My Blog
This blog is for me, it’s my sketch pad where I think things through and work things out. Having worked ‘stuff’ out I think it’s good to declare it, so I am sending it to you. Hopefully you will also find it useful.
Latest Posts
Pulling together my LinkedIn posts through March
In my LinkedIn posts I share my thinking, my process and my work as a professional coach. Oh and also sometimes, something about my exertions on my bike and rowing machine.
At the end of each month, assisted by AI, I roll up my posts into a long form article, somehow trying to make sense of it all.
Serious professional editing brings the AI draft back to me, Dave the human being.
Here’s my March …
From CEO to underused newbie – a sobering tale with a hopeful outcome
A CEO decides on a career change though its not going as expected.
His phone has stopped ringing. Frustration is creeping in.
For the first time in his life the pressure is off and he doesn’t like it.
Though hope and inspiration are always just one conversation away.
Doing the deal
When asked about my work, “how much does it cost?” there are no ready answers. Other than “it depends” – on business results, objectives and what they are worth.
My work arrives through sound, trustworthy business relationships rather than speculative proposals or competitive bidding. And I don’t bid for funding – I tried once, failed and was told the benefits were “understated”.
For me, Doing the Deal is about dealing with the right person and ethics both ways.
Explained here just in case we ever seek to enter a working partnership.
Might also be useful for other coaches.
Quality, trust and the standard we set
As a leadership team coach I interact with and learn from leaders all the time. I watch and study how they get things done through people. I am a student of leadership.
My LinkedIn posts reflect my experience and what I am learning – about leadership and myself.
At the end of each month I reflect across all my posts – here’s my February reflections.
It’s a longer than usual read, worth sitting with and pondering. I think busy leaders will find it useful.
Why Quality needs to be the first item on the agenda: reflecting on 50 years in construction
Poor quality safety, poor quality business results, poor quality recruitment and retention and people? Poor quality projects. Poor quality reputation. What about the leadership?
For years there have been calls to think differently about Quality. There still are.
I’ve been reflecting on this. On Quality.
Have I reached a radical conclusion or is it obvious?
Better Is Better – reflections inspired by my January LinkedIn posts
New for 2026, each month there’s a long form article drawn from my LinkedIn posts. This is the first.
As a leadership team coach I interact with and learn from leaders all the time.
My posts reflect my experience and what I am learning – about leadership and myself. The monthly articles will draw on all of that.
I hope they develop into a useful companion for busy leaders.
Situational judgement: navigating ethical decision-making
Would you instruct a brickie to produce a substandard sample panel?
Or make a promise to a client to win a project knowing you are going to break it?
Or accept a crucial role knowing you lack the necessary experience?
Have you read your professional code of ethics – lately or ever?
Here’s a chance to explore all the above and to test your ethical instincts.
Successful leadership requires an understanding of the relationship between ‘Be’, ‘Do’ and ‘Have’.
Your right at the top, the leader of the organisation. Or maybe that’s your aspiration.
Who are you as a person and why does that even matter?
What about the team around you, who are you as a leadership team and why does that matter?
How did you become a leader, were you prepared for it? What about your team?
This is about advanced influencing for leaders …
We Need to Talk About Transformation
Everyone’s talking about ‘transformation’. It seems like hype to me; is it ethical to sell ‘transformational’ benefits?
What does it even mean?
I think “We Need to Talk About Transformation” … coaches and all professionals.
I borrowed the title from one of my fav films – “We Need to Talk About Kevin” – a great watch though harrowing.
Is your team leading ‘on purpose’?
Without a clear purpose leadership teams unwittingly cause confusion, drift and division.
“We are working in silos” is a common refrain.
The team was established for a reason, there was a purpose but it’s not evident now.
It needs to rediscover its purpose and lead on purpose. But how?
What’s the purpose of this leadership team?