New Ideas, New Thinking

Current Articles

United Front seeks World-class Leaders (November 2008)
Up to 80% of a company’s worth is linked to the capability of its staff. The quality of leadership determines how this asset translates into market success, writes Christopher Ward, chief executive of Wales Management Council
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Good companies embrace ecodesign-led leadership (November 2008)
Just like good leaders need good managers, good companies need ecodesign. This article presents the case for all companies, irrespective of size, location or sector to embed ecodesign thinking in the heart of their business strategy.
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The Limits of Coaching (September 2008)
Matt Henkes looks at where coaching stops and the other disciplines begin, and asks how we walk the tightrope.
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A Good NED for Business (June 2008)
Non-executive directors are not just for large corporates. Louise Druce looks at the benefits for small businesses.
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Do you Want Good Managers or Inspirational Leaders? (May 2008)
If you want truly sensational leaders then focus on the practical and ditch the theoretical hot air, says Steve Miller. Is it really essential that they understand theories to the 'enth degree', he asks? Instead, he suggests five key areas for leadership development.
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Can a Leopard Change Its Spots? (April 2008)
Dealing with the perpetrators and getting them on the road to recovery is an important, yet not much talked about part of the bullying problem. Annie Hayes finds coaching has a valuable part to play.
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Developing the Management Quickstep (March 2008)
In these troubled business times it's important to stay one step ahead of the game. Jo Causon argues that management development is essential if you want your organisation to keep pace with external change.
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The Topsy Managers (February 2008)
Sarla Langdon of Markmaid Marketing, Swansea, gives her view on the Paul Thomas article.
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What are Managers Anyway? (February 2008)
Following on from Dr Paul Thomas' article on the need for managers, here Hywel Williams of the University of Glamorgan gives his own response to the article below.
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What No Managers? (January 2008)
University of Glamorgan academic, Dr Paul Thomas, claimed this week that Welsh businesses would thrive if they removed their managers. Here Christopher Ward of Wales Management Council explains why he thinks we need more rather than fewer managers.
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Putting Management at the Top of the Agenda (December 2007)
In this article for Inside Welsh Recruitment magazine, Christopher Ward examines why the quality of its managers is so important for the success of the Welsh economy.
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The 12 Tips of Christmas (December 2007)
The Christmas period can be one of the most profitable but also one of the most stressful times of the year for small business owners (this article first appeared in BusinessZone Newswire, Issue 392).
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From Vampires and Zombies to Business Leaders (November 2007)
How do business leaders today differ from those of a couple of decades ago? Andy Cootes, professional writer and author and co-publisher of "A Friend in Every City", examines this issue.
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Talent Management - Making it Work (October 2007)
Is talent management really as important as reports suggest? Phil Rice at PA Consulting group explains why the implementation of the programme is most important than its design.
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It's Gr8 2 Communicate (September 2007)
Andrew Wilkinson, Chairman of Wales Management Council, looks at the pros and cons of our latest methods of communication.
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Bad News for Minorities Aiming for the Boardroom (September 2007)
by David Clutterbuck
The homogeneity of Boards in the UK and many other countries is a growing cause for concern. With fewer women reaching big company Boards and widespread indifference to appointing directors from ethnic minorities, companies run increasing risks of becoming alienated and out of touch with customers, employees and other key stakeholders, such as local government.
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Success Tips for the Modern Entrepreneur
Delivering an inspiring address at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference, Ben Verwaayen called on the UK's entrepreneurs to enhance their leadership skills and exploit today's business opportunities. Dan Martin reports.
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Leadership Development Methodologies
by Christopher Ward
28 different methods for developing leaders. At one time, leadership development meant a training course. Now there are many different methods to choose from and the following list is hopefully a useful checklist on what options to consider.
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Marketing Leadership Makes Sense
If marketing investment is to be productive, it requires efficient and effective management. "Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things." Said Peter Drucker, but what does efficient and effective management require in the "marketing" context?
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Communication and Strategy in Leadership
Bob Seligman of Cornwall College Business, looks at the role of communication and strategy in leadership.
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Leadership - Guiding the Way
Linda Narbeth of CherryBlue Ltd , winner of the Leading Learner award at this year's Leading Wales Awards, gives us her thoughts on leadership.
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The Compelling Network
In the second of two related articles, Sian Rees, Wales Management Council's South Wales Executive, considers the ingredients that make a network one that people want to belong to.
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Networking the Networks?
In the first of two related articles, Sian Rees, Wales Management Council's South Wales Executive, looks at the mechanisms of operating women's networks in Wales.
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Work It Out for Yourself
Are you totally absorbed - as I am - by current leadership and management debate? Are you challenged by inspirational keynote speakers who give you ideas which dissipate into thin air as you return to 'real' business issues? How does the academic discussion relate to the real world - and how will your business change as a result, to derive real benefit?
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Leading Beautifully
Donna Ladkin examines beauty as an aspect of leadership.
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And Leadership Is...
Steve Donnelly, North Wales Executive of Wales Management Council, explains what he understands by the term "leadership".
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Creative Leadership
Christine Davies of the Creative Leadership Foundation, tells us all about creative leadership, and why she feels that it is important for us here in Wales.
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Archive Articles

Leadership - The Process
by Robin Morrison
Robin Morrison, Church and Society Officer, The Church in Wales, provides insight into the leadership task to help you with your own process.
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Leadership Is Not Just The Guy In Front
by Christopher Ward
Make no mistake about it, modern leadership is a complex business that is not easy to define.
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Mentoring a New Generation of Winners for Industry
by David Moffett
Outgoing Welsh Rugby Union Chief Executive David Moffett has offered us many insights on strategy and management during his three year tenure in the job.
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Eyes Wide Shut
by Christopher Ward
Stanley Kubrick's last film was Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. It has been variously described as "a mysterious odyssey of sexual and moral discovery" and "an erotic daydream about chances missed and opportunities avoided".
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Living Leadership - Exploding The Myth
by Colin Williams
Colin Williams is an independent consultant who has worked with Ashridge for over 20 years. Here he takes a down-to-earth look at what constitutes an effective leader.
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Creating the Managers We Need for a Competitive Future
by Christopher Ward
The case for improving the skills of the Welsh workforce has been made convincingly over recent years. Evidence from a multitude of sources tells us quite simply that we need better-skilled people at all levels who can do jobs that support sophisticated and innovative businesses capable of earning more for our economy.
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Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians
by Christopher Ward
News that one in eight of Wales' 1.2 million - strong workforce now holds a managerial post has raised eyebrows in some quarters.
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Training Evaluation Part 1 - What's It All About
by Martin Schmalenbach
In the first of a short series of articles on evaluation, Martin Schmalenbach looks at the work of Donald Kirkpatrick and others in setting a framework for appraising the effectiveness of training.
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Training Evaluation Part 2 - Methods, Models and Approaches
by Martin Schmalenbach
In the second of a short series of articles on evaluation, Martin Schmalenbach looks at the work of Donald Kirkpatrick and others in setting a framework for appraising the effectiveness of training.
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Training Evaluation Part 3 - When and How to Evaluate
by Martin Schmalenbach
In the third of a short series of articles on evaluation, Martin Schmalenbach looks at the work of Donald Kirkpatrick and others in setting a framework for appraising the effectiveness of training.
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Training Evaluation Part 4 - Taking Control for ROI
by Martin Schmalenbach
In the last instalment of this series Martin Schmalenbach goes beyond Kirkpatrick levels 1 and 2 to look at the value of control groups, and offer some tips on how to get a real sense of ROL.
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Building Skills While Doing The Day Job
by Christopher Ward
On the face of it there is no shortage of management training and development going on in Wales today.
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The Way I See It... Mapping the Way for Management Development
by Simon Court
Recent opinion pieces on TrainingZONE have reminded us that management and leadership development is only likely to add value if it sets out to respond to business needs. Critically, it needs delivers change in management behavious that boosts organisational performance.
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Shifting to a Higher Gear
by Christopher Ward
Open international markets and rising skill and technology levels across the globe present huge competitive challenges to Welsh businesses. Location in the "Western world" no longer provides protection, and every company must now fight its own corner, moving itself decisively up the value chain, if it is to stay among the high earning elite.
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Power of the Hidden Leaders
by Christopher Ward
When we think of leaders, most of us tend to visualize high profile, larger than life characters, commanding the limelight through their charisma or force of personality.
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Managers of Mid-Life Reinvention
by Christopher Ward
They say you can't teach old dogs new tricks. But, in the case of Welsh managers, that's precisely what we'll need to do in the years ahead.
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Taking Management Seriously!
by Christopher Ward
Make no mistake, unless we build a quality workforce and maintain an adequate infrastructure, Wales' is not even at the starting line of international competitiveness.
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Honours Without Profit
by Christopher Ward
Those of us involved in the task of promoting better management performance often ponder upon what it is that motivates managers most to excel at what they do.
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One Jog Can't Stop a Heart Attack
by Christopher Ward
Summer has, as usual, brought forth a new wave of debutant joggers, joining their more committed counterparts who have been pounding the pavements through the winter.
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