Transforming organisations

Have you ever...........?

I wonder how many readers have ever been involved in a committed personal relationship with someone else?

You met for the very first time; you agreed to see each other again and then again. After a while you started to plan. You discussed the issues around where you both work, where you both live and eventually when and where you would start to share your lives together.
I call this Clarify Direction.

After the exciting early days extend to the frenzied weeks that merge into some fun filled months there are always challenges around trust. It’s not just about fidelity, but it could be to do with money or time or energy. It could about other relationships or it could be about taking personal responsibility.
I call this Develop Trust

Some of these relationships last through decades, maybe two or three or more. And after all this time the couple can sometimes look into each other’s eyes and say “Well our relationship is more open and more powerful and more committed than ever before” And isn’t that wonderful?
I call this Enhance Performance.

Working almost seven days a week since Christmas at home and abroad it is a huge privilege. All I am doing is applying those same principles: Clarify Direction, Develop Trust and Enhance Performance in the Boardroom.

Ninety per cent of CEO’s do not realise two things: Firstly, you have to do these three stages in sequence with your people. Secondly, the model is cyclical so you have to revisit the outcomes periodically.

If you don’t believe me, think of that committed personal relationship of yours.

posted by Tim @ 12:43 AM 0 Comments

Tenacity

In this day and age you have to be brilliant to transform your business from one that was successful in the old ‘manufacturing’ economy to one that is developing and sustaining competitive advantage in this ‘knowledge’ world.

I was recently privileged to be in the Algarve at the BHF Group Innovation Conference sharing the platform with Maurice and Bunty Jones. They run Philip Morris and Sons, a Hereford business that until the last few years traded as a traditional ironmonger on the high street.

Using an extraordinary combination of tenacity, courage and wisdom they have more than doubled their shop frontage. At the same time they have created a powerful internet presence. We heard how Death Duties had all but closed them down, how Maurice had survived an almost fatal accident followed by an almost fatal illness, whilst they managed to bring up three children. Now it is true that sons John and Bruce are turbo charging the growth of the business, but it takes a really special family to pass the business baton so seamlessly from one generation to the next.

No, this was real motivational speaking packed with anecdote, humour and lessons for us all.

posted by Tim @ 12:13 AM 0 Comments

Promotion and relegation

When the going gets tough out there it is the psychology of the leadership that counts most of all.

During April I worked in 14 Board Rooms and spoke to six executive groups. It is true that some organisations are being buffeted and battered by rising fuel prices, employment issues, political issues, rapidly changing market places and competition that can emerge from anywhere.

So what mindset gets us through all this? And if we are the leader what mindset is going to get the best out of our people? In difficult times it is absolutely vital to get the internal stuff working at the highest possible level – through dynamic strategy, high trust and great relationships – with colleagues, staff, stakeholders and customers. We have all got to be working on the positives and not talking our business or our economy down.

Watch the football relegation battles and every season there is always a side that almost miraculously puts together a string of results that ensures survival. Post match analyses reveal that it is all about belief, remaining positive and sticking to core values.

So let’s do it!

posted by Tim @ 10:22 AM 0 Comments