This is an extract from Roger Collis’ forthcoming collection of management satire, titled ‘Management Man.’
Roger Collis is the author of ‘If my boss calls make sure you get his name;’ and ‘The Survivor’s Guide to Business Travel.’
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
Airborne between Paris and Hong Kong on a Global Airlines Boeing 2000ER, John and Jane Harbinger are lingering over lunch in the gourmet restaurant on the top deck (not much point in fast food on a 16-hour flight) figuring how they’re going to spend the rest of the afternoon. Jane decides on a soothing séance in the beauty parlor: John will make a few calls from the business center and polish his presentation. They’ll meet for drinks at six in the suite before dinner. ‘Would sushi hit the spot? I’ll book a table downstairs.’ John asks a passing ‘skycop’ for directions. ‘Head down the main corridor towards the tail and take the elevator down to the bottom deck.’
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
‘Any idea that the buck stops here is bravado, mythology, total nonsense,’ a senior colleague said as I started my last corporate incarnation.
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
We can always do more to be better. It works on whatever level you like: take the stairs instead of the lift; write a to-do list and actually do it; or put in thousands of hours of diligent practice to perfect the 30-yard free kick. Your choice.
Chris Larkin, MD Pure Sales Consulting - puresales.co.uk
Boarding an Easyjet flight from Gatwick the other day, sharp elbows having got me my usual self-satisfied pole position in the aisle seat by the emergency exit, I was girth stricken to find that the seat belt would not quite fasten – comfortably, or even uncomfortably – even stripped down under the twin filing systems in my jacket pockets. Of course, one has to prove that one is lean and fit to sit in these privileged rows. Clever Easyjet. No point in asking for a ‘seat belt extender.’
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
Many companies look for fortune changing distribution deals, the one they can retire on, the deal to fix the company, the opportunity of a lifetime.
Nick Turner, Director of UK Partnerships at AXA UK
I've been hearing a lot about the Apple iPad, what is it and should I care?
Chris Hawes, auxillio.com
The latest return to the future comes in the form of the patented ‘Flex-Seat’ from Boston-based Jacob-Innovations – a ‘two-storey pod-like design for business-class seating which can be converted to an economy-class set-up on demand’ for airlines ‘that might want to alter a plane's configuration depending on how many tickets of each class it has sold; and at the same time, ‘increasing the density of a conventional business class cabin by 50 per cent while providing full reclining’ – whatever that means.
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
2009 will surely go down in the history books as the year our understanding off personal branding finally hit home. The philosophies, values and actions of individuals have not only affected the rise and fall of personal fortunes, but have contributed to expensive wars and bringing down our financial institutions.
Louise Mowbray - Mowbray by Design
Where on earth will it end? Is a la carte pricing just the flavor of the month or the magic bullet of the decade? Or are the so-called ‘legacy’ carriers simply grasping at straws?
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
Keith from Infineo reviews the Smart Finder V3 key finder.
‘Ho! Ho! Ho! Yes, I have to admit that my organization is outdated, especially for a big mail-order business. And we do have a problem in maintaining contact with our customers. But I think you’ll agree we still have a great deal of customer appeal! This is especially true among younger children coming into the market for the first time. Although we are losing business ‘off the top’ as it were as children reach the age of 10 or thereabouts. It’s the old 80-20 rule – you make 80 percent of sales among 20 percent of the population.
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
Here are some insights relevant to all business leaders but particularly to those who are taking on a significant challenge, not least the creation of a new business:
Dr Alistair Turner - www.the-lcb.com
In the Sunday Times this weekend it was reported that, “Thousands of travellers are having their air miles and frequent-flyer points cancelled, as new use-it-or-lose-it expiry regulations begin to bite. Last January, the Airmiles company www.airmiles.co.uk which claims 2m active members, introduced a time limit on accounts: any that remained inactive for two years would be cancelled.
Roger Collis - www.rogercollis.co.uk
Carolyn Taylor from Walking the Talk talks about management disciplines.
Keith from Infineo reviews Spotify and give us his thoughts on The Gadget Show.
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