Bryan’s Blog

Bryan’s Blog: Go on. Fix it until it is really broken.

I am reminded time and again, in organisation after organisation, of the tendency to take a basic product or service and over complicate it until it’s “broken”. And if you want examples, look no further than support functions in organisations. Whether they be finance, procurement, risk or records management. Unless you have pro-actively resisted the

Bryan’s Blog: What you want to say Vs. What you need to say

Yesterday I was talking to “Phil”, who I mentor, about how well he was standing in the shoes of others when working with them. Understanding them helps you to advise them. Phil was telling me about a meeting he had with someone from audit that came asking for his help. He soon realised that they were not

Risk Leadership: Do you use the “r” word?

It started more than a decade ago, however, I am now hearing it much more often. “I don’t even use the word “risk” when I am talking to them”. Meaning, the people have such negative perceptions of the word “risk” and the phrase “risk management” that it is better not to use them. I have

Bryan’s Blog: Stop Pushing and Start Pulling – It’s more satisfying

I remember my days running chemical plants for what was then ICI. I was a shift supervisor on the PA Plant at Rhodes. It is now a major shopping and residential apartment area. The world progresses and so have I. I hope you have too and you have become more a puller than a pusher.

Risk Leadership: What risk leaders can learn from sales professionals

Some years ago while running a trusted advisor program for risk professionals I talked about learning to “sell” your message.  I remember how insulted one or two of the participants were.  Along the lines of, “I don’t sell snake oil, I provide great advice”. Several years on, I now run a Persuasive Advisor Program (because