This year’s plan. Try something different.

We often make big plans about things to do over the next year. Maybe we should try to do less.

Leading from Alongside

Many statements about leadership are just cliches that often lead to management dysfunction. Effective leaders have humility. They look at how they can serve their people. They know that great leaders don’t just solve problems. They grow great people and they do so by focusing on how they themselves can serve others.

The Power of Doubt

Research shows that most forecasts or predictions are wrong. That makes it hard to get your strategy exactly right. What can you do to hedge against uncertainty?

Your and your startup

A start up needs money to get traction, but is your great idea ‘investment ready’? You will be a shareholder too. Before you commit a couple of years of your life and most of your cash, check that this makes business sense. Are you ready to invest in yourself?

What’s the best opportunity?

A successful business can often end up with too much cash on the balance sheet. What should you do with it?

Dare to be ordinary

We often get stuck thinking the best product has to be the most sophisticated one. Instead, look to the ordinary strengths of you and your business. Great successes often come from simply optimising what you’ve already got.

Walking the talk

Is there an issue you have been avoiding? Try addressing it. Your leadership style will always be a work in progress. Don’t miss the chance to work on it.

Friendly fire

There are simple ways to make your ‘to do’ list more manageable. One of the best is working through it with a friend.

Three steps to avoid micromanaging

Micromanaging is the opposite of effective delegation. To achieve the latter, you need to let people get on with it. To make it work, apply some simple rules.

The Successful Exit

The best way to get the most value out of selling your business is to leave a lot of value behind.