#Sharon Williams
Am I crazy or is there a need for speed
Last week a CEO peer shared a story of frustration with me. He had created a new job description in about an hour and sent it to his management team for feedback. Three days and 10 hours of time- sheeted effort later, the job description came back to him from the team with minor changes […]
Six ways to keep Costs Down and Revenue Up
With less than three months to financial year end, here’s some big questions to help you prepare before and after 1 July. If you are wondering, like me, where this calendar year has gone, it may be little surprise to you that we are less than three months away from the end of the financial […]
Small business owners to learn how to level up from industry champions this weekend
Hearing directly from those who have succeeded – and keep succeeding – in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing business environment is an invaluable learning experience for small businesses, says Sharon Williams, CEO of Taurus Marketing. “There are many skills needed to run a business, and advisers, mentors, industry events and management events are a […]
Why every employee must understand sales
I think it was my Grandma who taught me that first impressions count and that to be able to influence people (for good) was amongst the biggest achievements in life. There started for me, a lifelong relationship with sales – without knowing of course that she was teaching me principles in selling. Sales or as it […]
Millennials – who’d have em?
When people moan about millennials, I occasionally share the sentiment… however, my response is usually “well, who bred em?” rather than “yeah, who’d have them”. I also like to point out that it’s their birthright to be different in order to keep pace with the modern world. Isn’t every generation different to the last? And […]
Inbound marketing: why it’s no red herring
Inbound marketing is one of the most exciting initiatives to arrive on the marketing and business scene in the past five years. If you are not investigating inbound marketing at the moment, it is time to take action. One of the biggest challenges of running a business is remaining relevant and adapting to change. Whether […]
Why your SME doesn’t need The Kardashians to kickstart its influencer marketing campaign
Tried and tested, influencer marketing is a solid growth-enabler for small businesses that doesn’t have to cost the earth or require endorsement from mainline celebrities. The strategy is to partner with individuals whose networks boast the type of people you want to target and who can influence them – for instance, sway them to buy or […]
Why employee engagement is crucial
“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel” ― Maya Angelou A well-known entrepreneur once said to me, “If a business owner can’t keep the members of their family happy and engaged at home, how can they expect to keep their employees happy […]
When and how to engage in charitable giving
When I was growing up, helping others was part of what was expected as a decent human being. You were discreet and perhaps even private about such activities. It was almost unseemly to be helping out and then talking about it. Over the years things have changed and while for some of us discretion is […]
Do you inspire loyalty in your customers?
Most mornings I buy my coffee from the same beachside café. While I order the same coffee every morning, the waiters never remember my order nor do they show me any hint of recognition. In contrast, in The Strand next to my city office, my local coffee shop greets me by name, brings me my […]
How to Master the Art of Delegation
You have a dream and create your start-up and work through the night until you almost drop. You think hiring people is really going to help. It starts to feel like a ‘real’ company. Now you have people to delegate to. But then you discover that paradise – as my mother’s favourite saying goes – […]
Get Smart: ‘be defensive of your time’ and five other easy ways to avoid doing ‘hard’ work
Without vital time management skills, it would be impossible to juggle my business, team and speaking career, let alone run a home and meet commitments to my family, friends and three children. The key is to have self-discipline and strive to work smarter, not harder. The sad thing is, very few people (even those reading this article) will take […]
How maintaining a strong employer brand helps businesses keep good people for longer
Most of what is written about an employer brand is baloney! You can’t fabricate the perfect job or control how people feel about their workplace day by day. And as for creating a workspace to make people feel happy all the time – well, good luck with that. In reality everyone has off days, […]
Why your database is your most valuable IP
I’ve been a business mentor for a while now and yet it never ceases to amaze me how often company’s either ignore or underrate their database. From my own experience, I’m acutely aware of just how important it is for a company to maintain accurate and up-to-date intel on the people in their network. In my opinion, your company’s database […]
Should you pursue a career or work jobs?
I’ve been lucky to experience a job and a career in my lifetime. What is the difference between the two and which makes the most sense for you? A chance to trial what works and what doesn’t A job is usually denoted by doing a task over and over again in exchange for money. It […]
It’s who you know as much as what you know
If you learn one thing as you work your way through your career, it’s that ‘who you know’ is as important as ‘what you know’. Who you know can help you become front of mind with mentors, friends, clients, suppliers and new ideas and opportunities. Expanding your spheres of influence by deepening and widening your contact […]
Is competition actually good for SMEs?
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 […]
Can a sales promotion make a difference?
Buy-one-get-one-free, free gifts, free samples, vouchers and coupons. Are they old fashioned or do they have a place in today’s sales and marketing strategies?
Lessons in innovation from Steve Wozniak
Taking inspiration from Steve Wozniak’s recent trip to Australia, Sharon Williams shares her 10 top tips for inspiring innovation in your business.
Don’t be a succession planning statistic: Expert advice
In the day to day running of your business you may not have had time to consider how you’re going to exit it. But you really should, as it will affect how you run it.
Four secrets to better delegation
Are you one of those control freak small business owners with so much on your plate you don’t have time to breathe? You need to learn the art of delegation.
Hiring tips for tough economic times
Growth is a continual driver for business owners, but how are you supposed to know when and what to grow and what will work best for you?
For businesses, 2012 is all about bravery
After a difficult year for many small businesses, 2012 will be the time of innovation and reinvention in the sector.
Now’s the time to connect with past customers
CRM isn’t just about database software. Customer relationship management is a key business practice that should be ingrained in your processes and your staff.