… from our blogs on LinkedIn
01 May 2024
AM is time to work and PM is when we think and review.
Questions to small business Founders and Leaders.
Many businesses claim perfect customer ratings. . . Is That Enough?
Have you optimised your processes? and your people . . .
How are your front line specialists actually doing?
Do your marketing strategies resonate with your audience
. . .
Are your pitching to your actual target audience or?
Are you in tune with your customers’ views . . .
Is 10/10 the only result you want or need?
Are you achieving sustainable growth . . .
Or are you caught in a feel good rinse-and-repeat cycle?
As a founder or founding director, these things may mean more to you than others in your firm,
or it should. If they do matter what interventions would you look for ?
To find out more contact us >>
08 May 2024
‘I have to be strong- the buck stops with me’ | ‘It’s lonely at the top
Both are real emotions small business leaders face; it is not something that only senior leaders in large corporates feel.
So, who has been listening to your business and personal challenges as small business founder or leader ? Sometimes I hear : “all good, the usual minor issues; nothing a good coffee can’t fix; besides I have client meetings lined up all day, and I also chat with industry professionals all the time.”
Maybe you have most things under control and don’t need a mentor or a business therapist. How about someone who is neither?
You don’t have to ‘need help’ to do better. Even the best athletes have coaches, not because they are not great, but because they may not always realise that they can do better, not only as an athlete, but possibly in life in general. Even the best can improve on a PB.
I was asking some questions to a client a few months ago, based on which they were able to then run ‘what if’ scenarios freely with me, as I was not involved with their business’s operations, or even working in that industry. After a few months they made a big decision that improved the business quite a bit. It wasn’t earth shaking, but definitely a transformation*. It happened after catching up for a cuppa and a chat every month leading up to that decision. The chats were structured and regular, not a casual chat with a mate. Everyone needs personal support whatever name you might want to give it. That client and I still catch up every few months for a coffee and a review.
Personally, I learn a lot from my clients on how to better support small business leaders, in fact almost every meeting with a client is a wonderful learning experience, as I gather insights and learnings that I can add to my tool kit, to then support my clients better.
We support you to make decisions and changes to help you to not just stay afloat but to thrive. The initial chat costs you a coffee, or a sandwich if it’s lunchtime.
* So, what was the transformation you ask ? … the answer will cost you a cuppa 🙂
15 May 2024
There are many business advisers and coaches, what’s different about you?
That’s a great question !
What many of my clients and I have observed is that there are many ‘players’ in this space, however most of them have ‘programs’ for small, medium, and sometimes large organisations. So, they cater for a very broad target audience, and there are set processes and solutions.
– We only cater to the needs of founders and small teams and we do not give you set answers.
As part of their offering, they may have a few business owners in group sessions, where you learn from each other’s experiences; or perhaps they can provide suggestions with their immense collective experience. Sometimes, being part of a global group of franchises, they are able to share examples from other countries as well. Positives.
– I am not discrediting what they do.
I have heard these players say words to the effect “most business challenges are not unique” and “we have case studies that will suit every new customer that we see”
– Some may call this cookie cutter solution selling ?
Their charges may be justifiable (to them), because there are fees to the franchisor, their own wages, and many other overheads, which for a small business client can sometimes stress a possibly already tight cashflow situation. So the time they allocate and the fees they charge may not suit smaller businesses and not for profits.
My clients so far have been personal contacts or friends of close contacts, and I have been open and patient with them; and treated them like family. I listen carefully to each client’s unique story and situation. This also comes from my having been a financial adviser where it was drilled into us to ‘listen 80% of the time and listen well, then ask more questions in your 20% of the time”. I have deep conversations with my clients, and sometimes after a few meetings both the client and I are shocked (in a good way) as to what we were able to achieve together. It is never a “this is where you need to get to, so these are the steps you need to take”. Everything is contingent on a lot of unique factors of the people and their business’s differentiating factors. It is an unhurried process in this instant solution era.
Even a so-called vanilla business will have their own X factor.
What about financials and checking if we are viable or heading towards disaster?
Once we get a clear picture of what the thinking is and depending on the level of change required, and a process is drawn up with timelines etc., we get assistance from the client firm’s (or other) accountants and solicitors etc. as required to implement those changes.
Drawing on my MBA in strategy and change management, and my experience in providing business and personal advice over the years, I am here to make a genuine difference to your ‘small team’ or ‘not for profit organisation’.
Do your own research and if you are interested, but confused as to where to start, we can meet for an initial chat.
Email us
Peter Mohan
Pingback: Outside your comfort zone / outside the box? - PMreview