Strategy can be a scary word for a small business. However, having a clear strategy for the direction of your business can help you make clear decisions about where you want your business to be.

Many business owners only start to think about the true value of their business as they approach retirement and begin to explore the possibilities of selling their company. But what they tend to find out is that the things that add value to the business are the very things that help grow a business successfully.

When I first went self-employed, some eight and a half years ago now, one of the pitfalls I hadn’t planned for was how to make effective decisions.

One of the biggest challenges in today’s world is the lack of accountability. We see world leaders not being held accountable on issues of equality and diversity or climate change, we see celebrities and politicians acting as though they are above the law and it has an impact.

Today in the UK we need about 2.5 planets to provide the resources for our consumption and absorb our waste annually. By resolving to be a better business; reducing negative impacts on and generating positive impacts for your key stakeholders you have an opportunity to be a force for good.