More about Leigh

Who are align the arrows and how can they help my business?

 

 

Leigh has always been fascinated in the way things work and connect together.  Leaving school after A-levels with no obvious career path, he decided to head in to London and start working at an Investment Bank to learn the ropes and carry on with the grafting attitude that started with a paper round age 13.

He started to understand the world of corporate activity and was involved in the takeovers and mergers of FTSE listed companies.  In those days, computer screens were square, email was one per team (if you were lucky) and Google was literally just invented. 

When technology started to come to the mainstream, Leigh took roles in project teams to implement major projects, but also projects where technology supported major client acquisitions.  Business improvement initiatives were popular which meant progressing to shape business strategy across organisations was a logical step.

In each of his corporate roles he learned that unity among a group of individuals is far more valuable than creating individual star performers.

So how can we help?

Being able to facilitate a room is an often overlooked skill. Knowing when to keep pressing a subject or when to move on can be difficult to judge.  Having the ability to stand in front of strangers and project a message to an audience you don’t know in a way that they will understand can put fear in to people!

Looking back to 2005, a decision was made that changed how Leigh thought about that.  He was asked to present at a European Conference in Paris about the way his employer (a large utility company) were using new features of their document composition tool. 

After accepting the challenge and suffering major anxiety ahead of the conference, Leigh walked away buzzing.  The feedback was excellent and a little overwhelming.  There had been a lot of meticulous planning and practice after practice of the delivery, but fears of presenting to strangers were put to bed.

Being able to stand in front of people and talk in a way that usually makes sense is one thing, but that doesn’t make a good facilitator.  Experience is a massive bonus, so Leigh sought opportunities to repeat the same exercise.  Facilitating isn’t about everyone agreeing with each other, but ensuring everyone understands each opinion.

Conflict in a boardroom is a common thing, but healthy conflict is essential.  Every person should have the opportunity to express their opinion in a way their voice can be heard.  Even a crazy idea can lead to a thought about refining a different idea.  

Fast forward to 2018 and Leigh took the decision to bring the learning from his career to as many clients as possible.  Leigh saw an opportunity to work in a different way to his rivals.  Align the Arrows set out to provoke thought and to understand our clients.  You will not be told: THIS IS THE WAY YOU DO IT.  You won’t be promised to increase the value of your business or a guarantee on your turnover.

 

 

The basic way to run a business is simple.  You can replicate this over and over again.  Serial entrepreneurs will do it again and again.  There are businesses catering for the most bizarre requirements.  There can be two businesses in the same industry, one folds, the other thrives.

Leigh was inspired by authors such as Michael E Gerber, James C Collins and Gino Wickman.  There are basic principles to running a business that barely change over time.  You can look to the past and see McDonalds Vs Wipmy, Blockbuster Vs Netflix and many others.  The model for a successful business is easy.  Create a clear vision, implement the right processes and boom.

Things aren’t that simple though.  For a good business to become an excellent business, you need people.  The biggest blocker to any business growth is the people inside it.  That includes the business owner.  If you are open to challenge, want to grow your business and would like a little help to do so, get in touch.

We won’t guarantee success, but we will work to understand you, to understand your business and help you to get whre YOU want to be, rather than where everyone else tells you that you should be.

 

Request a free ONE PAGE planning tool

 

Register Now