Most business leaders start the year with clear goals and good intentions.Then momentum drops. Habits slip. Difficult conversations get avoided. And before long, it’s business as usual.In this recorded live session, we tackle two problems that quietly limit performance and value in growing businesses:1. Why motivation fades and change doesn’t stickDr Stephen Ford, Exit Partner at Melo, explores the psychology behind behaviour change, why people struggle to maintain momentum and what leaders can do differently to make progress last.2. Why leaders avoid difficult conversationsSara Cooke and Rhi Baxter from We Are Brave share practical approaches for handling disagreement, conflict and challenging conversations with more clarity and confidence, before avoidance creates bigger issues.This session is designed for business owners and leaders who want a better year, not just a busier one.If you want to turn intention into progress this year get in touch. Melo works with ambitious financial planning business owners to improve decision-making, leadership, and long-term value, whether or not an exit is imminent.Find out more at melo.co.uk or follow us on LinkedIn for more insights.

00:00 Intro
03:48 – Why we fail to stick to resolutions
10:36 – The psychological impact of not sticking to goals
12:44 – Tips to help you stick to new habits or behaviours
15:12 – How to form positive habits
17:04 – How to get back on track if you've got lost
21:36 – Why do we shy away from hard conversations?
23:24 – What are we so scared of?
24:32 – The impact of staying quiet
30:36 – Why you should schedule difficult conversations
32:00 – Changing your mind shouldn't be humiliating
35:48 – "I don't want to speak up because I'm scared of their reaction"
38:30 – How to disagree in a group setting
42:36 – What to do if you're a reflector
45:36 – The 5 point framework to have better conversations
48:40 – How to deal with someone who doesn't want to engage
50:54 – The conversations you wished you'd had last year
53:42 – Final thoughts keeping new habits on track
55:00 – You might not actually be disagreeing
56:12 – Wrap up

Music: Good Night (Lofi) by FASSounds

In this episode of Melo's Growing or Going Podcast, we unpack one of the most common and complex decisions firm owners face. Joined by Melo CEO Victoria Hicks, COO Gaynor Rigby, Ben Wright explores how adviser structure impacts growth, operations, culture and exit value.

This conversation covers:

• Why adviser structure matters more than many firms realise
• Autonomy vs alignment in self-employed and employed models
• The real cost and scalability considerations
• Culture, client experience and consistency
• How adviser structure influences business valuation and exits
• What to consider if you’re thinking about transitioning models

Both approaches can work. The key is designing intentionally, not drifting into a structure by accident.

If you’d like a confidential conversation about your firm’s structure or exit readiness, get in touch with Melo.

Like, subscribe and share with anyone wrestling with this decision.

This is a recording from the Sheffield Life & Pensions Society Annual Conference, where Melo CEO Vicki Hicks, took the stage to talk about The Efficiency Flywheel – how to strip out friction, boost capacity and build a business that runs smoother every quarter.These are some of the practical actions we've learned from working with hundreds of financial planning firms.By audience request, she also talked about what’s really happening in the M&A and exit market right now, including buyer trends, valuation shifts and what firm owners should prepare for next.If you're running, growing or preparing to sell a financial planning business, this session is packed with practical takeaways you can use immediately.If you're wanting to run a more effective business, or you're thinking about selling in the next 5 years, this one is for you.🌐 https://melo.co.uk📧 hello@melo.co.uk

00:00 Intro

00:43 The Efficiency Flywheel

22:49 Exit market update

#FinancialPlanning #IFA #BusinessEfficiency #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitPlanning #Sheffield #ProfessionalDevelopment #Melo #AdviceFirms #PracticeManagement