Category: Blog

Olly Denhard: Buy cheap, buy twice!

Posted on by Matt

Date: 6th March 2020
Speaker: Olly Denhard
Business: IT Trouble Free
Topic: IT solutions

SCENARIO

Olly recounted the story of a real-life client who had run into computing difficulties. They had bought the cheapest computers on the market and, with nobody in charge, had attempted to link them across 6 remote sites using a mishmash of software and with nobody in overall control.

ISSUES

1. Cost-cutting – the policy had been to buy cheapest…regardless!
2. Data issues – data collaboration & ownership were either ill-defined or non-existent.
3. User competency – compromised by a miss mash of different systems running a wide variety of software.

TOOLS

1. PC’s upgraded – it would have been cheaper to have bought better spec PCs at the outset….but hey ho!
2. Office 365 installed across all PCs – with additional training from IT Trouble Free on the tools available (e.g. Microsoft Teams), user connectivity improved drastically.
3. Old data silo’d or destroyed – essential data was transferred over from redundant programmes and non-essential data was deleted so as not to spill over into the new systems.

RESULTS

1. Remote access – users are now able to log on remotely + IT Trouble Free can service, update and provide help remotely.
2. Establishment of a Corporate Data Policy.
3. Site specific storage – with 8 separate offices, an element of flexibility was required storage-wise.

CONCLUSION

If the company had bought through IT Trouble Free in the first place, they would have saved themselves a lot of grief, lost productivity and (in most likely) a significant sum of money.

Motto: Buy cheap, buy twice…or even more!

If a picture is worth a thousand words…what would a video cost?

Posted on by Matt

Date: 21st February 2020
Speaker: Karen Pawlowska
Business: Take One
Topic: Videography

“I’d really like a video…but I’m sure it would cost too much…wouldn’t it?”

No, it really wouldn’t!

However, seeing is believing, so have a look at these three client videos, which varied in price from £600 to £2,500, and see if you can predict the cost of each? (*)

———————————————————————————-

#1 Animated video https://youtu.be/SQhTg-47J3U

BACKGROUND: If you are a company, and need to explain an idea, or want to educate in a fun way, then animated videos are ideal.

CLIENT: An accounting company wanted to explain the attractions of cloud accounting software, without being too technical and boring.

#2 Standard video https://youtu.be/I3utjKL3Lc0

BACKGROUND: A video which utilises your most valuable asset – your staff – means that all the content is already there…we just have to capture it on video.

CLIENT: Take One spent 3 days’ filming volunteers down at Slough Community Project in a 3-minute video to showcase the benefits and results of investing in local community projects. The video was launched at SBCP’s first Congress and then used to promote the partnership on line.

#3 Complex video – with stock images + music https://youtu.be/qjmasmUPCPY

BACKGROUND: When it comes to corporate branding, a video complete with stock images and music will convey a professional image, especially in a competitive market. This project is part of a series of wellbeing programmes for educational professionals and is used to highlight both the challenges and the successes of what they do.

CLIENT: The Art of Brilliance, Brilliant Schools – it took 3 days of planning and 4 days of post-production.

“I love videoing people…I love seeing what makes them tick.”

Karen Pawlowska, Take One

 (*) Not that difficult! Video #1 was the cheapest at £600, and #3 the most expensive at £2,500

Ash Taylor and stepping up your game

Posted on by Paul Fogg

Ash Taylor gave us a great example of how important it is to be around people who are often better than you are, simply because it pushes you to be better. Sometimes top managers surround themselves with “yes” people who will never push them, this means actions will not get questioned and stunts growth. It’s far better to encourage an environment where people feel able to raise questions; as a result everyone tends to work better and more efficiently.

Being positive and not overthinking things is something to be aware of because the important thing is to prevent progress paralysis: action is what takes you forward.

‘Just do it….what’s the worse that can happen!’

Obviously, these suggestions do not hold true for some jobs; for instance, I don’t think anyone would feel comfortable if pilots or dentists took the ‘Just do it…’ attitude when flying a plane or working on our teeth! However, there are many occasions where relaxing rigid control can enhance your business.

‘Letting people have responsibility helps them to learn and grow….’

Cross Reference is a local, long-established business networking group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month for breakfast, business and development. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch via the website.

Roger Rawlinson and the need for safeguarding

Posted on by Paul Fogg

Roger gave us a talk at the meeting today on the need to safeguard staff and whistle-blowers within a business. He explained that in his experience, when dealing with staffing issues it is always better to get a difficult discussion kicked off before it turns into an impossible conversation.

‘Encourage people to express their concerns informally before the proverbial molehill becomes a mountain….’

All companies should have some idea of the procedures required to ensure their staff are able to voice concerns; once concerns are voiced then it’s equally important that there is an agreed process for dealing with the issue that respects all parties.

‘Deal with concerns in a way that is respective and not seen as dimissive.’

Roger’s business, Elite Coaching, offers HR Consultancy Services with an emphasis on change and organisational development. Roger is always happy to give advice on Human Resources issues and his experience over many years speaks volumes!

Visitors’ Day: They came, they saw, they breakfasted…and will hopefully come back for seconds!

Posted on by Matt

Friday 15th Nov 2019: Cross Reference Visitors’ Day

All networking groups profess themselves to be ‘friendly’…but are they really?

  • Do they go out of their way to welcome visitors (after all, networking groups do always require ‘new blood’)?
  • Do they network with them (sounds basic, but true)?
  • Do they ‘put on a good show’?

Here at Cross Reference, we’d like to think that we live by our values – hence our Visitors’ Days.

We aim to hold 2 of these a year – in Spring and Autumn – to demonstrate what Cross Reference is about and how visitors might benefit from becoming members.

 

Attendees for Nov-19 Visitors’ Day:

  • Chris Higgs (Travel Consultant) – The Travelling Experience
  • Tanya Dickinson (Virtual PA) – Platinum PA
  • Chris Bantock (Digital Marketeer) – Be Digital
  • James Constable (Solicitor) – BP Collins
  • Andrew Davidson (Windows & Conservatories) – Three Counties Ltd
  • Tom Woodhead (Design & Fit-out) – Image Interior Systems
  • Darren Head (Electrician) – Limitless Electrical
  • Charles McClelland (Business Advisor) – Icon Business Solutions
  • Donna Wilkinson (Business Development Officer) –  Bucks Council

Own your niche

At Cross Reference we have a saying,  ‘Own your niche’, which means 1 person per business in Cross Reference.

However, even if you think your area of expertise might already be covered, please do ask us first as there are often subtle differences between businesses in the same industry. This means that a number of people from the same profession can happily co-exist in Cross Reference; e.g. there are many different types of legal professionals – criminal, divorce, trademark…etc.

 

Next Visitors’ Day – March/April 2020 – to be announced

 

Quiz n Chips: The Total raised was…

Posted on by Matt

Quiz n Chips Evening: Friday 8th Nov, Royal British Legion Marlow

Well, what a close-run affair that turned out to be! After 80 questions, including 2 picture rounds, only four points separated the top three teams, with the Brain Sturgeons running out winners by a short head (or a gill?)

Rennie Grove is Cross Reference’s chosen charity and Steve Brehm (Corporate Fundraising Manager for Rennie Grove) spoke for a few minutes before the start of hostilities (I mean the Quiz!) about how important fund-raising is for Rennie Grove and what it helps them to achieve.

With that in mind…drum roll…

Total raised £530.94

 

So, thanks to all those who attended, to the winners, and in particular, those Cross Reference members who organised the event:

  • Una King (Overall Boss & Cake Sponsor)
  • Matt Wright (Planning, logistics, and general underling)
  • Emma Hollins (Question Mistress and Photography)

 

Same time again next year? 

The Word according to AVI Support (in 3 brochures)

Posted on by Matt

Date: 3rd January 2020
Speaker: Justin Leese
Business: AVI Support

Topic: 2020 Product Range

“Chairs are a pain to sell – everybody wants to try them out for themselves!”

Background

1990: AVI Support started off life as a stationery company; stationery accounted for 100% of its revenues

2019: Nowadays, AVI Support largely furnishes and fits out offices; stationery accounts for less than 10% of its revenues, the bulk being Audio Visual (AV) 65% and Furniture 25%.

Product range

AVI Support’s product range is available both online and hard copy (brochures). There are 3 main brochures, depending on what you’re looking for, and the 2020 editions are hot off the press!

  • Bible: 20,000 products
  • New Testament: 7,500 products (a slimmed down version with the most popular products from ‘The Bible’)
  • Furniture: 700 products

Conclusion

AVI Support is the one-stop-shop for everything an office might need, from paper clips to projectors.

As a family-run business, whilst prices are always competitive, the focus remains on service and client care.

Click here to view Justin’s Cross Reference profile

Ensure your Financial Planning pays off

Posted on by Matt

Date: 1st November 2019
Speaker: Una King
Business: St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc
Topic: Financial Planning – Diversification

5 key points

  • Rule 1 – Hold enough cash to cover your short term needs
  • Rule 2 – Be aware of the damaging effect of inflation
  • Rule 3 – Invest for the longer term
  • Rule 4 – Diversify
  • Rule 5 – Select the right fund managers

 

Click here to view Una’s Cross Reference page.

Explanations always beat Exclamations!

Posted on by Matt

Date: 1st November 2019
Speaker: Sally Hindmarch
Business: Partners with you
Topic: Communication – Explaining what you do

3 key points

  1. Instructions alone = commands: people may passively comply (especially if you’re in a position of authority), but they won’t understand ‘why’ and so won’t be engaged.

  • Put on this coat.
  • Put on this mask.
  • Put on these gloves.

 

2. Instructions + explanations = engagement: people will understand what they’re being asked to do…which means they are more apt to actively comply and provide feedback to enhance the process.

  • Please put on this coat – because we want to see whether your new overalls will fit properly?
  • Could you try on this mask – because we want to check that your new safety googles are OK?
  • See how these gloves fit – because we want to ensure they provide adequate protection for you.

 

3. Engagement + Encouragement = results: this is where employee engagement is at its most effective.

Employees want to feel connected to the business they work for and know that the work they put in every day is meaningful and valued.

When employees are fully engaged, they feel there is a direct correlation between themesleves and the success of the business – they are emotionally invested in the business and will go the extra mile for it.

 

Conclusion

“When people are financially invested they want a return; when they are emotionally invested they want to contribute”

The benefits of engagement are not just confined to larger businesses – they can easily be replicated on an individual basis, in terms of dealings with suppliers, clients, or colleagues.

Click here to view Sally’s Cross Reference page.