Category: Inspiring

I would like to acknowledge everyone starting or about to start, the next phase of their lifelong journey of learning. These photos are of my daughter Keira getting ready for her first day at junior school today. Long may the excitement continue.

I just spotted this being shared on Twitter:

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy

Love to learn.

Arriving home after a busy day I found a great email waiting for me. Turns out the good readers at HRZone have voted me their blogger of the month for July. Cool! HRZone’s editor, Charlie Duff wrote “Kudos to you and congratulations. I’m afraid there is no physical prize as such but you can bathe in the glory of being top blog all month, plus the added bonus that you were voted for by your peers on HRzone.” I don’t want a prize; this small piece of recognition is great. I’m chuffed. And I’m motivated to continue to write to the best of my abilities. Practice practice practice.

I was at a conference earlier in the week. Honestly, it wasn’t great. Two things really saved it for me. First, I met some interesting people. Thanks Amanda, Janet and Michelle. Second, I listened to a very interesting speaker. Detective Superintendent Gary Linton had been asked to come and talk about how he set up the national criminal records office for the Association of Chief Police Officers. Now this might not strike you as the most exciting topic ever, but Gary told a lovely story. He began with how his fledgling team started work in a Portakabin working outside on plastic garden furniture when it got too hot to be inside. He took us through considered risks, co-creativity, and a sense of purpose and left us at his new offices with a growing, engaged, successful team. Good work. What he didn’t mention was that “Some 85% of staff have a great deal of faith in him and 77% find him inspirational.”

Gary left the event and that evening went to attend an HR awards ceremony. What he didn’t know – right up until the announcement, was that he was about to be awarded the title of “Most People Focused CEO – Public Sector”. Great recognition.

I dropped Gary a short note first thing this morning primarily to thank him for his interesting talk and of course to say well done on the award. Though he’s doubtless a very busy guy, he took the time to reply…

…before getting back to work. And I wouldn’t be surprised if right now he’s thinking of ways to inspire the remaining 23% of staff too.

Image courtesy of plasmatik

My last few scribblings have drifted through a few leadership lessons, to something a little more…personal. I found the flow of which I spoke last week deposited me briefly in a purple patch.

Purple patch: A period of excellent performance, where nearly everything seems to go right, and work properly.

This particular purple patch started with a magnificent achievement. Not delivered by me, but by my daughter. Last Friday Keira mastered the art of bicycle riding – look ma, no stabilisers. Purple bike. The following day saw Keira and I join forces with good friend Tamsin Webster on another phase of our London Elephant hunt. We found another 40 of these fantastic beasts scattered around London, many of them with more than a hint of purple. Sunday was spent in the garden. My purple radar is by now finely tuned, and I see purple flowers everywhere.

The world of work is becoming very purple too. Lots of useful, productive discussions. Proposals written with a sense of real purpose. Negotiations entered into with a genuine sense of reciprocity in mind.

I read a great post today by my buddy Matt Cheuvront. He’s a flowful guy, recently married, and recently the founder of his own business. He’s wise…beyond his years. Matt’s talking about some useful lessons learned in his short time as founder of his own company. I’ve lived, and am living these lessons. Lessons like: Don’t be (too) Proud, Offer Something Tangible, and Don’t Chase Money. He strikes a chord. And he makes me think. Employee engagement is not just the preserve of bigger businesses. It matters to all of us. Even us (currently) small businesses.

Purpose, motivation, productivity. Flow on.

We’re learning, growing, and flowing. Are you?