My weekly posts
Don’t be Darth Vader if you want effective organisation — but don’t be a Rebel either…
Early in my career, I saw a team transform a service in a morning by spotting the right constraint. Since then, I’ve helped leaders uncover hidden patterns shaped by habits and incentives. Organisations must balance boundaries and freedoms to stay coherent under pressure. Management is a verb—disciplined sensemaking and learning. In public services or tech, this isn’t optional. The real question is: can we adapt faster than our context shifts, without losing trust? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_leadership-systemsthinking-complexity-activity-7380691276305965056-HRf5
Courses and events
Introducing the RedQuadrant Local Government Reorganisation hub
Local Government Reorganisation is coming fast. By April 2028, every new authority must be safe, legal, and fully operational. That means statutory officers secured, ICT cutovers rehearsed, services live, and residents experiencing seamless continuity. The RedQuadrant LGR Hub is the only model that guarantees readiness while embedding lasting capability. With a single accountable structure, governance at its core, and capability pillars across adults, children’s, SEND, ICT, finance, housing, and place, the Hub ensures no gaps, no surprises. Three outcomes, every time: Safe and legal on day one; Visible assurance and confidence in delivery; Future-ready capacity with transformation built in. Find out more now: https://www.redquadrant.com/lgrhub
Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship
The new apprenticeship Leading and Commissioning for Outcomes in Complexity – Convening Systems Change can supercharge your career and transform your organisation. Fully funded Level 7 programme this year only! Real-world impact through applied systems thinking. For commissioners, system leaders, and systems change-makers. Forfurther information, see https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/level-7-apprenticeship-course-leading-and-commissioning-for-outcomes-in-complexity-convening-systems-change-free-webinar-on-20-august-2025-1230pm-uk-time/
Commissioning Compass: systems assessment for change
Our newly launched tool, the Commissioning Compass, helps you to assess your commissioning system and form an action plan for improvement. It’s available for free via our Teachable site – try it now! link.redquadrant.com/commissioningcompass
Next National Commissioning Academy
We’re building our cohort for the next national commissioning academy – our flagship commissioning programme from the PSTA. Register your interest now: https://link.redquadrant.com/nextacademy25
Things I shared on socials:
‘Designing early help’. Richard Selwyn.
In this blog, Richard Selwyn argues that we need a new model for early help. https://richardselwyn.org/2025/10/02/designing-early-help/
Mechanistic or Relational Worldview for Talent Identification Research in Sport Science? Both-But With a Preference! Charbonnet and Conzelmann (2023)
Which gives an original for the much-used, never-cited image. Kunst aufräumen by Urs Wehrli, Copyright ©2011 by KEIN & ABER AG Zürich -Berlin https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6LH
What I have learned from doing Test and Learn in the public sector. Nov 21, 2025 02:00 PM, on zoom.
If you are using a Test and Learn approach in the public sector, then this virtual event might be for you. John Mortimer and others have have been using test and learn as a method of redesigning public services, and want to share what they have learned over the past 20 years. Highlighting learning from successes and from when it did not work well. They will start with a short example of a redesign that was published in The Guardian. Then they will highlight the various aspects of the methodology that they have found to be key to success. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vcaZsRv2R6uKu3bq9sOfeg#/registration
Voices | Peter Erdi Ph.D. | Cybernetics – Feedback – Choice – October 21 2025, 3pm UK time, online
Charming and substantial, Peter Erdi is our Voices guest to explore the oddly termed topic of “cybernetics”, which in its simple roots means ‘to steer’. Awareness of complex systems has never been more of a priority, and Peter brings his decades of experience in these topics to our Voices conversation. https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6LT
Universal Patterns, Practical Questions: Grounding systems thinking and design in systems science – Rasmussen (2025)
on RSD website https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6Lu
An Introduction to Relational Disobedience – eight-part pay-what-you-feel course from Mike Chitty
Relational Disobedience is an eight-part course born from many years of experience in leadership, community, and social change work. It weaves together philosophy, parable, and practice, but more than that, it carries my heart and soul! https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6Lr
chosen path 