A New Start

In 1986, working for a London local authority, I was promoted to my first ‘management’ position. I vividly recall going to see the HR Department after being appointed to ask for the training and development I would need to undertake the job I’d just been given. I remember the response from the HR Manager being something along the lines of ‘…training Cedric? You want training? But you got the job’! I think I responded ‘but the new job is very different from the job I was doing and I’ll need training and support to do it well’? Needless to say, no training was forthcoming! I had to find the training I felt I needed and sought support wherever I could find it. I’m sure things are very different now aren’t they? I’m sure people are no longer promoted to or secure new positions because they were great at their last job rather than their ability to successfully undertake their new job.

Since those heady days of the late eighties, I have gone on to run a series of complex housing and social care organisations, employing up to 2000 staff and with annual incomes in excess of £31m per annum. These organisations have operated in highly competitive and challenging markets. Throughout my managerial career I have developed and enabled ‘Leaders of the Future’, many who have gone on to run their own organisations and businesses and others to senior management positions in a variety of organisations.

I’m now looking forward to using my nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience to support emerging and recently appointed leaders through my own coaching consultancy.

I am looking forward to writing and speaking about Leadership along with sharing my thoughts on a wide range of issues. Some you may agree with, others you will passionately disagree with.

Watch this space!