Survival - SWOT or get SWATTED?

Have you done a S.W.O.T. analysis recently?
Giving focus to where you expend your energies becomes even more vital when times are tough.
Involve all of the team in reviewing where you are putting your focus at the moment, so that you are all working on the things that are going to make a real difference. SWOT to review your business plan before the competition SWATS you.

SWOT Analysis


Woops - next issue for a novice blogger - I cannot paste my table into the post. It was all jazzy orange colours too! I have even tried converting it to Jpg but cannot seem to get the size right! So, unfortunately you will have to see it in a list rather than a table. If you want a copy of the table to fill in then just request one from me at: angie.martin@amhr.co.uk.



So, imagine this is in 4 boxes (typical consultant style!):

STRENGTHS

• What do you do well?
• What unique resources can you draw on?
• What do others see as your strengths?

WEAKNESSES

• What could you improve?
• Where do you have fewer resources than others?
• What are others likely to see as your weaknesses?

OPPORTUNITIES

• What good opportunities are open to you?
• What trends could you take advantage of?
• How can you turn your strengths into opportunities?

THREATS

• What trends could harm you?
• What is your competition doing?
• What threats do your weaknesses expose you to?

SMART objectives become SMARTER

Last night, at a meeting of the local branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, I had a timely reminder that SMART objectives could actually be SMARTER. The talk was on Employee Engagement and given by http://www.digitalopinion.co.uk/.

We are probably more familiar with the acronym SMART, and though we may use different terms, the output is similar. However, we may want to think SMARTER in this tough economic climate.

Specific

Measurable

Appropriate

Realistic

Timebound

Engaging

Rewarding

Now TWITTERING too!

Have just set up a TWITTER. Find me on http://twitter.com/AngieMartinAMHR

£1000+ funding available for Leadership and Management Development

Train to Gain are promoting the following:
LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
One grant per organisation (Usually for the most senior people)
• A £1000 grant that supports Leadership & Management development
• For businesses employing 2-250 staff
• £500 for the CEO / MD / owner manager
• A further £500 for senior management team
(Must be matched by the business i.e. £1000 total spend)
• Cannot be claimed retrospective

Does not cover:
o training that is the legal or statutory responsibility of the organisation
o Investors in People diagnostics, advice or assessment/review costs

Will cover:
o Training
o coaching & mentoring
o peer learning
o Purchasing resource / materials

Talk to us today to discuss how you can make the most of the funding available.
07779 639569 or 01403 888044

Read Powerful Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Actually that is not correct. I have not READ this book, I have BROWSED this book, as you do not need to read it right through.

Having known Dee and heard her speak at meetings and conferences for about 3 years now, I was delighted that she has put her useful tips for small businesses into print. The front cover says "Over 250 Proven, Simple and Effective Marketing Tips, Tools and Strategies That Can Transform Your Small Business In As Little As 28 Days". Massive claim you may say, but a great marketing tool, and proven by some of her clients. This book is a handy reference book to keep close to your desk and dip in and out of, when, as a small business owner, you are: looking for the next tip to get more business from existing clients; considering how to get into new markets or to new clients; or to at last getting round to marketing in an efficient and effective way.

Great timing for the book launch as we are feeling the chill winds of recession, and could all do with some new perspective on how to do things for our businesses on a 'Shoestring Budget'.

Thanks Dee for a practical reference guide which takes the 'rocket science' out of marketing.

Dig deep and keep learning in times of recession

In tough times, we often need to dig deep to keep our motivation going. A few things I do to manage my fears and anxieties better:

THINK POSITIVE Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen? Then plan to avoid it. If you think it will fail, it probably will!

TAKE OPPORTUNITIES Things rarely fall in our lap—get out there, find them. There is always someone who will help, and if at first you don't succeed, then try, try and try again.
But don't bang your head against a brick wall - change your style or approach.
Effort and resilience usually pay off.

KEEP LEARNING From other people, from reading, from the internet, from courses, from all situations and people you face and deal with in life

Small world on the wide web

As I have now got the basics of blogging, (thought not walking before I can run) I am working out how I get my blog out there. Having put the news on Linkedin, I have had 3 e-mails of encouragement so far, so I'd better get posting! The world becomes so much smaller with the internet. I have over the last few days made contact with friends and colleagues in places as far apart as UK, Hong Kong, Geneva, and Perth and Sydney in Australia. I think back over the number of friends and colleagues I have lost contact with over the years as I relocated every 18 months, and look forward to meeting again in the virtual world, whether through business or social networking.

This week I will focus on format and content of blogs, so that this becomes a more useful site than the random musings of a new follower of the virtual world.

One note of warning - blogging and typing away at my kepboard will never replace the spoken word for me (Oh, forgot I can also put a video on here). I am a social animal, and love conversation, so this medium is just adding to my repertoire!

Novice Blogger learns a tough lesson

Oh no! After a gruelling day yesterday finalising the details of the BLOG, I proudly showed it to Martin when he came home last night, and felt pleased as punch with myself at almost getting there. Tough lesson for a novice - don't get too confident too quickly! This morning I did my next post, and then decided to delete previous attempts on a separate blog - disaster, I deleted all of the work I had done yesterday, leaving me with a blank template and no posts! Despite numerous attempts to find a way of retrieving it, I have now given up and am starting all over again.

Well, at least I will test out whether I really did LEARN, or whether I was just going through the motions without really understanding. Today's schedule now bombed out as I delete my hour of Wii Fit!

I am now going to try and paste below the previous posts from the other site which I thought I had deleted - if it will allow.

Monday, 9 February 2009

First breakthrough
Having published and viewed the photo I clicked on text and it appeared. Guess what........ I had not applied a colour to the text so it was there but not visible. I must have a settings option somewhere to make the default black but can't seem to find it. Afternoon call to teenage coach and mentor required.
Posted by Angie Martin at 08:53 0 comments

Positive Impact? Can't see it.......
HiAttempt number 2 and failing dismally. I can only see the headings on my blog, and the content is not publishing! My 16 year old nephew who is my guide and mentor in all things techy, unfortunately does not seem to access his e-mail. Oh well, will try and call him this afternoon to get me visible. Not much impact in this media without visibility.
Maybe I will try a photo: At least I can see it and it helps to calm my techy frustrations - also reminds me that the sun does shine, though not often in Horsham in February.
Posted by Angie Martin at 08:39 0 comments
Thursday, 5 February 2009

Getting started - panic!!!!!
Today I am at last getting around to setting up this blog. My nephew has started me off and left me to now make it my own (though I know he will be on the end of the phone and e-mail to help me along the way). Quite daunting really for someone who knows very little about how these things work. SO...... I'm going to start blogging by sharing my experience of trying to get it working for me over the next week or so. Trial and error, so if you end up reading this, apologies, as the interesting stuff is unlikely to appear for a week or so!!!!At least I have been able to get my picture onto the blog!Am already having to amend my first post as only the title appeared - trail and error and I am sure I will get this content posted at some stage tonight!!!!.....?
Posted by Angie Martin at 17:22 0 comments
Wednesday, 31 December 2008

A Test Post
Angie Martin.
Posted by Angie Martin at 14:30 0 comments