THE ENTRECODE BLOG
5 Ways to develop a growth mindset
High performing successful people generally have a growth mindset.
Low performers usually have a fixed mindset.
So how can you develop a growth mindset and increase your chances of success?
Here are 5 ways:
- Get out of your comfort zone and try something new and learn to value or success or learning equally.
- Be inquisitive ask questions and become an expert at what you do.
- Get a mantra like JFDI and use it to shape your behaviour and thinking.
- Seek feedback and act on it.
- Have fun and don't take yourself too seriously.
If you can change your mind you can change your mindset.
So JFDI and good luck in learning to fly!
Removing the barriers to business performance
As a consultant I don't believe I know more than managers I just see more examples of good and bad management practice.
A common barrier which when removed really does boost business performance is the lack of alignment between opportunities priorities plans and actions.
Here is how to fix it:
- Determine the business strategy identifying key opportunities.
- Work out the 3/4 key actions required to deliver the strategy.
- Allocate actions to individuals as priorities.
- Review how much focus people have on their actions monthly with brutal honesty Tip: Review their calendars where they spent their time. Be prepared for a shock...then do something about it.
- When you get alignment between 1 to 4 above the business performance will improve
Job done!
How to become a great leader
I have had the good fortune to work with some great leaders who produced results beyond expectations. So how do they do it?
Well it’s what they do not who they are that matters. Its behavioural and it can be learned.
Managers make the business work leaders make it better by challenging an improving things.
Here are some of their behaviours I have witnessed.
Great leaders set high standards and insist people live up to them. They ask "who does this best in the world" and they bring that wisdom into their business. Driving success and creating innovation are passions they all possess. Great leaders treat people with dignity and respect and behave with integrity at all times. They champion the preferred culture and ensure its non-negotiable. Building relationships with key players is a strength.
This is what great leaders do and you can join this band of hero's, we certainly need more of them!
The secrets of Keepmoat’s success
I have been asked many times to try to explain why Keepmoat, my favourite client for 35 years were so successful. We made 10% net profit for 9 years running whilst the nearest competitor struggled to reach 4%.
I had the pleasure of telling the Keepmoat story with the owner Terry Bramall recently publicly and here is what we concluded....
Firstly we had a clear strategy that we stuck to and worked hard at delivering.
We developed a culture where people ran the business as if they personally owned it.
We tried to delight customers and treat all stakeholders with dignity and respect.
We selected people very carefully and trained them in the skills we needed to run the business and rewarded them for performance.
Many other clients would claim they do these things as well so where's the magic?
Actually they DONT has been my experience.
The final ingredient was Terry Bramall himself who was a fabulous leader who inspired people and had the knack of doing the right thing
Well there it is I am very proud to have been part of it.
A once in a lifetime experience. Job done.
Removing the barriers to innovation
The two main barriers to innovation are not using internal entrepreneurs and the prevailing culture. 95% of all innovations in the past 100 years have come from entrepreneurial firms of less than 20 people.
Corporate managers usually don't have the entrepreneurial mindset to innovate. So find the entrepreneurs within and let them weave their creative magic and remove this barrier.
The culture in many firms is power and control; rules, job descriptions, procedures, budgets, risk averse; this culture normally kills innovation. The culture in a small entrepreneurial firm is often achievement; break the rules, trial and error, now's good, seek forgiveness not permission. Innovation thrives in this culture.
So find the entrepreneurs within, create an achievement culture and enable rather than stifle innovation. Job done.
