tip-top coaching

Stop your leadership and start leading

2010-11-09T18:17:00.000Z

A recent post on a social networking site asked for examples of leading edge leadership programmes. It got me thinking!

Can the way in which leadership is addressed actually make a difference. In general most organisations have an established programme of development through which everyone is processed. Having completed the programme they are then able to "tick the box". Hey presto leaders have been created; but have they?

If leadership is about attainment, are these people any better able to recognise and respond? If they are, is that as a direct result of the leadership programmes they attended?

Where are today's leaders? I'm not just talking about the people who wear the badge of office or those that have attended the organisations leadership programme. When you look back at these programmes now in the light of some of the most difficult of times can these leaders recognise and respond then lead the way?

I hope so, but as I look at the public news streams forgive me for not holding my breath. There is an absence of response when the light of expectation is shone into the organisations both private and especially public where the greatest response is required. Occasionally, an individual will emerge, most recently a General, hardly ever a politician or more worryingly a senior public sector figure.

Lists of great leaders all show one thing in common. Great leaders all get something done. This something is a recogniseable attainment. It is also not uncommon for those great leaders to have faced substantial risks.

Excuse me for asking; where are our leaders? Are they worrying too much about leadership as they re-read their manuals and not enough about leading in these difficlut times.

Global warming, is it only linked to human CO2 production?

2010-01-14T19:15:00.000Z

I've watched and read a little on this topic over the last few months, trying to find an unbiased and comprehensive review of the information and evidence. Is it me or is that difficult to find?

I'm left with a few questions:

When direct temperature data is not available, they use proxy data. Commonly tree ring data is quoted. In a hot year trees grow more thus capturing more carbon? So what is the estimated carbon capture increase from this and other vegetation growth?

What is the estimated burden of the combined effect of the forest fires e.g. California and Australia and volcanic activity?

Why do we as a race still support deforestation in key parts of the world?

Does carbon offsetting actually work?

I have several other questions, perhaps you would add yours or indeed any answers you may have.

Where has Mr Peston gone?

2009-12-01T18:15:00.002Z

From being an almost constant commentator and fixture on our TV screens Mr Peston seems to have disappeared.

I wonder where he is? Surely given the precarious nature of the financial markets and behaviours of our own now publicly owned big banks, there is still much for him to enquire about and comment on?

I wonder what his interviews and comments would make of the recent court ruling on bank charges? How can banks consider it ethical to behave in the way they do regarding customer charges?

Business North West

2009-10-30T18:10:00.002Z

If you attended this years Business North West networking event I would appreciate your comments. I enjoyed it on the whole and found it on balance helpful. It was well organised and appeared well run. I managed to attend several sessions which were useful. I also met some great contacts which is what it is all about.

Project Management

2009-09-23T13:55:00.002+01:00

I'm often asked; "what is the single biggest factor that influences the outcome and likely success of the projects I have been involved with?"

During the workshops, we spend time in the early stages challenging the clarity and understanding that Project Managers have of "exactly what they are expected to achieve".

Tip No. 1.

Throughout the project and certainly from very early on, seek out the interpretation and meaning that stakeholders and Sponsors have on the objectives and deliverables of your project.

Delegates are always surprised to find how much these can change throughout a project. Ask yourself; on a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is totally confident. How you feel about the clarity and certainty of your understanding.

If you don't answer 10 straightaway, seek clarity.
If you do answer 10 straightaway, congratulations, seek confirmation.

If you saw the above coming, congratulations, you have the experience to help others get the clarity they need.

What can I expect from Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn ?

2009-07-16T16:15:00.002+01:00

The promise is for great things from these social media.

Currently I use Facebook exclusively on a personal level to keep in touch with my social colleagues and friends.

Linked In and Twitter I use at a professional level to create exposure for my business. I've been registered on Linked In for a while but only really started updating it over the last 3 months. The others are much more recent.

I enjoy the experience of adding updates and interacting even though I find some of the questions difficult to engage with.

I wonder what return is probable? Time will tell.

Dare to believe

2009-06-12T11:16:00.002+01:00

Fabio Capello plus all the other England squad members interviewed put their success down to the "belief" that had emerged within the squad.

Has the BBC locked Robert Peston away?

2009-06-12T11:12:00.000+01:00

Where has he gone?

From being a fixture on just about every bulletin he seems to have disappeared. I can't believe that he has no further comment or information to share.

I for one hope that he is doing some very detailled investigative journalism into how this recent episode in our financial history was engineered.

Return on investment

2009-06-12T11:00:00.002+01:00

“When training impact is defined as “the use of new learning that produces valuable organizational outcomes,” then typical rates of impact from training are usually less than 15%.”
(Brinkerhoff, 2006)

The CIPD in the late 90s did a similar survey that showed a slightly better return.
Whether or not learning is applied should not be open to chance and the individual; which these results seem to infer.

Make sure your learning is consolidated into behaviour and practice with the support of coaching methods to maximise the return on your development budgets.

Wales Lacrosse

2009-06-09T20:03:00.003+01:00

Wales Mens Senior Lacrosse Squad.

Good luck at the Berlin Open. Sorry I'm missing it.

If you are attending let me know how it goes.

Wales Lacrosse at the British Nationals.

2009-04-28T17:32:00.003+01:00

Good luck to both of the Wales Squads this weekend at the Nationals. To be held on the 2nd and 3rd May 2009 at Wilmslow Lacrosse Club.

Whilst both the Senior Squad and the Development Squad are new combinations they both have strong players.

See you there.

Coaching is not just for the Americans

2009-04-28T17:27:00.002+01:00

Have you used the services of a Coach?

Would you engage the services of a Coach?

It is often said that coaching is predominantly an American ideal. Whilst it began in the USA many people in other countries have found the benefit of highly personalised development of great value.

If you answered YES or NO to either or both of the above I would like to read your comments.

Training and development budgets.

2009-04-28T17:12:00.003+01:00

Hi,

In a downturn of any kind I am often greeted by the statement "Ah yes, training and development money is the first to be cut."

I see some evidence of this as less well placed businesses close, but on the whole I experience people who simply want more specific development that targets their immediate needs and greater value for money.

What do you think? Are you a supplier or purchaser of training and development?

Innovate and create your way to Talent attractiveness

2009-02-16T16:17:00.002Z

With so much on talent attraction and retention it is easy to overlook the strategic infrastructure question.

Even if we could change what we need to extrinsically within our current business setup. Would people actually want to be here intrisically?

Follow the link above, you will need to register but last time I looked it was free. There is a short article that may just shift your thinking.

If you want to know how to implement this level of transformation whilst not undermining your current business, give us a call.

http://www.tip-topdevelopment.com

Peston rules the roost

2009-02-13T18:30:00.003Z

When it comes to the" it's who you know bit" it looks Like Robert Peston BBC Business Editor has an enviable contact list.

I've listened and read much of the financial happenings over the last few months. I cant help feeling that the powers that be are all too focussed on the wrong stuff. What they are saying does not match what they are doing.

e.g. Its a credit crisis - they look exclusively then at making more credit available by giving our money to banks so they can charge us to borrow it from them. They do not look at the cost burden of servicing the credit already in place; shown through the 90s & 00s to be too high. Why when the BoE base rate is at 1% are loans being offered at 8%+?

Its a global problem - they then not only attempt to micro-manage at a country level but at only a few of the levers available to them.

We will take decisive action - they then tinker with the levers in a manner widely considered to be behind the curve.

You've probably guessed that I am not an economist. I hope someone can explain all this so I can understand it. Maybe one of Mr Peston's contacts?

Margaret McCartney FT health blog

2009-02-13T18:27:00.003Z

If you're interested in random health topics you will definitely find this worth a look. I've been following it for a few weeks now.

Look in the pane to left at my blogs to find a link to her page.

Attitude or Knowlege?

2009-02-13T16:39:00.000Z

On tuesday 10 Feb 2009 Barbara Cassani, now of Jury's Inn once of the London 2012 Olympics, being interviewed on TV was asked the question.

When it comes to selecting people which is most important?

Her answer - Attitude.