Blog

Thinking of cutting back on marketing?  You won’t be alone.  In July this year, Marketing Week reported a record decline in budgets, dwarfing previous

Finding new business has always been tough. Throw in a global pandemic and the worst recession in living memory, and it seems impossible.  Even well

Think back to January.  Did you resolve to do something life-changing? Get fit or lose some weight?  How’s that going now?  Hit your

Feeling stuck?  Swimming against a tsunami of demands with no hope of moving forwards?  You’re not alone.  Many of the CEOs I coach are

There’s always so much to know, discover and learn. That’s why I love podcasts. They feed my brain with new information, perspectives and insights.

Looking to scale-up your business?  Wondering where to start and how to put the right structure in place?  You could do worse than getting to grips

The seasons, the tides, sunrise and sunset. The rhythms that surround us give reassurance to our lives. When they’re interrupted, we hit problems.

Tell me. Do you shy away from difficult conversations?  If someone in your team says something stupid, do you roll your eyes?  Be

We’ve had over 30 guests on our podcast so far this year, recommending a whole range of brilliant business books.  And as it’s holiday time,

Are you deliberate about shaping the culture of your business? Or does it evolve around you with very little thought? This matters because your

‘I know what’s expected of me at work’.  It’s no coincidence that this is the first, foundational question of the Gallup Q12 measure of

Setting high standards.  Believing in what you do.  Feeling part of a great team. These all come down to pride.  People with pride work

Do you read?  Or listen to podcasts?  I ask because it’s so important to me.  It’s indicative of a growth mindset – something that’s vital for any CEO

Simple question.  Is your office kitchen a mess?  Do people wash up their plates and mugs?  Or leave them in the sink for others to

Change.  It’s all around us.  Everywhere you look, people are re-evaluating.  The pandemic has made us realise that nothing is

Has COVID-19 made you re-think everything about your life? There’s no doubt that the period of lockdown has been a reflective time. This applies

You know business culture is important.  But you’re not entirely sure why.  Or how to influence the culture in your own business. 

Picture the scene. Marks & Spencer. 1988. A warehouse up north. 50 students have just been hired over Christmas to cope with the additional

It’s clear we’re in for a deep and long-lasting recession.  Only this week, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned that Britain is facing a ‘severe

Are you re-thinking your entire approach to your business?  You won’t be alone.  The economic disruption of the pandemic is starting to

It’s hard to remember a more disruptive period than the last six weeks.  The global pandemic has caused mayhem that was unimaginable only a few

Ever feel like things aren’t running well in your business?  Can’t put your finger on why?  Maybe there’s no easy way to feel as though

Concerned about the future?  You’re most certainly not alone. It seems inconceivable that a few short weeks could turn the world upside down, bringing

The coronavirus crisis poses many dangers. Most obvious are physical health impacts.  But less apparent, and more widespread, are the long term

Week three of lockdown and no sign of normality returning any time soon. People are starting to accept that we’re in this for the long haul. Life is

Every day, the news gets bleaker. With the coronavirus crisis deepening, the full economic effect is starting to become clear. The latest headlines

Unprecedented. A word we’ve heard a lot recently. It’s been used to describe the restrictions to daily life, the scientific response and the nature of

Well – what a difference a week makes. It feels like the world has shifted on its axis.  The outbreak of Covid-19 is accelerating changes in our

Doom and gloom are everywhere.  The disproportionate reporting of the media seems to be reaching a fever pitch. Attention-grabbing headlines

Never mind the coronavirus. One of the biggest epidemics in the business world is badly run meetings.  You know the ones – poorly prepared,

Running a business can be tough at the best of times.  So many unplanned challenges and obstacles facing you every day. It’s hardly surprising that

In a frantic world where trust is hard to come by, brand promises matter.  They’re how people learn whether they can truly believe and trust in you

Ever feel like you need an interpreter?  Acronyms are everywhere in business. They’ve become a language in their own right, particularly in the

Made any plans for 2020? Feeling confident about the future? Is there a clear road-map in your business, leading to a new and thrilling

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of Simon Sinek.  He took the business world by storm in 2009 with his lecture, ‘How

It’s so easy for corrosive attitudes to set in and spread like wildfire in a business.  Often they originate with one or two toxic employees who

I’m going to let you into a secret.  There’s a method that I’ve introduced to my CEO clients which they’ve found transformational.  Not only

How good are your team?  A simple question that often involves facing up to hard truths. If your plans for 2020 include scaling up your business,

There’s always so much to know, discover and learn. That’s why I love podcasts. They feed my brain with new information, perspectives and insights.

The holidays are upon us. A much-needed break to kick back, enjoy some downtime and catch up with some reading. 2019 has been a great year for

There’s no doubt in my mind.  Getting better at fitness has been a big part of my success as a business coach.  It’s about an 80:20 approach

Creating a buzz.  Getting people talking.  Doing something remarkable.  This is what you want for your business.  In a world where

You’re an ambitious CEO with your sights set on growth.  You want to scale-up and have a plan to get there. Before you undo the ropes and cast off,

Motivation and engagement – the holy grails of any business.  With productivity levels languishing in the UK, companies need to get real about

There’s no doubt about it.  Scaling-up is hard work. It requires a sea change in management thinking and a whole new set of skills.  It’s

Here’s a challenge for you.  Tomorrow, ask your staff to describe your company strategy.  Could they do this quickly and accurately? If the

Feeling a bit cynical about the idea of company values and purpose?  Think they’re a load of corporate waffle dreamt up by consultants who charge

Criticism. Sometimes it can be hard to take.  It’s so easy to get defensive and try to blame everyone else. And yet, to be successful in

Scaling a business isn’t easy.  It takes effort, dedication and a systematic approach.  You need to adopt new ways of working, approaching

Simple question.  Does your business have the right people, doing the right things in the right way?  It’s common for businesses that are

Rhythms are a natural part of life.  We’re all familiar with the rhythm of nature, the regular cycle of the seasons, the continual movement of

Be honest. Is your business stuck in an endless cycle of unfinished projects?  Is energy being wasted by people going off in multiple directions

‘I don’t have enough leads’.  Sound familiar? How often do you hear this excuse from your salespeople?  It’s pretty common for sales

Wishing your business was more profitable?  You’re not alone. Many of the CEOs I speak to are frustrated. Their order book is healthy, staff are

Do you have a clear strategy for your business?  Such a simple question but boy, can it be difficult to answer.  It’s so easy to get bogged

What is core purpose in business (and how do you find it?) People yearn for certainty and meaning in their lives.  And often, that certainty

It's holiday time! And in case you're heading to the beach for some much needed R&R (and even if you're not), we've compiled Dom's top picks for

We've had over 30 guests on our podcast so far this year, recommending a whole range of brilliant business books.  And as it's holiday time,

Everyone is different. Fact. Our thoughts, motivations and talents are entirely unique. It’s one of the many fascinating aspects of human psychology.

5 roadblocks on the Scaling-Up journey (and how to smash through them) Want to Scale-Up your business?  Feeling fired up and ready to take

How using the 3HAG Way can turbocharge your business growth Tell me. Is your business strategy crystal clear? Do you and your team have complete

Do you trust your colleagues? Do they trust you?  Simple questions that are loaded with significance.  In theory, it’s easy to agree that

I love to read.  To my mind, if you’re a business leader, you can’t afford not to.  I often hear excuses. Some people are too busy – life is

First impressions count, right? Everyone knows that.  It’s almost a cliché. There are various stats out there saying that judgements are formed

Is your company in overwhelm? Doing too much but never seeming to move forward? Time and again, I see this in the clients I coach.  When I speak

Cast your mind back. Have you ever worked for a bad manager? Can you remember how you felt?  Frustrated? Despairing? Unmotivated? Chances are,

Change.  Do your staff struggle with it?  Humans are creatures of habit and we prefer to stick with what we know.  This can cause

Saying thank you. Noticing a job well done.  Spotting positive behaviour. These make a massive difference to staff engagement.  And yet, in

It’s always puzzled me.  Why do so many businesses focus on finding new customers rather than keeping the ones they’ve got?  Research shows

Mastering the Rockefeller Habits to Scale Up your business There’s a reason why I rate Mastering the Rockefeller Habits.  I’ve seen first-hand

Can I ask you one thing?  Do all your staff feel able to speak their minds without any fear of judgement or ridicule?  If the answer’s

Be honest. Is your exec team as good as it could be?  Are they tight-knit, collaborative and honest? Do they understand and support each other?

Learning, developing, growing – there’s a reason these three words go together.  You can’t have one without the other. They depend on each

The executive team is healthy and aligned (Rockefeller Habit #1) You’re an ambitious CEO with your sights set on growth. You want to scale up and

Why this is the best employee engagement survey for scaling up I love the Gallup Q12. It’s a fantastic metric for measuring employee engagement.

There's always so much to know, discover and learn. That's why I love podcasts. They feed my brain with new information, perspectives and insights.

Is recruitment one of your biggest headaches? Many of the CEOs I coach say attracting the right people is a bottleneck that slows down revenue and

If you’re serious about growing your business, there are a few fundamentals you can’t afford to ignore.  Number one on that list is the happiness

13 years and two months.  That’s the amount of time the average person spends at work.  A lot of their life. And yet many spend this

Telling it straight.  Being open and honest. Giving constructive guidance and feedback.  They all sound simple but are, in fact, really

Agility.  Customer Focus.  Passion.  These are the hallmarks of many smaller companies.  They are fostered by the drive,

You’re CEO on a mission.  You’ve amassed a talented team of people with energy and determination. Your business model has achieved product market

Are most of the meetings in your company a waste of time? When I’m working with a group of people or speaking in public, I often ask that question and

I’ll say it until you’re bored of listening. Happy staff + happy customers = profitability.  Simple! I think that’s all any successful business

How to create core values with value “Company values”.  Two words that are often loaded with corporate hot air and bullsh*t. They’re not

Times are uncertain. We’re surrounded by turmoil and feel unsettled by events beyond our control. People have always searched for meaning in their

There’s a reason ‘Talent’ is first on my 10 Point Plan For Scaling Your Business. It’s critical. Nothing is more important than attracting the right

10 point plan for scaling your business You’ve decided you want to scale-up. You think your business is ready for rapid, significant and

Here's our list of the top 10 most influential books we've read during 2018. The Founder's Mentality: How to Overcome the Predictable Crises of

It’s that time of year again.  Decorations packed away, children back to school, gym memberships purchased and a quiet sense of relief.

How to find the right rhythm for scaling up Every business has its own rhythm.   Whether it’s meetings, goals, budgetary cycles or

Stories and legends – they’re everywhere at this time of year.  Cards, advent calendars, school nativities, carols – they all tell a Christian story

Broken chairs. Strict dress codes. Dead flowers. Awful coffee. It’s amazing what every-day things can tell you about the culture of a business and the

Buying the tree.  Wrapping the presents. Singing carols. Cooking a turkey. It’s pretty obvious what I’m talking about.  Sorry if you’re already

Working from home.  It’s got to be a good thing, right?  Everyone knows that it’s hugely valued by employees. It gives them flexibility to work around

Businesses are changing. Fact. Gone are the days of predictability, forecasting and long-term planning.  In an increasingly uncertain world,

Where do you see yourself in 10 to 25 years’ time? Now, that is a big question, isn’t it? Have you ever actually thought about what you REALLY want

I love to read. Because I love to learn. Not only do I read in order to make me better as a coach, but to know more about the world. Which I suppose

Dysfunctional teams, we’ve all seen them, and most of us will have been part of one at some point in our careers. They can have a negative impact both

Giving negative feedback. We hate it don’t we. Most people feel it’s one of the toughest jobs a manager has. We imagine there’s going to be this huge

Have you ever felt like you’ve wasted your time by being in a meeting? I bet there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t put their hand up for that one. In

“Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.” Tom Peters. Think back to the worst manager you ever had.

I’ve read a lot of books and articles about goal setting, and how important it is to set out a plan to reach those goals, but sometimes figuring out

To understand why trust is so important in business we need to go back in time. Back to the Industrial Revolution, when people left their rural jobs

In business, people matter. Or at least they do until they aren’t the thing that matter the most any more, the leadership team is. That’s the first

How so? Think back to the last date you went on (if you can think back that far!). How do you want your date to feel? Do you want them to feel they

Let’s start at the beginning — what are OKRs? They are Objectives and Key Results. A process for setting, communicating and monitoring goals and

We all know how important a sales team is. If you’re not generating sales in your business, then you’re dead in the water. It means hiring the right

I’ve worked with a lot of high growth businesses and I’m sure most of them would say the one thing that slows down their revenue and growth is

Gone are the days of boring, uninspiring, demotivating office spaces. We’re bombarded with lists of the ‘Coolest Office In The World’. And yes, some

I know this is going to be a controversial idea. Some of you will dismiss it out of hand. But what if we didn’t pay all salespeople commission? What