Release Your Roar

Family businesses are an integral part of our economy and in this podcast I talk to; Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, who shares his story around succession and the challenges he faced in growing the family business to being the best in the world in improving the performance of electro mechanical assets around the world. 

Michael took on the CEO role in 2006 and the companies Head office, the Ronnie Mitten works, is based in Shields road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. They serve  industries such as power generation, rail, oil and gas, mining, water and wind power, manufacturing and bus and coach.

Topics we cover:-

1. Intro
2. How did you start out in the business?   1 min 56 sec
3. How did you become CEO? 5 min 30 sec
4. Looking back, wearing another hat, what advice would you have given the Directors in those early days around succession for the next generation?    9 min 20 sec
5. When you took the CEO role on, how did you know the way forward?   14 mins 50 secs
6. What were those challenges in the early days in 2006?    20 min 20 sec
7. How did you embed the values into the business?  22 min 40 sec
8. What are the challenges today and for you as CEO? 27 min 08 sec
9. What advice would you give a CEO about how to let go? 30 min 45 sec
10. It is a lonely job at times as a CEO. How do you continue to enjoy the responsibility? 35 mins 02 sec
11. What advice would you give a young person starting out in business around integrity?  27 mins 28 sec. 

Interview with Jane Netts Psychotherapist and counsellor, to discuss what are the key ingredients of a successful long-term marriage or partnership. 

41 minutes long and contains adult content.

Covering:-

1.       What is the most important key ingredient of a marriage or long-term partnership? And a close second? 
2.       What risk may we take in a marriage or partnership?
3.       When there are differences how do partners work well together?
4.       How important is honesty?  
5.       How important is agreement on finance and money in a relationship? Also you mentioned sex? 
6.       When trust has been broken, can it be easily repaired? Where does forgiveness play it's part here?
7.       Any tips on how to create an environment of good communication with partners?
8.       When there are pressures of work, or a focus on bringing up the kids, or looking after Grandparents how important is it we bring the focus back to the couple?

 Over the next 40 mins or so Jane and I will be exploring the answer to these and other questions.

 Jane Netts is originally from a Commercial background working for ten years in business and marketing. Since then she has been a Psychotherapist and counsellor for 25 years working with individuals, couples, young people and specialising in psychosexual and couples work. She also supervises and trains other counsellors.

5 love languages Quiz
https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

How to manage conflict and create harmony in the boardroom.

Nancy Radford mediator and trainer who specialises in conflict management, joins me to discuss how we manage conflict to create harmony with relationships at a senior level in the board room.  Duration approx 39 mins.

 Content.

1.  Intro 

2.  What is the impact of tensions/differences in the boardroom -
      (1 min 40 secs)

3.  What factors can make things worse in causing a break down in the relationship? 
       (3 mins 48 secs)

4.  How can we repair the situation 
       (9 mins 30 secs)

      - DIY or professional help 
        (9 mins 50 secs)

     - Reality versus Perspective. How can we avoid assuming people's positions 
        (14 mins 33 secs)

     - Venting our frustrations - any tips here 
        (21 mins 20 secs)

     - Finding the common ground when we are poles apart 
         (25 mins 40 secs)

     - How can we rebuild trust and forgive others 
         (29 mins 20 secs)

   5. Good communication despite our differences 
          (35 mins 20 secs)

How to understand and navigate your way through the divorce process with Emily Finn and Chris Longbottom of Clarke Willmott.

1.  Are people giving up too early in a marriage and have we seen increases since Covid? When do people consider Divorce as an option? 2 mins 02 secs

2.  What are the new legal changes impacting Divorce on the 6th April and how will they help the process? 5 mins 45 secs

3.  Whan seeking advice, what are the qualities someone should be looking for in selecting their lawyer adviser and when should they get them involved? 11 mins 45 secs

4.  How can parties maintain good communication, especially when children are involved? Any further advice around the welfare of children in the process? 14 mins 35 secs

5.  When is mediation considered an option? How do you find a mediator? 19 mins 27 secs

6.  What tips can you give for negotiating on assets, belongings and also when business shareholdings are involved in family businesses? 21 mins 10 secs

7.  How long does the divorce process usually take? 23 mins 48 secs

8.  How much does the process cost and any tips on managing costs?  27 mins 25 secs
 
9.  Pre-nuptials can be a difficult conversation with partners before marriage. What part do they play in aiding the divorce process? 31 mins 53 secs 

10.  After the process is concluded what one advice would you give someone?  37 mins 30 secs

End -  41 mins 14 secs

What would Martin Green OBE and Neil Eastwood do about recruitment and retention if they were Ops Directors

         Index                                                                                                 

• Stories of Resilience through Covid?  1:12
• How as Directors you would tackle high turn over and sickness rates  - What would you do immediately and over the first year?  7:12
• What would you do to Recruit for all skill shortages? 16:16 
• What would you do to recruit for specialised roles such as  Nurses? 22:24
• How would you develop and strengthen your management team? 26:08
• How would you go about recruiting for leadership roles?  29:00
• Are there any resources which businesses can tap into for staffing and recruiting? 31:00
• How would you network and collaborate at a local level? 34:00
• What future staffing plans could you start now,  for 10 years ahead, 2032
• How do we attract people into social care? 39:52

(Duration approx 42 mins )

Layth Abdullah shares his experiences following a life changing bicycle accident and how he has moved forward with positivity and purpose

Please Note there is some Adult content contained within

36 mins 

Qs summary Content 

1 min 01 sec          What happened on that day 5 years ago?  
         
4 mins 36 sec        What thoughts were going through your mind days after the accident?   
  
11 mins 42 sec     What were the immediate challenges you experienced in your first year?
  
18 mins 52 sec     What are some of the key things which have helped you bounce back?

24 mins 50 sec     How has your outlook on life changed if at all and where are you today?

29 mins 30 secs    If anyone was to go through such a life changing situation such as you experienced what advice would you give them?

31 mins 35 secs     What advice would you give to those closest to the person who is going through such life changing situation?

34 mins                      We have made big inroads with acceptance and accessibility of disability in my lifetime. What more can society be doing on this road of acceptance and accessibility?

36 mins 41 secs  End

What can Western businesses learn from the recent occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and from within the British Army around culture and values. 

Interview with Major General Jonathan Shaw CB CBE, former officer of the British Army.

36 mins 16 secs.   

Topics covered:-
 

• What can we learn about culture from your Afghan and Iraq experiences - Starts at 1 min
• When a business might be acquiring or merging with another business how does that business  win over the hearts and minds of the people the business is acquiring  - Starts at 9 mins 14 secs
• When an individual joins an organisation how can we integrate them into the new culture and make them feel part of the team  - Starts at 11 mins 22 secs
• How can SMEs and family businesses develop the loyalty, teamwork and selflessness -  a culture which is talked about from soldiers within the army  - Starts at 14 mins 28 secs
• Discussion on the philosophy of knowing the tolerance of your team, exploiting people's strengths, protecting against weaknesses. Starts at 19 mins 45 sec 
• Where do young leaders of tomorrow build their morale compass  - Starts at 23 min 50 sec 
• How do we create an environment where great ideas flourish - Starts at 26 min 48 sec
• How  can businesses embrace cyber culture to protect against cyber crime - Starts at 32 min 12 secs 

Interview with Grant Leboff on marketing strategy:                            41 mins 24 secs.
Intro

• 3 questions to ask your marketing team  - 1 min 06 sec
• 1 question to ask your core customer base - 4 mins 45 secs
• Invest or cut your marketing budget at this time - 7 mins 50 secs
• Where should marketing sit in the organisation - 11 mins 38 secs
• Resources; skill set of a marketing strategist - 17 mins 28 secs 
• What data  can we use to know our strategy is working - 23 mins 40 secs
• Short term wins or long term gain -  28 mins 42 secs
• Artificial Intelligence and future tools - 36 mins  43 secs
• End - 41 mins 24 secs

Tips on communicating by video from Duncan Lewis, communications trainer.
Intro and background
1 min 30 secs         Benefits of video - Teams and 1:1 and limitations
4 min 25 secs         Eye Contact and Body language
8 min 15 secs         Maintaining energy levels, being creative and timings
12 min                    Projecting your voice
14 min 6 secs         Audio vs Video
16 min 15 secs      Technology - using slides  
19 min 32 secs       End      

Tips from 3 teachers sharing their personal views on ideas around home schooling
Index:- 
Intro
1.45     How to create a unique learning environment
7.02     How far do we go with structure
10.35   Sharing the load with 2 parents working
12.54   IT - How much screen time and mobile phone useage
17.30   IT - Best apps for connecting with school friends
20.50   IT - how to keep safe online
22.50   PE - how to encourage movement
27.33   Harmony between siblings
30.33   Art, cooking. culture - Creative learning
34.39   End