My Blog
This blog is for me, it’s my sketch pad where I think things through and work things out. Having worked ‘stuff’ out I think it’s good to declare it, so I am sending it to you. Hopefully you will also find it useful.
Latest Posts
Three unusual business lessons
Recently I was asked to write an article about three lessons I have learnt in business. After some reflection this is what I came up with, my 3Ms – Money, Marketing and Managing (people). Yes, that’s it – Money, Marketing and Managing. And for each, probably not what you might expect.
Read MoreThat’s it, Colin’s boss has had enough
Fred is really hacked off and sinking. He calls me and has a good old rant. He feels better, he has just got to survive until the holidays. We both know he has been here many times before, so I offer something that might be useful. It’s to do with delegating effectively to unleash talent and win back his time … and life!
Read MoreThoughts on motivation and early steps to remarkable work
What do you do and why do you do it? You have worked out your elevator pitch, right? So you can tell me what you do in a few words. Great! Though why do you do it? Tell me why and I will ‘get’ your passion and then ‘we’ can do some amazing work together.…
Read MoreThe Team Boost™ – a story
Thomas rang. “We are a good team, we’ve worked well together for years and we all know each other and get on. Yes there are a few personalities, nothing major, though there is always some of that going on isn’t there? It’s just we seem to have lost our way a bit, the energy is…
Read MoreHere’s something remarkable, it’s for you
Very good is boring Very good is boring nowadays and excellent will soon be boring. For instance: mid-summer my two sons were home along with my eldest’s girlfriend. The three of them are each well over six foot tall. They fancied a day trip so Sue and I suggested we all go to Northumberland. There…
Read MoreThis must be right, McKinsey said it.
When the top team is working together towards a common vision they are twice as likely of having above-median financial performance. And executives are five times more productive when working in a high performing team than they are in an average one. Sounds about right to me and McKinsey are a class act, have considerable…
Read MoreA six year old with a chain saw
Do you overprotect your staff cos they are ‘not old enough’ or ‘experienced enough’ yet? On Saturday I was cycling up a long hill in the countryside when I saw people trimming back hedges and trees. As I got closer I noticed a man and child, who was no more than five or six years…
Read MoreThe first rule of my business is ……
Do everything ‘On Purpose’ and the second rule of my business is follow through. When a prospective customer asks me to work with them my instinctive first response is to question: what’s it for, what’s the point, what’s the purpose, why are you looking to do this work and what business result are you seeking…
Read MoreDeveloping as a leader – free of charge
Sometimes my brief includes helping someone develop as a leader – to hone their thinking, behavior and leadership skills. It may be an incumbent executive who has a vision and wants to get people on board or a rising star who has come unstuck or a brilliant performer with a seemingly annoying tendency or to…
Read MoreBrand and culture – two sides of the same coin
Years ago, talking with a CEO he kept referring to brand and culture – curious I asked him to distinguish between the two. He said – “our brand is our reputation, how we are experienced in the world. Culture is how we do things round here. And how we do things round here directly affects…
Read More