Highlights – 12 March

Following another celebratory International Women’s Day last Saturday, it’s only right that the issue of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) remains in the spotlight. CMI chief executive Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI’s expert tips on the subject were featured in The Times, while both The Times and The Sun quoted Ann on the roadblocks women face in reaching top jobs – and why we should stop seeing it as just a “women’s issue”.

Indeed, true gender equality will require men to act as agents for change. That’s the argument running through Men Stepping Forward, the winner of the overall Management Publication of the Year award. The awards are supported by CMI alongside the British Academy of Management, the Chartered Association of Business Schools and the British Library. 

In this week’s newsletter, you can read an extract from the book, in which author Elisabeth Kelan, professor of leadership and organisation at King’s Business School, King’s College London, shares her practical guidance for men who want to play their part.

Inspiring change

This week’s newsletter also features the story of Paul Graham CMgr MCMI, a manager who makes EDI a core part of his practice. Paul started out as an equestrian athlete before moving into leadership and development. He shares how CMI accreditation has boosted his credibility. 

Paul is just one example of a manager who cites CMI’s role in making him a better manager, and it’s always heartening to hear people acknowledge this. This week, we also hear from Chris Clayton CMgr FCMI about how his Chartered journey inspired him to swap his corporate job for a role at a smaller company – where his growing skill set in marketing could really make an impact. 

We also catch up with Louisa Dallinger CMgr FCMI, a trained dental nurse and manager at a dental practice. She tells us how her CMI training helps her to help others to develop as dental professionals. “It’s been a life-changing experience for me,” says Louisa. “If I can do it, others can too.”

Hive mind

Of course, it helps if everyone has the same opportunities to succeed. The Employment Rights Bill is another topic currently in the spotlight, with its measures designed to protect employees from harassment, improve family rights and promote work-life balance. 

Ann was interviewed on Times Radio, where she debated with a business owner from a recruitment firm and u​​nderscored that skilled managers are the key to successfully implementing the Bill (topic begins at 01:38:30).

A recurring theme here is that we all need to be setting the conditions to help employees make a full contribution to the team. On that note, this week’s newsletter also features an extract from Bee Wise: 12 leadership lessons from a busy beehive, in which an organisational coach and beekeeper lifts the lid on what happens inside a hard-working hive – and uses it as a metaphor to examine how to keep working life sweet as honey.

Best,

Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI

Director of membership and professional development, CMI