The furore around the workplace style of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary is both fascinating and scary. Politically it seems terrifying to me that the party of the establishment, in power for 13 years, might use this episode as an excuse to try to politicise Civil Service roles because of a vaguely-defined … Continue reading Making the hard decisions
Category: General
Some background hints and tips for anyone working with me. Feedback and observations on the content are most welcomed because I don't know what I don't know! Conditions I like to work in For individual working (writing, jockeying spreadsheets, preparing presentations) I’m happiest in my home office. I find this sort of work hard in … Continue reading My User Manual
There is a danger when one creates a new product that, as the saying goes, if you only own a hammer then every problem looks like a nail. But as I look at the tsunami of hype about generative artificial intelligence that is currently engulfing the world of information technology, and soaking the general media, … Continue reading The time for play is now
I was chatting to a friend at the weekend who works in a field about as far away from the hi-tech world of crypto as one could imagine. Her business, a traditional business with a heritage stretching back 100s of years, went "all in" to NFTs last year, believing it was the future of their … Continue reading Components
Yesterday's first coffee companion runs a business involved in managing waste more effectively. We talked about: the importance of finding space to meet with people without agenda the process of "divorcing" from a business partner shifting from being a software business to a professional services business the pressure of tech investment (and how the business … Continue reading 54th and 55th of 100
How very Douglas Adams. Today's coffee companion is a leadership consultant. We talked about: our respective career histories the PlayCards the way in which playing cards allow people to interact with ideas differently the importance of playfulness in work leadership, and why Servant Leadership is such a strange term to use the importance of leaders … Continue reading 42nd of 100
Today’s coffee companion is a Chief Operating Officer for a scale-up company involved with mental health support. We talked about: The dismal state of UK politics The challenges of rearing kids with ADHD The strange lack of contentment amongst Western migrant workers in the Middle East Country versus City living American startups buying up industries … Continue reading 40th of 100
This morning’s coffee companion is a consultant who helps clients to build better skills for innovation and networking. We talked about: The need for organisations to introduce playfulness to help innovation actually happen Our own peculiar career paths and the twists and turns we have both taken (Inevitably) the PlayCards The peculiar nature of academia, … Continue reading 38th of 100
This week I have learned: the delights of catching up with someone you haven't seen in a very long time. the importance of good planning when it comes to running workshops. Facilitation is one of my happy spaces, and it's particularly rewarding when a small amount of planned structure unlocks the conversations. how surprised you … Continue reading Weeknote 617 – facilitating
Today’s coffee partner is a Civil Servant who works in one of the bigger Whitehall departments. We talked about the challenges of being counter-cultural in organisations that thrive on continuity and the status quo. We talked about leadership development programmes and how they reinforce conformity and short-term thinking even if that’s not what the organisation … Continue reading 12th of 100
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