I don't like bullies

Central Intelligence is an intelligent film. It is also very (laugh out loud) funny and has that narrative circle that I particularly like. There is a special sub plot around bullying that gives the film a powerful undertone. And did I say it was funny?

The plot works (just) although it is not quite Homeland. And it is full of some neat cinematic references. The comedic acting is well timed and seeing 'The Rock' act like putty is delicious. This is a class buddy movie just shouting out for a sequel or two as there is plenty of scope to take the story forwards. Go and see this soon, you will not be disappointed.

No leader should be a bully. Aside from the fact that bullying is wrong, it does not work. I knew of a leader who was known as 'The Exocet' because if anything went wrong on the shop floor and he got to hear about it: he would be there in a flash and explode at anyone who happened to be standing nearby. This behaviour did not help with the company's efforts to build quality into all that it did.

Bullying creates fear and dutiful compliance when in fact what businesses need are people who enjoy being at work and feeling free and confident to innovate. By all means, people should be held to account, but this can be done without the need to resort to bullying in all of its forms.

How do you create confidence in the workplace?

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Blog 182: in my 2014/15/16 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with updates at the end of 2014 and 2015). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

#leadershipinfilms | #CentralIntelligence

Who is the alpha dog?

The Secret Life of Pets was always going to be a winner: with that title how could you fail? The idea that pets do some strange and miraculous things when we are not looking is just delightful: it certainly delighted the youngsters I heard laughing in the cinema when I went.

The narrative is a little bit shaky and does not quite loop around even in this universe where animals can drive vans and organise underground inter-species meetings. But it is very funny and full of some great visual humour. You can probably wait until it is out on DVD. But do see it.

The story hinges on a difficult relationship between two dogs who are thrown together. Their ability to bury their differences (or not) provides much of the fuel for the narrative. Who will be the alpha dog?

As leaders, do we always expect to be in charge? Do leaders expect to be the 'alpha dog'? Or is their leadership in letting go? Perhaps true leadership is shown not by always getting one's own way but by ensuring the decision making process is one in which the right way emerges...

As a leader, are you always in charge?

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Blog 181: in my 2014/15/16 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with updates at the end of 2014 and 2015). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

#leadershipinfilms | #SecretLifeofPets

Busy busy busy (3)

Stuff, just stuff!, is taking up quite sometime at the moment. So again - three films to intrigue - short reviews:

I didn't know whether to take Gods of Egypt seriously or not. Special effects wise it is a stunning film inhabited by stunning people. The story is convoluted (to say the least!) and gives an impression of trying to be in epic mode but some of the lines are just too corny for words... Leadership Theme: keep your friends close and your enemies closer!

Even though we all knew how Independence Day: Resurgence was going to end, they managed to string it out in an almost unpredictable way. Sfx are of course amazing and there are some sweet cinematic allusions (watch for the wing mirrors). Overall, it is harmless, but good to see on the big screen. Leadership Theme: do everything that you can to avoid confusing madness with great insight.

Learning to Drive is quaint and charming film about two people's journeys colliding over driving lessons in New York. There are no car chases or steamy love scenes, just some quite reflection on what love means and the importance of family. Leadership Theme: help often comes from unexpected places. Look for the unexpected...

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Blogs 178/179/180: in my 2014/15/16 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with updates at the end of 2014 and 2015). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

#leadershipinfilms | #GodsofEgypt | #IndependenceDayResurgence | #LearningtoDrive

Book launch

Yesterday evening I held a launch for my book in the University of Buckingham Bookshop. The event was hosted and introduced by Sir Anthony Seldon, the Vice Chancellor of the university and Alison Cameron, the Bookshop owner and manager. My wonderful daughter, Jess Harvey, also talked how she went about illustrating the book.

It was a thoroughly lovely evening with close friends, colleagues and connected people in Buckingham.

Here is the speech I gave:

Good evening and thank you all for coming along.

I would especially like to thank Sir Anthony for agreeing to host this evening and to Alison in the University Bookshop for all your help in making tonight happen. And thank you to Nigel Adams for making the connections join up too. Thank you all.

Cracking Questions is the first book I have ever written and it will probably be my last unless I can focus on writing a novel that is bubbling inside me. But the world is full of management books. Why on earth would I wish to add another? 

Perhaps because I think there is a small gap in the world business library for Cracking Questions…

To use a military expression: we live in a VUCA world. Our world is more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous than it has ever been. By a significant factor. And this means all organisations - from small to big, from public to commercial, from all points on the compass - need to be able to dance and weave their strategy like never before. There is no room to be anything less than optimally effective,efficient and economic in use of increasingly scarce resources. 

And it is my belief that organisations do this best when the whole organisation is doing its best.

Sadly far too many management theories and practices live only in the rarefied air of a few - usually the senior managers and staff. The few might also be the hired consultants spinning their way into the the fabric of the organisations. I think the most strategic and successful organisations are ones in which everyone is part of that strategy and success - because each person has a critical part to play.

So this is mainly why I wrote the book. It is a short, simple, readable and practical book that is focused on helping people come up with their own creative ideas that would improve the ways in which business is done: more economy, more efficiency and more effectiveness. 

And because the book can be used by anyone, wherever they sit in an organisation, it also helps people shape their own working lives. This is also part of the reason for writing the book. Most of my life - personal, professional and political - has been about trying to find ways in which to help people become true authors of their own lives and not characters in someone else’s narrative. 

And I felt there is room for a book that does not need an army of consultants to back it up. Too many organisations, it seems to me, are addicted to using external consultants while their own in-house talent is overlooked or worse diminished. 

So what is the book about? The core idea is very simple: in all organisations there is a complex web of processes and procedures that have evolved into the way that they are. Many of these processes are not working very well. But rather than spend months process mapping to the point of physical and spiritual exhaustion, Cracking Questions take a radically different approach. Choose a process, map it only lightly and then ask a series of questions.

Each question is a solution looking for a problem. So called inductive problem solving. Some of the questions when asked will not reveal any innovation. Whereas another one or two may well. I guarantee an improvement or two will be found.

Indeed, the book comes with a money back guarantee - if nothing useful is discovered after reading the book, I will refund the money used to purchase it. 

So that is it. There are chapters on leading change and service restructuring. There is also a comprehensive crowd sourced bibliography in the back as well. It may only be a thin book but it is fat with ideas about improvement.

So I thought I would just read a couple of the chapters to give you the flavour...

Busy busy busy (2)

Referendum is taking up quite sometime at the moment - and my book launch is happening this week as well!! So again - three films to intrigue - short reviews:

The Nice Guys is delicious fun. It is an exquisite homage to the 70's and with more than a knowing nod to Pulp Fiction in its zany approach to criminal mayhem. The police seem to just stand by and watch! Leadership theme: sometimes things are not what they seem!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a romping and pacey movie with a fair few laughs. However, it does not have the same wow factor of the first one in this new franchise. If they make a third, they will need to step up the narrative content. Leadership Theme: use your whole team because not everyone is like you.

I saw Youth at the local film club as I missed it on general release. This is quite an amazing film but with a slow burn. But its builds to an almighty crescendo. See it if only for a rare appearance of Jane Fonda. Leadership theme: never say never.

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Blogs 175/6/7: in my 2014/15/16 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with updates at the end of 2014 and 2015). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

#leadershipinfilms | #Youth | #TheNiceGuys | #OutoftheShadowsTMNT

Busy busy busy

I know, if I have the time to see movies, I really ought to have the time to write each one up. But right now a combination of work and EU Referendum campaigning (and etc.) means I don't. Sorry! So here are some brief reviews and leadership themes:

Angry Birds: Should have stayed as a game: too contrived. A few funny lines but most were probably funnier on paper. Leadership theme: anger has its place and can sometimes achieve remarkable results!

A Hologram for the King: A delightful movie that takes you to a destination in Saudi Arabia that you never dreamt about. Leadership theme: the importance of being open to new adventures is what makes people special, and leaders know that.

Money Monster: Gripping thriller and although the trailer hinted where it was going, you will still hold your breath for most of the film. Leadership theme: remember you are always on camera and what you say is noted.

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Blogs 172/3/4: in my 2014/15/16 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with updates at the end of 2014 and 2015). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

#leadershipinfilms | #AngryBirdsMovie | #AHologramfortheKing | #MoneyMonster