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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Jun 2024 - 12:02

null The powerless manager 

The manager is a marginal influence. There are very few brilliant managers. Those that are ,are very much the exception. Most just get on with it with varying degrees of competence. They know what they’re doing but so do most managers these days. What differentiates managers is how they present themselves, their communication skills and personal relationships. Most of all how they make people... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Jun 2024 - 11:53

null Holding feet to the fire

It sounds like a torture technic used by some despicable totalitarian regime. In fact it was a phrase used to describe holding an organisation and its leadership accountable. It certainly conveys pain, fear and extreme reluctance. Are some organisation really so resistant to being open and accountable so fearful of the consequences that getting the truth out of them requires extreme... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
30 May 2024 - 09:20

null I worked for a cool manager 

There are managers who are bullies and managers who are rising stars , managers who are fence sitters and managers who are innovators. But only a very few managers are truly cool.    If you have to ask what it means to be cool ,well, you probably aren’t cool. Being cool means being true to your self. Which often means being seen as a bit of a rebel, challenging some traditional... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
31 May 2024 - 15:43

null Anger at work

There is road rage, social media vitriol and increasing reports of abuse of shop workers. The public are angry and increasingly willing to express it. But what I want to focus on is office anger, raised voices, personal criticism and aggressive behaviour in meetings. Does it only becomes aggressive when you start to scream and shout abuse, when using threatening words causes alarm, distress,... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
27 May 2024 - 12:04

null Not up to the job 

I was too trusting  Other people let me down  I didn’t ask the right questions I forgot my values  I didn’t understand the technical stuff but was reluctant to admit it  I was given plausible explanations  I was concerned not to damage the organisation reputation  We had invested so much it was difficult to admit that there was a big problem  It was... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 May 2024 - 11:10

null The Smart way to deal with bullies 

A group of Hells Angels roar up to a transport cafe and noisily tumble through the door shoving and pushing each other. There is one customer  a truck driver who has just sat down to eat a large portion of egg and chips. The Angels sit down at the same table surrounding him. One of the Angels steals a chip and dips it in his egg. “What are you going to do about it old man?” The others... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 May 2024 - 11:21

null The fox is in the hen house and other cryptic messages.

The door is open but they insist on climbing through the window  The gardener-my garden is full of weeds the herbicide isn’t working. I need someone to pull them up by their roots.  We have a mole in the garden we need an exterminator  The magician was not able to pull a rabbit out of the hat this time. You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind is blowing. ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 May 2024 - 11:02

null  Talking your way out of trouble

The smooth talker doesn’t make up implausible excuses, like my dog ate my home work or the WiFi went down , they admit their mistakes, apologise and use humour and flattery to get them selves out of trouble. You have made a big mistake, missed an important deadline, failed to deliver an important message, tuned up late for an important meeting, said something inappropriate in the heat of the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 May 2024 - 11:39

null Best career advice ever

“I'm giving you a chance to survive this place not a f****ing  career opportunity “  The tattooist of Auschwitz   
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 May 2024 - 10:15

null Do we expect too much from the workplace ? 

I was reading an article on how important it was that employees were made to feel they belong. Whilst I agree it is a problem if people feel they don’t fit in or belong in a team or organisation I did wonder whether such articles were encouraging unrealistic expectations. We are talking about where you work, it’s not realistic to expect you will like everyone, there may well be things you are... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
17 May 2024 - 11:27

null Friends teaching AI to be sarcastic 

  Artificial Intelligence (AI ) like Sheldon has trouble detecting sarcasm. The very brainy Sheldon is like AI very literal. But that could soon change using episodes of US comedies like The Big Bang Theory and Friends AI is being shown examples of sarcasm in order to identify it in communication with us humans.  All very clever but necessary? Apparently those involved in the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 May 2024 - 09:57

null “ We never ever do nice and easy”

 In the  intro to the live version of Proud Mary, Tina Turner says, “ We never ever do nice and easy” she was talking about the energy they put into their performance but if you know anything about her troubled and violent marriage you might read more into these words. Like wise the apparent decision to avoid “nice and easy” might describe the way many organisations operate. As the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 May 2024 - 10:48

null The best ever episode of Four in a Bed 

Four couples compete to see who has the best value for money B&B. Having been treated fairly by everyone else the couple had an apparently unbeatable 100% final score. Just to be sure of victory they had been supercritical of the other contestants delivering harsh verdicts to justify underpayments. But it was the way they spoke about their guests/other competitors which revealed a rather... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 May 2024 - 14:46

null Spuddle -17 th century

They’re hard working, they put in the hours, no one doubts their commitment. Pity they‘re  useless. Their diary is full of meetings from early morning to early evening. Their mail box is full. They are too busy to do anything. Why are you attending all these meetings? Why do you have so many emails ? What was your contribution ? It’s called hiding in plain sight. And if you’re seen as... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 May 2024 - 06:29

null It’s expensive and one day it will work 

It wasn’t Covid. It wasn’t  the War. It wasn’t leaving the EU. It wasn’t the Trade Unions or the Government that brought the largest Local Authority in the country to its knees. It was IT. Just think what AI could do in the future!    Blair McPherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk 
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Apr 2024 - 13:31

null Intelligent, clever or smart

The problem with calling AI Artificial Intelligence is humans may increasingly mistake it for human intelligence and defer to it attributing intellectual powers to machines that they don’t have.   Blair Mcpherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Apr 2024 - 11:04

null No experience require but excitement guaranteed

When you’re young, just about to leave school or university isn’t  this exactly what you’re looking for in a first job? This particular recruitment advert was accompanied by a picture of an individual standing at the back of a large military transport aircraft in mid flight with its huge rear doors open exposing the vast expanse of sky. On closer examination a safety line was fastened... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Apr 2024 - 09:33

null Internal  relations make the difference

What makes a difference to an organisations success and what makes a difference to a managers effectiveness are the same - internal relations. Strong , positive, supportive internal relationships increases an organisations performance. The opposite is also true but you knew that didn’t you. It doesn’t take a management guru to see the damage done by a dysfunctional team. So why don’t... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Apr 2024 - 15:47

null I am the Question not the Answer 

Organisations look to leaders for the answers but effective leaders ask questions. Good questions. Good question prompt others to focus on the right things and come up with solutions.  Blair McPherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk 
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
07 Apr 2024 - 15:18

null You’re getting sacked in the morning 

It’s a chant beloved by opposition supporters to taunt rival managers during a bad run of results. It’s even worse if your own supporters join in. Real Madrid supports traditionally wave a white hanky meaning good bye to a manager they wish to see the back off. It’s a powerful message from a full house of 80,000 whistling disgruntled fans.   On the hour, every hour one of the main news... See more
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