Times Higher Award

I am really pleased - and proud - to have been part of the team that won a Times Higher Education Award for outstanding contribution to Leadership Development last night.

This was very much a team effort, with Liz Kemp of Newcastle University's Staff Development Unit, and Gerry Docherty, Dean of Research, Innovation and Business Development.  Together we had developed and delivered a programme for newly-promoted professors, Unpacking Your Chair (see here, here and here for descriptions of the fist three days).

This modular programme is designed to help participants explore the different ways in which they may develop their roles as professors.  It includes discussing these issues with both senior members of the University's leadership team, and successful experienced professors, as well as exploring the expectations colleagues, Heads of School and others have of the professoriate.

The first cohort engaged very positively with the programme, and are as much co-responsible for its success as any of the rest of us.

Liz, (R) Gerry (L), and me with three of the cohort one participants (Adam, Kathryn and Mike) in a publicity shot for the THE Award.

Force Field Analysis

This is by way of an experiment.  I have long used Lewin's Force Field Analysis (which he suggests as a change management tool) as a tool for generating creative ideas.

Here I have put together a brief (c4') video explaining how to use it in that context.

I will be very interested in any feedback.