According to David Clutterbuck , co-founder of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council, ‘An expert is someone whose existing knowledge hinders their new learning.’ Hearing this takes me right back to my University days when learning about evolution. During that time I realised that specialisation is the last stage before extinction. In the animal kingdom, … Continue reading An expert
Evolving people
Early human remains have been discovered in Europe dating back to over seven million years. This may be stretching a point. They are the remains of an ape-like creature with human-like teeth found in both Bulgaria and Greece yet the inference is enormous. This discovery turns our current thinking of human evolution on its head. … Continue reading Evolving people
Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
The topic for this round of presentations has been ‘Out of the Toolbox’. The title is an obvious reference to thinking outside the box but also attempts to draw us back to the work that we do. It was Saul Kaplan who said that we need to take our ideas off the white board and … Continue reading Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
Unfolding plans 177 – North East ICT
At this week's North East ICT managers meeting we spent a lot of time talking about devolution. It is a topic that is exercising the minds of many of us in local government at the moment. It is the hot button issue. It was a good meeting. All of the seven councils in the soon-to-arrive … Continue reading Unfolding plans 177 – North East ICT
Unfolding plans 175 – Lest we forget
There is some irony that on the day we remember the glorious dead of conflicts around the world that there is a conference in Malta to try and stem the flow of migrants into Europe. On the day that we are to remember those who have fallen defending our way of life, who have been … Continue reading Unfolding plans 175 – Lest we forget
Unfolding plans 155 – Change Management Institute
I did my pitch to the Change Management Institute last week. The evening was held in the Northumbria University Business School where the Manor’s goods yard used to be. It was the first time I had ever been in the building and I must say it was impressive. I think what I said went down … Continue reading Unfolding plans 155 – Change Management Institute
Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills
Video was never my medium. It just doesn’t work for me. I fluff my lines and get all tongue tied. I’m more nervous on video than with any other format. I don’t know why, perhaps it is the permanence of it all. I think I get hung up on how I’m coming across rather than … Continue reading Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills
Unfolding plans 142 – Women in IT
You know that this is one of the areas that I am interested in. It’s not just me though. SOCITM has launched it as one of their key themes, getting more women into Information and communication technology. Last Wednesday marked the launch of their (its?) ‘Women in IT’ initiative held in Central London. The event … Continue reading Unfolding plans 142 – Women in IT
Unfolding plans 124 – Head space
I’m racking my brains. I’m trying to do some work on our ICT Strategy and I just can’t get my head around what needs to be done. It’s not even one year old. It’s the third ICT strategy that I have written since I came to Durham but we made a commitment to review it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 124 – Head space
Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque
Yesterday I cashed a cheque. It was for a very small amount, less than seven pounds. The day before I happened to write a cheque. This time it was for a larger amount. It had a seven in it. I’m letting you know about this because they are such rare events these days. I can … Continue reading Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 