Shape your Future

Bright Purple Shaping the Future

I love high energy passionate people.   I get ideas from vibrant, enthusiastic folk who always find a positive flipside to any disaster.  And boy, do we need these people right now. I believe it is vital that we cultivate positive people to inspire us all to climb out of the recession and build our own route to recovery.

Scotland on Sunday's review of our positive Mindset event›› 

For full background and content go to this pdf››

Trust me, this injection for improvement and recovery will not come from any other source.  You can forget the Government agencies and other such bodies.  What will happen to you and your business is within your control.  You must take the reins to recovery and protect your brand, your business and your own self esteem and confidence.

Purple Mindset: Road to Recovery

This positivity comes from within.  We are in control of our own destiny.  It was just as well that this was my mindset when I agreed to a short speaking slot at Nick Price’s recent event in central London!  I met with VP’s of Merchant Banks, Finance Houses, Consultancies, Lawyers CIO’s, CFO’s CEO’s HR and Change Management Directors, Sales Directors – what a great set of people.

It’s not Rocket Science

50+ like minded people who were keen to discuss shaping the future assembled at the Rocket bar in Adams Court, Threadneedle Street – close to the Bank of England.

From the personal feedback I have received, the event organised by Nick Price, was, I believe, pivotal in shaping mindset for 2009.  Very senior staff from a variety of industries attended the event and over the period of a couple of hours we discussed in a relaxed manner the strategies and the process by which delegates would leverage business in 2009.

A People Mindset

Nick asked me to speak for 20 minutes.  We agreed it would be light and focused on what companies could do to consolidate and move forward.  Content was to be focused and concentrated on our most important asset: our people.

Replace Control with Trust

No PowerPoint, no flipcharts – just speaking from the heart to the group numbering 50+ who were enjoying beer and nibbles and who were intent on shaping their future the way they wanted it.

It’s all about people.  It’s about valuing our people in a tangible manner.  It is about mastering potential.  It is about actively engaging with, and listening to, people and then implementing their ideas for improvement.

It is a rejection of any hint of fear and over control, and is a belief in trusting and motivating our people

Best Practise in Change

The 20 minutes shot by with examples of how large and small companies drove improvement and how people fought their way back from this potential mess in the economy.  We talked of continuous improvement, a commitment to the customer, and, most importantly, Leadership.

Without Leadership there is no Change

We cannot manage our way out of a recession – we need to take the lead and challenge the way things are done, we need to inspire others, we need to enable our people to take action, act as a role model for  the process, so others can follow and radiate belief.

Most of all we need to learn to master the potential of self and others.

Multi Tasking : Rapport Building & Nibbles

The evening went too darned fast.  I had meetings in Milton Keynes the next day and had to leave at 1000 pm.  The event was only scheduled for two hours but I hear the group were still talking way past midnight.

Nick was kind enough to distribute copies of my book, “the Iceberg Agenda” to all those present.  Thanks Nick – I hope it gives people some ideas of how to leverage their most important asset as the sub title suggests – ‘Mastering Potential’.

Shaping Culture Change

I met such great people and they shared with me their strategies for moving on up to deal with building a culture of recovery.   My work is focused entirely on Building Corporate Cultures.  Some people believe it takes too long.  That’s an excuse.  Culture change takes as long as you want it to take.  I can change a business around in six weeks through focusing on behaviour.

Nothing Changes until Behaviour Changes

While others are resisting change, I work on installing change champions in companies and focusing attention of getting others to give change a chance and emulate best performance.  My belief is that thinking the same old thoughts will get you nowhere – to get to the next level of performance you need to think and behave differently.

If something is not working, try something different.  After all, insanity is displaying the same habits and behaviour and expecting superlative results without any recourse to personal change.

Engagement in Shaping a Positive Future

Businesses are in trouble if they fail to share the mindset which I have outlined.  It is 100% true “Without charismatic and positive leadership no change will take place”.  I don’t care how much the Government injects into the Banks and the Economy – without the people with vision and verve – we are screwed big time.

I wish you could have been there; the energy levels scored high on passion and the willingness to want to change. So a personal message to Nick  - if the Government cannot create a positive ‘can do climate’ it’s up to you – you better organise an event in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen or even better at the Scottish Parliament.  No I am not crazy – why not?.

Back Here on Planet Earth

Anyway, you can see that behaviour breeds behaviour.  If one is enthusiastic and has a strong belief you radiate to others like self.  I personally keep away from the ‘negative ninnies’ and gravitate to the ‘can do’ people.

Here in the UK, we desperately need to change our attitude to culture change.  We need to take action – not be indecisive and wait for others to ‘do something’ If you, like me, believe this can happen and is within our control please make contact with myself  Philip@philipatkinson.com and Nick.Price@BrightPurple.co.uk  – because we will not think any other way.

Recovery Raves

Keep an eye on this phrase – this is a new set of workshops which I am running for selected companies.  They are highly innovative workshops to get us up off our knees and shaping our future we way we want it as a business……….

Scotland on Sunday's review of our positive Mindset event››

For full background and content go to this pdf››