Ensuring your people and systems are seamlessly working together to achieve your ambitions or plan. Imagine your business is a set of whirring cogs, like a watch mechanism. When all is good and the mechanism is properly maintained and oiled, it will work fine. But if not maintained, or the oil has congealed then the mechanism will break down. Your business works the same. When all stakeholders are aligned, there is a clear vision and the systems, IT and other, …
Philosophy
The purpose or vision of the business and the tactics and strategy to fulfil that purpose. A business requires a strategy, a vision, a purpose – it guides and drives the business. Without it the business will be lost. But it, and you as an SME business owner or senior manager, need to retain flexibility. The strategy sets the long term goal. But you need to carve a flexible tactical approach as to how you achieve that long term goal, …
Keeping it flexible!
As a business owner or senior manager – the purpose or vision of your Company should be crystal clear to you and your colleagues. You should have a robust long term strategy, but also tactically you will need to work around that long term ambition as the environment in which you operate changes. But as we, hopefully, start to come out of the pandemic what will the future hold for our businesses. Undoubtedly, we will not operate as we used …
How an independent adviser can help you and your business.
In my last blog, I talked about the benefits for an SME owner or senior manager to retain an independent adviser – to help overcome their challenges and achieve their ambitions. Or simply to provide that independent view, voice and reassurance – economically in terms of time and cost. You may feel all is going well, but you may not have considered certain aspects that could cause harm to your business, thereby causing unnecessary risk. But what are the kinds …
Being on your own running your business – who can you turn to for advice and support?
Do you feel you are on your own – in running your business, or as a senior manager in your business? I have felt like that many times, and not just through this pandemic. But I have been lucky to have had support and advice from my coach and mentors. Sometimes you are faced with challenges and issues, but who can you turn to for advice or support, a work colleague? But talking to them may make you feel exposed. …
Do you work ‘in’ or ‘on’ the business?
This has been a much talked about topic in recent months as the owners and senior managers of businesses have appreciated the need to focus on ensuring staff and colleagues are doing ok. These colleagues are the backbone of your organisation and, depending on their circumstances, may not be coping under the current work regime – not just due to their physical environment but also due to their mental well-being. For senior managers and owners, it’s important to recognise this, …
How Many Days Do We Work For?
In my last blog I briefly highlighted the importance of obtaining personal fulfilment from your work. On the basis I will work, because I enjoy it, for around 8,000 days, I will have spent about 25% of my life at work, assuming I live for around 35,000 days – my family have strong genes. So when you are spending that much time at work – it’s critical you do what you want to do. My fourth career is now focussed …
The Best Career Advice I Received
I was fortunate to benefit from some great career advice back in the early 1990s which had a profound influence on me and my work. It dictated the opportunities I pursued in my professional work. And it means I have, for the most part, enjoyed a fascinating, rewarding and enjoyable work life. Today it still influences me. So what was that advice? Simply that I was beholden to no one except myself, my family also, and I should follow my …
Working With Focus Five
I work with businesses in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and further afield, partnering with you to provide independent, practical business advice and business support to move you forward in the direction you want. You know your business better than anyone else. Day-to-day, it runs like clockwork. Well, most of the time… But, every so often, a problem or an opportunity crops up that you need to spend some time considering, away from the day-to-day distractions. The problem could be poor customer …
Creating New Pricing Plans in reaction to Coronavirus Pandemic
Reducing risk in your business to help you mitigate the impact of Coronavirus: In these unprecedented times, companies need to stay ahead of the competition and offer creative pricing of your product or service. So how can this be achieved: Offer discounts, bundled packages, phased repayment terms, monthly retainers, longer-term discounted contracts. Price is one aspect, your costs are the other aspect, both influence margin. Address fixed costs and transition to flexible costs. Negotiate with your suppliers’ new contract terms …
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