So much for planning in the NHS

For an organisation that employs so many managers and accountants supposedly responsible for planning, how come the NHS can get it so wrong - click here to see the BBC report called 'Shortage of NHS staff Predicted'

And don't forget at the moment we are seeing NHS staff being made redundant .... another soap opera script beckons.

How the mighty are fallen! - goodbye to the Ashes.

Less than 18 months ago we were over the moon as the England cricket team beat the Aussies to win 'The Ashes' for the first time in living memory. This famous victory led to street parties and we probably got a bit too heady with the wonderful feeling of beating our oldest rivals Australia.

We should have known what was going to happen and as I type this on Thursday evening at 11.15 p.m. England are about to lose the current test series in Australia 5-0. A complete whitewash that has been embarrassing for England fans.

The England team has been pathetic quite frankly. They look ill-prepared and the selections have been a disaster with some crazy decisions by the management.

It proves to me yet again something I have always believed in the world of management and leadership. That is the time to concentrate and do your homework even more is when things are going well for you; otherwise you can become arrogant and then complacency and over confidence sets in and someone comes along and metaphorically punches you on the nose!

Well done Australia – you fully deserved your victory – as a team you were ‘together’ and looked like you really wanted this victory and England did not.

The best team (by a mile) won.

Sir Alex tops golden oldies poll

As we enter 2007 my team Manchester United sits proudly at the top of the English Premiership 6 points ahead of mega-rich Chelsea who have won the Premiership for the last two seasons.

The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reached 65 years of age on New Year’s Eve and he is still going strong with no sign of wishing to retire. Good luck to him – he is doing as much as anyone, by example, to rid us of age discrimination.

There are many factors that go into making Sir Alex the most successful British football manager. Not least his incredible work ethic and dedication.

I love the story told by Peter Schmeichel ex-goalkeeper at Manchester United. Apparently Schmeichel was the most dedicated player when it came to the daily drudge of training. Schmeichel says he was always the first player to arrive in his car at the training ground – often around 6.30 am. He says that Sir Alex’s car was already there every day and as Schmeichel says ‘The bonnet of Sir Alex car was already cold.’

I do not believe in overnight success as I have often written. One of the greatest qualities of great leaders is hard work and maintaining that work ethic when you have apparently reached the top of your profession.

Good health and good luck to Sir Alex and Manchester United for 2007.

Have a Simplicity 2007!

Happy New Year!