|
When the banking crisis hit and the housing market froze up at the end of 2008, things were looking tough for Adrian, a self-employed mortgage advisor working with i2i Financial Planning Group. So the invitation to take part in the Learning through Business Leaders programme at York St John University (YSJU) came at just the right time. The course brings together six business owners or senior managers to work together on solving problems and issues in their business. “It was a difficult time for me, with the banks cutting down on lending and mortgages becoming harder to finance,” says Adrian. “But even though all of us on the course came from different sectors, we were all facing similar difficulties. Sharing our experiences and learning from others has helped me stay positive and brought lots of benefits – far more than I expected when I agreed to take part.” The programme runs over six months, with one evening meeting each month facilitated by an experienced life skills coach. Participants are also able to attend other seminars within the Business School. While some of the areas covered were familiar to Adrian, who has over 25 years experience in the mortgage business, the course also went in directions he didn’t expect. One session which particularly made an impression on him involved watching a film of Shakespeare’s Macbeth – something he never expected to be able to relate to his own business. “The session made us look at how and why decisions are made and particularly who makes them,” explains Adrian. “In the play, it’s not Macbeth himself who decides to kill the king, but his wife, and the repercussions are huge. It’s also true in business that it’s not always the ‘leader’ who controls all the decisions which affect that company’s success.” Overall the programme has helped him refocus his own business and how he uses his time, as well as providing new ideas in areas such as marketing. “Taking part in the course has given me more focus and made me more confident in my work,” says Adrian. “It’s helped me analyse what I do and why I do it and make better business decisions. One particular area we looked at was marketing during tough times. I joined a breakfast business network as a result and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done in terms of bringing in new leads.” The new skills and confidence gained through the course are already having a positive outcome on Adrian’s business. “I’ve got lots of new work in the pipeline and feel really positive about the future – which more than I could have hoped for at the start of the crisis,” says Adrian. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be in this position now without the help that the course provided.” |
   |
