Editorial PAGE 4| Business Executive | Issue 123
Editorial
Welcome to a New Year and a new look Business Executive. We have taken our own advice and made a few changes – we hope you like them! But, with all the changes, we still bring you a varied, interesting, and above all, a readable
magazine. We would be very pleased if you would send us some feedback – just use the form on page five. And, thinking of change, we all know that it is not easy; it’s far more comfortable to just stay as we are. Well, comfort is all very well, but indifference and indolence could lead to disaster for your business. In the sort of difficult times that we are
experiencing at present, it is essential to have a real close look at your business; what are you really doing, and how are you doing it? A ruthless look at what is happening will reveal a great deal that could be done better. But then don’t jump up and start throwing things out – make changes surely, slowly, sensibly and with a great deal of thought and willing co-operation with your people. All changes need planning; people need to
know what is happening – and why. That means you need good communication skills and the ability to present your case convincingly so as to persuade people that your way of thinking is the best way. Also you need to obtain feedback and listen; this is even more important than talking – perhaps to a discontented audience. Remember, dissent is vital; if everyone agrees,
then something is wrong, and your proposed changes are not going to work. Change isn’t comfortable but do it well and great benefits will accrue; do it badly and the mess is of your own making. We have a sparkling lineup of contributors for
you in this issue, people who know what they are talking about and put it across very well. Geoff Greenwood tells us how the methods of sports
psychology are equally useful in the boardroom. Dr Sarah Rutherford discusses the place of women in the “man’s world” of business and concludes that big changes are happening to women’s roles at all levels of business. John Mitchell is out to convince you that dealing with people is the best job that there is and James Scouller gives some serious thought to ideas about leadership and the purpose of the leader. Words and how they can be misused and misunderstood are Patrick Forsyth’s amusing and cautionary theme. Your editor was privileged to be able to meet
and talk to the authors of The Progress Principle (reviewed in our November issue). This enlightening interview focused around the idea of “inner work life”, which is worth a good deal of thought. In Viewpoint, Vlatka Hlupic addresses the idea that leaders could improve performance by relaxing control and empowering employees. Still on the subject of leadership, Simon Garrett discusses the difficulties of following a leader. Our book selection for this issue features noted authors on important topics well worth reading about. We have set another reading competition for you, and remember there is a really splendid first prize of a new dictionary! Finally, feedback. We would very much like to
know what you think about Business Executive. It is important to us that we give our readers a magazine they will enjoy and benefit from, so please let us know your thoughts, either via the form at the end of the magazine – or you could write us a letter! And, a little belatedly, a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012.
Sidney Callis
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