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Central London annual networking dinner and talk
Thursday 27 October 2011
Tackling Your Team - Leadership Skills or Just Keen on Rugby?
Traditionally the Central London dinner gives us a predinner talk on a topical subject and an after dinner speech similarly linked. With the Rugby World Cup fresh in everyone's minds our speakers treated us to an entertaining, informative and anecdote filled look at the theme "What can a business learn from successful sports leadership?"
Ene Corral, Communications Executive, ACCA UK was at the dinner and gives us the following report...
Bob Rogers, past president of the RFU, and Edward Griffiths, manager of the Saracen’s Rugby Club, gave insightful keynote speeches last October at the Tackling Your Team - Leadership Skills or Just Keen on Rugby? event in London, about what leadership means to them and how they have achieved great results in their careers by implementing a good leadership strategy.
‘Leadership is developing a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. A leader inspires people and looks behind the mask and knows what makes his team tick,’ says Bob. While the ability to communicate effectively, inspire others, gain trust, and be in control of your emotions is key to being an effective leader, a good leader will also encourage the improvement of skills and will have the ability to get others to follow. ‘You should be a leader at whatever level you are,’ says Bob.
‘At Saracens we have a saying it is not about the people, it is only about the people,’ says Edward.
‘The primary focus of the club is on people and not winning,’ says Edward.
It is vital that a team should share the same goal, not only in sports but also in business. Each team player should understand how important their contribution is to their organisation’s success or failure. Building a relationship, leading by example, and the ability to adapt to change are key factors in good leadership. Businesses and sports now operate in more competitive environments than ever before, where the bar is being regularly raised. Staying ahead of the competition has never been so important. But sport appears to offer a holistic approach to leadership; developing participants physical, mental and spiritual skills, as well as being stronger than business in interpersonal and communication skills. ‘Listen and be sensitive, always look for the best in people, not the worst. If you can’t see it, then look harder and develop it,’ concludes Edward.
Tower of London
Wednesday 29 June 2011
By Monica Liljeroth
For the third time in as many years ACCA UK Central London Network arranged a professional / social networking event at the Tower of London. 50 members and their guests were guided around the Tower by Yeoman Mark, this year, to listen to his very humorous talk of history and tales. The evening sky was almost blue and temperatures warm and pleasant. After the tour we continued to the Yeoman Warders Club, within the Tower, for an evening buffet and drink coupled with networking. This was followed by us all watching the ancient Ceremony of the Keys (the locking of the Tower). After the ceremony we went back to the club for some further networking, drinks and a raffle in aid of the Yeoman Charity Funds.
This is an event which has now become very popular with our members so the Central London network is hoping to be able to arrange another one in 2012!