Page 11 - BOSS Today Issue 46

NEWS BOSS Today #46

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KEEPING THAT

LEARNING

CURVE STEEP

The BOSS “Industry Leaders Meet Future Leaders” Conference was held at the Tower Guoman Hotel on 28th November.

hink about keeping your learning Commercial Group): The Importance mistake you have ever made and how
Tcurve as steep as possible: the steeper Of Social & Environmental did you overcome it?”, “What are the
it is, the more you will progress.” That Sustainability In Business leadership qualities that you most
was the challenge laid down by BOSS admire?”, “What have you learned
Chairman Simon Drakeford to the The ensuing 50 minutes saw the from us today?”, What is the difference
assembled delegates early on in the leaders and delegates get to grips between being a good leader and a good
conference – and throughout the day with these issues, after which manager?” and “What is the biggest
they responded by showing that this was they reported back on some key challenge affecting your business
exactly what they were focussed on. conclusions from their discussions: and how are you preparing for it?”.
The day had been formally opened The day concluded with a succinct
by BOSS CEO Amy Hutchinson, who n Margin Management: add value by summing up by Simon Drakeford,
welcomed the delegates, thanked focussing on customer relationships before the next generation of industry
the Leaders Of The Future (LoTF) and product benefits. If you must leaders headed off to prepare for the
Committee and the event sponsors talk about price, be brave and big night of Awards that evening.
Fellowes and Pentel and emphasised the explain why increases are needed.
value of building connections between n Leadership: be open with those
the young leaders in our industry. you are working with and be "I was delighted by the sell-out
Outgoing LoTF Chair Emily Jones aware of your own weaknesses. audience and their engagement on
(Head of UK Sales Retail, Fellowes UK) Work on your strategy and then my table and really enjoyed bringing
and new Chair Scott Castle (Marketing communicate it clearly top down. Lencioni’s work to life."
Manager, VOW Wholesale) then took n Dealers: dealers are diverse, so one size Philip BEER, Managing Director,
over hosting duties before handing over doesn’t fit all. To fight against Amazon, Hamelin Brands
to Simon Drakeford, who introduced the dealers should focus on what it cannot
four Round Table Discussion leaders, do, such as furniture installations and “Any type of event that brings dealers
whose job it was to lead their respective actively managing customer problems. together to support each other and
tables through some key industry topics: n Sustainability: be brave and encourage share experiences is always good.”
the whole company to embrace John Phillips, Head of sales, Paperstone
n Philip Beer (MD, Hamelin Brands): this. Start at a personal level: if
The Importance Of Organisational you believe it, you can sell it! “It’s been very interesting to meet other
Clarity In Leadership dealers: the industry can feel quite
n Richard Ford (Board Director, After the networking buffet lunch, depressed at the moment, so it was great
SPOT): Margin Management Simon Drakeford conducted a panel to have a boost by getting new ideas”
n Julie Hawley (MD, Office Friendly): session with the four leaders, who Maddy Bishop, Sales Office Manager,
The Challenges Facing Dealers fielded some challenging and insightful Bishops Office Products
n Simone Hindmarch (MD, questions such as: “What’s the greatest

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