Recharge On Air With Alan Hargreaves

Sponsorship can be a effective business strategy which helps both the sponsor and the sponsored, but too often it is an ad hoc decision. What are the key elements in getting it right?

Business faces a high level of uncertainty, particularly in current times. The challenge for management is to find ways of maintaining momentum without risking everything. Inertia, however, is the enemy. Sometimes you just have to make a decision.

Slashing prices may not get you through the hard times. Focus your product range on what you can sell at a reasonable margin rather than what you can sell at the lowest price. Customers want solutions. Look to add value that they will pay for.

Value statements and corporate governance may be the cliches du jour, but do they have any relevance in the workplace. Real values are outcomes, not starting points. They come from how you behave rather from lofty statements in annual reports.

You don't need massive numbers of relationships to have an effective network. It's about quality, not quantity. For an effective network, keep it small, keep it diverse and put in as much as you take out.

Creating shareholder value has very little to do with the stock market. Management is responsible for the former, but they have no control over the latter. The manager's job is to grow value regardless of the state of the stock market.

There is much to be said for introducing green initiatives into your business — but only if they can be integrated into your business model. Successful sustainability means making your business sustainable as well.

To boost airline safety, flight crews are trained to avoid ideology, cynicism and arrogance. The same strategy works for managers.

Ever tried to manage a problem by not offering a solution? A lot of us automatically give advice.

Sticking to the simplicity of your key message will help you cut through complexity and manage rapid change.

Developing a new idea is a lot similar to building any relationship. The three stages of love can give you some direction.

Why it makes sense to examine buying another business even if you don't want to.

Optimising your exit value is a matter of eternal vigilance.

The Instagram deal shows that the business landscape is changing, but some things remain the same.

The case for more diversity in management is well-researched. Teams that encourage minority opinions regularly make better decisions than those with a narrow view. It's not just about race and gender. Mixing smart people with dumb people also helps.

Rapid change requires new skills. Rather than becoming extinct, the jobs of middle managers are being up-skilled and redefined. Middle management is often where great leaders are born.

It's natural to question your ability to lead. Here's five simple things that are essential to great management.

Has the leadership thing lost its way? This week Alan touches on all that talk about engagement and empowerment.

The essence of branding is consistency. People buy your product or use your service if they know you deliver what they want. A dependable brand is what builds business value.

Management theories make good reading. They can be inspirational and enlightening but we need to remember that no one size fits all. Base your strategy on the strengths that make you are your business unique.