The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People

Difficult Conversations with Employee Groups and Unions

Difficult conversations are not just 1:1. Often businesses need to make changes that will affect many employees.
In this episode we talk about the importance of relationships to create trust and how to use them as the foundation for change together with processes and agreements.
Tips that all managers can use to implement change through their teams.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Perry is an employment relations specialist with extensive experience across a range of public, private and third sector organisations. He currently provides support to organisations to help them achieve their organisational goals through the effective management of collective employment relations, change and high performing teams.
Having worked in unionised workplaces in transport, utilities and politics, he is experienced in dealing with collective issues and how to build constructive, effective employment relations. Joe studied Industrial Relations at the University of Keele, bringing a mix of academic and practical approaches to the field of employment relations and engagement.
Joe and Debbie have developed and run an employment relations and engagement programme which builds capability in this crucial area. The programme enables the effective management of change, develops professional competence in employment relations, build relationships across organisations and grows enthusiasm for this fascinating field of work. Joe and Debbie also established and run professional networks for experts and leaders in this field.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: https://foxleigh.net/
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk
- Joe Perry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perry-45ab1127/

Skills Sprint : Restructuring & Difficult Conversations

In this highlights episode I reflect on what I learned from David Ford about setting up an organisation for restructures.
A key message was "prepare more for sharing bad news than for sharing good news, because it is much harder!"
People want to know what are the implications for them and what is going to happen so when you talk, you must know what these details are.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
David Ford⁠ joined Prothena Biosciences as Chief People Officer in March 2024. Prothena is a clinical stage, biotechnology company focused on neuroscience. Before joining Prothena, David spent six and a half years as the Chief Human Resources Officer of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, a New York based biotech focused on non viral liver diseases, that was sold to the Italian pharmaceutical company, Alfasigma, in late 2023. 
Before joining the biotech world, David spent fifteen years with Sanofi, initially as the Head of HR for the UK and Ireland, then moving to the Paris headquarters of Sanofi for six and a half years. He transferred to the United States in 2011, initially as the Head of HR for North America, before moving to lead the HR function for the Genzyme rare disease business that had been acquired by Sanofi.
 
David started his career in New Zealand in the dairy food industry, working in HR roles in New Zealand, Latin America and Europe.
David holds a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-David Ford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-ford-1a0352/

Restructuring & Difficult Conversations

Difficult conversations may involve redundancy and restructure. When you have recruited someone into a business as a talent and now you need to tell them that they are no longer needed it can be challenging.
With recent high profile errors, how organisations create the appropriate space to have these conversations is an art.
In this episode we talk to David Ford about his experience of how businesses can set themselves up well in the most challenging situations.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
David Ford joined Prothena Biosciences as Chief People Officer in March 2024. Prothena is a clinical stage, biotechnology company focused on neuroscience. Before joining Prothena, David spent six and a half years as the Chief Human Resources Officer of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, a New York based biotech focused on non viral liver diseases, that was sold to the Italian pharmaceutical company, Alfasigma, in late 2023. 
 
Before joining the biotech world, David spent fifteen years with Sanofi, initially as the Head of HR for the UK and Ireland, then moving to the Paris headquarters of Sanofi for six and a half years. He transferred to the United States in 2011, initially as the Head of HR for North America, before moving to lead the HR function for the Genzyme rare disease business that had been acquired by Sanofi.
 
David started his career in New Zealand in the dairy food industry, working in HR roles in New Zealand, Latin America and Europe.
 
David holds a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-David Ford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-ford-1a0352/

Skills Sprint : Staff Performance Management

Workplace conflict has an impact on quality of life and mental health.
For managers that creates a responsibility to be good at dealing with conflict.
Here I reflect on what I learned from talking to Richard Saundry
1. Don't assume managers are capable
2. Address issues as early as possible
3. Plan and think ahead
4. Find shared interests
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Professor Richard Saundry is the UKs leading academic authority on the management of discipline, grievance and workplace conflict. He has held posts at the University of Westminster and the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Central Lancashire and Plymouth. He is an author of 'Managing Employment Relations', the core CIPD text for Employee Relations.
His work has been published in a wide range of leading international academic journals. His current work focuses on developing managerial capability and he has spearheaded the development of innovative online training interventions as part of the Skilled Managers programme, led by the University of Westminster and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Richard has worked particularly closely with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) over the last ten years to shape policy and identify and evaluate innovative practice.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Richard Saundry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saundry-4214282a/

Difficult Conversations & Staff Performance Management

When 1/3 of people report that they have conflict at work and knowing that people leave their manager, not the business, then the responsibility to resolve conflict becomes essential.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Richard Saundry is an academic and has been studying what works when it comes to resolving conflict through the skills of difficult conversations.
We discuss creating high trust teams, the importance of listening and being prepared for the reaction of your colleague.
Professor Richard Saundry is the UKs leading academic authority on the management of discipline, grievance and workplace conflict.
He has held posts at the University of Westminster and the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Central Lancashire and Plymouth. He is an author of 'Managing Employment Relations', the core CIPD text for Employee Relations.
His work has been published in a wide range of leading international academic journals.
His current work focuses on developing managerial capability and he has spearheaded the development of innovative online training interventions as part of the Skilled Managers programme, led by the University of Westminster and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Richard has worked particularly closely with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) over the last ten years to shape policy and identify and evaluate innovative practice.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Richard Saundry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saundry-4214282a/

Skills Sprint : Adapting Style in Difficult Conversations

Jeff Benveniste teaches 5 different styles of conversation to clients and encourages them to experiment. His message to choose the style that will work best for the person you are talking with, and to practice and experiment to make it succeed was a powerful one for me. 
 
Practice is something that I know builds confidence - something that we all need when we enter difficult and uncomfortable situations.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Jeff Benveniste LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbenveniste/

Difficult Conversations & Adapting Your Style

Difficult conversations are only one type of business related discussion which means that it is important to be able to adapt. A fixed mind set where someone uses the same approach regardless of the challenge will damage relationships. 
Jeff and I discuss how we can experiment with different styles, practice our approach with the goal to make difficult conversations, smoother and less challenging. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jeff founded Global Edge in 2009 and leads our strategy, team and client relationships.
His focus and passion is to help leaders and teams have more impactful conversations that deliver outstanding performance, execute strategy and inspire change.
Jeff has 25 years experience as a facilitator, presenter and coach and works with fast growing SMEs and some of the biggest and well-known organisations in the world. He is a respected thought leader, author of the Five Conversation Styles© and continues to speak at conferences and forums.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Jeff Benveniste LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbenveniste/

Skills Sprint : Facilitated Discussions in Conflict

Conflict is the gap between expectations and reality. It is the source of many leadership challenges, trying to deliver team performance and build trust.
Kate Waterfall Hill shared tips on how to facilitate conversations between team members who don't get along.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Here are my reflections on the conversation with Kate
Conflict is the gap between expectations and reality. It is the source of many leadership challenges, trying to deliver team performance and build trust. Kate Waterfall Hill shared tips on how to facilitate conversations between team members who don't get along.
Watch the FULL EPISODE here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/EOhPwPGTBHb
Or Search 'The Commercial Edge Podcast' wherever you get your content.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Kate Waterfall Hill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-waterfall-hill/

Difficult Conversations & Facilitated Mediation

Difficult conversations are key for any leader to be able to navigate in order to coach, deal with conflict and create a strong culture. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
In this episode we talk to Kate Waterfall Hill about how to manage conflict between colleagues. Her insights will help you to bring conflict to the surface and resolve it in a way that minimises clashes and builds trust from difficult relationships. 
www.waterfallhill.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
-Kate Waterfall Hill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-waterfall-hill/

Skills Sprint : Being a Sustainability Leader

Sustainability leadership and hitting climate goals are challenging but as leaders you have the power to achieve them.
Will spoke of how the skills you have that deliver excellent performance can also deliver these incredible objectives for change.
Here I share my tips from what he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you want to receive monthly advice, ideas and recommendations that will help you gain a commercial edge and get ahead, why not join our exclusive newsletter: ⁠⁠https://zcmp.eu/e6AM⁠⁠ 
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Foxleigh Commercial Website: ⁠https://foxleigh.net/⁠
-Chris Webber's LinkedIn: 
⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-uk⁠
- Will Silverwood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-silverwood-8656ab/