Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1452687555475{margin-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9″ css=”.vc_custom_1452702342137{padding-right: 45px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”no_stripe”][stm_post_details][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1488287176041{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]How many of us know someone who has tried and tried and failed to give up smoking? What about that one person that is always on a “diet” but never actually loses any weight? It’s clear in everyday life that making […]
From Good Ideas to Great Implementation: Are you part of the 12%?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1452687555475{margin-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9″ css=”.vc_custom_1452702342137{padding-right: 45px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”no_stripe”][stm_post_details][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1488287375614{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]We are now through the full first week of resolutions and the easy bit is done, right? The things we want to change have been decided and made public via social media. How’s the reality of hitting the gym or eating […]
Playing the Field: Is Lean the answer to business improvement within remotely managed workforces? (No!)
Driving productivity within service based operations is a constant challenge for management. There is always the risk for engineers to go low visibility, be it field or site based. The challenge is to identify areas of poor performance, understand the root cause of issues impacting performance and drive these out of the operation. The question […]
HR: To Help or Hinder?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1452687555475{margin-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9″ css=”.vc_custom_1452702342137{padding-right: 45px !important;}”][stm_post_details][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1488295299850{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]The role of Human Resources (HR) typically comprises the key functions of recruitment, training, performance measures (e.g. appraisals), general workplace communications and so on. It is key for businesses to have an effective HR department to provide the organisation with structure and the ability […]
When Should You Automate Services?
There is a common drive for most businesses to automate services and reduce the cost to serve. The question these days isn’t whether it can be done, it is more about when you should consider it and for what services. This question often drives businesses towards a range of potential technology solutions in the hope […]
The Problems of Being a Nice Manager
As Consultants we often go into businesses and encounter managers who are just too “nice”. They are friends with their teams and wouldn’t say boo to a goose, so dealing with underperformance and confrontation is a total no-go. Obviously this is not good news for the business, or ultimately the employees if the business fails. […]
Management vs Leadership
It’s an age old question; what’s the difference between a manager and a leader? Can you be one without the other? Both terms are often interchanged and intertwined, however many simple definitions will show obvious differences. Management is described as completing tasks through other people (the fine art of delegation!) whereas a leader is generally […]
Mis-Managing Customer Expectations
Why is it that even when faced with the thought of having to phone a call centre, one is filled with dread and the anticipated level of frustration starts to surge upwards? In the nineties and early noughties there was a huge decline in UK based call centres, as large organisations off shored their customer […]
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?
It’s time for contract renewal, the bid documents are being published, final selection is going to be made and on May 8th there will be a new dawn with the winner (or winners) taking over for the next 5 years. One bid team will be celebrating, the others will be back to doing whatever it […]
Symptoms: Inertia, tunnel vision, inability to focus? Time to see the consultant
The use of internal performance improvement teams versus the use of external consultants is a debate that continues to divide the boardroom. Can internal performance improvement teams truly provide the change that will deliver bottom line cost savings and drive sustainable performance improvements across your operation? This blog attempts to address this question by analysing […]
