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
What 2025 looks like
Get your kids into genetics, robotics and cyber security – that’s where the future lies according to an expert on the radio the other day. Given the huge pressure on infrastructure I would add civil engineering to that list. A customer recently asked me what 2025 will look like, as if I have any idea.…
Here’s what has changed in construction in 40 years
Caution – memories are particularly unreliable and my reality is not your reality 1976 2016 Lots of the workforce directly employed. Plant was owned, materials were made in Britain Mainly subcontracted. Plant is hired in. Materials from around the world. Workforce from around the world Most stuff was dug, poured and built on site Most…
The paradox of expectations (Will Leicester City F.C. fall at the last hurdle?)
At the start of the season Leicester City were 5000/1 on to win the Premier League. I suspect at that time they would have been happy to avoid relegation. Now they are five points clear at the top of the league and looking good for the title. All the football talk is will they do…
On communication
Communication is an issue for teams and organisations; as a topic of concern it gets raised in most of the sessions I do with project and business leadership teams. I have a theory on communication which goes something like this: In our current form humans have been on the planet for 195,000 years. Writing was…
What are you watching?
I’ve stumbled on a great way to start a meeting. Recently, on a long journey to one, I was listening to some amazing music by an artist who inspires me. It made me wonder what the people I was about to meet were listening to, watching or reading, so when we were all together I…
Feeling tired
As Christmas approaches many of the people I am working with are feeling tired. A client told me he’s been full on for six months, is worn out and has had a cold that he cannot shift for the last eight weeks. I’m also feeling tired – 2015 has been a challenging year though work…
Robert and the unreasonable man
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the World; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the World to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” George Bernard Shaw Here’s an example. In the late nineties I joined a national contractor as operations manager. One of the project managers I inherited was responsible…
Who are you?
When I was a young project manager I wanted to be a contracts manager. Every time my boss came to site I would hassle him about promotion. At first he would tell me the skills I needed to develop, which I did over time, then “Dave you need to do a few more big jobs”…
Hearts and minds
In the late nineties I led a change programme for Wates Construction. Half way into the programme Richard asked me “how do we get hearts and minds buy in?” As the Board member responsible for the delivery of the benefits he was keen for all staff to commit to and adopt the new way. At…
The life blood of the business
As a contractors site agent I was exercised by getting the money in and holding on to it. My boss drilled it into me, he constantly reminded me that “cash is the life blood of the business”. Now, after nearly twenty years as a performance coach I have a different perspective. I think confidence is…