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“Nothing can stop a person with the right attitude; nothing can help a person with the wrong attitude"

As the winds of change blow harder than ever and the challenges we face become greater, it's easy for attitudes to waver. It happens to the best of us.

Many of the organisations whose performance we've helped to transform, have asked if we could provide some additional support, help, tips and advice on how to keep a positive attitude - no matter what challenges the competition, the economy, the boss or the kids throw at us!

We want to share with you some real practical strategies and vital information that Chief Executives, Senior Managers, Managers, Team Leaders – anyone in the organisation can benefit from in order to transform business improvement.

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Week 15: Charismatic Leadership

Do you know what the single distinguishing factor of a great leader is?

CHARISMA!

Of all leadership attributes, charisma is perhaps the most powerful, yet least understood.

At first glance charisma is an invisible energy or magnetism. There’s no denying its presence, but it’s hard to put your finger on its source. Some mistakenly believe charisma is a birth traitó embedded in certain personalities, but completely absent in others! To believe this would be a critical mistake!

Charisma is actually both explainable and learnable and can help to boost a leader’s influence considerably. Charisma is “the ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or affection in others by means of personal influence.” To master the art of charisma means that people will go to the ends of the earth to help you.

Do you have charismatic leaders, that drive change and improved efficiencies through all areas of your organization, and onto the bottom line, by fully engaging and motivating your people?

Do you have development plans in place to make your leaders charismatic?

Leaders who have this special ability have learned four things they’ve learned to:-

1) Love Life

* They’re celebrators, not complainers, characterised by joy and warmth.
* Leaders who love life fill any room with positive energy!
* Charismatic leaders are energetic and radiant in an infectious way.

  Do you recognise this in your leaders?

2) Value the Potential in People

* Charismatic leaders expect the best from their people, are willing to invest in them and know exactly how to lift them toward realising their potential.
* They see people, not as they are, but as they could be. From this vantage point, they help others to build a bridge from the present to a preferred future.

  How are your leaders perceived by your teams?

3) Give Hope

* Charismatic leaders connect with people by painting a tomorrow that’s brighter than today, because they understand their people and how to engage and motivate them to willingly improve not only for themselves but for their organisation.
* They know how to infuse optimism into the culture around them and boost the morale of their people.

Are your leaders getting the best out of their team?

4) Share Themselves

* Leaders with charisma add value to people by sharing wisdom, resources and, more importantly, share their time. They coach and develop people non-stop.
* They embrace team spirit, value togetherness and inclusion ñ even if it’s just for someone to join them for a cup of tea and a chat!
* They find the greatest satisfaction in serving and the victory they enjoy the most is a team triumph!

Are you and your team working together effectively enough to maximise every opportunity for your organisation?

So, are you reaping all the benefits from your managers being truly charismatic leaders of their teams and for their organisation?

Remember, charisma has substance and is not a gift endowed upon select personalities, but an attractive blend of learnable qualities which compounds a leader’s influence. Without it, leaders have trouble inspiring passion and energising their teams. With it, leaders draw out the best in their people, give the best of themselves, and find the greatest fulfilment.

To find out more about charisma and how to increase the amount you and your managers display as leaders call us now on 01244 681068 or email us on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Week 14: What I’ve learned in my life (2)

I’ve learned that

Being a leader doesn’t make you one.

Effective communication is 20% about what you know and 80% about how you feel about what you know.

When people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can achieve.

I’d rather watch a winner than hear one any day.

It’s not what you look at that’s important it’s what you see.

Winning isn’t everything but wanting to is.

If anything is guaranteed to kill a sale it’s lack of enthusiasm.

People might forget what you said, they might forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.

The richest person in the world is the one who is contented with what they have.

We’re all given the same; some choose greatness, some choose mediocrity.

No dream is too big that we can’t grow into it.

Regretting growing older is stupid; it’s a privilege denied to a great many.

People are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.

If you take an adult and peel back the layers, standing inside is a child, wanting to play a game with you.

Success is simply a matter of luck, ask any failure.

People are not naturally resistant to change, they are only resistant when they believe they can’t cope.

For any organisation to succeed, people need to be fired with enthusiasm, or, they need to be fired with enthusiasm.

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discover how we can help you to focus and direct your energies to take positive steps towards achieving your goals!

Week 13: Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to is!

Much has been said about the incredible performances in Beijing of some of the UK Olympians such as Rebecca Adlington, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, etc and one USA Olympian in particular ñ Michael Phelps.

They deserve all the accolades they get

So what makes them winners?

They’ve followed the laws that always bring success.

With all these champions, there’s a recurring theme in terms of their motivation, direction, coaching and training and it’s this they all make a habit of doing things other people aren’t willing to do.

These universal laws of success are simple but not easy if you want success in anything, you’ve got to follow them. FULL STOP!

One of the laws is the law of cause and effect. You might need ‘brave pills’ for this one because it’s a truth some may find difficult to accept. However, not accepting it doesn’t make it any less true!

The law of cause and effect says everything happens for a reason. For every effect in your life, there’s a cause, or a series of specific, measurable, definable, identifiable causes.

So, success happens for a reason, as does failure. It’s not a result of good luck versus bad luck, being in the right place at the right time, or hitting the market just as it turns.

The fact is that there will have been a series of specific steps you’ve taken to bring you to where you are this minute. And the fact is, there’s no other place they could have brought you to! You are where you are because of you. Your choices and decisions have inevitably determined where you are now.

The same applies to all your team.

The brilliant part of this is that at any time you, and they, can choose to start making different choices and decisions, taking different steps which will determine that you (and they) arrive in a different place than you and your team are today.

If you and your teams are not where you want or need to be our ‘success mastery’ programme will get you there!

Timeless principles will guarantee your success ñ and that of your teams.

So if you’re ready for success, enjoyment, satisfaction, peace of mind and behavioural change and performance transformation you’d only ever dared dream about before, you need to call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to find out more you’ll be glad you did!

Week 12: What I’ve learned in my life

I’ve learned that

In business, good people make you money, bad people make you tired.

When you know what you want, and want it badly enough for all the right reasons, you’ll find a way to get it.

Money doesn’t buy class.

It’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

Under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

If the Lord didn’t do it all in one day, what makes me think I can?
To ignore the facts will not change the facts.

Some people are so busy mopping up, they forget to turn off the tap.

When you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

The easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

Everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

Life is tough, but I’m tougher.

Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
When you harbour bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

People should keep their words both soft and tender because tomorrow they may have to eat them.

A smile is the most inexpensive way to dramatically improve your looks.

I can’t always choose what happens to me in life, but I can always choose what I do about it.

Everyone may want to live on top of the mountain, but happiness and growth happen while you’re climbing it.

The less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

Motivation alone isn’t enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate them, you now have a motivated idiot.

Life is like a roll of toilet paper the closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes!!

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discover how we can help you to focus and direct your energies to take positive steps towards achieving your goals!

Week 11: Are your people like bees or flies?

Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, has now outlined the economic outlook for the UK. It’s going to be tough for the rest of 2008, very tough in 2009 and picking up in 2010.

He did say that there would be no return to the “nice times” in 2010, but it would be “not too bad”. Bankers eh, don’t you just love em?!

More than likely you’ll have your “tough times” strategy either in place now, or it’ll be in place soon. It can be frustrating to wait for the organisation development re-shaping to be complete before launching the new strategy, especially when there are “business as usual” objectives to achieve as well.

You need to make sure your people know how to stay motivated in these changing and uncertain times, because without this it’s unlikely you’ll get the brilliant execution of the new strategy you need.

So are your people going to behave like bees, or flies, when it comes to executing the strategy? It’s important to know what you’ve got, otherwise you could be playing Russian roulette with the organisation:-

If your people behave like bees, expect trouble. When bees are placed in an open ended bottle on its side with the base towards a light source, the bees will repeatedly fly to the bottom of the bottle towards the light. It never occurs to them to reverse gears and try another direction.
The reason for this is a combination of genetic programming, learned behaviour and conditioning.

If your people behave like flies, you’ve got a good chance of success. Put a bunch of flies in that bottle and turn the base towards the light source. Within a few minutes, all the flies will have found a way out. They try all directions, up, down, toward the light, away from the light, often bumping into the glass. Sooner or later they zip or flutter forth into the neck of the bottle and out of the opening!

Sometimes people don’t deal well with change. What they’re doing may make them miserable - and unsuccessful - but at least it’s familiar.

One of the most important factors in executing a new strategy successfully is getting people willingly to try new things, to experiment, and to test new things out.

The only way to execute successfully is for your people to want to learn and progress through: trial, error, feedback, new knowledge, trial it again, success!

It’s far better for your people to try to succeed and fail, than try to do nothing and succeed.

So, this week

Try it
Change it
Do it

You need to get your people to stop stewing and start doing! 

Get in touch on: 01244 681068 or email us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to find out more you’ll be glad you did!

Week 10: How well are you executing the vision and strategy? Ask your people!

A recent survey of The Times top 1000 companies showed that 80% of directors said they had the right strategy, yet only 14% thought they were executing it well.

The main reasons for this was that people in the organisation did not know what the corporate aims were, let alone see themselves as an integral part of the effort! Hearts and minds had not been captured, morale was low. This meant that the spirit that makes strategies come alive was virtually non-existent.

Forget the KPI’s, check your people’s spirit if you want to know if your strategic execution is working.

A 5-star US General visited Cape Canaveral when funding for the NASA moon landing programme was under threat. He’d assessed the financials, the projects, processes etc and was still unsure what his advice would be on keeping the funding in place.

As he was waiting for the official car to take him to the aeroplane back to Washington DC, he read some of the items on the noticeboard.

Inadvertently, everywhere he moved he got in the way of a cleaner who was brushing up. After doing this five times the cleaner politely, but firmly, asked the General to stop getting in his way.

The General was nonplussed, “Excuse me, who do you think you are and what do you think you’re doing? He enquired.

“Sir”, came the reply, “I’m helping to put a man on the moon and you’re getting in my way!”

The funding was approved.

Do all your people know what your “moon landing” is? Do they know what the aims of the company are today? Do they all know how important their part is in making it happen? Are they all committed to challenge anyone and anything that may get in the way?

If you’re not sure you need to be sure. Let us help you check the spirit level in your organisation. We may even do it for free!

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details!!

Week 09: VSS the secrets of success

Have you ever wondered which single element is the major factor in whether or not an organisation succeeds ñ especially in uncertain times like now?

It’s execution!

You can have two CEOs with equal intelligence, experience and resources etc but one fails and the other does not.

Why? ... because one executes and the other does not.

A few years ago Fortune Magazine answered the question, “Why do CEOs fail?”
They found it wasn’t through lack of ideas, but through lack of execution ... they simply do not get the job done!

There are three parts to successfully executing: Vision, Strategy and Spirit. In order to be a brilliant executor, you must have all three.

First, you need to have a VISION. What is your organisation trying to achieve that is so spectacular, your people willingly go the extra mile for? Is it inspiring, aspirational, motivational, evocative? Most organisational visions, if one exists in the first place, are rubbish and mean nothing to the people who are expected to make it “come alive.”

Next, you need a STRATEGY ... a plan. How will you go about turning your Vision into a reality? Does everyone know the part they need to play? Do they willingly want to do it? Do the systems and processes that support it act as enablers or blockers?   

Lastly, you need to evoke SPIRIT. A spirit that gets everyone to take action. The best visions and most well thought out strategies count for nothing without taking action! ... The plan to reach the vision must be implemented.

If you’re having problems with:

a) executing

or

b) executing within the timescales you want and need you need to call us now before it’s too late.

If you fail to take action you’re playing Russian roulette with your organisation’s future.

Get in touch on: 01244 681068 or email us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to find out more you’ll be glad you did!

Week 08: Why change is difficult: The Monkey Story

Start with a cage containing five monkeys.

Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it.

Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana.

As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all monkeys are sprayed with cold water.

Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, turn off the cold water.

Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one.

The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs.

To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him.

After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one.

The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.

The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.

Again, replace a third original monkey with a new one.

The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well.

Two of the four monkeys that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original monkeys, all the monkeys that have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced.

Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs.

Why not?

Because, as far as they know, that’s the way it’s always been done around here.

That’s why change is difficult - especially when times are tough!

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discover how we can help you transform and reinvigorate your business to survive the challenging times!

Week 07: Is your team revved up for success?

You may now be an inspired leader doing all you can to fan the flames of passion in the organisation to help you THRIVE during an economic slow-down. To be even more effective, you need to understand that there are rules of leadership, and rules of followship. Followers fall into two categories;

There are fire lighters and fire extinguishers.

As you fan the flames of passion, the fire lighters will inspire you, encourage you and go out of their way to help you and their team-mates to perform at an exceptional level.

As you fan the flames of passion, the fire extinguishers will throw cold water on every new initiative you introduce to get you through the hard times. They’ll tell you: “Its not in the budget”, “its not practical”, “we’ve tried it before and it didn’t work”, “who will do the extra work?”, “who do you think you are to ask us to do that?”, “I’m not being negative, I’m just playing devil’s advocate”.

If you’ve heard one or more of these excuses coming from the people around you, you need to take action NOW!

Fire extinguishers focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. They find a cloud in every silver lining ... They doubt ... They don’t believe in you, your vision, their own, or their team-mates’ ability to dig deep and pull together to produce outstanding performance improvements.

You need them like a hole in the head!

You’ll need some “brave pills” to deal with them, and if you don’t, you’re playing Russian roulette with your part of the organisation.

The most chilling statement I’ve heard in the past 12 months is: “It’s a waste of time being conscientious around here, because it gets you nowhere!”

So who’s winning in this organisation ... the fire lighters or the fire extinguishers?

We’ll show you how to deal with both. Anything less could be committing the equivalent of corporate suicide.

Call us now on 01244 681068, or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discover how we can help you ... the sooner you respond, the sooner we can begin the transformation!

Week 06: Get the right people around!

For years, Monterey, California, was a pelican’s paradise filled with fish canneries. The birds loved it because they didn’t have to work for a living; they just feasted on what was discarded. But as the fish became depleted along the coast and the canneries started shutting down, the pelicans got into trouble.

You see, pelicans are great fishers. They fly in groups over the waves and when they find fish they dive and scoop them up. But these pelicans hadn’t fished for years, so they had grown fat and lazy. Their easy meals were all gone; now they were starting to die off.

Finally, environmentalists figured out a way to keep them from becoming extinct. They imported pelicans from another area - ones that were used to hunting every day and mixed them with the local birds. It worked! The newcomers immediately started fishing for their own food and it wasn’t long before the starving pelicans followed their example and learned to fish for themselves again. Pelican paradise had returned.

One of the best ways to get things moving in the right direction again is to get alongside achievers! Watch how they work. Learn how they think. Listen to what they did to get through tough times and how they identified and maximised opportunities as they arose. And, the most important thing, take action from their wisdom.

If the good times have gone for now and the challenging times are proving particularly difficult let us, with our tried and tested methodology, train your team to become hunting pelicans again!

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to find out more!

Week 05: How to get your managers to be brilliant leaders

If you want to drive efficiencies through all areas of the organisation and onto the bottom line turning your managers into inspiring Leaders is paramount. Here are the seven secrets of inspiring leaders: They:-

1. Demonstrate enthusiasm - constantly. Inspiring leaders have an abundance of passion for what they do. You cannot inspire unless you’re inspired yourself, full stop! How do your managers measure up?

2. Articulate a compelling course of action. Inspiring leaders craft and deliver a specific, consistent and memorable vision the power of that vision and the way it is communicated sets everyone and everything into positive motion that nothing can stop. Does this describe your organisation?

3. Sell the benefit. Always remember, it’s not about you, it’s about them. When I first lectured at the University of Glasgow, I was taught to answer the question, “Why should my students care?” That’s the same thing you need to ask yourself constantly throughout a presentation, meeting, pitch, or any situation where persuasion takes place. Your listeners are asking themselves: “What’s in this for me?” Answer it. Do you come out of meetings sometimes wondering, “What was that all about?”

4. Tell more stories. Inspiring leaders tell memorable stories. Few managers appreciate the power of stories to connect with their audiences No amount of data can replace a story Stories connect with people on an emotional level. They engage people’s hearts and minds and move them to take action. Tell more of them. Ask your direct reports to tell you what memorable stories they’ve told lately to motivate their teams.

5. Invite participation. Inspiring leaders bring employees, customers and colleagues into the process of building the company, or service. This is especially important when trying to motivate young people. The command and control way of managing is over. Instead, today’s inspiring leaders solicit input, listen for feedback and actively incorporate what they hear. Employees want more than money going into the bank every month. They want to know that their work is adding up to something meaningful. Ask your managers what ideas their people have come up with to improve things this week.

6. Reinforce an optimistic outlook. Inspiring leaders speak of a better future Extraordinary leaders throughout history have been more optimistic than the average person. Winston Churchill exuded hope and confidence in the darkest days of World War II. Speak in positive, optimistic language. Be a beacon of hope. Ask your direct reports teams if they feel optimistic and if they do, why? Is it down to their manager ñ or you?

7. Encourage potential. Inspiring leaders praise people and invest in them emotionally When people receive genuine praise, their doubt diminishes and their spirits soar. Encourage people and they’ll walk through walls for you. Ask your direct reports teams when was the last time they got praised for a job well done.

Inspiring leadership demonstrated daily to motivate your people to give their best will get you through the tough market conditions we are all facing. It’s the key to full employee engagement, total customer loyalty, breathtaking sales and profit growth and the streamlining of processes. Are the leadership skills in your organisation all they should be to help you thrive in the recession?

Call us now on 01244 681068, or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discover how we can transform your managers to become the truly inspiring leaders of today.

Week 04: How to sharpen up to stay ahead of the competition

As the world’s premier business and people development organisation we find that the hardest people to train and develop are those who already know everything.

John Wooden, successful American basketball coach, says, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

Did you hear about the man in the woods who came across a young lumberjack working feverishly to cut down a tree? “What are you doing?” he asked. “I am sawing down this tree,” he replied. The old-timer said, “You look exhausted. How long have you been at it?” The young lumberjack replied, “Over five hours and I’m knackered but times are tough so I’ve got to keep on carving!”

Not yet ready to reveal that he, himself, had spent 30 years as a lumberjack, the older man said, “It looks as if your saw might be a bit dull.” “It probably is,” said the young man, “I’ve been sawing all day.” “Then why don’t you take a break and sharpen it?” the older man suggested. “The job will go a lot faster if you do.” The young lumberjack replied, “I don’t like sharpening and anyway I don’t have time right now, I’m too busy sawing!”

It’s one thing to work hard in tough times, it’s another to work well! Don’t just saw, take time to sharpen! Every five years, knowledge in most major fields doubles. That means if you don’t stay sharp:

1) You’ll be left behind;
2) The opportunities will go to others;
3) You’ll be qualified to live in a world that no longer exists.

If you want to stay sharp, our leading edge personal development, leadership and motivation programmes will keep you miles ahead of the competition.

Call us now on 01244 681068 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to find out how we can keep you sharp.

Week 03: How to stop your managers being ‘useless’ leaders

We’re brilliant according to our clients, such as Honda (UK), HBOS, Shell, Rolls Royce at developing managers to understand and apply truly inspirational leadership skills to dramatically drive up performance. They tell us that we’re especially good at it during changing and challenging times like now!

However, guess where we start?

By teaching them the latest whizz-bang theory on leadership?

No!

We start by showing them how to stop being rubbish at leading!

Managers, especially those with terrific technical skills and abilities, have a natural affinity towards being terrible leaders and we have the antidote!

We show them how to stop:-

* Killing enthusiasm through micro-management, coercion and disrespect and not dealing decisively with under-performing members of the team.

* Killing emotion by being aggressive, lacking empathy, not supporting the work-life balance and not being decisive, or proactive in removing uncertainty in changing times.

* Killing explanation through incomplete, or inconsistent communication which is filled with mixed messages that cause confusion.

* Killing engagement through setting limited team goals, insisting on dictating objectives and very little, or no, emphasis on true performance coaching.

* Killing reward by focusing on the wrong things, or doing it in the wrong way for example, by offering a cash bonus to someone who is not motivated by money.

* Killing culture by ignoring differences in working cultures when managing mergers between organisations, or re-structures within organisations, or by punishing risk-taking when trying to introduce a culture of innovation.

* Killing trust by making unfair decisions when hiring, promoting or rewarding staff.

Call us now on 01244 681068, or visit our website at http://www.sewells.com to discover how we can help to turn your managers into focused, agile and dynamic leaders, who are both brilliant and consistent in:-

* Inspiring people to give their best and become more results and customer focused

* Developing team working excellence

* Maintaining positive attitudes

* Developing a “can do”, “bring it on” culture that shows through in great results!

You’ll be glad you did!

Week 02: The Fish Fryer’s Tale

This is a very relevant story enjoy it!

There was once a fryer of fish. He was a fryer of no ordinary fish, for he used only the best fillets from only the finest, freshest cod. The chips that accompanied his famous fish were of equal quality, cut from the best potatoes available and fried in the most exclusive oil. He operated from a mobile van and occupied the top slots on his regular travels. His advertising board and the message on his van proudly stated that his fish and chips were the “best in the world, made with only the finest ingredients.”

As a result, his business flourished and, in his own moderate way, he was financially successful. He had one son, his only child, and he wanted nothing but the best for him, so, using the money gleaned from his frying of fish, he sent him away to university.

His son did well, enjoying being exposed to such clever people and weighty opinions, and it was some time before he returned home to his father during a holiday. He waxed lyrical about subjects previously of great mystery to the father, demonstrating his newly acquired knowledge with great panache and style, and his reputation grew.

One evening, shortly before his return to university, the son took the father aside to discuss the family business. “Father”, he said, “there is talk of a great recession that is going to take place in the world, with even large corporations fighting for their very survival. Times will be hard and the only way to stay afloat is to cut costs drastically”. His father listened attentively as his son added, “everywhere I look, in the papers, the radio and in the halls and coffee bars of my university, the message is ‘cut cut, cut’. I urge you not to fall behind the trend. My advice to you is to cut costs to survive this recession”.

The father was by now in awe of his learned son, and he could not ignore advice from him, which was so well supported by the media and the discussions that take place within a recognised seat of learning. He drastically cut his orders of fish and potatoes, chose a cheaper, more common frying oil and changed the advertising message on his van to reflect that he no longer used the finest ingredients. As well as reducing costs, he decided to raise extra revenue and sold his advertising board to another trader, who had it re-painted in his own colours and logo.

Within only a few months, his business could no longer support him and his family, and he sold it at a great loss, having to take early retirement. He called his son to tell him of the sad news, telling him he must stay at university, as his son had become so clever that he had foretold the difficulties the recession would bring. His final words to the educated offspring were: “what a wonderful thing a university education is.”

Don’t believe everything you hear or read!!

Week 01: The Key to Thriving in a Recession

Let’s face it for the last ten years or so, the economy has been so “nice”, to use Mervin King’s word, that in many organisations, even those who were average at basic management skills did ok. In fact, some did very well!

This has led to complacency and unfortunately, many of these organisations are now experiencing a big shock.

When people stop spending money and everything points to this now happening the only way to survive and indeed thrive is to make sure you’ve got outstanding inspirational leaders, at all levels across the organisation.

This is what recession proofing is all about.

Having outstanding inspirational leaders, who can fully engage their people to leave no potential unfulfilled and to maximise every opportunity in sales, marketing, operations, finance, administration, customer loyalty etc is what will separate the winners and losers during a recession and we can help you produce them in double quick time.

There is, however, a negative message that needs to be conveyed as each and every day that goes by, without you getting your managers to become brilliant leaders you are effectively playing Russian roulette with the organisation.

We are positive people, who always convey positive messages and we’ve been around long enough to know what’s needed to THRIVE in recessions. Let us help you.

Call us now on 01244 681068, or visit our website at http://www.sewells.com to discover how we can help you create the dynamic, high performance culture that you desire.

We’ll tell you how to stop your managers being useless leaders and then we’ll tell you how to get them to become so inspirational, that you’ll not only THRIVE through the “bumpy” times, but you’ll also put clear blue water between you and your competitors, for when the “nice” times return!


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An exhilarating read for people serious about making their lives better.

“The principles are simple, yet effective… stick with it and you will reap the benefits. You will learn principles that you can carry with you for the rest of your life” Samayah Riaz, Editor-in-Chief, DEEN Magazine
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Inspiring Leadership

When your executives, managers and supervisors become inspirational leaders, confidently applying the Sewells World-class methods, they channel and direct your people’s energy.

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Organisational Development (O.D)

For an organisation to increase its visibility, effectiveness, competitiveness, image, customer loyalty and profitability O.D excellence is a ‘must’. It creates the ultimate organisational differentiator … self renewal.

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