How do you measure business success?
Is it the satisfaction of a cash positive, good week’s work for a sole trader, rewarded with a pint on Friday evening?
Is it clever management and worker engagement that steers a company successfully through difficult trading conditions?
Or the escaping rush of champagne bubbles to celebrate the sale of a company?
Well, it’s all of these. But the Facebook IPO proves that the elation of success can be transitory (although perhaps not in the bank balances of some of the social network’s founders).
Often success comes from sheer hard work executed to a well-formulated strategy. It’s not always a fizz-pop moment either. But it’s important to recognise success. And to celebrate it. Such as that being enjoyed by Jaguar Land Rover at the moment.
Riding a wave of fantastic new models, including the reveal of the all-new Range Rover, the company’s Halewood factory – once a hotbed of industrial dissent – is now moving to three shifts around the clock in order to meet demand for the Land Rover Evoque. That has never happened before at Halewood.
But this is more than just an effervescent fizz-pop moment. JLR’s success is based on excellent products that people desire, and an innovative labour programme underpinned by a commitment to training and engineering.
Success can also be measured by peer recognition. And we’re hoping that Fleet Alliance’s success in building a flourishing fleet management business, founded on a commitment to service excellence, will be recognised in the Glasgow Business Awards this October.
Our main office in Glasgow has been shortlisted in the toughest category (I would say that!) against three tough competitors, including one of our clients. We think we have a good chance. We have a strong commitment to developing staff skills, rather like JLR, as well as empowering decision-making, and creating strong customer relationships (we’ll need that if we beat our client!).
Being shortlisted is one thing; winning quite another. But I hope we do – the staff at Fleet Alliance deserves recognition for their business success.
How do you measure business success? Is it the satisfaction of a cash positive, good week’s work for a sole trader, rewarded with a pint on Friday evening? Is it clever management and worker engagement that steers a company successfully through difficult trading conditions? Or the escaping rush of champagne bubbles to celebrate the sale … Continued
So London 2012 is over and the games have been declared a triumph. Whilst the closing ceremony was never going to be as spectacular as Danny Boyle’s acclaimed opener, it was a fitting end. In his closing speech Lord Coe said: “When our time came – Britain, we did it right.” And who am I … Continued
The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games takes place later today – the moment when Danny Boyle’s extravaganza, from what I’ve seen a somewhat bucolic interpretation of our green and pleasant land, kicks off. I’m excited by the spectacle – but slightly irritated by the moaners and groaners. I was in Surrey earlier … Continued
It’s that sinking moment – when, suddenly, your day starts swiftly heading south. We’ve all been there: when you see that oh-so-deserved end-of-the-day beer before dinner slowly sinking away as you sail past the motorway exit road and just ahead is one long tailback… Congestion, traffic jams, hold-ups – call them what you will, they … Continued
Occasionally, we’re fortunate enough for car makers to send along to our offices the odd model for assessment. Which is very kind of them. The rush for the keys is not so pleasant among staff but I usually find that an assertion of my seniority works very well. As does keeping a firm grip on … Continued
One social media wag suggested that it was just as well the fuel duty hike was delayed – it would save on ministerial fuel necessary for all the recent government U-turns… Was the Chancellor going to do anything else? I doubt it. In a tricky place, somewhere between a rock and a hard place, the … Continued
Getting your team onside is always crucial to success don’t you think? Just look at what’s been happening in the Euro 2012 qualification rounds. Holland, one of the top four favourites to win, have gone out without scoring a point. Tales from within the Dutch camp suggest dissatisfaction in the side, deep fissures dividing both … Continued
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Remember 2002? I have to admit, I was still in shorts at the time but my fellow directors tell me about it… Sorry. That was uncalled for. Anyway, 2002: a freeze frame in the company car tax time line. It was that seminal moment when we moved from the sub-£20k company car special, when tax … Continued
No doubt many of you will be looking at your payslips and suddenly realising the impact of the Chancellor’s change to the company car tax rules on your take home pay. “Thanks George,” you probably muttered. Or, perhaps, something even a little stronger… But amongst all the rumblings of driver discontent, and the commentary about … Continued