Category: Professional

When should you change horses?

Contemplating a big change in direction but still implementing your current strategy? The expression ‘you should not change horses midstream’ apparently comes from a speech made by Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election as he urged voters not to switch leader in the middle of the civil war. It emphasises the risk in making …

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Understanding Voluntary Organisations – Book Summary and Comment

Introduction This is not a new book. It was published first in 1988 and yet it focuses on an important subject – how do you make ‘voluntary’ organizations function more effectively? There are a vast array of third sector organizations that play a big role in society – charities, faith groups, political, sports and community …

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Great by Choice – book summary and comment

Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen Who doesn’t want to be great – or rather be part of something great? I guess we are all interested… hence Jim Collins continued journey. He is back on this enduring quest in the fourth study in his series (following Good to Great, Built to Last and …

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The leadership of Michelle Obama

Do you ever wonder if your leadership makes a difference? It can be difficult, especially in complex organisations or if you are a leader with a wide area of responsibility, to see what difference leaders make to the performance of those on the frontline of the organisation. You may be able to see where poor …

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Truth and fear – poor bedfellows?

It has been a bad summer for truth and a good one for fear. Anyone who followed the Brexit campaign saw leaders pedalling the most outrageous misrepresentations of truths (aka lies). Perhaps the most obvious was the ‘Leave’ battle-bus which trumpeted the opportunity to repatriate the £350m that we allegedly give to the EU each …

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