CEO's Diary

Nitty gritty

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:08:01 +0000

March 19 – Nitty gritty is sometimes the inevitable task of anyone – CEO or not.

There are many tasks I can avoid here because others are good at them. Checking big contracts is one I can’t avoid.

Several years ago, as long-time readers will recall, we did, despite the best intentions of all involved make a giant mess up of bidding for a big contract and had in the end to devote vast resources to it and make not a bean as a result. Since then I have paranoia on these issues.

Bullying

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:28:28 +0000

March 17 – There are days when I think I am fortunate.

We had a senior management team meeting this morning – this being the new structure of which just East, AM and I are members. That said, my PA sits in to make minutes (and may contribute) and today East was on holiday and Office joined instead as we had issues of concern relating to her areas of work.

Why are managers so badly trained?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:25:25 +0000

March 15 – Many hours of work have gone in over the weekend, in between mildly unfocussed trips to look at possible new houses. Neither is designed to create a low stress environment.

The cause of the work was company number 2. I’ve clearly unleashed enthusiasm there. That’s great. The trouble is those there have little idea how to take this forward. This has become horribly apparent.

Who's the boss?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:28:12 +0000

March 9 – Three lots of good news.

Almost as her swan song as a divisional manager, and as her opening gift to the newly promoted manager of our new department, she and he together closed negotiation for the biggest deal this department has ever done. If no other department in this company grows in the coming year this one can now hardly avoid doing so. From being a new venture this ‘sideline’ hunch of mine has now turned into what might be a major profit centre.

Upping sticks

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:04:50 +0000

March 8 – And I thought I’d got everything under control with two companies by the end of last week. Then my wife announced she wants to apply for a new job which will require us to move, but which would be good for schools for the children and will only mean I have to commute roughly the same distance but from the almost opposite direction and my life was thrown into utter turmoil at the weekend.

What's in a name?

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:39:09 +0000

March 2 – Bunked off to company number two for most of the day to facilitate a working party of most of the senior manages to talk about new names. For many of them this was their first serious engagement with me, and vice versa. I greatly appreciated that – there’s nothing better as a way to judge people than to see how they work when slightly out of their own comfort zones, and this lot were.

Doing without a budget

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:30:55 +0000

1 March – Another year over, a new one just begun, as I think John Lennon once sang. For reasons best known to others our year end is 28 February (and Tescos apart I can’t think of anyone else who shares the date).

Who are we?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:20:39 +0000

February 25 – Time to reach out to my other responsibilities – as Chair of company number 2.

You may recall I’d been working with the MD to tackle his procrastination. To do this I was using a technique called solution focussed therapy. This does not mean hours are spent analysing the problem. Instead it seeks to determine what the situation would be if the problem was solved and what characteristics would identify the change.

Treading the fine line of reporting

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:59:28 +0000

February 24 – I warned that having two jobs might reduce my time for writing. I was right.

Last week’s reshuffle (or was it coup?) needed some inevitable follow on work. AM needed briefing on what I expected of her, but candidly our minds were pretty much as one anyway. And she has wasted no time getting to grips with things, including her staff, now reinstated having withdrawn their notice to quit.

All change

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:59:30 +0000

February 18 – Hard to keep up with this week.

#1 has gone. Her two deputies are staying – they have both withdrawn their notice. Their new employer to be is going to be annoyed!

Writing on the wall

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:27:48 +0000

February 16 - #1 came to see me before the meeting planned for this morning.

Her request of me was simple: she asked how much I was willing to pay for her to go. She said she was quite sure that was the objective of the review. We could go about it the long way or cut a deal now. How much to make her redundant was the question she asked.

Under review

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:28:22 +0000

February 14 – More Sunday reflection time. As I predicted, I slept on the idea of starting a formal review of the staffing of our accounts department on Thursday night and having done so, and after quick call to the Chairman on Friday morning, began the process.

The way is clear

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:54:11 +0000

February 11 – My PA is clear, the issue with the numbers 2 and 3 in accounts is personal. They’re leaving for less money and less security. She went out for a drink with them last evening to find out. And she thinks they’d stay if there was a change of boss.

So do I gamble on it?

Mea Culpa

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:41:52 +0000

February 9 – Soundings with the Chair on the future of the accounts department were interesting.

He also authorised me to discuss it with East as my effective deputy – I had reservations about doing so due to his past fling with #1.

And, as I often do, I discussed the matter with my PA who is in many ways my eyes and ears in the place.

I could not do so with Office – I know she is close to #1 and I am afraid I could not trust that a leak would not occur.

Reshuffle?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:50:25 +0000

February 7 – Sunday working: time for reflection.

Having tackled the garden this morning (which was in a mighty mess and slightly less so now) I had time to consider next actions for the company.

Wanted: Mary Poppins for accounts department

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:44:37 +0000

February 4 – Our new nanny is a wonder. It’s like the whole world has changed. A little toleration of failure appears to be part of her make up. The children, even the eldest, seem to think she’s Mary Poppins whilst the urgency that my wife and I had suffered of having to be at home at an absolute moment in time to avoid suffering the silence of accusation from behind a sulky brow has been lifted from our lives – not that we’ll abuse the new freedom.

Trouble in accounts

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:39:00 +0000

February 2 – These are troubled times in the accounts department here.

I’ve been aware for some time that #1, who is chief accountant, and her deputy were not getting on. I’ve tried to intermediate, but equally am always anxious not to manage around someone. In general that exacerbates problems.

Solution focussed

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:41:19 +0000

28 January 2010 – My MD at the company of which I am part time Chairman has reflected on our exchanges concerning decision making, his procrastination, and the lack of initiative in the organisation.

Vultures

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:33:06 +0000

January 27 – Had our management meeting, later than usual in the month yesterday. Blame post Christmas, snow and diary problems. Somehow things slipped.

We’re ten months into the year. The result is now pretty clear. OK, and unexciting, with continuing debt issues and minor quibbles on cost control, but nothing that could not be delegated without difficulty after discussion.

I know what I've done

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:00:13 +0000

The reality is dawning on me.

I've taken a 20% pay cut to do my old job and a new one that so far will not make up the difference. And it's b****y hard work.

Please don't ask me if it's wise. It clearly isn't.

At least I think I'm enjoying it.

Maybe the reward's in heaven. But how can I be sure?