interview
PROFESSIONAL
ADVICE WITH
A DIFFERENCE
Ever wondered what a consultant does? We spoke to
Bill Grieve, a different kind of ‘consultant’, about his
role and experiences in the Middle East. Bill’s piercing
eyes can be intimidating, no doubt stemming from his
background as an experienced former Special Forces
officer with unique skills that set him apart – so we
were careful what we asked!
So Bill, tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a consultant, and the principle function
of a consultant is to give good advice –
accurate, useful and up to date, in a variety
of circumstances.
Advice is based not only on logic and fact
but situational reality – and sometimes I also
take appropriate actions where needed for
the client.
The type of advice I give is often called
upon by leading CEOs, business heads and
industry leaders who find themselves
facing uncertainties, difficulties and
demanding expansion.
Are you a specialist consultant or a jack
of all trades?
I have experience in a lot of diverse fields
and a range of skills developed over a
lifetime that often impress my friends, amaze
my enemies and shake opposition. Passion
brings its own skills and experience. Observe
a young person with a digital game, if they
are passionate, they quickly develop skills
and experience and often become masters
at the game rapidly through dedication and
focus – just so with a good consultant.
How do you view business in the
Middle East?
We have a great range of mature and
developing businesses in the region,
however many are seen as easy pickings
for criminals and fraudsters as well as CSL
managers and employees (CSL stands for
Cheating, Stealing and Lying).
What also negatively impacts on
businesses is the FFF management system
– Family, Friends and Fools – often found as
a consolidated group running what might be
46 March 2020
very good companies into the ground, taking
every opportunity for personal enrichment
and leaving behind chaos, confusion,
friction and poor productivity in their wake.
Who do you work for?
I am still licensed by the New Zealand
Government’s Ministry of Justice in a range
of special classes and I often advise and
work for large companies and groups as
well as law firms and global corporates. I
never divulge my clients’ details and most
of the time even my close associates don’t
know who I am working for. In this business
you are only as good as your last job.
Can you give us an example of the
consultancy work you do?
Anything from routine in-house corporate
work to specialist assignments and
tasks. Generally I advise my clients on
the most appropriate course of action to
take for resolving problems, sometimes
under difficult and tense circumstances,
to achieve the best possible outcome in
line with their expectations and, where
necessary, I will get involved myself to
ensure a positive executive outcome.
Routine work can be standard strategy,
change management, new management
insertion, system/process analysis,
performance enhancement, talent bridging,
interim management and productivity or
process measurement and development.
No two days are the same and situations
often unfold at high speed necessitating
agility, expertise and rapid decision
making – and sometimes very practical,
pragmatic solutions.
On top of normal consulting, I have
carried out planned escorting of senior
business figures into potentially dangerous
environments, accompanied VIP children
and families travelling, carried confidential
documents and valuables, terminated
potentially violent and threatening senior
executives, broken single-nationality mafias
and crime syndicates, carried out scientific
large-scale downsizing in big companies
and attended high-level meetings as a
minute taker.
All in a day’s work!
Any last words?
The greatest wrongdoings in a company or
organisation are disloyalty and dishonesty –
both are unforgivable.
Lead, follow or get out of the way! People
are either part of the problem or part of the
solution – if they are a part of the problem…
it’s going to be a rough ride if they are on my
radar, I don’t suffer fools lightly.
www.bahrainthismonth.com