Today as we look at the business world, we all have an opportunity to make a difference.
 
Whether you are a business owner of a small or medium size enterprise, or working for an employer, regardless of your title in your organisation – YOU make a difference.
 
Maybe you have a dream of something you want to achieve in the foreseeable future. It could be to launch your own business, scale your existing business to the next level. Whether you want to grow your team, develop a new product or offering, whatever it is……. We have good news for you.
 
As a business growth consultant, I have found that there are 5 things you need to achieve your goals and make a difference in your world.
 
These elements are as important now than ever — in our changing, uncertain world.
 

1. A strategy for success

 
According to research, no or poor strategic planning is one of the top 3 reasons why companies fail. Never underestimate the power of vision and strategy. Together they can be a powerful force.
 
A vision is just a dream without a plan. Strategic planning is a must when it comes to building a and scaling a business, an opportunity, a product, team.
 

2. Support and Encouragement

 
You cannot do it alone. We know that teamwork makes the dream work.
 
All the changes in our world over the last year has proven that collaboration is here to stay – working together makes us smarter together.
 

3. Accountability

 
Often in business we need a mentor, a trusted advisor to talk things through with — someone outside of the immediate setting, someone who can look at opportunities and challenges with a fresh pair of eyes, to not only bring strategic insight and support but also to keep us accountable to our goals and plans. As a business growth consultant, that is exactly what I do for my clients.
 

4. Flexibility

 
Innovation and agility are very important. For instance, Awards International and The Judge Club adjusted from a very much “live in the room” model to an online presence. This is innovation and agility at its best. It shows the great leadership of Neil Skehel and his team.
 
During these changing times, opportunities have increased for some. Geography is now history. You do not have to be in the same location or country to serve your client. Around 50% of my clients are now international. The world has changed. You need to change with it.
 

5. Action

 
Highly effective people don’t wait and see – rather they MAKE and SEE.
 
Many companies are now looking at scaling their business. Recent research also shows that more companies are now looking to increase their teams over the next 12 months. They are not waiting – they are making things happen.
 

We want to support your business growth and success.

 
At the Judges Club, we want to support every Judge to be as successful as they can be in their business.
 
Therefore, we are now launching The Judges Club – Business Growth Group that will help business owners and leaders like yourself develop the 5 elements above and achieve lasting business success.
 

Our Vision

 
Our main goal is to empower and equip The Judges Club Members with a strategy for business growth and success. We want to help you scale your business.
 

Our Purpose

 
We want to provide a rich resource of content, wisdom, insight, support, strategy, and experience for business owners to scale their business for growth and success. Also, those with a leadership and management role to develop their strengths and those of their teams, so that everyone has the support they need for career progression.
 

A Group You Can Count On

 
Our business growth group will be a community that provides interactive training, discussion, support, collaboration and sharing of resources for each other’s success.
 
This community will also be a safe environment to discuss personal business challenges and remedies.
 
We know that the more we engage, the more we can add and takeaway.
 

We will meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday each month from 12-1.15pm.

 

Our Culture

 
We know the importance of having a healthy culture if an organisation is to be successful. The culture we will look to build is:
 

• Respect for each other.
• A focus on completing and not competing against each other.
• Encouragement for everyone to bring their very best to the table. We are stronger together.
• Collaboration with our strengths for the benefit of each other. As I work with businesses, I have too often noted that with good leadership talent does not come and GO – Rather it comes and GROWS.
• Fostering growth, a strong and positive mindset, developing the talents within each other.

 
I am honoured to have been asked to lead this – The Judges Club, Business Growth Group.
 
So if you are a small or medium size enterprise and would like to benefit from being part of this elite business group, which will provide a rich resource for growth and success, please do let me know at tony@keepthinkingbig.com
 
 

It was a rough year; filled with the unknown, unexpected crises, uncontrollable circumstances and inevitable change.

Many felt the need for support in a way they never have before. I believe it made us find the inner strength we didn’t even know we had, and in many cases led us to become better people.

Many businesses needed to change the way they work. In fact, didn’t we all need to change? We needed to adapt to a situation we knew nothing about; we needed to lean on using technology to survive and were rushed into acquiring new knowledge and skills.

I am in constant communication with so many different professionals; people coming from different countries, cultures and industries. Suddenly we all shared the same agony. We were no longer just partners, clients, employees, employers – we were people first.

Through our conversations, I noticed something remarkable – the desire to help others has become a priority. I spoke to so many professionals who were eager to contribute with their experience and knowledge, hoping it will help other businesses during the crisis.

Business professionals grasped the need to learn something new and sharing knowledge has quickly become the perfect way to achieve that. This was the moment I realised that the direction of The Judge Club (TJC) should change course.

I knew people who wanted to help, and I knew those who needed the help; so I believed it was about time we got those people together.

We completely transformed our business with the use of technology that allows us to get people together. We even put some of our projects on hold in order to help others.

Since May 2020, The Judge Club has gathered business professionals from all over the world LIVE Online on SIX different occasions.

HOW TJC HELPED?

1. We had a dozen business experts who shared their valuable experiences, knowledge, and practical tools and tips with fellow professionals.

• Paul Corke: Founder and Leadership Architect at Leadership Architecture

“How to build resilience and cope with stress during times of uncertainty and change”.

• Haydn Bratt: Business Design Specialist at Mindset Leadership LLP

“The Link between Leadership and Customer Experience.”

• Kim Adele: Executive Director at Kim Adele Ltd.

“Benefits of the Virtual Watercooler”.

• Nicole Bachmann: Founding Partner at Haywood Mann

“Empowerment as a consequence of C-19 – how the necessities of virtual working have impacted practical leadership”.

• Sarah Walker: Smith, Chief Executive at Shakespeare Martineau

“The New Abnormal”

• Tony Lynch: Managing Director at Keep Thinking Big

“What’s the one thing that the last three UK recessions all had in common – that we should all be aware of?”.

• Olga Potapsteva: Executive Director, Memberships, Customer Institute at European Customer Consultancy

“Building trust in CX tools: certification from the Customer Institute.”

“CX Inspired Report”.

• Fleur Hicks: Managing Director at onefourzero

“Agility in the face of adversity”.

• Fiona Cameron: Director at Sticky Change

“Turning healthy lockdown habits into BAU”.

• Chloe Woolger, Commercial Director, CX and Tim Pritchard, Managing Director, Customer Experience at Kantar

“2020: a year in review for the CX industry”

• What the ideal customer experience should look like
  • Predictions on the state of the marketplace in the year ahead
  • What brands must do to succeed in the face of the challenges we all still face.

2. We had more than 100 professionals joining live discussion rooms in which different relevant topics were covered:

• Coping with Change and Self-isolation During Lock Down and its Effect on Future
• How Can Managers Improve CX with their Leadership?
• How to Engage Employees Online; Not only to Survive but Thrive
• Engagement – helped or hindered by virtual working?
• The new abnormal will need a shift from words to action and more collaboration across businesses – how can we achieve both?
• Developing a business strategy – what are the key things we need to consider?
• What Proves the Value Of Customer Experience?
• Will the growth in decline change after COVID-19?​
• How do we sustain healthy business practices after lockdown?
• Customer Experience VS Human Experience
• CX feedback survey response rate – increasing or decreasing?
• CX improvement during the lockdown

3. We organised 10 Winsight webinars, disclosing remarkable innovations and achievements throughout the year:

• Link to register and listen:
  • https://awardsinternational.com/winsight-webinars-recordings/

The Judge Club has enabled professionals to be the very best they can be and reach goals by inspiring them to learn.

It’s not just about allowing people to connect ­– it’s about connecting the right people to make an impact. This is a true virtue of The Judge Club and is the main reason I’m proud to be ‘the face’ behind this organisation.

With 2020 out of the way, the time has come to continue with our planned projects.

The most important one was to create a place that would allow people from all over the world to connect, share knowledge, grow business, and shape futures from the comfort of their homes and offices, wherever they may be!

Human touch has become too important to be forgotten. We have all learned a lot in 2020 – we were forced to!

Now, if we combine what we have learned through our experiences before, during, and – hopefully soon – after Covid, and get together with other professionals regularly to exchange expertise, imagine the difference that will make. There’s nothing like working with professionals on problem-solving activities and getting unique perspectives from real experts.

Not being able to get together physically has its disadvantages, of course. However, it’s important to understand the benefits of using technology to connect. The people you can meet this way come from different cultures, industries, and backgrounds; the most diverse expertise you can imagine in one place!

If things didn’t go the way they did last year, we might have never had the opportunity to meet them and benefit from their insight.

I’m proud to be part of a group that has helped and supported so many during this time of crisis and I’m incredibly excited to be working closely with our valued members of The Judge Club.

If you would like to know more about The Judge Club or have any questions about how you can contribute or participate, feel free to contact me on: ana.v@awardsinternational.com