Synergy & Strategy

10 steps to thriving in today’s economy

Gaynor Gravestock — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:35:33 +0000

This exciting presentation will help you think about your business and what you can do to thrive in today’s challenging economy. The event is hosted by Shrewsbury Business Chamber.

You are warmly invited to the next Shrewsbury Business Chamber members event – a presentation by Gaynor Gravestock of Synergy & Strategy at 6pm at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury Town Football Club, on 16^th February. Gaynor Gravestock, a master of business, runs business growth master-classes and offers mentoring and coaching to businesses, to enable them to grow in a profitable and sustainable manner. Gaynor is also a member of the Business Chamber Executive Committee.

Gaynor is dedicated to helping Shrewsbury businesses thrive in today’s challenging economy. Just like Mary Poppins she comes armed with a bottomless bag of useful tools, but in this case they will be a wealth of business tips from how to increase your cash flow, to how to create a marketing niche. The ‘10 steps to thriving in today’s economy’ presentation will be most beneficial to all businesses so I would welcome you to come along and enjoy what promises to be a highly-informative presentation. You can even invite a friend.

The meeting is for members of the business community, and although it is admission-free booking is essential by clicking below (or by contacting Val Povall on 01939 236001 or via info@shrewsburybusinesschamber.com). Refreshments will be served from around 6pm.

Gaynor Gravestock said: “I love to help businesses work smarter, not harder. You need to get the right business strategies for your business and then you need to make sure that they are implemented in the right way.

“It is tough out there, but we all have untapped potential and we need to make sure we are doing the right things to thrive in today’s economy. I am really looking forward to this Business Chamber event, so that I can share my passion for business and offer lots of free business tips to everyone who comes along”.

Is the candidate as good as they say they are?

Gaynor Gravestock — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:35:07 +0000

The team we employ, whether in-house, out-sourced or our suppliers, are crucial to our business so it is imperative that we choose wisely. Here are some tips to make sure you really are choosing the right team members to enhance your business, and to ensure that candidates really can do what they say.

Even if we think we are good at selecting the right team there is still so much we can learn! I have found that it really is a case of not basing it on just one thing (too often people place too much emphasis on the interview), but here’s another interesting perspective.

In an article in the Jan/Feb 2012 Harvard Business Review they suggest that the choice of candidate should be spread across CV, interview and references – though I think it is also important to include research as part of your selection.

So your team selection should include as a minimum:

Research – Check Google, Linkedin and social media to see what is being said by or about them. It is amazing what you can find! Are they still worth interviewing?

CV – Do they have the skills, knowledge and experience required by the job to make them worth interviewing?

Interview – Will they be a good fit? Do they have the potential to grow? Will they add value?

References – Now this is the important, but tricky bit…

I find it is becoming increasingly difficult to get really valuable information from referees, how often do you come across companies that will only state that they were employed in x position from x to x. How useful is that really? And if the candidate is a good sales person, how sure are you that they are what they say and that they will deliver?

Kevin Ryan from Gilt Groupe has a great suggestion regarding getting valuable insight from the referee. Most people are cagey about what they will say to a stranger, and getting valuable references are exacerbated by recent legislation allowing a candidate to ask what was said about them. Kevin suggests that you look at your network to find someone who knows the referee – and Linkedin is a great tool for this. You can then ask that person who is known to the referee to ask for the reference on your behalf. I am sure you will agree that if they know the person they are talking to they are far more likely to be honest – especially if it is verbal and ‘off the record’.

I also consider that it is wise to get referee details before letting the candidate know you are interested in them. The idea of saying you are interested subject to reference checking would demonstrate that it was the references that clinched or failed the deal.

I was recently recruiting an Account Manager and it was at the reference stage that one candidate failed. I discovered they hadn’t asked their referees for permission to act for them, which became evident when one of them couldn’t even remember who the candidate was! Not a good position for someone who has applied to be responsible for our clients!

If anyone wants to know the HBR suggested reference checking questions please let me know and I will send them to you. But anyone interested in HR or getting the most from your team – I do recommend the January-February 2012 Harvard Business Review. Some really interesting articles.

And just on my soapbox regarding recruitment – I consider this the most important aspect of all! Do the candidate’s personal values match those of the recruiting company? And if the company doesn’t have a set of values they should certainly look at addressing this first (imho this is as bad as not having a job description and person specification). If their values match (this should not be determined via direct questions but through insight) then there is a much greater chance that they will fit in and help your business succeed. I find that whenever people focus on skills and overlook values then it bites them in the proverbial. End soapbox.

Happy recruiting!

What will the new year bring?

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:44:03 +0000

New Year is a funny time of the year. We say goodbye to the old and welcome to the new. Many of us make resolutions, much the same as the broken ones from last year, and nothing really changes.

The change from one year into the next is a time when we acknowledge that the last year wasn’t such a good one, but the next one will fare for the better. We always seem to be optimistic as we change from one year to the next, yet will 2012 really be better than 2011? Did anything really change when you woke up this morning?

It is interesting to note that virtually all books and movies that situate themselves in the future are dark and oppressive. Yet as we look to the New Year we tend to see the past as being darker than the year ahead lulls us into believing it will be.

If we look around us at the economy and the various regional uprisings there is good reason for us to feel pessimistic about 2012. So what can you do to make sure your business has a better 2012 than 2011?

Firstly, don’t just plan for your business at the change of the year, or at a significant milestone… make sure you do it on a regular basis, otherwise you will be back on that hamster wheel in no time and nothing will change. Far better that you make time for some creative thinking and planning for your business.

There are lots of different ways to approach your business planning, but you do need the flexibility to be able to change and adapt appropriately. Whether you study business, read business improvement books, read business magazines, meet with other business owners, or have team planning sessions, please make sure you are always thinking about how you can improve what you currently do. The business environment is changing and to be successful we need to respond accordingly. Whatever we do, we need to do something.

Something you might want to consider if you are in Shropshire… One way I make sure I pay attention to all aspects of my business is that each month I run a masterclass where we address a different part of business over a 12 month period. As I prepare for each of these sessions I reconsider whether I am doing the right things to improve my business. As I present the sessions we share discussions and experiences that allow us to better understand what we can do to work smarter, not harder, in our own businesses. If this is something you are interested in, then please check out my website and contact me.

Are you in a winning position?

Gaynor Gravestock — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:18 +0000

Is your strategy in place and your business in a position to win?

Over the holidays did you stop to think about where your life’s heading and what you want from your business? If you are like most of us you will have done.

So given what you are currently doing is your business heading in the right direction? Are you implementing all the right strategies and is your business growing successfully? If not, there are some things you can do to improve the situation…

Let’s face it the economy is shaky, who knows whether we will see a double dip or whether we will ease out of the current situation slowly. The British Chamber of Commerce has downgraded its economic forecasts for the third time this year and it is likely that a number of businesses will not be here next year. Many of us who work with the public sector will be affected by funding cuts, many are already affected by bad debts due to businesses folding, and others are encountering challenging changes to their playing field.

It could be some time before we see a silver lining in the economy, but I am pleased to announce some good news.

There is some government match funding available to build leadership and management skills of businesses wanting to grow. Please contact me about this as I am pleased to say that all of my clients are faring better than they have for a long time… proving that with the right advice and motivation you can build your business positively even in this current economic environment.

Build a more valuable business and consider your exit strategy

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:58:27 +0000

Have you ever heard of these sayings:

Begin with the end game in mind

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

These sayings are heard for a reason!

Most business owners don’t stop to think about an exit strategy—they are too busy working in their business. But you don’t have to leave your exit to chance. Consider your options and shape your own future!

In this Masterclass you will learn the importance of

Having an exit strategy
Planning for your future
Setting objectives
Measuring your key performance indicators (KPIs)
Building a more valuable business

Building a top-class team – in-house or out-sourced

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:52:48 +0000

Whether you employ staff or whether you are a one man band, you still need a team around you.

So your team can help you build a more profitable business, in this masterclass you will learn more about

the importance of leadership and how to be a better leader
how to maintain motivation
how to become more innovative
building a team – in-house and outsourced
how to build a better team through effective human resource management
human resource management and the law – complements of our guest Charlotte Bateman from Bennett’s Legal
interpersonal relations
work life balance

We meet in a private room at the beautiful Lion & Pheasant in Shrewsbury where we sit around
a single table exploring valuable business strategies covering key aspects of your business,
which you can implement into your business right away . . . And all this while enjoying
good company and light refreshments.

Business Direction

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:48:24 +0000

How can you be sure you are going to get there… if you don’t know where you are going?

This masterclass helps you understand the importance of developing a clear vision of where you want to go, and a map of how to get there. With a clear vision, mission and values for your business you have a strategic framework that will help you make decisions and build long term success.

Significant global players such as Coca Cola and Save the Children do this for good reason. When embedded within your business strategy they will help you build a business culture that will support your objectives and help you achieve greater success.

At the end of this session you should be well on your way to having a vision, mission and values as well as key objectives for the next few years.

We meet as a small group in a private room at the beautiful Drapers Hall in Shrewsbury where we sit around a single table exploring valuable business strategies covering key aspects of your business, which you can implement into your business right away . . . And all this while enjoying good company and light refreshments.

Your proposition and your market

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:44:47 +0000

If you can’t tell me what you do in 10 words or less, how are your potential customers supposed to understand what you can do for them? Likewise, if you try to talk to everyone then everyone will think you are talking to someone else, not them.

In this masterclass you will learn the importance of clarifying your business proposition and being clear about who you are targeting. We will explore

What is your product / service?
Who is your target market?
What is your goal for market share?
What turnover / profit will you generate?
What resources do you have / require?
What are your timescales?

We meet in a private room at the beautiful Drapers Hall, Shrewsbury, where we sit around
a single table exploring valuable business strategies covering key aspects of your business.
Each month you promise that you will implement just one thing into your business so you can see the benefits and learn the significance of small change . . . and all this while enjoying good company and tapas!

You can also see what others have said about the masterclass series.

Understanding customers and your unique selling proposition

Gaynor Gravestock — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:41:43 +0000

Do you find that you are very busy, but not necessarily making as much money that you would expect? Do some customers require a lot of servicing, while others don’t? This could be because you are targeting the wrong ones!

In this Masterclass you will learn the importance of

Identifying which customers are the right ones to target
Understanding how they behave and how to communicate with them
What personality you should portray
What is your story
Why should customers should buy from you – your Unique selling Proposition

You can also see what others have said about the masterclass series.

Build a More Valuable Business – and consider your exit strategy

Gaynor Gravestock — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:51 +0000

Have you ever heard of these sayings?

Begin with the end game in mind

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

They are heard for a reason!

In this Masterclass you will learn the importance of

Having an exit strategy
Planning for your future
Setting objectives
Measuring your key performance indicators (KPIs)
Building a more valuable business

All attendees receive useful easy to follow hand outs that explain the course content.

You can also see what others have said about the masterclass series.