Bríd heads an All-Star line-up at LEO seminar
THE importance of both leadership and networking in helping to create and maintain a successful business were underscored at a recent showcase event held at the Mallow GAA Complex in Carrigoon.
Organised by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork North and West, the speed-networking event featured presentations by a number of keynote speakers including Cork All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer Bríd Stack. The All-Star delivered an inspirational talk entitled ‘Lessons From My Life and Some Useful Tips for Achieving Success’, which offered attendees a fascinating insight into her life and career both on and off the sporting field.
In her presentation, leading HR consultant and organisational specialist Jan Harte spoke about ‘Concepts in Leadership’.
Quoting Peter Drucker, the man dubbed ‘ the father of management thinking’, she said ‘Only three things happen naturally in management friction, confusion and under-performance: Everything else requires leadership’.
Developing the subject, she spoke about her own personal experiences, offering listeners her views and perspectives on the topic.
Taking up the leadership theme, JJ O’Connell, the national director of the PLATO Business Support and Development Network, said there were “essentially just two ways to influence human behaviour – manipulation and inspiration.”
Focusing on the latter, Mr O’Connell spoke about how trust, honesty and integrity were key to helping inspire a business vision through effective communication.
Following his presentation, Mr O’Connell invited people to put theory into practice by facilitating an enlightening speed-networking session.
“Good business relationships are founded on trust and a sense of expectation that a mutual need will be satisfied in a transaction. Meeting and communicating with like-minded people is the starting point of building relationships,” said Mr O’Connell.
“Considering the level of energy and enthusiasm in the conversations at this event, I am confident that business and enterprise is in good hands in north Cork,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Mallow-based LEO Head of Enterprise Kevin Curran detailed the range of support offered to business through his office.
“It is our intention to continue and support all business in the best way we can. If research indicates that specific initiatives will help us to help business grow, then we will provide them. We will also continue to run a full range of training programmes for both men and women, so we believe that we are providing a range of supports that will suit everyone’s requirements,” he said.
For more information about the LEO and its various initiatives, visit www.localenterprise.ie/CorkNorthandWest.