There is nothing quite so irritating in running your own business as non- or late payers.
Just before Christmas I was asked to do a small piece of work by a company in Wales. It was urgent, the boss said, so I did it in good faith, and sent it back to him in a timely fashion.
The charge would only be around £15, but since sending it off to him, I have heard nothing: no acknowledgement, no responses. I have tried to ring, and once got through to a woman who said she'd get him to ring back, but he never did. I have emailed him, I have sent him the invoice.
Nothing.
I will keep trying, but nothing so far.
OK, it may only cost me £15, plus the time taken for the work (not long) and the time taken chasing up (probably longer), but the actions of this selfish business manager will mean that I will have to be tougher in future.
I'll have to ask for a deposit, for example, for pieces of work - however small - causing inconvenience to everyone involved.
Is he really delighted to have saved just fifteen pounds? It's quite pathetic really. If he doesn't pay the invoice or respond to further communication in the next month, I'll name and shame him and his company on this blog.
Selfish non-action has wide consequences.
Showing posts with label management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label management. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
FIFA cabal reflects business management
FIFA is reflective of many businesses in the way it runs itself.
I'm not saying that FIFA is corrupt in this blog, but having just watched a part of the FIFA Congress on live video streaming, it does strike me that most of the delegates are not interested in even finding out if FIFA IS corrupt. They just want to all vote themselves back in and crack on with their cozy cabal.
Similar occurrences happen in business. We have all seen fellow workers be promoted to managerial level and suddenly change their long-held views. Where previously they agree with the stance of the general staff, now they agree with what they'd disagreed with for so long!
Are they in the proectorate all of a sudden?
Now, if they rattle the cage, they'll be swiftly pushed out. Fall in line, or find another one.
It happens in business and it happens in FIFA. They all seem to be protecting their own positions rather than seeking the truth.
I'm not saying that FIFA is corrupt in this blog, but having just watched a part of the FIFA Congress on live video streaming, it does strike me that most of the delegates are not interested in even finding out if FIFA IS corrupt. They just want to all vote themselves back in and crack on with their cozy cabal.
Similar occurrences happen in business. We have all seen fellow workers be promoted to managerial level and suddenly change their long-held views. Where previously they agree with the stance of the general staff, now they agree with what they'd disagreed with for so long!
Are they in the proectorate all of a sudden?
Now, if they rattle the cage, they'll be swiftly pushed out. Fall in line, or find another one.
It happens in business and it happens in FIFA. They all seem to be protecting their own positions rather than seeking the truth.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Blackpool manager upsets the status quo
Many managers,when they enter a new organisation, want to "make their mark" and show what a difference they can make. They often end up changing things for change's sake and the result is to upset the status quo and they end up with disgruntled staff who perceive no benefit in the changes.
How refreshing it is to see a manager who does things his own way and doesn't worry too much about upsetting the norms and mores, not of the oragnisation he has joined, but of the profession he is in.
Step forward manager of Blackpool Football Club, Ian Holloway.
From the start of the season when Blackpool joined the Premier League for the first time, Holloway has been determined to do things his way, for example not paying his players the over-inflated salaries that most Premier League players get paid - but scarcely earn.
Last night Holloway made ten changes to his Blackpool side to face Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Premier League is understood to be investigating Holloway's decision. Holloway says he will resign if he is fined by the League. Last season Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was fined £25,000 (suspended) for fielding an apparently weakened team.
Holloway's team lost 3-2 at Villa last night, but Holloway maintained that they were worth a point, and opposing manager Gerard Houllier agreed.
Holloway was forthright after the game, saying: "I'm manager of Blackpool and I manage the players how I want. If some bright spark from the Premier League wants to tell me who I can pick then come and have a cup of coffee and you'll probably get it chucked in your lap.
"Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise."
Good on ya, Ian. Buck the trends. I wish you luck.
How refreshing it is to see a manager who does things his own way and doesn't worry too much about upsetting the norms and mores, not of the oragnisation he has joined, but of the profession he is in.
Step forward manager of Blackpool Football Club, Ian Holloway.
From the start of the season when Blackpool joined the Premier League for the first time, Holloway has been determined to do things his way, for example not paying his players the over-inflated salaries that most Premier League players get paid - but scarcely earn.
Last night Holloway made ten changes to his Blackpool side to face Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Premier League is understood to be investigating Holloway's decision. Holloway says he will resign if he is fined by the League. Last season Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was fined £25,000 (suspended) for fielding an apparently weakened team.
Holloway's team lost 3-2 at Villa last night, but Holloway maintained that they were worth a point, and opposing manager Gerard Houllier agreed.
Holloway was forthright after the game, saying: "I'm manager of Blackpool and I manage the players how I want. If some bright spark from the Premier League wants to tell me who I can pick then come and have a cup of coffee and you'll probably get it chucked in your lap.
"Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise."
Good on ya, Ian. Buck the trends. I wish you luck.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Sad indictment of UK management
A survey of 3,000 adults of the UK workforce conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has revealed that half of them believe they could do a better job than their current boss.
Similar numbers (49 per cent) said they would actually take a pay cut to work for a better manager, and 47 per cent have left a job because of the poor management.
This is sad indictment of the perceived quality of management in UK’s businesses.
CMI chief executive Ruth Spellman commented: “The figures reveal the depth of the crisis of confidence in UK management and leadership and the enormous toll bad management is taking on the UK economy and people’s wellbeing.”
Tonight the CMI is launching a Better Managed Britain campaign, and is meeting with representatives from the three main political parties to demand action to transform management and leadership performance.
Further interesting results came from the survey. Just over two-thirds of managers surveyed confessed to being ‘accidental’ managers, not wanting a management position at the start of their careers. Forty per cent said they did not want the responsibility of managing people at all, and almost two-thirds of managers said they had not had management training. Only 28 per cent of managers hold any type of formal management qualification.
Ruth Spellman isn’t surprised that bad management is such an issue in the UK. She said: “We invest less in our managers than our global competitors and it shows.”
She added: “If we’re going to stay competitive internationally, the Government and employers need to address this worrying skills gap. In what other profession would it be acceptable for only a quarter of practitioners to hold a professional qualification? The sad truth is that UK managers are no longer regarded as professional, competent or accountable. By signing up to the Manifesto, policy makers, managers and leaders can demonstrate their commitment to raising UK plc’s game.”
More than 1,500 leaders and managers have already pledged their commitment to CMI’s Manifesto, from organisations including PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Interbrand. If you wish to join and pledge your support for a Better Managed Britain, you can do so at www.managers.org.uk/manifesto.
Similar numbers (49 per cent) said they would actually take a pay cut to work for a better manager, and 47 per cent have left a job because of the poor management.
This is sad indictment of the perceived quality of management in UK’s businesses.
CMI chief executive Ruth Spellman commented: “The figures reveal the depth of the crisis of confidence in UK management and leadership and the enormous toll bad management is taking on the UK economy and people’s wellbeing.”
Tonight the CMI is launching a Better Managed Britain campaign, and is meeting with representatives from the three main political parties to demand action to transform management and leadership performance.
Further interesting results came from the survey. Just over two-thirds of managers surveyed confessed to being ‘accidental’ managers, not wanting a management position at the start of their careers. Forty per cent said they did not want the responsibility of managing people at all, and almost two-thirds of managers said they had not had management training. Only 28 per cent of managers hold any type of formal management qualification.
Ruth Spellman isn’t surprised that bad management is such an issue in the UK. She said: “We invest less in our managers than our global competitors and it shows.”
She added: “If we’re going to stay competitive internationally, the Government and employers need to address this worrying skills gap. In what other profession would it be acceptable for only a quarter of practitioners to hold a professional qualification? The sad truth is that UK managers are no longer regarded as professional, competent or accountable. By signing up to the Manifesto, policy makers, managers and leaders can demonstrate their commitment to raising UK plc’s game.”
More than 1,500 leaders and managers have already pledged their commitment to CMI’s Manifesto, from organisations including PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Interbrand. If you wish to join and pledge your support for a Better Managed Britain, you can do so at www.managers.org.uk/manifesto.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Be wary of growing too fast
When new businesses start up it is often a dream to build very quickly into a "money-making machine".
However, reality can be very different and dreams can fall apart just as rapidly.
If your business is fairly new, be wary of taking on a "big deal" that would turn your start-up into a multi-million pound operation.
Why?
Because you're not ready!
Or at least, you're very unlikely to be.
The most successful, robust and long-lasting businesses are built on sound management and sound processes. Could you really handle a multiplication of your business by, say, a hundred times in just a few weeks?
The likelihood is that you will take the deal on, and despite all good intentions, fail to put in place processes or staff to handle the new work. The result could be a disaster, and it would not be stretching a point to say that it could mean the end of your business.
Don't go too fast. Grow steadily and always be sure you can manage what you take on.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
The value of great management
When Fabio Capello was given the England manager's job in 2007 there were some eyebrows raised about his salary, reported to £4.8 million a year and rising to £6 million a year. It could cost the FA £26 million to 2012.
As the Daily Telegraph put it: "Capello is on a multi-million-pound bonus to turn players who struggled to conquer Andorra last season into world-beaters within 800 days."
Well, maybe he has done just that. After last night's 5-1 victory over erstwhile England conquerors Croatia, England have qualified comfortably for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and can now start counting the likely dividends of qualification.
It is reported that it could be worth around £100 million to English football, and could boost the UK economy to the tune of £1 billion. No wonder Scot Gordon Brown immediately pledged his support for the English football team in the finals!
The possible riches now put Capello's salary into perspective and demonstrate the value of good management.
I guess the banks might like to argue the same thing. The trouble is the managers of UK's banks look rather more like Steve McClaren than Fabio Capello at the moment.
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