My Working Day – Stephen Wheatley – Co-Founder of HearAngel

As the leader of a company, you are there to set an example, to lead and inspire a team of individuals to achieve a series of business goals. But, how do these business leaders go about their daily routine?

Business Leader spoke to Stephen Wheatley, co-founder of HearAngel, about his working day.

What time do you usually wake up?

I am usually at home in London on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, so I wake at 07.00. On Wednesday and Friday it’s 06.15 to cycle in Regents Park with my club mates from the wonderful CC London.

What do you typically have for breakfast?

If I am at home I make a cooked breakfast at about 10.00 which will include bacon, scrambled eggs, rocket and avocado.

What is the rest of your morning routine before you start work?

We have home offices, so I am at my desk with a coffee about 20 minutes after waking.

What is the first thing you do at the start of your working day?

We are dealing with mobile phone handset and wireless headphone manufacturers organisations from the Far East to the West Coast USA, so I spend the first part of my day catching up with the emails and LinkedIn messages that come in over-night and responding.

How do you prioritise your day’s work?

After catching up with emails and LinkedIn I pick an important often complex task as completing them gives you satisfaction and an energy boost that helps you to get on with the next task.

I try to book external an internal phone calls so that I can be prepared for them, this saves a lot of time.

Do you plan meetings or are they a waste of time?

I find meetings with clients, partners and investors essential to building up the understanding and trust that is required to conclude a deal, so I priorities these meetings over all others.

Internal meetings can be very time consuming, especially if you include travel time, so most of our day-to-day decision making is done via conference calls, with big strategic decisions being discussed and decided at face-to-face meetings.

Do you have a working lunch or is it good to take a break?

I generally take a 30 minute break and have a light lunch

When does your working day finish?

Office days finish around 18.30 to 19.00 but once a week or so we are at investor meetings or networking events so it could be much later.

How do you prepare for the next day’s work?

Make sure I get a good night’s sleep.

Favourite piece of technology?

That is very difficult questions! I come from a long line of engineers so I appreciate a wide range of technology, I love Colnago road bikes, Ducati motorcycles, Lifeboats and too many cars to mention.

But in terms of making life easier and more fun I think I would have to choose my scooter! I can get into central London in 20 minutes and it only costs £1 to park all day.

How do you switch off?

I am married to Barbara and we have three grown up children and two fabulous grand-children, any time we can spend with them is wonderful.

I am a keen cyclist and I try to ride three times a week, the exercise is brilliant and being out with my friends in the countryside is a real tonic.

And finally I am a volunteer crew member at Tower RNLI Lifeboat Station on the Thames which means I get to do a worthwhile job helping those who find themselves in difficulty on the river, whilst working with the most amazing people. This is therapy for me as it is so totally different to my day job.

Best piece of advice you’ve received?

Learn to ask for help from others. You will be amazed just how willing people are to help you if you ask them in the right way.

Are you a CEO of a business and want to be featured on Business Leader for ‘My Working Day’? Please contact info@businessleader.co.uk.