Management
Human Learning Systems’ public service for the real world
Dawn Plimmer explores what an approach focused on making the process of change more human has to offer as an alternative way of organising public services.
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day
Chief executive at Cratus, Nick Kilby, has been judging the finalist for the Community Heroes Award for The MJ Awards. He says the experience left him feeling ‘emotional and heartened’.
The challenges for public leaders have only just begun
The Public Leaders Report 2021 captures what it was like to lead during a tough year and includes candid insights from 20 chief executives, say Pat Ritchie and Stephen Crookbain.
Sticking with simplicity
To say that The MJ’s chief executive of the year Chris Naylor has had a busy year is an understatement. He talks to Heather Jameson about what he loves doing – reforming organisations to 'do some remarkable things’.
Losing the confidence of members
It’s crucial for managers to keep the confidence of members, says Blair McPherson. ‘But the trouble is they are increasingly reliant on the information they’re fed by their bosses.’
Reset, Reform, Renew and Resilient – a prospectus for local placed-based recovery
A new Socitm prospectus drawing from more than 200 local authority recovery and regeneration strategies offers decision makers the help they need to sense check their plans, says William Barker.
Surrey councils to share management
Guildford and Waverley BCs have agreed to share a single senior management team, including a chief executive, directors and heads of service.
Future Forum North: Key behaviours show what good leadership looks like
GatenbySanderson’s Altitude leadership model benchmarks behavioural excellence for leaders. Seb Lowe and Liaquat Lal explain the 12 behaviours that form the key to successful long-term strategic clarity.
‘You’re going to get hit sometime’
A candid case study reveals that Redcar & Cleveland BC is still recovering from the impact of last year’s costly ransomware cyber attack. What are the lessons learned? Dan Peters reports.
Hitting the target but missing the point
A report by the Institute for Government highlights the risks of a target culture - 'prioritising easy wins, ignoring important issues and manipulating data', says Claire Kober.
Effective digital services need the right blend
Dave Mann says the best way to hold and retain institutional memory and build good services is through blended digital teams, ‘not short-term thinking and temporary projects’.
Remote working – the new personal challenge
Has virtual working blurred the line between our personal and professional ‘self’? Nicola Chiverton asks the question as the workforce emerges from a post-pandemic world.
Councillors to bring supported housing closer to home
Senior Haringey LBC councillors have moved to develop supported housing for young people with complex learning disabilities and autism within their own borough.
Croydon told to act on interims
Croydon LBC has been told to move quickly to put a ‘substantive management team in place’ due to its high number of senior interims.
Taking bold action for communities
‘Bold, public, political leadership’ with many forms of ‘listening’ as a critical feature has been at the core of Barking and Dagenham’s and Greater Manchester’s successes in recent months and years, say Sarah Gillinson and Chris Naylor.
Organisations need wellbeing too
IMPOWER’s resilience framework – produced in conjunction with eight councils and the County Councils’ Network – looks at how workforces can adapt to disruption ranging from small events to the largest crisis in decades. Jon Ainger explains.
Doing ‘deliverology’
Jonathan Werran says that, although Dominic Cumming’s select committee performances are a ‘longshot for engineering a radical change’ at the centre, there is perhaps an opening for the local state to seize hold of.
Successful leadership – top five emerging themes
Jes Ladva at Odgers Interim gives his assessment on the key leadership skills developing in local government for a bright post-pandemic future.
Battling the new apocalypse
Local government is besieged by the pandemic, digitalistion, the economy and the impending fiscal crisis; issues leaders will need to continue to find answers for. The Leadership Centre’s Joe Simpson talks to Heather Jameson.
Forwards, not backwards
The world of work has changed irreversibly since COVID, says Neil Lupin, and from leadership level onwards it is time to embrace the physical and emotional benefits of workplace transformation
