Purple Line Consulting

These days one thing we can rely on is that we don’t know what is around the corner.

Whether it’s the impact of the credit crunch, a takeover or merger, cost cutting or expansion into new business areas, these changes bring uncertainty and we wonder what the impact will be for our business and for us personally.

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It was good to see Karren on the front page of the Times on 10 April. Unfortunately this time not for her inspirational leadership (see previous blog entry), but instead being arrested for alleged corruption as part of the City of London Police's ongoing investigation into corruption in football.

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I was recently talking with my brother about people with ‘bottle’. We were discussing it in the context of television presenters, some of whom appear to have little talent for what they are doing but supreme confidence to do it anyway. My brother’s ‘bête noire’ is Ian Wright, whereas mine is Dominic Littlewood.

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According to Karren Brady, Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club (BCFC), “what makes a business great is the staff”. And she should know, as she has turned around the fortunes of the Club since her appointment in 1993 when she was just 23 years old.

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In the final article of the Times ‘Career’ series on leadership styles, the benefits of using the most appropriate style for a given situation are highlighted – ‘much as professional golfers pick the right club for each shot they need to make’. The most effective leaders are able to draw on a variety of styles to suit the demands of a specific situation. Having said that, very few people will be able to flex their style easily across all 6, as between 2 to 4 is the normal range.

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Two recent articles demonstrate the business benefits of coaching.

In the Appointments Section of Sunday Times on 17 February 2008, Amanda Blinkhorn drew out the similarities between coaching for sports and business. A few days later on 21 February it was the turn of the coaching style to be examined by Carly Chynoweth.

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An article in the Ascent – potential beyond boundaries (a supplement of the Times of India) entitled ‘Hide and Seek’ provides advice on how to deal fairly with those employees doing ‘the disappearing act’ who ‘have become a nuisance in several organisations. It gets even worse when these absconding employees come back much later to claim unfair dismissal’.

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I was really impressed by the range of articles on management and leadership topics covered in Ascent, a supplement of the Times of India.

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According to the Times of India, beware of being too nice at work. It can make you a pushover and out of touch with reality and, it concludes, gullible, hardworking employees do finish last if things are taken to the extreme.

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I have just returned from a trip to India and can share with you some of the interesting things I noticed whilst I was there about employment-related matters. The first relates to a claim of discrimination… for having a ‘Maharaja’ moustache.

CLICK to read more about Sacked for sporting a ‘Maharaja’ moustache