Black & Decker are a company who realised that by empowering their employees they could improve their current processes. Stocking a multitude of different products, Black & Decker’s sales staff must have a wide knowledge that covers their offerings. A two-week training period could get them to a reasonable standard where they had a basic knowledge…

If a business wants to achieve sustained growth and improvement, responsibility must be shared effectively across it. Over reliance or one or a few leaders will result in a workload imbalance which will affect efficiency and productivity. Therefore, empowering different members of staff to hone and expand their skillsets is a good way to attain this…

In all markets, evolving to match developing trends in necessary, but this is particularly relevant in the energy sector. OVO Energy are a good example of this, who have designed their long-term strategy in alignment with a programme of continuing revision…

An established structure and strategy are important when running an organisation but developing new ideas should also be a focus. Becoming too comfortable, or reliant on the information and processes you already have can make your company sluggish in its reaction to changing circumstances, or emerging trends. This lack of agility can lead to stagnation, and beyond this decline. The most successful businesses challenge their current operations and invest in fresh initiatives to maintain or improve their performance…

Ben & Jerry’s are a company who recognise the importance of involving customers in their brand. They created the ‘Do the World a Flavor’ campaign that allowed members of the public to design their own ice cream, for the chance to see them sold on the high street.

In a specifically developed piece of software customers could choose the base flavour, chunks, swirls, and name of their unique creation. The recipes that were chosen would be released at Ben & Jerry’s outlets for a year, and standout successes such as ‘Cherry Garcia’ would continue to be produced…

To create engaged stakeholders you have to make them part of your brand story, so they feel aligned and involved with your mission. Cultivating these valuable relationships is important not just because retention will result in higher profits, but because of the high-quality marketing resource they represent…

The petrochemical company Shell recognise the importance of balancing their various stakeholder relationships. As environmental awareness rises, Shell must ensure they are satisfying a multitude of demands that not only keep their business running profitably, but also attend to evolving attitudes on natural resources…

Making each of your stakeholder relationships mutually productive can be challenging, but to balance them all is another complication. Businesses that achieve sustained improvement manage their stakeholder groups effectively, utilising their skillsets and satisfying their concerns…

A good example of company who seek to differentiate their product is Airstream. Airstream produce campervans and caravans which are designed to stand out from the crowd and embody the values of timelessness, convenience, and pleasure…

Competing in a market is more demanding than simply equalling the basic services that other businesses provide. To truly grow and improve your position you must possess a differentiating factor that separates you from your competitors, this becomes your relevance. The greater the fit between the needs of your target audience and your offering, the more influential your advantage…

Stories of success have certainly been overshadowed during the past year; however, one standout example of good news has been New Zealand’s effective coronavirus response, due in part to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern…

The traditional ‘strong’ and uncompromising leader figure seems outdated in a modern context. Today, leadership should be as much (if not more) about persuasion as rhetoric. I believe that the best way to encourage someone to their full potential is to make an emotional connection with them, whether this is trust, loyalty, or respect – I call this pathos persuasion…

The All Blacks rugby team has become synonymous with sporting excellence and commitment. They aim to demonstrate that their passion for the sport is unrivalled and intrinsically linked to the culture of New Zealand. However natural they may want this bond to seem, their success is not only due to a national obsession but is developed in their team philosophy and training…

If you want your business to evolve and improve, an efficient organisational framework must be in place to allow this. Proper consideration must be given to what will best suit your company and how this can be established. Structures that emerge organically can often be far from ideal, although they may seem to have developed to suit existing processes. Issues that could arise include:

Patagonia have become a recognisable and well-regarded company in the outdoor clothing market. Since 1985 they have pledged 1% of their sales to the ‘preservation and restoration of the natural environment.’ They use this money to fund groups internationally who look to preserve the ecological balance in their local areas…

Unless your offering is unique or particularly outstanding, you cannot simply rely on this to attract potential stakeholders. Where offering a solution might once have been enough, it is increasingly important to create an emotional connection that will differentiate you from the competition…

2020 certainly presented an array of unforeseen challenges for businesses, and 2021 looks likely to have tests of its own. It’s important to stay positive, and not be too hard on yourself.

The data you’re looking at may not show the progress you would have wanted, but it’s necessary to factor in the difficulties and adjustments you have had to make. To have survived a period of such great financial uncertainty is an achievement in itself…

Working with data can seem daunting for some business leaders who feel inclined to delegate these tasks to their financial department. This may appear sensible but can lead to a lack of proper understanding across the company. Knowing the numbers, and why they’re relevant is important for everyone, so a collective direction and motivation can be achieved…

Riverford Organic Farmers deliver seasonal recipe boxes to the door. As a company, Riverford demonstrate the importance of nurturing supplier relationships that are mutually beneficial.

Founder Guy Singh-Watson prides himself on building long-term partnerships with his suppliers. In an industry where harvests are weather dependent, and therefore volatile, having shared trust between buyer and seller is vital for productive business…

Working with people who align with your values is essential to running a successful business. Leaders should always keep their future vision in mind and cooperating with stakeholders that match their company culture is part of this...