by Bruce Cotterill | Nov 30, 2017 | Leadership, Reflections
I was back in my hometown on the weekend. I drove past the Port. There they were, stacked high and waiting. Thousands of them. Mammoth things. Ready for export. Logs. Logs with the bark on. Not kitset houses, or high value timber furniture, or containers of...
by Bruce Cotterill | Apr 22, 2016 | General, Reflections
I think we live in the best place in the world. The climate, mountains, lakes and beaches mean that nature has served us well. The natural beauty of New Zealand is up there with the best on earth. We are a friendly, proud and aspirational people, and that’s good...
by Bruce Cotterill | Mar 3, 2016 | Reflections
Last week I was in Christchurch. At the end of my visit I caught a cab from the city to the airport. Nothing unusual in that I hear you say. I caught a Gold Band taxi. I started using them a couple of years ago after I got ripped off by one of the blue bubble...
by Bruce Cotterill | Feb 18, 2016 | Leadership
Last week I spent some time with the new shareholders of a recently acquired medium sized business. Having owned the business for a few months, they now understand what they have, and some of the issues and opportunities they have inherited. Unlike many in a similar...
by Bruce Cotterill | Nov 2, 2015 | Leadership, People Management
Even before they won the 2015 Rugby World Cup final on the weekend, they were regarded as the most successful professional sports team in history. In the history of rugby union they have won 77% of test matches. However in the professional era they have won a...
by Bruce Cotterill | Sep 12, 2015 | Reflections
Europe’s refugee crisis has been one of the fastest moving stories I have ever seen. As is often the case with something moving that fast, there is little balance in the commentary. At one extreme is the humanitarian and aid industry, and their supporters, who are...
by Bruce Cotterill | Sep 10, 2015 | Leadership, People Management, Reflections
A few years ago I presented the keynote address at a major international conference being held in New Zealand’s North Island. Throughout the presentation there was a woman standing at the back of the large theatre that was already 600 people deep. Mid 40’s perhaps. ...
by Bruce Cotterill | Sep 5, 2015 | Reflections
I’m not a politician – and that will become apparent. But perhaps business people should handle this situation anyway. It’s time for cool heads and a measured response. I refer to the crisis in the Middle East and now Europe. For a long time we have talked...
by Bruce Cotterill | Aug 18, 2015 | Leadership
Earlier this month, I was asked to get involved in a sales transaction that was at risk of falling over. By the time I arrived it had fallen over. We’re trying to resurrect it. It’s a decent sized deal – over $50 million. The reason it fell over is really...
by Bruce Cotterill | Jul 27, 2015 | Leadership, People Management
“Your assets go out the door at 5:00pm” the old cliché goes! With the ever-increasing focus on service-orientated businesses, the phrase becomes more and more real every day. Sadly the importance of those assets is not always recognised. Managers don’t seem to...
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