Communications is not just top down

It is funny how people view communications.
The challenge when helping business owners is that they often start from the point where they believe they are right.
The effectiveness of good communication is not seen as a project in itself but as part of a belief that if I say it then it must be done.
We used to read and learn about the effectiveness of the silo hierarchy or network organisations , where style of communications was key to effectiveness.
I asked an owner the other day to stop everything he was doing, gather the troops, and explain why team work to achieve common goals was essential to help achieve business goals.
The reason I suggested this was that he was advising me that until their roles were totally defined to the point of chronic detail that they could not possibly understand how to communicate to each other.
"How could I know as I was not always here..."he cried.
"Doesn't matter" said I , "I can see what is happening by the results". Events occur , it is true, because roles are ill defined but we have met often as a team recently to expect , of each team member, that they can converse with each other , to solve business issues without necessarily reverting to higher authority.
"They are not trained to do that , they have only ever worked here ....!!!!! "
"Stop putting obstacles in the way I said", "and I am speaking about you".
 Communications will never be totally perfect but communications is not just about you to them but between team members
The other point is you do not have all the answers to the problems that others create, the problems are past the point of no return by the time you hear about them, and all of this happens,in the main, in front of customers.

Thankfully he asked for more help !!!

Anyone can do it

I was reading an article on linkedin about being oneself in business.The theme was that despite the formulaic sales techniques that are taught to sales personnel , the real risk is that they subvert their natural behaviour and undermine their sales skills as a consequence.

It got me thinking. Slightly off piste, if we apply a similar theme, to the fear that some business owners and managers have about running businesses, we can reach a similar conclusion.

Keep it simple I often tell clients , stop over complicating things , but more importantly see the facts and use your own skills and experience and you will make the right decisions.

"Why pay you then," I was asked the other day. I replied , I can teach you but when you practice you have got to combine your new found knowledge with your natural ability , but trust yourself to be able to succeed.

The main manifestation of this is dealings with people. Customers, bank-managers, employees suppliers.Think about what both sides will get out of your interaction , decide the best way of reaching your goals but do it your way and thus convince your business partners that you are sincere and professional.

Self belief can be a cancer or a cure but parrot fashion theoretical management techniques can destroy confidence and be self defeating.

Help is at hand but have faith in yourself !!!!!

What is an Interim Manager

Working for the self styled owner of a business brings its own rewards and frustrations but what did I expect ?

Some days I am expected to be everything he does not want to be on the day , but  usually when there is a problem, self inflicted or unforseen.

The key is that when I was running businesses for the Corporate Pound, I was the main decision maker but with help from all of my employees we usually made the right decisions, at least most of the time.

Also we had a clear strategy which was born out of a desire to give the customer the ultimate service and of course the shareholder the best available Profit performance.

Humility is key in this situation as the present owner is unaware about the processes of business management , but how much commitment , I ask myself, does he have to change and remember all that key learnings from our journey thus far.

This , I am sure is typical of the SME business owner dare I say, but my main mission is to help him understand the concept of "making haste slowly".

Nothing changes till it changes and things do not happen by divine intervention whichever god is preferred, so road-maps and commitment to improve things underlines my solution.

Oh and reserves of patience that I did not even know I had.

Welcome to my world !!!

Knowledge Counts

I was watching the Jose Mourinho documentary last night and was struck by the courage of the man in pursuing his passion to be a football manager.
His  management pedigree was not fashioned out of a brilliant playing career but in fact a desire to study and learn the game he loved.
It is inevitable, in hindsight, that his personality assisted him to reach expert status , but as someone said to me years ago in a business context, drive plus detail equals success.
I was pleased to hear the contributors to the Mourinho story express both surprise and admiration for the journey and , without question his success.
As a consultant, so called , to the SME community in East Anglia , I find it difficult on occasion to convince some life style business owners that vision and the grind of developing a business go hand in glove.
The other thing , as naturally with a huge degree of humility, I remind them that I started business life with jet black hair , but I was determined to be a General Manager , in other words a student and practitioner of a whole business , and all that entails.
My wife was speaking to a former employee of mine the other day and he said to her , the difference between the current management and when your husband Hugh was running the business is that " he cared" for the  people in the business.
I believe, despite his apparent tough management style, Jose also demonstrated a connection with the people he managed.
I loved football also.....perhaps I should have done my coaching badges !!!!