Core Disciplines

‘Son. Retail is Detail’

If I ever met the Regional Managing Director from Tesco who said this to me I’d probably have to buy him dinner. I’ve used this story so much with clients that I often forget that virtually everyone who has paid me any amount of money will be familiar with it.

For those of you that don’t know it or can’t remember it here it is (taken straight from Sleeping Tiger Revolution)

In my early career, I worked for a ...

Last week the Bank of England’s Chief Economist was forced to admit that the predictions made about the aftermath of Brexit did not appear to be accurate.

We shouldn’t be surprised that even professionals and experts in their field are getting predictions wrong these days. This isn’t a reflection of their lack of expertise or their professional integrity. It’s a reflection of the level of change and uncertainty that faces every aspect of our lives.

The news last week reminded me of ...

So we are out of the 2017 traps…

I must confess that I avoid New Years resolutions and tend to defer planning for 2017 until February. Its just too close to a big holiday for me to set my head in gear. Instead I use January as a month to reflect on the previous year; to sift out any lessons that need to be carried forward.

2016 was a strange one eh? There have been times where it has literally felt like ...

I was talking to one of my clients the other day about dealing with problem employees, well one employee in particular. I asked him what his instincts told him to do and he said ‘punch him in the face’.

Pleasure and pain

I’ve been watching videos and reflecting on some early feedback from two of my program’s that launched last week. One was a new business owner breakthrough program and the other is a Leadership Development program for junior directors and managers in SME’s

After the kick off sessions some participants have reported that they have felt feel a surge of optimism and confidence. Others have found the days following the first program tough, almost painful. I am delighted with both ...

One of the rewards of being a business coach is to be able to watch people get past whatever is stopping them from making the progress they want to make. From my impartial standpoint it can look quite ridiculous to watch someone attempt to justify why they avoid a task, conversation or decision.  Yet permanently solving procrastination is a much more elusive goal. In todays rant I explain some ideas to help you understand why you procrastinate. It is through ...

Virtually every company I work with tell how much better they are than their competitors; particularly their larger counterparts. This is more often than not a distinction between the style of service rather than the particular product supplied.

“We are much more flexible and provide a more personal service” is the mantra of the small business.

There is no reason why this shouldn’t be true and yet my experience is that is isn’t as big a difference as you think, in the ...

Virtually every company I work with tell how much better they are than their competitors; particularly their larger counterparts. This is more often than not a distinction between the style of service rather than the particular product supplied.

“We are much more flexible and provide a more personal service” is the mantra of the small business.

There is no reason why this shouldn’t be true and yet my experience is that is isn’t as big a difference as you think, in the ...