A week of Creative Developments

I am unable to detail all of the activities on here for this week however I can say that it has been a rewarding and stimulating week for not only me but ICG as a whole. Working with private sectors customers in ABB with two of their companies as well as politicians and senior officers in local government in Västmanland and Stockholm. There is a strong push through our customers for improving their global perspectives and penetration. It is really rewarding working with all of our clients striving for this.
I met the marketing executive of an ABB company along with his team discussing inter cultural communication issues. Furthermore discussed international partnerships with politicians ans officers and look forward to next week when we are once again in Växjö and Stockholm with senior executives

UK looking at Swedish schools

Just had a very interesting discussion with a senior UK director involved in the education sector and he informed me about the strategy of a significant sized local education authority in England which is planning to build new schools under the BSF programme which cater for the 5-16 year olds rather than building a primary and secondary school separately. Sweden has a 'whole school' approach combining primary and secondary and this is very successful in this country. Much less trauma for the 11 year old facing a separate secondary school as it is in the UK and less learning fall off for the 11 and 12 year olds. We hope to be hosting a group from this LEA to Sweden in 2009 to show them some of the exciting examples of compulsory education.

Great day today

Heard from Stockholm that the 5 schools entering the Leeds Helsinki Stockholm partnership will professionalise their presentation skills with ICG. This is part of the preparation for the meetings of the three cities in early March in Stockholm. Another piece of good news is the one of the Stockholm City District management teams will commence a one year programme with ICG in International communications.
ABB in Ludvika is also discussing with us the likelihood of continued development of international communication skills for sales, after sales and logistics staff.
We have now heard that a number of local authorities in England are interested in partnering local education authorities in Sweden. This is very positive for linking and networking.

Coming week

After a snow sodden weekend I am looking forward to this coming week. An interersting meeting with ABB in Ludvika tomorrow(Monday) talking about training their international sales teams as well as after sales personnel in Sweden. Followed on Tuesday by another full day with politicians and senior officers within VKL and then off to Stockholm for work with Stockholm City Council as well as Sollentuna Council later in the week.

ICG's Friday

Today has been a wonderful day we believe not only for us at ICG but for our customers we have spent the day with in both Botkyrka Council and Helsinborg Council. We have worked with both councils management team representatives as well as the chief executives of both councils. The processes we are working with relate to internationalisation and communication. I continue to be amazed at some of the outstanding people we come in contact with and today was no exception. I met with Palle Lundberg at Botkyrka and can add once again that he is an outstanding leader in terms of processes and direction. It is so obvious that Botkyrka is reaping the benefits of his leadership and he has the honour of being nominated for the Swedish Manager of the Year award along with two others. Good luck Palle for the final in March

Leadership - major factor in progress

When we look at underperforming organisations there is a myriad of them. I will not name any here, however what I will say is that a common denominator in these organisations is poor leadership. I have spent many years meeting and analysing leaders and what I can truly say- the best leaders often offer leadership styles that are progressive and motivational in whichever context of organisation. I choose to name just two leaders I am extremely impressed with. I class them as strong business associates and professional friends. The first is Chris Edwards, the chief executive of Education Leeds. Chris has got a wonderful style of management that appears to be non- operational but actually is very much so. He is a visionary, promoting strong leadership and he avidly supports his managers in their improvement endeavours. He is nationally influencial in the UK as well as nationally recognised as the leader of one of Britains top public service management teams. His days are spent at schools, in meetings and operational situatuions and allows focus on meeting his people, his managers, teachers and students.
The other leader that I see as outstanding is Palle Lundberg, the chief executive of Botkyrka kommun in Sweden. He is such a clear taget setter as well as motivator and leader with an approach I beleive is unique in that he promotes organisational change in a very modern way in a challenging service provision environment. This executive has a paperless office and is out in the operation most of his time

Developing strategic partnerships

The rest of this week is about giving a number of our customers advice and tips as well as real support in developing effective international strategic partnerships. We are talking to five major local government organisations in the UK with the aim to link them strategically with respective organisations in Sweden. Predominant areas of interest are education, leadership and service provision in general. It is our goal to have at least 4 of these new partnerships in place by end of April 2009.

Working for the benefit of sharing knowledge

ICG teams spent the day in Södertälje and Västerås working with politicians and senior officers to enhance their international communication skills and to support them in their international efforts to knowledge share and in turn improve services to citizens. Another great day for us at ICG and a day where we feel we are making a difference to our customers'growth and development

Networking & Partnership

Had a very interesting and stimulating conversation with Richard Stiff, Deputy Chief Executive of a local council in the UK about partnership with a local education authority in Sweden for an LEA in England. RS will check his contacts for possible prospect LEA.ICG is today providing international communications development programmes in Stockholm for Directors and Managers and tomorrow will continue with the VKL programme for politicians in this county.

As a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Human Resources I have joined up as a mentor for a couple of young HR managers in Australia although I think we will find it challenging succeeding without meeting- we will run the programme by mail and phone.
Cannot say that I am impressed by weather today it is snowing and very grey.

ICG moving forward

Yet another international assignment for ICG is around the corner. We have been retained to provide a link and network along with international communications education for a major local government agency in Sweden with the UK. We will take the first steps in our linking strategy for our customer in February by visiting senior officials in Yorkshire to discuss the path forward.

UK planning

Back in home territory now and working with plans with Allyn Pazienza at Education Leeds for an exciting visit by a senior group of educationalists from Sweden to Leeds in April. This visit will further develop the link between Leeds and Sweden in the development of education.
ICG this week have been working with the education leadership of a major LEA in the south of the country as well as with the Västmanland Assocaition of Local Authorities at political and senior officer level. It's been an exciting, rewarding and demanding week for us.

Education Department management team Växjö

Just now I am in Växjö working with the management team of Växjö Local education authority. These are wonderful persons totally committed to improving their international communications skills and this city is keen to further develop its international links and networks. Lets trust we can assist them with this.