Expert View BEING AUTHENTIC IS THE KEY by Nicola Mason HR and operations director, Napthens
Living through a pandemic has shown us all just how important leadership is – important and yet incredibly challenging, exhilarating and even frightening at times. But to reach that status is a real honour.
Being authentic in pursuit of leadership is the bravest and most rewarding direction to take; yet leadership is something that isn’t necessarily seen as a career path in its own right - and certainly doesn’t come with a rule book.
I’m sure most of us have worked with people we admire for their leadership skills as well as those who leave a little to be desired. Both types of leader provide opportunities for us to observe and learn from and can help us find our own way to successful leadership.
Some of the best business leadership skills I have seen in practice
come from those who have a passion for what they do, who know who they are and what they want and are committed to the pursuit of their goals. They take people along with them through effective communication and listening skills and emotional intelligence as well as commercial acumen and sound business knowledge of the sectors within which they operate.
The result is successful, sustainable businesses with happy colleagues and customers – which is ultimately what business leadership is all about.
In my role as HR director of a regional law firm, I have the opportunity of working with many interesting, talented and hardworking people. Being amongst these genuine people, and the successful Lancashire leaders that I meet and continue to learn from, is a real privilege.
Amanda Thompson
Managing director, Blackpool Pleasure Beach
The great-granddaughter of Blackpool Pleasure
Beach’s founder William George Bean, Amanda became managing director of the attraction in 2004, having previously served as deputy managing director since 2000 and as a director for more than 15 years prior. She is an active member of Blackpool’s tourism offering, serving on the board of the Grand Theatre Blackpool and working as a patron of the Blackpool Civic Trust. For the wider tourism sector, Amanda spent time as the leader of the European, Middle East and Africa advisory board for the attractions industry trade body, IAAPA, before stepping up to chair the worldwide board. She has been awarded the prestigious Michael Elliott Trust Awards Director of the Year for her contribution
to live entertainment and in 2021 was awarded an OBE for her services to tourism.
David Haythornthwaite
Chairman, Tangerine Holdings
David chairs the Lytham- based Tangerine group
which, with a workforce of 300, is one of the largest employers in the area. The company specialises in the manufacture and sale of animal healthcare and feed products and enjoyed a bumper year of sales thanks to the increase in pet ownership throughout lockdown. David is also chairman of ambitious non-league football club AFC Fylde, as well as its home, the Mill Farm Sports Village at Wesham - a growing, multi-million-pound project that has already brought more than 200 permanent and 400 temporary jobs to the area.
Expert View EXCELLENCE WILL SHOW THE WAY
by Giulia D’Ambrosio and Denize Alston Leadership lecturers, Myerscough College
We define leadership as inspiring excellence in everything you do.
The ultimate goal of a leader is to help an organisation achieve its objectives, and we use this as the core focus of our bespoke training, coaching and mentoring which is exclusive to individual employees and whole staff teams within Lancashire.
The majority of learners we support are from growing family businesses who promote from within which, while fantastic, can create managers who lack sufficient leadership and management skills.
We have worked with a range of businesses across a variety of sectors
to help their leaders adapt, upskill, and ensure their leadership style meets current contemporary industry issues.
Good leadership is vital as SMEs move through the recovery period, and that’s why it’s important to utilise any funding and projects that you are eligible for.
This isn’t just for financial reasons, but these programmes also give you access to the best industry specialists. We recommend seeking out support through the Upskilling Lancashire and Leading Lancashire projects.
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
Mark
Crabtree Managing director, AMS Neve
Mark has long helped put Lancashire’s
engineering expertise on the map, with his Burnley-based business designing and supplying professional audio equipment to the world’s top studios. During his time as chair of Burnley Bondholders, the town was named the Most Enterprising Area in 2013, the second most successful town for digital jobs growth in 2016 and a Top 16 UK Tech Town in 2018. He was also a driving force behind converting a derelict building into The Landmark business centre. In 2014, he received an OBE for services to advanced manufacturing and creative industries.
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