CGR News
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The Bank of England's Graduate Development Programme Wins Again
For the second consecutive year our client, the Bank of England, has won the Association of Graduate Recruiters' (AGR) annual prize for the Best Graduate Development Programme.
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Bouncing Back from a Recession
Every day it seems that another household name announces shorter-hours working, redundancy consultations, business re-structuring or some other form of consolidation in reaction to the recession. To adapt to current circumstances, perhaps we need to get back to basics and re-learn our ABCs and Three Rs...
Bouncing Back from a Recession
History shows that the organisations that bounced back fastest from the last recession were those that grasped the reality of the situation and began adapting early. While commentators and business leaders are already talking about "post-recession planning" and the "turn-around" leadership skills needed to fill the void created by the erosion of trust in management, we feel that the underlying survival skills are very simple - we need to get back to basics and re-learn our ABCs and Three Rs:
Acknowledge the Reality
Some things that need to be done to survive a recession can damage trust and confidence. Attempts to restrict information and a failure to engage with the reality of people's disappointment, frustration or anger damages respect and heightens uncertainty. Leaders need to be honest about their intentions, and they need to listen to staff; helping to counter false rumours and to clarify expectations
Build honest Relationships
In all of the trust and turn-around leadership literature there is a lot of talk about something we perhaps instinctively know to be true - that openness and transparency are vital to cement longstanding relationships. This involves going beyond merely acknowledging reality to taking positive steps to "right-wrongs" and repairing damaged reputations and loyalty
Commit to delivering Results
The final step involves closing the loop and delivering a new reality, making good on commitments and promises; doing things differently or better - and measuring the results.
With more than 20 years experience of the ups and downs of the economy behind us, we have a tried and tested three-step plan - comprising some brand new initiatives as well as a number of existing CGR services - that can help organisations adapt to the today's "interesting times". To learn more, contact natural_selection@cgr.co.uk or download our new information sheet to keep as a reminder.