Skills Investment Is Key Success Says Ennis

Updated: 1st Feb 2008

Investing In Skills Is The Key To Business Success

By Mark Ennis

Developing the right management and leadership skills can be the difference between success and failure for many entrepreneurs and established businesses across Northern Ireland.

One remarkable statistic which reminds us all of the sheer scale of the task ahead is that 94 per cent of Northern Ireland businesses employ less than 10 people.

By European standards we have good range of micro businesses but there still tends to be a lack of larger enterprises capable of creating large-scale employment, wealth and economic stability, which is still greatly needed today. Yet there is recognition that it is only through the development and growth of companies in local and global markets that will enable the private sector in Northern Ireland to prosper.

Numerous research studies by the Management and Leadership Network (MLN) have shown a clear link between the development of management skills and there impact on growing the profits of a business.

The paradox we face is that, whilst many businesses understand and recognise this link many are doing nothing about it. Of course owners and managers of businesses face a tremendous range of daily demands and pressures. In small businesses taking time away from running the business to undertake training and development can be a challenge. 

We have seen, however, that when many entrepreneurs and small businesses have faced up to this challenge they have seen their business and profits rapidly grow.

It is clear that the skills possessed by leaders and managers and the decisions they take are a vital determinant in how people are employed and whether resources are invested effectively. That’s why MLN are calling upon businesses across Northern Ireland to take part in Management Month 2008.

We want to use Management Month 2008 as a means of helping to increase awareness and recognition of the value of management and leadership in businesses right across Northern Ireland. The month long initiative will take place in February 2008 and will be based on the theme Aspire….Lead…Grow. It will combine training events and advice seminars culminating in a major business conference on February 29th.

It is very encouraging to see that a number of local business leaders are also supporting this very important initiative including Philip Cassidy of GEM, Siobhan McAleer founder of the Mortgage Shop and CBI Chairman Brian Ambrose. Businesses such as GEM are now one of Europe’s leading independent advisers of outsourced contact centre services across email, telephone, SMS and live chat in 29 languages.

I am sure if you are to ask Philip was the key to success he would probably say having the right people and developing their managerial talent. So are you serious about transforming your business so that it can expand and grow? Well if you are there is an excellent opportunity to set you on the right track by taking part in Management Month.

For a start you or your employees can attend at least one event taking place during management month details of which can be found at www.mln.org.uk.

Secondly, February can be used to take time to review your business needs and those of your management team with regards to performance, development and succession planning and, importantly, the vision for your business.

Finally, there is a host of free services and Management Development Funding signposted by MLN. The MLN Development Zone, for example, offers small business managers a virtual and personalised management development resource covering all aspects of business and management enabling busy managers to develop at their own pace.

Unless businesses start to assign a high priority to management development for current and future leaders, there is a real danger that we will not create the high-skills, high-value economy needed to secure Northern Ireland’s international competitiveness in the years ahead. That is the big challenge for businesses and one that we aim to make real progress on this February during management month.

Mark Ennis is Chairperson of the Management and Leadership Network

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