NEWS
IN PRINT: The Blue Sweater Review
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In the early 1970s the American author of this book gave away a much-loved sweater to charity. Eleven years later, she sees the sweater – with her name tag still in it – being worn by a child on the streets of Kigali, Rwanda. So begins this fascinating book that is part auto-biography, part business text, part philosophical comment and part history lesson.
IN FOCUS: What the Pluck?! Workshop
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Lavish end-of-year parties made way for “Bring ‘n Braais” at the local park. Your “Christmas bonus”? A job to go back to in January. Salary raises this year are rarer than the strains of “We Are The Champions” in a Melbourne bar… 2009 is going to be rough. It’s going to take endurance and optimism. It’s going to take PLUCK.
“What The Pluck?!” is a workshop designed to lift spirits and transform fear-driven responses to the current economic threat and uncertainty. People and teams learn strategies for coping and skills for succeeding when the going gets tough.
IN PRINT: New Year Reading List
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Kick-start your year with a list of short articles (not to be confused with a shortlist of articles!) on leadership Parr James believes are essential reading for the year ahead. They are concise and engaging, and offer insight into the leadership demands a new year and new economic reality will bring. We’ve done the hard work for you here.
IN FOCUS: Systems Thinking and Leadership
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Leadership, even in the best of times, is difficult. In times of deep crisis, it is extremely challenging. To lead, “to go first”, when what lies ahead is unknown and unknowable, and the way to move forward is anything but clear, demands a mix of skills and insight that few of us have had the opportunity, or the need to develop.
Apples for the Teacher: A Reflection on Mentoring
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When a student from Cape Town’s no-fee university, Tsiba, asked Parr Lamond partner Laura James to be her mentor, she knew it would require more of her than the stipulated fortnightly chat. What she didn’t realise, was what it would give her in return. In this article, Laura reflects on how she became the unexpected recipient of four gifts of mentoring.
Big, Bold, Brave Barmy? Jonathan Jansen
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Toward the end of last year we had some spectacular national examples of the challenges of being a leader, illustrating why leadership is not everyone’s idea of a good time. Jacob Maroga (ex-CEO of Eskom, South African public power utility) – out. Bobby Godsell (now also ex-Chairperson of Eskom) – out. But it’s the extraordinary example of the Rector of the University of the Free State, Jonathan Jansen, his leadership and what can be learnt from it, that grabbed Louise Parr’s attention.
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