Back in January 2016, I suggested that in the coming year business leaders would need to search for ways of being more competitive whilst delivering quality and value for money. I suggested that increasing productivity and developing team harmony would probably be key as leaders will need to be perceived as inspirational and motivational if …

  Hopefully it is not simply a sign of getting older but being busier- this year has whizzed by; the FA Cup Final, Wimbledon, and the cricket season all seem just a few weeks ago!! The one thing most of us expected during 2015 was a rise in the Bank of England interest rate. The …

What are the Secrets of Success?? I am sure we all have views on this subject, however If there was just a simple answer we would all be highly successful. That is quite impossible as we can each only succeed if others fail – one winner with many others losing out, some by a mile …

Looking back, for a moment, over the last twelve months or so we have seen periods of the fastest growth since 2007. The UK economy grew by 2.6% during 2014 – the biggest growth since 2007 and far better than the 1.7% growth in 2013. The downside is that the growth in the few months …

I cannot quite believe that I have been running my own business, Alan Fletcher Solutions, for three years now. During that time I have met some incredible people having widened my network of contacts, clients and friends. I am pleased to say that my clients tell me that I have delivered the quality of work …

There’s no gain without pain’, so it is said. The phrase ‘no pain, no gain’ takes me back to the early 1980s with Jane Fonda and her exercise videos; suggesting that we go for the burn and then saying that there will be no gain without pain. Fortunately, from a business performance perspective the pain …

Many people feel as if they are simply drifting along and achieving little. They often work hard but let us not confuse activity with accomplishment. Other people seem to achieve more than the majority of people and have time on their hands. The main difference is how the minority (the wise folk) approach goal setting, …

Happiness is, I believe, is governed by our mental attitude, is relative and affected by whether we feel happier or perhaps less so at any given time. As Aristotle said, “Happiness depends on ourselves”. I have read books written by Jim Rohn and recall that he said that happiness comes to those who deliberately expand …

Only a few weeks ago the Bank of England’s chief economist, Spencer Dale, said that the UK had experienced a very deep recession and that it would take a few years before we can say that we are really out of the ‘mire’. I think it is reasonable to say that it seems that the …

Have you noticed when someone is asked ‘how are things/how are you’ invariably the reply is ‘not bad, can’t grumble’. In Europe however the reply is more likely to be ‘fine, things are improving’. Go to New York, Miami or Phoenix and the response is likely to be ‘awesome, great or swell’. Why is it …