Business Essentials

Sometimes your most talented employees are also the hardest to manage. How do you keep them in line? It’s a common dilemma for business owners. The standout performers in your business are often the hardest to manage. They make good money for you but in the process, they upset others and can be unwieldy in conforming to the best interests of the business. Aaron Goonrey, Partner at Lander & Rog...

While big strategic decisions are crucial, the thousands of smaller decisions made daily within a business hold substantial value and can influence overall outcomes. Decision-making is complex, and can be seriously impacted by human biases and external factors, says management consultant Bryan Whitefield, author of ‘Team Think: How Teams Make Great Decisions’. For decisions to be effective, he say...

Twenty-five years ago, entrepreneur Andrew Griffiths penned his first book, ‘101 Ways to Market Your Business’. It became a bestseller and iconic small business guide virtually overnight. He’s since written another 13 books which have sold in more than 65 countries. Andrew discusses the changes in marketing and business over the last quarter century since that book’s publication. Business Essentia...

Entrepreneur Kobi Simmat sold his accreditation consultancy for a cool $20 million dollars. It was a 16-year education, not only on how to run a business but what was needed to sell it for a whopping profit. If he knew then what he does now, he believes he could have sold it in half the time with half the effort. He says it’s important to start with the end in mind. Business Essentials Daily is pr...

They can be annoying and time-consuming, but without written agreements you could be in a world of hurt, should things turn sour. Ryan Solomons is the Head of Legal at Vault Legal, and he’s seen how handshake agreements can result in bankruptcy. Ryan offers 5 reasons why documenting agreements should be standard practice for business owners. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel so...

If you forced yourself to do a six-hour workday, could you do it? Entrepreneur Steve Glaveski and his team gave it a go and discovered that in fact they could achieve all their goals in shorter days, which gave them more time to do the things they wanted. As a consequence, they lead happier and more fulfilling lives. Steve Glaveski has written about this in his book, 'Time Rich: do your best work,...

Soon it will be a criminal offence if an employer intentionally underpays an employee. The operative word is "intentional", says Paul Cott, Principal at Law on Lydiard. The new federal workplace law comes into effect in January 2025. It’s important, Paul insists, that business owners stay informed about the correct awards and pay rates, regularly review their compliance, and seek legal advice if u...

From closing sales to managing staff, you’re negotiating every day. Instead of winging it, learning to negotiate effectively is a powerful tool that multiplies your efforts, making you more adaptable and better prepared for challenges. That’s according to negotiation and communication coach Alistair McBride, whose Goliath Negotiation Method helps you gain a psychological edge. A negotiation, he sa...

Are you overwhelmed by urgency? Do the distractions throughout the day feel as if you don't have the time to get the important things done? Productivity expert Dermot Crowley has pointed out the problems many of us have in taming urgency in his book, Urgent! In this episode, he outlines how we control urgency and improve productivity, all the while keeping our stress levels in check. Business Esse...

The making of a high-performance team doesn’t always come easy, especially when feedback is a key part of the process. Gavin Mahony of Leading Teams says providing feedback is crucial to building resilience and peak performance. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have the same 168 hours each week. But why do some effortlessly breeze through work and life, while others struggle to keep up? Performance Coach, Andrew May says planning can shift us from chaos to control, without stifling spontaneity. We can learn to sculpt our days for ultimate productivity, incorporating work, exercise, socialising, and vital sleep without too much effort. It helps, he...

With five generations in the workplace, it’s important that leaders understand the differing values and motivations of each, in order to attract and retain talent. That’s according to business coach Shivani Gupta, who is CEO of Ask Shivani. Team diversity across age, gender, cultural background, and thought, result in better outcomes. Shivani also says that a clear and compelling vision is essenti...

Respect is one of the cornerstones of true leadership. And despite what rules or guidelines might suggest, respect is about doing the right thing and treating people well. That’s according to Chris Smith, who has lived and breathed leadership for more than 40 years in the aviation industry as a pilot, airline captain, senior manager, and mental health advisor. He’s documented his views and experie...

An HR manager with commercial nous is invaluable. Not only can an effective HR team help work through complex business challenges and sensitive issues, they can also assist with achieving longer term, strategic objectives. That’s according to Karen Gately, Founder and CEO of Corporate Dojo. She explains what professional capabilities and characteristics to look for when hiring a high-performing HR...

An honest open workplace is the first step to ensuring your team can work together at their optimum. Hidden issues fester, eventually leading to mistrust and a strained working environment. So how can you build trust and connection among your team, and what can you do if conflict occurs? Leadership team performance specialist Adrian Baillargeon shares insights from his book, ‘Teams That Swear: by...

Many successful business owners swear by the advantage of having a business coach. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find the right one, and even when you do, they’re not always available when you need them. An alternative is self-coaching. Karen Stein has developed self-coaching strategies, which she outlines from her book, ‘Be Your Own Leadership Coach: Self-coaching strategies to lead your way’....

AI’s influence in the business world is rapidly growing. Businesses can leverage a multitude of platforms and tools to enhance efficiency and productivity. The latest frontier is marketing and advertising, where even the smallest business can stand out in the crowd. That’s according to Dav Lippasaar, Founder and Director of digital marketing agency, SAAR Media. He says AI can be used to streamline...

Whether you’re looking to inspire your team or grow your business, public speaking is a skill worth investing in. Business coach Col Fink is a talented public speaker and author of ‘Speakership: The art of oration, the science of influence’. You don’t need to be an extrovert to be a good speaker, he says; it’s more important to be authentic and true to yourself. He advises against rigid scripting,...

Being a leader is one thing, but leading your team to operate at its peak - building a high-performance team - is another thing all together. Jake Bridges is a Partner/ Facilitator at Leading Teams, an organisation best known for its success with high profile Australian sports teams, even though the majority of their clients are in the corporate sector. Jake explains what goes into building a high...

Keeping up with technology is not just for enthusiasts or developers. Being aware of new technology in your industry, that streamlines process or enhances user experience is critically important, because, as James Smith, CEO of digital agency Smith Brothers Media says, if you’re up to date, your competitors will be, which could mean you’re already behind. James explains how to stay ahead of the ga...

Australians are a caring and sharing lot. Some 25 percent of us volunteer on a formal basis. A lot of companies allow their staff to take time off for volunteering activities, including the state emergency services, rural fire brigades, environmental organisations, and so on. Financial advisor Helen Baker, says it’s attractive for employers to offer time away for staff to engage in pursuits they’r...

Businesses will soon face tougher privacy rules, by returning control of personal data to consumers and ensuring they are well-informed about their rights. Lyndall Spooner, CEO of Fifth Dimension Research and Consulting, says the legislation will require businesses to obtain clear, specific consent for data use, affecting everything from marketing to data retention. She says companies will face st...

Because fewer of your competitors are doing it, your marketing efforts during an economic downturn can help capture larger market share. That’s according to Christopher Melotti, Founder and CEO of Melotti Content Media. Rather than cutting marketing budgets, he says, businesses should audit and reassess their strategies to identify and eliminate inefficiencies. High-quality, personalised content t...

An effective website is not a set-and-forget online brochure. Its purpose should be to convert visitors into leads, through good design, conversion mechanisms and clear content. Amy Miocevich, co-founder of Quarterback, guides us through her 7 essentials of a high-performing website, including the six-second impression: if a visitor doesn’t understand what you sell within six seconds, then it’s ne...

Business names can sometimes have a use-by date. If you’re thinking about a name change, there are important things to consider. Luke Faccini, Founder and Brand Strategist of The Sponge branding agency, says sometimes a name change is unavoidable when you move into new markets, for example, and your current name won’t work. Luke takes us through some of the biggest mistakes businesses make when ch...