Lead C.I.

01/07/2024

I was asked what are the attributes of your best clients last week. I thought it a strange question, given it was asked by one of the most successful (in financial terms in 2024) clients, but it got me thinking and is very much aligned to some work i am doing to create a short form program for launch in the next year.

Our programs are designed to deliver outcomes that make a decision to work with us easy. The key to success though lies in the willingness to follow the process, make changes to in the business where needed and have the courage to step into the challenges as they inevitably arrive.

A common factor with my successful clients is massive growth in confidence, which allows them to make decisions faster than otherwise, confront conflict or differences of opinion and resolve in a constructive way. (When you hear back from a client who resisted fixing their prices for months, that she felt distress for other businesses who had not done that, we know we make a difference).

24/06/2024

Recently, a colleague asked if I could refer a Production Manager from a business he is assisting to a manufacturing network where he could get exposure to other people in similar roles and share "war stories, compare notes and even visit other sites".

We reflected on our own opportunities when we had the opportunity to visit facilities in Japan, China, Korea and Europe and benchmark our performance against what the best were doing. For me, this was one of the most critical elements in developing my understanding of "what good looks like".

I learned that not every great mill is new, shiny and automated - some of them were old, well maintained and finely tuned with people who knew what to do to operate them.

Whilst there are a number of LinkedIn groups and other social media forums, we are yet to find the "online forum" that will facilitate the start of a collaboration. If you have a recommendation that we should explore, please DM "Recommendation" and I will reach out to explore that opportunity.

11/06/2024

Some years ago, I was fortunate to be working in an organisation where the leadership of had taken the decision to close the gap on the facility performance and what some might call world class. A technology agreement was put in place and I had the benefit of working with a Japanese company to help us close the gap. As part of the program, we enjoyed the company of a senior operations leader who worked alongside myself and team to implement a wide range of actions that resulted in a massive shift in the productivity of the facility.

Mr Fujikawa was an experienced practitioner with experience dealing with the same problems we were facing. The experience I gained during this time and the major lesson was that in manufacturing, it is the relentless pursuit of improved productivity that will allow manufacturers to be successful.
I have been reminded of the importance of this battle to success in Australian manufacturing throughout the last few months as businesses seek to find ways to remain competitive and deal with increasing costs from across the spectrum.

Productivity doesn't just come from the "big" ideas. Often there are smaller opportunities immediately available requiring only the engagement of the team, some innovative ideas and the will to be successful.

29/04/2020

What's needed to get manufacturing ready for the 'new normal'?

22/06/2018

Great day immersed in learning. Allan Pease sharing his knowledge of body language, non-verbal cues. Steve Van Aperen sharing his knowledge of how we recognise when people are not being truthful. All in this in the pursuit of understanding the importance of receiving all the information during communications. Staying at the front of leadership development.

28/11/2017

12/10/2017

Try, try and try again...

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas A. Edison quotes from BrainyQuote.com

11/10/2017

4 ways Nobel prize winner, Richard Thaler's work has improved our lives.

Prof. Richard Thaler just won the Nobel Prize in Economics. Here's how his work has probably improved your life in a profound way.

10/10/2017

Do you suffer from leadership overload or strategic paralysis?

Too many ideas might lead to leadership overload and strategic paralysis. Sometimes, fewer ideas are better than too many. Here are lessons of leading in a volatile world with a few key ideas that allow you to share leadership with others.

29/09/2017

It's going to be a great weekend 'weather wise' they say. If you're in the Hunter, here's a few places to start...enjoy!

This October Long Weekend why not explore what's on in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Check out HUNTERhunter.

25/09/2017

As a general rule, psychopaths are drawn to careers that give them power over others – and the position that attracts the most psychopaths? CEO.