Member Article

Choose resolutions that make a real difference

People often talk about New Year’s resolutions as a personal commitment to change but Geoff Shepherd, Managing Director of iSource Group, the IT and procurement recruitment specialist, explains why it’s just as important to focus on business if you want to make a bigger difference.

He comments: “People are used to making New Year’s resolutions whether it is to lose weight, lead a healthier life or to try to give more time to friends and family, but what about business? People often forget the significance of setting year-long goals for companies so that we can maintain momentum.

“I’m starting 2017 with ambitious targets to make things happen. I’m an advocate of getting on with it; rather than talking about things, I do them. I came to the conclusion long ago that at some point the posturing, lunches, long speeches and ego-massaging has to end and action has to take over.

“As business owners and managers, we must have the will to turn thoughts into actions. Talk is cheap and it’s infuriating that the same topics are being discussed with little or no progress as a result. Take the Northern Powerhouse as an example.

“It was put forward by the Chancellor in 2014 and here we are at the start of 2017. What door do I knock on? Where do I go? What does it actually mean? Where are the plans? What has been delivered? Where’s the commitment? Where is the will? Where’s the action? What are we hoping to achieve and who is driving it?

“Rather than creating opportunities for businesses to work together, to build meaningful relationships, to share information, to develop skills and to make contacts, we put a grandiose name to something and then talk about it for years. The truth being that without substance or results people cannot form a meaningful opinion, positive or negative.

“If we all approached our businesses and careers like this then nothing would ever get done. I’m doing my best to make a real difference to the North by creating compelling events and opportunities that bring businesses together.

“We can confidently say that we bring over 15,000 business people together face-to-face each year. Now, that’s an economic catalyst! However, we know that we need to do more to showcase Northern business. We need bigger headline speakers and greater opportunities to attract attention all year around.

“We have to make things happen and that means less chatting and more doing.

“So, for 2017 my business resolution is to deliver a fantastic Buy Yorkshire and a huge Leeds Business Week, these are already the largest business events outside of London. I have also set a challenge to further build our events platform so we can connect even more businesses to and across the North of England.

“I will be putting my time and investment into creating opportunities that give people a valid reason to visit the North, and to travel across the region, to meet, learn and share. Maybe then we can start to work towards achieving our true potential for all the right reasons.”

Ends

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lindsey Davies .