NEWS EXTRA: NMBS CONFERENCE 2026 HIGH PERFORMANCE TAKEAWAYS
Jake Humphrey and Damien Hughes offered some key points that delegates could use and think about when they got back to the business.
1. Be the “thermostat,” not the thermometer Be the person who actively sets the tone in rooms and meetings instead of mirroring nega-tivity, and start meetings with positive intent or energy- setting statements.
2. Lead with optimism, especially when things are tough
A leader’s mindset directly influences the performance and engagement of the team. It’s important to build a habit of reframing problems as opportunities.
3. Practice intentional positivity daily Optimism is a discipline, not a personality trait. Anyone can be optimistc if they try. Think about introducing simple rituals, such as a morning mindset check-in.
4. Use empathy as a business tool Empathy isn’t “soft”, it’s a way of building trust with your team and your customers. Teams should be trained in how to ask the right questions.
5. Start meetings with small talk A quick chat or check-in at the start of a meeting, significantly increases trust and collabo-ration.
6. Build relationships before making demands You’ll get better results when trust is established first, so put off the hard questions or requests until you know you’ve got a rapport
with ERP systems, Data Yard allows users to access a complete catalogue of supplier products directly within their existing workflows. As demonstrated during a live demo, this eliminates the need to search multiple sources for information, with all relevant data available straight to the ERP system.
He stressed that the platform enables faster response times and improved customer service, as staff can instantly retrieve accurate product details, freeing-up their time to spend on other activities that need a human touch. “Once data is integrated, updates flow seamlessly into merchant systems, reducing manual maintenance,” he said, adding that future developments will enhance this further through API connectivity, allowing data to
7. Ask better questions
Move beyond “How are you?” to more meaningful conversations, such as “What is one challenge that you’re facing right now?”, or “How can I help you today or this week?”
8. Make it seem normal to vulnerable Culture is set from the top. Share challenges and uncertainties with your team appropriately.
9. Recognise hidden struggles Everyone has unseen challenges affecting their performance. Try thinking about other people in 3D, bringing in more empathic management and HR practices.
10. Avoid trading long-term happiness for short-term success
High performance shouldn’t come at the cost of wellbeing, so it’s important to regularly review team workload, stress, and morale.
11. Focus on enjoying the process as well as the outcomes
The journey matters more, so celebrate your progress, not just your end results.
12. Prioritise rest and recovery Performance improves with effective downtime. Everyone needs to take time for breaks, holidays, and realistic workloads.
trickle into the ERP system in near real time.
Thomas also broached the idea of the “endless aisle” offering access to a far broader range of products than the business physically stocks. “This not only improves customer experience but also provides valuable insights into demand. Merchants can track usage and identify frequently ordered items, helping inform stocking decisions and drive sales growth,” he said.
The platform has the potential to support emerging technologies such as AI, which means, Thomas said, that businesses can unlock capabilities such as natural language lookups, related items, add-on suggestions and a more intelligent sales process. He ended with a clear call to action. For suppliers, early
October 2023
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13. Accept that failure is a part of ambition Failure is not a setback. It’s a requirement for growth. Create a culture where mistakes are reviewed, not punished.
14. Be kind to yourself as well as others You can’t lead others well if you’re overly critical of yourself. Try reflecting on what went well as well as being critical.
15. Redefine how you think of high performance
“Doing your best, where you are, with what you’ve got” is high performance enough. Recog- nise that performance can be about effort and improvement, as well as outcomes
Finally, we all have the choice whether to be a cynic or not. Humphrey said: “You know the kind of person that, when they walk into a room, that room lights up? Do you also know those people that when they walk out of the room, the room lights up?.
“The big lesson for all of us to be the light in the room. You will be amazed at how much pessi-mists don’t like hanging around with optimists. So from today, walk into every room, and make sure you are the light in that room. Whether times are good or bad, it can be make a real difference.”
adoption offers both commercial and competitive advantages, particularly with introductory pricing incentives nearing their deadline. For merchants, the barrier to entry is low, as the
platform is free to access, making it an easy step towards greater efficiency.
“It’s a completely different way of working,” he said. “It’s a game changer.” BMJ
Left: Jack Hopkins talked the NMBS delegates through Tradeaze, the AI-powered delivery platform. It is essentially an on-demand delivery platform for building materials. It allows builders merchants to deliver to their trade customers on site, via a network of freelance delivery drivers, in instances where the merchant’s own fleet or transport may not be available or appropriate. The goal is to get tools, parts, and materials delivered same-day (often within hours) instead of waiting days.
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