In which I move to temporary office space, attempt vlogging, visit the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, win at roulette using my system at the Royal Air Force Club Summer Ball, am invited to an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, endure the UK heatwave, find myself humming ‘Jerusalem’ whilst reflecting on Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister, start Queer Eye season 4, and question why Americans use the word ‘like’ every third word. Continue reading “The Martini Diaries – Episode 7”
In which a two day committee meeting makes a big decision, I visit The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and touch Moon rock, attend the Henley Royal Regatta, catch up with a ex-staff Member for luncheon, travel to Sheffield and find the worst hotel in England, discover my dog has excellent bladder control, and try to explain cricket to a Canadian.
In a slightly extended episode I welcome the croquet season, despair at my increasing weight having returned to the gym, fail to follow or understand a briefing on what constitutes ‘fake news’, travel to Kenya for the first time, experience British Airways First Class, deliver some lectures on leadership in Kenya, experience my first safari, and enjoy the best sleep ever on an aircraft.
In this episode I explore the city of Baltimore and discuss coping with jet lag, American portion sizes, a barman trying to put cheese in my Martini, striped ties and coloured blazers, and visiting the battlefield of Gettysburg.
Continue reading “The Martini Diaries – Episode 4, Baltimore”
This week my theme is service and duty, I talk about the challenges of volunteering, apps to help with packing for travel, my attending a D Day Service, taking part in a charity golf tournament, and my experience of watching a TV programme called Love Island. Continue reading “The Martini Diaries – Episode 3”
In which I re-discover classic 1980s American mystery TV, attend the Georgia National Day Reception as guest of their Ambassador to the UK, review ‘ What If’ on Netflix, add two new knitted silk ties to my growing collection, finally finish and review 2 Churchill biographies (and the latest Jeffrey Archer thriller), and discover the Milanese Gin and Tonic.
Monday May 27th 2019
Over the weekend I ordered a DVD box set of 22 episodes from the final season of the American TV series ‘Hart to Hart’. They arrived today, and my wife and I have just spent a very pleasant 45 minutes watching the first episode. Continue reading “The Martini Diaries – Episode 2”
The recent resignation of the UK Prime Minister, and now the scramble of ‘leadership’ hopefuls to replace her, has led me to consider (again) why some people fail in their attempts at leadership.
There is a conceptual model sometimes known as ‘leadership in action’, but I prefer to call it the ‘leadership loop’, which can help us to understand these failures.
This model is therefore principally focused on establishing a ‘future’ and then delivering that future. The leader is showing the ‘followers’ that what they want is achievable and that the leader is able to effectively lead them in the delivery of it – in other words the leader has created ‘a compelling vision’ – that sense of where the leader is going. Continue reading “Why some people fail in their attempts at leadership. “
