It is June and we started it with a bang enjoying the Platinum Jubilee. I am a monarchist, so I have enjoyed it all both at a national level and in my local neighbourhood. It has been wonderful to see communities coming together again after tough times and just having fun.

One of the reasons I support and admire the Queen is that I have never known anything different to her amazing consistency. My mother was born in 1917 so she had royal stories of other antics. She lived with me for a while when she was an old lady and was always admiring of Her Majesty as she captivated people and smiles despite being on her feet much of the time.

I am a fan of the institution and would loathe a president, especially as I write this wondering if the Conservative party will decide to sort itself out. However, I am also a huge fan of how Queen Elizabeth runs her Firm. I have no doubt this started as a double act with the Duke of Edinburgh and that they were a powerful force once they had agreed their strategy. As I reflect on the weekend these are the things that spring out to me:

A long-term strategy – why are we here and what we will do (three generations ahead).
A completely consistent delivery plan executed exquisitely.
A remarkably strong branding
To see the big picture but also absorb the detail of the red boxes and keep on top of a heavy workload.
To deal elegantly with everyone even with unpleasant people (and no one knows who falls into that category).
To have planned management succession for monarchs (which is a given) but to build a support network for each of them that is flexible as the landscape changes.

Training of all the key players, whether it is Prince Louis who obviously takes instruction about when to bow at Trooping of the Colour and certainly knows all the words of God Save the Queen; or whether it is the Prince of Wales working huge crowds; or the Duke of Cambridge discussing in front of thousands how we save the planet.
Everyone reflects the party line and plays their part.
There is fantastic visual, verbal, and non-verbal communication with all of us subjects.
They have great visual aids like the golden coach, but the Queen knows she is her best visual aid and uses colour. Recently we have seen all the royal ladies co-ordinate, and all this is done with an amazing naturalness and a massive sense of fun. How many 96-year-olds have tea with Paddington and have such incredible timing?

So, thank you Ma’am for seventy years of service and a wonderful example to the rest of us. If we run our firms with a fraction of your skill we will do well. Enjoy your memories of the four days and the pleasure they have given.

And may you, my reader, also enjoy your memories of the Jubilee days. If you want to discuss what it has taught you about your firm then please give me a call and we can chat.

– Liz