Let me introduce you to my esteemed guest for this podcast, Lord Mark Price.

Lord Mark Price is the former government Minister of Trade, former Managing Director of Waitrose, and Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership. Mark was also Chairman of Business in the Community. Mark is the president of the CMI, a board member of Coca Cola European Partners and founder of WorkL. He has spent over forty years unlocking the power of people in organisations. Mark knows all about creating engaged and happy people at work who in turn create longer-term sustainable success for organisations. 

This podcast will appeal to the most senior of leaders, Board members, CEO's, C-Suite, People & Culture Directors, HR Leaders, M&A Specialists and Business owners who want to unlock the huge potential that exists in people for the all our sakes. Creating happiness for people makes common sense and great business sense. 

In this time of political challenges, stressed supply chains, recruitment costs and a potential recession looming, the happiness of staff may never have been more important. Happiness is central to recruitment and retention. 

Mark has been studying the value and impact of Happiness for many years and offers academic and leadership perspective of how happiness leads to commercial success, higher performance, productivity and customer service, and reduced defects, turnover and waste.

Mark shares with us his Six Top tips and measures for creating an environment for real happiness, and Pool Tables and Pizzas are not on the list!  

It isn't just the list that's useful, its the practical meaning, the links and combined impact of these that Mark shares that offers the real value. 

1. Pay & Recognition

2. Information Sharing

3. Empowering People

4. Wellbeing

5. Sense of Purpose and doing something Worthwhile

6. Job Satisfaction 

Happy staff stay longer, work harder, will want more training, be more productive and deliver better customer service. 

Don't waste money on surface level short term incentives or tricks to develop happiness, invest in meaningful matters such as developing managers and their ability to cultivate relationships with staff which will directly impact on retention, recruitment and engagement.

Happiness, as Mark will share, is critical to the success of your business. 

The purpose of my PJ Tips podcasts is to inform and inspire listeners to build better businesses and lead change more successfully, through the practical insights from authentic leaders. I hope you'll agree after listening to Lord Mark Price that he is a truly exceptional guest. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please DM me. 

#LordMarkPrice

#WorkL

#LeadingBusinessChange 

#StaffEngagement 

#JobSatisfaction 

#Communication 

#Purpose 

#CommercialAdvantage 

#BetterPlaceToWork 

#BrandValue 

In this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change we welcome Chris Cook, Olympic Swimmer, successful Business owner, Speaker and Coach.... who's chuckle is infectious. 

He'll tell you about the difference between self belief... and self knowing... and he shares a story about Adam Peaty and Usain Bolt to underline this. 

If you want reduce distractions and resistance, and Speed up your Performance, listen to this podcast.

Chris' over arching message is to ''simplify what you can in this world of complexity''. In his world, it was all about Swimming two lengths of a pool as fast as possible. Leading to an array of medals, records and success on the European, Commonwealth and Olympic stage.   

However Chris admits getting overwhelmed and stressed by how much distraction and 'to-dos' that he allowed to threaten his core activity, leading him to simplify his entire process. This reduced stressed and increased happiness - you can hear it in his voice and his 'chuckle'.  

According to Chris, despite what we may think, much of our world is in fact fairly constant and consistent. Consider what is more or less the same in his world for a moment:

He encourages clients to simplify and be very clear on what they can and cannot control, what their job actually is..... and then get better and better at it. 

I was amazed to hear how he has a different view of the '1% Gains' made famous through Dave Brailsford and the Sky Cycling Team. Rather than looking at lots of little things, he chose to focus on the two or three big chunks that mattered to him, and he encourages clients to do likewise. For him it was a great dive off the blocks, a fast and effective turn and then sprint back to the finish. 

Two lengths. Done.. or 'Gone in 60 seconds'. 

I sense that some clients use the '1% Gains' as an excuse not to deal with the Elephant in the Room. Sometimes 1% change just wont cut it! In addition, I wonder if clients want to over complicate matters as a cover for their ineffectiveness and poor performance.

World Record Holder Adam Peaty now Swims the dame two lengths of the pool '100M Breaststroke' c5% quicker than Chris, who is now retied. Imagine what a 5% reduction in cost or time would do for your business. Chris talks about reducing procrastination, decision making and complication, increasing the pace of change and therefore moving to value faster. As he says, its simple, but necessarily easy.

He further gives insights into how sport, in particular Swimming and the governing body FINA need to lead through changes, such as the hot topic of Transgender in Sport, particularly Transgender Women. Chris talks us through some of leadership challenges therein. 

Thanks for listening to this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change. If you have any questions or feedback, do get in touch. 

If you liked this podcast, you may like the Michael Duberry (ex Chelsea Footballer) episode on high performance or listen to Mark Preston (Team Principal of World Champion Formula E team DS Techeetah) talking about winning on and off the track.

#leadership #change #leadingbusinesschange #business #sport #performance #olympics #transition #transgender #inclusion #fairness 

Many businesses are seeking to improve performance in businesses and in teams. Businesses want more for and from their people. 

Businesses often say they feel they have reached the limit of growth and improvement through standard processes and models and are now looking more deeply into the wealth of potential, knowledge and creativity that exists in people, to help the business grow. 

With the impending doom of a recession on the horizon, perhaps businesses need to invest more in, and take more note of people performance. 

In this podcast Michael and I talk Elite Performance, Team work and Leadership. 

Top Tips and Insights you might like in this recording:

Michael Duberry is a leadership coach, speaker and mentor, specialising in elite performance, including leadership, behaviours and resilience. 

Michael has come from professional and elite sport. He was a professional football and Cup winner at a number of Clubs including Chelsea and Leeds. Michael was also an England U21 player. 

In this PJ Tips Podcast, we discuss what Elite Performance is, and what businesses and leaders can learn from sports top performers. 

We do talk about Football. Whether you like football or not, we hope you get some real insights and practical tips for you and your business. 

Some of the lessons or insights might be obvious, like excellent training facilities and player development programmes. Its obvious. Businesses know it. But do businesses invest appropriately? 

Other obvious lessons include Team work. 11 players on the pitch working together. We see Defenders supporting the Attackers - we see defenders scoring! - and Attackers coming back to Defend.... Do you ever hear some one say 'that's not my job'...?   I hear that in business. 

Some of the less obvious lessons from Elite Performance might include humility and resilience. 

What is your understanding of resilience and what it means and how to recognise it? We hear it talked about so much in business. Michael has a very specific definition and ways to identify it. And his views on the importance of resilience in the real world, linking to mental health as well as personal performance and development, is grounded and honest. 

We are not saying all professional sports people and teams are perfect. They are not. But in the conversation we examine elite performance, indicators and insights from Michael. 

If you are interested in straight talking honest insights into some of the things businesses and leaders can learn from sport, this podcast is for you. 

Hopefully, we have a laugh too?  If Michael went to a fancy dress party as a Spice Girl, which one would it be? He discusses this openly, and tells us which female character he did indeed dress up as in Oxford! Its surprising.....   But what does it tell us about the man? You'll have to listen and tell us. 

Top Tips and Insights you might like:

The difference in the same team from a winning year, to a losing year.  

How to stay humble whilst winning.

How to and why to have a conversation about your mental well being.

Top notch Leadership Traits. 

#eliteperformance #teamwork #businessimprovement #change #goals #winning #leadership #resilience #wellbeing #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #spicegirls #recession #

In this episode, Rita Gupta, a family lawyer who specialises in Divorce and HNWI gives us insights into the impact divorce can have on people and business, and she shares some top tips to help leaders lead through Divorce.

We have probably all seen the personal impact of divorce on family and friends; the emotional rollercoaster, financial impact and the financial trauma that people suffer. Lives can be seem like they are ripped apart. 

If some one is going through a divorce, imagine what it might do to their energy, their capacity for work or their personal time? Suddenly they may find themselves homeless, separated from their kids and trying to create a new schedule, all of which will impact on the individual, their well being and capability to work.

Divorce may affect people to a greater or lesser degree. One lady I knew started going clubbing again to 'celebrate' divorce and every other weekend she partied hard, and by her own admittance was 'probably still suffering from excess alcohol on Monday morning'

So how does this impact on business? 

Rita talks us through Divorce and Business from three perspectives: 

Staff members who are going through divorce. The issues they may have, support they may need and how it might affect their team, projects and work. 

Leaders or business owners who are going through divorce, including at times where both parties are directors/shareholders of the business. Think about what might need to be in place to support an owner through divorce and how to look after the business during such times.

Thirdly, how the business and leaders can lead through the changes that divorce brings to the work place. 

#familylaw #highnetworthindividuals #HNWI #divorce #leadership #business #leadingbusinesschange #csuite #businessowners #shareholders #divorcelawyer #wellbeing #mentalhealth

Are you wrestling with Transformation, Change or Business Improvement? Are you planning a Transformation, or are you simply interested in hearing war stories of Transformation.

In this PJ Tips podcast on Leading Business Change, my guest Karen Thomas-Bland and I talk Transformation from the Trenches. 

The purpose of these podcasts is to offer listeners practical insights and information from experienced leaders in order to help us all lead and deliver change more effectively and meaningfully. I don't believe we need more theory of change, I think leaders want to connect, share and learn from others who have done it. What do you think?

Karen is an Interim Executive Committee member, Consultant and NED with 25 years’ experience leading complex enterprise-wide Transformations and M&A integrations to $105bn turnover. As a consultant, her clients have included Accenture, Microsoft, National Grid, RELX Group and PE funds where she has successfully led major programmes of change. Karen has been on Private Equity backed Boards to drive value creation and achieve a major fundraise or exit, working alongside major investors. Prior to her interim career she was an Executive in IBM Global. During this time, she was based out of New York, Dubai and Sao Paulo and led IBM’s global transformation, integrated ten major software businesses, run a $4.5 bn top accounts full P&L, and rapidly scaled a new global consulting and data analytics business to £500m turnover.

Karen discusses Business Transformation programmes she has delivered and tells two stories - one good, one bad! Its valuable to hear her bounce around the topics of new Strategy, Markets, Client Segments, Re-orientating the Business and new Ops Models.

She goes into some detail about what is Business Transformation and what isn't it? What the difference is between Transformation, Improvement and Change? And why its important to understand these. From my perspective, a big part is expectation. It seems Transformation is more than just ERP.

I hear clients talk about Transformation, but what they mean is Change, but what they are prepared to do is make a few small Improvements. 

Transformation programmes are people led, meaning they can be emotional, difficult and unsettling. Thinking about Culture, and taking care of people, engaging and enabling them are key elements to delivering a successful transformation. As leader you have your own emotions to deal with and you need to lead both the business and the people in the business. 

There is an old SAS saying: grip Self, the Team, and then the Task. Note the first two elements are people centric. Failure to do these will almost certainly end in a failed business programme. Perhaps this a useful way of thinking that any change starts with me? 

Karen has her views on Leading Business Transformation regarding Culture and Leadership Behaviours required to lead businesses and people through any change or transformation. 

Finally she leaves us with Three Top Tips on Leading Business Transformation. 

#Business #Transformation #Change #LeadingBusinessChange #Culture #Digital #Technology #People #Leadership #BusinessTransformation

Stats tell us that Change is expensive, difficult and failure intensive, but it doesn't have to be that way. I have a Five Step Process, tried and tested at Cranfield and used in Change programmes, M&A, Projects and Transformation to c $30Billion successfully. The process will significantly tip the likelihood of success in your favour. It does this by unearthing the wealth of potential that exists in your business but remains untapped... your greatest asset... people. 

If you have any feedback on the podcast, the matters the discussed or want to chat Transformation, give in touch. 

Richard and I hope you enjoyed part 1 of our conversation exploring Boardroom behaviours, where we looked more at the poor behaviours experienced in and out of the boardroom. 

In this, part 2, we look at Boardrooms Behaving Better. Richard shares specific examples of the roles and responsibilities of Boards and together explore what good behaviours look and feel like. 

Richard Cartwright is an Enterprise Fellow at Southampton Business School, an experienced NED, chartered Accountant and enthusiastic academic! He brings diversity to life in teams and boards with clients such as the NHS and NAO. 

Its often easier to spot and comment on poor boardroom behaviours and poor governance, as these are the examples that make the headlines. Good behaviours are not simply the opposite of the bad ones, though there's a relationship of course. Good behaviours often requires better personal leadership, interpersonal skills and alignment. Diverse thinking for example can be a huge benefit to the board, but to have it, you must be open to including difference and listening to it openly. It might be easy to recruit in ones own image but it may not get your the true value you want. Employing board members with the difference of opinions, experience and back ground you think you want, may require a different set of skills than you have to fully embrace these differences. 

Companies need their boards to function effectively. Board members provide executives with a different perspective and direction, drawing on their wider external experiences. The most effective boards meet regulatory requirements, keep the company accountable and provide sound strategic counsel.

Sarah Bell from Grant Thornton notes that, ''Truly effective boards clearly define their role and purpose, and have directors who can work well as a group while fulfilling their individual roles, such as overseeing succession planning, acquisitions and capital allocation.''

What do you think makes a good board, and what are better boardroom behaviours you experience? 

Listen to Richard discuss some simple and practical ways of improving board room behaviours and effectiveness. He talks specifically about Cyber Security and Cyber Attack which is hot topic. 

As always, I welcome your feedback, insights and stories [email protected] 

If you want to discuss anything you have heard in this podcast or chat about what resources are available to help you personally as a board member, or if you want to develop the effectiveness of your board, then please get in touch. Richard and I have a set of structured sessions, facilitated workshops, group and individual coaching options to support you. 

#leadingbusinesschange #boardroom #directors #nonexecutivedirectors #change #businessimprovement #ESG #cybersecurity 

In this podcast on Boardroom Behaviours, my guest Richard Cartwright explores Bad Behaviours in the Boardroom. 

Richard is a dynamic Academic and Non-Executive trusted by the NHS, NAO, Motability, ICAEW and is an Enterprise Fellow at University of Southampton, he brings lived experience of diversity to both the classroom and into boardrooms. For his sins he is a qualified Accountant and trained within the Big 4. More importantly for me, he's a great chap, hugely knowledgeable and very able to offer listeners practical insights into bad boardroom behaviours and the cost to businesses and their communities.

You may think that all boards and board members behave well. They don't. Richard and I have experienced first hand some shocking bad boardroom behaviours, but also much more subtle yet no less destructive poor behaviours. 

So what is board? A board of directors is an executive committee that jointly supervise the activities of an organisation. The board acts as a governing body for a company or organisation. The primary goal is often said to be to protect the assets of the shareholders by ensuring an organisation's management acts on their behalf and that they get a good return on their investment in the company. Though of course these days purpose is important, as is ESG and therefore the way the ROI is created is much more important. In short there are three main areas where a board focuses attention: governance, strategic direction, and accountability. 

So given this responsibility and clarity, you might be forgiven for thinking that everyone works well together, is equally aligned, committed and so on. However,  like any team or group, their are egos, agendas, differences, personality clashes and so on that can cause problems. Poor leadership of self and others can be seen, poor decision making skills, lack of diversity and relationship skills all contribute to unhealthy environments and less than high performance in the boardroom. 

Do you remember the old adage, 'Agree or Disagree, but Commit' which I first heard from Prof Sumantra Ghoshal. In the Boardroom this might be considered key, yet too often it isn't. 

Richard may cast humour into this pot of conversation, but underlying is a very real need to improve the behaviours of boards for the sake of the businesses, stakeholders, shareholders and the wider community. 

I wonder how many people will listen to this thinking that their board - even themselves - behave well, and on reflection might find some bad behaviours that resonate. 

Richard and I have run sessions with Boards, and shown videos of board room behaviours, which has shocked participants and led to very valuable conversation and significant improvements. 

It may seem a little unfair picking on the bad behaviours but after all its poor governance that makes the headlines, rarely the great governance! 

In the second part of this two part topic, Richard and I discuss Better Boardroom Behaviours.

The aim of these podcasts is to promote thinking about the behaviours of your boards, what you do well, and not so well, and therefore what you can improve, and why. For some this might be a conversation and some simple improvements, for others you might want some help, and we'd be delighted to have a chat and offer some insights, suggestions or come and work with you to facilitate changes and improvements. 

In the meantime, have a listen to myself and Richard exploring bad boardroom behaviours. Feel free to message me with your thoughts and examples.co.uk

Look out for Part 2, Boards Behavinboardroom #boards #executive #committee #poorperformance #governance #management #shareholders #ROI #purpose #ESG #accountability

PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, with thanks to Richard Cartwright 

If you are interested in business transformation, leading business change and navigating your growth strategy with a Private Equity investor, this podcast is for you. 

Simon Grosse is CEO of FSP, a people-centric technology and change specialist with an award-winning workplace culture, head quartered in Reading, and an office in Barcelona. Simon is a very people-centric leader, and believes their ethos helps clients to transform their ways of working and to realise the value of their technology investments. Their clients successes are significant in the growth strategy of FSP. 

In this podcast, Simon talks through the history of the 12 year old company, and how his purpose led style and award winning culture has brought about success for his staff, clients and the shareholders.

There was a material change in the business a couple of years ago when LDC backed FSP’s ambitious management team. According to Simon, the deal marked a key step in Foundation SP’s growth journey and very importantly, he knew that partnering with LDC would help FSP to scale while remaining true to our culture and ethos. Indeed Simon was keen that LDC understood the culture of FSP and not just what they did, but how and why they were different. 

I hope you will learn from his insights about business life before and after Investment, and how the change helped FSP to mature in many ways. Is PE for everyone - you'll have to listen to his views on this, and his strong views on Organic vs Inorganic business growth, such as Buy and Build / M&A. 

If you are considering a PE Investment, I sincerely hope Simons view will be of good use. Personally, I wonder how many businesses would fail to make the (mature) adjustments that Simon talks about which might lead to a failed investment prior to or during the deal period. By listening to this podcast, I hope you learn how to better prepare your management team and business for the required changes.

What strikes me about Simon and FSP, is that for tech company -  offering consulting, digital services, managed services, cloud, cyber security and Microsoft cloud suite for modern workplace - they are very people focused. I'm not sure Simon is that tech orientated himself, but perhaps the strength of the man, to build a business where those that do love tech can grow and develop self and services in a meaningful way.  

I think its certain that Simon loves business and the value that good business and businesses brings to communities. 

The purpose of the PJ Tips podcasts is to share very practical insights and information to enable us to lead better businesses, navigate change and release the potential that exists in our people and businesses. Please give me feedback on whether you think this podcast hits the mark. 

If you learn anything from listening or feel others could, please share this recording. 

#privateequity #leadingbusinesschange #LDC #culture #businessgrowth #growthstrategy #ambition #technology #cloudservices #microsoft #digitalstrategy #change #businesstransformation #PEbacked #awardwinningculture 

Andrew doesn't deal with arseholes, and he'll tell you why in this down to earth podcast on leading business change globally. 

If you think being purposeful or purpose led is a cliché or strapline, listen to this podcast with Andrew Powell who demonstrates how being deeply purposeful can lead to a global change. 

Andrew has founded, created and led a dozen businesses with many ups and a few downs, the lessons from which he shares openly and practically in this recording. Insights from having to close a business growing too fast and working with Private Equity Company LDC to run a business that he subsequently took through an MBO, are just two of the stories he shares. 

What is it about Andrew Powell that makes him the leader he is? Perhaps you could comment or email me your thoughts. 

There's no doubt in my mind that part of the answer is a deep seated purpose, a social conscience and ambition to do better business in a better way. The results of this internal drive are evident, not just in his boundless energy for an old man ( just joking, Andrew!!) but in the commercial outcomes that allow for additional community benefits. 

One lesson for me was the comment on the power of focussing on three things. Makes sense! 

Unfortunately if you are looking for a successful, driven Humble Entrepreneur and CEO to lead your business, he's unavailable. Andrew has found a new home where he can align his love of sport, commercial brain and focus on social mobility at the Lighthouse Group. The Lighthouse Group serves those in ‘high intensity careers, and specialise in working with talent across the worlds of Sport & Entertainment. The Group have a clear purpose to help maximise the individual’s potential, and to create sustainable financial futures.

With all is acumen and influence, and being a lifelong supporter of Swansea City Football Club, why-oh-why didn't he buy the Club when the opportunity arose? You've got to love his honest answer. 

No doubt Andrew is a wonderful guest with numerous practical insights and information to help develop us as leaders and inspire listeners to lead and build even better business and businesses. 

If Andrew was to run a Master Class, it might be titled : Businesses with purpose can change the global landscape. Here's how to do it.  

Should you have any questions, feedback or suggestions for future guests, please email pj @ pjstevens.co.uk or connect with me through LinkedIn. 

#PJTips #LeadingBusinessChange #Purpose #Entrepreneurship #PrivateEquity #LDC #SocialMobility #Sport #Entertainment #Education 

In this Episode of the PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, guest Gareth Rogers, CEO Farnborough International and ex CFO and CEO Southampton Football Club talks about his leadership experiences from Football, and perhaps more importantly, as CEO of Farnborough International. 

This podcast is for those interested in hearing practical insights and learning from leaders who want to share their experiences in the hope it will help us to build and lead better business. Whilst there are some comments about Football, this is more about Leadership and Business. If you want deep dark secrets from the Premier League, this is not the podcast for you. If you are interested in financial strategy, change, business transformation, hard work, honest and credible leadership, and leading business change, then tune in to hear Gareth Rogers talking Top Flight Leadership.... Top Flight... top flight football, top flight Aviation... get it?! 

Gareth is, by his own admittance, a professional Accountant. And it was whilst he was at Deloittes that the opportunity came up to do an interim role at Saints. He joined the year after Administration in a CFO role. He soon took the full time role and went on to be CEO at the Club.  During his tenure Saints enjoyed some decent success in Premiere League and got into Europe. During this period revenues grew from some £11 – 175M .

Football seems a peculiar business, to me, with some of its own rules and behaviours. Yet in essence, it should be a simple business. Gareth offers some very matter of fact insights into the business of football and how it is similar but different from more main stream business.

From Saints, Gareth moved to the role of CEO at Farnborough International. They organise the world's best Air Show, and are an International Events organiser and have invested in and built one of the Top 5 Conference centres in the UK at a cost of some £35M. 

Listening to Gareth talk through the last two years, the challenges of running an Air Show virtually, putting customers first and the mindset change that took, is inspiring. Listen out for the break through moment he describes, it's quite something special. 

The Farnborough Air Show has been around since 1948, and Gareth and his team are tasked with building on that and ensuring it remains current and relevant to the global Aviation players. How are they going about that, Gareth explains. I was enthralled hearing him talk about what Farnborough International should or could be in the business space, how it can help people ‘convene’ and deliver thought leadership around aviation. Certainly aviation is big business in the UK and he talks about the need and value to getting people together around Farnborough as a global hub for the industry.

Did you know that in recent years, they have set up film studios, stored cars and host the British Car Show? Demonstrating the business transformation and ambition of the team at Farnborough.

I asked Gareth what were the common lessons learned from Saints and from his first few years at Farnborough. The common thread is mind set and how to change and develop thinking, beliefs and behaviours. Notably how do you turn a business that delivers a massive air show every other year into an online show and conference for the market place? 

We may be fed up with the C-word, but Covid really has left a positive mark on Farnborough and its people, by 'forcing' them to get creative, move quickly and create a Virtual Air Show, whilst ensuring clients felt loved. No mean feat! 

Major world shows and events have disappeared, so how will Gareth future proof our air show. How will they listen to customers and transform in order to be sustainable and successful in the New world….? You'll have to listen. 

My thanks to Gareth Rogers from Farnborough International, and to you for listening.