“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Sam Ewig Running a business for over 20 years provides a wide ranging perspective on hiring, firing and the movement of people. We’ve seen all levels of skill, experience and commitment; […]
Being a business owner involves ensuring that the workspace provided for employees is safe at all times. When the business that is owned is some type of retail center, the responsibility for providing safety extends to protecting the consumer. A variety of safety hazards can arise in almost any situation, in ways that may not […]
You’re in a performance review and your Manager tells you that a couple of your colleagues think your ego walks in the door two hours before you do. It’s ok though…. He’s “just being honest”. You’re having a discussion with a colleague and she raises her voice, points her finger and lets you know that […]
Choosing an office space for your business is not only a huge decision, since the place where you conduct everyday affairs leaves a strong impression, but it’s also complicated. You’ll need to take into consideration proximity to transportation, what your budget will accommodate for rent, and what size space you’ll require. However, if you remain […]
If you practice what you preach, you’re more likely to gain credibility as a business leader – whether that be with your staff or customers. After all – would you take fitness advice from a personal trainer who smokes; or would you take driving lessons from an instructor who has a string of driving offences? […]
The employment pendulum is on the swing again. With such low unemployment, companies are desperately looking to recruit, ideally the best, candidates. Employees, especially the most talented, have their pick of jobs and companies. So, what can small-business employers do to be chosen by their ideal candidates? Pay Of course, everyone knows it’s not all […]
As the owner of an SME, it’s more important than ever in this rapidly-changing business environment to get flexible working schemes right. Compared to ten, or even five years ago, employees are now looking for more of a balance between their personal and work lives. This can be a great thing as flexible working arrangements […]
Leadership is the ability to direct, create, inspire and influence. It requires flexibility; leaders must roll with the punches, be open to change and continuously look for opportunities to move forward. Most importantly, leadership is about motivation. It is about growing others while they work with you towards a common goal. Great leaders have specific […]
Australia is lagging behind in the innovation stakes, ranking 17th for 2 years running in the Global Innovation Index 2015. We are being overtaken by the likes of New Zealand and even smaller markets like Luxembourg amongst a range of criteria, such as business sophistication, infrastructure, human capital and research and creative outputs, amongst others. […]
Flexibility. To many business owners this may sound like a swear word. The prospect of having employees who are not working in the office or not available during work hours on certain days could appear to be more of a hindrance than a help. But if entrepreneurs and small business owners want to attract and […]
