#Strategy
The current threat landscape for SMBs
Why are businesses failing to invest time and budget into protecting themselves?
You don’t need to know dark art to run efficient, productive business meetings
We’ve all been there. A meeting is scheduled, most people arrive on time, and then nothing happens for ten minutes. Well, to be precise, quite a bit happens, or doesn’t happen, as the case may be. Usually those first ten minutes are lost because the team are trying to find a free meeting space to […]
Four pricing mistakes you need to avoid
The price that you set for your products and services is one of the most crucial decisions you have to make in a business. Pricing requires thought and an understanding of your customers or clients, the market, the environment and your competitors. Here are four pricing mistakes you need to avoid: One: The first mistake […]
How to plan your SME’s 2017-18 travel budget
As the financial year draws to a close and next year’s budgets are debated, there are plenty of ducks to get in a row before July 1 hits. While travel spend may not be front of mind, as CFOs we need to think differently (and strategically) about maximising time on the road and the costs […]
Goal-setting for the new financial year
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 […]
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 […]
Three rules to find the right customers for your business
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 […]
Sustainable competitive advantages are no longer relevant, businesses warned
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world of business, a company’s competitive advantage is no longer a ‘sure-thing’, a globally-recognised strategy expert has warned. Speaking at the World Business Forum in Sydney, last month, Rita McGrath, a professor at the Columbia Business School, explained that while sustainable competitive advantage has been a fixation of companies for decades, the […]
How to stay sane while launching your business
Too many people jump straight into business with little to no experience and only to get burnt because of lack in preparation and knowledge. Business is a unique skill set that needs to be nurtured and developed over time, with experience. So how do you maintain your level of sanity in starting a new venture? […]
An action plan is just as important as a business plan
An action plan could save thousands of small businesses from going bust but as many as eighty percent don’t take the time to make one despite its proven success. I’m not talking about a five-year plan with detailed budget forecasts, but an annual action plan that is reviewed regularly and updated quarterly. I’ve seen first […]
How to run a successful online business
If you ask people what their perception is of an online business, majority will describe an e-commerce site or a website that sells merchandise. But there are many ways you can have a business online without directly selling products and services. You can set up an informational website which generates revenues through advertising placements. Or […]
Managing key person risk
Fortunately for large scale corporates, although key person risk can be nominally substantial, companies are well capitalised to weather the loss. The same cannot always be said for SMEs.
Starting up? 5 big questions to ask yourself before you do
Kind words can perhaps unintentionally disarm an entrepreneur into believing that it is obvious they will succeed. So before you turn your great idea into a business, there are some tough questions you need to ask yourself.
Developing employee talent within your business
It is important that the senior employees have a thorough framework to mentor the juniors and newbies, who need to know firsthand the values of the organization that they have joined.
Are you prepared for EOFY? What every business owner needs to be aware of
If this time of year fills you with regret and disappointment, don’t despair. There is still time left to get to work on finishing this year off as well as we can. Set out to make it a Personal Best.
Why small businesses should be embracing CSR strategies
The small business and charity sector have more in common than many would realise. Without both the country may very well grind to a halt.
Three questions to ask before you launch an online marketplace or community
Do you buy on eBay? Have you stayed at a place on AirBnB? Have you sold clothes on ASOS? These are all high profile online marketplaces.
Ninety per cent of employers regret recent hires
In the scramble to regain productivity following the departure of an employee, employers can wrongly prioritise speed over accuracy in finding a replacement.
Will employees still exist in the (near) future?
In November 2013, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that Australia had 11.5 million people engaged in 6,359 different forms of employment.
How to build a progressive business through your people: Part II
We’ve all heard that a business is only as good as its people. But as we look ahead to 2014, what does it take to build a happy, high-performing team to drive your business forward?
Employee engagement failing Aussie workers
Employment engagement programs are failing Australian workers because they lack alignment with key business strategies.
Australia’s most web-savvy towns
Google has today announced Australia’s most web-savvy towns with its second eTown Awards.
How to improve your content marketing
Content marketing has become a buzzword among marketers, and if you aren’t yet undertaking some form of content marketing for your business you probably should be.
Key ingredients of a great business plan
Although the current economic climate may not be seem conducive to starting a business, it remains true that one of the biggest causes of failure for any Australian venture is poor planning.