Patrick McMaster

About Patrick McMaster

Posts by Patrick McMaster:

February 2 2021

What do Hugh Jackman, 2020 and potentially your organisation’s HR/People Leaders have in common?

Patrick McMaster What I'm Reading, What I'm thinking, Who I'm following

For decades, many quality People/HR leaders have been, in my opinion – “ahead of their time” – running important initiatives inside organisations, including:

Respect and inclusion in the workplace & awareness of unconscious bias
Playing to your strengths
High Performance teams being diverse in their makeup & thinking

Incidentally, many of those forward-thinking HR leaders have also been making the case for flexible working policies (such as more working from home) for 20 years. Our global pandemic has thrust this policy/practice into the mainstream.

Moving from “ahead of their time” to “it’s about time!”

I LOVE listening to the soundtrack for “The Greatest Showman” & watching the film with my youngest daughter Sophie, who is 12. She and I also enjoyed James Bond, “Live and Let Die” over Xmas…. although I was shocked/saddened at the racist and sexist language & stereotypes in the classic 1973 film – the year after I was born.

Of course, The Greatest Showman could be an inspiring film called The Greatest Showoman. But it isn’t! The Greatest Showman is an example of a film, (just like Black Panther), which was “it’s about time!” in my view – showing how it’s good to be whoever you are, in fact…. it’s GREAT to be whoever you are. Hugh Jackman’s character vs Bond is an interesting comparison for me…. you?

So, was 2020 “ahead of its time” or “it’s about time!”?

2020, the year that:

BLM: Enabled the world (not just the people affected by systemic racism) to wake up to race inequality. Where I once thought of myself as not racist, I’d now consider myself anti-racist. During Lockdown 1, after watching this brilliant Verna Myers TED talk, I had a (poorly handled if I’m honest) very challenging conversation with someone whom I care about regarding their use of what I now consider to be racist language.
BLM & Sport: Sport is a passion of mine. Sport has continued/started to lead society in shining a light on BLM in 2020 and now 2021. Sport is helping accelerate/normalise a debate and tangible actions/change. This will rightly lead to progression/promotion of BAME (and female) talent to senior positions in all organisations, sporting and other. Kamala Harris is a role model for many millions of young girls. I have more to learn and more listening to do. We all have much more to do, especially the technology platforms.
Covid & BLM: Without Covid (& Trump) I do not think the strength of frustration/anger would have led America/us to put a spotlight on, and make such progress in, the movement towards race equality. For generations, young BAME men have been killed by police in the US and other countries. In my white privileged world and upbringing, I was deeply unaware. Of course, many people have suffered as a result of Covid this last year. Many people globally have suffered for generations whilst aspiring for all different kinds of equality.

“An awakening – 2020 created a fast forward in time.”

Climate Crisis: I believe 2020 also gave us an accelerated climate crisis focus. What’s important, how the planet/nature is a finite resource and is in severe danger. Nature is more powerful than man and womankind – the Covid virus may just have reminded us of this.
Working from home: 2020 demonstrated how flexible working arrangements and working from home can work and is better at times for many (not all) professionals. Dads in particular may have benefitted from seeing more of their families than ever before. Employee wellbeing has gone up the agenda too, along with the normalization of talk about our mental health. Many have struggled to hold down a full-time job, homeschool their children, or suffer isolation who live alone….
My business: I evolved my personal philosophy/mindset running my solopreneur business. I felt conflicted with the pleasure/pride plus some guilt when Sept 2020 was the most successful ever revenue month for my business. I have also now evolved my mindset to be: “Enjoy the Journey* + Be Kind & Make Progress” – with “Be Kind” (to myself, my kids and others) and “Make Progress” specifically added because of the pandemic challenges we have all faced. *I’m in interesting company as “Enjoy yourself” features in Elon Musk’s 6 secrets to business success.
UK Leaders inspiring me: Marcus Rashford, Sir Tom Moore, Joe Wicks, David Attenborough, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Patrick Valance (+ millions of key workers) have been inspiring for me on the days where no end seemed in sight. No UK or US politicians make this list – it’s really time for politicians of all parties to answer questions honestly, tell the truth & treat us like adults.

3 pictures of 2020:

2021:

To finish – back to my current UK Lockdown 3 TV viewing habits with my youngest daughter & family: I take (strange) pride in me being at least 9 months “behind time” popular culture and trends (middle age eh!) and as family we have now started to watch the Queens Gambit on Netflix. “It’s about time!”

If you’re keen to be “ahead of the game” why not also ask your People/HR Leader what they believe is going to be important in the workplace in the coming 2-3 years – it’s possible that they’re already thinking and talking about it – I think leaders of all organisations could benefit from listening more. Couldn’t we all listen a little more in 2021….?

PS Wonder Woman 1984 is next for me and Sophie. (What are you watching?) It looks silly…but epic. Stay well friends (I only post to my LinkedIn connections). x

I blog for 2 reasons:

To share my perspective and ask questions, contributing to our world
As an extrovert, writing down/speaking helps me make sense of topics

+ it helps keep me connected to my network.

May 14 2020

Blog 5 – The COVID lockdown one….

Patrick McMaster What I'm thinking

….if you’re experiencing any of these 5 tensions we have something in common:

Feeling loss and happiness at the same time right now
Enjoying much more time with my family and noticing that you can occasionally have too much of a good thing!
Feeling physically fitter (in spite of eating way more comfort snacks and takeaways) and a bit more tired than usual
Joy for the respect the NHS and key workers have for the moment but feeling sad for the massive loss of life – Feeling even sadder that the media/politicians/people seem to just want someone to blame and find it very easy to criticize everyone but themselves in hindsight rather than make practical, proactive suggestions about what to do now
Being concerned work wise that customer demand is not what it once was – me currently working 2 days a week (instead of 4) and my wife working 3 days. Simultaneously enjoying an early summer time with my family in the garden and exercising together

“And…….I’m very aware that I’m hugely lucky, living in a quiet area with a detached home and south facing garden. Even quieter now the planes we normally hear from Heathrow aren’t flying. Great news for our the planet but not for the livelihoods of those employed in that sector.”

2nd lockdown haircut – photo by Emily McMaster

Yesterday was the first day I wore a face covering in a supermarket and had my second home lockdown haircut. My 3 kids are now able to see a friend in the park for a walk or to kick a ball about. This is therefore my “COVID lockdown” blog….I blog occasionally as it really helps me make sense of a topic/situation and reflect on my learning. I’ll also share 2 great articles/blogs I’ve appreciated at the end.

55 days ago, at the beginning, I’m sure like many people, I’d wake most days and think….”Is this really happening?”

I continue to be surprised. This week my wife and I exchanged a look when we realized that our 3 children would be home schooling until (at least) Sept….that’s approximately 55 more days homeschooling and then 55 days more of summer “holidays”!!

Work

I continue to love my work with individuals and groups doing 121 and group Exec Coaching, Mentoring programme launches and events, and Leadership development. I’ve been using Zoom to coach people across Europe for a couple of years now so it feels pretty comfortable “doing the work” whilst others have adjusted to working from home 100% of the time. As an advocate and pioneer for flexible working when Twitter announce that all employees can work from home forever if they choose to it makes my heart sing. Nope, it’s by no means perfect, but IMO it’s better in this new world in some ways….to do some work from home, potentially commute outside rush hour and actually spend more time with your family than you do with colleagues! It’s quieter for work but how much do I/we really need vs want?

How it feels

We’re not all in the same boat but we are going through the same storm

My experience is that days where I’ve felt I’m being smashed by big waves (work postponing, frustration with a lack of freedom, sports events cancelling, boiler breaking down) and days where I’ve been swimming in calm waters with the sun on my back (family water fights in the back garden, VE day (socially distanced) street party in Maidenhead, and new weekly video calls with family around the UK and Oz).

What are you most proud of in COVID times?

I’m most proud of how my kids have adapted to homeschooling and freedom restrictions; how I’ve been kind to them and myself and finally how pausing has perhaps led people, including me, to think about WANTS and NEEDS a little differently.

I’m proud of thinking differently about the standards I set myself. It feels others I’ve coached during this time may also be being kinder to themselves and to those around them. It’s ironic that my company name is “Aim High Achieve More” and yet at times right now “Good Enough” is a perfect standard to set.

5 other things I’ve done that have helped – feel free to steal with pride:

Recently put a poster up in the kitchen for us all to draw on a) What we’re looking forward to, b) What’s been good about lockdown and c) What’s not been good
Enjoy a guilty pleasure – virtual cards night on Saturday nights with the lads and weekly takeaway. LOTS of crisps.
Jurgen Klopp – arguably one of the current best football managers in the world doesn’t take himself too seriously in spite of the pressure he must face. I’ve tried my best to have fun and simply enjoy the experience – where possible
Write about my experience – this blog has helped make sense of it all. ?
Accept that being tired or frustrated at times is normal at extraordinary times like this. Often through my work coaching others I help them explore their relationship with their thinking habits or how they experience/lead change. COVID is a real life/world experiment in how we live our lives – much of which isn’t our choice….but much of which still is

It hasn’t helped to watch so much of the news…and I usually LOVE news…note to self – I must pay less attention to it. It’s fascinating and sometimes frightening to see how nationalities, societies and governments have handled the COVID crisis so very differently.

What is better about now?

Before I share my top 2 links/blogs…..cast your mind back to early 2020 when you may have been maxed out at work, too busy or exhausted to spend time with your family, and wanting to do more physical exercise and/or reading/self-development. You may have worried about things that now just seem unimportant…..

I recognize those living now with illness/job loss or insecurity or those with school age children at home may of course be in survival mode. For many however, including me with some of these things happening for me, I think if we look hard enough we can see more clearly what we want to live for and what’s important. What’s most important for you now?

Two of the best articles I’ve read from people I admire during lockdown: 1) Is “A” such a bad option? (ECC, thanks Sam & the ECC Team) & 2) “Any map will do” (Leading Edge, thanks M) Full disclosure – I proudly work for these organisations and the amazing Women/Moving Ahead – thanks Liz.

Our family lockdown poster – images can help make sense and memories

February 18 2020

My news is……I’m a worrier (Yes, spelling is correct, I don’t mean warrior)

Patrick McMaster What I'm thinking

And it appears many other people are worriers too.

My daughter got shingles twice in 2019, a couple of months apart. Apparently, this is very, very unusual as shingles is supposed to be for the elderly and like chicken pox, once you’ve had it you can’t get it again. I’m pleased to say that she recovered quickly and now we and she understands herself a little more as a result. This happening to her got me reflecting and thinking about how much I worried about things through my life and whether that has served me well or not.

I’ve come to 3 conclusions over the last 6 months or so:

1) Worry definition: ‘To think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened’. The first question I’ve asked myself is do I worry about actual problems or potential problems?

2) It seems in society we are facing many anxiety related disorders. Mind’s website is a great source of information. Anxiety becomes a mental health problem if it impacts on your ability to live your life as fully as you want to. My worrying doesn’t get in the way like this. It feels like my worrying isn’t getting in the way that much…..but nonetheless I’d like to worry less!

3) Worrying about a big event or conversation I need to have helps me perform. This Forbes article helps explain how being anxious can help performance. I think when I’ve worried about work (and to a lesser extent home) it’s spurred me to action to meet or ideally exceed my clients needs.
So here’s 2 lists….things I worry about and things I don’t worry about! (Why don’t you write your own list down as often putting them on paper can change the way you think about them).

Things I worry about:

Being the best dad and husband that I can be (I am far from perfect….but making progress each day)

Hoping clients value my work

My parents getting older….but I’ve come to realise recently that they will live on in their children and grandchilden’s personalities, values, experiences and stories

Whether I’m working 4.75 days a week rather than the 4 days I intend to when I left the corporate environment to run my own business

That my kids might struggle in the coming years with the demands of school exams/competitive sports teams/friendships groups/social media pressures and getting on the housing ladder when they are older

The state of the planet as a result of society’s insatiable appetite for more “stuff”. I’m not helping much with travel to Asia, Africa, America and Europe for different clients planned this year already. ? and ☹

When I have a new client, a significant piece of new work or some demanding work with one of my favourite and/or challenging clients, I’ll work extra hard and keep a to-do list. I’ll also then occasionally wake at 3am with an idea on how to improve something. Perhaps I should be even more grateful to my unconscious mind as it tidies up anything that’s not been swept up at the end of the day.

That I eat too many crisps and salty snacks…..If they “get me in the end” it’ll have been a complete pleasure.

Things I don’t worry about (but in the past I might have):

That I can provide for my family via my business which is just 18 months old now – I’m proud to say it is now VAT registered.
As many things as I thought I might worry about when I started my ‘things I worry’ about list above….
My relationship with my wife. I believe that overall we both really make each other happy and where I could still do more jobs at home I’m making progress.
My kids – much of the time. They seem sensible enough and are turning into great young people to spend time with. I worry that it may be challenging for them to achieve their hopes and dreams. I think this is normal!
Having the ability to reduce any stress levels I might have occasionally. I do pilates regularly and run twice a week
Things that I can’t do anything about. I used to stress about being caught in traffic, but soon realised as I couldn’t control traffic why worry about it?…..although now with Waze I worry that wazers may not have picked up a recent incident! LOL.
Drinking too much. Between 15-35 I probably should have worried about this but wasn’t
Betting on some matches (Liverpool mainly) and (England) rugby on Paddypower. But I do worry that gambling isn’t a force for good in sports sponsorship.
Being grateful – as this is a super strength of mine

As an experienced Executive Coach I often come across clients who struggle with their self-confidence, hear too much from their own inner critic and those who worry about things a bit more than they probably should. Exploring this with them is often transformative as they look through a different lens, with far more self-awareness, more confidence and more resilience to deal with setbacks.

The funniest thing about worrying is that much of the time (for me) it’s entirely irrational/unlikely outcomes that I may worry about. When I think about it really hard…..worrying about whether my work will be liked/appreciated and useful has probably driven me to deliver at a very high standard much of the time. It’s served me well in my early career. It also feels like it doesn’t sit well with one of my aims to “enjoy the journey” as I go past the 18 month mark running my own business.

What I’m curious about

Me
• Me and my experience worrying and how my kids worry/don’t worry.
• If you know me, I’m curious if you knew I was a worrier without me telling you!
You
• I’d be curious as to your experience if you’d describe yourself as a worrier.
• Has your worrying changed as you’ve moved through different life stages? Has it got more prominent or has it moved to the background?
• How does your worrying “show up”?
• How does it serve you & what might make it less disruptive and even more useful?

Advice for worriers:

In a recent Harvard blog by Sabina Nawaz, from her book, “How Anxiety Traps Us, and How We Can Break Free,” this was the advice given: “Think about what you would tell someone else if they were faced with the same scenario, and follow your own advice. This will help you move from self-criticism to self-compassion, giving you more energy to focus on what’s important.”

My family upbringing is something that I’m super grateful for. I aspire to be as thoughtful and giving as my parents were. I know my mum, and I’m pretty confident my dad both worry too. I told them I was writing a blog on the topic and asked them what advice they’d give their younger selves/me/my kids in relation to worrying. That seems like a good place to finish and where I’m definitely heeding their advice I’m hoping my children can do a bit too so that any worrying they choose to do, serves them well and doesn’t get in the way of life.

Advice from my mum, Monica:

“Don’t worry – it may never happen! Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, but yesterday’s tomorrow is all right today, so why worry about tomorrow?”
My mum (a quote that has come down from her mum and her grandma)

“If you can do something about it, do it! If you can’t, worrying won’t help you!”
My dad

My mum & dad – should they/I be worried?!

August 27 2019

Starting my own business – exactly 1 year in

Patrick McMaster What I'm thinking

12 weeks after starting my own business my wife said to me “If this is what it’s going to be like….I’m not interested!”

In the preceding week I’d overly harshly criticized my 14 year old daughter for social media use on her phone and started a 3 day disagreement with my wife over which sport another daughter should play at the weekend as two teams in two different sports teams wanted her to play for them.

At the time that my wife told me I was being unreasonable, I didn’t recognize this was part of the journey. As I mark one year self-employed, this is a short summary of key moments that many self-employed people may recognize…

Aug/Sept 2018 – Having worked in corporate environments for circa 20 years my confidence was knocked when I was made redundant from England Rugby along with 10% of the entire workforce in some dramatic cost cutting.

Working in HR, I’d helped make plenty of people redundant myself over the years. A little sad and bitter I decided that I’d never get as good a job as the Part Time one I held at England Rugby and set out to create my own new working experience. I learnt how to run my own accounts using Xero software and about indemnity insurance, corporate tax etc. A good friend recommended “Be more pirate” which is excellent for start ups IMO – thanks Tim.

I asked my 3 kids and wife which of the (I thought) clever company names I’d considered for the limited company name and website they preferred. My 11 year old daughter didn’t like my ideas and suggested “Aim High Achieve More” summed up what the business was about. My other 2 daughters helped me file and label 20 years worth of my materials and resources.

Oct/Nov 2018 –Adelante Design, run by family friend, Richard, designed my corporate identity/logo and delivered what I believe to be a first rate website. Terrified and excited, I made my first post on Linked In (to my connections only) to announce I was open for business. I have strong opinions about social media and blogging and it feels authentic to me to blog quarterly…..I’m not a fan of daily posts on Linked In with people standing in front of corporate logos/receptions showing where they are that day (?). Through my network I started working with Leading Edge on a collaboration with Team GB. My dream client perhaps?

Dec 2018 – A friend of the family engaged me to do some consultancy for his business. Was he making a charitable donation or genuinely seeking support? Imposter Syndrome is a frequent visitor in the first 6 months.

Jan 2019 – I went back to my previous employer to do a days work. It felt familiar and easy….not like running your own business at times.

Feb 2019 – Paid work started to really accelerate in a positive direction. My strategy of focusing on working for 3 consultancies all with different offers to the market, as an associate, started to pay off. I was getting busy and starting to cover my cost of living and running the business.

Mar 2019 – I upset one of the 3 consultancies I work for by having a conflict of interest with a potential client of theirs….I was asked if I would work exclusively for them in one particular area and I had to politely decline. Difficult conversations have to happen when you’re self-employed too.

April 2019 – As a family we managed to have a 10 day holiday in Turkey AND I managed to cover my costs still.

May 2019 – I find myself in Chicago and Miami in the same week doing work for different clients and in Milan the week after. Is this the new normal?

June 2019 – Working with customers for the 2/3 time – different types of pressure and enjoyment – have I told them story X before?! I hit breakeven before the month had started.

July 2019 – I look back on year one….my brother also started his own business in the same month….It’s ironic and exciting to share the journey with him.

August 2019 – My most important role is that of being the best dad, husband person I can be….

Other reflections:

I know now that I will never work for one sole organization again. I love the variety and challenge of different clients and different sectors. I really love the fact that some weeks I can attend different sports or school events with my children. I love that I can be there some days when they come home from school and hear (albeit briefly) about their day. I love that even though we have holidays I feel rested and invigorated everyday anyway – holidays are a bonus.

I know that I’ll never be certain 3 months ahead whether or where I’ll be working and that there is no security or certainty.

At the top of my “to do list” I have enjoy the journey written in bold letters. I’m confident that year 2 will be even better than year 1.

However, if I find myself regularly working above/beyond capacity and missing out on home experiences I will have failed to achieve my ultimate goal.

Thank you

I’d like to thank my customers and family for believing in me and helping me in year 1. Thank you to great individuals at Executive Coaching Consultancy, Leading Edge and Moving Ahead (in alphabetical order) and the Technology, Sport, Legal, FMCG and Financial organisations I’ve been doing Coaching, Leadership and Mentoring programmes with.

I’m just submitting my first years accounts. In the first quarter I invoiced just £500 which definitely contributed to me being a bad parent and husband at times….however in year 1 overall I have managed to generate a small profit and even a pension payment – something that I’m told is quite rare for start-ups and I’m proud of myself.

As I look to year 2, I feel grateful to have 6 months of work booked in already and I’ve achieved my targets for the next 3 months already. I have work trips booked for New York, Denver and Hong Kong in my diary.

Thank you to my wonderful wife Rachael and my kids, Lucy, Emily and Sophie who’ve supported me in the tough times and have celebrated the wins with me….roll on year 2!

March 4 2019

Gender Equality in Sport – My views and approaches to change

Patrick McMaster What I'm thinking

International Women’s Day – Friday 8th March 2019

The picture above is Norway’s male and female footballers signing a historic equal-pay agreement (Image: Getty)

I believe there are many ways to cultivate and accelerate change. Here are 3:

One way is to complain about injustice….
Another is to ask difficult questions….
An alternative way is to tell stories…..

Billy Jean King was a pioneer of equal pay decades ago when she effectively changed the deal for women in tennis. She was courageous and did what she believed was the right thing – albeit that it wasn’t the easy thing. Today the Williams sisters stand up for more than just equal pay in their own unique way. My three daughters aged 10, 12 and 14 expect equality in work and life, and expect to be paid equally should they choose a career in sport or an alternative career path.

Some sports have been pioneers of equality and others are well documented as not having been so progressive. Clare Balding’s documentary, “When football banned women” shows how expectation and equality has shifted in 100 years. The Football Association may not be proud of banning women from playing football from 1921 for 50, yes 50 years. However, the Women’s Super League is now run and subsidized by the FA itself because it’s not yet commercially viable due to a lack of sponsors.

Manchester United, which Forbes listed as the most valuable football team in the world in 2017 has, in Sept 2018, started a professional women’s football team, albeit one where the women earn a tiny fraction of what the men do. Sadly inequality in football isn’t just about pay, it’s also about respect and attitude which Ada Hegerberg knows from her recent award winning experience.

Many sports fans love to bet, what odds might we get on equal pay for all British professional female football players in 3 years time? One British club, Lewes, has lead by example with equal budgets for their women’s and men’s teams. Who will follow to start a movement? Lewes are also now asking the FA difficult questions about the men’s and women’s FA Cup prize money.

If girls and women, perhaps inspired by This Girl Can or a parent/teacher/coach, want to be even more active or involved with sport there are endless opportunities to do so including the wildly successful and free Parkrun movement.

Ten years ago the number of girls aspiring to be professional sports people, athletes or coaches was low. The inspirational women’s teams of Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Football, Olympic Sport and Rugby Union used to be full of amateur women working part time even buying their own kit and shoes. They have made our nation proud and times have changed. Most are now fully professional and paid via rolling annual contracts or lottery funding through UK Sport. But pay and conditions/resources/attitudes/media coverage are not equal yet!

As I look globally, I see change in equality in sport accelerating at the same pace of change in general society…..these are stories we can all tell others with pride and envy:

Dec 2017 – Football, Norway
Jan 2018 – Rugby Union, Australia (Female CEO, Raelene Castle)
Sept 2018 – World Surf League (Female CEO, Sophie Goldschmidt)

Story has it, that closer to home, the female CEO of BNP Mellon agreed her organization would sponsor the Oxford vs Cambridge boat race on the proviso that the womens boat race would take place on the same day – which it did for the first time in 2015.

What are we doing?

If you’re asking “What more can we do?” here are my top 3 practical suggestions:

Participate! Activity and sport are great for physical and mental wellbeing and women and men have equal right to this. Lead by example.
Follow and support women’s sport. Buy merchandise, watch games and attend events. Consumer and sponsor demand is accelerating progress.
Ask the difficult questions where women are being treated differently in any way. Sports, Sponsors, Customers and Government sentiment is changing. Let’s continue and accelerate the spirit of Billy Jean, an inspiration to both women and men worldwide.

Sport inspired me as a kid and still inspires me today…

…even though I wasn’t that good at it. I grew up wanting to be like Daly Thompson.

I know there are as many people “put off” sport for life as are “captivated for life” when they’re young. Sport can inspire in many ways…..through supporting, participating, volunteering and competing.

It’s my belief that sport can lead the way and inspire even greater equality, diversity and inclusion in all parts of society.

Let’s focus on what isn’t happening yet and ask difficult questions. Plus, let’s all tell great stories about equality, talking about inspirational organisations like Lewes FC in England – great stories can shame and inspire more individuals to do the right thing, not the easy thing.

November 19 2018

My experience working Part Time as a man for 10 years

Patrick McMaster What I'm thinking

Yes, there is a “day” for everything.

National days celebrating Pickles (14 Nov), Fish and Chips (1 June) or Fish Fingers & Custard (yes really, it’s 3rd April) may be just your thing. International Men’s Day is 19th Nov. To mark this day, I’m writing my first ever blog about my personal experience, working 4 days a week for the last 10 years in large corporate organizations – a “Part Time working man”.

According to the Office for National Statistics in Nov 2018, 14.7% of all UK people working, work part time. Some do so because they must, and some do because they choose to. If you’re a man reading this, you’re significantly less likely to be a Part Time Worker than if you’re a woman.
Of all part time workers, 37% are men and 63% are women.

When I joined the UK workforce 20 years ago the percentage of men working part time was much, much lower. When I started working part time 10 years ago I didn’t know any men who did so. Looking at the Timewise power 50 lists in recent years we increasingly see male part time/flexible working role models in senior positions. It’s great to see shared paternity leave legislation is helping families make choices and most organisations, I believe, can accommodate part time working in most roles – when asked. So, it potentially comes down to men having the confidence to start a conversation. Asking for what they want. It’s a topic I’m passionate about and if any man reading this (or person who knows a man who’s thought about it) wants to hear – this is how it’s been for me over the last 10 years.

2009
In 2009, I personally needed a “reason” to (assertively) request moving from 5 days a week to 4 days a week. I took Thursdays off and swapped days occasionally around business needs. My boss at the time was an amazing, insightful female leader who decided that she would keep my salary the same. Just imagine how engaged and committed I was to her and the organisation….
My “reason” was i) I had 3 children under 5 and ii) I wanted to do a 2 year programme of further education. As well as professional fulfillment the study was also to legitimately escape the pressures of having 3 young children which can be relentless, thankless and wonderful all at the same time.

The reality & the surprise!
When you talk to people you know who work part time or flexible hours you’ll hear the same story. You often end up doing the same in less time, as efficiently as you can. A few less Friday afternoons of largely unproductive but somewhat fulfilling filing/browsing/pub lunches. No difference between men and women there. My wife who also works part time and others I know say the same. Studies show men often play less of a role in the home than women too. As a life-long fan of free market economics, I never thought I’d be agreeing with unions that just recently suggested a 4 day week.

So, what’s different about working part time as a man? For me, it’s the surprise! People are still really, genuinely, surprised as it’s sadly not yet common enough. Until recently it’s almost been taboo for men to initiate in conversation due to sometimes irrational fears around career impact. Interviewing successfully for a job that’s advertised as full time is tough – however, take heart, it doesn’t mean you’re not the right/best person for the job! If more women can make it work, we men must ask ourselves the question…. why do they do it and what do they get from it? All the women I know that manage to work part time do it to serve some purpose, to allow them the space to thrive in another aspect of their life (often children/caring). Whilst they’ll juggle and find it difficult much of the time, most wouldn’t swap back to full time work for the world.

What I most worry about is that some men may be missing out on something that will potentially significantly benefit them personally. They could Work, and Live and Thrive. I can say that, hand on heart, there is a downside. There are projects I’d like to have worked on that I turned down due to capacity. One CEO wasn’t that impressed that I turned down one such project. However, the downside has been vastly outweighed by the upside. I’ve done better work, had a much better balance in my life and I’ve felt more energetic with a break mid-week. I’d still be working at full capacity on Friday afternoon at 4.45. (Obviously some colleagues don’t appreciate this…!)
Although progress is being made, there are still gender stereotypes in society. Judgments and incorrect assumptions can be made about part-time workers regarding commitment, and aspirations for career progression and goals. As more men and women take time away from work (e.g. for shared parental leave, caring responsibilities, work life balance), the more all employers will become used to this as ‘normal’ and not a display of lack of commitment to work.

What questions might you ask yourself about men working part time?
1) You could ask yourself “What’s most important to me in my life?”
2) You could ask yourself “How can I find men who are working part time already and encourage them to tell their story?” (This, in my experience normalizes it in the same way that talking about mental health is becoming normalized in society)
3) What gift could I give or conversation could I start? One of the two books below as a Christmas present may help someone you know explore more about why men are the way we are. These books, and I, make many generalizations that aren’t necessarily true for every man though.
i. Manhood (Changed my life when I read it)
ii. Descent of Man (I’m reading this now)
So, how about in 2019, we have a National day to celebrate “Part Time working men”. If so, I’m in!

October 24 2018

5 books that had a big impact on me

Patrick McMaster What I'm Reading

Some books change people

They impact how you see the world.

There are many books which I’ve bought and never actually read. There are many books which I’ve skim read and learnt a bit. These 5 books have changed who I am as a leader, HR professional and parent.