Strong leadership is intrinsically linked to success, yet many organisations fall short of their potential because they do not equip their staff with the necessary skills to lead effectively. Annie Richardson explains that while all leaders have the ability to manage, only a small portion of managers have the necessary skills to become strong leaders, leaders with edge, and this has a stifling  effect.

I recently sat down and had a discussion with a CEO of a large multinational company. He was explaining to me how at first he thought it was a compliment when others said how ‘nice’ his staff were. However in reality, and something that soon dawned on him…his people were too nice. They had a soft touch, were missing opportunities, and were being taken advantage of. From our discussion, it was concluded that he needed ‘leaders with edge.’

Read more on HOW TO BE A LEADER WITH EDGE…

The universal credit programme, which seeks to simplify welfare benefits, is in danger of failing. This admission emerged when the government published details of performance for its most expensive projects. Despite repeated denials by the Department for Work and Pensions, the signs of deep trouble have been apparent for many months. There have been repeated personnel changes at the top and the timing in the project plan has been has been tailored to reflect progress made as initial targets were abandoned.

Read more on UNIVERSAL CREDIT – OFFICIAL ADMISSION OF PROBLEMS…

Measuring productivity in the public sector is extremely difficult and Ryan Bourne and Tim Knox explain why. They argue that means must be found for measuring and improving productivity to avoid an ever increasing tax burden.

It is a generally accepted fact that in the long run, what matters for prosperity is improvements in productivity driven by innovation. Taking steps to improve potential productivity growth as a means of raising the trend growth of the economy is thus an important rationale for meaningful supply-side reforms.

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY…

The initiative, which seeks to turn around 120,000 troubled families and was launched one year ago, has changed the strategic approach of councils who have now switched investment into early intervention.

Read more on TROUBLED FAMILIIES INITIATIVE DRIVING EARLY INTERVENTION…

We all know that change is hard. It’s unsettling, it’s time-consuming, and all too often we give up at the first sign of a setback.

But why do we insist on seeing the obstacles rather than the goal? This is the question that bestselling authors Chip and Dan Heath tackle in their compelling and insightful new book. They argue that we need only understand how our minds function in order to unlock shortcuts to switches in behaviour. Illustrating their ideas with scientific studies and remarkable real-life turnarounds – from the secrets of successful marriage counselling to the pile of gloves that transformed one company’s finances – the brothers Heath prove that deceptively simple methods can yield truly extraordinary results.

Read more on SWITCH: HOW TO CHANGE THINGS WHEN CHANGE IS HARD…

This briefing from the Society of IT Management looks at where the public sector is with flexible working, the direction it is moving and the barriers to further development.

Some 97% of UK public sector organisations have already adopted the practice in some form.  However, the march of flexible working is not all forwards. IT Trends 2012-13 shows that while there has been a strong increase in adoption of flexible working in the revenues and benefits function and some in education, four other services show a significant decline with others appearing to be static.

Read more on FLEXIBLE WORKING GOING INTO REVERSE?…

Plans to join up health and social care provide for closer working but they stop short of creating community budgets and relaxing the grip of Whitehall on local services.

Despite the success of the community budget model in responding to the needs of troubled families and other pathfinder projects across the country, the new plans involve yet another attempt at closer working within existing structures. National leaders of health and care organisations have signed up to a series of commitments on how they will help local areas integrate services.

Read more on COMMUNITY BUDGET REJECTED IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE JOIN UP…

Capita’s Rob Elliott discusses how technology can help colleges meet KPIs and maximise their chances of long-term viability and success.

As part of substantial reforms to post-16 education, the introduction of a new FE Commissioner could see tough action for any further education college that has an inadequate rating, misses minimum standards of performance or has financial problems. This could include a change of governors,  loss of power over decisions around staff or expenditure – and ultimately, colleges could be closed.

Read more on USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE QUEST FOR FURTHER EDUCATION SUCCESS…

Decisions taken in the town hall affect the quality of schools and Ofsted intend to vet the corporate arrangement for driving school improvement.

Inspectors will be assessing how well local authorities carry out their statutory duties in promoting high standards in schools and among other providers so that children achieve well and fulfil their potential.

Read more on WATCHDOG MOVING FROM CLASSROOM TO TOWN HALL TO IMPROVE SCHOOL STANDARDS…

One year in to the  programme to turn around the lives of 120,000 problem families by 2015, only half of the families have been identified. Work has not yet started with a significant proportion of the  identified families. Even allowing for the time it takes to start up operations it is unlikely that he 2015 target will be met.

Read more on TROUBLED FAMILIES PROGRAMME TARGET UNLIKELY TO BE MET…