Forget average

Nothing average ever stood as a monument to progress.
When progress is looking for a partner it doesn't turn to those
who believe they are only average.
It turns instead to those who are forever searching and striving
to become the best they possibly can.
If we seek the average level we cannot hope to
achieve a high level of success our only hope is to avoid being a failure.
A. Lou Vickery

In Praise of Creativity

Sometimes people do things that just push the limits on what you think is possible. The Adidas Originals Street Party on Coronation Street is a case in point. Last night 500 party goers, VIP's and artists arrived at the Corrie set for the street party of a life time; teas and cakes of course, bunting obviously but personal message from Snoop Dogg! Star Wars cast (brilliantly done by the UK Garrison team), Badly Drawn Boy doing busking outside the new Adidas shop on Coronation Street. The whole thing became a little surreal and a lot of fun and that's before we heard from The Whip and Bernard and Stephen from New Order in the their latest outfit; Bad Lieutenant.

Sometimes its really good to push the imaginative boundary. Why can't we do this every summer.

Congratulations to Gary and all the team at Sparkle Street who had the wit and imagination to make it happen.

Future Everything

Manchester has a track record for creating outstanding live events and lord knows that after seven years at the Bridgewater Hall and Urbis I have played my part in that but as someone who has focused more on production activity I was blown away by the team at FutureEverything last week.

The new arrangement for this former festival took account of an intelligent diverse audience providing an amazing kaleidoscope of activity and urban ideas. I found myself thinking about new ideas, seeing new things, hearing new things and meeting new people as well as old friends leaving this particular veteran of the live scene inspired.

The support that has been given to this project over the past year has rewarded its stakeholders, their investment has allowed this project to achieve a new confidence and positive outlook at a time when I think we all need the encouragement. Looking ahead through 2010 the Future Everything interventions and happenings look likely to keep capturing our imagination and involvement.

Let's here it for all those planners, volunteers, participants, PR folk, journalists, audience members and funders who made it such a treat.

Confident Sales Wins Approval

We ran the new Sales and Business Development Training programme at The Lowry Hotel for the first time last week, the reviews from attenders were great. I tried to make sure the programme feels practical and contemporary and to blow away the myths of selling for people who have to do the job every day so they can confidently get on with the task in hand. On the basis of the reviews we have decided to run it again in June on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th.

If you would like join the programme we keep the course small, just 15 people, we keep the surroundings and food stunning so it's at The Lowry Hotel and we keep it affordable at £295 + VAT, how could you resist!

Here's the reviews....

“I would recommend this programme not only to employees but friends who work in the hospitality business”

“The structure, starting from a wide focus point that sets everything in context and then bringing that down to how it all sits with your business and personal sales goals”

“I felt the tasks involved were productive and could be made specific to my own role”

“Course was first class”

“Brilliantly delivered; not too much techie jargon or buzzwords”

“In general I found this one of the most honest and genuinely helpful training courses I’ve been on. Real experience shared rather than just the theory from people who haven’t been in those situations”

“Content was focused and clearly presented. Comprehensive structure based around softer sell techniques much better suited to my personal style”

“Really useful tips and advice that I think will be easy to apply”

“Content was relevant and inspirational”

“I feel confident to ‘bring it on’ and not allow negative responses to get me down I have given so many tactics, tools and guidelines to use which will help me perform and progress in my role”

“This course helped me to consider my goals from a number of perspectives and having an arsenal of techniques means I can find a system which works for me”

Christopher Rodrigues CBE Confirms Appearance

Christopher Rodrigues CBE will be heading an outstanding line up of speakers and tutors at the first Strategic Leadership Programme for Hospitality in Manchester this July. Mr Rodrigues who has led Visit Britain since 2007 will be using his 30 years of experience including his substantial experience in banking and the travel industry to explore the challenges of the next 5 years. Other speakers from the Manchester Business School, industry and research organisations will provide vital insights, strategic tools and techniques and personal development advice to an elite group of just 25 hospitality business leaders and business owners.

The residential programme will be based at the five star Radisson Edwardian hotel in central Manchester and includes visits, receptions and dinners.

To reserve your place contact Howard Raynor at World Class Service on 0161 456 6007 or by e:mail at howard@worldclassservice.co.uk

Peter Saville Confirms Appearance

Branding and Communications jedi Peter Saville has agreed to speak at the forthcoming Strategic Leadership Programme taking place in Manchester from 12th - 16th July 2010. Peter will be addressing issues relating to hotel design and what does luxury mean in 2010. Expect expert opinion and controversy.

If you would like to attend this week long summer programme contact World Class Service through the web site at www.worldclassservice.co.uk

The One Thing More Expensive Than Training...

is Ignorance

Making the most of ourselves and making the most of our people requires us to think about our own performance from time to time. The context of our activities is changing, we are changing and our people are changing. Stopping to draw back and take a view of the business and the industry can reveal opportunities and efficiencies that we don't see by driving the desk or the till or the venue all day.

With this in mind we are running two workshops; in April on the 15th and 16th I am leading a programme on Sales and Business Development, this two day non course is based at the outstanding five star Lowry Hotel in Manchester. Full details are available from the new World Class Service site. Expect some good basic refresher on sales and some magic when it comes to business development.

On 20th and 21st May I am running the Service Leadership programme again at the Lowry. This open programme is non-residential and specifically focuses on the issues around service leadership. My experience is that there are lots of generic leadership programmes and any number of books but key questions for leading people to deliver outstanding service are left unanswered. Expect great trends and market information, international insights in to service excellence, some useful models and tools and some lively discussion between the course attendees. Full details are available from the new World Class Service site .