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The Skills And Qualities Of A Company Director (part 3 of 3)

Jeremy Thorn, an experienced company Chairman and Director, looks at many of the requirements of being a Company Director, and most especially the qualities that may be required. In Part 1 of this article, ‘Becoming a Company Director’, we looked at some very important basics. We examined... read more

 

How Do You Make Your Customers Feel?

A middle aged, well off white South African lady found herself sitting next to a black man on an airline flight. She called the cabin attendant and demanded to be found another seat. The attendant returned to announce that there was one seat available in first class. “It is most extraordinary to make this kind of change”, the attendant continued, “but the captain felt that no one should be forced to sit beside such an unpleasant person.” The attendant then turned to the black man and said, “So if you would like to follow me, Sir, I have a seat ready for you.” read more

 

Pensions - As Good As It Gets

In the opening article I claimed that pensions are the most tax efficient investment vehicle available, but I also conceded that this was irrelevant if the underlying investments didn’t deliver performance. In the past the limited investment choice associated with many pension products perhaps went some way to explaining... read more

 

The P Word

Let’s be frank, for many of us ‘pensions’ has become a dirty word. The reason for this has little to do with pensions and everything to do with what has been put in them. Too many of us have found ourselves stuck in insurance company ‘managed’ or ‘with profit’ funds that have greatly disappointed. This has led to disillusionment because, after all, tax efficient returns of next to nothing are still next to nothing! read more

 

The Secrets of Small Business Success

The UK is a hotbed of entrepreneurial talent, but in today’s tough markets, not all small businesses make it. To understand the secrets of SME success, BT Business commissioned a report with Alain Samson and Thorsten Roser, from London School of Economics. They investigated how and why key decisions made by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have contributed to some being significantly more successful than others. read more

 

Your Brand Is More Than Just A Logo

Branding is an exercise that starts and ends with the Chief Executive. There may be elements of it that belong in the Marketing department, including logo design, but the major elements of it are central to how the company will be seen both inside and outside the business. read more

 

Take More Risks

I can remember when I was about fourteen or fifteen years old, sitting down wanting to ask a pretty girl across the room to dance. I could not bring myself to do it. I did not have the courage. I had huge fear of her slapping me round the face or even worse, ignoring me and then going to dance with someone else – everything negative which totally destroyed the power within me to take action. read more

 

Duties Of A Company Director ( part 2 of 3)

Jeremy Thorn, an experienced company Chairman and Director, looks at many of the requirements of being a Company Director.In Part 1 of this article, ‘Becoming a Company Director’, we looked at some very important basics. We examined some common misconceptions about being a director: for example, the different roles of a director and a shareholder, the need to consider a company’s best interests as a legal entity in its own right and the relevance (or not) of limited liability. We also reviewed the possible components of a Board, different types of directors and some important practicalities, such as what should happen when a board might disagree. But what about the more practical detail of any Director’s duties? Being a company director is a very exciting and fulfilling role. With your board colleagues, you get to steer your company’s fortunes and future, see the whole picture, work outside your specific area of functional expertise at the most senior level, help to influence and make really important decisions, and shape just what sort of company you want to be part of. [b]But with such power comes responsibility.[/b] read more

 

Becoming A Director (part 1 of 3)

Jeremy Thorn, an experienced company Chairman and Director, looks at many of the requirements of becoming a Company Director. read more

 

Board Meetings: How New Directors Can Add Their Weight ( final Part of 3)

In the last of this three-part series, Jeremy Thorn, Non-Executive Director of a wide range of organisations and frequent writer and speaker on management topics, looks at Board Meetings, and having asked: ‘Do they serve any purpose?’; and ‘How can we make sure they do?’, enquires how new Directors in particular can add their weight. read more