Mentoring Matters – Help To Grow
Mentoring isn’t a bonus – it’s essential for growth. Yet too many business leaders try to go it alone, missing out on the insight, challenge, and support that only a great mentor or coach can provide. I was at the National Mentoring Matters Conference last week with Dave Sharpe, discussing just how powerful mentoring can […]
We need to learn from America’s infectious positivity – Sunday Times
Britain’s downbeat CEOs should take on some of the can-do attitude of entrepreneurs in the US I’ll never forget thousands of adoring fans screaming my first name as I walked past them at one of the world’s most glamorous sporting events. Fame at last, I thought. I had been invited to the Monaco Grand Prix […]
Christmas is a time to relax (and perform your own annual review) – Sunday Times
This hedgehog doesn’t curl up into a ball in December. I set out personal and business aims — then take stock 12 months later. It’s the last weekend before Christmas, so if you’re reading this with your feet up, work phone muted and laptop switched off, congratulations. Enjoy it; you’re far more organised than me. […]
Get yourself connected by offering subscriptions to your customers – Sunday Times
Firms can offer better value, increase choice and create loyalty by charging an annual fee for their products or services, instead of big one-off payments Chances are you’re reading this article because you have a subscription to The Times and The Sunday Times. Perhaps this evening you’ll watch something on Netflix, or read a book […]
Courage is a vital skill. It could transform UK manufacturing – Sunday Times
The UK is a great industrial nation held back by entrepreneurs’ fears about evolving their business. They need to be bold and broaden their customer base Barely a week goes by without analysts celebrating yet another technology “unicorn” accelerating to a $1 billion valuation. Good luck to them, but I can’t help wondering why we […]
Power to the people managers: We need more CEOs well versed in HR – Sunday Times
Every business is a people business, no matter its product or service, so why are human resources chiefs constantly overlooked in succession plans? I’m not ashamed to admit that when I launched HomeServe, I thought of the human resources department in rudimentary terms: helping back-office functions, focusing on the administrative side and sorting out compensation […]
Hate the budget? Turn the problem into an opportunity to growth – Sunday Times
Retailers fearing the impact of the higher costs imposed by Rachel Reeves might feel like they’re doomed. But they should stop grumbling and act Scrolling through the TV channels the other night, I stumbled across an old episode of Dad’s Army. Captain Mainwaring was leading his battalion into yet another mishap, at which point Private […]
Why you can never over-communicate – Sunday Times
Getting the message across to what the business strategy and plans are, and the results, and repeating it if necessary, is one of the secrets of success When Walt and Roy Disney founded their Hollywood film-making company 101 years ago, they ensured every employee was reminded of their fundamental duty as soon as they walked […]
Looking for growth? Then look to our high streets – Sunday Times
Losses at Fenwick illustrate retail’s challenges. But physical and digital stores can prosper with ‘bricks and clicks and paper’ If I hadn’t hit upon plumbing insurance cover, I’d have fancied being a retailer — principally because retail is detail. You can see how business is going every day, both through your takings and just being […]
Admitting mistakes and learning from them — that’s success – Sunday Times
Entrepreneurs should own up to when plans have backfired. For business leaders to take risks and drive growth, they have to accept that things can go wrong I’m not often lost for words, but there was a moment last week when I wondered just how honest I should be. I was speaking at one of […]