Purple Patch Blog

We shouldn't take ourselves too seriously - lest we forget what makes us happy.

MJ Flanagan - Training Director

With sullen looks and a discussion about our options my husband and I looked at the snowfall on Sunday night and started the recovery plan. In all my years with learnpurple, I have never let a client down or cancelled a course even when it meant I could barely walk after putting my back out.

6.30am Monday morning I was woken by my seven year old whooping for joy and dancing around the house, 'no school today we get to play'. 13.5 inches of snow had fallen in the night and we were in total lock down. No options for mobility.

The calls and emails started at 7am from and to clients rearranging training courses, receiving messages of cancelled meetings and contingency plans made if it were to continue throughout the week. A trip to Coventry was a go ahead to train emotional intelligence and I had to work out my best options for getting there. By lunchtime I had got more work done than if I had been in the office and was still in my jimjams.

Continue reading Comments (1) 6 February 2009

In times of crisis, looking after your HR people is key

Jo Harley, Director

The origins of HR, are we keeping up?

The Bank of England's labour market expert, David Blanchflower, has warned that unemployment is set to rise above 3 million in the current economic climate. The Guardian reported that over the last couple of days South West Trains, Barclays and Jaguar amongst others have announced hundreds of job cuts. We are, like it or not, in a recession. And it is now the unpleasant job of many people in the human resources (HR) field to have to tell colleagues that they no longer have a job. Not an enviable position to be in right now.

Continue reading Comments (1) 2 February 2009

A time to think

Helen Flint - Learning and Development Director

I recently went to a lecture given by Nancy Kline, author of 'Time to Think'. I'd heard a lot of fellow coaches rave about her book but hadn't quite got around to reading it myself, so being auditory and low-read, I thought I'd go along and hear what she had to say.

I'm so glad that I made the effort as it was well worth every minute and at just £10, worth much more than every penny too. Nancy is one of the most impressive speakers I've seen in a long time, and for many of the characteristics that are seldom admired now. Many speakers make the mistake of letting their egos get the better of them, rejoicing in the sound of their own voice. Sometimes forgetting to focus on the quality of what they have to say and the importance of engaging their audience throughout. Nancy did all of this and more, and in manner that was humble, yet still impressive.

Continue reading Comments (2) 28 January 2009

What price people cuts?

People are reporting job losses on a daily basis though what effect is this really having on service industries and how will they recover afterwards?

Last week I was in a high street chemist; long queue, four till points, only one member of staff. In the end I gave up (and I wasn't alone) and left without out purchasing anything. A fellow defector explained on the way out of the store that she'd just come from Oxford Street; large American clothing chain, one person on the till, no one on the floor. Again she'd left without buying anything, went off to a competitor and spent over £200.

Continue reading Comments (0) 15 January 2009

New Year, New You

The six year olds' perspective on resolutions:

I spent much of the New Year's break explaining the concept of New Year's resolutions to two six year olds and fielding questions like 'Well, why don't people just do those things at any time of the year?' Well, you have to admit they have a point and it reminded me that I've never really 'done' the resolutions thing. I do sit down in-between Christmas and New Year every year though to write my list of 'What I want out of the coming year'. This might include work goals and aspirations, personal goals and even a bit of a to-do list of things that need sorting out like fixing the window in the spare bedroom. It takes me into the New Year feeling positive, motivated and, if it doesn't sound too idealistic, full of hope and excitement for what's to come. And I love looking back at my list at the end of the year and seeing everything crossed through.

Continue reading Comments (0) 5 January 2009