Time Flying

Crumbs!

I thought I was better at keeping up to date than the gap between this and the last blog entry. But then don't we all - that is have good intentions of keeping up with things, people, friends, and yet time flys past and before you know it weeks and months have passed.

Where do we find the time and space to keep up with whats going on beyond our own world, and in some situations beyond our own walls?

And yet if as Chief Executive I don't do it or find the time, then who will? and if I don't do it then who is looking out at the wider world and picking up the trends, information, and yes sector gossip which aids our intelligence in setting and determining the future?

Note to myself - must do better. must do more keeping up!

Inspired by Others

One of the things I really try and make time for is research. Perhaps this is a hangover from my early days when in my first post prior to graduating I was responsible for research and information, but in this post I find it a never ending source of ideas, concepts and information to reflect on and consider for CCH.

Of course today is it driven by google, but reading the periodicals and journals (which I never really feel is work - which is wrong - we need to keep up with the latest views and trends) can direct you to new organisations, events, information, even the websites themselves give food for creative thought.

Is it copying? Perhaps, but I think it is more about being inspired by others to think about new ideas, and not become totally inward focused. Something which is very easy to become.

Changing the Clocks, Changing Times

The turning back of the clocks in the UK always becomes associated with the oncoming of winter, the "dark nights" and the end of the summer (whatever weather that was - and this year not brilliant). As the first work day back after the extra hour yesterday, today has a real sense of progress, even if a bit hectic and from my viewpoint slightly disjointed.

Or is it?

Much of my day today has been contributing to collective decisions, activities, or plans, about joint working or collaboration between sections and departments - just the kind of work I have been aspiring CCH to do since the start of the re-organisation. Has the changing of the clocks helped focus the changes of CCH or have we reached a point in the change process where the impact and implications of the change are starting to become very clear and almost tangible?

Time, as it always does, will ultimately tell.

Much Progress

Since my last posting there has been a whirlwind of progress within the building.

Success in funding has given us extra work in locating suitable suppliers, designs for potential refurbishment worked on, and discussed in earnest, and into the reporting season with Audits and reports for funders. Phew!

The solid signs of progress give everyone heart and the annual Managers Away Day (for planning the year ahead) had a real sense of purpose and energy about it (and that was not just the supply of sweets or chocolate!). I feel very positive about the future, which of course will have it's challenges, but life would be boring without those!

Holiday malise

During this time of year many people take the opportunity for some annual leave, some rest and relaxation. With school holidays, and the potential for nice weather (not always forthcoming!) everything is in place.

The down-side is the pace of everything slows -the ability to make decisions, the ability to collect information / consult and generally make progress becomes slower - and with it the danger that progress stalls completely.

Holidays need to be a refreshment for the task ahead, and not become the outcome or excuse for lack of progress.

Money and the Aberdonian

Every decision I have to make seems to have a financial implication. To spend; to save; to discount; to bid for; to price; to calculate; to extend credit etc etc.

Sometimes the cumulative effect is such that I end up with the feeling that I don't want to spend anymore, and can't make anymore decisions (not true in reality). This is not helped by the birthright of being an Scot and an Aberdonian at that (Aberdonians being seen as especially "canny" (careful) by rest of the Scots, whom themselves are seen as "canny" with money.

I wonder if I would feel the same if there was a never ending supply of funds at the Bank. The answer is probably yes - because at the end of the day it is not my funds, and as CEO I have a duty to make the money work hard, but protect it, and get it to stretch as far as I can.

The solution, if there is one, for me, is to take a deep breath, and ask myself the questions "Do we really need this? Do we need this now? How does this fit with our objectives and mission?

An Issue of Trust

The newspapers and TV are full of the revelation that the BBC have broken the viewers trust by having false winners in competitions, including fundraising events.

A real reminder to all of us that trust with staff and service users is not something that can be abused, neglected or even deliberately jettisoned for the sake of better figures/results/convenience. With the increasing financial and competitive pressures it is not easy for anyone, including the BBC, to always maintain the correct focus, but we must. There is simply no alternative.