simply saying it’s my job to make the decisions and I take full responsibility is not enough.  Managers need to communicate their thinking not just their decisions. The team is more likely to accept the need... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
18 Apr 2017 - 16:38

null Customercentricity

  No it's not a proper word it's one of those words that management gurus come up with and chief executives latch on to . It's a way of making the same old things sound new or different. In this case we are talking about an organisation being customer focused or putting the customer at the centre of the business. Customercentricity is an example of corporate speak, which so often... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Apr 2016 - 08:50

null How to behave like a leader ( number 27)

  Leaders give permission to say the wrong thing, open out as opposed to close down discussion and are prepared to manage the emotions stirred up. Leaders put the same emphasise on values as budgets and performance (and are prepared to be challenged where these appear to be in conflict for example staffing levels and budget cuts). Leaders creat opportunities for direct face to face... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Aug 2015 - 18:30

null "Did they really say that?"

  The DWP has admitted making up quotes by benefit  claimants. So what we've all don it. The difference is they got caught because their quotes we so unbelievable. The DWP leaflet not only included fake quotes but fake pictures,of fake people, telling fake stories. They were caught out when a journalist asked to interview the Sarah and Sac in the photos about their stories. Faking... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Jan 2015 - 12:29

null Mouse Tap

The headline read Cold snap and mouse tap boost profits. I read and re read the article but could find no further reference to "mouse taps". Since the article was about finance was a " mouse tap" accountancy terminology, I googled it but all I got was did you mean mouse trap. Then it clicked the article was about increased on line sales boosting profits, more people using their... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 Dec 2014 - 12:32

null The medium and the message

 As we get excited about the potential of social networking and the social media for local government how do we ensure the message is not lost in the preoccupation with the medium? A recent example would be the US presidential debate on TV aired live in the US and covered worldwide. The TV, the medium for carrying this debate encourages the viewer to look at body language, tone of... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 12:55

null Demise,right size and synergy related head count adjustment

There is a saying that the truth is the first casualty of war. Well when it comes to bad news the first casualty seems to be the English language. As of last week organisations no longer make people redundant they demise them or more accurately they demise their posts. Did the HR managers at HSBC advise that this sounded better than announcing 3,000 redundancies? What should we understand... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:19

null Watch what you say

Saying the wrong thing isn’t always a bad thing. If you want to engage with people from hard to reach groups you need to have an understanding of how they see the world. It helps if you share their interests and speak their language. I was therefore impressed that Kent had appointed a 17 year old as the first youth crime commissioner. Crime amongst young people is a recognised problem which... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 13:03

null Mr Angry has got me all wrong

Morrissey and other members of the band the Smiths told journalists they were very unhappy that the Prime Minister had chosen one of their songs for his desert island disks. You can see their point they consider themselves to be critics of the system so they don’t want such a pillar of the establishment saying he’s a big fan. I assume they just think he doesn’t get it. That’s what I thought... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:34

null It's the medium not the message

As we get excited about the potential of social networking and the social media for local government, how do we ensure the message is not lost in the preoccupation with the medium? http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=21314
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Jul 2014 - 15:27

null I told a little lie

Has the harsh financial climate , the year on year budget cuts and the service reductions made managers any better at giving bad news? I had a colleague, a very out spoken member of the senior management team, opinionated on occasions abrasive who generally gave the impression of being rather fierce. It was as if he was always in a bad mood even when he wasn’t. He was very protective of his... See more
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Showing 1 to 19 of 19 entries.