Become a Non Exec in a small business

More than ever SME’s are seeking out Non Executive Directors as an alternative to other support mechanisms offered by consultants or organisations such as Business Link. It is not the case that a capable Executive Director can slot immediately into a NED role. It’s rather like saying that a good footballer can walk into a [...]

Thoughts from Harvard on Governance

Harvard Law School Forum 10 April 2011 Four Steps for Boards to Take to Improve Performance and Gain Shareholder Support Even in this changing environment, the essential nature of the board’s job remains management oversight – specifically, overseeing the performance of the CEO and the senior management team to enhance the corporation’s long-term prosperity. While [...]

Looking for a NED position?

When considering a NED appointment, interviewers are asking “What preparation have you undertaken prior to making the application?” You would do exactly the same for a manager seeking an executive director appointment! Answer – 30th March at our training room in Romsey in Hampshire – our highly rated one day preparatory course for aspiring Non [...]

The Effective Non-Executive Director

More than ever SME’s are seeking out Non Executive Directors as an alternative to other support mechanisms offered by consultants or organisations such as Business Link. It is frequently not the case that a capable Executive Director can slot immediately into a NED role. It’s rather like saying that a good footballer can walk into [...]

NED’s for SME’s

“If the board is not purposefully leading the company into the future who the hell is?” These are the words of John Harvey-Jones one time CEO of ICI, the great UK chemicals company. Having a great board means having directors who are on top of their game and can match up to the competencies required [...]

Get the skills to be a Non Exec Director

Since the Higgs Report there has been a keen focus on the role of the NED and greater scrutiny of the value added. Their contribution has been re-defined and the tasks and outcomes are now well understood. NED’s are now found in many small companies, not just the FTSE 350, and offer a valuable source [...]

Analysis or intuition – the key to business strategy

I am currently reading George Tovstiga’s book, “Strategy in Practice” in which there is a strong pointer towards using intuition as the guide to strategy rather than a positivist and analytical bias. I can subscribe quite readily to this view although see both as important contributors to the debate. A major problem that the book [...]

A triumph of mediocrity over genius!

That’s how Napoleon described The Duke of Wellington’s victory over the French at Waterloo – that’s the battle, not the station by the way! I think the quotation is an apt reminder that all too often we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when we fail to take a risk or ignore an opportunity. [...]

Get some learning in for spring 2011!

Have a look at our spring 2011 programme for all directors of small and medium sized busineses. Booking details on the pdf Special 2 for 1 offer to all WordPress readers!! Regards Leslie Open Courses 4pp A[1]

Non Executive Directors in the SME

Sir Ken Morrison once asked the question “What is the difference between and Non Exec and a supermarket trolley? Answer – “You can get more wine into a Non Exec!” Clearly not a great fan of Non Executive Directors (NED’s) and perhaps with some justification given that in quite recent times, for many, with a [...]