Entries with tag management .

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Blair McPherson
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05 Nov 2020 - 07:44

null Every senior manager has a fantasy

  Every senior manager has a leadership fantasy but they’re to embarrassed to tell you. They do however give clues.     Maybe they secretly see themselves as Dirty Harry... See more
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Blair McPherson
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02 Oct 2020 - 11:35

null All or Nothing 

Reading the biography of a very successful leader is often disappointing if you are seeking to learn how to replicate their success. Interviews with those who worked closely with such leaders often come up with interesting stories but no really usable tips. Friends and family  simply tell of the contrast between the private person and their public persona. So I had high hopes that... See more
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Blair McPherson
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24 Jul 2020 - 12:23

null Out of touch managers

  In the years immediately after England won the World Cup the then manager  Alf Ramsey could do no wrong in the eyes of his players but as the winning team was replaced by a new generation the manager’s word was no longer law. At the start of an England training session Alf brought the new younger members of the squad together and suggested they get a hair cut. They just... See more
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Blair McPherson
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26 Jun 2020 - 14:02

null I look to football managers for lessons in management 

Football managers like Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho and from a previous generation Alex  Ferguson and Brian Clough are stand out managers with impressive track records. They are extreme characters, neither heroes nor villains although to the partisan they are both. Their high profile and willingness speak their mind, their tendency to court controversy,  the level of scrutiny their... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Jun 2020 - 10:44

null The Art of Winging It

Before you know what you are doing you’re expected to know what you are doing, so you have no choice but to wing it. It happened to me. As part of a cost cutting senior management restructuring I found my self with a new job title, an increased span of responsibility and a range of services I had no previous experience of. I was confident my people management and budget management... See more
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Blair McPherson
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08 Jul 2020 - 11:38

null Can Tony Soprano make you a better manager

 Tony Soprano has never read a management book. Yet he successfully manages a diverse workforce in a very competitive and treacherous business environment. Tony doesn’t work long hours his meetings are short, measured in minutes  not hours. He rarely gets involved in the day to day operation of the business he leaves that to his captains telling them ,” It’s your job to make... See more
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Blair McPherson
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28 Apr 2020 - 10:02

null Make HR your Friend 

  The best advice I could give any one moving into their first management post.  There are lots of articles about why people hate HR and very few on why you should befriend at least one person in HR. The job is about people management as much as managing the budget and most managers find that the people they work with cause them more problems than the budget. Whether it’s... See more
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Blair McPherson
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27 Apr 2020 - 10:46

null Management shouldn’t be about shouting from the sidelines

In this case the sidelines could be the chief executive’s blog, the senior managers road show or even the team meeting. There is getting your instructions across, vocal encouragement and unhelpful criticism. It doesn’t help to keep saying the same thing but louder or more earnestly like the typical tourist abroad. It undoes the good feeling if you praise some one for their effort and... See more
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Blair McPherson
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25 Apr 2020 - 11:54

null The difference between managers and leaders.

One asks permission the other seeks forgiveness. 
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Blair McPherson
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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
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24 Feb 2020 - 14:28

null Gaming the System

Not all managers play by rules. The recruitment procedures are designed to ensure candidates are not discriminated against and managers can’t slot in their favourites. The process is designed to be fair and transparent. However the focus is often on the selection criteria and the interview. The candidates application form is measured against the person specification for the post to... See more
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Blair McPherson
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18 Feb 2020 - 12:23

null Frank Sinatra, Mr Teflon and the Professor

They use to call him Frank Sinatra because he always did it his way. Trying to explain the importance of following the correct procedures whether that be in recruitment, tackling absenteeism or taking disciplinary measures was a frustrating experience. Old blue eyes didn’t ask for advice and  didn’t take it. Either that or he would go round the HR team until he receive the advice he... See more
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Blair McPherson
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27 Jan 2020 - 14:54

null From Humiliating to Surviving and Thriving

  I once played in a football team that got beaten 15-1. What made it worse was it was only 2-1 at half time. It was a capitulation and a humiliation. Our goal keepers confidence was shattered and our star striker never played for us again. And yet the core of that team went on playing together for several very successful seasons. People respond differently to major set backs and so... See more
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Blair McPherson
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14 Jan 2020 - 18:36

null Hire and Fire with Impunity

In 2011 the Harvard Business Review published the findings of 10 years research into management effectiveness. The headlines read, USA managers are the best , and as is so often the case the reaction was to the headline rather than the detail of the research. To some commentators and management consultants this was further support for their view that management skills in the U.K. ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Dec 2019 - 13:48

null The Perfect Crime

In HR they call Passive Aggression (PA) the perfect crime as it involves a variety of behaviors designed to “get back” at another person without the other recognising the underlying anger. I thought they were just “difficult” staff. Now I realise they though of themselves either as victims or some sort of resistance fighters. That is victims of bullying or resistance fighters against... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Nov 2019 - 19:33

null Manager says upsetting people is part of role

What if England had lost? How would the managers disciplinary action against one of his best players be viewed?  So some members of the England team thought the manager over-reacted to an incident in the canteen. However the manager was adamant he made the right call and does not fear any long term repercussions. He believes his tough stance will eradicate the possibility of having to ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Nov 2019 - 10:18

null A managers arrogance is one of the things that make them successful

“ I am the greatest” Mohammad Ali said it and it was arguable true since at the time he was the undisputed world champion. It was certainly boastful and probably deliberately intended to get publicity and sell more tickets for his next fight. He was great box office and he knew it.     Arrogance is usually associated with over confidence and a distain for those less able or less... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
11 Aug 2019 - 14:47

null Organisations get the Management they deserve 

In the 80’s trade unions were strong and managers complained about not being allowed to manage. The response was organisations get the trade union they deserve. Meaning if you treat staff in a dismissive and autocratic way, and make decisions in secret then you can expect the trade union to be distrusting, suspicious and confrontational. The equivalent of this in 2019 is emphasis... See more
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Blair McPherson
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17 Jun 2019 - 06:14

null Managers who support rather than challenge 

  We all want managers who are supportive. A little bit of praise goes along way whereas constant critics undermines confidence and can be demotivating. All to often we hear of managers who don’t  let staff know they value their work or are too quick to allocate blame when something goes wrong. So when you read staff feedback that management are supportive you think they must be doing... See more
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Blair McPherson
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18 Jul 2020 - 13:52

null Can a manager stick to their principles and still be successful?

Marcela Bielsa has a reputation as a non conformist manager some one who goes against the trend and makes the rest of us question are definition of success . Some one who has a very clear idea of the way things should be done and is not prepared to change or even bend. This approach may well cost him his job.    One of his beliefs is giving youth a chance. Most of us would rather ... See more
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