Wow! 30th of November already. The third warmest on record for the UK, they say. There were certainly some chilly days and wet days.
Today, started foggy but by mid morning the sun was shining across clear blue skies.
The perfect opportunity to take a walk around Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamand then home for some hot soup and a nice cup of tea.
Time to relax, now, for a while for most CIPS students and I wish you well for excellent results if you took exams in November. The revised study guides continue to be an issue so do feel free to ask questions on areas you are confused/concerned about. Remember to post your experiences and share any tips you have found useful along your own study journey.
Purchasing and Supply Chain Management has a new edition so you may get an earlier edition at a lower price from Amazon
CIPS have officially changed their title to The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. The name change has further implications regarding Membership that you need to be aware of.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to support 2 ladies speaker events in November, Dr Joanna Martin's, 3-day women's workshop and Lorna Campbell's "There is More" women's workshop last Saturday. I went to support but got back so much more than I gave.
Now is a good time to review the targets you set yourself in January ... There is still time to put in some extra effort to complete any work still in progress. More on that in my December newsletter.
Oh! I nearly forgot, I went to the cinema to see the new Paddington Bear movie, with my friend and her young son, lol.
Warmest Regards
Sue
I know I always say this but it is true. The summer has simply flown by. Most are back from their holidays and now it's time to settle down to review our learning and development, whatever we choose that to be.
August and September were busy for me in that my daughter's wedding took place in Gibraltar on 20th September. Everything flowed like clockwork, a testament to the hard work put in up to the last minute and it all worked like a graceful swan on the water and no one noticing the motion going on underneath.
The weather was glorious and the bride was beautiful and all who attended agreed it would be the wedding to be talked about for years to come.
As always, if you have a CIPS Study question you can find me on the LinkedIn CIPS: Student Members forum
The leaves are turning and the winds begin to bite. Time to wrap up warm and turn up the light.
Warmest Regards
Sue
Well! What a wonderful month June has been in England.
Flaming June with some real hot days compared to what has become standard in UK. Although we have seen some rain, mostly it has been a sunny month.
Since the last time I wrote, 2014 looks to be a year of many changes for me. Things are kinda fuzzy at the moment so more on that as things pan out. It will be interesting that's for sure.
During June I have been looking at TEAMS and what makes a Great TEAM LEADER. The results are perhaps not what you might have thought.
If you consider a project has a life span likened to a year having a beginning and an ending - spring to winter, with summer and autumn in between - it is not surprising that over the course the project it will likely require several DIFFERENT TEAM LEADERS with different styles of leadership depending where in the cycle the project is at.
Some people are naturally gifted at starting something new from scratch and building up team enthusiasm to get going and start the action. They are the Spring TEAM LEADERS eager to share and ignite the fire. Great Spring TEAM LEADERS are enigmatic and charasmatic, excited to share and cascade THE VISION in such a way that team members buy into it and are motivated to get going.
Spring TEAM LEADERS run at a fast pace and would soon exhaust the team if they stayed too long. Great Spring TEAM LEADERS know when to pass the baton to a Summer TEAM LEADER and move on to start the next project enthusing a new team.
A Summer TEAM LEADER nurturs and values the team, keeps them motivated and happy, with the fire blazing in the hearth and delivering the next stage.
So you get the picture. Different business needs require different styles of leadership. One of the best known examples of that, is Churchill. A great leader during war with a different leader choice during peace time.
It is similar with choosing who should be on the team. Wise Summer TEAM LEADERS will notice if disharmony is creeping in. Everyone needs to work well with everyone else for the benefit of the whole (There is NO I in TEAM).
Putting round pegs into square holes will make for an unhappy team and it will not deliver effectively. I like the saying, "If you ask a fish to climb a tree ...." We all have our unique stengths and weaknesses. The project would hardly get off the ground if the team were only made up of extroverts all wanting to be heard at the same time, or with those who only see the detail and miss the bigger picture.
Thus it is important to place people in roles where they can play to their strengths. Again the team needs to be flexible to change and be in the season with the right people at the right time, doing the things they are good at.
As always if you would like more information on how to find the right TEAM/where you fit in the TEAM, just drop me a line at i[email protected] - Subject: There is No I in Team
July, here we come!
To Our Success
Sue
I Know I keep saying it, but where does time fly to?
May is upon us and that means CIPS exams for many.
Watch this space and LinkedIn: CIPS: Student Members for exam hints and tips
For example, Trending: from Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Supply Chain
Remember there is still time for you to send in your burning questions
As we are 1/3 of the way through 2014 it is a good time to recap on our results this year so far.
Stepping up in 2014 is well under way so if you would like to be a part of that drop me an email for more information:
It's about you, for you wherever you need support: study, personal performance, specific goal reaching and finding your direction.
I look forward to hearing from you and will add May's post shortly so come back real soon
To Our Success
Sue
It only seems 5 minutes since it was 1st January 2013 and now it is the 31st of December.
A time to review and reflect the year and an opportunity for a fresh start and to build on what we hold precious.
What are your most memorable moments in 2013?
The weather in England, I can remember a cold start and even being cold in June and then moaning because I was too hot during almost 2 glorious months of summer, the best I can remember for many a year (1998 being the last hot, hot summer, I think, but not such a long spell).
CIPS students in 2013 found themselves involved in a big change regarding CIPS exam content and style and new study guides that did not all cut the mustard. A much needed change I understand from CIPS. How was it for you? Not long now for those all important first exam results.
My most memorable quote for 2013 to take forward into the new year is:
"Will it Make the Boat Go Faster" - Pinsent/Hunt. A reminder to focus on what will achieve our outcomes and discard what is taking us away from them. To concentrate our efforts and precious time on activities that take us one step closer to our goals whatever they might be. To surround ourselves with like-minded people who are going the same route and looking at continual learning and improvement.
There is a book the same name which I have bought and on my reading list for 2014
A memorable book for 2013 was "I'm a Parent, Get Me Out of Here!, Before I Kill My Teenager!"
This book would seem extremely relevant to parents and teachers of teenagers, it is also worth a read by anyone who has a relationship with anyone of any age at home or work or social. So that would be most of us. Some simple habits we have gotten into when speaking with or to others that destroy relationships and create arguments unintentionally. The good news is this book acts as a reminder to change the way we say things and how to remove that destructive word "Don't" from our vocabulary.
Happy 2014
Sue Fleming
Welcome to Autumn in the UK. Well, almost. The trees are turning gold at a pace. The weather in the south remained sunny and cheerful in September mostly.
As it is first of October my workplace will turn on the central heating today. I think we shall be too warm.
It's all go, go, go for students as November exam time looms, so I am going to concentrate on your next steps for study and exam preparations.
Download Your Guide to CIPS New Qualifications
Download Exam Tip of the Day_Focus
To Our Success in 2013
Sue
Hiyah, and Welcome to our newsletter covering July and August news.
I do hope you have had lots of opportunity to enjoy the sun, a tad hot for some of us whinging poms.
Wouldn't you know it, in June we were freezing and then in July we were roasting. August has been quite nice, cooler with some rain which we did need I suppose.
For those of you looking to start the New CIPS programme in September it is probably a good idea to do a little bit of planning ahead. At least get your courses booked in and order your study guides so as prepared. Just read there are more than 90,000 members of CIPS and growing year on year.
If you haven't done so yet do join the LinkedIn group especially for you: CIPS: Student Members and join in the networking and support you will find there. If you are still working on your plan and would like some support, I have written a short guide on where you can find more information and your next steps. Download Your Guide to CIPS New Qualifications
Enjoy the rest of summer
To Our Success in 2013/14
Sue
August has been cooler so far and now we are kinda wishing was slightly warmer.
Welcome to my June Newsletter.
Some of you may be trying to get to grips with the new CIPS qualifications as discussed in my May newsletter. I have put together a brief overview of what this means to you and where to find out more information should you need it.
With all the pressures of work and family commitments plus ever decreasing training budgets, finding the right mode of study is evermore important. If you are having problems finding an appropriate study centre near you and would like more information on e-learning and personal tuition, please write to me at [email protected].
Here is your CIPS new qualification download: Download Your Guide to CIPS New Qualifications
Here's To Your Success in 2013
Sue
Hiyah,
In comes May and some nice weather at last.
New students, from April, will be studying for MCIPS under the new system. Those students who have partially completed will have received information on how CIPS transition will affect them personally.
Why the change: CIPS have made the changes so as to continue to offer leading-edge thinking within the CIPS Study Syllabus and Content.
CIPS set the standards that are accepted internationally as being the best. They believe their credibility, expertise, knowledge and resources are second to none. The world does not stand still and neither can CIPS.
CIPS has a reputation for integrity and consistently high levels of competence, for the benefit of the profession. CIPS reputation for quality has made them international favourites. They have mapped standards against the qualification framework from around the world, giving CIPS student significant advantage in their career, irrespective of geography.
So what are the main changes?
1. Purchasing becomes Procurement
2. CIPS Graduate Diploma becomes CIPS Professional Diploma in Purchasing & Supply (Level 6) for MCIPS
3. To benefit organisations the study units concentrate on the needs in the current business environment.
In May students will sit the first exams under the new syllabus and eagerly await the results.
What Next for Students?
1. All Students have been sent information relating to their personal CIPS qualification journey. If you are still struggling with anything then do please email me at [email protected] and I will answer your questions and point to the right direction for you.
2. Get out into the fresh air. Break up your study time with some me and family time. It has been a long winter and there is nothing better for energising the mind than to take in the beauty of the countryside around us. The blossom is on the now green trees, the birds and animals are in springtime mode and the weather is getting warmer. Enjoy!
To Your Success
Sue
Wow! A quarter of the year gone already. Time to look back you what has been achieved so far, review and move forward into Spring.
Spring: My daffodils are looking pretty sad for themselves, not even open yet.
Tulips are no where to be seen
. On a positive note, I am enjoying my drive home in the evening now the nights are lighter and brighter.
I have been reading a lot lately about keeping a journal/diary. It seems there is much confusion on the differences and what goes in.
There are many famous diarists as there are writers of journals. Where you are in the world might dictate what you call your book. How you feel might dictate what and when you write.
My journal is as an aide memoir, a place to store things I would soon forget and my notes on things I feel worthy of penning. I tend to use my diary as a place to store future dates such as appointments, meetings, holidays and so on. But what do you think?
I have attached a short explanation in My Journal, Issue 1 which I hope will be helpful for those wanting to write but struggling for clarity. Download MacJournal~1_copy
To Our Success
Sue
We now look forward to lighter mornings and evenings and of course Spring lambs and daffodils
British Daylight Saving Time (DST) commences Sunday 31st March Many countries have since followed suit.
Why you might ask?
DST was first proposed in UK by William Willett between 1907 and 1915.
Willett believed the British were sleeping during some hours of daylight and that it would be more beneficial if we used our day more effectively by getting up earlier as he did.
Unfortunately, he died in 1915 before he could see his bill passed. On 21 May 1916 Britain introduced DST for the first time, following Germany who had introduced it a few days earlier.
As we are coming to the end of the first quarter of 2013 it is time to review our quick wins. How are you doing? Tick, Tick, Tick?
If not, now's the time to 'Go MAD', that is 'Go Make a Difference'. A great book with the same name and can recommend if you have not read it (http://amzn.to/ZYkdsk).
I look forward to hearing about your successes.
Warmest Regards, Sue Fleming
Welcome to February 2013.
It is lovely and Sunny in MK. We had a slight flurry of snow first week which did not settle although more could be on the way
We are all busy peeps rushing around and for what? Are we making the best of our time? You have likely heard the saying, "Yesterday is History, tomorrow's a mystery, and today's a gift. That's why they call it the present."
Have you got a minute
for some wise words and
from the Bob Proctor?
click the link below, skip the advert at the beginning it's not relevant.
Warmest Regards, Sue
https://sixminutes.infusionsoft.com/app/linkClick/890/e46b6eb352aea70d/82792652/3e5f14ce60f0b675
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