Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all out there in cyber-space !
I hope you have a wonderful time over the next few days and that 2008 turns out to be all that you hope it would be. My wish ? The return of Leeds United's 15 points would be simply perfect.
Best wishes, Sean.

Listening to a debate on the radio the other day about the issue of police pay, I was astounded to hear a male nurse verbally attacking a police officer because, as he saw it, the police have been well-paid for some time.
Certainly, it is all relative but, I think we in this country stand on the precipice. In order to succeed in governing a happy, vibrant, well-educated, orderly and healthy country, the backbone needs to be strong. That backbone is made up of such critical occupations as teachers, doctors, nurses, police officers, fire-fighters etc. It is essential that they are looked after.
I, for one, would not object to a few pence being added to my tax bill, to ensure that the body of workers to which I have just referred are given a fair deal. I know that market forces will determine many outcomes but, I find it totally impalatable that our police force is denied a small back-date in a pay-rise just to ‘keep inflation in check’. And this in a week when a new England manager is appointed on, reputedly, £6.5m a year, just to organise another group of millionaires to kick a pig’s bladder around a patch of grass.
I think we have lost perspective somewhere along the way !

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today released its Research Report No 465 entitled ‘Benefits administration performance’. This report presents research on performance standards for the delivery of housing benefit and council tax benefit by local authorities.
It seems to me to be largely constructive and supportive of the much good work done by local authorities in difficult circumstances. One conclusion that it draws centres upon leadership – something that I have touched upon in previous blogs (see below).
Recognising that there is no direct correlation between specific leadership styles and performance, effective leadership requires a balance of appropriate styles, the report rightly acknowledges that soft ‘issues’ such as organisational culture and motivation could have a significant impact on performance.
Indeed. Something that I have discussed at length in my forthcoming book on the subject of leadership. Watch this page for further news.