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Member in the spotlight Mark Leigh, corporate inance partner at Roffe Swayne, on building the right team
Is stress affecting your focus? Use your emotional intelligence to stay on your A game when working under pressure
T h e
I n f o r m e r Issue 18
July/Aug 2018
theclubhouselondon.com
WHAT KIND OF CEO ARE YOU? How your leadership style can affect your company’s success
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Meet. Work. Grow.
THE CLUBHOUSE, HOLBORN
Welcome to T h e C l u b h ou se , H o lb o r n We had a fantastic evening celebrating with members and guests at our launch party
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INTRODUCTION
ADAM BLASKEY FOUNDER & CEO The Clubhouse
W e l come So far it’s been a cracking start to the English summer – lots of glorious sunny days, a great start to England’s World Cup campaign in Russia, a fantastic launch party held at The Clubhouse, Holborn on Tuesday 26 June swiftly followed by The St James’s Square Garden Party two days later. It was great to see so many members at the launch party and I hope those who came to the St James’s Square Garden Party enjoyed the golf simulator! I think the English summer season gets better each year – after an often very busy first half of the year for many of us, we start to relax with some of the best events in the world on our doorstep: from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, followed by Royal Ascot, the Fever Tree Championships at The Queen’s
Club, Wimbledon, Goodwood Festival of Speed, the British Grand Prix and Glorious Goodwood to name but a few. It’s a great time to relax whether with family, friends, colleagues or clients. The summer months can also be the perfect opportunity for reflection and in The Informer this month we have two great pieces for you to ponder. On page 4, we ask, What kind of CEO are you? There are many possible answers, but do you consider yourself as the ‘chief enabling officer’? If you think the summer months are more of a distraction and days away from the office only result in an overwhelming list of things to do and hurdles to overcome when you return, then our article on page 7 is definitely worth a read: How to work on
your emotional intelligence to help stay focused and manage stress levels. Our Member in the Spotlight this month is Mark Leigh, corporate finance partner at Roffe Swayne. Mark and his fellow partners in the business, an accountancy firm of 90 people based in Godalming, have been members of The Clubhouse since we opened in 2012. Finally, we have a great Members’ Breakfast in store on Tuesday 17 July when Rachel Clay and Anant Sharma from Matter of Form will be joining us to share unique and valuable insights into the world of influencer marketing – as most marketeers would no doubt agree, it is probably the most effective marketing strategy around today.
THE CLUBHOUSE P R O D U C T I V I T Y T I P #1 8
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Get more sleep Lack of sleep effects our reasoning, focus and mood. Melatonin, a natural hormone, kicks in around 10pm-11pm to help us relax and fall asleep, so don’t try fighting this by making your brain work too hard.
DESIGN & ART DIRECTION
Christian Gilliham_christian@cgcreate.co.uk_07951 722265
To partner with The Clubhouse or promote your business in The Informer please email adam@theclubhouselondon.com Copyright. The Clubhouse London Ltd
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CEO
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t’s a term that stands for many things – chief executive officer, chief engagement officer and even chief everything officer. But there’s a new meaning behind this acronym and it’s a reflection of the shift in businesses and their leaders: chief enabling officer. What does this involve and why does it matter? This role involves being responsible for the overall organisational structure and working environment of a business to enable its employees to fulfil their potential and ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction and engagement. The strategic importance of company culture is, as we all know, enormous. It’s crucial to understanding vision and aims, purpose and values, and helping employees see where they fit. This is what CEOs should be concentrating on right now – not concerning themselves with the day-to-day running of a business and its operational intricacies but taking responsibility for how the organisation lives and breathes. Studies have shown there are certain characteristics that make a successful CEO. Whereas boards and shareholders might value confident extroverts, research demonstrates that introverts make better CEOs. The CEO Genome Project revealed four distinctive characteristics: the ability to reach out to stakeholders; the ability to adapt to change; to be reliable and predictable; to make decisions quickly and with conviction, even if they sometimes made mistakes. To succeed in public, the CEO first needs to win over their people. How? By removing internal barriers to growth and providing the right conditions for a healthy, productive
W H AT KIND OF CEO ARE YOU ?
How to improve employee experience and benefit your business
culture. Then go public – CEOs are the flag bearer for their brand and customers expect them to take on a greater role, especially in regards to thought leadership (just look at the number of CEOs doing TED talks). People inside and outside of an organisation also look to CEOs for environmental and social stewardship (particularly when they feel let down by political leaders). According to a survey by Weber Shandwick, twice as many young adults would feel more loyalty to their CEO if he or she took a stand on a contentious public issue (44 per cent compared with 19 per cent feeling less loyalty)*. To remain fresh, relevant and effective, today’s CEOs must also innovate, often by changing the context and adapting leadership behaviours to foster a culture of innovation which filters down throughout the company. It shouldn’t belong to a small group in a closed-off task force meeting but needs to be driven down through every level of the business. With the appropriate talent in place, well managed to perform optimally and by demonstrating and teaching leadership skills to the wider team, engagement, creativity and experimentation will thrive. The successful chief enabling officer must also look externally as well as internally to achieve the right balance. Looking outside for ideas that can be implemented on the inside can often be the best route to innovation, enabling all employees and therefore the company as a whole to reach its full potential and resulting in the company vision becoming a reality. *Raconteur
Studies have shown there are certain characteristics that make a successful CEO
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Meet. Work. Grow.
MEMBER STRAPLINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MARK LEIGH CORPORATE FINANCE PARTNER Roffe Swayne
Hel d to a ccou n t Tell us about your company. We are a long-established and successful independent firm of accountants based in Godalming, Surrey with a significant client presence in the West End and the City. Our very active boutique corporate finance team serve the private equity market and SMEs, undertaking a broad range of M&A work. Working in collaboration with business owners, advisers and investors, we help to buy, sell, value and advise on management buy-ins and buy-outs. In-house, we also have a specialist forensic accounting offering. In addition, our skilled outsourcing team can support businesses with their legacy systems and payroll issues, unravel bookkeeping errors and reduce costs by outsourcing their financial processing, management accounts, or even their finance director role. Our tax specialists provide a comprehensive range of tax advice for both corporate and private clients. What has been your biggest success? I am extremely proud of the firm that we have created today. We make sure that every one of our team receives the right level of support and development, and with great leisure, social and charity activities throughout the year, we have created a great team spirit. Work highlights have been getting difficult transactions over the line and the joy that this has brought to our clients – in many instances life changing for them. Whether it has been advising a large international group of private member sports
clubs, or securing a small retirement sale for someone who has spent a lifetime building up their business, it is always extremely satisfying. What project are you most excited about right now? Working on a wide range of interesting deals with our clients. The exciting part is working with some of our bright young talented team who are demonstrating their ability to source and run these transactions. It is great developing and nurturing talent and sharing your experiences with them. How has being a member of The Clubhouse contributed to the success of your business? The Clubhouse has provided a great, convenient place to meet our clients and contacts, and The Clubhouse, St James’s and Bank create a great impression. It has definitely given our work in London a boost. Our clients are always happy to come to The Clubhouse. Where can members find you? I use all of The Clubhouse locations, with a preference for St James’s because of its close proximity to many of my clients. However, more recently, I have been using The Clubhouse, Bank, which is also in a great location and is a very enjoyable place to work and meet clients.
QUICK-FIRE ROUND
Favourite place to go in London? I enjoy walking the streets of London, particularly in the summer – it is a lot more pleasant than the underground. Who inspires you and why? Mark Cavendish. A truly great competitor who gives his all. He is a real winner but also quick to acknowledge that he could not do it without the help of his team and he puts his hands up when he makes a mistake. A good life lesson. Best bit of advice you’ve been given? You learn more from the things that go wrong than when things go to plan. It is how you deal with the setbacks that defines you. If you were on a desert island, what would you bring? My boat – I love messing around on the water, and it would also be my way home after I had finished enjoying myself! What is the worst business ‘faux-pas’ you’ve committed? It has got to be the trials and tribulations of sending an email to the wrong person. It is so easily done and can take a lot of explaining, but I am extra vigilant these days.
roffeswayne.com
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FUTURE EVENTS
The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse
ST JAMES’S
BANK
MEMBERS’ BREAKFAST Influencer Marketing 2.0
MEMBERS’ BREAKFAST Employee Incentivisation
TUESDAY 17 JULY 8.00 am - 9.30 am FREE FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS This session will explore the evolution of influencer marketing from its origins as a new and unstructured marketing activity, to the established and strategic discipline it is today. The session will be hosted by Rachel Clay, head of Influencer Marketing at specialist digital branding and innovation agency, Matter of Form. Rachel will be supported by Matter of Form CEO, Anant Sharma, and expert guest luxury lifestyle influencer Shini Park (@parkncube) who will provide her invaluable insight. We would be delighted if you could join us for a sharp and innovative discussion as we explore key trends and best practices over breakfast.
SA V E THE DA TE
Rachel Clay
Stephen Diosi
TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 8.00AM - 9.30AM FREE FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS The competition to attract and retain talent is fierce. All business leaders need to think about how to keep their employees happy and motivated. It is important to determine what’s valuable to the employees, the owners and the business as a whole. This session with Stephen Diosi of Mishcon de Reya will cover topics from the various incentive structures available including: designing a plan and working out what is right for the business; share options, growth shares and phantom awards; tax considerations and how this influences plan design; and typical issues faced throughout a plan’s life cycle.
HOW TO BOOK: VISIT THECLUBHOUSELONDON.COM OR ASK AT THE FRONT DESK
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Theatre
Art
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE
250TH SUMMER EXHIBITION AT THE RA
The Michael Grandage Company presents a rare revival of Martin McDonagh’s critically acclaimed satire on terrorism. Who knocked Mad Padraic’s cat over on a lonely road on the island of Inishmore? He’ll want to know when he gets back from a stint of torture and chip-shop bombing in Northern Ireland: he loves that cat more than life itself… Actor Aidan Turner (Poldark) plays Mad Padraic, a terrorist deemed too violent to be a member of the IRA, in this hilarious, acute observation of violence in contemporary culture.
This year at The Royal Academy of Arts annual exhibition Grayson Perry RA and his committee of fellow artists have handpicked over 1,300 artworks in an array of mediums. There’s a monumental sculpture by Anish Kapoor RA in the courtyard, and within the galleries you’ll find vast new works by David Hockney RA and Joana Vasconcelos. The art extravaganza even spills out into the streets of London’s West End, with an installation of over 200 flags designed by Royal Academicians.
UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER NOEL COWARD THEATRE DELFONTMACKINTOSH.CO.UK
UNTIL 19 AUGUST ROYALACADEMY.ORG.UK
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Restaurant
BLEEDING HEART Nestled in the yard where 17th-century beauty Lady Elizabeth Hatton was murdered (hence the name) is Bleeding Heart’s longestablished French restaurant. The warm, wood-panelled room in the heart of The City is popular for business lunches and romantic dinners alike. Our favourites included Assiette of Suckling Pig and Crackling, Apricot Sage Faggots, Pommes Fondantes, Bramley Apple Sauce, followed by Warm Apple Tarte Tatin with Clotted Cream.
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BLEEDING HEART YARD, FARRINGDON, LONDON EC1N 8SJ 020 724 28238
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STRESS
S t o p t h e s t r e s s , k e e p t h e f o c u s What’s your biggest hurdle to success? Funding, employees, logistics? No, it’s probably more personal than that
☞ How you lose your ability to focus
By paying attention to the patterns that lead to your lack of focus, you can begin to develop your ability to dismiss distractions and stay with your original point of attention.
☞ How you feel when you can’t focus Does it make you anxious when you can’t recall information when you need it? This may be a clue that you’re more stressed than you may realise, and that your inability to concentrate is causing even more stress.
☞ When you lose your ability to focus
If, for example, you find yourself worrying over something while you’re driving 75 mph on the motorway with a car full of kids, you’re putting yourself and others in danger. This is a wake-up call to bring your attention back to what you’re doing and make a decision to think about your concerns later.
Once you’ve increased your awareness of what’s causing you stress and how and when you lose your focus, you can use the following strategies to make better choices that keep you focused.
☞ Do a digital detox
In its 2017 Stress in America survey, The American Psychological Association (APA) found that “constant checkers” – people who check their emails, texts, and social media on a constant basis – experience more stress than those who don’t. Unplugging or limiting your digital access can be great for your mental health.
☞ Rest your brain
Lack of sleep can negatively affect our decisions because it impairs our ability to accurately assess a situation, plan accordingly, and behave appropriately. Commit to the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
☞ Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is key to emotional resilience, which is a key contributor in our ability to quickly recover from stress.
☞ Why you feel stressed or anxious
Before you can deal with stress, you need to know what’s causing it. Make a list of the sources of your stress. Write down each thing that’s causing you anxiety. You might categorise items into things you have the ability to change and things you don’t. Then you will need to figure out how to change your attitude toward them.
☞ Shift your focus to others
Studies (Wiens included) show shifting our focus to others produces physiological effects that calm us. So you can not only take your mind off of your stress but reap the benefits of knowing you’re doing something meaningful for someone else. ●
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Source: HBR
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e need to develop our emotional intelligence in order to succeed. From focusing on ourselves and our intuition to assessing objectively what’s going on around us, we need to bring our attention to the task. Stress – something many of us deal with daily – is our number one obstacle to being at our most efficient, alert self. Stress stops us from achieving our goals; we feel overwhelmed, time poor, mentally frazzled, forgetful and distracted. Stress isn’t always bad; short-term stress raises cortisol levels (the so-called stress hormone) for short periods and can jumpstart our adrenalin and motivate us to perform more efficiently. But chronic stress floods our nervous system with cortisol and adrenaline that hijack crucial cognitive functions, such as focus and memory. Long-term stress can lead to prolonged increases in cortisol, which can be toxic to the brain. When we can’t focus, this can lead to us feeling even more stressed and so the cycle begins. Many people don’t notice when we’re in this spiral until we are totally overwhelmed and at breaking point. Research by Kandi Wiens, coach and organisational change consultant, has discovered why some people get burned out and others don’t. It’s down to their emotional intelligence, specifically self-awareness and self-management, and how they use it to manage their stress and break the cycle. Wiens suggests these ways to start using your self-awareness to notice a few things:
Billion dollar company. Est. 2018 This is the age of explosive growth where ideas, technology and burning ambition can turn a start-up in a garage into a global powerhouse. To help plan the meteoric rise of your business, go to theleap.mishcon.com Business | Dispute Resolution | Real Estate | Mishcon Private
It’s business. But it’s personal.