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Mark Donovan & Associates – News & Blog Section

Hold up the Mirror…….

Hold up the Mirror…….

As leaders, we need to ‘challenge the perception of ourselves’. When a large gap exists between how we see ourselves and how others see us, this leads to ‘leadership blind spots. This is why feedback from others is so important, it’s like a mirror that allows us to...

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Avoiding the Deferred Life Plan

Avoiding the Deferred Life Plan

Retirement as a goal or final redemption is flawed for at least one very solid reason.  It is based on the assumption that we dislike what we are doing, during the most physically capable years of our lives. This makes about as much sense as saving up sex for old...

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Beware of the Ostrich Effect !

Beware of the Ostrich Effect !

When it comes to dealing with underperformance in business many leaders act like the Ostrich. They put their head in the sand hoping the problem will go away.  But, if we avoid dealing with the underperformance problem, will it go away?  No, it will only get worse and...

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Are you landing on your moon?

Are you landing on your moon?

There has been a lot of media coverage recently about the anniversary of the first landing on the moon. When NASA launches a moon shot, there is more energy expended in the first few minutes just getting the rocket off the launch pad, then it takes to propel the...

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Have a relentless focus on key priorities!

Have a relentless focus on key priorities!

The reason most of us don’t get what we need to do done is, we lose focus. We complain about not having enough time. But, time is not a resource, time is a priority. We allow ourselves to get distracted. The most successful people have the mindset that ‘if they say...

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Avoiding the Ostrich Effect.

Avoiding the Ostrich Effect.

I once asked a CEO how many people work in your organisation. He said, “about half”. In every business, there are people who are as committed as a kamikaze pilot on their 25th mission. Too many leaders act like the ostrich when dealing with underperformance. They put...

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Stop beating yourself up!

Stop beating yourself up!

Too many of us focus on what we haven’t done, rather than what we have done. When you are beating yourself up about something. Ask yourself, if you would do the same to someone you love for the same ‘offence’. If the answer is ‘no’ and it usually is. Ask yourself, why...

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To be Smart or Not to be Smart

To be Smart or Not to be Smart

One of the biggest impulses among successful people is our overwhelming need to prove how smart we are. The need to be the smartest person in the room. This often leads to some incredibly stupid behaviour. The time we spend trying to impress others could be spent...

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    Rebecca Morgan – Manufacturing Operations Strategy / Transforming Ops & Businesses / Supply Chain / Lean Manufacturing/ International

    At a recent international consulting convention Mark was one of the featured speakers. His talk was outstanding! He was funny,challenging, informative, and a real pleasure to listen to.

    Jeffrey Scott, President of Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Trumbull, Connecticut, USA.

    Mark’s presentation at the Consulting Convention was energetic and funny, and he really got me focused on setting exciting goals over the next 12 months. He was the BEST presenter in a field of world-class speakers. 

    Stephen Wise – Dramatically Improve Traction – Toronto/Ontario Canada

    Mark’s energy and humour is riveting. Mark gave the best presentation among a field of experts.

    Barry Vaughan, Head of Finance, Highfield Healthcare

    “I found working with Mark to be insightful and hugely beneficial to me. Mark gave me the ‘keys’ to look at myself and unlock the answers that I didn’t even know I had. He achieved this through regular meetings and focused exercises that drew out the key improvement aspects that were relevant to my development”

    Sam McGuinness, CEO Dublin Simon Community

    "Mark has brought real value to my managers in the business, I would have no hesitation in recommending him to any other organisation"

    Jo Fernandez, Sales Director, Chill Insurance

    "Mark has added significant value to the Chill business over the last few years"

    Tadhg McCarthy, Senior Manager, Imperial Tobacco

    "Working with Mark really made me focus on where I can add the most value to my business, and I have already seen the significant benefits of his interventions and coaching".

    Michael Mc Carthy, Vice President Customer Care, Virgin Media

    "Highly satisfied with the work that Mark did with me and my senior team"

    Ken Donoghue, Senior Manager, Top Oil

    "Mark’s coaching style is a perfect fit for any business that wants to perform at a high level. Mark has a unique ability to understand and explain in a frank and practical manner, the barriers and challenges needed to help organisations with high performance"

    Maurice Hickey, Managing Director, Largo Foods

    “I have already seen a culture change within the business at senior management level from the work that Mark has done with us”

    Eamonn Bergin, Director, JLT Brokers

    "We have gone through many changes over the past 12 months, the work Mark has done with us has really prepared us for dealing with them. Due to his interventions myself, the senior team and the business is in a much stronger place"

    Dana Strong, CEO UPC

    "I have clearly seen the benefits in my senior team from working with you. I look forward to this work continuing into next year"

    Noel Madden, Managing Director, Kraft Foods

    "Working with you this year has exceeded my expectations in every way. Can already see the significant business benefits to Cadbury’s"

    Eamonn Bergin, Managing Director, FBD Brokers

    "We have gone through many changes over the past 12 months, the work Mark has done with us has really prepared us for dealing with them. Due to his interventions myself, the senior team and the business is in a much stronger place"

    Gary Brady, Managing Director, Thorntons Recycling

    "Mark used his excellent consulting skills to help us create a new agenda that will drive significantly higher levels of performance for the business"

    Mary Mc Sweeney, Senior Human Resources, Dublin City Council

    "A key reason for the success of this project was the diverse skills that you brought into the process. This makes you unique compared to other consultants in the market"

    Conor Mc Carthy, Business Director, Baxter, Ireland

    "Mark has provided group training and individual coaching to directors, managers and staff members of Baxter Healthcare throughout the past four years. The organisation and the individuals, myself included, have certainly reaped the benefits.  His unique style is popular and effective and through his guidance our management practices have improved, particularly our approach to individual performance management"

    Ian Thornton, Managing Director, Aon Consulting

    "Mark was a key catalyst in positioning the team for the changes and challenges ahead within our business. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mark to any other company looking to raise the performance of their staff and organisation"

    Garry McCabe, Human Resource Director, Kuehne + Nagel, Ireland

    "I have used Mark Donovan for Management Development interventions since 2003 with two different companies in diverse industries.  On every occasion we have received excellence in delivery and outcome. I would consider Mark Donovan to be our Management Development partner and during our relationship our development portfolio has grown along with our expectations on delivery. All the while Mark has continued to reach standards beyond our initial objectives. Recent programmes have realised return on investments of multiples of costs"

    Paul McGarry, Director, Aon Consulting

    "Mark brought a new perspective and his interventions added real value to me, my team and the business"

    Paul Fisher, Factory Manager, Largo Foods

    "Highly satisfied, I would have no hesitation in recommending Mark to other organisations. It has motivated me to empower my colleagues / reports into achieving consistently higher standards of performance"