“Back to Business” Round-up
Cover photo credit: Trevor Adams
What a day. The "Back to Business" event, hosted by Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry, delivered on every level.
The warm welcome set the tone before anything even started, plenty of time to mingle ahead of a genuinely packed itinerary. Paul Rolfe opened proceedings as Chamber Chair, and Oriana Di Mascio, Zelda Reeves and the volunteers from Chichester College, the University of Chichester and the Chamber kept the whole day running without a hitch.
A few stand-out moments...
The morning started with my LinkedIn workshop, 'Fall In Love With LinkedIn', and the response has been brilliant, plenty of lovely comments on the day and more since. I think I've got a few converts to my cult. 😉
Thank you to everyone who came along. If I can track you down, I'll be following up over the next week or so. If you'd like a copy of the slidedeck, or want to go deeper on any of the ten tips 1:1 in a Super Sixty session, just get in touch and we'll take it from there.
The genuine highlight was Alex Polizzi, yes, THE Hotel Inspector, staying for the whole session. I got a bit starstruck and gave her a hug like we were old friends, then remembered halfway through that I don't actually know her. She took it well.
Alex's keynote was excellent, sharing her journey and learning in hospitality and in business. Her new love of LinkedIn (my interpretation) even got a mention.
A quick break, then onto the first panel, hosted by Julian Roberts with Gabriel Ludlow from The Goodwood Group, Alex Polizzi, and COLIN SMITH from Natures Way Foods. It kept coming back to the same idea: automation can be brilliant at supporting growth, but it should never come at the expense of genuine customer service, whatever the size of the business. Being more human, and looking for the moments to actually be present with people. I couldn't agree more.
In the afternoon I joined a session from FLINTLOCK, the strategic business and brand marketing consultancy (hosted by Kerry and Tasha), on how to look at what you do, and how you talk about it, through your customer's eyes. I paired up with Malaurie from Chrysalis Courses for the exercises, and we each shared a few nuggets of insight.
Rounded off the day drafting messaging with V2 Radio (hosted by Victoria and Peter), working on landing a message clearly and succinctly. Possibly the beginnings of an actual radio ad. 🤔 By that point I was running on fumes and sadly missed the final panel with Ian Moore (sorry!), but it was a full, happy day meeting so many new and familiar local business owners.
Ended it properly with a couple of cocktails at Fernleigh. Thank you to the whole Chamber team for pulling it together. Bravo!
If any of this has struck a chord and you'd like to go deeper on your own LinkedIn profile, conversations or content, one to one.
