What a week and it’s only going to get better! After waiting and waiting for some decent weather, summer has finally put in an appearance and just in time for the Olympics.

There is a real feeling positivity around, regardless of all the economic bad news, as the Opening Ceremony approaches. There are some among us who think it is all a big waste of money and no-one will benefit long term. I wonder if the hotels, sports clubs, universities and many more businesses and people all over the UK, who have been hosting teams from around the world for the last few weeks as they begin their final preparations for London 2012, think that? Financially beneficial it may have been for them, but what about the less tangible benefits of welcoming these special visitors. For many of the athletes just qualifying has been an achievement in itself and although their medal expectations may not be very high, to be representing their country at the ultimate sporting event is reward in itself. To spend time with these athletes is inspirational and must surely encourage all of us to strive to be the best we can be.

The crowds that have cheered the torch along its journey are also testament to how many people feel about the Olympics. Regardless of the weather, even in the pouring rain very early on a Friday morning in Colchester, the crowds were out in force. To be part of something as massive as the Olympics is what draws people. For most it is the closest they will get to an Olympic event and that is what matters.

So tomorrow evening sit back, enjoy the Opening Ceremony, and prepare to be inspired. You never know where it might take you.

I have recently been working with a number of different businesses who have issues with their employees not doing what they are employed to do. In most cases this is more the fault of the business owner than the employees, and this is mainly due to the following reasons.

As businesses grow and develop, more often than not, the business owner gradually takes on employees to take up the work that they themselves cannot handle. However, these people are not employed in specific roles, and therefore the job responsibilities which each new person takes on, may well cross over a number of different jobs. Consequently after a year or two of the “all hands on deck” approach, no-one knows clearly who is responsible for what, and things either become duplicated, or worse, are missed altogether.

The result of this is that the business owner then tries to get control back, and starts to interfere in everyone’s work to make sure nothing is missed, and things are done properly. Of course this then leads to the business owner being rushed off his or her feet, doing things which they pay others to do, and very often annoying their employees enough for some to leave, and others to take a step back (because why do it if the boss is only going to check it or redo it anyway).

To prevent this from happening, or to change it, you need to create a clear organisational structure, with specific roles and responsibilities. You then put the names to the roles, thereby creating demarcation lines for each employee. It is then so much easier to ensure everyone is pulling their weight in the jobs they are employed to do, and the business owner can concentrate on growing the business, and creating future strategies.

“You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink!” How true is that saying when it comes to coaching business owners. I can tell, ask, plead and even convince them that the actions we agree on need to be done, but unless they fully understand why they are doing it, or they want to make changes badly enough, then the chances are that things will not get done.
As I have always said, coaching only works if the business owner genuinely wants to make things better in their lives and their business. I explain to them that the more often I am there to chase them and hold them accountable, then the faster their lives will change for the good. However, very often business owners will still resist having someone coming to chase them up too often (in their opinion) and initially they will commit slightly half heartedly i.e. a visit once every three or four weeks. But as they gradually see the benefits, and feel their lives improving they finally get it.
Just in the last week or so, two of my clients have said that they want to up the frequency of my visits, as they know they are benefitting from it, and they recognise that the power of coaching through being held accountable to carrying out actions in an agreed time period, really does work.
Going back to the start of the blog, if I wait for them to take this on board, then I really get their full commitment to being coached. If I try to force it upon them, then I tend to get resistance, and instead of moving things forward, they tend to remain rather static.
Selling anything to anyone involves the same principles. If you want someone to buy your product, your service, or even a concept, you need them to understand it, and for them to say they genuinely want it.