When the COVID-19 crisis hit home, the preliminary response of CEOs and CFOs was all about survival. The liquidity crisis triggered by the sharp disruption in economic activities prompted organisations to rush towards the preservation of cash and liquidity to keep operations going. This is understandable and also the right thing to do. However, one …
The real first step in Change Management? Change the mindset
You may have read various article about change management. One of the most famous research articles is the one published by Kotter in 1995 with the title " Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail". You can read it by clicking here. However, experience has shown me, that there is an initial step which is normally forgotten …
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Servant Leadership
In many ways, there is only one question any manager need ask: How do I make my team members’ lives easier—physically, cognitively and emotionally? Research shows that a “servant leader” mentality and disposition enhances both team performance and satisfaction. This is even more important as businesses try to survive during the present crisis. Moreover, studies …
Strategic Planning for Family Businesses
Someone recently contacted me and told me to write on the importance of Strategic Planning for Family Businesses. I thank him as he inspired me to do so. Strategic planning for family-owned businesses differs from planning for other types of companies largely because the family firm must incorporate family issues into its thinking. Family concerns …
Is the CEO role redundant?
As they say, the only constant is change. This year change has been ongoing at break neck speed. The truth is, that as things are developing fast, the archetype of the omnipotent CEO — the lone commander at top of the corporate pyramid — is increasingly becoming a relic of 20th century management thinking. There …
Practical Leadership
First of all I wanted to thank all of those that contacted me to congratulate me or discuss points raised in my last Blog Post article on Family Businesses. I appreciate this feedback immensely. Today I wanted to highlight what I believe is a very topical issue - Practical Leadership. As you all know, leaders …
A Heartfelt Appeal to Family Businesses
As I said in the past, I have a big soft spot for Family Businesses. However, with the crisis brought about by the pandemic, there are various serious issues that have surfaced that where likely swept under the carpet in more buoyant times. I normally refer to these as skeletons in the cupboard. Such skeletons …
Strategies for an effective re-organisation during a Crisis
In my role as Business Consultant, I can think of a great number of companies that where or are being forced to different levels of re-organisational efforts at an accelerated pace, in response to the crisis brought about by the pandemic. When such a re-organisation is happening it is a very delicate period and all …
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How to stop Micromanaging
On the 27th August I posted an article entitled "The Micromanager". In a space of just over 1 week, it became the article mostly read from all the other articles I have ever posted on this Business Insights Blog. Many have contacted me and asked me to provide more detailed insight as to how to …
Back to School: Yes or No?
As you know, I run a Business Insights Blog and hence you might be asking, what does this topic have to do with Business? Believe me it does. What happens with our children and whether they will return to school or not, will have an impact on how thousands of workers, employees, managers and business …
A Business Blog for SMEs & Family Businesses 