I don’t think it can. Not sustainably. I’ve been pondering this question while sitting on a plane flying back from a break in New York. I find that having a break not only helps me to find my end of year mojo, but it also clears my mind enough that these questions come bubbling up. It’s a moot point for me as I’m a list and table gal. Even my travel plans are tabled. I am very organised and systemised in all parts of life, and certainly in our business [Read More…]
Here we are looking at the end of yet another year. I’m not sure where 2017 went, it flew by so fast. Still, it’s not over yet, November has settled in and with a little over a month before the end of year wind down, there is much to be done. The workload can be overwhelming if we let it get to us. This time last year I took my first ever solo trip away. As a wife, mother of six and a business owner, for many years it was not something that had ever entered the equation. [Read More…]
While there is a big difference between the two, they are often used interchangeably. We all have our own responses to deadlines. Even within our office, the answers varied considerably, ranging from ‘oh, I love deadlines, it’s when I get my best work done’ to ‘I hate them! I can’t think under that sort of pressure.’ There are clearly two sides to the deadline story as some see them as a very good thing, while others see them as a stressful situation. So how do you feel about working under a tight schedule? [Read More…]
We hear so much about how important it is to ‘keep the big picture in mind’. I agree, it is important, but so is having a good eye for the details. When you’re running a business those finer details are what keeps your business ticking over. Being able to focus on them is vital to the very survival of your business. Having the ability to think both big and small will not only benefit the running of your business, it will also help you to deal with others and help them to adapt their thinking when it’s necessary. [Read More…]
If you’re running a business, you have to make decisions, each and every day. Lots of them. Those decisions can range from minor choices to select an option that will have life altering consequences. So how well do you make decisions? Is it a problem for you or do you weigh up the options available and immediately take action? Many of us struggle with making decisions, some days worse than others. When it’s a real problem, it is technically known as Decidophobia; the inability to make a decision. [Read More…]
Ultimately, leadership is a human experience. It is all about the people we communicate with and how both we, and they, benefit from the experience. As leaders, it is our responsibility to make the experience one of collaboration, empowerment and positive growth. How do we do that? By practicing reflective leadership. Being present in the moment as we engage with others. We become fully aware of our own behaviour and we focus on reflective thinking. [Read More…]
Running a business can be challenging, at the best of times. We have to deal with many people and situations. Issues with buyers, suppliers, employees, finances, marketing and business strategy to name just a few. Many of these challenges can be overwhelming, particularly when they occur at the same time. How quickly and successfully you can make decisions will influence the impact both short and long term. To be able to make decisions with confidence and clarity has many ongoing benefits. Not least of all in building your leadership skills. [Read More…]
Which line is that I hear you ask? It’s the line of choice. Picture it as a horizontal line that separates the positive from the negative, success from failure. In everything we do, particularly in business, we make a choice. Even when external influences seem to be at play, we can still choose just how we respond to the situation. We may not have control over the entire situation, but we always have control over our reaction. That choice usually sends us either above or below the line. [Read More…]
Anyone who has built a business or an organisation knows just how gruelling it can be. Dealing with obstacles and hurdles that are thrown our way can be a challenge, and sometimes those challenges come so quickly, one after another, it can be overwhelming. Building anything to a level of success can take a great deal of intestinal fortitude, it is not easy, but we do it. We face those challenges head on, with planning, strategy, determination and grit, we hold on. At all costs, we hold on. [Read More…]
Over the past six years since I’ve been running our business, time out has been elusive to say the least. We have taken vacations but we also lugged laptops, iPhones and checked hotels for reliable Wi-Fi before making a booking. In hindsight, I can see that we changed the location of our office for a little while, but we didn’t really take a holiday. We never completely switched off. A tour of the Louvre was followed by email checks and responses. [Read More…]