What’s the answer to our biz dilemmas?
WE KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DREAMS OF BEING YOUR OWN BOSS, SO WE INVITED FOUR W&H NEW DIRECTIONS ENTREPRENEURS AND A BUSINESS NEWCOMER FOR A SPECIAL ONE-TO-ONE WITH KARREN BRADY
“How can I achieve a work-life balance, and have you found an answer?” ADELE
KARREN OF ALL THE THINGS I DO IN MY CAREER, THE JUGGLING IS THE HARDEST. MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN: SPORTS DAY, BOARD MEETING, NATIVITY PLAY, BOARD MEETING. AND WHEN I’M AT ONE, I KNOW I SHOULD BE AT THE OTHER. I THINK GUILT IS ONE OF THE TRAITS THAT WOMEN CARRY WITH THEM. IT DOESN’T ONLY RELATE TO CHILDREN EITHER – IT COULD BE FRIENDS OR PARENTS YOU DON’T SEE OFTEN ENOUGH. AND THE LAST THING ON YOUR LIST IS ALWAYS YOURSELF, AND SOMETIMES THAT’S DIFFICULT. I CAN’T GIVE YOU A FORMULA THAT WILL WORK, BUT WHEN YOU ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, IT REALLY HELPS.
SOMETIMES WORK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOME, AND SOMETIMES HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WORK, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE BALL SPINNING.
EQUALLY, DON’T GIVE YOURSELF JOBS TO DO THAT YOU CAN’T DO, BECAUSE YOU’RE WASTING YOUR TIME. BE HONEST ABOUT THE THINGS YOU’RE GOOD AT AND THE THINGS YOU CAN DO. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND DELIVER. AS A LEADER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP ISSUES TO YOURSELF, BUT ACTUALLY IT’S FAR BETTER TO BE OPEN ABOUT THE CHALLENGES, AND THE THINGS YOU WANT TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE.
A GREAT STRATEGY IS TO ENSURE
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. MY BUSINESS HAS 800 EMPLOYEES. EVERY PERSON SPENDS THEIR FIRST DAY WITH ME, SEEING WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE BUSINESS. I ALSO INSIST THAT PEOPLE
SPEND TIME IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SO FINANCE WORKS WITH RETAIL, AND RETAIL WORKS WITH MARKETING AND SO ON. >>
“We’re growing all the time. How can I cultivate a positive and consistent team culture?” RIKKE
KARREN COMPANY CULTURE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR DELIVERING SUCCESS IN A BUSINESS. IT’S ABOUT MANAGING PEOPLE’S HEARTS AND MINDS. EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE THE COMPANY IS GOING, HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET THERE, WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOAL IS, AND HOW SUCCESS WILL BE REWARDED. ON A DAY-TODAY LEVEL A GOOD MANAGER SETS OUT TARGETS