Being in management means constantly making decisions, most of these do not have much impact but sometimes you have to make big decisions that really affect people’s lives.

Today we let one of our new developers go after their three month probation period, it was a really tough decision and even harder having to tell him the bad news.

With all the lost jobs you read about at the moment, it is hard to humanise until you have to actually give someone the bad news.

This was a balanced, business decision, but it is also an emotional one as it affects a real person.

I used the following criteria to determine whether to keep someone in the team:

1. Do they have the skills to match the position they were hired for?
2. What is their contribution and impact to the existing team?
3. Are they hungry and eager to learn?
4. Do they give excuses or get the job done?
5. How much progress have they made since they arrived?
6. Are they good listeners and communicators?

If you have the unenviable task of having to make someone redundant or terminate someone’s contract, this is my advice:

1. Be well prepared; make sure you know what you are going to say in advance
2. Be polite, measured and thank them for their contribution
3. Make sure you give an honest account of why they are not suitable, it might be hard to hear, but if you are honest it gives them something to work on in the future
4. Have a witness in the room to take minutes of the meeting
5. If you can afford it pay them for at least a month after they leave
6. Do it at the end of the day preferably just after closing hours, that way most people will have left the office after the person comes out of the meeting
7. Hold a meeting to explain the decision and re-assure the remaining team first thing the following day

If you do have to let someone go, I do not envy you it is not a nice thing to do, but hopefully these points may help you a bit.

A key part of having a lot of demands on your time is learning how to say no. You cannot help everyone who needs it, you have to prioritise and do the most important and relevant items first.

Learning how to say no and not offend people, is one of the most important skills you can learn. In fact doing it the right way can actually endear you to people.

Most people do not like saying no to other because:

• It might cause offence
• You may look risk adverse (or like you cannot do the thing you are being asked to do)
• Might disappoint someone
• It might cause confrontation
• People might not help you when you ask them

I have found that when I say no to people in a nice way, it helps if you use the following;

• Give reasons and context, if you explain why you are saying no it is easier to accept
• Empathise with their situation, make them feel that you are not rejecting them simply refusing them
• Give alternatives to help solve their situation

For example if the HR manager asks you to help with the appraisals but you have a big deadline to meet you may say:

“No I’m afraid I can’t help you today, I have a have a really big deployment today and my team are waiting for me (reason). I appreciate that someone needs to help you with the appraisals (empathise), would you like me to ask James if he can help you? (alternative).

When you have a senior management role, it is very easy to get side tracked, there are lots and lots of demands on your time and it is important to stay focused.

I was reading a post on 37 Signals (Multitasking is the fastest way to mediocrity), that really reminded me of the power of focus. We have been really busy in the office recently; preparing for a few big pitches, working on our new direct marketing material, bedding in some new processes with our new office in Australia, as well as closing off three large software projects under tight deadlines.

My head has been full all the time, my to-do lists are out of control and I have been working on at least three projects at any one time. Needless to say that I am working really hard but not actually getting anywhere. To do anything well, you need to focus, and that means do one thing at a time, and do it well.

Stop multitasking and focus on the one thing you are working on, do it to the best of your ability, only then should you move on. Multitasking is not healthy and not productive.

We have just completed a big redesign of The Communication Group Plc (http://www.thecommunicationgroup.co.uk/), a huge public relations company based near Buckingham Palace in London.

The site has been a huge success, and we are very proud of the design and workflow of the site, there is no complicated software or technology, this was an exercise in design and impact.

There corporate slogan is “The Power of Communication”, which got me thinking, improving my communication was one of the reasons for writing this blog.

I attended a session with our business coach recently and learned something very special about communicating which so far has been very effective for me…

… if you ask a question don’t fill the white space!

Up until recently this is something I have been really terrible at, if someone does not answer right away, I would jump in and start talking, and it is amazing what happens when you don’t fill the white space. People open up more, and answer more honestly. I have also tried it while pitching for business and it has made a big difference in the number of deals I have closed.

Don’t fill the white space, try it and see how it works for you.

I have come very late to writting a blog.

I have read a wide range of blogs since they first emerged, and have always wanted to write one, but have never found a topic that I felt passionate about.

Recently I have been doing a lot of hosting a lot of internal training in my office, mastermind groups and small workshops for my team. I really enjoyed teaching,  and sharing my knowledge and experience, so this is prompted me to start this blog.

I am a CTO at a boutique digital solutions agency. We work at the cutting edge with well known global brands. I totally love what I do, and am incredibly passionate about my work. So this blog will be an account of my day, problems I face, solutions I find, things I learn, and the day to day life of a CTO in London.