Your current offering represents your ‘buy-in’ to the market and in much the same way as poker, if this is insufficient, the player (you) cannot compete. This ‘table stake’ could be a price point, or specific feature your offering has, that makes it an option to a potential customer.

Letting your organisation slip into inertia is easier than you think. Allowing this situation to occur does not mean the leader(s) at the top are negligent. They’re probably so busy dealing with operational challenges that those aspects that require improvement are pushed to the back of their minds. Don’t get stuck in this loop.

As time has gone by, the role of company leader has changed. Treating your employees and colleagues with respect is more likely to obtain better results. Whilst it is important the relationships with your staff remain professional, modern leaders are expected to have greater emotional intelligence and demonstrate this in the way they interact with others.

Different structures work for different organisations. This sounds like a truism, but it’s important to remember that there isn’t a prescribed formula for an efficient organisational structure. Company size, industry and maturity will each affect the method of internal collaboration between employees and departments. Therefore, what follows are some suggestions of good practices, which I’ve found are beneficial to developing companies…

A paradox is the presence of two seemingly contradictory qualities within a single entity. Running a business will present leaders with a number of paradoxes they must balance, where making right or wrong decisions is far from black and white. In this article I will be covering one of the most pressing and relevant paradoxes that modern companies face…

Whist external factors and restrictions definitely play their part in affecting our moods, reaching a goal is largely related to belief in one’s ability. Having the right mindset is all about your personal confidence, your perception and your ideas for the future. You must believe you can lead at the next level to make this a reality...

With the increasing influence of technology, opportunities to communicate with potential stakeholders are abundant. However, amongst a variety of competition, their attention is more difficult to captivate than ever. It is vital that your brand resonates with your clients and potential clients, because having the best offering is not enough, if you don’t have the reputation to back this up.

If you can align every aspect of your business, so you advancing in one unified direction, this massively increases the chances of sustaining your company’s success, whilst making your job and roles of your colleagues more fulfilling too.

As collecting data becomes easier and more widespread, with the introduction of new software, it can be understandably difficult to keep on top of. The key to utilising your data is identifying what key performance indicators are most relevant and communicating them clearly to the right people.

One of the most difficult aspects of being a leader is concluding relationships that do not profit your organisation. However, this is necessary if you want your business to progress in line with its potential.

Short sightedness, or giving insufficient attention to the future, can develop easily. Working within our comfort zones can become increasingly tempting as a company grows, where decision-making can seem less vital. This can result in leaders disregarding innovation, believing their existing approach to be successful and therefore, being no need for adjustment.

For company leaders particularly, a week in the office can seem like being pulled in a hundred different directions as they tick off, firefight, or deal with a great variety of tasks. Whilst nobody could accuse these leaders of a lack of diligence, does having a lack of coherent focus mean their business is running below potential?

Frustration occurs when reality falls short of an expected outcome. Leaders will be familiar with this feeling, as running a functioning company isn’t easy, even for the most experienced businesspeople. Therefore, if we accept that discontent will be present at some point or another, then it’s how we should approach these situations that is worth considering.

Storytelling has been a valued art since the beginning of human civilisation. Those who could most effectively communicate gained authority and prestige. The fact that Homer’s Odyssey is still studied on syllabuses today is testament to the value our society puts in telling a good tale. Beyond fiction however, creating an engaging narrative is also a vital tool in inspiring others and recruiting them to your cause.

Ensuring your people, processes and systems are running to the best of their ability, sounds like the logical thing all businesses should doing, but it is surprising how easily this gets forgotten. Amongst the natural evolution organisations undergo as they scale, maximising efficiency can get lost, as new initiatives take up the finite resources and energy available.

Whilst I want my clients to aim high and realise their ambitions, these things are not attainable without work. Each transformation requires thorough preparation not only to attain the desired outcome, but more importantly to guarantee it’s a success. Planning ahead and ensuring the relevant parts of your business are ready for a new initiative is vital, otherwise this progress in unsustainable.

With so many options, the modern consumer is fickle. Each time they purchase, they must weigh up whether they want to buy the cheap or quality option. Effective marketing will help, but its influence is only temporary. To maintain your reputation, it is important to provide a consistent and positive offering to your clients.

As the leader of a company, you are expected to define and exhibit the attributes you would like to see amongst your colleagues and employees.

Creating a healthy culture in your organisation is an enormous step towards sustaining success. If people are ambitious to meet, or exceed, their targets, feel valued for doing so and are part of a cohesive and caring team, then your company performance will demonstrate this.

Each piece of data tells its own story, which might only be relevant to a certain people within your organisation. The challenge is presenting this information as coherently and concisely as possible, so the right people can make the right decisions from it.

The effect your organisation has on its employees, clients and the wider community is important. As well as the positive reputation you will gain, which will in turn stimulate your income, pleasing your people, finding a solution to their problems and offering a valuable service to your local area is fulfilling.