5000 plus views and growing

I’m just delighted to report that we have hit our first milestone with more than 5000  leaders around the world having read this blog.
It’s taken about 20 months…and has vindicated our research and beliefs that we’re adding value…so thank you very much…and please keep reading and emailing.
We’re not a big player…but we’re in the very [...]

What happens next at the top of your game?

You’re  at the top of your business game. Market shares are significant across the prime segments  and defence mechanisms are working well.
EBIT is growing nicely ( thanks to  rising prices and tight cost control ). Competitors don’t seem to be developing value propositions as fast as you are. Staff capability is good and your loyalty [...]

We’re going green…but do the colour differences matter?

Corporates are  rapidly embracing the csr, marketing and pr benefits of greening up their businesses.
But authoritative  green commentators and the media are calling for some standardisation in the carbon debate.
Is it possible that benchmarks for industry sectors could be useful…or is it a pipedream…given the diversity of operations.
One might argue that any incremental gain in [...]

You won’t know…unless you ask

I’m constantly inundated by sales representatives flogging their wares…but at least they ring.
Anybody who sends me unsolicited blurb suffers the permanent penalty…in the trashcan!
It’s tragic that they hustle me…without asking me what I do…and what I need.
Simple questions huh! And very powerful.
I always reckon that it’s best to ring a contact that’s potentially warm…cold calls [...]

Market assessment…the vibe is…plenty are doing it

Organisations seems to be re-assessing their markets more often nowdays. I suspect that’s a function of executive churn being fueled by shorter leadership stays at the top.
If your competitors are changing their captains and line leaders, you can bet reasonably safely that they’re also undertaking market reviews…which may mean they are better placed to interpret [...]

Who should drive new product development?

In my view, the CEO should have a key driving role in new product development processes.
If customers are a business’s lifeline, then new product development is the store of lifejackets.
New product development is too important to be left to the marketers to enact. They can do the analyses…but the process management needs to be monitored [...]

The rockface always exposes invaluable gems

Leaders have a responsibility to work at the rockface from time to time…particularly at times when things are changing….or haven’t changed for a while.
And the added-value from investing some time alongside the troops in front of customers …as well as being a prisoner to your own processes…means you can experience the first-hand feedback [...]