Blog
Countries in focus: The sharing culture of Norwegian businesses helps them punch above their weight
When most people think of Norway the sight of deep fjords, the Northern Lights and long summer days might come to mind. But Norwegian businesses are blazing a trail on the economic front.
Weighing up quick business wins with longer-burn strategies
It may be tempting to launch into a series of grand plans designed to catapult your company to the next level, but ignoring quick business wins could mean you struggle with momentum.
A look at the management style changes made by successful business leaders
Whether they realise it or not, leaders in everything from business to sport have a management style. What separates the best from also rans is the ability to change this style as the environment around them evolves.
If you don’t think your business needs to improve you’re kidding yourself
Believing that a business, and the management team at the helm, should never stop trying to improve, Geometric Manufacturing managing director Paul Wenham explains why it can be such an effective outlook.
The honest leaders not afraid to admit they don’t know it all
While it may be tempting to lead from the front on all matters, honest leaders are those who recognise employees are often better at their role than they are – as two SME owners explained.
Management behaviour: Work amongst staff or hide away?
As one of the most visible manifestations of management behaviour, the location a leader chooses to place themselves within an office environment can have a big impact on politics and productivity.
Productive meetings – Ditch mobiles and risk being kicked out
They’re critical for communication and collaboration, but what is the secret to productive meetings? Be the Business showcases eight innovative and original approaches to driving efficiencies.
A look at why productivity really matters for UK businesses
While many in the small and medium-sized business (SME) community might associate productivity with manufacturing and "output per hour", there are a number of less direct contributing factors.
Use expert advice when you face a complex business issue
How to engage with mentors or use advice.
Use a mentor effectively
How to engage with mentors or use advice.
Find a mentor who can help provide an objective view and effective advice
How to engage with mentors or use advice.
Adopt an open/transparent leadership style
How to engage employees in your business culture and performance.
Make sure you act on employee feedback in different ways
How to engage employees in your business culture and performance.
Create a positive and healthy working culture – and communicate it widely
How to engage employees in your business culture and performance.
Encourage employee suggestions and feedback
How to engage employees in your business culture and performance.
Lead and implement change effectively
How to take a structured approach.
Identify and analyse the problems you are looking at to find the root cause
How to take a structured approach.
Use a reliable and structured problem-solving methodology to help solve problems
How to take a structured approach.
Invest in your own training
How to improve your leadership capabilities and skills.
Practical operational changes made Start-rite 83 per cent more efficient
It’s a family-owned shoe brand that has been around since the end of the 18th century, but it took an outsider’s perspective to truly prepare Start-rite for the rise of ecommerce.
A management structure that provides autonomy and empowerment
Launching a brave and new product meant taking a long hard look at Decoded’s management structure and practices – whatever positives or negatives that uncovered.
Assess your own performance objectively
How to improve your leadership capabilities and skills.
Three tips for improving your business’s productivity
Andrew Peters, from Siemens, passes on three tips for improving your business’s productivity, based on his experiences in business over the past twenty years.
Ryan Anderson of Pendle Doors believes that company culture is central to business success
Ryan Anderson is operations manager at Pendle Doors, based in Darwen, Lancashire. Pendle Doors makes modern, contemporary doors, quality fire doors and custom doors for the construction industry.