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    Learning to enjoy the eye of the storm

    Conferences Governance Phd Time Management
    In seven days time, I expect to be at least 35,000ft above the north-west reaches of the UK, nearing the end of a journey from Auckland, New Zealand to London, England. The reason for my trip? I'm booked to speak at the British Academy of Management conference in Belfast. While in the UK, I'll also attend some meetings, and take a few days off with my wife who is travelling with me. The trip involves 40,000km of air travel; 24 hours of timezone change; and, a season change (from late winter to late summer and back).

    On the surface, it'll be a demanding trip. However, the trip may actually be a blessing in disguise: a time of relative calm sandwiched between two even busier periods. Here's what I've been up to in recent weeks:
    • Commenced a formal board evaluation (18-member board with many challenges and tensions)
    • Written a manuscript for a highly regarded journal (now being peer-reviewed)
    • Written an article for an online magazine
    • Delivered a couple of professional development courses
    • Facilitated three strategy development workshops
    • Reviewed the Company Directors Course material for the Institute of Directors 
    • Attended two board meetings
    • Added about 7500 words to my doctoral thesis

    A new list of actions to be completed before Christmas awaits my attention when I get home:
    • Complete the data analysis and thesis write-up (my stated goal is to submit the doctoral thesis for examination before Christmas)
    • Present the board evaluation report (the 18-member board)
    • Deliver three professional development courses
    • Attend a professional development course
    • Facilitate three strategy development workshops
    • Attend four board meetings

    Measured against these lists, the seemingly hectic trip, to fulfil a speaking engagement and attend meetings on the other side of the planet, might not be so demanding after all. In fact, the trip may be analogous to the eye of storm. My point? The here-and-now can seem pretty hectic. Long-distance travel can be pretty demanding. However, if one steps back and looks at the big picture, periods of relative calm become visible amongst the busyness. Seek them out and enjoy them, for the next period of busyness lies in wait. 
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    Upcoming European trips: available for meetings or to speak

    Conferences Governance Strategy
    I will be returning to the UK and Europe in September and November to speak at conferences and attend meetings. If you would like to take advantage of me being in your neighbourhood, please contact me to arrange a meeting or book a speaking engagement. I'm happy to discuss anything relating to corporate governance, boards, strategy or company performance. My availability is as follows:

    • In September, I will be visiting Belfast, Northern Ireland (to speak at the British Academy of Management Conference). My daytime schedule is already full, however I am available for evening meetings on Tue 9, Wed 10 or Thu 11 in Belfast, or you can visit me at the BAM conference during the daytime.
    • In November, I will be visiting London and Zagreb, Croatia (to speak at the 10th European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance). I am available for meetings in London on Mon 10 (afternoon or evening), Mon 17 (anytime), Tue 18 (anytime) or Wed 19 (morning only); or in Zagreb on Wed 12 (anytime). If you would like to meet in another city, please let me know because I have some travel flexibility. 

    I look forward to hearing from you.
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    Paper accepted for international conference

    Conferences Governance Phd Research
    I'm both thrilled and humbled by some news that arrived overnight. A paper that I prepared some time ago, The crucial importance of access to the advancement of governance research (read abstract), has passed through the double-blind review process and been accepted onto the programme of the 10th European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance (ECMLG)! The conference is being held at VERN', in Zagreb, Croatia, in November.

    The paper discusses the difficulties that governance researchers face when their research is limited to the analysis of secondary data—typically interviews, surveys and questionnaires. It suggests that if researchers study what boards actually do, by observing board meetings directly, then it should be possible to learn enough to provide an explanation of how boards influence company performance outcomes (or not). The paper also includes some preliminary insights, which emerged from a series of boardroom observations conducted as part of my doctoral research. It will be interesting to see how this paper is received. Hopefully, it will give folk the confidence to press on and try different approaches to corporate governance research, to discover if and how boards create value, or whether they simply impose cost.

    The full paper will be available on the Research page immediately after it is presented at the conference.
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    ICMLG 2015 to be hosted in Auckland, New Zealand

    Conferences Governance Leadership Management Phd Research
    The 3rd International Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance (ICMLG) will be held in Auckland, New Zealand on 12–13 February 2015. This conference attracts leading thinkers from around the world. It is a significant opportunity to share research findings; debate emerging ideas on leadership, governance and strategic and operational management; contribute to the body of knowledge; and, importantly, meet some great people! In case you are wondering, the conference is designed for scholars and practitioners with an interest in these important topics.

    The call for papers has just been issued. I commend this conference to you, particularly if you undertake academic or commercial research, or if you are a doctoral candidate. I have delivered papers at the two previous conferences (click here and scroll down for details), and will be chairing a minitrack in Auckland.
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    Invited to submit article to journal!

    Conferences Governance Phd Research
    There was a very pleasant surprise waiting in my email box this morning: an invitation to submit an article for inclusion in a special issue of Leadership and Organization Development Journal. In March, I delivered a paper to the International Conference on Management Leadership and Governance held in Boston, USA. My contribution was noticed by the journal editors, which has led to them issuing the invitation.

    I'm both humbled and thrilled by this invitation: humbled that others see my work as valuable, and thrilled for the opportunity to contribute in this way. Thank you editors. 
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    Invitation to submit a paper to #corpgov conference in Croatia

    Conferences Governance Performance Research
    A few days ago, I was invited to submit a paper to the 10th European Conference on Management Leadership and Governance (ECMLG). The 2014 edition is being hosted in Zagreb, Croatia. I'm humbled by the opportunity to offer a contribution.

    The deadline for paper submission is mid-June. My topic will 'access'. Simply stated, the paper will suggest that governance research needs to move on from its predilection with typically quantitative secondary data, to study what actually occurs in the boardroom. It is my view that first-hand observations are crucial if we want to truly understand how boards work, and to make credible suggestions about how they contribute to business performance. You can read the preliminary abstract here.