All organisations encounter problems from time to time. But it’s all too common for us to focus on attributing blame, rather than on getting to the bottom of what’s gone wrong. This wastes time, money and effort. It also doesn’t solve the actual problem. But there is another way.
Continue reading “Find the cause, fix the problem”Author: Simon Perks
Writer, trail runner, hill walker, astronomer, kayaker, paddleboarder, nerd, tea drinker, lover of the sea, labrador wrangler
Into the public square
Sockmonkey had a successful year last year, with some great projects to work on with clients both existing and new. But I’m not one to rest on my laurels. And so I’m working on some exciting new plans for 2023. One of them is to get more involved in public discussion and debate around the things that I do and the sectors that I work with. What Alan Weiss calls ‘being in the public square’. And it starts here.
Continue reading “Into the public square”When early warnings fall on deaf ears
Balancing income and expenditure can be a challenge for many organisations with a social purpose, whether they are public sector bodies, not-for-profits or social enterprises. Especially in times like this, when what passes for normal is changing on a daily basis and everyone’s feeling the squeeze. It’s important that such organisations identify potential financial issues early, so that they have time to address them before things hit the fan. But even when early warning signs are evident, they don’t always get acted upon.
Continue reading “When early warnings fall on deaf ears”Ask not ‘how’, ask ‘why’
Potential clients frequently come to me because they want to do something. They might want to restructure their organisation. Or to develop and implement a new strategy. Or to streamline the delivery of a particular service. In such cases, I have two options available to me. The first will get my clients what they want. But the second will get them what they need.
Continue reading “Ask not ‘how’, ask ‘why’”Some thoughts on the year ahead
It seems a bit of a mug’s game at the moment to try to predict what the future will bring. As black swan after black swan swoops past, it becomes abundantly clear just how uncertain things can be. And how little we actually know about the year ahead. But everyone else is having a punt at what 2023 will bring, so here’s my own contribution to our collective assessment of the next twelve months.
Continue reading “Some thoughts on the year ahead”