Last week in Early Warning: A Political Storm is Brewing I rashly suggested that I could weigh up an organisational setting and estimate its survival prospects. It's not a precise science (what science is?) but you can do it too if you know how. To whet your appetite and ruffle a few feathers, here is a fun little game you can play at your team meeting that will provide a huge amount of vital intelligence that will shine a light, your light, on the prospects for the enterprise to survive the next 12 months. Read More

Here is a clarion call for an independent mind, your mind.

Have you noticed how powerful scientists seem to have become? Or rather, how powerful they appear to be? So much depends on my 4th Principle of Power: Perception and Reality. Let me explain.

He who pays the piper, calls the tune.

Maybe I don’t know much about science and statistics, but I do know an awful lot about power and influence. While not wishing to fight for any side in the calamity we find ourselves in, I find myself compelled Read More

Last week I have a chat with an acquaintance. Well no, not a chat, I got talked to.

He got on his hobby horse on some topic that I was not particularly interested in, knew more about than he did, but he had me trapped.

Without wanting to be rude of impolitic I humoured him. Nodded and offered the occasional contribution to try to move things on a bit.

Afterwards, once I’d escaped I was frustrated. Annoyed Read More

Listen to them but don’t necessarily take their advice or agree with their analysis.

The problem with most experts is threefold.

Firstly, their skill and expertise has been built in the old world, before the big pause. What used to work may no longer work. The new rules fly in the face of the old rules. Therefore, in many cases (not all) the very foundation of their expertise has evaporated.

Secondly, their Read More

A time of disruption and change, and I’m curious, how are you getting on?

Whatever your status in the global lockdown, one thing is sure - the end will not be distinct. It’s not going to be like a project reaching its big deliverable, or a milestone being reached. You know, the kind of event that enlightened professionals would say, “Okay, what have we learned?”

To avoid the risk that you will not consolidate your learning and extract the benefit from this period, let me ask you: Read More

Most mid-level professionals in large organisations today naively rail against the politics.

They consider it harmful, a waste of time, and something perpetuated by self-serving and unscrupulous individuals.

Sadly, you quite often see only what you expect to see, and this short-sighted perspective is career-limiting.

Back in 2008 I Read More

Client Confidential

Most leaders right now will have ditched expectations of achieving their targets in 2020.

Why? Because of the crisis.

“The whole world has changed and what we planned is no way achievable now. As a good leader, I need to let my people know I understand things have changed. It’s not their fault.”

I beg to differ. Read More

A little known part of my background: I used to design and run creative thinking courses.

My favourite resource to call upon was Edward de Bono, creator of Lateral Thinking. While often quoted, implementation of his approaches, especially brainstorming, is often rather patchy.

One of his techniques is particularly needed right now.

He created a new word for it: Po.

Po is a word intended to Read More

Interesting times. Uncertainty is running rife, and change is no longer desirable, it’s mandatory in almost all areas of our “normal” world.

How you respond is up to you, if you have the requisite mental agility, and can capitalise on that by ensuring you have the appropriate emotional agility. The two go hand-in-hand.

Last night I had the honour of discussing this topic with an enthusiastic and progressive group of people: The Future of Work in Scotland.

Here is a brief summary of the key points I shared and we discussed to act as a tool for further reflection for those who attended, and a stimulant for those who missed it. Read More

...because it could make all the difference!

In these days, in any days, you have to be very careful who you allow in to influence your thoughts, feelings and actions.

Recall the old maxim, "You are the average of the 5 people you spend most time with."

In these strange times, most of us don’t have a choice who we are locked down with. Hopefully it’s with people you love, like and respect. People who nurture your soul and your being.

But, they don't need to Read More