Vistage UK Blog

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Leading, Not Managing

October 6, 2022

How to look after your employees during times of rapid change

Our people are our greatest assets. So, how can we, as business leaders, make sure we’re continuously supporting and protecting our employees’ mental and..
Leading, Not Managing

September 26, 2022

Why is employee development so important?

Businesses across the UK are in a period of rebuilding and growth. One of the factors that will determine success going forward is great talent. However,..
Leading, Not Managing

August 26, 2022

A survival guide for first-time CEOs

Becoming a first-time CEO is an exciting new challenge. But it can also be daunting. As the highest-ranking executive at your business, you’ll have the..
Getting Ahead

August 25, 2022

Struggling to hire and retain talent? Here’s what you can do about it.

Is your business struggling to hire and retain the people you need? Here’s your solution. Ahead of her upcoming Vistage talk, we spoke with co-founder of..
Economy

August 10, 2022

Pricing in Precarious Times

With soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis only worsening, prices are rising in all aspects of life.
Economy

July 20, 2022

5 Things UK Leaders Need to Know About Inflation, Labour Shortages and the Economy

Every quarter, behavioural economist and Vistage speaker Roger Martin-Fagg shares his expert analysis of the current financial situation and what we can expect..

July 4, 2022

How to live your life on purpose: Dr Tharaka Gunarathne

Vistage speaker and clinical psychiatrist Dr. Tharaka Gunarathne - Dr T for short - will be a familiar face to many of you. We’ve previously spoken to him..
Sales

June 13, 2022

The CEO’s guide to building a world-class sales system

Great salespeople and amazing sales figures don’t just come from natural talent. They also come from tried and tested skills and processes, as well as a great..

June 9, 2022

Keith Coats on what it takes to be a ‘futurefit’ leader

“The greatest threat for most leaders right now is not the turbulence in their marketplaces and industries, but rather applying yesterday’s logic to tomorrow’s..

What will life after the executive suite look like for you?

C-Suite roles are richly rewarding. Throughout your career, you will have felt a sense of purpose, meaning and status. You’ll be used to days filled with..

May 18, 2022

Leadership speaker and management trainer Malcolm Smith on the art of remote delegation

Many business leaders struggle to delegate effectively at the best of times. With hybrid working now the norm - and with the need to delegate remotely - it’s..

May 17, 2022

How confident are SME CEOs in early 2022?

Every quarter, we publish the Vistage CEO Confidence Index. It’s a barometer of SME CEOs’ sentiments regarding the overall economy, their own business and..

May 5, 2022

Increasing productivity from the human cloud

CEO of Open Assembly and Vistage Speaker, Barry Matthews, is no stranger to the gig economy. In his own business, he helps global enterprises to digitally..

April 8, 2022

Why buyer behaviours are changing - and how to respond

COVID-19 has completely changed the way we work. Hybrid working is here to stay. Business continuity and contingency plans have come to the fore. And many..

April 5, 2022

“The best decision I made in my career” Nick Bates on life after the C-Suite

Nick Bates has been a Vistage Chair in Yorkshire since 2014. Before that, he enjoyed a 25-year career in commercial law, working with businesses to help them..
Vistage Chair

March 10, 2022

“Think about what is beyond possible”. How a varied career led to a sense of purpose for Vistage Chair, Laura Gordon

Vistage Chair Laura Gordon always knew she wanted to help people. She just didn’t know-how. Her first degree - in Psychology - helped to cement this. “I was..
Life At The Top

January 28, 2022

Enjoy a new perspective. Live a life of climb.

Whether you’re a brand new start up, a business struggling to get a foothold in the market or a roaring success, all aspirational businesses will have one..

December 23, 2021

Vistage’s top business books of 2021

One of the most important things a business leader can do is to keep on learning. Of course, there are many ways in which this learning can happen.
Recruitment

December 15, 2021

Speakers

December 15, 2021

The power of profitable conversations

AmyK Hutchens knows a thing or two about communication. International award-winning speaker, Amazon best-selling author and founder of the global community,..

December 9, 2021

What does a focus on ESG and sustainability mean for SMEs?

Steve McNulty knows a thing or two about ESG and sustainability. As well as being a Vistage Chair - both in the UK and the US - he describes himself as a..
Speakers

November 29, 2021

Do you have a stable table for growth? By Bryony Thomas

Imagine trying to tap dance whilst juggling plates. Tricky, right? Now imagine trying to do this on a table with wobbly legs. Trickier still?
Recruitment

October 19, 2021

Business leaders face supply chain disruption and recruitment challenges

In Q2 2021, SME CEOs were more confident in the UK economy than they had been in the last two years.

October 6, 2021

Why companies fail at digital transformation - and how to succeed

Imagine that everyone in your organisation has been summoned for the town hall meeting. The CEO walks onto the stage. The music starts to play, and he turns to..

September 29, 2021

Why successful hybrid working requires leadership, empathy and creativity

83% of attendees at a recent Vistage webinar expected to work in a hybrid way – both remotely and in the office – over the next 12 months. Bringing employees..

August 27, 2021

Does your marketing support healthy sales flow?

By Bryony Thomas, Author & Founder, Watertight Marketing.

August 23, 2021

A positive outlook with Vistage’s Q2 2021 CEO Confidence Index

The Vistage Confidence Index is a quarterly analysis of data collected from over 200 CEOs of small to medium-sized businesses. We look at their overall..
Leading, Not Managing

July 26, 2021

What can business leaders learn from England manager Gareth Southgate?

“Looking at that man there it’s everything a leader should be: respectful, humble, tells the truth, genuine. He’s fantastic.” This praise for England men’s..
Recruitment

July 23, 2021

How to win the upcoming war for talent

All signs are pointing towards a recruitment boom in 2021. Our latest Vistage Confidence Index found that 70% of CEOs are planning to increase their workforce..
Getting Ahead

July 16, 2021

How to prepare your business for increased confidence and growth

Our latest Vistage Confidence Index showed that 76% of CEOs expect economic conditions to improve during the next 12 months. Revenue growth expectations have..

July 6, 2021

How should your hybrid office look? Consult with staff to find out

Our research has found that just 26% of businesses are considering an entirely remote work setting, with 17% likely to remain office-based, and 57% considering..
Leading, Not Managing

July 6, 2021

Hybrid workforces require a new type of leadership

As we emerge from the pandemic, one thing is clear: we’ll never work in the same way as before. While some people prefer to continue working remotely, others..

June 17, 2021

Is your hybrid working set up for introverts?

Right now businesses around the world are facing a big decision: how to work in a post-pandemic world. There are three clear options: continuing with a fully..

June 16, 2021

Leading Gen Z and Millennials requires a new understanding of generational theory

If generational theory is to be believed, Generation Z and Millennials are very different to the generations preceding them. For business leaders, this means..
Business

June 2, 2021

Vistage CEO Confidence Index reveals high hopes for 2021

How confident are you in the prospects for the economy, for your business and for your expansion plans over the coming months and years? In the quarterly..
Speakers

May 20, 2021

Use this ‘Pyramid of Purpose’ to set better goals and achieve personal-professional life balance

Business leaders are no strangers to setting goals. But the complexities of 2020 have had such an impact on our mind and energy levels that we need to rethink..
Change Management

May 14, 2021

If you’re thinking about opening a satellite office to deal with Brexit, here’s what you need to think about

For many UK companies, our split from the European Union is proving to be both logistically challenging and expensive. In response, Anchor Magnets decided to..
Vistage Members

May 5, 2021

This business owner launched a German subsidiary to side-step Brexit red tape

Karndean Designflooring are suppliers of luxury vinyl flooring and have been exporting their products from the UK under their sister brand Designflooring to a..
Vistage Members

April 6, 2021

César Gamio: Achieving the ideal performance state

We all want to be successful as leaders. So we talk about resilience, productivity, optimal performance, doing more, being the best we can be. We focus on..
Vistage Members

March 30, 2021

What do elite sport and business leadership have in common?

What do elite sport and business leadership have in common? With over 20 years of experience at the highest level of elite sport, Vistage Chair Graeme Thompson..
Vistage Members

March 22, 2021

The top five considerations for businesses expanding overseas

Are you looking for opportunities to expand your business overseas?
Economy

February 2, 2021

The toughest challenges facing CEOs: Post-pandemic leadership

This is the moment for strong, inspirational leadership. As businesses recover and rebuild themselves for the post-Covid world, the way in which CEOs lead the..
Business

February 2, 2021

How joining forces with others boosts your decision making power

We all make bad decisions. It’s human nature. When choices are available, it’s easy to make the wrong decision. And we can all carry those wrong decisions with..
Economy

January 22, 2021

Rebuilding your business post-Covid

As mentioned in our Decision Factors Report, Vistage Research developed the “Corona Curve” in April 2020 in an attempt to understand what businesses were — and..
Work/Life Balance Issues

January 20, 2021

Wellbeing initiatives for 2021

We all know the importance of workplace wellbeing. Over the past five years, employee wellbeing initiatives have gone from ‘nice-to-have’ to becoming a core..
Vistage Members

January 11, 2021

Judith O’Leary: 5 tips for developing a digital marketing strategy

By Judith O’Leary, founder and managing director of PR and digital comms agency, Represent Comms.
Speakers

November 25, 2020

Leading in challenging times: Accelerating the increase in the equity of your business with Phil Ives

Think the equity value of your business is something you only need to worry about if you’re planning to sell? Phil Ives disagrees.
Speakers

November 18, 2020

Carole Gaskell: How to work smarter, better, faster

Did you know that 93% of CEOs don’t know their ‘why’? In these times of change, many businesses have taken the opportunity to reflect, reposition and realign..
Speakers

November 12, 2020

Floyd Woodrow: Leadership tips for a truly resilient business

If you want to know how resilient a business is, how they’re doing in the current climate should give you a good gauge. Performing well in unchallenging times..
Family Business

November 6, 2020

How can you ensure a first generation business takeover goes smoothly?

“First generation takeovers don’t need to be fraught. They don’t need to be negative,” says Paul Andrews, co-founder of Family Business United.
Technology

November 3, 2020

What is digital transformation and how does it impact different departments? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Digital transformation is one of those phrases that means different things to different people.
Change Management

November 3, 2020

How to help your people embrace digital transformation

The digital in ‘digital transformation’ can give people the idea that it’s about technology. But it’s not.
Getting Ahead

October 29, 2020

[SlideShare] 7 Ways to Lead Digital Transformation Without Being an IT Specialist

The events of 2020 have underscored the importance of digital transformation for organisations all over the world and in every sector.
Sales

October 15, 2020

Nicola Cook: Building a Sales Engine for growth

When you’re running a business, disruption and uncertainty can be frightening things - especially when due to something unprecedented (like a pandemic). Of..

October 2, 2020

Becoming the #1 choice in a crowded market with Gerry O’Brion

How do you beat the competition in a crowded market to become number 1? That’s what you call a billion dollar question - now more than ever. You could have the..
Family Business

September 17, 2020

The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Family Business

Family-owned companies are good not only for the families involved, but also for both the local and global economies. However, many find it hard to survive...
Employee Motivation

September 9, 2020

Leadership excellence: lead, motivate and engage with Mark Robb

When it comes to leadership, the words ‘motivation’ and ‘engagement’ are thrown around a lot. But why are they so important?
HR

September 7, 2020

What’s the secret to building high-performance teams?

The performance of an organisation rests on the performance of its people and how those people are grouped together.

August 26, 2020

Chris Paton: How personal resilience can help business leaders cope with an uncertain future

As turbulent times go, it’s hard to imagine a more unpredictable or nebulous time than right now. The Covid-19 pandemic has swept through the business..
Strategy

August 13, 2020

Don’t waste your time on economic forecasts: Ben Kumar interview

Since the coronavirus crisis started, the papers and internet have been awash with gloomy predictions of “the worst recession in 300 years”.
Life At The Top

August 4, 2020

Brad Waldron: The Leadership Seven

What do successful businesses have in common? The answer is: effective leadership. Without highly effective leaders at every level, the organisations we all..
Work/Life Balance Issues

July 31, 2020

Home working post-lockdown the opportunities and challenges for business leaders

A recent survey of Vistage members has revealed that 74% of employers will look to implement more flexible working policies including continued working from..
Marketing

July 21, 2020

Are you making the most of digital marketing? And if not, should you be worried?

Luke Quilter is pretty unequivocal about the need for businesses to embrace digital in the post-COVID era:
Getting Ahead

July 17, 2020

Scenario planning for busy businesses

Scenario planning is the practice of imagining possible future realities (scenarios), the risks and opportunities each scenario presents, and planning what you..
Getting Ahead

July 9, 2020

This judge traveled 35,000 miles to understand what makes some people so resilient - here’s what she learned

As a litigator and a judge, Emma Bell observed up-close how different people had totally different responses to conflict, trauma and hardship.
Life At The Top

July 3, 2020

The Klopp effect: What can business leaders learn from Liverpool’s Champions League-winning manager?

“I had fourth-division feet and a first-division head”, said a younger Jurgen Klopp in the days when he was managing Borussia Dortmund FC. And since his..
Employee Motivation

June 22, 2020

Can leaders inspire over Zoom? We spoke to an ITV broadcaster-turned-entrepreneur to find out

Effective communication is central to effective leadership. But what happens when you’re forced to communicate in a way that is new and unfamiliar?
Leading, Not Managing

June 4, 2020

Leading from a distance: Managing yourself and others remotely

The firefighting should be over. But with the UK into its ninth week of lockdown, businesses are struggling to move beyond panic mode.
Life At The Top

May 27, 2020

Leadership lessons from the credit crunch

As we navigate this period of economic uncertainty we’re bombarded with advice, statistics and all manner of content about how best to cope, how to mitigate..
Employee Motivation

May 11, 2020

What do we mean by company culture?

The term ‘company culture’ is thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean? Is it tied to a physical location, or can it be experienced in the kind of..
Leading, Not Managing

May 4, 2020

The importance of leadership during uncertain times

Leadership and crisis have always had a close yet complex relationship. It’s a well-known fact that political leaders’ approval ratings improve during times of..
Strategy

April 7, 2020

What is a business continuity plan?

We’ve all heard the saying ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’. While it rings true in most aspects of life, it’s perhaps most pertinent in business.
Getting Ahead

March 31, 2020

[Insight] Coronavirus Resource Centre

The World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11 2020. Within a few short weeks around 20% of the globe’s population..
Mental Health

March 30, 2020

Business leaders: we need to talk about mental health

Life at the top can be lonely.. And being in the midst of the greatest public health emergency in modern times can only serve to underline this.
Vistage

March 19, 2020

How executive coaching helped Queen’s Award winner Cloudfm reach new heights

When Jeff Dewing founded Cloudfm in 2011, his vision was clear: to champion, and demonstrate, transparency, quality and value.
Getting Ahead

March 3, 2020

Five telltale signs your business needs executive coaching

Executive coaching is something which all businesses can benefit from, at any stage of their journey. Executive coaches help you to see things from a different..

February 21, 2020

Vistage 2020 business priorities - Customer engagement

At Vistage, we believe the experience and insight of our members is invaluable. That’s why we conduct regular surveys to better understand the real world..
Leading, Not Managing

February 14, 2020

Vistage 2020 business priorities - Leadership

In late 2019, Vistage carried out a survey to better understand business leaders’ priorities across the UK. Over 250 of our members took part, revealing the..
Strategy

February 10, 2020

Vistage 2020 business priorities - Business operations

How do we know what the landscape of UK business truly looks like?
Strategy

February 4, 2020

Vistage 2020 business priorities - Finance

Gaining an understanding of the ‘real world’ concerns of UK business leaders helps inform our own business strategies. It provides important insights into how..
Getting Ahead

February 3, 2020

[Report] Key Priorities for Business Leaders in 2020

Taking a step back to review your business performance and make sure your strategy and priorities reflect your business goals will undoubtedly pay dividends in..
Strategy

January 23, 2020

Top 2020 business priorities: Talent management

What are the ‘real world’ concerns of business leaders across the UK? In late 2019, we canvassed our members to better understand business leaders’ priorities..
Getting Ahead

January 20, 2020

How to choose an executive coach

If you’ve made the decision to invest in an executive coach, the next step is choosing one. So how do you do it? Where do you look? And how can you guarantee..
Getting Ahead

January 13, 2020

Do I need an executive coach?

In a recent article we explored what Vistage chairs actually do; the coaching and mentoring they deliver to businesses and what they receive in return. In this..
Getting Ahead

January 8, 2020

What do executive coaches actually do?

An executive coach helps business owners, CEOs and high-level or high-potential employees become better leaders, make better decisions and achieve better..
Exit Planning/Strategies

December 5, 2019

Growing a business to sell: branding and marketing

Most business owners understand the importance of marketing, but in the heat of running a business, marketing activity often takes a back seat to service..
Exit Planning/Strategies

December 2, 2019

Growing a business to sell? How to prevent yourself being tied in for years

Hello, and welcome to the third article in our series on how to grow a business to sell. In the last article, we shared some advice on how to prepare a..
Exit Planning/Strategies

November 30, 2019

Growing a business to sell: exit strategies

You’ve built up your business, and you’re ready to sell. But which route to market is best for you, and your business?
Exit Planning/Strategies

November 19, 2019

Growing a business to sell: hiring the right people

When it comes to maximising a business’ sale price, what’s the most important factor?
Exit Planning/Strategies

November 5, 2019

Growing a business to sell: Getting the foundations right

Welcome to the first of seven articles about how to grow and prepare your business for sale.
Mental Health

October 31, 2019

Getting mental health right in the workplace

Getting mental health in the workplace right can be a delicate balancing act for leaders. Protecting their own mental health, while also looking after the..
Vistage

October 30, 2019

Meet Olympia London: a business winning thanks to Vistage Chair tutelage

Here at Vistage, we’re incredibly proud to hear how being part of a Vistage group has helped our members to achieve great things. One such member is Anna..
Getting Ahead

October 29, 2019

How to write a business growth plan for acquisition

If you are growing a business with the intention of selling, then you are in the right place. The first article in this series discussed how to get the..
Recruitment

October 18, 2019

What SMEs Need to Know About Employment Law Post Brexit - What Happens Next?

With October 31st just around the corner, there is no doubt that Brexit is at the forefront of many business leaders minds. In this guest post, Vistage Speaker..
HR

October 15, 2019

Mike Adams OBE, founder of Purple Tuesday, on why inclusivity makes business sense

Last year, a new initiative trended at #4 on Twitter, generating 325 pieces of broadcast and print coverage and achieving more than 11 million views online..

October 10, 2019

6 practical ways to prioritise good mental health in your teams

As we’ve previously mentioned, building a workplace with good mental health (of staff and leadership alike) is a key priority for raising morale, productivity..
Mental Health

October 9, 2019

How to better your own mental health as a leader when you’re pressed for time

Stress and pressure are all part and parcel of being a leader. But it’s not difficult for the day-to-day pressures of leadership to become overwhelming...
Vistage Chair

October 8, 2019

What does it take to become a Vistage Chair?

We’ve talked a lot about the Vistage Chair role on our blog recently, from why we need you to get involved to reasons to choose the role to what Vistage Chairs..
Mental Health

October 7, 2019

Investing in mental health – the positive business impact

Building a workplace with good mental health – of staff and leadership alike – as a key priority raises morale, productivity, creativity, and ultimately your..
Work/Life Balance Issues

October 4, 2019

Business leaders: let’s talk about mental health

Life at the top can be lonely. It’s definitely stressful.
Vistage Chair

October 2, 2019

Shaping the next generation of UK businesses

You may have been at the helm of a business (or several) for what feels like a lifetime. But think back to when you first started out in your career. You might..
Vistage Chair

October 2, 2019

What do Vistage Chairs actually do?

Stepping down from a position as a company leader can come with mixed emotions. The thought of enjoying free time with fewer responsibilities may be relished..
Vistage Chair

October 2, 2019

Why become a Vistage Chair? Personal growth and giving back

For many business leaders, retirement is a daunting prospect. After spending so many years working flat out to keep – or indeed make – a business successful,..
Vistage

October 2, 2019

Vistage UK Innovation for Growth Report: why innovation isn’t just a nice to have

What is innovation? While its definition has always remained the same, what it means in terms of business success has changed significantly over the past..

October 2, 2019

Competitive advantage – is yours a hit or a myth?

Jack Welch once said: “If you don’t have competitive advantage…don’t compete.” This might sound harsh, but the famously successful former General Electric..

October 1, 2019

[Report] Innovating for Growth

A guide to approaching innovation for small and medium size businesses.

September 18, 2019

Working with family: how to manage personal relationships in a professional setting

Going into business with family members can be tough. Switching gears between personal and professional life is challenging, non-family employees may accuse..

September 10, 2019

How a nuclear submarine captain reimagined the US Navy’s management style

David Marquet is a celebrated author, management consultant and speaker.
Work/Life Balance Issues

September 9, 2019

Want to lead? Learn more

Kenny Blair describes himself as a “failed university student turned entrepreneur.”
Exit Planning/Strategies

August 28, 2019

Getting your business ready for sale

Selling your business can be a major decision. When you have spent years or even decades building up your initial idea to a business of substance, value and..
Getting Ahead

August 21, 2019

Growing a business is hard (and soft) work

Vistage speaker Balaji Krishnamurthy sometimes describes growing a business as a task that requires ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ work. So what does this mean? Hard tasks..
Vistage Chair

August 19, 2019

'CEOs are never prepared for running a company' - Charles Llewellyn reveals why business coaching is so important

Vistage Chairs often have an interesting story to tell – perhaps none more so than Charles Llewellyn.
Vistage Chair

August 19, 2019

'The most enjoyable work you'll ever do' - Life and learnings from Vistage Chair Harry Marsland

Harry Marsland is no stranger to business challenges. After a successful career in marketing and advertising, when the opportunity arose to become a Vistage..

August 13, 2019

10 tips for creating a company culture that lasts

Marie Owen is the CEO of LS Productions, a photo and film production company with offices in Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Bangkok. From humble beginnings..
Leading, Not Managing

August 8, 2019

Leaders: what do they really do?

What do leaders really do? It’s a big question; one which is asked and answered by Vistage speaker and author Jeff Grout. As Jeff puts it, we all understand..
Vistage Chair

July 15, 2019

Expert advice and 8am raves: Uncovering the life of a Vistage Chair

Vistage members provide a valuable source of advice and support for one another, and over time they can develop strong personal bonds. Frank Esson's Vistage..
Scaleup Business

July 9, 2019

The 5 foundations for scaleup growth

The bigger something is, the stronger the foundations need to be. Let’s take a look at the tallest building in the world today – Dubai’s 828-metre (2,717 ft)..

July 5, 2019

10 ways Vistage helps the UK's scaleup business leaders

In their 2018 annual review, the ScaleUp Institute endorsed Vistage as an organisation that can help scaleup business leaders achieve and sustain growth. Why?..
Technology

July 2, 2019

Rahaf Harfoush: leading through emerging technology

Technology changes the way we interact with each other. We often talk about it in an obvious way, looking at workflows and process and pipelines, at policies..
Getting Ahead

June 18, 2019

Dream big and define your goals: why visualisation is vital to success

The American poet, Bill Copeland, once said, ‘The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never..
Life At The Top

June 11, 2019

How to make better decisions - Sam Reese, Vistage CEO

Leadership is about decisions - so much so that a Chief Executive Officer may as well be called a Chief Decision Maker. Yet 60% of executives surveyed by..

Who holidays better, US or UK business leaders?

When it comes to the subject of leadership, you’ll find a spectrum of opinions on pretty much every aspect. Apart from one: taking a break.
Family Business

May 28, 2019

Your five year family business succession planning checklist

In business there are few greater questions than what comes next. This is especially true in family companies, where work is always personal, despite what..
Vistage Chair

May 22, 2019

'I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do' - Jan Lloyd on the benefits of being a Vistage Chair

There’s no such thing as a stereotypical Vistage Chair. The knowledge and experience that make a good Chair can be gained from almost any career path – but the..

Take a break - and grow your company

What do you do if your business is rapidly growing and work is unrelenting? It’s easy, right? You focus more, you burn the candle at both ends, you work harder..
Scaleup Business

May 14, 2019

How to write a growth plan like a scale-up business

While a start-up business plan sets out a broad, hypothetical overview of operations, finance and projections, a growth plan gives a much more detailed and..

Workplace wellbeing initiatives that really work

What are you doing to improve your employees’ health and wellbeing?

April 30, 2019

How to create a company where high achievers stick around

Do you struggle to attract and retain great employees?
Leading, Not Managing

April 23, 2019

The subtle art of letting go: How to loosen your leadership grip

At inception, the business leader is everything to everyone. There are few successful enterprises that haven’t had a strong, visionary leader at their..
Work/Life Balance Issues

April 10, 2019

Bring yourself to work day: Why you shouldn't separate personal life and work life

Work is work and home is home. Or so we’re told. From school onwards, we’re taught it’s ‘business, nothing personal.’ To keep things professional and never..
Employee Motivation

April 2, 2019

5 ways to avoid a toxic work culture

If there’s one thing you definitely don’t want your business to be known for, it’s a toxic work culture. Apart from being unpleasant, a hostile, negative work..
Marketing

March 20, 2019

Mistakes, must-dos and making the boat go faster: Marketing tips for high-growth businesses

Businesses that aren’t growing don’t stay still; they shrink. And every business leader focused on growth must therefore, necessarily, be focused on marketing.
Strategy

March 12, 2019

Going global: Lessons in internationalisation

The thought of expanding your business into new territories can feel like standing on the edge of a cliff; terra firma beneath your feet and beyond, the vast..
Vistage

March 6, 2019

Vistage Confidence Index: The top 5 priorities for business leaders in 2019

The results of the first Vistage UK-IRL Confidence Index of 2019 are in.
Scaleup Business

February 19, 2019

Building a sales engine for business growth

When it comes to accelerating growth and scaling up businesses, there are few people who know more than Nicola Cook.
Life At The Top

February 5, 2019

Are you a Ma or a Musk? Macro vs. Micromanagement in modern business

Elon Musk and Jack Ma are two very successful business magnates who have changed the game when it comes to putting a public face to their respective companies..
Getting Ahead

January 30, 2019

Our survey says... The biggest challenges for scaleup business leaders

Defined as a business with an average annualised return of at least 20% in the last three years - and with a minimum of 10 employees at the start of the period..
Strategy

January 29, 2019

When to tackle problems in-house vs. bringing in external expertise

In his essential entrepreneurial tome, “The Business of Expertise”, David C Baker explains that it’s often difficult to read the label on the jar when you're..
Getting Ahead

January 22, 2019

10 podcast channels to help you become a better business leader in 2019

Every day, people upload 4 million hours of content to YouTube, bloggers, businesses and brands publish 2 million blog posts, and the chattering masses fire..
Scaleup Business

January 18, 2019

Scaleup pain points: The 5 biggest challenges for scaleup business leaders

Growth is ultimately the goal for every business, but some grow faster than others. A scaleup business is defined as one with an average annualised return of..
Scaleup Business

January 15, 2019

5 key takeaways from the Scaleup Institute's Annual Scale Review

Published in November 2018, the Annual ScaleUp Review 2018 is the latest in-depth report from the ScaleUp Institute: a body whose mission is “to help the UK to..
Life At The Top

December 18, 2018

Assessing Santa's performance as a business leader

It’s the most wonderful time of the year (ding dong). Lights are twinkling, Slade’s playing on every radio channel and all eyes turn towards the Chief Exec of..

December 11, 2018

10 YouTube channels to help you become a better business leader in 2019

When it comes to honing or learning new business skills, there’s no shortage of content out there. Whatever it is you’re specifically looking for, in this age..
Vistage

December 4, 2018

The Top 10 Vistage Blogs of 2018

In an effort to put the year into perspective before Christmas descends, we've tapped into the minds of our members, speakers and Chairs to uncover the biggest..
Life At The Top

November 27, 2018

It’s lonely at the top: Emma Stroud talks about the challenges female leaders face

Leadership and the journey to becoming a leader are not for the faint-hearted. From personal development to managing a team to business operations, the..
Time Management

November 20, 2018

8 time management tips for business leaders

Time is money. A stitch in time. The big time. It’s about time.
Life At The Top

November 15, 2018

What does 2019's business leader look like?

There’s a constant challenge involved in creating, leading and growing a business. Success takes time, money and energy away from one’s own self, one’s..
Life At The Top

November 6, 2018

Hot or not for 2019? The top trends every business leader needs to be aware of

Business trends come and go. Just when you think you’ve got to grips with the latest one, five new ones pop up and make you re-evaluate everything. Some make..
Strategy

October 23, 2018

Investment decisions scale-up leaders face

Making investment decisions for your firm is one of the great privileges of leadership. It's also, however, a responsibility that many business leaders still..
Leading, Not Managing

October 12, 2018

6 ways to Effectively Focus on the Future in an Uncertain World

The first task of all leaders is to recognise that uncertainty is the primary characteristic of the 21st century. We live in a constantly changing and evolving..
Work/Life Balance Issues

October 9, 2018

What to do if one of your senior leaders suffers a mental health issue

With 26 years’ experience as a Royal Navy fighter pilot and surveillance pilot for the security services and UK Special Forces, Vistage speaker, Matthew..
Business

September 26, 2018

Charity begins at home, community begins at work

When it comes to the social and economic wellbeing of local communities, business has a vital role to play. If the people are the lifeblood, SMEs are the..
Business

September 19, 2018

Environmental Profit and Loss (EP&L): What you need to know

How do you measure business success? While the most obvious metrics are profit or share prices, a societal shift towards sustainability and ethical values..
Getting Ahead

September 11, 2018

Is decision fatigue holding back your business?

Physical fatigue is easy to spot. You feel it in your bones, you see it in the mirror. Your body aches, you’re exhausted, and you just want to stop and lie..
Life At The Top

September 4, 2018

Don't be a hero: How the 'superleader' hinders rather than helps business growth

We live in a hero-worshipping culture; one in which individual strength, success and achievement are held up as ideals to emulate and deify. From film stars..
Leading, Not Managing

August 28, 2018

5 common traits of the best business leaders (and how you can work on them)

What makes a leader truly great? Each year, thousands of books are written on leadership, seminars are attended all over the world and business leaders go in..
Business

August 23, 2018

Is environmental thinking good for business?

The phrase ‘negative externalities’ was coined to explain the unintended side effects of a business’ action in their pursuit of profit. This seemingly..
Work/Life Balance Issues

August 14, 2018

5 tips for helping you come back refreshed from your summer holidays

We all love holidays; time to be with family and friends, to pursue hobbies and interests or to just relax and do nothing. We imagine ourselves returning to..
Vistage Chair

August 7, 2018

“Having your answers questioned” - Vistage chair Adam Harris on the life-changing role of Vistage groups

Adam Harris is the youngest Vistage chair in the UK (and the third youngest in the world) - but his CV is nonetheless impressive. In a handful of years, he..
Vistage Members

July 31, 2018

A selection of our favourite Vistage member stories

On the 4th and 5th June (2018), the Vistage National Chair Workshop at Hilton Ageas Bowl, Southampton, was an opportunity for our UK chairs to come together,..

July 27, 2018

Talent management: The comprehensive guide for leadership teams

“Talent management is more than just a competitive advantage; it is a fundamental requirement for business success.” – Rob Silzer & Ben Dowell

July 26, 2018

Diversity in Thinking, How ESL Can Bring a Fresh Perspective to the Workplace

In 2016, 11%, or, roughly 3.4 million of the UK’s labour market were non-UK nationals. Of this 11%, 7%, which was around 2.2 million people, were EU nationals;..
Vistage Chair

July 26, 2018

'The most enjoyable work you'll ever do' - Life and learnings from Vistage Chair Harry Marsland

Harry Marsland is no stranger to business challenges. After a successful career in marketing and advertising, when the opportunity arose to become a Vistage..

July 20, 2018

6 Things Gareth Southgate Can Teach Us About Leadership

When I visited St George’s Park, the FA National Football Centre, I saw the clock that ticks down to the Qatar World Cup in 2022. It reminded me of Clive..
Family Business

July 18, 2018

So... you've taken over the family firm. What now?

Two-thirds of the UK’s businesses are family-owned. That’s 4.8 million businesses in total, of which over 16,000 are medium to large businesses.
Getting Ahead

July 10, 2018

Business leadership frameworks for scale-up businesses leaders: Do they work? Are they worth it?

In many aspects of life, it helps to follow the instructions. That pile of planks, poles and allen keys isn’t going to make a wardrobe unless you know how it..

July 5, 2018

What your onboarding documentation really tells new talent

This is not the ‘sexiest’ blog I have ever written but stay with me, it may surprise you to know that this is not a blog about compliance. Rather, in my view,..
Getting Ahead

July 3, 2018

International friendlies: Why culture is all when trading abroad

With another dramatic World Cup still fresh in our minds, what better time to explore the nuanced world of international business?
Vistage

June 26, 2018

What is the Vistage issue processing framework and why does it work?

Vistage helps business leaders resolve issues in their businesses. We’re a community of experienced Chairs and members who support each other in solving..

June 22, 2018

So, you're thinking of growing internationally?

Back in the day, it was most commonly enough for your business to spread just enough within the borders of where it was created. Today, things have drastically..
Technology

June 22, 2018

Is technology the answer to your productivity problems?

The fact is, Britain has a productivity problem.

June 14, 2018

What’s the average cost of a cybersecurity data breach?

This is a question that I’m often asked in my Vistage workshop on cybersecurity and GDPR, and the reality is that it’s a figure that most people underestimate...

June 5, 2018

The Realities of Managing Company Culture Across Locations

A strong company culture can provide you with a significant competitive edge, or at least that’s what the majority of business leaders think. It’s hard to..
Leading, Not Managing

May 29, 2018

The productivity problem and the role of middle management

With Brexit around the corner and economically uncertain times ahead, business productivity (measured as output over time) has never been more crucial. Yet, in..
Vistage Members

May 22, 2018

Is Vistage right for you?

When you’re thinking of joining any group or organisation, the most obvious question is ‘why?’ In other words, what will you get and what are you expected to..
Strategy

May 16, 2018

Small business thinking for big business growth

Small things change direction much more easily than their larger counterparts. If you’re going around a sharp corner at top speed, you’d rather be in a nifty..
Life At The Top

May 8, 2018

The introverted leader: Being a leader when it doesn't come naturally

What does the word ‘leader’ make you think of? A powerful army general? An eloquent politician? A confident, charismatic CEO? We tend to associate strong..
Vistage

May 2, 2018

The Vistage Ethos: What is it and why does it matter?

Click on any corporate website, and the chances are you’ll find a page devoted to their company ethos. Why? Having a defined corporate ethos sets a culture,..

April 24, 2018

5 Ways to Attract and Retain Top Marketing Talent

In the 2017 confidence index, Vistage members cited Talent Management as the greatest challenge for UK SMEs. Finding and retaining the best is no longer as..
Brexit

April 20, 2018

Not me: are UK SMEs burying their heads in the sand on Brexit?

Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in June 2016, barely a day has gone by without debate and conflicting speculation on the economic ramifications...

April 11, 2018

Know where you are with GDPR: 10 key steps to compliance

GDPR – the General Data Protection Regulation – comes into force next month, on the 25th of May.

April 4, 2018

The Vistage Speaker Awards

Nearly 100 Chairs, Speakers and staff celebrated at the 17th annual Vistage Speaker Awards Evening at The Grand Connaught Rooms, London on Wednesday 28th March.
Employee Motivation

April 4, 2018

Productivity starts at the top: The business leader’s role in a productive business

Throughout his time as Chancellor, Philip Hammond has prioritised the UK's long running productivity puzzle. The UK's productivity – or output per hour worked..

April 2, 2018

Effective communication: the barriers you need to overcome

Communication is one of the most important parts of a successful business. You know this. You are the cornerstone of leadership and motivation in your company...
Cybersecurity

March 28, 2018

Cyber security strategies: What does good look like?

After updating your password for what feels like the umpteenth time, have you ever just reused an old one? It’s easier to remember, after all - and a small..
Vistage

March 20, 2018

Survey insights: The top 5 leadership challenges from Vistage members

Business leadership has never been a walk in the park, but in 2018 it is perhaps more challenging than ever. Business leaders are expected to set culture,..
Sales

March 13, 2018

“Sales is not a dirty word”: Interviewing Lars Tewes, SBR Consulting

For all the newer challenges business leaders face in 2018 – cybersecurity, talent management, work/life balance – some things are ever present. Sales, for..
Cybersecurity

March 8, 2018

Is your business Cyber Aware?

How Cyber Aware is your business? Recent high profile cyber attacks on both companies and individuals across the globe show just how vital it is to ensure that..
Cybersecurity

February 27, 2018

The business leader's role in cybersecurity

When it comes to cyber attacks, it’s not a question of if, rather of when. The combination of more sophisticated cyber crime techniques, greater connectivity..

February 22, 2018

5 Steps to Reducing Business Admin Burden Through Digitisation

Excessive administration burden is one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses in the UK today. A recent survey of British SMEs by Sage revealed that..
Technology

January 30, 2018

Cyber security for SMEs: Interview with Steven Forrest, CEO at Forfusion

It seems like barely a day goes by without a new cybersecurity breach hitting the news. That’s not just some vague notion, either. The risks are very real.

January 16, 2018

Meaningful work for meaningful pay: Uncovering the new talent management paradigm with Balaji Krishnamurthy

A true veteran of the executive world, Dr Balaji Krishnamurthy has led sixteen businesses over thirty years. Today, he is CEO of Portland-based Think Shift,..

January 10, 2018

Navigating the Cultural Minefield

I have studied the effects of cultural differences on business success for the last 16 years. Although there’s been a great deal of research and writing on the..

January 8, 2018

Is Your Company a Pool or a Stream?

When I founded LogiStyle in 2006, I had adopted a philosophy that I would hire freshly minted college graduates, give them some great opportunities to meet and..

January 4, 2018

Remember Why We’re Here

In most teams, there are different jobs that must be done by different people performing in sometimes wildly different roles. Conducting human spaceflight from..

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