My weekly posts
There’s a lot happening at the moment
There’s so much upheaval right now—from local government reform and NHS changes to rushed legislation and unclear policies. It feels like politics has drifted from people’s real lives, with careless decisions and little accountability. Yet, I see signs of hope—leaders learning to stand firm, offer hope, and build character. Maybe we can move beyond sterile opposition and find new ways to stand for what matters. Are we in decline—or on the edge of transformation?https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_theres-a-lot-happening-activity-7307664703923576833-1n4m
Courses and events
New! Introduction to outcomes-based commissioning: a 10 step introduction, cohort 9
Back by popular demand – our introductory course for commissioning. Running online with anticipated dates in May https://link.redquadrant.com/introtooutcomes9
Our sensemaking community, sharing learning on devolution and local government organisation
Join our sensemaking community for the days after – a space for public service leaders to share urgent learning on devolution and local government reorganisation. We meet twice a month to make sense of today’s complexities or follow along by email. Join the group at https://sensemaking.groups.io
PSTA Webinar – Drowning out the voices we need to hear. Why F.I.R.E.D. leaders are your ‘hidden gems’. With Paul McCarthy
Join Apr 8, 2025 02:15 PM. Using his own personal experiences, as well as research, case studies and outputs of interviews, Paul introduces the F.I.R.E.D. Leadership Framework and shows organizations why we need to embrace leaders who think differently. By helping reframe how organizations perceive their ‘agitators’, Paul shows how to cut through the noise to equip those organizations with the approach needed to create the next generation of leaders our world so desperately needs to successfully navigate ongoing disruption, continue to innovate and deliver transformative outcomes. Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PerIZnKBQOyse_6aTwDR5Q
The Next National Commissioning Academy — coming early 2025
We are currently working on the next iteration of the National Commissioning Academy, which we expect to launch in 2025. Dates and locations will be forthcoming! Read more here: https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/2024/09/the-next-national-commissioning-academy-coming-early-2025/
Towards Relational Public Services Conference 2025
3rd to 5th June 2025 Manchester Metropolitan University. This conference seeks to continue to explore the challenges of making Relational Public Services a reality for service users, professionals and academics alike: in an increasingly complex world, how can public services and social interventions create and sustain positive lives for the people and populations they serve? Find out more here: https://www.complexityoutcomes.org/
Complexity & Management Conference 6–8th June 2025
The conference begins on Friday 6th June 2025 and finishes at lunchtime on Sunday 8th. The currency of the conference is conversation and exploration in large groups and small. Read more here: https://complexityandmanagement.com/2024/11/04/complexity-management-conference-6-8th-june-2025/
Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship
Work in England or Wales? Want to develop your systems thinking skills? Sign up now for the next cohort of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship — Cherith Simmons, with experts from SCiO (including me) — likely start in January 2025! Register here: https://cherithsimmons.co.uk/corporate/level-7-systems-thinking-practitioner-apprenticeship/?utm_content=buffer2fd3b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Things I shared on socials:
Revisiting the 21st Century Councillor. Catherine Needham.
Nine years on from their research on the 21st Century Public Servant, Catherine Mangan Dave Mckenna Ella Dunne Rosanna Marr and Catherine Needham, draw on interviews with 50 councillors, was undertaken in partnership with We are North West Employers. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/revisiting-21st-century-councillor-catherine-needham-osope/?trackingId=vTkNExE5p8aROwMr05N1hg%3D%3D
The Power of Making and Remaking with Immy Kaur
Immy Kaur drives home groundbreaking thoughts on systemic transformation in our everyday living. https://stories.platformdesigntoolkit.com/111-the-power-of-making-and-remaking-with-immy-kaur-0a541be3998b
Organisations as Human Learning Systems. A Conversation with Thea Snow and Toby Lowe — Good Impact Labs.
This podcast taking a broad look at the kinds of institutional structures that might actually help rather than hinder these more generative ways of living and learning – the kinds of institutions suited to the transformative adaptations and systems change that we desperately need. Thea Snow and Toby Lowe talk about a Human Learning Systems approach to management and governance of organisations. https://www.goodimpactlabs.com/podcast/thea-snow-and-toby-lowe
What is Structural Memetics? And Why Does it Matter? 2019 (Pezeshki)
Just kind of ‘got’ this, finally – it’s all laid out pretty clearly – interesting! https://stream.syscoi.com/2025/03/19/what-is-structural-memetics-and-why-does-it-matter-2019-pezeshki/
Radical Place Leadership – Making it possible, easier and sticky. Mutual Ventures.
Mark Smith, former Director of Public Service Reform at Gateshead Council and pioneer of the “Liberated Method”, argues that Radical Place Leadership provides the framework needed to embark upon public service reform that actually starts, works and sticks. https://www.mutualventures.co.uk/post/radical-place-leadership-mark-smith
We’ve been testing MS Copilot for a few months and ChatGPT much longer – seems to me that there are no benefits to Copilot and it’s more expensive?
We’ve been testing MS Copilot for a few months and ChatGPT much longer – seems to me that there are no benefits to Copilot and it’s more expensive? It can’t find data across our SharePoint, can’t do anything, ChatGPT has projects, better modes, better customization. Am I missing something? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_weve-been-testing-ms-copilot-for-a-few-months-activity-7308744440901234688-dWbE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Poverty campaigners quit Labour party in shame over £6bn welfare cuts plan
Carolynne Hunter said she could not remain in the party when it was planning to remove disability benefits from people like her daughter Freya. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/poverty-campaigners-quit-labour-party-34868848?int_source=nba&fbclid=IwY2xjawJDwYNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRmVFN6pOeMrEMrcjxlXc0WswDoFl2nTg6oUX2mdoFDNSf-rbCnMbQ5ARw_aem_aNzmt8T10ABCnQjQq-sDVg&utm_content=buffer36cf7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer
chosen path 