Canny Conversations

In this week's episode we take our final look back at some of the topics we have covered in the latest series of Canny Conversations,We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded versions in the relevant episode.We start with, where does emotional intelligence sit in your organisation? Is it valued? Does it make a difference? Then we touch on the power of coaching in the development of individuals, from new insights to new perspectives, peer learning is an important part of supporting colleagues and teams. Finally, the value of feedback from external stakeholders. Here Saf explores the process and actions Pathway takes using examples of recent reviews and inspections to develop a roadmap for improvements and ensure the organisation and its people are truly fit for purpose. 

In this week's episode we take another look back at some of the topics we have covered in the latest series of Canny Conversations, Strategic Overview, Change has Changed Pt.1, Change has Changed Pt.2 and Lean, Agile and Responsive. We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded versions.

In this week's episode we take a look back at some of the topics we have covered in the first four episodes of this series, Who What Why, What We Deliver, Core Values and 15 Skills and Traits. We have taken the important elements from these subjects and brought them down into a selection of bullet points for you to easily digest and guide you to the expanded versions in the relevant episode

In this episode Safaraz looks at, what we mean by focus and resilience and how important do we think these qualities are. There are occasions where you may have lost focus in your business life and here, he looks at ways to help you regain and remain focused. He also talks about how you would you define business resilience and can resilience result in stubbornness and failure to live in the real world.

In this episode, Safaraz is in conversation with journalist Adrian Kibbler. They look at culture in all its forms and its effects on the way business is done, both for good and bad. They also look at how ethnic culture can affect career paths and busting some common myths regarding ethnic minorities and higher education.

In this episode we once again move away from our usual format in order to focus on Saf's Canny Bites business books. We hear extracts from the introductions from three of the Canny Bites audio books, read by Saf himself, 52 Bites of Business Wisdom, Another 52 Bites of Business Wisdom and finally Attract retain and grow your team to grow your business. Remember all these titles are available from Amazon of cannybites.co.uk/buy-the-book.

In this episode Saf talks about his Beliefs, views and methodology and how they relate to not only business but life too. Looking at yourself using the mirror approach helps avoid blame and excuses and enhances accountability for your own actions; how your reaction when things go wrong impacts on the people around you, both to the good and bad, and how knowledge, in the wrong hands can be detrimental to everyone. Saf is a great believer in empowering people to become the best they can be. He talks about how and why he does this and, as a leader, how making decisions using all the advisers and mentors you have at your disposal improves the outcome.

In this episode we step away from our normal format with a session recently recorded at the National Liberal Club in London in front of a live audience. Here Safaraz speaks with journalist Adrian Kibbler about the apprenticeships and skills landscape. He explores the impact of under representation of Black and Asian minorities within the apprenticeships route and how to address this in order to increase employment along with the Pathway Group's role in driving better engagement with the community. He also outlines the argument for Government to go further with both policy and funding.

In this episode Safaraz takes a look at the value of feedback from external stakeholders. Pathway regularly gets feedback from stakeholders and quality standard frameworks such as Investors in People, Matrix Standard, Awarding Organisations and funding and regulatory bodies, which Pathway Group review and act on. Here Safaraz explores the process and actions Pathway Group takes using examples of recent reviews and inspections to develop a roadmap for improvements and ensure the organisation and its people are truly fit for purpose.

“When one person teaches two people learn” In this episode, Saf touches on the power of coaching in the development of individuals from new insights to new perspectives, peer learning is an important part of supporting colleagues and teams. Here he explores how powerful questions, the follow up questions and the role of peer support delivers stronger people, both individually and collectively.

Building trust in the workplace is essential for the success of the company. Being able to build strong relationships that you can rely on is at the core of every professional relationship. Trust is the currency and is absolutely necessary in order to establish not only your own reputation but that of your department and grow a strong network of people who will help you throughout your career.No one person is responsible for the success of a company; it's a team effort. In order to achieve results in any organisation, People rely on each other in the workplace; there is a chain of events/actions that passes from individuals/departments that need to happen. But that reliance can't exist without trust. Trust reflects your character, and colleagues will work harder for people they trust. That, in turn, helps produce above-and-beyond results.

Creating High Performance in business by Safaraz Ali My go to quote for everything about team work and therefore peer challenge and support is:“we are not a team because we work together, we are a team because we make each other better”   Each one of us has three key groups of people for leaning on for learning and supporting:Those ahead of us in a specific areaThose at the same level as usThose behind us in a specific areaWhen you get involved in peer challenging and supporting, it allows you to reflect yourself & improve your own performance Remember:When one teaches, two learnThat's why they say the best way to learn and grow yourself is to support others  Peer coaching and support process can create a powerful combination of open questions and a diverse range of perspectives on a one to one or one to many basis.The aim being to help an individual take new perspectives on a challenge and to generate new insights.The questions are the key, It's all about the questions you ask, how you ask and the follow up questions to get to the core issue and get some real reflective practice and momentum.As some suggestions and to get you into the flow, it might be useful to consider the following example questions:

In this second part of Change has Changed, Saf explores if there is a right time for change and the challenges businesses face when they have no choice but to change: the way to manage risk, manage communications and to celebrate the journey too.

In the first part of this 2-part episode, How change has changed. He discusses how it feeds into quality, opportunity, and competitiveness along with the key role of people in making change happen. The insights change brings are fundamental to success, and outlines the signs of a successful business, strong governance, financial control, a clear view on what's happening on the frontline, valuing customers as partners and moving beyond the transactional relationship. In turn there are trends that appear in weak businesses, compliance and lack of urgency, that damage growth potential.

In this episode, Saf demonstrates how the companies' mission, Changing lives through skills, along with their core values underpin their strategy. This builds on previous episodes but in itself provides a valuable insight into how a business develops a strategy for success.

In this episode Saf once again picks up on the culture and structure that make for a successful business that he began talking about in the last episode, Core Values This time he outlines the 15 skills and traits that build high performing individuals and high performing teams. So, weather you are listening to better understand how to improve yourself or whether you are a business leader looking for inspiration on how to build performance to underpin growth, there is plenty to take away from this episode.

In this episode Saf talks about The Pathway Group's core values that underpin their aspiration to change lives through skills and work. He highlights the power of authentically living the company and your own values and how these benefit everyone. From acting with intention through to building trust, The Pathway group behave in ways that are designed to empower the team, the people they support and their stakeholders and funders. This is a powerful way to build and maintain success.

This week Safaraz talks about what the Pathway Group deliver and how the Group's sustainable growth and success in delivery across the UK is underpinned by strong culture, common aims and language and well defined, well managed systems and processes.

In this first of a new series of the Canny Conversations, we look at the who, the what and the why behind Safaraz Ali and The Pathway Group. Saf tells us who he is helping, his passion, what drives him and why he has chosen this path. He outlines the lessons he's learnt along the way, how to apply them and why this is fundamental to success.

Veteran business journalist Jon Griffin joins Safaraz Ali for a journey down memory lane and a look to the future. Jon, who spent many years as Business Editor with the Birmingham Mail, reflects on changes that have seen the business landscape change almost beyond recognition.Their conversation considers how Birmingham and the West Midlands has coped with the move away from heavy engineering to a more technological and service based economy.Jon has covered many big business stories during a long career but when asked which was the biggest he has no doubt that it was the demise of Austin Rover that at one time employed 10,000 people in well paid jobs at the plant in Longbridge.The site in south Birmingham has now been transformed into a retail park and housing development.It is a story that has happened in many cases with well paid work replaced by largely poorly remunerated and insecure jobs.With the exception of niche market car maker Morgan in Malvern, there are now no British owned car makers in the region. Jaguar Land Rover is a major employer but will they stay in the West Midlands?Safaraz talks about the growth in financial services with some big financial institutions like HSBC and Morgan Stanley coming to Birmingham.The two men consider if this is the way forward and whether manufacturing in and around Birmingham will become something people will only read about in history books?But perhaps all is not gloom and doom and a new style high technology manufacturing will come to replace what has gone before, providing skilled work for people from the area.Jon talks about his work now as a business journalist writing for a number of magazines and specialist publicatio‘An analogue mind in a digital world'Journalist Jon Griffin, who was for many years Business Editor on the Birmingham Mail, talks with Saf about how his profession has changed. At the end of his newspaper career Jon described himself as someone with ‘an analogue mind in a digital world.'The conversation talks about the decline of print journalism and the expansion of online and digital.Saf and Jon consider the growth of the ‘citizen journalist' and to what extent that has left people without the professional journalism that holds the establishment to account.Jon is a passionate believer that democracy needs high quality journalism and that without it we all suffer.The two men talk about ‘fake news,' the consequence of the growth of social media and platforms like Facebook and Twitter.It is a world in which people can write as they like without any concern for accuracy or balance, in which issues like the laws of libel do not apply.Jon describes this unregulated media environment as ‘the wild west.' The two men consider how things can be made better and if in order to do this platforms need to be made responsible for content in the same way that a traditional newspaper editor is.Safaraz admits that he is a regular user of social media and believes it has a role although there is a need to be careful what you believe and do not believe.Jon looks back on his career with fondness. ‘It enabled me to meet people and go places that would otherwise have not been possible and no two days were the same.'He describes himself as a ‘dinosaur' and is sure young journalists today don't have as much fun as he did as they chase ‘clicks' whereas he tracked down big stories.      

At the time of the recording Anne-Marie Eden was chief executive of Solihull Moors as they pressed for promotion to the English Football League, the Holy grail of the game. In this conversation Saf and Anne-Marie consider the importance of engaging with the community and diversity.At the time of the recording Anne-Marie Eden was chief executive of Solihull Moors as they pressed for promotion to the English Football League, the Holy grail of the game. In this conversation Saf and Anne-Marie consider the importance of engaging with the community and diversity.Football has its roots in the community and this is where Anne-Marie Eden says Solihull Moors keeps its feet firmly planted.Likewise, Saf's businesses are part of the community with engagement a major commitment.They begin a fascinating conversation defining what they mean by community and agree that it can be a multiplicity of things including gender, heritage, profession, sporting interests and much more.Solihull Moors was born from the bringing together of two rival football teams, Solihull Borough and Moor Green. Anne-Marie talks about how bringing these two communities together, especially in a sport that can be so tribal, has been achieved. Imagine creating a community if merging Manchester United and Liverpool or Glasgow Rangers with Celtic.Saf shares his experiences of helping to create unity from individuals and groups that may come from a different place and view of life.Anne-Marie explains why Solihull Moors is about much more than just success on the field and how ‘community' is at the heart of the club.There is a discussion about the importance of diversity and how having people from different backgrounds can add to a business and a football club.They talk about the dangers of stereotyping, such as assuming black people will be good at sport, as well as inclusivity and allowing people of all abilities to have a chance.But how to bring about diversity? Saf and Anne-Marie talk about positive action and the role of targets and why they are different to quotas.Inevitably, the conversation touches on the growth of women's football.    

Anne-Marie Eden is one of a small but growing band of female chief executives in football. She is CEO at Solihull Moors, who at the time of the recording were playing in the National League – one step below the English football league. They discuss the business of football and shares lessons from their professional experiences.In this conversation Anne-Marie and Saf discuss the challenges of running businesses in a high profile environment.They share thoughts about the importance of leadership and the challenges of managing people where, very often, there is no shortage of ego.This leads to a conversation about building strong teams and how this is a balance in which the best individuals may not necessarily be the best for the team.At the time that the recording was made the Solihull Moors were pressing for promotion from the National League into the English Football League. This is a big step and hugely exciting but Saf and Lynne share their thoughts about the challenges and opportunities of scaling up a business.Saf talks about his involvement with football as one of the leadership team in a ‘grass roots' academy that gets young people into the game.Anne-Marie explains how she got involved in football through her work with a sponsor of ‘the Moors' and talks about her previous work in recruitment and how this helps in her current role.She admits that she was not a ‘fan' of Solihull Moors before getting the job but Anne-Marie and Saf agree that this may not always be important as a ‘fan' might be too likely to make decisions driven by emotion rather than business.They talk about how bringing people into a business from a different sector can help bring a broader perspective and stop a tendency to do things in a certain way because they have always been done that way.

Vince Essex, who has more than 25 years' experience of aviation, has his feet firmly on the ground when he joins Safaraz for a conversation about the past present and future of flying. They consider how the sector is recovering after having been one of the most badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Connectivity is hugely important for economic prosperity and business.Safaraz is joined by Vince Essex, who has more than 25 years' experience in the aviation sector, to talk about this and how the world of flying has changed.Both agree that air travel has a big part to play in economic prosperity although Safaraz says that most of his flying is for leisure rather than business.Vince and Safaraz consider the challenge for Birmingham that sits mid-way between London and Manchester and struggles to attract the passenger numbers that its facilities and excellent transport links deserve.They also talk about working in aviation and the many and varied opportunities, with Safaraz providing thoughts about how apprenticeships can put people on the runway to a career in the sector.Vince talks about some of the major changes and shares his thoughts on why very large aircraft like the Airbus A380 are having to give way to smaller and more energy efficient airplanes.With the environment and climate change so high on the global agenda, Vince and Safaraz discuss how aviation can and is responding to the need to be cleaner.As someone who flies infrequently Saf says that he only takes to the skies when a reasonable alternative is not available so does not feel guilt.Vince says that aviation is doing what it can to be less polluting but accepts that there can be no quick fix and it will take time for step changes to engine technology to come about.They also discuss how changing habits as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic will affect aviation and agree that the jury remains out on if the use of zoom and other similar platforms will reduce the demand for business travel.But they agree that face-to-face is always going to be a big part of doing business. 

Is resilience an essential prerequisite for anyone looking to go into business? This is the basis of the conversation between Safaraz and his guest, aviation professional Vince Essex. They talk about the many challenges that they have faced and how they have come through. The importance of resilience and being able to cope with adversity is at the heart of a conversation that is in places highly emotional and thought provoking.Vince talks openly about the challenges that he has faced in an sector that has always been highly volatile. He tells Saf about how his business fell off a cliff with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic that led to widespread lay-offs in the aviation and travel sectors.Safaraz shares some of his story about adversity in business and both men talk about the loneliness that can come with being an entrepreneur and how they cope with those dark moments, in the early hours of the morning, when they can wake wracked with worry.The message that comes over is that the thing that drives them through the dark times is a passion for what they do and an optimistic outlook.Almost inevitably the conversation deals with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the adequacy or otherwise of the Government support measures.Vince tells his own story of the collapse of air travel that for him was compounded by the need to shield because he is a kidney transplant recipient. At one stage early in the pandemic he felt forced to come out of isolation for a meeting despite being highly vulnerable and having a young family.Safaraz, unlike Vince, had a significant career in the corporate world before striking out on his own. He talks about what brought him to that decision and how it has worked out.Both admit to the attraction of a secure job with decent pay, holiday and sick pay and a good pension at the end of it. But they come to the conclusion that for all its problems being entrepreneurs has brought them a ‘freedom' and feeling of achievement that they do not think more ‘conventional employment' would have provided.

 Safaraz Ali, an employer with hundreds of staff is joined by journalist and trade unionist Tony Adams. They consider how the balance of power in the workplace has changed. Time was when unions with large numbers of members held huge power and in the minds of many too much. But now the pendulum has swung the other way with many people living with insecure jobs on short term and in some cases zero hours contracts with trade unions a shadow of what they were. Saf and Tony consider the modern landscape and what has gone before.If some were to be believed there are no longer workers and bosses as everyone is now a colleague. The days when the bosses often occupied a different floor with their private offices, Personal Assistants or Secretaries and took lunch in their own dining room are the stuff of history. At one time it seemed that aspects of Government were determined over beer and sandwiches between Ministers and Trade Union leaders. Not so anymore.But have things really changed that much and behind the veneer of the ‘democratised' workplace? Saf and Tony wonder if ‘us and them' is in a different way as real as it always has been but with the balance of power now firmly with the bosses. The power of trade unions has been hugely diminished and in so many places secure and well-paid jobs have been replaced by insecurity with large numbers of people living day-to-day on short term or even zero hours contracts.For some the new world is welcome and provides for greater flexibility but this is not the case for others who look back with envy at their parents and grandparents who may well have had a job for life, something that has almost entirely disappeared from the world of work.

Safaraz Ali is joined by journalist and broadcaster Tony Adams to discuss the power of the spoken word and in particular the power of radio. Saf talks about his eclectic tastes in radio and his enthusiasm for grass roots community stations. They talk about how radio has changed and what the future looks like. A topic they touch upon is the huge amount of choice now available to listeners but debate if this is at the expense of quality. Broadcaster and journalist Tony Adams joins Saf to talk about the spoken word and in particular radio. They consider how the radio landscape has changed over a lifetime. People who do not consider themselves to be very old will remember a time when listening to the ‘wireless' involved a choice between the BBC Light Programme (now Radio 2), the Third Programme (Now Radio 3) and the Home Service (Radio 4) or the Pirate stations. Perhaps the golden age for radio were the war years before the arrival of television for the masses. TV had started in a small way before World War Two but really took off in the 1950s.The extension of programming started with the introduction of BBC Local Radio stations and has grown ‘like topsy' in the subsequent decades.They share their own relationship with radio and Saf reveals the eclectic mix of programmes that he has listened to over the years. He enthuses about the power and value of local community radio and how it engages with the people it serves in a way that is not possible for national stations.They have plenty to say about the huge choice now available to radio listeners and the benefits of the platform highlighting its intimacy and accessibility. But they also debate if this is at the cost of quality and how radio needs to make sure that it does not, especially at local level, allow itself to be a platform for ‘a regular few' promoting their own agenda and the importance of making listeners appreciate the difference between news and opinion.Radio stations are regulated, and this is discussed along with the question as to if more needs to be done. This includes the important question of editorial independence and the need to ensure advertisers do not impair editorial integrity.

There is no shortage of business start-ups. But many unfortunately fail. Ninder Johal and Safaraz Ali have both successfully run and grown businesses. They talk about why many do not get beyond the nursery slopes and what qualities are needed to scale up. They discuss the support that is available and the role of consultants, advisers and non-executive directors in successfully moving to the next level. Ninder Johal started his business career in music, he is founder of the Signature awards that celebrates the best in business in the English West Midlands and is publisher of the Business Influencer magazine. He has been a colleague and friend of Safaraz Ali for many years and joins Saf to talk about a significant barrier for many businesses.There are many start-ups, but a large proportion will fail and a lot struggle to grow to the next level. It is something of which Saf and Ninder have experience.Both believe that a crucial first step is to know why a business wants to grow and to recognise that it is not for everyone. If a small business is going well, delivering the lifestyle the owner wants and makes them happy then there is nothing to say that they have to grow.Saf believes that understanding strengths and weaknesses and having processes in place are essential for growth. He says that scaling a business is often less exciting than founding one. For Ninder, understanding numbers is vital as is ‘sticking with plan A before moving on to plans B, C and D.' He also believes that a business owner looking to grow also should understand the difference between what advisers, consultants and non-executive directors offer.An unavoidable part of growing is letting go and giving more control to others. Ninder and Saf acknowledge that this can be a very emotionally difficult thing to do. However, it is essential and Ninder stresses the emotional aspect with the story of the football club that will not appoint supporters to senior roles because of the importance of decision-making being driven by rational thinking not emotion.The podcasts provides a guide to deciding if to go for growth and then how to go about it.

Ninder Johal, who joins Saf as his guest talks about the business landscape in the English Midlands. Both men have an Asian heritage, but they share their passion for Birmingham and the surrounding area that is now home. They address some telling questions such as whether Birmingham is the UK's second city by name only and what can be done to raise its profile across the globe. They discuss the journey from a past based on heavy engineering to the present and look to the future Safaraz Ali is joined by a long-time colleague and friend Ninder Johal as they discuss the state of business in the English Midlands, the place that they both call home.Ninder began his business career in the music industry. He is now an adviser, non-executive director, founder of the Signature awards that celebrate the best in business, as well as publisher of the Business Influencer magazine.Safaraz has described Ninder as a guru and mentor. They share their experiences of a life in business and how the place where they live had to change and reinvent itself, moving from heavy engineering based upon automotive to high technology and services. The discussion includes an analysis of where things have been done well and less well.Saf and Ninder discuss concerns about why they believe the education system is letting young people and businesses down. They agree that making sure there is a supply of talent is crucial and Saf shares his passion for apprenticeships and the role that earning as you learn has to play in ensuring a world class workforce.The two men discuss global Britain and its place in the world. Ninder believes that it is many years before we can know if Brexit has been good or not.Both men come from an Asian heritage, but they share a passion and love of the place that they call home. Saf and Ninder believe that Birmingham is a great city with much to offer the world and have no truck with the suggestion that it is the UK's second city in name only.They foresee a bright future providing that there is a continual willingness to learn and adapt, a refusal to sit back on laurels and the processes to make sure a talented and skilled workforce is available.

 In a special hour-long conversation Saf meets acclaimed war reporter Lynne O'Donnell, who talks about her experiences working in some of the world's biggest trouble spots including Afghanistan and Iraq. She shares her fears of the knock-on impact of the war in Ukraine and the conversation explores leadership, diversity and education. In a special hour-long conversation, Saf meets acclaimed war reporter Lynne O'Donnell who talks about her experiences working in some of the world's biggest trouble spots including Afghanistan and Iraq. She shares her fears on the knock-on impact of the war in Ukraine and the conversation touches on leadership, diversity and education.Born in Australia, Lynne spent a decade working in China before going on to cover the first war in Iraq and then the conflict in Afghanistan from 9/11 to the final hours before the western forces pulled out.As well as being an award winning journalist and author of the widely acclaimed ‘High tea in Mosul,' the story of two English women who married Iraq men and lived in that troubled land through the tyranny of Sadam Hussain, Lynne holds a MA in War Studies from the Kings College, London, where she is visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.In 2011 Lynne won the Amnesty International Human Rights Press Award for her series of articles about Afghanistan women and in 2017 became a fellow of the Dart Centre at the Colombia Journalism School.She has studied all over the world including in China and Japan.Lynne speaks Chinese and Japanese as well as conversational French and Turkish.In a wide ranging conversation, Saf talks to Lynne about her life in journalism and how ‘a nice girl from sunny Melbourne came to be dogging bullets and bombs in some of the world's darkest places.'She talks about how she copes with ‘seeing things people never should have to see' and why fear is an important part of keeping safe: ‘fear is a sign of intelligent life.'The role of women and girls in Afghanistan is discussed as is the importance of education. Lynne explains why she does not believe the western involvement in Afghanistan was neither a waste of time or money.

Most businesses hold personal data and a lot of it. This includes data about employees, contractors and customers. Keeping this safe is a must as Safaraz Ali discusses with his guest Chris Woods from the CyberQ group. The cost of not doing so can be devastating both financially and reputationally. In this podcast Saf and Chris look at Cybercrime from the perspective of businesses and larger organisations. There are many reasons for cybercrime and it can take on different forms.These can range from organised crime through to discounted employees or former employees looking for revenge. Chris Woods from the CyberQ Group has seen them all. Safaraz Ali whose business interests involve holding large amounts of personal data knows how important security is and tries to build it into the culture of his staff.Chris reminds listeners that the regulator can fine a business up to five per cent of annual turnover for a data breach. But whilst this is enough to bring executives out in a cold sweat, the reputational damage can be even greater and, in some cases, not only game changing but the end game for businesses that fall foul.Saf talks about how, like many businesses, cyber security as part of the IT budget has grown in a bid to beat the crooks. CyberQ operates in the UK, USA and Asia so Chris shares his experiences as to how businesses in different parts of the world view cybercrime. He tells of how in some cases the risk and seriousness of being a victim is too often not understood until too late. The idea that prevention is better than cure is very applicable to internet security. Stress testing and seeing how secure a customers' systems are is a big part of what CyberQ does.As a chief executive and company chairman, Saf wants his businesses to be safe but also able to operate efficiently with the minimum of inconvenience to staff, suppliers and customers. They talk about getting the balance right. Staff can often be the weakest link in a security protocol, sometimes because they are malicious but often through carelessness or because they have not been given proper training. The podcasts provide important guidance for businesses from start-ups to multinationals.

Safraz Ali is joined by Chris Woods from the CyberQ Group to talk about keeping safe in the digital world. This is a must listen for tips about how to avoid being another victim of cybercrime. The conversation is full of practical tips that lift the lid on the myth that cyber criminals are always fiendishly clever crooks with brains the size of Jupiter operating from China or Russia. They are more likely to be chancers that prey on human vulnerability and there are some basic steps to keep them out as Chris shares with Saf. Cybercrime is big with hundreds of thousands of cases in the UK each year and that is those that are reported, many are not.Safaraz Ali is joined by Chris Woods from CyberQ group to provide a not to be missed guide on the best ways of keeping safe.They lift the lid on this digital criminality and explode the myth that cyber criminals are all fiendishly clever people with brains the size of Jupiter. There is no one size fits all for a cyber crook and in many cases, they are chancers who take advantage of human vulnerability. Saf shares his experience of having been a victim and tells of not just the inconvenience but the stress that also follows. The podcast provides reasons to hope because in many cases it is possible to protect against becoming a victim, often by following some basic rules and knowing what the reg flags are to recognise and keep away from danger. An important message is to be careful with social media because information can be used by crooks to build a profile that can then be used to lull someone into a false sense of security and gain access.Digital technology allows people to operate on the move and whilst this can bring many benefits it also involves risks, especially when away from the home or office and using public networks. Cybercrime is on the increase, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon but this broadcast can help to stay one step ahead and avoid the misery that comes with being hacked and having vital data compromised.

Safaraz Ali has been bringing people together for two decades with different networking initiatives. He is joined by Dr Richard Fallon, a scientist by training but now running a business that brings people together. He has set up and leads the technology supply chain that supports the technology sector in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Saf and Richard talk about networks, both formal and informal. They share their own experiences and tips about how to engage. The message from both of them is that good networks are about much more than people selling to each other. A conversation about how to bring people together has Safaraz Ali and his guest Dr Richard Fallon sharing their experiences of networking. Many years ago, Safaraz learned that ‘one size does not fit all' and that is why he has set up a number of different groups to meet different needs. He talks about the thinking behind ‘Coffee and Natter' and ‘Chutney and Chat.'Richard is a scientist by training with a PhD in photonics. He has moved into marketing, especially in the technology sector and heads the Birmingham Supply Chain initiative.For both Saf and Richard, establishing trust is vital to every network and so is an understanding of concepts like USP. Richard tells the story about how an accountancy firm told him that there USP was doing a good job and being nice people. He points out that given that being incompetent and unpleasant are not characteristics most people want in an accountant, this is hardly a USP.Saf and Richard consider both formal networks such as BNI and informal networks like a golf club. They agree that there is a place for both. The conversation also turns to how technology is changing networking with an increasing use of platforms like zoom, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.It might be easy to think that networking is a recent invention, but it has been happening since the dawn of time. People meeting each other, finding more about each other and building a relationship based on trust are the foundations of every good network.Richard and Saf also stress the value of networks not just in selling products and services but sharing experience, mutual learning and in some cases just ‘providing a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on.' 

Dr Richard Fallon has a PhD in photonics so who better to join Saf to throw light on technology? They talk about the transition of Birmingham and the West Midlands from one built upon traditional heavy engineering to innovative enterprises based upon the use of technology. He tells Saf that great things are happening in the region and the two men look into the future and what further changes can be expected in the coming years. Safaraz talks about how he is increasingly using technology in his businesses to increase efficiency and effectiveness.  The West Midlands is a region transformed with technology driving much of that change.Safaraz Ali is joined by Dr Richard Fallon to review the state of play in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Dr Fallon, who has a PhD in photonics, shines a light on some of the good things that are happening in the region.When Saf's father came to Birmingham from Pakistan the economy was based upon traditional heavy engineering and automotive. In a changing world the region has had to reinvent itself and Richard and Saf share their views on how successful this has been.Safaraz talks of how technology is being used to make his businesses more efficient and effective whilst Richard says that technology is increasingly being used to undertake more mundane activities leaving people with more time to be inventive and creative.Richard tells how an ‘interest in how things work' was the driver behind his decision to follow a scientific career albeit through the traditional university route. Safaraz, a champion of apprenticeships, sets out the opportunities for people to get into science and technology through the apprentice route. They agree that there is a huge need for skilled workers but also share a view that the definition of ‘skills' is too narrow and includes work like HGV driving. Dr Fallon discusses how there are many different skills like good communications and people management that are transferable across sectors.They conclude that technology is important but not for its own sake but as an engine of economic prosperity, job creation and wellbeing.Technology and the Covid pandemic forms part of the conversation with a shared view that despite the awful consequences of the virus, it has been an accelerator with more people now tech savvy than before the arrival of the coronavirus in early 2020.

 Safaraz Ali is in conversation with Paul Cadman, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University, on the topic of ‘Giving Back and the importance of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.' Paul is recognised for his charitable fund raising for many good causes including St Basil's that works with homeless young people and ‘Acorns' that runs children's hospices across the West Midlands, supporting children with life limiting illnesses and their families, to name but two. Safaraz believes it is vital for businesses to give back to local communities and talks about how he and his companies do this. Giving back is something that businesses have being doing for decades with companies like Cadbury, a classic example in BirminghamFor this conversation about the importance of ‘Corporate Social responsibility' Saf is joined by Paul Cadman. Paul is known for his fund raising for many good causes including St Basil's that works with homeless young people and ‘Acorns' that runs children's hospices across the West Midlands, supporting children with life limiting illnesses and their families, to name but two.He is also Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University and does a lot of work to bring charity and business together. He makes the point that a successful relationship between a charity and a business will always be a ‘two-way street' with both sides gaining.Paul and Saf talk about the huge problem in deciding which of the many good causes to support. They consider some of the criteria that businesses should look at when deciding which good causes to help.Both men also challenge the view that charities can at times let Government ‘off the hook' by providing support that it can be argued is the responsibility of the state.Saf and Paul share their own experiences of how supporting charities can provide valuable exposure for business and also give staff an opportunity to gain experience.With Paul and Saf both coming from humble beginnings in the less well-off parts of Birmingham, they share a view of the importance of people who can, giving something back. They talk about the value of supporting good causes at grass roots as well as international charities and make the point that giving does not always have to be about just money but can include knowledge, time and effort. The message is that everyone can give something and in giving they will receive more than they might expect.

 | Safaraz Ali and Professor Paul Cadman who is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University are in conversation about awards. They share their experience of Award programmes and discuss the role that they play in encouraging business and celebrating success.  With many years of experience as an award winner, judge and event's organiser, Saf has seen awards from all angles, He was head judge at the Birmingham Awards and a judge of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards amongst others.  As a judge, Safaraz talks about the kind of things needed of a winner and lifts the lid on the huge amount of work that goes into organising a successful event.  

The second series of the Canny Conversations Podcast closes with Safaraz retracing his steps and reflecting upon the many topics and issues that have been covered.It will remind listeners to be clear what they mean by best and the challenges of scaling a business.People are central to success and the series has looked at behaviours and why some people are more in need of validation than others.Then there is the desire for perfection and how this can be a curse that holds back progress.Networking is such a huge topic that two episodes are given to examining this and providing pointers.Improving performance is often not about the ‘big idea' but utilising the power of marginal gains and this is discussed at length with examples.There is no apology for revisiting and taking a fresh look at recruitment including some ideas from ‘left field' as to how bias can be eliminated from the process.The importance of making good decisions and taking time is also covered and in the last but one episode there is a debate about what the most important features of giving a business a solid foundation should be.Safaraz also deals with the pressures of business life and how it is important to try to make things a little ‘less crazy' as well as a discussion of the issues of physical and mental health.All of these form part and parcel of the reflective process that will also include dealing with the comments and observations of listeners.Safaraz has looked at business from many angles, the trials and also the rewards. He believes the entrepreneurial spirit still burns strong as is his determination to continue to make a difference.It is not for nothing that he has labelled himself ‘the MAD' (make a difference) Social Entrepreneur. Hopefully, this series will have helped those considering following him and also those already on their way.

Building solid foundations The basis of a strong business, like any strong structure, is making sure the foundations are solid. This does not only mean sound finances, a business plan and marketing strategy to support a great product or service. It means strong relationships and partnerships with employees, suppliers, and all stakeholders.

The Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali where he shares his insights and experiences on subjects such as social entrepreneurship, having a growth mindset and getting the best out of people. Safaraz Ali is also the author of Canny Bites books, the latest being: Attract, Retain and Grow your people to grow your business. Here he breaks down what you need to do to get the right people, keep and engage them, develop, and build your team to create a high-performance culture for sustainable business growth.  Journalist Adrian Kibbler speaks to Safaraz and after the feedback & success of series 1, we are now into our second series. Chasing perfection is the same as chasing rainbows, whereas often ‘good enough is good enough. It could be said that anyone who goes into business must be a bit crazy. Maybe, but this should not be the default position. No business is risk free, but risk needs to me calculated and minimisedThese are just some of the things that social entrepreneur and author Safaraz (Saf) Ali shares in the second series of conversations with journalist Adrian Kibbler.The topics covered in these conversations include: How to Scale? Imperfect Perfection, Lets talk recruitment and Make Haste Slowly amongst others. For Saf the Canny Conversation podcast is a logical next step, taking his insights, and experiences and packaging it in audio bites of business wisdom with context and background.These are not a series of lectures on business theory but practical and simplified advice with insights from someone who has worked at senior levels in the private and public sectors, regarded 

We must have the ability to make clear and timely decisions. The basis of good decision making comes from good information and making the best decision usually takes time. Some decisions can be clear, and others need observation and thought in order to make the right decision. By following the golden rules and understanding data, we can use time to our advantage.

Recruitment is an elimination process & subjective. It is all about people and we need to give recruitment a new angle. We can eliminate unconscious bias. Once we understand what to look for in the right people, businesses will find it easier for people to fit into their high-performance culture.

When we think of achievements, we often think of the biggest goals gained, a gold medal, running a marathon, or securing a deal, but how do we get there? Progress is usually thought of when we achieve big things, but it often comes from the small improvements through the habits which are applied consistently. Sir David Brailsford is a prime example of making 1% improvements in the UK Cycling Team every day. When we focus on the small improvements and everyday habits to get us there, we will eventually get to the end goal.

There are many gains to had when it comes to networking, but as with anything- these can only be attained through time and the right kind of execution and by popular demand this is what we discuss in this podcast. 

Networking has been with us forever but now there is so much of it and much little more than dating with a group of people simply trying to sell to each other. But a strong network is about much more, strong relationships built upon trust 

Chasing perfection is the same as chasing rainbows, whereas often ‘good enough is good enough.' A wise person seeks for perfection but only a fool expects to find it. Chasing the unobtainable can mean missed opportunities and allow the competition to get ahead of you.  

Why some people always seem to be craving the credit and being top of the tree. It may be about insecurity rather than simply showing off. Getting the best from people is about praise, encouragement and some internal competition can also drive performance

When businesses scale, they need to become less dependent upon individuals and learn to use technology, processes, and system. Having ‘A' players is great but it's not enough if the business is to move to the next level because people unlike systems cannot be cloned.

What does best look like and how do we know if we are really doing our best? How to get the best out of people and make them and the business even better so that both can grow and prosper personally and professionally.

A chance to revisit some of the key themes such as the importance of people, effective leadership, recruiting the right people and getting the best from them and for them. And finally, why mindset is so important and why it really does ‘all start with you.'

It's not only businesses and organisations that have a brand but people as well. But it is crucial to understand what brand is and what it is not. It is not a logo but a set of values and behaviours that are lived out every day.

A Chinese bamboo tree spends six years underground but sprouting to the height of a multi-story building in months. Why patience and perseverance are behind almost every successful business. We explore how keeping going and never stopping believing has brought its rewards to many special entrepreneurs.

Mindset is at the core of what we are and what we can achieve. But how many of us have the right mindset and is it something that can be changed.? Everyone will have set backs but with the right mind set it is not the setback but the bounce back that makes all the difference.