This article is the SECOND written for the Institute of Directors way back in July 1991.

And still holds true today.

As a Business Leader I have always believed in – and actively, taught – thinking techniques to those I work with. I do this to help others identify what their own individual mind-sets are, compare themselves to others, and consider if there is a benefit in making changes.

Have you ever wondered?

· Why it is that we have disagreements?

· Why we find a perfectly reasonable statement is taken in the wrong way?

· How your instructions or suggestions are not understood or totally misinterpreted?

Change is a constant which usually goes unnoticed but when change is thrust upon us we can become overwhelmed, despondent and act aggressively towards it. Understanding what is happening when we are asked to change will prepare us well for grasping and benefiting from it.

Discover the 4 pillars of a Leaders Powerbase.

All leaders have a powerbase upon which they build their leadership credibility. If you have short comings you had better sort them quickly if you are to become the leader you wish to be.

Those who profess to know everything will inevitably proceed to do or control everything, frustrating all of those around them. They demonstrate a key difference between being a Boss or a Leader

‘I will do it myself’, ‘I’m the only one I can trust’, ‘I need to oversee/control everything’ are common beliefs of the Boss who is then surprised when employees show a lack of ownership.

Giving feedback is a key skill that is often not taught. Whilst we give feedback to help others improve it can be misinterpreted and have a devastating outcome. Understanding some basic rules can help.

Many in the work place are living with stress.

Whether you are the CEO or the Executive, you are guaranteed to be suffering both emotionally and financially if there is stress in the workplace.

If you are a causing or suffering from stress you will be affecting the productivity and profits of the company, your own earning potential, your relationships with colleagues and your health.

"You owe it to the Good to dump on the bad" Others may have expressed it differently, I once heard;

“I wanted a happy culture. So I fired all the unhappy people.”

However you want to say it, factual of fluffy, to many companies put up with employees who are cancerous, slowly destroying all the good cells and ultimately the host, the company.

Former Chairman of Swindon Town Football Club, Rikki Hunt, explains why leaders and managers need supporting to maximise their performance too.

I have been coaching leaders and managers for over 30 years.

My first question to a potential client is: ‘Why do you want a coach’?

Are you a business owner who feels that you are on your own? Do you feel that your staff lacks “Buy in”? Do you wish your staff worked better together?

I have some good news you’re not alone and some bad news it’s your fault.

Now for some more good news, you can “flip” the situation from problem to advantage.

This is the THIRD and final article written for the Institute of Directors way back in August 1991. I have not updated the stats for authenticity purposes. I hope you agree that it is as relevant today as it was in 1991.

This article was the FIRST of three written for the Institute of Directors way back in June 1991. All that has changed is the title.

How many of us have attended courses and then left, fired up with determination to go right back to the company, to implement immediately, to spread the word to other directors and so on, only to find that you hit a wall?

“We are poorly managed” “We’re not trusted” “We are not allowed to act without instruction, “We have no authority”. Sound familiar?

When I hear these words I always ask “So what have you done about it”

These 6 tips will help you on your journey towards being empowered

4 questions you should answer before you embark on setting up your own business.

They are not meant to be exhaustive, they are purposefully designed to encourage you to think deeper about starting your own business, which should encourage a more robust thinking process throughout your journey.