The Blogworld of Poppyfish People Development

With less than a week to go until the start of the London Olympics let's start with a topical metaphor. Think of a successful organisation as a healthy athlete. Honed, toned, in the zone and eager for success. Reaching the pinnacle of Olympic success takes time, commitment, vision and only comes with dedicated practice and preparation. This preparation comes in different forms – mental and physical - and all with the aim of being at your best when the moment of truth arrives.  Coaches ask their athletes to visualise what it will feel like to compete, to imagine in great detail, how they will compete in those vital moments when there is all to gain, or all to lose. What does success look like? What will it take to win through? How will it feel to do so? What needs to happen for success to be realised? The same preparatory techniques can be applied to organisations, where simulations can form part of this preparation, helping the organisation develop and maintain its v...

 Purity, Perfection, Victory, Peace and Friendship. The Olympic Torch reaches St. Albans The Olympic Torch came to St. Albans last weekend. The event was part of the Torch Relay  preceding the London games that has seen the torch carried the length and breadth of Great Britain. I wasn't actually that bothered about going to see it, but my youngest daughter was keen so I scooped her up and set off for a convenient street corner. We waited patiently as part of a growing crowd and after about an hour, the procession came in sight. I say sight, but actually I heard it before I could see it. The gaudy looking torch was preceded by about half a dozen advertisement riddled lorries playing loud music, creating the razz-a-ma-tazz that is now de rigeur for such events. Interspersed between them were to be found jugglers, flag sellers and at least a dozen hairy coppers on motorbikes (why do motorcycle policemen look so grizzly?). As I stood surrounded by pavements full of He...

What is it to have 'edge'? I want you to join me in an inquiry into 'edge'. The word 'edge' comes in many forms. My ruler has an 'edge' on it, so does my lawn. Businesses might be described as having an 'edge' over their competitors. We talk about the fact that one candidate might 'edge out' another one at a recruitment interview. I can be 'on edge' when my football team is hanging on to a 1-0 lead with three minutes to go. In all these cases I think I know what the word 'edge' means. But what does it mean when someone asks you what is your edge? That definition is far less clear. This is because the concept of edge at the personal and psychological level is far more than just something which gives you an advantage. It's more elusive than that. True enough, if I 'have an edge over you ' then I have something that allows me to be compared favourably to you, but this is totally different from actual...