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!
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Special Blog: HR Directors meeting
I’m glad I am doing only 2 stands this year (both happen to be in Birmingham!). In the past I have wasted time, money and effort on promotional stands. Often it is best that you do it yourself or not at all. In the past, ‘helpers’ have used half the time to promote themselves or not been very helpful. Another lesson I have learned is ‘’don’t take trunk-loads of promotional material, only to return with (you guessed it!) trunk-loads of promotional material! The recession helped here in that I could not justify huge print costs and had to think innovatively. So I decided to offer simple health screens (height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure) and to collect cards by the offer of a Free Health Screen. I also took information on our New Vision for Health and HR. I also needed a ‘stand-bribe’ and whereas most people would use chocolate to attract the crowds I decided on something healthier (tasty sticks of liquorice – total cost under £20!).
The recession also meant I booked late and cheap and found a fantastic capsule hotel. The price was half that of the other hotels, it was really cosy and I had one of the best hotel sleeps I have ever had (www.Nitenite.com)
Pre-preparation
Ideally for these exhibitions one should spend time setting up appointments but I was genuinely too busy to do so. I was glad with my plan to keep the information and the stand simple.
Getting there
I was taking up 2 banners, 2 chairs, a table and various other bits and so car was the only solution. I hired my good friend MJ to take me up and bring me back the next day. We had a 5 am start and a healthy Fast-Food-Chain breakfast (more of that later)!
On Day One
On arrival I was stunned by the unhelpfulness of the event organisers. When I finally found my stand, I realised that a cat would have had difficulty standing let alone swinging! Fortunately 2 others did not turn up and so I had enough space for my table, chairs and one banner. Once set up I gradually realised that my location was like Siberia (no-one was heading our way) and so with entrepreneurial chutzpah I visited other stands and got the lie of the land. I was advised to go to some talks since then I would also meet a few more of the delegates.
‘MagicWhiteBoard’ came to the rescue in that the venue did not allow blue tack in its walls – no problem put up white board first and then blue tack on that – brilliant!
The day ended with some drinks followed by more drinks with a wine-tasting. I met the delightful HR manager of Loch Ffyne restaurants and was privileged to hear everyone gush as they say who he was – ‘I got engaged at an LF’, ‘I had my most romantic meal at an LF’ ‘My taste buds are still recovering from an LF’ etc . I turned to him and said ‘My Goodness you would never get this reaction from people if you were the HR Manager for a Fast-Food-Chain!’ There was a tap on my shoulder ‘ Charlie, let me introduce you to Mr XY, the HR Manager for a Fast-Food-Chain!’ What can you say?
On Day Two
I attended two talks. One, about managing HR in the Met police. One, about strategic HR. I missed the ‘Carrot Principle’ but saw how delighted the crowd where with the speaker (Chester Elton) and got the book (an excellent read with some fantastic suggestions). It was clear from a LOT of delegates that they were unhappy with their occupational health or general health providers and from this I derive a new and simple aim ’To be the best medical services provider in the World!’
Follow up
The best value from the whole thing for me was meeting other suppliers who can enhance our offering. Some of these were in areas of:
Counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes
Sickness Absence Management and a 24/7 365 nurse call centre
OH providers across the UK
Hopefully Number One Health will also get new clients and we have spread our message!
March is the next and final show for the year.
The recession also meant I booked late and cheap and found a fantastic capsule hotel. The price was half that of the other hotels, it was really cosy and I had one of the best hotel sleeps I have ever had (www.Nitenite.com)
Pre-preparation
Ideally for these exhibitions one should spend time setting up appointments but I was genuinely too busy to do so. I was glad with my plan to keep the information and the stand simple.
Getting there
I was taking up 2 banners, 2 chairs, a table and various other bits and so car was the only solution. I hired my good friend MJ to take me up and bring me back the next day. We had a 5 am start and a healthy Fast-Food-Chain breakfast (more of that later)!
On Day One
On arrival I was stunned by the unhelpfulness of the event organisers. When I finally found my stand, I realised that a cat would have had difficulty standing let alone swinging! Fortunately 2 others did not turn up and so I had enough space for my table, chairs and one banner. Once set up I gradually realised that my location was like Siberia (no-one was heading our way) and so with entrepreneurial chutzpah I visited other stands and got the lie of the land. I was advised to go to some talks since then I would also meet a few more of the delegates.
‘MagicWhiteBoard’ came to the rescue in that the venue did not allow blue tack in its walls – no problem put up white board first and then blue tack on that – brilliant!
The day ended with some drinks followed by more drinks with a wine-tasting. I met the delightful HR manager of Loch Ffyne restaurants and was privileged to hear everyone gush as they say who he was – ‘I got engaged at an LF’, ‘I had my most romantic meal at an LF’ ‘My taste buds are still recovering from an LF’ etc . I turned to him and said ‘My Goodness you would never get this reaction from people if you were the HR Manager for a Fast-Food-Chain!’ There was a tap on my shoulder ‘ Charlie, let me introduce you to Mr XY, the HR Manager for a Fast-Food-Chain!’ What can you say?
On Day Two
I attended two talks. One, about managing HR in the Met police. One, about strategic HR. I missed the ‘Carrot Principle’ but saw how delighted the crowd where with the speaker (Chester Elton) and got the book (an excellent read with some fantastic suggestions). It was clear from a LOT of delegates that they were unhappy with their occupational health or general health providers and from this I derive a new and simple aim ’To be the best medical services provider in the World!’
Follow up
The best value from the whole thing for me was meeting other suppliers who can enhance our offering. Some of these were in areas of:
Counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes
Sickness Absence Management and a 24/7 365 nurse call centre
OH providers across the UK
Hopefully Number One Health will also get new clients and we have spread our message!
March is the next and final show for the year.
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