Unfolding plans 182 – Trust me and let go

I used to work with Lionel when I was at Spicers but it is some time since we have spoken.  We had a little chat today through LinkedIn.  He said I looked happy and as it was a recent photo then I suppose I did, or do.  I replied that I was and it was … Continue reading Unfolding plans 182 – Trust me and let go

Unfolding plans 179 – A break down

I got the call that I had been dreading this morning.  One of my daughters had broken down on the A1 at one of the busiest times of the day.   She was all right.  The car was off the road and she was safe. The police had been informed, the roadside assistance was on its … Continue reading Unfolding plans 179 – A break down

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 176 – Poor old email

There are eighteen ways to be more positive at work, at least that what the infographic says from CMD, a British manufacturer of office ergonomics products.  A colleague of mine sent me it by twitter.   Now I’m used to there being seven ways to something or ten rules to get what you want but eighteen … Continue reading Unfolding plans 176 – Poor old email

Unfolding plans 174 – Walking meetings

Jenny suggested that we go for a walking meeting.  It sounded fun and the weather was fine so why not.  Actually it has been unseasonably warm for the time of year and the wind was blowing a gale but we are hardy folk and were not going to let a spell of blustery weather put … Continue reading Unfolding plans 174 – Walking meetings

Unfolding plans 172 – World Paper Free Day

It’s World Paper Free Day today. I hope you’re enjoying it.  I hope you didn’t send a card!  I didn’t know there was such a thing until a couple of weeks ago but I put it in my diary and here it is.  I’ve long been an advocate of getting away from paper at work.  … Continue reading Unfolding plans 172 – World Paper Free Day

Unfolding plans 171 – Document management

So, one of the best things about going down to the Local Government Forum in Manchester earlier this week was the drive there and back.  I know it was awful.  I said so in my blog.  We got stuck in bad traffic both on the way down as well as the drive home yet it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 171 – Document management

Unfolding plans 170 – free from location

I thought the traffic was bad through the Team Valley but having travelled to Manchester yesterday I'm thinking I've been getting away with it lightly.  Lee and I were making our way to a Local Government Strategy Forum at the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club just north of the city.  The drive down … Continue reading Unfolding plans 170 – free from location

Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here

It’s an old joke when asked for directions to reply that ‘I wouldn’t have started form here’ yet it is a truism that we arrive where we are because of where we started from.  I am thinking of this in context of this year’s planning round.  We’ve started on our service plans which, while covering … Continue reading Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here