Writing and posting on subjects that interest, annoy or motivate me.
The aim is to look at these subjects - be they employee relations, organisational design and HR; or more specifically about economics, politics, industrial negotiations or employment law; or other passions that interest me like sport, music and family - in a different way and challenge the conventional or easy thinking, especially from those of us who are perceived as being on the left.
This way we challenge ourselves, test our ideas and perspective. This way we're then better placed to challenge those on the other side of any negotiating table.
As a child I was usually to be found playing football in the park, streets, playgrounds...one of many nosily charging about, all looking down chasing the ball.
We kind of knew where our goal was and whenever we had a chance would aim the ball roughly in that direction and hope for the best - then charge after the ball trying to regain possession and control.
That's how many of us go on living our lives. Life is hectic, chaotic and our focus can too easily be on looking down at the here and now hoping not to trip over and waiting for a chance to kick life nearer our goals.
But the best players are always those who, amongst the chaos, can see the spaces and find the time to look up and take control of the game. Even when they don't score the goals their teams win. They are the real leaders and stars in the team.
Looking up and giving ourselves the time and space to act strategically and impose ourselves on the game can be challenging but its what makes the difference.
Looking up starts with thinking differently and challenging ourselves not to follow perceived wisdom. By practicing challenging ourselves we test, develop and refine our ideas and actions. Knowing ourselves better means we become more emotionally self-aware, more resilient, more able to anticipate and adapt to new challenges.
The articles in this blog are reflections on challenges the author comes across in his work and life. The aim is to share and test his ideas on how to look at the problems from a different perspective. The hope is by sharing these examples, he can offer some leadership across our chaotic post-rational playing fields.
