Helen Chambers

Independent consultant. Strategic planning, organisational growth, implementation. Specialising in creating good thinking spaces. Chair of The Edinburgh Trust.

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

Useful thought prompt on how to make values real an drive day-to-day actions.

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

We want to build a strong, positive organisational culture, based on values. Leaders often set out abstract absolute positives as organisational values (integrity, respect, trust etc) but these don't drive the day-to-day decision-making (& therefore the behaviour) of the people at work. Therefore, they have no impact on the actual culture.
@ErinMeyerINSEAD has undertaken research on organisational culture for two decades & suggests six actions for making values-based culture come alive:
1) Build your culture based on real-world dilemmas: identify the tough dilemmas that people routinely face and clearly state how they should be resolved, in line with the stated values.
2) Move your culture from abstraction to action: “dilemma-test” your values to determine if they are actionable enough to be useful in real decision-making situations.
3) Paint your culture in full colour: articulate your desired culture using concrete, colourful images to get the values to stick.
4) Recruit people whose values fit: “bad” behaviour is contagious.
5) Let culture drive strategy: identify your strategic objective & use dilemmas so people understand what decisions they should be making to move the organisation in the right direction.
6) Don’t be a “values” purist: Identify dilemmas in which your stated values do not apply.
https://t.co/C2e5p25h9j
Graphic by @julianstodd

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

This is crucial to consider. We can't do what we need to without collaboration, but we need all to have the skill to make it work - and the nerve to call it out (kindly) when it doesn't..

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

There's an increasing need to collaborate across teams & systems. Yet many leaders report "collaboration drag": too many meetings & collaborative processes that are messy, political & frustrating. Research shows that trying to reduce "collaboration drag" through senior leadership alignment can actually make it worse. Three ways to reduce "collaboration drag":
1) Understand where the critical relationships are to get work done across the organisation/system & support the people involved.
2) Invest in building skills that help teams navigate difficult group dynamics, see how different pieces of a project fit together & speak a common language.
3) Practice reducing collaboration drag within your own function or team:
https://t.co/ywnd1KIQYX. Via @Gartner_inc @HarvardBiz. Graphic: @planio

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

There's an increasing need to collaborate across teams & systems. Yet many leaders report "collaboration drag": too many meetings & collaborative processes that are messy, political & frustrating. Research shows that trying to reduce "collaboration drag" through senior leadership alignment can actually make it worse. Three ways to reduce "collaboration drag":
1) Understand where the critical relationships are to get work done across the organisation/system & support the people involved.
2) Invest in building skills that help teams navigate difficult group dynamics, see how different pieces of a project fit together & speak a common language.
3) Practice reducing collaboration drag within your own function or team:
https://t.co/ywnd1KIQYX. Via @Gartner_inc @HarvardBiz. Graphic: @planio

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@SarahPDavidson @KuperSimon Yes, and I think the ethos of public service as a 'good thing ' rather than derided as stupid for not going out there to make the most money possible has been lost in the public discourse - tho of course exists within the millions of people doing it every day.

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@AdamBalfourLang @JimMcCormick16 I agree. I don't approve of formality when it's either silly or gets in the way; but in these situations you are (hopefully) having a serious and meaningful conversation, on behalf of your beneficiaries; not having a cup of tea and a gossip.

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@HorizonsNHS @HelenBevan @QualityForum @Proud2bOps @goranhenriks Was this recorded? Can you share it?

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

In case anyone was wondering... no I haven't pivoted to truck maintenance....🤣

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

Always useful to see, Thank you @Strath_FAI. Perhaps rather marginal this time...

[Fraser of Allander Institute @Strath_FAI]

It's UK Budget late afternoon, so that must mean it's time for the 'what's devolved?' table.

Here we go:

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@angelao44 Yes, and especially with the push for active travel - which altho has significant merits can sometimes not take in the realities of women's lives

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@HetanShah @AdamBalfourLang @turinginst @royalsociety @techUK @BritishAcademy_ How will the output of the roundtable be shared?

[Charity Leadership Scotland @CharityLeadScot]

We are hugely excited to have secured an incredible line-up of speakers for 2023 @ACOSVO Annual Conference.

Early bird tickets are selling fast! Get in early and save £30 off your ticket: https://t.co/QlaaZNApCp

#ACOSVOconf23 #leadership #voluntarysector

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

It was a great day with you all @acosvo! Some really dynamic and strong ideas coming through. Onward!

[Charity Leadership Scotland @CharityLeadScot]

Yesterday's @ACOSVO staff and board development session was hugely energising and productive. A fantastic opportunity to come together and look ahead. A beautiful day for it as well! Thank you to @HelenChambers for leading a great session.

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@AnnieAsEver @NHS_Education @DavidGarbutt1 @CEONHS_NES Fab. Congrats.

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

'What is philanthropy for?" On 11 Sept I'm contributing to an online @theRSAorg event where Rhodri Davies speaks about his new book. Should be a good discussion..
Register today! 👉https://t.co/f33Qx5OpIJ #philanthropy #Scotland #Socialimpact

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

I think this is important to reflect on, especially currently with high levels of pressure and overwhelm from external sources. And it's not the blocking risk of the perfectionism but the corrosive nature of it...

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

We might think that being a perfectionist leader is a positive thing; it means we work to high standards & strive for excellence. But it isn't. Perfectionism has an overarching detrimental effect at work. It's exhausting & it predisposes us to harsh judgments of others who are less than perfect. Time to rethink perfectionism: https://t.co/6GqZ5jC3RF By @taracousphd Graphic: @grantdraws

[Corra Foundation @corrascot]

📢 Evaluation and Learning Support Vacancy📢

Passionate about data and creative ways to measure change? An active listener, have strong analytical skills, and enjoy challenging the status quo? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

🗓️Closing: 21/08/23
Apply: https://t.co/n1NoFFzpQy

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@CrichtonTrust Fabulous! Well done.

[Women's Enterprise Scotland @WEScotland]

If you are a women-led business in Scotland attracting funding or investment whether it's grants, angel investment, equity finance or lending, enter WES Awards 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 category and get the recognition you deserve: https://t.co/wLoP4D9RQh

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

Developing some thinking from my contribution to a recent MacKay Hannah: Conferences and Webinars event, I've written a piece about procurement and its failings. I was initially going to entitle it 'The Emperor's New Clothes', except I realise that there'…https://t.co/EjIXKwUdq8

[Helen Chambers @HelenChambers]

@ElianaUku Frozen cherries and blue berries - pop in microwave, dst spoonful each of flax and chia seeds, 1 sq 85% dark choc crumble on top. Quick, easy to eat. About £1/day.