It’s a rare sight – to see hundreds of employees chanting the name of their
ousted boss and urging him to stay (see page 3). The unprecedented show of
spontaneous support for the BBC’s outgoing director general Greg Dyke last week
should be inspiration to all aspiring charismatic leaders.
Dyke’s resignation, following damning criticism in the Hutton Report,
mirrors the fate of many beleaguered business leaders. But Dyke was different
in the route he took to reach the top and the affection with which staff held
him.
During his four years at the BBC, he used his outspoken and informal style
to reorganise and re-energise an unwieldy organisation. The BBC clearly has
serious fault lines but from a leadership point of view, Dyke’s dynamism won over
the workforce and will be extremely hard to replicate.
Don’t be duped
Watch out for letters exploiting HR’s concern over the Data Protection Act.
As our story on page 1 warns, companies are luring employers into parting
with hundreds of pounds in return for help in registering with the Information
Commissioner, Richard Thomas.
It’s easy to see why a busy HR manager might be easily duped – many
employers do not know if they are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act
and new research shows that just 49 per cent of UK companies have documented
procedures.
The letters make ominous warnings about criminal offences and fines of up to
£5,000 if you do not comply. The companies fuelling the fear factor want to
charge £100 for their services when in fact, you can register your business
online for just £35. Don’t become a victim of their heavy-handed tactics.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
By Jane King, editor
