hutchblog

nearly a year already…….. February 27, 2008

this new blog is nearly 12 months old and I am enjoying it far more than previous blog. There have been significant differences between this experience and the previous one, some of my own making and some because of changes in the way we use the net;

1) there are far less blogs linking to me - (this may have something to do with confidence as my previous url was taken over by a porn site.)
2) people are less likely to visit the blog directly these days as readers and feeds have taken over!
3) Comments are less regular these days – although it maybe that I post rubbish now
4) I no longer want to impress with what I say
5) blogging is still a key tool but social networking sites have taken over dominance

Just some thoughts

Partnership? February 25, 2008

“Partnership: the temporary suspension of mutual loathing in pursuit of funding“.
This quote was seen by Mike Chitty on a desk plaque.

Whilst this quote is extremely negative, it does seem to be the way partnership works for some people and, unfortunately, I have seen it at play with some people too. Being a cynic, I smirked when I read it and recounted the people for whom I knew it was true. Then came the need to search my own heart – that was more difficult to accept.

lessons from meetings February 19, 2008

There are some meetings that we have that can gentle reminders of the dynamics of working with others. These are the reminders that I faced this morning;

1) Some people do not always remember events or situations from the past.
2) If they do remember, they may have a different take on the same situation.
3) Some people may get defensive very quickly, it is not always obvious why.
4) Some people do not even like the sniff of possible change.
5) Some people like action points from discussion, whilst others like to continue discussing.
7) In raising a subject for discussion, some will assume that you have a problem, whether you do or don’t!

….it was a fun morning!!!

Good delegation: a rare artform indeed February 12, 2008

often we may hear people say that someone is a “good delegator” and some even claim it for themselves. However, it is my belief that there are occasions when this title is used when a better expression would be “they job got done in the way I would have done it and they got someone else to do it!” Call me a cynic….maybe that is what I am……but we all know that there is an element of truth in this.
Good delegation requires me to allow someone to take responsibility and complete authority in order to get the job done, with me being accountable. If not, it is unlikely to be good delegation….just my opinion of course!! (….and yes, plenty of generalisation too!!)

behold the beauty February 5, 2008

behold the beauty
Originally uploaded by thehutch.

once in a while a beautiful thing happens. On Saturday there was a knock at our door and I was greeted by a delivery person with a latge bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear. It was a gift off someone, that we have never met face to face, because they appreciated our concern for her and her family after some recent troubles. We were touched and realised that even if our own random acts of kindness seem small and insignificant, to others they are much larger and can go a long way to helping others.