Skills and training for directors and owners

Here's how management training improved our business

Chris Lundie started his business, Covert Security Agency Ltd, in 2001. Based in Dundee, the company employs 90 staff and supplies licensed uniformed and undercover security officers to the UK commercial market. Rapid growth plus recent expansion into the contract cleaning market highlighted the need for diverse management skills. Here Chris describes how management training has been essential to the company's development.

What I did

Research training options

"Eighteen months after setting up, I had to recognise that we were no longer a start-up. Strategies for growth needed to be put in place and, while I had plenty of ideas, I wasn't sure I had the right skills.

"I enrolled in a series of professional development programmes, which I researched with help from Scottish Enterprise and through attending networking events. A network contact recommended the Business Investment for Growth programme.

"The programme teaches business owners about business planning at a strategic level. That got me focused on the bigger picture and I wanted to learn more."

Address key issues

"The next programme I joined was Plato II, organised by Dundee University Business School. The course, which I've still to complete, involves monthly mentoring sessions with senior blue-chip managers to identify and tackle critical business issues. Specifically, it's helped me with targeted marketing.

"I've also attended various seminars and workshops organised by the Business Gateway service, covering other key areas such as team building, financial planning and quality management systems."

Capitalise on learning

"I was sceptical about business coaching, but following a recommendation via my local Chamber of Commerce I've been using a coach, Richard Norris of Action International, for about a year.

"His input has been instrumental in putting strategies and systems in place, particularly financial systems, to capitalise on what I've learnt. In the last year, we've tripled our turnover, increased conversion rates on sales leads, added 22 per cent to profit margins and achieved 100 per cent staff retention.

"Before coaching, I was the world's worst delegator, but Richard's training has helped me overcome that. Coaching has also improved my time management skills and helped me plan succession. Overall, coaching sessions keep me focused on business development."

What I'd do differently

Get financial training sooner

"Putting financial systems in place is crucial in the early years. I wish I'd undertaken professional training in financial planning at an earlier stage."

Read more

"The right training programmes can be hugely beneficial, but I've learnt that self-development is equally important. I didn't realise at first the number of ideas you can get from management books. I now read at least one per quarter and make myself a list of ideas to follow up."

Download this case study and 20 like it in our free book, "Here's how I changed my business for the better" (PDF)

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• The core skills all businesses require
• New skills required by growing businesses
• Key skills for owners: strategy
• Key skills for owners: delegation
• Key skills for owners: building a management team
• Key skills for owners: managing your team
• Skills and training for company directors
• Sources of leadership training
• Here's how management training improved our business

 

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