JanFeb2010

Dr Charlie Easmon

Business Blog

People Internal/External

This has been a really busy start to the year. I have been to the European HR Directors meeting (see Blog notes re that) and through that and other issues have really started to appreciate the key value of the right people in the business doing the right things. Things started with my appreciation of needing A talent in A positions. I have since been engaged by the ideas of ‘The Carrot Principal’ around BOTH satisfaction and engagement and the value of reward.

We had to let one staffer go based on a key loss in turnover. Another staffer has set up a job-share which seems to work well.

We had one resignation, which was really sad to see. Some disciplinary issues are on-going. I am reminded of the value I drew from Robert Sutton’s fantastic book ‘The No Asshole policy’.

I have now devised a proper guideline for managers, which covers our key values and expectations of them.

My good friends at ALC Health announced two new appointments this month. I join the company in a newly created post as ALC Health’s Medical Director with immediate effect. and I look forward to working with them and contributing medical information to their clients and to their website etc (www.alchealth.com).



Operations

We may have found the holy grail of data management via Ian and his team at www.zaptag.com. We will upload secure data, which the occupational health team of our client can see remotely hence saving us emails, scans and data capacity issues.

We are undertaking a complete review of processes so that all staffers know what to do for all clients (this has been a long-time coming).

I have been shocked by the sheer obstructiveness of some of the drug companies with regard to H1N1 vaccine. There is a surplus, there are buyers but can we get any……………..?

Strategic

Had a look at our end of year figures for 2009 and thank goodness for our VAT return! We lost way too much in the last quarter of 2009 and the aim for 2010 is to make our profit in the preceding months and make the last quarter at least break-even but not a loss! We will do this by:
Doctors hours reflecting the activity
Minimal stock orders
Minimal agency/recruitment
Minimal entertaining (Xmas do is the exception!)
Minimal repair/computer costs

Had a great meeting with Nitesh who designed our web-site and we will re-configure the site to more clearly focus on what we do and so that companies/individuals can access the information they need about our services.


Financial

The Australian de-listing has had a heavy impact on our cash-flow and so things are tight but we will get through this. Other streams of work, especially vaccinations for Primary Care Trusts are strong.

We are in the process of changing bank. Our current bank has legacy statues from some time ago and is located far enough away that it makes meetings harder than necessary.

We have 2 tenders in at the moment. One for oil major, worth about £400,000 per year and the other for a large security firm. The security firm one was potentially worth over £1 million per year but the latest is that the board rejected it (why are we asked to tender if there is no budget – ho hum!)

Marketing

We have followed up leads after the European HR director’s meeting and hope to confirm some new clients. We hope to get further involved with the retail sector with 2 new clients.
The New Vision for Health and HR has been sent to several HR managers and will feature on the website.
The new processes should help our won staff better understand and sell what we do.

Innovation:

‘MagicWhiteBoard’ was the business at the European HR Director’s meeting.

Best Business Reads this month:

‘Of Interest to Executives’ – A collection of Monthly letters published by the Royal Bank of Canada

Best past business reads:

‘The Richer Way’, Julian Richer ISBN 0-9526730-0-2


Quote of the month:

Matsushita Japan (Panasonic and much more)


‘Treat the people you do business with as if they were a part of your family. Prosperity depends on how much understanding one receives from the people with whom one conducts business…. After-sales service is more important than assistance before sales. It is through such service that one gets permanent customers….Don’t sell customers goods that they are attracted to, sell them goods (or services) that will benefit them………….Any waste, even a sheet of paper, will increase the price of a product by that much……To be out stock is due to carelessness. If this happens, apologise to the customers, ask for their address, and tell them that you will deliver the goods immediately.’


Charity of the month:

Have sponsored Mrs Eileen Barrett via http://www.justgiving.com/runningforhaiti - as it says she is running for Haiti!