Strategy
The benefits of outsourcing a creative project to a specialist freelancer are endless for business owners. Firstly, you don’t have to delegate the task to a staff member who might not be the most skilled person for the job. You’re also freeing up internal resources to focus on their own role. And outsourcing to a creative freelancer […]
Australia’s most innovative companies are not just innovating for their external customers, they’re also innovating for their internal ones – their staff. Refusing to be like the plumber with the leaky taps, they are turning their innovation efforts inwards. The Australian Financial Review’s 2016 Most Innovative Companies list features groundbreaking innovations ranging from: a courier service that owns […]
It’s has become much easier for business leaders to streamline their accounts and financial processes. Here are some tips and tools to get you started. With many companies struggling under the weight of inefficient processes and tightening budgets, automating the myriad of manual admin tasks that categorise accounts payable could save your company time and money. In Australia, […]
I don’t like to fail, but I know it’s all part of the process. In order to succeed, you must first learn to fail. This mantra has enabled my company to experience rapid growth. Makinex wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for a culture of innovation. We invest up to 10% of our turnover in research and development […]
In the modern business world, change happens so quickly that if you haven’t got your eyes on the game, you can be quickly thrown out of it. As a business owner, you need to evolve and shift with the times and trends, or risk getting left behind. So if you want to play a bigger […]
The Census debacle last night highlights what not to do in business. At the height of a system malfunction when millions of Australians couldn’t log on to the ABS website to complete their Census the Prime Minister tweeted how easy and important it was: ‘We filled in the census tonight online – v easy to do. […]
Looking to cut overhead costs associated with rent and boost workforce productivity? The latest workspace trend could provide the answer. Forget open-plan offices, which can result in too many distractions for employees; instead, consider hot desking. As employers increasingly embrace workplace flexibility, the expectation that employees will always work from the office has diminished and […]
Risk is an unavoidable part of business, regardless of whether you’re a startup founder or operate a successful established business. As an owner, it’s likely your job involves making risky investment decisions. To invest or not invest? That’s what it boils down to. Business is mostly conducted with the mind, rather than the heart, but […]
When business inventory reaches the end of its product lifecycle or there’s no longer a demand for it, you need to find a way to get rid of it. Seems easy enough but companies that haven’t planned stocked replenishment properly are often stuck with large quantities of excess or outdated business stock. Also known as obsolete stock, excess […]
For long-term success in business, organisations must be open to the idea of reinventing themselves in order to stay relevant in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. One of the biggest mistakes any business owner can make is to remain stagnant and resistant to change as they fear the idea of losing their original vision and authenticity. […]
With 30 June in the rear-view mirror, business owners should the take opportunity this month to re-calibrate and set some goals for the new financial year. Goal-setting can help you stay focussed on what really matters for the business, while preventing you from getting sidetracked and enabling you to achieve success. Find your inspiration It’s always […]
With all the uncertainty in the air, businesses might be forgiven for wanting to pull back a little and just keep things on a slow boil over the next year. The fallout from the British exit from the European Union is still unclear, and with political turmoil back here at home not doing anyone any […]
Spending too much time sussing out the competition can be a distraction, but when I do, the insights are often important to my SME and my direction as a leader and innovator. This information is occasionally acted upon or at a minimum, it influences my thinking, my team and my business. In a world where the focus is increasingly on collaboration rather […]
When you’re selling to businesses or to government, you will find that most deals and contracts of significant size and value are transacted through formal processes like competitive tenders. As a result, you’ll be dealing with the customer’s procurement or purchasing department. Unfortunately, this can seem impersonal and challenging. Yet it doesn’t have to be […]
Employee engagement is a key theme for many SMEs as they struggle to attract and maintain talent in the highly competitive employment market. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce report, only 13% of employees worldwide are engaged at work and in Australia only 24% of workers are engaged. Employee engagement isn’t the same […]
When you start a business, it isn’t just about what you do well that ensures your path to success, but your customers. Don’t fall into the trap of accepting any client because you’re desperate for business: if you are careful and patient at the beginning, it will pay dividends for your business and your reputation […]
Graduates are unable to find jobs that make use of their qualifications but employers are struggling to find the right talent. Solutions to this mismatch, including a shift away from the ‘disciplinary silo’ mindset, were discussed at a recent panel event hosted by Indeed, the world’s largest job site. The panel, ‘Tapping into Australia’s high potential workforce’, was held at […]
Giving to charity is generally done without an expectation of financial gain, but it can reap surprising benefits in other ways. If your business has the funds and opportunity to sponsor or support a worthwhile not-for-profit cause, here are some great reasons to consider jumping at the chance to do so. Improving PR and […]
“It’s not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle money. It’s the customer who pays the wages.” – Henry Ford You might have established a business under your name, but even if you’re the person with the most authority, you still have another boss to please: the client. The purpose of your sales […]
Startups that fail to exercise resource parsimony or understand the job their customers want to get done will not survive against larger companies and risk falling afoul of investors, a prominent strategy expert has warned. In Sydney last month to participate in the World Business Forum (25 to 26 May), Rita McGrath, a professor at […]
