by Stuart Cross | Jan 15, 2021 | Business Rocks
Last week’s events at The Capitol in Washington DC were both shocking and entirely predictable in roughly equal measure. I believe the riot was stoked by Donald Trump’s words and direct encouragement, both on the day and over the past few months. But mob’s actions...
by Stuart Cross | Jan 10, 2021 | Business Rocks
January is a time for setting new goals. And, as always when I’m thinking about new goals, I’m reminded of the great line from the Dilbert cartoon, “Stretch goals are like stretch pants – they’re a sign that you’ve given up hope!” In fact, there’s probably only one...
by Stuart Cross | Dec 23, 2020 | Business Rocks, Covid
Last Friday, my parents received their first coronavirus vaccination at the Globe Arena, the home of Morecambe Football Club. “Arena” may seem a little overblown for a stadium that holds just a little over 6,000 spectators, but the fact that it is called the “Globe”...
by Stuart Cross | Dec 7, 2020 | Business Rocks
It’s nearly 15 years since my last corporate role, working in the strategy team at Boots the Chemists. Since then many things have changed, but others remain stubbornly similar. When I left Boots, the challenge for most high street retailers was to establish genuine...
by Stuart Cross | Nov 27, 2020 | Business Rocks, Covid
It seems that a random piece of good luck will have a massive, positive impact on our ability to vaccinate against Covid-19. The scientists running the Oxford University/Astrazenca trial made an error in an early batch of the vaccine. As a result, a sub-group of the...
by Stuart Cross | Nov 13, 2020 | Business Rocks
As I watched a Rudy Giuliani press conference on Saturday, I was transported back nearly 20 years to the closure of a small chain of Boots Wellbeing stores. Giuliani’s press call was at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. No, not the luxury hotel, but Four Seasons Total...
by Stuart Cross | Nov 6, 2020 | Business Rocks
As I write this post, the outcome of the US presidential election is still undecided. Already, however, Donald Trump and his team have accused those running the electoral process of defrauding the American people. Legal cases have been launched and the president has...
by Stuart Cross | Oct 30, 2020 | Business Rocks
Autumn is making its presence felt. The leaves are turning colour – there are already some glorious reds and golds in our village – the days are shortening and the evenings are noticeably cooler. In our garden, though, one thing is different from other autumns: our...
by Stuart Cross | Oct 2, 2020 | Business Rocks, Covid
This week I emailed around 40 of my clients, asking them to give a brief answer to this question: In your opinion, what is the most important trait or characteristic that has set the most successful business leaders apart from the rest during the pandemic? I received...
by Stuart Cross | Sep 25, 2020 | Business Rocks, Covid
Over the past six months, there has been a lot of discussion about ‘herd immunity’. According to the scientists, it’s the only thing that can release us from the Covid-19 prison in which we find ourselves. Herd immunity not only applies to the biology of the disease,...
by Stuart Cross | Sep 18, 2020 | Business Rocks
In a parallel life, I would have been an astrophysicist. At university, I was always envious of those students who were able to go to the observatory to study particular stars, constellations and other celestial bodies. That said, my interest is fairly dormant. I...
by Stuart Cross | Sep 11, 2020 | Business Rocks
In my last Business Rocks article, I asked the question about how leaders can build high-performing teams in a world where working from home and virtual meetings will continue to be the norm click here. With such a dramatic fall in social contact at work – and the...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 28, 2020 | Business Rocks
The joys of working from home appear to be wearing thin. I’ve spoken to two senior executives this week who have told me that they’re struggling to maintain their enthusiasm and energy as a result of WFH isolation. While retail, health, distribution, factory and other...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 21, 2020 | Business Rocks
I wrote a few weeks ago how Dylan, my eldest son, felt no real ownership of his impending A-Level results – see here. I hadn’t imagined, however, that the algorithm used to determine his grades would generate quite so many iniquitous outcomes. Media reports suggest...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 7, 2020 | Business Rocks
Back in the 1990s, my wife and I went on a sailing holiday in the Mediterranean. For the first week, we stayed in an hotel and spent each day learning to sail a 35-foot yacht. The weather was glorious; sun, heat and no wind. The smooth, still sea had been painted with...
by Stuart Cross | Jul 31, 2020 | Business Rocks
For the first time in a couple of years, I have been coaching a junior football team. It is a grassroots under-16s squad and we have a wide range of abilities. I’ve been enjoying the process and have been running two 90-minute sessions for the boys each week. As I’ve...
by Stuart Cross | Jul 17, 2020 | Business Rocks
In a few weeks’ time, my oldest son, Dylan, will receive his A-Level results. These results will determine which, if any, university offers he is able to accept. Like all other A-Level and GCSE students, however, Dylan hasn’t taken any exams. As a result of the...
by Stuart Cross | Jul 3, 2020 | Business Rocks, Covid
Most UK bars and restaurants will reopen again this weekend. As the number of Covid-19 cases finally approaches a sustainably manageable level, the 15-week social lockdown is being eased. Not in Leicester, however. There, the bars will remain shut for a further two...
by Stuart Cross | Jun 19, 2020 | Business Rocks
Like many others, I’ve used the lockdown period to improve my fitness. For the first time in over a decade I’ve been running three or four times a week. I must admit that I was a little nervous about it, worrying that I would injure a knee or ankle, so I’ve been...
by Stuart Cross | Jun 5, 2020 | Business Rocks
After the earthquake of the pandemic, we’re now waiting for the tsunami of the recession to hit shore. So, if you’re like the business leaders that I’ve been talking with, you’re currently working out how to rapidly cut costs across your organization. Cost reduction...
