Posts Tagged ‘Tips for leaders’

In the second episode of The Apprentice UK 2011 it was boys versus girls once again.

This time the challenge was to develop a mobile phone app.  The team with the most downloads were deemed to be the winners.  Once again the girls triumphed.

So what could we learn from episode 2 about business and leadership?

Don’t Limit Your Thinking

After 6 hours the boys were well ahead in terms of downloads but got slaughtered when the global market kicked in.  Perhaps this was because they were thinking in terms of a UK market rather than a much bigger global market.

Build Some Challenge Into Brainstorming

One of the things that surprised me was that no one seemed to be asking the basic but challenging questions when brainstorming.  Things like who the target market was, the interests of the target market or even the geographical area to be served.

Hold Your Hands Up When Your Judgement Was Wrong

It was interesting watching the girls in the boardroom. They were all distancing themselves from the app choice.  Yet I did not hear any of them acknowledge that their judgement calls about the app was wrong when they romped to victory.

Be Decisive

The Project Manager on the boys team was looking for someone else to take the decision  for him on who to bring back into the boardroom.  Not a great quality in a leader.

Don’t Be A Bystander

The person who got fired ultimately lost out because they did not show what they had to offer in any of the first two tasks.  This strategy might work when it is a job that people are trying to get but not when seeking investment.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to become highly successful managers and leaders.  He invites you to sign up for his free audio e-course Leadership Success here

• KNOWING what you do best.
• KEEPING things in perspective.
• KEEPING your people motivated and inspired.
• KICK-STARTING new initiatives and leading from the front.

What else would you add?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here

• INITIATING change.
• INDUCTING new members of the team successfully.
• INTEGRATING new acquisitions into the organisation.
• INVESTIGATING problems fully before taking decisions.
• INCLUDING people in developing your vision and strategy.

What else would you add?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here

Well another week in the Den and just one investment made this week.  So what were some of the key lessons from this week?

Make it worthwhile

If you are going to get investment you need to make it attractive to the investor.  Make sure the stake you are offering ties up with sum you are seeking.

Be clear on your goal

I am often surprised that some of those seeking investment don’t have a clear goal.  It’s important to know whether it is the expertise, the contacts or the money that matters most.  Too often it seems like this basic goal is not defined.

Ask yourself what it is worth

We had another example this week of someone wanting to give a 10% stake and the Dragons’ wanted a 40% stake.  Whilst there is a big difference between the two numbers, where might your business be 12 or 24 months from now if you keep plodding along alone and compare it against what it might be with expert help.

Don’t duck the difficult questions

In any business deal there will always be challenging questions.  Answer them the best you can and whatever you do don’t duck the questions.

So what lessons would you add to the list?  Leave your comments.