Sometimes it pays to play a part

When we go into the workplace all of us assume a professional persona and we play out clearly defined roles, whether we realise what we are doing or not.

 

This does not mean that people are being false by pretending that they are a different person to the one that the really are, but the reality is we act in a very different way in the work environment than we would do with our friends and family.

 

There is a set of rules and etiquette in the workplace and we all have to conform to those rules otherwise businesses would quickly descend into chaotic places where those with the loudest voices would be the only ones to get their voices heard.

 

However, as the leader of a company you often called on to play out many different roles which are shaped and defined by the working day and who you are dealing with at any given time.

 

Obviously, a chief executive has to take on the role of leader, but he or she will also have to behave differently when dealing with the senior management team. And a different set of personal and communication skills is needed when a chief executive or managing director is involved in negotiations with people from outside the business.

 

It is a natural instinct to look for leaders and decision makers, most of us feel comfortable when we know we are part of a group working towards a common goal.

 

But being a manager can be a difficult role to carry off successfully. Staff will want strong leadership but by the same token they do no want to feel like they are being coerced or forced into carrying out their tasks against their will.

 

Getting the balance right between being approachable and keeping a professional distance can be a very difficult trick to pull off. Too many managers go down the route of trying to be one of the boys but that approach is always destined to end in failure as sooner or later business leaders will have to take a decision that is not going to be popular with everyone.

 

During stressful and difficult times it is a chief executive’s role to inspire confidence. No one is going to put their trust in someone who cannot cope in crisis and gives of an air of panic and stress.

 

In contrast, dealing with your senior managers demands a detailed understanding of the people involved and what makes them tick. Most senior people are going to be strong characters so you also have to be able to impose your will and drive discussions without being dogmatic or dictatorial.

 

And when it comes to negotiations with others outside of the business a completely different set of rules come into play. Everyone goes into negotiations with a target in mind and there is a real art to standing your ground while remaining polite and business like at the same time.

 

As a decision maker understanding these different roles and being aware of how people view you is vitally important. Once you have grasped what is expected from you as a business leader it becomes much easier to act in the way the situation demands.

 

 

How much do you really want to see change?

In a work setting if you ask most people whether they like change or not then the answer they are likely to give would most probably be yes. It is one of those questions people assume they know the answer to and, as a result, they tend to give the reply that they think is expected of them.

 

However, the reality is that human beings are programmed to be creatures of habit and deep down most of us don’t like and even fear the prospect of any kind of change. When routine is upset or altered then instinct tells people to go on the defence or even become obstructive.

 

When staff tell you that they love change what they really want to say to you is that they love change as long as it is happening to someone else and they would much prefer it if the changes that are being proposed do not affect them in any way.

 

If you examine the way we all behave on a daily basis we like to follow the same regular routines and patterns. That routine might be the route we take into work each morning, where we go for our sandwiches at lunchtime and the way we go about arranging our working day.

 

The reality is that everyday routines make us feel comfortable and safe, things and events that are out of the ordinary and unexpected have the opposite affect and tend to make us feel uncomfortable and ill at ease.

 

But I actually believe that change is something that we should all embrace because it can help us to develop as people and professionals and it can also provide that creative spark which sets the really successful businesses and outstanding operations apart from the rest of the pack.

 

Thinking differently and taking a creative approach to a product or business proposition is even more vital at a time when companies are struggling to differentiate themselves in a very tough and competitive market place.

 

In fact in my experience change can be a dramatic and useful catalyst which can help to engage people and make them focus more fully on new and imaginative ways of thinking and approaching the tasks they are given in the course of their work.

 

The key for business leaders, particularly when is comes to very traditional firms is how to implement change without overly affecting the business and upsetting morale in the workplace.

 

There are subtle changes that can be introduced into the workplace such as tweaks to the daily routine or workplace practices. It is a common mistake made in most workplaces to assume that just because you have done something the same way for years it is the best way.

 

Routine can actually make people dull and uninspired, any dynamic and fast growing business needs to have staff who are engaged, imaginative and full of enthusiasm.

 

Sometimes the best way to create that kind of sprit within the workplace is to use change as a tool to create the right dynamic and sense of creative tension.

 

Will there ever be another one quite like Sir Alex?

Love him or loathe him few of us can ever hope to match the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson – not just in the world of sport but also in the world of business management.

This is a man who has not just achieved unmatched success on the football pitch but he has also been the key behind the creation of a brand that is now one of the most powerful and profitable in the world.

Sir Alex’s success is unparalleled but one of the most impressive aspects about his journey to the pinnacle of his chosen career is his management and leadership skills.

The popular image of the man famous for his furious temper and hairdryer outbursts only covers a tiny part of a business leader who was at the very top of his game for more than two decades.

It is no secret that Sir Alex was asked to give a guest lecture at the world-famous Harvard Business School about his management strategies and techniques – and the reports on the lecture made for fascinating reading for anyone serious about become a decision maker or business leader.

Sir Alex’s skills have been well-documented, there is his enthusiasm and commitment, his appetite for hard work, his loyalty to his staff and his man-management skills in an era dominated by all-powerful footballers. Added to that there is an encyclopaedic knowledge of his chosen field and the ceaseless demand for excellence not just from himself but also from the people who worked with him.

Then there is the competitive spirit, determination and iron will that set him apart from his rivals. It is interesting to note that even his retirement from a game he has dominated for so long was done on his own terms and at the time of his choosing.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the man is the fact that he was always open to change and new methods, systems and approaches. When you have that level of success it is all too easy to become complacent and self-satisfied but that was never the Ferguson way.

Change is a great catalyst when it comes to reaching goals and targets, people who are happy to accept the status quo are never going to be market leaders or high achievers.

Sir Alex was a great innovator who was never scared to introduce new ideas and methods into his approach.  That innovative and inquisitive approach is the biggest characteristic which sets the great business leaders apart from the good ones.

There is a big difference between being assertive and aggressive

The nature of the role means that every business leader has to be assertive on a regular basis to ensure that the point they are trying to make or the decisions they are taking are understood and fully accepted by the people who work for them.

But what sets the really accomplished leaders apart from the poor ones is the ability to distinguish between being assertive and being aggressive. The fact is that in the modern workplace most people, particularly those who are good at their job, will not respond to aggressiveness.

Which means that anyone wanting to maintain their position as an assertive leader operating in the modern workplace has to deploy other skills, rather than going down the obvious, easy and blunt route of brow-beating people into getting their own way.

It may mean more work but to be assertive without resorting to being aggressive in situations such as strategy meetings and briefings you have to be able to deploy a wide set of softer skills. These skills include being intuitive, receptive to ideas, well informed and well prepared as well as having the ability to control the direction of a debate or discussion.

The first rule of taking control of any situation is proper preparation, to be able to take a grip of a subject and challenge other people you have to know what you are talking about. If you are coming from a position of ignorance then you are also coming from a position of weakness.

I would say 90 per cent of the time I go into a situation or meeting knowing the outcome I want to achieve, the key is how to achieve that objective. It is important not to be dogmatic but as a leader it is also important to be firm and resolute about the targets you want your staff to achieve.

Having said all of that there is nothing wrong with being flexible when it comes to listening to the people who work for you.

I remember an old managing director of a bank where I worked who told me ‘I am always right even when I am wrong’ but I have never subscribed to that point of view.

I actually think that as a manager if you insist you are right when everyone else knows you are obviously wrong then you actually make yourself look weak and rather foolish.

It is vital to be seen to be decisive and in control, but at the same time showing you are willing to listen to employees and take on board their views can be seen as a sign of strength.

Everyone needs to give themselves the time and space to think

The world of work and business seems to speed up and become more intense and stressful with every passing year. The rapid advances in technology, communication and travel mean that for most people, particularly in senior positions, there is often little chance to take a complete break from their career or business.

 

But I have always believed that it is essential to take time out not just to give myself a break on a personal level but also to ensure that my various business continue to prosper and grow.

 

Personal success can be measured in many ways but the fact is there is no point in working hard if you never allow yourself the chance to enjoy yourself and take full advantage of the rewards.

 

There are some business leaders who think that there is something to be admired in a work ethic that means that you are never away from the office.

 

As a leader it is all too easy to create a demanding long-hours culture which in turn can mean that people are afraid to take time away from work and spend time with the people who mean the most to them. I do believe in working hard and success has to be earned but there also has to be a decent work-life balance in place for several very good reasons.

 

I actually believe it is counter-productive to put pressure on people to such an extent that they are too nervous to take time away from the work-place.  Time away from the computer screen and the telephone is vitally important and I believe that it is even more important for business leaders and decision makers.

 

Firstly, everyone needs to have time to relax and unwind so they can de-stress. It is also really important to give yourself time to reflect and look at the company or organisation in a dispassionate stress free environment.

 

The only way you can think clearly is by clearing your mind of all the clutter that builds up during the course of a normal working week.

 

I have always said the key difference between a manager and a leader is the ability to see the bigger picture rather than getting bogged down in the day to day management of the business.

 

Real long term growth and development can only be achieved if you have a proper strategy or plan in place, it would be foolish to think that the biggest success stories in the business world have happened by chance or by accident.

 

And the only way it is possible to draw up a properly thought out strategy or business plan is to give yourself the time and space to think clearly and logically. It is impossible to clear your mind of all the clutter and think with the necessary clarity if you do not take yourself out of the firing line.

 

Clarity of thought is vital for anyone looking to create a successful and thriving business that is going to grow and prosper for many years to prosper.

Let’s get on with the business of doing business

There were plenty of headlines and discussion centred on the fact that the United Kingdom has escaped the dreaded triple dip recession.

 

And the Pound saw its value jump against the US Dollar as a result of the positive news from the Office of National Statistics that the economy here in the UK has returned back to growth.

 

The reality is that the economy grew by just 0.3 per cent over the last three months and the effect is going to have little or no impact on people’s lives and the amount of spare money they have in their pockets to go out and spend on the high street.

 

But the most important impact that the statistics and comment will have is on the general sentiment in the country and crucially amongst the business community.

 

When it comes to the economy I have always been firmly in the bull camp and these figures have simply underlined the fact that the economy really is on the upturn once again. You only have to look at America , where growth has returned, to see that the global economy is now set on a new course.

 

There is no doubt we have just suffered a seismic shock of huge proportions and the after effects will be felt for many generations to come but the time has now come to look forward rather than continually dwelling on bad news and the headlines filled with nothing but doom and gloom.

 

Hopefully, the fact that we are officially out of recession will see an end to the negativity which has started to become a really big problem for the UK .

 

The people who will lead this country out of recession and back to prosperity are not the politicians and the economic commentators – it will be the entrepreneurs and the people who own and manage businesses. They will be the ones who make a real difference to the health of the national economy.

 

Business people tend to make judgements and decisions based around hard facts and figures rather than on comment and headlines, however sentiment is really important for the general consumer.

 

The average person is not going to spend their money or invest if they are constantly reading articles and seeing news items about the dire state of the economy.

 

We should look at this at this latest news as the start of a new chapter and use it as a great opportunity to move on. The people who seem to revel in headlines about doom and gloom can no longer point to the fact that we are officially in a recession.

 

We should be looking forward to the job of rebuilding the economy rather than looking back at what went wrong with the financial sector and the banking system.

 

Rather than worrying about the impact of the recession and the financial crisis we should all be moving on, now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get on with the job of growing the economy.

 

That is even more important for business leaders as they are the key individuals who hold the future health and well-being of the economy in their hands.

Dealing with failure is one of the most important lessons in life

Sooner or later in life all of us have to face some kind of major setback or disappointment. Only a tiny handful of us will be lucky enough to negotiate a path through an entire lifetime and career without having to face up to a major personal defeat or disappointment.

There will always be that promotion that failed to materialise or major business deal that fell through and in these difficult and uncertain times the chances of a being made redundant or facing failure in the workplace are higher than ever before.

One of the curious things about human nature is that we all have a tendency to wallow in failure and defeat. It is the easier option to sit there and feel sorry for ourselves rather than to try and take some positive action to rectify the situation.

Being made redundant or being told that your performance in the workplace is not up to scratch can be a very traumatic experience and can sap self esteem and confidence.  No one likes to be criticised or told they are not good enough but feeling sorry for yourself is the easy way out and is akin to accepting defeat.

Throughout my career I have always believed that what really defines you as a person is how you react when you are in a losing position. It is easier to gauge the real character of person when they are dealing with adversity rather than operating from a position of strength.

Self esteem is a vital part of success, no matter what walk of life or profession you happen to be involved in. If you have no faith or belief in yourself then people will be able to sense that immediately and it is bound to have a big impact on your professional dealings.

Business is a very tough space to operate in and anyone with any experience will be able to spot a weakness and use it to their advantage very quickly. Sadly that is the nature of the world in which we operate.

When we are faced with a major obstacle it is all too easy to lose sight of the full picture but the reality is we are all masters of own destiny. Those who decide to feel sorry for themselves and to wallow in self-pity are actually making a conscious decision about the direction that their life is taking.

Setbacks often happen for a very good reason and are not random incidents of bad luck or misfortune. The really important thing is to study a failure careful and in depth so you can understand and analyse exactly what went wrong and why.

It is only when you fully understand and grasp failure that you are in a position to take the necessary action to make sure that misfortune does not happen again.

There is no such thing as bad luck and it is certainly true that the harder you work in life and the more effort you put in then the luckier you tend to be as a person.