From the category archives:

The boardroom

The recession is kind to good businesses – and cruel to the poor ones. What can you do in a recession to be great?

by Victoria Tomlinson June 13, 2010
The recession is kind to good businesses – and cruel to the poor ones. What can you do in a recession to be great?

René Carayol was the inspiration at this year’s Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC).
The headlines were all about Brian Blessed – and you have to admire the fact that this famous actor climbed Mounts Everest and Ararat in his 60s and 70s.  But I felt like the little boy with the Emperor’s clothes – was [...]

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The Catholic Church – a lesson in (poor) crisis communications

by Victoria Tomlinson April 4, 2010
The Catholic Church – a lesson in (poor) crisis communications

The Guardian this weekend reports “The archbishop of Canterbury has said the Catholic church in Ireland has lost “all credibility” because of its poor handling of the scandal of paedophile priests.”
Two weeks ago the pope made an unprecedented move and issued a letter of apology to Irish Catholics.  No doubt he thought this would silence the [...]

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Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

by Victoria Tomlinson February 15, 2010
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

Why has this phrase become so widely used and accepted in everyday life and relationships – yet its principles overlooked in the workplace?
Michael Skapinker of the FT last week wrote about the continuing lack of women at senior levels in the workplace and covers the current debates on when and how women will make it [...]

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Toyota needs ‘emotional’ leadership

by Victoria Tomlinson February 7, 2010
Toyota needs ‘emotional’ leadership

Toyota drivers ‘should not panic’.  That was what Miguel Fonseca said at 7.50am on Friday morning. Painful.
Toyota UK’s managing director admitted the Prius hybrid had brake problems, but there was no need for a recall.
The interview was unconvincing and as part of a crisis management strategy, hopeless. Coming on the back of sticking accelerators, the company needed [...]

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Leadership skills for charities

by Victoria Tomlinson November 12, 2009
Leadership skills for charities

Sometimes the days you most dread are the most stimulating!
Northern Ballet Theatre was offered a day on corporate governance from the Clore Leadership Foundation. The deal is that if you accept, the whole board absolutely HAS to take part in this.
As a board member, I went along this morning thinking a whole day on corporate [...]

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In a recession you have to keep communicating

by Victoria Tomlinson November 5, 2009
In a recession you have to keep communicating

A number of clients have recently been mentioning variations on a theme. That in a recession you have to talk to your teams more than ever – even if there is nothing particularly new to say.
Stephen Martin, chief exec of Clugston, a leading construction company, took part in the Channel 4 programme, Undercover Boss earlier [...]

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Tony Blair

by Victoria Tomlinson November 1, 2009
Tony Blair

Scanning this morning’s papers, I see Tony Blair is believed to have been in discussions with Tesco to help them open offices in the Middle East.
I do feel Blair is seriously missing some wise counsel around him – or totally ignoring it.
Love him or hate him, he had built up a reasonably credible profile on [...]

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A number of clients are looking for directors of communications.

by Victoria Tomlinson October 1, 2009
A number of clients are looking for directors of communications.

I’ve noticed a recurring theme with several clients recently.  A number are looking for directors of communications.
It struck me today that these are all very senior, strategic posts and each client sees these positions as absolutely critical to the success of their businesses.  They are going to great lengths to get the right person – [...]

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