The party leaders have been criss crossing the country for the last few weeks lobbying, promoting, debating their parties policies. The behaviours they display are, most likely, a combination of their own authentic and preferred style combined with those behaviours encouraged by PR advisers and communication consultants.

Business leaders seeking a crash-course in ‘how-to’ and ‘how-not-to’ display the characteristics of leadership could learn much over the next seven days. The only caveat, filter out the agenda of the media source and the way in which the events are reported and make up your own mind.

A final note: diarise two months from today to compare your feelings today with the outcomes that have resulted. How do they differ? This is  the real and probably more worthwhile learning point. Exercise your self-development mandate.
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Break the trust promise and it’s unlikely it can ever be restored.

The fast food restaurant where service is slow, the convenient on-line store which ships the incorrect product, then insists you pay for postage to rectify ‘their’ mistake.

When convenience is the unique selling point (U.S.P.) repairing the damage of broken trust will cost more than resourcing correctly in the first place. It’s not the problem itself that causes the pain, it’s the anger induced when the problem is poorly handled.
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Welcoming the year 2000 seems a very long time ago. So much has happened in my world, I decided to leave the ‘safety’ of paid regular employment and start my own business. Now nearly ten years later, collectively, we all face a period of change more significant than at the turn of the last decade.

Working for myself has been rewarding both personally and emotionally. Being authentic, doing something every day which makes a difference in one of the main reasons running my organisation works for me and one of the main reasons for leaving corporate life behind.

Reflecting this year helped me realize our success could not have been achieved without the help and support of a number of individuals; I’d like to say thank you to some them publicly.

Grace, Nick, Rebbecca, Samia, Nick2, Lee, Maggie, Sally, Charlie, Andrew, Nick3, Anna, Daryl, Lydsay, Sian, Gareth, Eric and of course, Max. The last ten years would not have been the same without your contributions. Here’s to the next 10 years and whatever it brings; I hope you come along for the ride.

Thank you.
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Brands spend considerable time and money developing a reputation; individuals do the same, the reality of course is how we feel about the brand or person and how that influences our decisions about them.

My 8 o’clock meeting yesterday morning was with a person I have known for 10 years. Without exception he has been late ever time we’ve met. In light of this I was relaxed at the prospect of 5 minutes late, heavier than expected traffic the cause of my tardiness.

Imagine my surprise when a) he was sitting there waiting for me with b) an almost finished coffee. On the basis of my reputation, he had been 10 minutes early.

Two reputations spectacularly colliding and a reality check for us both.

So, what does your reputation say about you?
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The experiences and opportunities afforded to top talent is often a double-edged- sword. The pressures and expectations can lead to crippling self doubt; the path to the top is not easy, ever.

If you think it is, check out tonight’s ‘Inside Sport Special’ called Mind Games.

Whether you are, or have experienced elite success, the content will surely resonate. Knowing you are not alone is both comforting and helpful in making sense of the ‘dark-thoughts.’
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As the undisputed number one in any organisation, whether: a government, incorporated company, or even an entrepreneur start-up, you occupy an enviable position.

The same too applies to the animal kingdom. Spare a thought for this poor chap. The Great White Shark is an apex predator  in the sea, probably going about his business (deluded as it transpires) that he was the number one, until…reality check.

Imagine how big and powerful the shark that inflicted these wounds is.

Corporate big-fish would do well to take note.

photo source: Daily Telegraph
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On reflection, if the work you are tasked with, does not fit with your own values, no amount of coaching, counseling or medication will dull the pain. Leave it to those who are happy to ‘carry-out-orders’; choose instead to follow your own path.

My recent attempts to contact the boss of a successful telecommunications business was less than impressive.

My enquiry: “Hello, I’d like to speak with-so-and-so please”,
the response “I’m a manger here, what do you want mate?”
me: “I’d like to talk with ‘X’ about a business opportunity”,
the response: “oh, he don’t work here no more.”

Amen to that!

The three part series reflects a much more realistic picture of business in the UK it seems most of the problems affecting the six featured businesses were caused by ‘people issues,’ in my experience this holds true for most organisations.

The dynamics which affect how we ‘get-along’ with each other, communicating and interacting together is without doubt the single most important and difficult aspect to get right in any organisation. This is not some idealistic wish list, but basic common sense.

So, the sixty four thousand dollar question, how to achieve this cooperative utopia? Let’s start by making expectations explicit, consistently maintaining standards and crucially, having positive role models from the ‘top of the organisation.’ How can business leaders justify paying an employee bonus and at the same time award themselves one?

A leader can’t lead without followers, people will choose to follow those who they trust and respect!