There are libraries full of books on leadership and management theory, and vaults full of Government dossiers on how poor management is in the UK. Over 75% of new businesses fail in their first three years, due to poor management of resources, of teams and of the business overall.

These statistics reveal the difference between theory and practical application. People often say management is �just common sense�. They believe they will instinctively �do the right thing� when confronted with a situation that involves dealings with others.

However, common sense can be the first thing to desert us when we want results, when we�re under pressure, or when we are wary of what others will think of us. Think of a time when an off-hand remark has left a trail of bad feeling and maybe had damaging consequences.

Sports people and musicians are routinely coached and practice several hours a day, even when at the top of their profession. Guidance and practice - continuous learning - these are essential elements of business success.

You can coach and lead your team and your business to success, achieve your goals and improve your leadership qualities with our Management and Leadership Programmes, Workshop Series, Top Tips, Resources and Support Network.

Tips and Advice

We�ve put together some handy tips and advice to help you manage the financial aspects of your business. The tips and articles will point you in the right direction, providing you with a plan of action to increase the profile and promote the unique qualities of your business.

If you have a question, please drop us a line and we shall put it forward for the weekly Q/A session. For one to one advice you can seek further support from our expert advisers directly, please see the Dedicated Supplier Directory Section.

Top Tips

• Top Management Tips at Planning Stage - View
• Top Management Tips for Launch Stage - View
• Top Management Tips at Growth Stage - View

Articles

For further reading you can download the following articles:

• Recruitment Interview Question and Probing Skills - View/Download
• Recruitment Interviewing Guidelines - View/Download
• Productive Conversations - View/Download

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the above articles. You can download this for free from http://www.adobe.com/.

Training and Support

Improve � Management And Leadership Training Programme: Workshop Series

Management and Leadership Training Programme.

Cost: �300.00 total for four evening workshops

First Series Feb � April 2006

At Striding Out we know that entrepreneurs no matter of their age are time-starved, due to the nature of being self-employed. Therefore, we�ve put together a series of four monthly evening workshops from 6pm - 9pm (from February to May 2006). Plus a fifth review workshop to close the programme in September 2006.

You�ll learn how to:

• Enhance your communication and negotiation skills to get what you want.
• Improve your understanding of communications, people development and strategy.
• Become a self-supporting learning set.
• Activate tools for strategic thinking about your business to work �on� your business.
• Develop your own coaching and facilitation skills.
• Motivate and develop other people.
• Discover that good management is creative and fun.

The workshops will also cover:

• Facilitation skills for action learning sets.
• Coaching skills for buddying and mentoring.

Workshop 1: Communication

This will cover:

• Basic principles of good communication and assertive behaviour.
• How to facilitate a discussion in meetings.
• Talking 1-1 for supervision.
• Using a coaching style to get the best from your team.

To continue your personal development, participants will be given guidance on facilitation and coaching skills, and offered the chance to be co-facilitators on any of the subsequent three workshops.

Workshop 2: Strategic Planning

How to �step back� from the day to day running of your business and work �on� it rather than �in it. We will look at:

• The difference in thinking between operational delivery and strategy.
• Useful tools for business planning.
• The communications strategy you�ll need to take your plans forward, meet your targets and fulfil your goals.

Workshop 3: Managing professional and social boundaries

Building a creative young team to help run your business is exciting and fun. As a young entrepreneur, you�ll want to create an informal and friendly atmosphere, and, while the business is small, you want to feel part of that team. But how do you cope when the situation requires formal authority, more discipline or a different attitude?

This workshop will help you:

• Navigate your way through the minefield of getting the right balance between authority and friendship; discipline and fun.
• Set standards and maintain professional boundaries.

Workshop 4: Motivation

Motivation is a complex subject which has been researched over many years. Drawing on the theoretical background this workshop will look at how to:

• Get the best out of people day to day.
• Help people to learn and contribute to your enterprise.
• Keep motivated and manage your and your staff�s learning through buddying and action learning sessions.

Additional Session 5: Round- Up at Dinner Matters
September 2006 (�25.00 inclusive of dinner)

This is a round up session in September for those on the course to come together after a further three months, to review the effect and impact the Management and Leadership course has made to them and the organization over the course of six months.

In conjunction to the workshops, participants will have access to ongoing email and phone support for a further four months.

Other Links

Expert Advice provided by
Diana Gibbs of

www.kdpartnership.co.uk

To find out more about their services
visit the Dedicated Supplier Directory.

Online Mentoring

Submit your question to Diana..now