Challenging SME managers to set out on a journey of inspiration

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Challenging SME managers to set out on a
journey of inspiration
www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk

• 12 October 2007
• Skills for Business Network
• Dr Mike Hender
• SkillsActive

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Agenda

• What is the Skills for Business network
• The role of the all-sector management and
  leadership team
• Why focus on SMEs?
• What are the issues?
• Some inspiring solutions

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What is the Skills for Business network?

• 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) covering 89 of
  the UK workforce 
• Each SSC is an employer-led, independent
  organisation that covers a specific sector
  across the UK. 
• SSCs are licensed by Government The
  evidence-based, authentic voice of employers

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All-sector management and leadership
programmeLed for the network bySkillsActive

• SkillsActive is the Sector Skills Council for
  Active Leisure and Learning.

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Why focus on SMEs?

• Greatest opportunity for improvement
• Leitch Advisory Panel
• Sector Skills Agreements
• Regional Development Agencies
• Devolved Administrations
• and much other research . . .

This is not a new challenge!
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Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs)

• What skills employers need their workforce to
  have
• How these skills will be supplied
• SSAs are facilitated by the network of SSCs
• Signed up to by suppliers and funders

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Sector Skills Agreement Analysis
http//www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk/SSA2.htm
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Why are SMEs so difficult to engage?

• Dont know what they dont know
• Know they dont know
• High performance, constantly learning

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Assertions

• Management is common sense. I was born with that,
  and dont need to be taught it.
• Ive built my business with no help from anyone
  over the last 30 years. What can you tell me that
  I dont know already?

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Knowing

• How can I get more sales?
• How can I improve my cash flow?
• How do I handle difficult employees
• How do I do succession planning?
• How can I make more time to focus on whats
  really important to me and the business and feel
  less stressed?
• Where can I get funding for expansion?
• How do I build a realistic business plan?

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Knowing and Doing

• How do I improve my political intelligence and
  who should I be networking with?
• How can I inspire my staff to greater things?

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A way forward
One to one business problem consultancy from a
trusted advisor
Action Learning, Inspirational Leadership
Programme
Inspirational Leadership Programme
Northern Leadership Academy research, Jeff Gold
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Action Learning

• David Black

http//www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk/leadermodel.htm
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Action Learning Programmes

• Well established programmes based on extensive
  research and widely available
• Solve both short and long term business issues
  using the collective knowledge of a supportive
  group
• Held locally and at appropriate times to minimise
  time away from the business
• Group meets once a month for 9 to 12 months
• Can lead to very significant business improvement

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Business N has increased new orders by 50

• Since starting the programme, I have worked to
  improve internal communication and now produce
  newsletters, staff briefings and meet with people
  much more often.
• I am trying to adopt a more open style of
  management to encourage staff empowerment. I hope
  that this will ensure less reliance on me as an
  individual in the future and thus help create a
  healthier work/life balance for me.
• I have increased my marketing, promotional and PR
  activities. This has already helped to increase
  my new orders by 50 and there is a feeling that
  all the staff are more motivated.

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Action Learning Programmes

• Southeast England several programmes on offer
• Northern Leadership Academy running programmes in
  Leeds and Liverpool.
• Southwest England programme on offer from
  Leadership SW
• Construction industry programmes in Scotland
• Justice programmes in Wales
• . . .

Email mike_at_hender.net
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If you would like to learn more !
Contact David BlackAction Learning Programme
Manager david.black_at_sfbn-mandl.org.uk 44
(7759) 818 460
http//www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk/leadermodel.htm
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InspirationalLeadership

• Nigel Crouch

http//www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk/IL.htm
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
As managers,how are we currently doing?
One-third of followers admit that they have never
worked for an Inspirational Leader!
(Source Chartered Management Institute)
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
How are we currently doing?

• I believe leaders in my organisation are
  genuinely in touch with how people are feeling
• There is a good buzz and feeling of energy in my
  organisation
• We work hard but Senior Management also makes
  sure that we have fun

62 DISAGREE
50 DISAGREE

54 DISAGREE
(Source Chartered Management Institute)
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Inspirational Leadership Programme

• How do we close the Inspiration Gap?
• What makes an inspirational leader?

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Inspirational Leadership Programme
What factors would inspire you to follow a
leader?

• Their Personal Make-Up
• A Novel Outlook
• Turn-on Capability

DTI sponsored research by Caret of 2,600 UK
workers
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
What makes an inspirational leader?
1. Their Personal Make-up
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
What makes an inspirational leader?
1. Their Personal Make-up
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
What makes an inspirational leader?
2. A Novel Outlook

• Look Laterally
• Bend Rules
• Love Pressure
• Rate Attitude

• Take Risks
• Highly Accessible
• Strongly Visionary
• Customer Obsessed

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Inspirational Leadership Programme
What makes an inspirational leader?

3. Turn-on Capability

• They listen
• They involve
• They trust

• They appreciate
• They have fun
• They care

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New Inspirational Leadership Insight Tool
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Inspirational Leadership Programme

• Users
• Over 8,000 to date
• CEOs from Times 100
• Delivery Partners
• CMI, IiP, CIPD, IoD, . . .

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The Four Dimensions of Inspirational Leadership
DTI sponsored research by Caret of 2,600 UK
workers
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Enthusing others
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Clarifying Values
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Ideas to action
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Creating the Future
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Key Output from Insight Tools
Understand and use your own strongest leadership
attributes to inspire others to follow you
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How The Tool Works

• Forces Choices
• Builds on Strengths
• Recognises Weaknesses
• Differentiates Styles
• Reflects Role

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A Strength-Based Approach

• You can teach a turkey to climb a tree but
  its cheaper to hire a squirrel!
• David McClelland

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How Inspirational Are You?
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Inspirational Leadership Insight
www.inspiredleadership.org.uk
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Inspirational Leadership Programme
People are proud to work here. Proud of
colleagues, proud of the company and proud of
themselves. Middle manager
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If you would like to learn more !
Contact Nigel CrouchInspirational Programme
Manager nigelcrouch_at_f2s.com 44 [phone]
http//www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk/IL.htm
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And for general programme questions
Contact Mike Hender mike_at_hender.net 44 (787)
2021 797
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end
www.sfbn-mandl.org.uk