I regularly meet SME leaders who are incredibly proud of their company culture. And often rightly so. They’ve built something that “feels different” - collaborative, high-performing, values-led, human. But when I ask how that culture was created, the answer is usually...
Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone nods along, agrees what should be done - and then nothing actually happens? You’re not alone. Many businesses are full of ‘decisions’ that never turn into action. The uncomfortable truth is that decisions are worthless if...
You may resist thinking of your business as a 'brand' - and rightly so. The term feels too shallow, too marketing-focused, for something as substantial as the organisation you're building. But it deserves your attention: every organisation develops a personality,...
For many SME founders, succession planning is a pressing challenge. Whether retirement is on the horizon or you’re simply looking for a way to secure the long-term future of your business, employee ownership (EO) is an increasingly popular option. But is it right for...
Most founders I meet want their business to “feel like a good place to work.” But what that actually means changes dramatically as your business moves from the early days to something bigger, more complex, and – let’s be honest – sometimes a bit messier. In my work...
As your business grows, it morphs and changes. It changes in how you need to manage it. It changes in how it is structured. It changes in its needs. I know you know this because you will have had to upgrade your business systems from time to time. As the business...
I was talking recently to a newly promoted manager in a business of about 20 people - a typical SME in many ways. She’s been with the company for years, knows the MD well, and had just stepped up from the shop floor into her first leadership role. We got chatting...
When founders talk about culture change, they often start with good intentions. They want to build something more grown-up, more values-led, less reactive. More like the business they thought they were building in the first place. So they look for a structured...
When you hear "employee ownership," you might picture endless meetings, decisions made by committee, and a business grinding slowly to a halt. In reality, the best EO (employee-owned) businesses show us something very different - and very valuable - about how any...
You’ve built a solid business. The product works. The clients are happy. The numbers are moving in the right direction. From the outside, it’s going well. So why does it feel harder than it should? The team’s not quite coming together the way you hoped. You’re seeing...
Find out how to create and manage a brilliant culture that underpins a truly successful growing business.
Find out how to create and manage a brilliant culture that underpins a truly successful growing business.