Blue Hat Man’s Work
The hat will always be blue, the engagement is never the same.
When priorities shift, when teams lose their cohesion, team members their confidence, and your organisation’s culture is being diluted by conflicting agendas or lousy behaviour, it is time to have a candid, courageous conversation. Are we fit for purpose? Are all voices being heard? Do those more used to filling the airwaves need to listen more attentively to the team’s introverts?
Whatever the relative health and effectiveness of your team, Blue Hat Man will help you get beneath the surface of polite conversation; identify behaviours and routines that maybe undermining the team’s ambition; and reignite the team’s unity.
The aim of the work may vary, the means to achieving the client’s objective typically involves helping to facilitate interactions in which people are inspired to listen actively to each other; to express themselves crisply and candidly; to challenge respectfully; to embrace diverse perspectives and ideas; and to drive clear accountability for agreed action.
How clients describe Blue Hat Man’s value
I have had the privilege to work with Richard on critical projects for the company, where his contribution has been a clear key success factor.
Richard has a hugely impressive ability to quickly master a subject in all its complexities, to instill confidence in any type of leadership team, to reassure through his presence, and to spread joy and cheerfulness wherever he is.
From managing strategic workshops to MCing full day summits of 100+, Richard’s skills to energise, engage and get the best out of the audience are equal to none and make for unforgettable experiences for all.
Richard is the most precious asset of any leadership initiative, one should never do without !
Julie Nollet
Commercial and Marketing Director Moet Hennessy Europe
Hello Blue Hat Man!
A quick note to say that our away days went really well and our conversation was a hit.
I’ve just been through our post event evaluation which asked everyone for their highlights, learnings and key takeaways and your contribution featured in all three. You pulled off the triple by informing, inspiring and motivating.
It exactly what I hoped, setting the scene for our conversation about energy and our people strategy which meant the focus on momentum was really well received and we had energetic discussions as a result.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Catherine Cullen
Director of Communications Guy's and St Thomas' Charity
Richard’s positive approach has generated lots of creative energy in racing. This has rippled out from a specific project on the industry’s vision, on which he supported us, through to other challenges with which we are now grappling. As a facilitator, he can work with equal effect with leaders from the top of the industry through to those in the stable yard and on the racecourse. We came out with a plan and some structural changes that put us in better shape to cope with COVID and refocus the industry’s purpose to deal with an horrendous crisis and recovery.
Martin Fewell
Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs British Horseracing Authority
Richard’s role as an adviser and coach to the MPS Management Board brought huge value and insight to our management team – and inspiration. Through purposeful coaching, positive challenge and wise counsel, Richard contributed significantly to effective decision-making and team cohesion, always doing so in the most positive and collegiate way. His ability to help the Board see issues from different perspectives added greatly to the quality of the decisions made. As a coach to the Board and to individual Board members, Richard inspired the highest levels of confidence and both challenged and inspired individuals to fulfil their full potential.”
Robin Wilkinson OBE
Chief of Corporate Services, Metropolitan Police Service
Client Challenges
Anchor for accountants
“We’ve got a 3 day global leadership summit coming up and it needs an Anchor who can make it a high octane, high impact experience for all our participants, some of whom will be in the room, but most on Zoom.”
World-class? Define ‘world’ and define ‘class’
“As newly appointed Principal, help me guide our Governing Body to develop and articulate a Purpose and supporting 5 year strategic plan for our College. We need it to connect directly to our world-class university’s vision & values, but to capture the unique personality and beliefs of our College community. To understand what the diverse members of this special community care about - alumnae (we were originally a women's college), current students, academics, staff and donors - please facilitate conversations that explore diversity, inclusion, excellence and wellbeing.”
Developing the story for one of the sporting world’s best storytellers
“Ours is a dream job: we get to produce and distribute content for one of the greatest global sports franchises, supporting some of the world’s leading broadcasters. Just one problem. Our work is not shown, nor is it seen by viewers, in our home country. So our content producers do not always get the peer group recognition they richly deserve and the talent we need to stay at the cutting edge of broadcast production does not immediately think of us as the place to do the best work of their lives. What can we do to attract and grow that talent, engender pride in our work and energise peak performance? I would like the candid views of our people and broadcast partners to be heard so that the leadership team can shape a new story that is relevant, credible and compelling.”
What’s really going on in Boardroom?
“We think we are operating well as a Board. We feel comfortable with each other and are making progress. Can you come and observe us in action and recommend how we can be more efficient and effective as a high performance team?”
Drivers of desirability for a new world of luxury
“We have a portfolio of luxury brands, some of the world’s most iconic, many crafted over centuries. But the rules of our category are being rewritten in real time, prompting greater demand for sustainable products and irresistible experiences. Please help us to develop and facilitate an innovative, experiential learning and development programme to immerse our people in this new theatre of heightened consumer expectation, equipping them to delight our clients in store, on screen and at moments of their choosing.”
Two’s company, three’s a culture
“As co-founders of this company, we have a strong sense of who we are, what we are about and how we want things to get done around here. And that instinct has taken us from effectively operating one shared office space to pioneers of flexible workspace in Britain and beyond. Help us bottle what has made us successful, ensuring that a recent investment by one of the world’s biggest real estate investors allows for expansion that amplifies, not dilutes, our culture, and enables our brand to innovate with distinction, and to serve our diverse range
of clients.”
Purpose made personal
“One of our Group’s core values explicitly encourages our people to bring their ‘whole self to work’. Few of them really believe that we mean it. Quite a few are rightly wary of an organisation that wants their ‘whole self’ showing up. What do they get for doing that? Is the organisation committing itself this wholeheartedly to each of them? In the context of the new world of work, can you design and facilitate a programme that equips our people managers to have adult-to-adult conversations with our people , enabling them to act on the spirit of our intent?
Fresh intelligence for B2B business
We have two distinct businesses, serving different customer segments in highly competitive markets. Sometimes, though, it feels like the real competition is internal. Our Group needs more from both businesses - more growth, more profit, and a greater contribution from each to the Group’s brand which we think has more value to be unlocked. Do we have the right people playing in the right positions? Do we have the right story for the market?
Courageous conversations with healthcare professionals
We have over 300 Educators operating in the field of Diabetes in the US. They have invaluable knowledge and experience to share about diabetes prevention and treatment. The problem is that our educators sense from interactions with healthcare providers and doctors that they are seen as salespeople not educators. Is this right? Or are the self-limiting voices in their own heads? They need conviction to ask already time-starved professionals for some of their time; and the courage to have the kind of conversation that will heighten their impact.”
Pro Bono
Blue Hat Man extends active support to clients who have stretching ambitions and a desire to make a positive contribution to the world, economically and socially as well as environmentally and culturally.
Organisations in education, employment, health, conservation, culture, entrepreneurship and leadership that we have helped think differently include:
Drive Forward Foundation - equips care leavers with the confidence, skills and connections to pursue exciting, sustainable employment opportunities.
Wac Arts - empowers young people with life skills that the arts uniquely can offer.
Clore Leadership Foundation - develops leaders with a social purpose.
Foundation for Leadership through Sport - encourages and facilitates improved leadership through sport.
Police Now - grows outstanding graduates with the leadership potential to transform communities.
British Heart Foundation – beats heartbreak forever 87% - guides people and organisations to manage and improve mental wellbeing in the workplace.
Virgin StartUp - supports entrepreneurs with the funding, resources and advice to sustain successful businesses.
We are particularly passionate fans and supporters of the inspirational Wild Shots Educational Outreach programme and its engagement of young people from disadvantaged communities in wildlife and conservation through photography. It combines two loves of ours - the beauty of the natural world and the abundant creativity of young people
Started by Mike Kendrick, a Life Sciences and Photography teacher, the programme’s main beneficiaries are school children in villages bordering the Kruger Park. Its impact is profound, captured in this recent film:
We are grateful to Marco Pezzana, CEO of Vitec Imaging Solutions, for his incredible support of Wild Shots Outreach.