Relationships play a huge role in shaping the success of any business. In fact strong relationships with your team, your clients and your suppliers, are the foundations that all business growth is built on. Friendships however have a unique position in business, because while they certainly offer advantages, they also present challenges that can seriously […]
Nelson Mandela, whose name is synonymous with courage, resilience, and wisdom, was an extraordinary leader who left a lasting impression on the world. His remarkable qualities as a leader inspired millions and continue to inspire people the world over. Here are just five of the qualities we can all aspire to as business owners looking […]
You don’t need me to tell you that operating your own business demands relentless commitment, and all too often can leave you as the owner, overwhelmed and with little or no time for fun and relaxation… It’s way too easy to ‘forget’ to take a break, and to underestimate the wider benefits of a holiday, […]
Establishing a regular, reliable rhythm in your business, particularly through effective communication, can be a game-changer when you’re looking to build a high-performing team. In this blog we’re going to explore the benefits of business rhythm and the actionable steps that you, as a successful small business owner, can take to develop a thriving communication […]
Watching King Charles’ investiture and listening to the promises he made to the people of the UK, got me thinking again about servant leadership. At its core, servant leadership is an approach to leadership that prioritises serving the needs of others and empowering them to achieve their potential. It’s grounded in the belief that leaders […]
Greetings entrepreneurs! I am St. George, the patron saint of England, and I am honoured to share with you some valuable lessons that you, as a business owner, can learn from me – a legendary hero. First and foremost, you must embody unwavering determination. I faced great obstacles and challenges during my life, including the […]
Ramadan Kareem to you all! Ramadan is a period of reflection and introspection for Muslims the world-over, and the perfect time to develop good habits in life and in business. For me, those good business habits will all come down to having simple, logical and repeatable systems and routines, that keep your business consistent and […]
April is Stress Awareness Month and it’s a great reminder of the need to recognise the impact that stress is having on your health and do what you need to do to manage it effectively. As a business owner, you know all too well the pressures that come with running your business, and the toll […]
Hot on the heels of International Women’s Day, comes another day which celebrates and honours the women of the world, in this case, more specifically, Mothers. Yes, it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday – a day dedicated to celebrating the strength, love, and guidance of mothers and to appreciate the tireless effort and sacrifices they make […]
I think it’s fair to say that there is a significant amount of fatigue around ‘awareness days’ for subjects and issues that should be permanently high on our radar… International Women’s Day, a globally recognised day to celebrate women’s contributions to society and to raise awareness about the various challenges they face, is one such […]
Friday 3rd March is #EmployeeAppreciationDay… I have to say, as with love your pets day, isn’t every day the day to appreciate your team and the work they do? Showing appreciation, saying thank you, and generally showing an interest in every individual you work with should be the norm, and it’s absolutely essential for creating […]
February 20th is National Love Your Pet Day, and even though I doubt any of us pet owners need a special day to love them, it is pretty great to have a day to celebrate the special bond we have with our furry, feathered, or even scaly friends. It’s an excellent reminder to show extra […]
I know a number of individuals who would equate ‘being a kind leader’ with being a ‘soft’ leader. But for me, being kind is a hugely important quality for a leader to possess. It’s not about being nice, it’s about having a deep understanding of what leadership is really about, and using that knowledge to […]
Finally it’s here… something I’ve been working on, and I’m proud to share it with you all… I’m delighted to introduce you to the NEW, 90 day Chaos to Consistency programme! I couldn’t be more excited about this programme and the positive impact it’s going to have on every successful small business owner looking to build a […]
Have you ever thought about the whole idea of Groundhog Day? That day at the beginning of February when the groundhog is said to come out of its hibernation hole and if it sees its own shadow – if it’s a sunny day – then it will turn round and go back into its hole, signalling six more […]
When growing your team, what mindset are you looking for? Many businesses promote competitive working instead of collaborative working. In some instances, such as individual sales, this might work well. However, with something like bringing a project together, pitching your team against each other to see who produces the best work actually wastes energy – […]
It’s the start of another New Year… 2023 no less (I remember when a date like that was futuristic sci-fi territory!) And I’m sure that like most business owners, your head is full of thoughts, ideas…maybe even plans (although you haven’t committed them to writing…yet) of everything that you want to achieve over the next […]
Could do better?! Do you remember when you were at school and you’d get your end of year report with a little summary from all of the teachers about how you performed? Maybe, like me, you still have a couple and have a good laugh at them, on the odd occasion you stumble across them, […]
Tis the season of the overloaded socket! Of course we have to have 3 sets of lights on the tree, and lights in the window, and we definitely need outside lights (only tasteful ones of course) and there’s only that one socket near the window so we’ve got to make it work somehow! In the […]
When you build the right team around you, everything in your operation becomes easier. So how do you attract the ‘right’ people to your team? Here are my top 5 tips: 1 Get really clear about the DNA of your ideal team member. Is there someone in your team who is the personification of your […]
Right now as business owners, we’re all assessing and re-assessing key elements of our operation – from our business model to our marketing, from our team to our own role in the day to day – it’s that time of year. We start to think about what’s worked well, and what hasn’t. How the team […]
In horticulture, this time of year is one for reflection, harvest and protection from the coming elements… The Autumnal equinox in September signifies the start of the seed gathering season where we’re encouraged to forage for seeds, fruit and nuts to plant them under our protection. To nurture them over the Winter for the coming […]
The increase in concern over burnout and overwhelm and the breakdown of the work-life balance is very real. Technology is a double-edged sword; for every advance and for every connection made, for every time zone broken down, we are more available and more accessible than ever. The flip side? We find it more and […]
Leadership as loving service? Over the past couple of weeks there’s been an awful lot said about The Queen, about the person behind the throne, about her faith and the impact it had on her daily life, and most relevant to me, about her qualities as a leader – The Vision she had for her […]
Not surprisingly in the current climate there are a lot of posts about leadership on LinkedIn at the moment. Many outline the ‘normal’ traits and behaviours of a leader, things like vision, integrity, empathy, nous, decisiveness. We can all trot them out and they are important traits, don’t get me wrong. But today I thought […]
“You’re communicating with me way too much,” said no employee to their manager ever. No successful business has ever become successful without great people managers. But how many businesses have lost great people due to a bad one? There are many skills needed by a manager but if you want to keep your team engaged […]
One of the biggest lessons learned by many business owners during lockdown, was either that they had too many individuals who were indispensable, or that there were too many tasks that could only be done by one individual – often the business owner themselves. What resulted was at worst, a breakdown in their operation, at […]
Managers – do you listen to audiobooks? Well it’s taken some time, but I’m delighted to tell you that… drum roll… Mission: To Manage is finally available as an audiobook on both Audible UK and Audible US. I know parents aren’t meant to boast about their children, but I do love this little book, […]
When systemising and creating ‘one right way’ to do everything in your business, things can start to feel a little repetitive. It’s all very well the idea of having one right way to do everything in your business, but in reality, training the team and new hires in each and every task seems endless! […]
Consistency is a key word in our business, and the achievement of consistency is key to everything we do. The desire for a consistent operation is the whole reason our clients come to us – the goal of having a consistent operation that runs like clockwork whether they are there or not – the […]
