Lee Knowles的动态

Writing this before the Euros final. So you might be endlessly talking about England already or trying to forget the whole thing happened. There’s a lot to be learned from Elite sports teams about creating a high-performance culture. Mikel Arteta at Arsenal famously defined the behavioural standards he expected and then got rid of a bunch of star players who didn’t meet those standards. Gareth Southgate has transformed the England team culture (not easy when players come and go over time AND don’t spend much time with each other.) How has he done this? 1) Openness – Gareth encourages everyone (players, coaches, physios, chefs) to be candid about what’s working, what isn’t working and what ideas they have to drive performance further. 2) Ownership – he’s encouraged the players to own their performance in the team. Don’t wait to be told what to do – think proactively about how you support the team even more. 3) Clear standards – he worked with his entire team and all the players to agree the standards that they should live by. Even the smallest of details that contribute to themselves or others being able to perform better. Famously, they agreed on how they should lay out their used socks to make things easier for the kit people. So, is your organization playing like an elite sports team?

Let's chat about one of the toughest aspects of running a business – saying 'no' to opportunities that don't align with our brand. In the early days, every opportunity seemed like a lifeline, and I said 'yes' to literally every event that came my way. But as Lovely Night Entertainment grows, I've come to realize that some of our biggest successes have come from the events we turned down. While we pride ourselves on being an affordable brand, there are instances where the offered compensation doesn't align with the value we bring. Sometimes, client expectations exceed what we can realistically deliver, and there are moments when the safety of the venue raises concerns. We've even been approached to perform at venues that might not be the safest (cue the story of the known biker gang bar that wanted to book us, but that's for another time). While we do what we can to accommodate, taking on an event that risks our financial health or compromises our ability to deliver excellence is a line we won't cross. Business is, undoubtedly, about making money, but it's equally about preserving the integrity of your brand. Saying 'no' can be a tough pill to swallow, but taking on jobs that we can't fulfill 100% can be far more detrimental in the long run. Stay tuned for more insights into the challenges, triumphs, and strategic decisions that shape Lovely Night Entertainment's journey. ?????? #BusinessIntegrity #EntrepreneurialChallenges #LovelyNightEntertainment #EventManagement #SayingNoInBusiness

* This Here Round-up * - Finally kicked off the research phase of a talent project after a several month build-up to define the strategy and make the business case.?Personal highlight is setting Shona Sterland the task of predicting who would be nominated for the Mercury Awards by studying past nominees and the indicators that lead to this. The nominees were just announced yesterday, and guess what, she cracked it! #charliexcxftw. - Briefed in a mega update to our showreel, dropping next week, which will be a much better reflection of the mix of clients and work in the studio of late. - Re-building the client interface to our talent project management interfaces on Airtable with Dave, and seeing some 'newness hesitance' fade into gentle positivity from team and clients... Give it a month. - Successfully arming up with lawyers to battle our freeholder who landed us with some extortionate service charges of questionable legality. Still in progress, but after 4 months of brick walls, the little people seem to be winning. - Putting some further finishing touches to our new space on Broadway Market, so definitely ready for a studio warming party - watch this space. - Re-organising our hybrid Talent & Client Services teams roles and job titles to better differentiate these two weirdly similar skillsets into clearer divisions of labour and career trajectories. - Shoots for Jansport and The North Face, Alongside organising and hosting performers for the amazing inaugural Climb Festival for The North Face, and getting a text well past my bedtime to approve a decent bar tab as the after party rolled on. - Campaign Launches - just go and check out Under Armours European Homepages to see our first campaign drop - #Unstoppable - more on that next week. :) Personal highlights - Goodbye Tories! ??♂???? - Hello Summer ????

In business, success isn't just about having a great product, service, or concept; it's about understanding your audience's unique rhythm. It's about decoding their desires, anticipating their needs, and crafting experiences that resonate on a deeper level. Early in my consulting career, I worked with a nightclub struggling to find its footing. They had a stunning venue and a talented team, but the energy was off – like a franchise quarterback with a weak offensive line. So, I dove headfirst into research, spending countless nights in the local scene, observing patrons, bartenders, and even the door staff. I interviewed industry insiders, analyzed competitor strategies, and immersed myself in the local culture. Armed with these insights, I helped transform their approach. Together, we curated events that aligned with the target audience's interests, partnering with local DJs and artists who understood their vibe. I redesigned the layout to optimize flow and create a more immersive atmosphere. I even revamped the cocktail menu to reflect local flavors and trends. Transparency became a cornerstone of our strategy. I encouraged open communication with patrons, actively seeking feedback and responding to their concerns. Staff were empowered to be brand ambassadors, sharing their knowledge and passion for the club's offerings. This openness fostered a sense of community and loyalty among guests. But consistency was the linchpin. I meticulously maintained high standards, ensuring that every visit was memorable. From the music selection to the quality of service, every detail was carefully considered. This commitment to excellence cemented the club's reputation as a reliable and sought-after destination. #MyPastLife #BusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience #StrategicConsulting

Yes, it's because we’re jelly. But not for what you think. The fiscally responsible reason for #canneshate is the outrageous cost of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In an era where #holdingcompanies can’t afford to pay vendors in the same quarter, or even in the same year, this is the most bilious of bitter pills. But if we’re indulgently honest, most of our graceless envy is about #opportunity. Every year there are 3 dozen assignments where the clients are smart enough, organizationally aligned, and have enough money and time to make something profoundly unforgettable. Of those, 11 will be #superbowl projects. The rest will be from the same 22 brands (worldwide) spread between the same 11 #cretiveagencies, where the same 7-9 #creativeteams generate the most work. In total, that's less than 100 people. But most of #CannesLions wins are NOT from a client-generated assignment. They’re the result of #adagencies and clients working together or #creativeteams generating their own opportunities. Here the numbers get ick though. Maybe 13% creatives have the necessary experience to make and present work that will win at Cannes. Over 75% of which don't work at agencies that support developing #awards opportunities or know how to sell them. So only about 3.25% of creatives have both the experience and the support for Cannes.?And they are all 1000% engaged in an endless pitch grind or are consumed by corporate frippery. A tiny % of these will sacrifice what non-existant personal time they have to focus on a #Cannes effort.?Maybe .8%. And that's most of our winners. 99.2% of #advertisingcreatives feel like they never had a chance. And they never did. This makes some of the work and topics discussed at Cannes feel hugely out of touch, and even irrelevant. Because #winning at the most prestigious festival for creativity isn’t just about “being a great creative.” It's about having access to the support you need to be a great creative. And that support doesn't just happen. It exists only because a brave few insist upon it. These are the ones who weather the constant bullying, career-murdering debates with global overbosses, and fiscal bean herders; which will inevitably result in most of them being fired in the next 36 months. THAT deserves Brobdingnagian recognition. And while every #Canneswinner isn't the result of some epic battle, the majority are.? And we are jealous of those whose allies fought hard for their creativity. We are jealous of the ones who made good use of their creative safe spaces, not only for the opportunities they earned but for the opportunities they were permitted to create. We are jealous of the gorgeously brilliant minds who fully deserve celebration, especially with the anti-creative numbskullery of our industry, And of course, we are #jealous of the brilliant work we did not do. And are hungry to best it. Even if no one wants to let us.

A bit of a vulnerable post here but I feel with all the positive 'I'm smashing it' posts, it's important to ground ourselves every now and then - and not to compare with a highlight reel. After watching Mark Cavendish's new #Netflix documentary where he details being nervous on his comeback - Imagine that, at the time 31 stage Tour de France winning Cyclist, being nervous!- it's inspired me to do the same. This week has genuinely been difficult. Things falling through that looked certain on the candidate side, and quietness where things looked busy on the client side. Missing out on some value where I definitely could have added some (and seen the financial reward), and struggling to get transparency or movement on things which were once transparent and moving. But there is positives, the consulting desk has some fantastic relationships with top candidates and clients where we are already adding value. Building a practice out in this market has it's challenges and the same as training in high altitude, when you come back down to earth it'll seem a walk in the park! Similarly, in recruitment and sales in general, things can flip overnight! As a wise man once said, #trusttheprocess. Time for a weekend berating Gareth Southgate in the pub and moving into the new flat. We go again on Monday. #managementconsulting #recruitment #consulting #sales #Altumconsulting #recruitmentconsultant

When it comes to workplaces, the NFL could use a timeout. Call it the NFL's version of an employee satisfaction survey, but players were surveyed on what it’s like to play in the league and answered which teams are the best and worst to play on. Being a pro football player isn't all its cracked up to be. The daily LinkedIn feed is full of comments about the state of workplaces. They range from everything is a bed of roses to "my dungeon is worse than your dungeon". Being a professional football player in the NFL often seems glamorous so it's pretty interesting and even entertaining to hear the eyebrow-raising highlights and lowlights for franchises. Akin to a middle school report card, teams receive grades from A-F in 11 categories including a new look into head-coach job performance and willingness of club owners to invest in facilities. Talk about putting a spotlight on managerial competence and the workplace environment. There's a number of lessons for employers. The first is having this information, more specifically, data points is extremely useful. We make assumptions, and you can bet employers do the same about their workforce. Employee surveys and assessments offer invaluable insights into your team's needs and aspirations that can be useful in retention efforts. The other is the importance in understanding your employees' needs and aspirations, which is key to unlocking your team's full potential. They are not only valuable assets for identifying and solving problems, but also key players in shaping future direction. With that said, the lesson is two fold for employees. For one, know your worth. The hiring environment may have changed, but that doesn't mean working in fear or intimidation or being low balled. Of course, temper that with realistic expectations. Finally, and this is true at all times, the grass isn't always greener elsewhere. Case in point is the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs who ranked near last in how they treat their players and their families and had a league-worst score in ownership https://lnkd.in/g8e7ZEUU #nfl #athletes #workplace #sports #employeesatisfaction #culture #talent #humanresources

This month we celebrated a pretty epic milestone at Whistle Punks, where our lovely Operations Manager Jack Farrar hit 7 years around the ole’ axes. Next to our two founders, John & Jools, Jack is the longest serving employee in Whistle Punks!?To say he is part of our fabric and our roots is a massive understatement.? In my mission to raise the profile of our people and our industry, here is a "Whistle Stop" tour into Jack’s career at Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing to date, and some insight into why this industry really does make for a great career destination. Jack rocked up back in 2017 and started as an Axe Throwing instructor, on a part time gig from our lowly beginnings in a basement in Whitechapel in 2016, to a rugged railway Arch in Vauxhall.??Since then, Jack has and continues to be a steadfast, dedicated, focused and driven member of our team.?Jack has played and continues to play a pivotal role in moving the dial from us being a 1 venue get up, to a 4 venue, spanning 4 cities, 100+ employees fully licensed, all singing all throwing competitive social destination. ??Jack quickly moved from Instructor & Host “Axe-trodinaire” to Assistant Venue Manager, Venue Manager and in September 2022 was deservingly promoted to Operations Manager overseeing all 4 of our Venues. Jack is all things Whistle Punks. When I think of our company values of Better Than Yesterday, Bult to Last & You’re with Us, he is all these things, every single one of them.?He works tirelessly to support the team around him, he has an incredible way of bringing along the whole team on whatever the goal, and, most importantly, when he sees a space to learn, grow and develop, he takes it every time. He is also coined the go to #WWCMD, which is often a compliment but sometimes a curse. I am not even sure Jack envisaged a career in Hospitality; I am sure he saw the role of Instructor as the perfect space to perfect and project his stage presence and acting prowess whilst studying his acting degree, and to be fair it actually did from what I have witnessed Jack do running a lane. But hospitality can and will do that for you, there are so many spaces and opportunities to grow, move and learn.?What it takes is mindset, passion, character and focus, a willingness to learn and an attitude of I care, and Jack has all of these in spades. Jack, we honestly are lucky to have you on our team, you put our people and purpose front and center every time and for that we applaud you.?As the late great, Len Goodman would say, SEVEN…although it really is a Ten from Us. PS Excuse the picture, after a week of asking for a professional headshot that makes you "look like an Ops Manager", I gave up and settled with this one from Jack's recent trip to Vietnam! ?

Pop Up Global ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTERTAINMENT There are a number of ways in which we demonstrate this time and time again. But the one that I will forever drive home is the importance of culture. The fantastic company culture we have at Pop Up actually stems from a terrible experience as a performer during my singing career. The anxiety and lack of respect myself and others I worked with continuously experienced was the catalyst for my mission at Pop Up. However, being a kind and supportive business (although this just should be a given) has a number of commercial benefits that I find are often overlooked. I’ll give you the example that has contributed massively to our success. Word quickly spread within the performer world that Pop Up was the company to work for if you wanted to be treated with respect, celebrated for individuality and whole heartedly supported. As the word spread, we saw a drastic increase in the standard of talent and calibre of performer attending our auditions and ultimately being cast in our shows. This then meant that over time the quality of our product became unmatched. From our creatives to our on-stage talent we were all of a sudden working with the best of the best when it came to our industry. This then resulted in further success when it came to securing amazing jobs and the cycle continued. If companies can’t be kind and supportive for being kind and supportive’s sake - then maybe the commercial results of fantastic company culture may be incentive enough to put energy into improving working standards. Ultimately - something needs to change and I will forever be finding ways to encourage this change and have as many leaders behind me on this mission. HAPPY TUESDAY - LET’S MAKE IT A GOOD ONE

?? Reflections from Glastonbury I took a step away from my usual job to dive into the vibrant and chaotic world of Glastonbury, Europe's biggest festival, welcoming over 200,000 attendees. This experience is always special to me – it's a time to be present, to focus on the now, and to be part of a massive team effort that makes this incredible event happen. The atmosphere at Glastonbury is electric, and being part of this big machine is exhilarating. It's a chance to bring teams together, to implement lessons from previous years, and to elevate our performance. Every shift, every interaction, every step (and there were a lot of them – I averaged 38,000 steps a day!) counts towards creating an unforgettable experience for the festival-goers. Of course, not everything was smooth sailing. Dealing with challenging individuals reminded me of the importance of empathy and effective communication. Sometimes, it feels like people haven't heard the saying, "you catch more bees with honey." It's key to approach teamwork as a partnership and focus on collaboration rather than pointing out flaws. Transparency and honesty about motives when asking for help can make a huge difference. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the overall customer experience, especially when thousands are pouring through the gates. It's about bringing people along on the journey with you, overcommunicating, and motivating them to go the extra mile. A key takeaway: never talk down to people – whether they're punters or colleagues. It doesn't make you a hero; in fact, it does quite the opposite. Sometimes, amidst the whirlwind, it's essential to take a step back, breathe, and centre yourself to plan the best course of action. It has taken me a week to recover, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I can’t wait to do it all over again next year! Here’s a picture from the last shift at our gate with the amazing security team that made it all possible. #Glastonbury #FestivalLife #Teamwork #CustomerExperience #Leadership #EventManagement #Reflection