Entries with tag management .

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Blair McPherson
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27 Jul 2023 - 11:03

null Dealing with grief and bereavement in work 

There is always a joker in the pack. The team comedian who interjects flippant remarks into the team briefings. Irritating if you’re the boss, amusing if you’re not. But this joker is not a clown but a gifted professional who often demonstrates unique insight. True they are not impressed by their new line manager and some of those interjections are a veiled criticism . Some one who often feels... See more
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Blair McPherson
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25 Jul 2023 - 14:46

null How to change the culture of an organisation 

Getting rid of a blame culture , a bullying culture, a culture of distrust and cynicism,  a sexist culture, a racist culture, a risk adverse culture, a paternalistic culture and replacing it with a learning culture, an empowering culture, an inclusive , creative culture , a can do culture, inevitably involves changing the way managers manage their employees.  Most leaders would like... See more
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Blair McPherson
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16 Jul 2023 - 11:10

null Learn,Unlearn and Relearn 

I wrote a book with the title Unlearning Management. It was made up of short one and two page articles, using typical management scenarios to advocate a move away from traditional management styles. The focus was on people management. The aim was to explain how modern managers spend their time and what organisations were increasingly looking for in appointing and promoting managers. It’s as... See more
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Blair McPherson
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16 May 2023 - 12:18

null No consensus 

   The best managers seek consensus but recognise when the pursuit is being abused. I had a colleague on the senior management team who seemed to delight in frustrating the rest of the team every meeting. There was always one agenda item where she was at odds with the rest of the us. Rather than curtail the discussion and go with the majority the boss would seek consensus and the... See more
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Blair McPherson
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03 Apr 2023 - 11:15

null Anywhere. And Everywhere

This isn’t about somewhere I used to work. This isn’t about someone I used to work for. I can’t be in trouble because I don’t work there any more. I don’t know why they think this is about them.Or why you’re saying,”not again”. I’ve never even met them. You say they know all about me.You say they are angry and out to get me. You say it’s about an article I wrote.But I have written nothing... See more
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Blair McPherson
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01 Apr 2023 - 06:41

null Bear shaving

Aimed at those who dismiss the problem of global warming as exaggerated an activist responded by saying they supposed critics would see the answer to bears dying of heat exhaustion as shaving off their fur. The expression , “bear shaving “ has come to mean proposing superficial solutions rather than tackling the real problem. And there is plenty of evidence of organisations doing just... See more
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Blair McPherson
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13 Jan 2023 - 21:02

null Bullying in the movies 

Looking at the video and film clips, film makers in the USA think bullying at school, in the work place and in leisure venues is common place. They also believe all bullies get their comeuppance. But only by picking on the wrong person who violently and with maximum efficiency breaks bones and busts heads using fists and feet. The message seems to be learn to fight.  Does the message... See more
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Blair McPherson
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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
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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
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29 Aug 2022 - 13:31

null The obsessive manager

The head hunter is singing the praises of an individual they think is an ideal candidate for the Chief Executive vacancy. There is of course an impressive track record  but it’s the personality characteristics they stress, the obsession with detail, the work ethic, the competitiveness, the disciplined approach, the high standards they demand and the even higher standards they hold... See more
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Blair McPherson
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12 Apr 2022 - 08:48

null Heard but quickly forgotten 

To those who don’t want feedback. To those who avoid training. To those who say I have been doing the job for years there’s nothing you could tell me I don’t already know. To those who claim it’s all just basic common sense. To those who think there are no new ideas, no better ways of doing things, no such thing as best practice and no need for inspections. I say you must be the... See more
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Blair McPherson
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10 Jan 2022 - 12:32

null Survival of the friendliest 

As we know it’s not the fastest, the strongest or the cleverest that survive but the friendliest. Admittedly in reference to evolution it’s survival of the fittest , those who adapt most quickly to their environment  but I am referring to the workplace. People who are seen as friendly, cooperative , easy to talk to and get on with tend to survive and prosper. They survive the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
02 Apr 2022 - 07:45

null “Brain surgery…. It’s not exactly rocket science is it?”

A recent study ( published in the festive edition of BMJ) to decide who is the brainiest, neurosurgeons or aerospace engineers has found that neither are necessarily brighter than the rest of us. It’s not that brain surgeons and rocket scientists are better at everything but they are better at certain things which make them very good at what they do. It occurs to me that the same... See more
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Blair McPherson
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08 Dec 2021 - 12:21

null The Ketchup Wars  

There are two types of senior manager those who believe success is built on long hours, dedication and hard work ,sacrifice and those who think the best results come when people feel valued, empowered and trusted, fulfilment.  I’m not saying there can not be a mix and max but generally senior managers lean one way or the other. Some of the most successful are the most extreme. The... See more
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Blair McPherson
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30 Oct 2021 - 13:28

null How can I help? 

He is a very caring human being, with a good set of professional values . He is a terrible manager.   It’s the mantra of the new chief executive. He starts every conversation and answers every question with ,” How can I help you”. At first it’s different, then amusing because of the frequency he says it. But before long it becomes just irritating. We get it he sees his role as... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Sep 2021 - 11:12

null Have you noticed how often incompetence is rewarded?

It’s the opposite of what you would expect. Instead of penalising employees who regularly mis deadlines and produce poor quality work managers often seem to reward them. Perhaps they raised their concerns with the individual but saw no improvement or even found them selves subject of a grievance by the employee claiming they were being scapegoated, victimised or bullied.    Following... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 Aug 2021 - 14:57

null How a no blame culture works

Whether it’s penalty misses or bad decisions there should be no scapegoats, no coverups, just a willingness to talk openly about mistakes  Sweden halved the number of avoidable birth injuries in hospitals after it introduced a no blame compensation scheme for injuries sustained as a result of medical treatment. The result was hospital  staff felt able to speak openly when things went... See more
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Blair McPherson
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14 Aug 2021 - 15:36

null Never say No 

As a grandparent I never say no, as a parent I said it a lot, apparently. As a manager I didn’t like people saying no to me so I tended to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. As an experienced manager I liked to be asked for my suggestions. By the time I was a senior manager yes and no we’re replaced by how and how come.  Some organisation like some managers have a no... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Jun 2021 - 10:44

null Giving work Purpose and Meaning

The worst job I ever had was working in the social security office, before computerisation, matching post to case files. Every morning I was given a long list of names to locate their files. The problem was that the filing cabinets were bursting so files were piled on top of cabinets in wobbly towers. Files could also be “ out” meaning on someone’s desk . There was no guarantee the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 May 2021 - 15:29

null Light my fire 

Her name was Heather and she was a swim wear model. She wasn’t the most obvious choice for a conference speaker. She stood at the front of the stage and spoke to an audience of about a thousand senior managers and board members. She spoke for approximately 45 minutes without notes. She was serious and funny, honest, angry and interesting. She talked about the accident in a very matter... See more
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Showing 21 to 40 of 217 entries.