Colin Spiller

Great to meet Edward Ephraim at today's Gatwick Diamond Business meeting, and his great question: "What's the main theme that you see in your business coaching work?". Hmm. Interesting. There's no one theme, but three do come up again and again more often than the rest. Number One: when I'm working with teams - management teams or operational teams or across the threshold where the two meet - it's communication. Almost never about the *content* of communication, almost always about communication *style*. I regularly see people with great skills, shared beliefs and values and (at least to start with) great respect for each other experiencing breakdown in professional and personal relationships because they have different communication styles. Catch it early and it's just a healthy rupture-and-repair cycle, and the repair process makes the relationship stronger than ever. Catch it too late and the damage can be too deeply entrenched and sometimes the best you can hope for is more-or-less benign toleration. And if neither party is willing to experiment with adapting their communication style (because, obvs, it's the other guy needs to do that) then all hell can break loose and it's a parting of the ways (Surely this never happens in personal relationships too 🤔 🙄 ? Discuss). Number Two: when I'm working with solo business owners, the most common theme is getting stuff done. Not the client stuff - that's always the top priority - or the easy-and-fun, illusion-of-progress stuff, it's the stuff that will *genuinely* grow the business and make next year better than this year. Michael Gerber coined that phrase more than three decades ago and it's a real issue, especially for solo business owners: most know it's a thing but few consistently do it! Which is why so many are in the feast-and-famine cycle. Number Three: Whoever I'm working with there is almost universally a challenge around clarity. Clarity of options. Clarity of priorities. Clarity of symptoms. Clarity of diagnosis. Clarity of outcome. Clarity of action. Clarity of resources. Clarity of measurement. The list goes on. Which means, I guess, that the first challenge is to get clear about where the clarity is lacking! Your thoughts? Thanks to Gatwick Diamond Business for a great meeting as ever and especially to Dee Mathieson for her inspirational words. Lovely to chat with Charlie Lloyd - CIPD, Sally Brown, Mark Vaesen, Shaun Amedee, Arabella Alexander DipPFS, Amanda Lusted about her wonderful charity Ten Tiny Toes (check them out), Louella Flooks, Mike Bosnovic. And always so heart-breaking and heart-warming to be reminded by Ian Wilkins about the impact Crawley Open House has on real lives in our local community. I frequently walk into these big meetings feeling 'oh no, here we go again' when I see a crowd of anonymous backs, but I almost always come away feeling inspired, entertained and educated. Note to self, though: take more selfies to make posts more interesting 🤦‍♂️ ! xx

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Being able to construct a coherent story will help you write a better board report. Why is this important? Well, if you want to convince people to back your plans, you need to blend data and stories in a compelling and concise manner. The latest episode of the SME Growth Podcast gives an overview of our thoughts on how to write a board report. Kudos to 📸 Pete Johnson 📸 for making the most intense trailer for what some may consider a rather mundane topic!

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WORKSHOP 3PM UK (10AM EasternUS) on Thursday 25 July: Please join to hear about 4 pillars to profitable practice growth📈 without it taking over your life🛌. Specifically you will learn: + A strategic approach to profitable practice growth + The strategies you need to bring in work of the right kind + How to engage your team to free you up for strategy + How to care for yourself and manage time pressure Please DM me here if interested in attending. #LawFirmLeadership #ProfitableGrowthLawFirms

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Why Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) Are An Essential Option For SMEs Looking for the ideal exit? See how Employee Ownership compares with other succession options and learn whether this may be an option worth considering for your own exit. This is a perfect introduction to the pros and cons of EOT. #employeeownership #EOT #exit #succession #BoardroomAdvisors

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Representing the Blue Gnu Consulting Ltd tribe today with an amazing client. Bet you can’t guess where I am? 😀 I was introduced to the following quote from George Bernard Shaw during the session (thanks John Dickinson-Lilley). “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” So often we might assume that we’ve been heard and understood by those we are communicating with, when in truth, we might have left people confused, lacking detail or with no clear expectations. Explicitness is a key component in your leadership and communication style. Always be explicit about what you want your people to do and how they should go about doing it. Here’s a few things to consider. 💡Provide space and time for clarification. 💡Ask questions to check understanding. 💡If you are delegating, how much control are you comfortable giving and how much is the recipient comfortable in having? 💡Define any parameters that need to be in place. 💡Don’t empower and give freedom, then micromanage. Just because it makes sense in your head, don’t assume that it will make sense to everyone else. What would you add to the list.

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The latest TAB Blog I’m sharing is on delegation. Gallup research amongst CEOs of large corporates found a correlation between being an effective delegator and producing better growth for the business (link in the blog). Whilst running an SME business is a somewhat different role, the benefits of delegation are numerous, including time saving, better wellbeing for those delegating (not just owners), team development and retention, and often a better quality of service or product.  I find these benefits are often transparent to owners, but it can be difficult to achieve. The blog offers a few thoughts on how to delegate successfully. And sometimes you’ve just got to press the button, let go, and make it happen. That’s just what one of my TAB Exeter members did at a board recently: committing to several actions to delegate certain tasks - and doing so within 24 hours! That little bit of peer accountability is often an effective kick-starter. https://lnkd.in/e8VGyARr #delegation #lettinggo #exeterbusiness #devonbusiness #tabboards --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I’m Rick and I help local business owners feel (even) happier about running their businesses. I do this by helping them identify and achieve whatever it is that will make this happen. It might be profitable growth, but it’s nearly always other things too. And then the monthly business owner boards I run help by providing meaningful support, fresh ideas and accountability and the private 1-2-1s with me assist with clarity, planning, and experienced help from someone who knows what it is like to run a medium-sized business. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Economic uncertainty slows down business activity. No surprise there. What are the consequences and how should businesses respond. Great to contribute to this TechRound discussion alongside experts Eleanor Lightbody of Luminance, Jane Barrett MCMI ChMC at Cadence Innova, Grant Thomas of CreateFuture, Peter Wood of Spectrum Search, Phil Alves at DevSquad, and Sara Brigden of ForrestBrown Limited. My counsel... In uncertain times, if spending does not directly support economic reality — maintaining market share or survival — it won’t get signed off. Investments like training, promotions and new hires go on freeze. As employees, we have trouble accepting the change and like to think our leaders will shelter us. Leaders too get stuck in denial and their response to uncertainty — their leadership — often lags behind. Feeling they don’t have any definite plans to share, they avoid conversations that their people are expecting. No-one wants to deliver bad news but the trouble is people fill in the silence with their fears. Leaders lose control of the messaging amid rumours and distractions, which are a real risk to a company’s revenue, innovations and market share because people lose concentration, point blame, get frustrated with a lack of transparency, and then leave. The only way to mitigate these risks is to get really close to your people and hold conversations where people’s fears are not discounted as “unhelpful”. Where people trust their leaders, they are more generous with their best ideas for how to stay focused, adapt and respond to uncertainty together. If you don’t, you won’t see the risks until it’s too late. COACH/LEAD™

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Systems for Success Set up systems and processes that support your business growth while ensuring efficiency and scalability. Weeks nine and ten of my 12-week Bespoke 'All-In' Business Coaching Framework. https://buff.ly/3UhJEFb #JenShea #JenSheaBusinessCoach #BusinessCoachForWomen #BusinessCoachAndMentor #WomenOwnedBusinesses #BusinessCoaching #BusinessMentor #WomanOwnedBusiness #BusinessStrategy #BusinessStrategist #BusinessDevelopment #12WeekBusinessCoachingFramework

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In my recently published article in BRAINZ MAGAZINE, I look at how clients’ results and success stories have led to inspirational client testimonials and qualified word of mouth referrals; which not only underpin the acquisition of new clients in my Life and Success Coaching business, but even more importantly, provide assurance to others who are ready to take the leap into self-empowerment and professional growth. https://lnkd.in/eUCsAMGF Gillian Skeer - EXECUTIVE CONTRIBUTOR BRAINZ MAGAZINE [email protected] +61 417908925 https://lnkd.in/eUCsAMGF @everyone

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How does joining a Peer Advisory Board benefit business owners?   Here’s what members of The Alternative Board in Cambridge have to say… “Joining a TAB board starts as an antidote for imposter syndrome and ends up providing accountability for how you are running your business. The act of stepping back each month to gain a new perspective, helped by the fresh insights and advice of fellow business owners, is a helpful practice that makes you intentional rather than reactive in your work.” Alan Mitchell, Founder & Director of Fluent - a TAB member since October 2023.  ….. “Running a company of any size can often feel isolating, and finding impartial, directional advice can be challenging. The TAB peer board I’m part of has truly transformed this experience. The opportunity to discuss my challenges with a diverse group of business leaders has consistently provided fresh perspectives and alternative solutions. I wouldn’t have made the beneficial decisions I have without the support and innovative thinking from this group. It’s also reassuring to know that, regardless of our business types, we all face similar issues, and the mutual support we share is incredibly positive.” Sebastian Stanley, Co-owner & Managing Director of Complete Fabrication - a TAB member since August 2023. ….. If you'd like to explore the power of peer support with TAB, let's grab a coffee and have chat. [[email protected]]

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We’re asking entrepreneurs to sign a letter to the Chancellor following reports that she is considering hiking Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and further restricting Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) in the forthcoming Budget. If you are a founder, you can read and sign the letter in the comments. Whoever you are, please share it far and wide: email, WhatsApp or Slack groups, social media, carrier pigeon etc. The more, the mightier. In essence, it argues that restricting BADR or hiking CGT rates would jeopardise the success of Britain’s startup ecosystem by enormously weakening the incentive individuals have to start and build businesses. It would also reduce the incentive for startups to offer employee stock options or shares, making it even harder for startups to attract the talent they need to scale. Any revenue it might raise in the short term would be more than offset by the damage it does to long-run productivity by stifling the growth of future startups.

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SMEs and scale-ups can afford the very best Executive Directors on a budget - see how The very best executives don't come cheap. They're often out of reach of smaller businesses with more limited budgets. That is, if those businesses want to hire them full-time. Taking on executive directors on a part-time or interim basis is a far more viable option. It allows SMEs to enjoy the knowhow and abilities of the very best executive directors. All on a budget. See how it works. #director #executivedirector #scaleup #BoardroomAdvisors

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In this week's edition of Dynamic Business—Let's Talk, I provide practical advice to help organisations weather uncertain times. Safeguarding your business and people starts with building organisational resilience. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, resilience is among the most vital skills for the future of work. Resilience is more than just bouncing back; it's about thriving under pressure, maintaining optimism during turbulence, and navigating change with agility. It buffers us during stressful periods, helping us sustain high performance. The good news? Resilience can be built over time. Resilience starts with compassionate leadership, a culture of trust, and prioritising mental and physical wellbeing. Investing in resilience isn't just a feel-good strategy—it's an essential tool to navigate uncertainty with confidence and agility, laying the foundation for a sustainable, high-performing organisation. PR: ThatCommsCo Keep well. #OrganisationalResilience #Leadership #SMEs #FutureOfWork #MentalWellbeing #PhysicalWellbeing #Agility #Sustainability

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How long is that piece of proverbial string? 🤔 Fortunately, I have this handy guide that'll tell you all the things an OBM could help you with! Download yours here: https://lnkd.in/ewSX7cY8 Already know what you need? Even better! Let's have a chat and kickstart that project: https://lnkd.in/ewgyJqHu #Strive4 #OBM #OnlineBusinessManager

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If you would like to know more about the CSR Accreditation then drop me a DM and I would be happy to arrange a quick call to tell you more. #csr #accreditatio #sustaonability

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I bet you that the SME sector is forgotten about in the upcoming round of budgets - State and Federal. For the SME sector it is: - Less regulation (too many to list) - More flexibility around staff (the opposite is happening) - Encourage smaller builds on infrastructure, not just the big stuff where only 5 players can tender. Break big builds down to smaller builds. - Planning and building approvals to be taken away from LGAs - Additional tech credit to come off each quarter BAS on money spent on rolling out AI tech - Tax deductible amounts for capital purchases to be lifted - Big business MUST pay any SME business that they are doing business with under 30 days And finally - every SME to call Joe Wojcik and Nigel Walton - 😜. We have launched the Philotimo Global Community, a new level of support for small business. Some other points from the article: - Make sure your product/ market fit is solid - Invest in your own training and development - Have a circle of trusted advisors - Know your numbers, and not just the financial ones - Cement yourself in with numerous people at your clients - not just one key contact (if they leave, what then!) - Don't let your ego get in the way of having downsells - Stay strong SME sector, and shout from the rooftop! #33to1 #smeaustralia #smallbusiness #philotimo #trustedadvisors #networking #community https://lnkd.in/gfY_HGnc

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This is linked with your chronotype (find out yours here:https://lnkd.in/ewmtmZff)) in that there will be times of the day when you’re better at deciding on the tasks required and times when you need that prescriptive approach and you can get on with things. My planning time is in the slightly later morning; I’ll plan the day ahead, as well as a weekly and monthly plan as needed. I do also put together a shorter list of urgent things later in the day, and this is something that I can pick up first thing the next day. I’d love to hear about your ways of dealing with decisions, so do drop a comment here 👇🏻 #Decisions #Productivity #Strive4Success #Chronotype

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