Business Essentials

Employers have to make a genuine effort to accommodate an employee’s request for flexible work arrangements. That’s one of the new rules to take effect on 6 June, 2023, following changes to the Fair Work Legislation. The changes also mean more employees will have the opportunity to request flexibility in the workplace. Head of the HR and IR Division at Mazars, Cheryl-Anne Laird, explains the rules...

Several years ago the corporate world was going crazy over the latest business fad of Blue Ocean Strategy. The book of the same name won a slew of awards and sold millions of copies worldwide. The concept was simple: try to capture "blue oceans" of unexplored new markets. Like many theories, it just doesn’t work in a practical sense. Entrepreneur Roy Osing unpicks the problem of Blue Ocean Strateg...

Your staff really are your number one resource, so to make sure you attract the best talent and are able to hold on to them, looking after them holistically is going to give your business a competitive advantage. Lyndal Hughes, is the Managing Director at Q5 Partners, an international award-winning consulting firm that specialises in organisational change. She explains why wellbeing is so integral...

The so-called “Great Resignation” following COVID is over. That’s according to the CEO and Founder of ELMO Software, Danny Lessem. ELMO surveyed about 1000 Australian workers and found that 70 per cent are now keen to stay with their current employers. He says economic conditions, like inflation and higher interest rates, have taken the heat out of the employment market, and that employers can now...

Business owners can be their own worst enemies if they have a fixed mindset. That’s the view of Tristan Wright, a business coach and founder of Evolve to Grow. He says the way we are brought up can give us a blinkered view of the world and our own abilities. Tristan also says self-belief, the development of good habits, thinking laterally and embracing challenges can all be ways to remove obstacle...

Workplace culture is fundamental to the success of your business. If your people aren’t happy, the productivity and profits of your business are greatly impacted. Corporate mental health advisor, Kerry Howard, addresses the issue in her book, ‘How to heal a workplace culture: Tackle trauma, foster psychological safety and boost happiness at work’. She says it’s up to the business owner or boss to...

Have you ever stopped and thought about what you actually want in your life? Is your business helping you to achieve those goals? Now’s the time to write down what you want and create a money plan for that. Clare Wood is an accountant, money mentor and author of ‘Intentional Profit: Master Your Mindset & Money For A Wildly Wealthy Business’. She outlines an effective and simple budget to help...

Sure, most things today are done digitally and online, but when it comes to building relationships and sourcing quality leads, answering the phone can in in fact be the answer. James Smith, CEO at digital agency, Smith Brothers Media explains why businesses need to lift their game when it comes to picking up the phone. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3...

Some of Australia’s best-known and largest companies are some of the worst exemplars of customer service. That’s according to Milton Collins, Principal of The Action Business Coach. He says one of the biggest mistakes is forgetting or ignoring what the customer wants. Milton discusses all this from his recently released book, ‘Delight, Disrupt, Deliver: Grow your business using the power of small...

Attracting staff in a hot jobs market is a huge problem for businesses across the country. The Asia-Pacific Business Coach for EOS Worldwide calls it the “talent lottery.” Dan Williams says employers need to become more astute, find ways to engage new recruits and offer them something they can be part of. He says direct and friendly conversations with staff about their desires, outside of regular...

Without doubt, there has been an increase of burnout across the board in recent years. That’s according to mindfulness and high-performance coach, Melo Calarco, who says much of it comes from a residual fatigue, or a hangover, from the pandemic. Melo’s book, ‘Beating Burnout Finding Balance’, offers tools to achieve mindfulness. And, he shares inspirational stories of his trekking adventures in re...

While staff health is of vital importance as we head back to work, the health of your business is just as crucial. With the flux of the last couple of years, where are things really at, how are things really operating and how healthy is your organisation? Tom Leary, Partner and MD at Q5 Partners, an international award-winning consulting firm that specialises in "organisational change", discusses...

As a business owner, it behoves you to work on those activities that bring in a better return on investment. Don’t do the menial, repetitive stuff, when you could be delegating to someone else in your business, says productivity expert, Les Watson. As a leader, you should be working on your business – bringing the dollars in – not in the business. Les Watson shares his prioritisation system which...

There’s no doubt that this is a tough time for small businesses, with a series of disasters and disruptions being followed by supply constraints, inflation and interest rate rises. So where can you turn when you hit a debt wall? In this episode, the General Manager of the Small Business Debt Helpline outlines how the free service can help businesses — and their owners — who find themselves in an i...

How detailed are your employment agreements? If, as lawyer Tracey Mylecharane has observed, they’re a one-page document outlining the job’s role, it’s nowhere near good enough. You want to legally protect you and your business from a disgruntled employee by providing a comprehensive document. It should define not only the role and responsibilities, but also things like social media policy, confide...

As a business owner, have you let the sales process fall by the wayside? If you’re like many others, perhaps what stops you from selling is fear. Well, according to sales guru Trent Leyshan, you need to regain your mojo. Afterall, he says, sales is the lifeblood of any company. Trent is founder of BOOM! Sales and author of two sales books, Outlaw and The Naked Salesman. He outlines the three key s...

LinkedIn is one of the best social media platforms for reaching out individually to prospective clients. The problem is, insists LinkedIn expert Ty Giuliani, business owners aren't active enough to get the results. Ty shares his tips on developing a strategy and framework to establishing rapport with your market and creating business opportunities. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCa...

While discussion around mental health is becoming far more open and less taboo, poor mental health costs the Australian economy $17 billion per year. So, there’s an increasing need for businesses to provide not only a physically safe environment but a psychologically safe one. Liz Ralph is a Learning Manager at Lysander, an award-winning consultancy firm that support businesses in leadership devel...

When you find what you love and you can make a buck form it, you’ll never ‘work’ another day in your life. That’s according to Stephen Hunt, whose success stems from a $100 beer garden in his parents’ backyard to building a $100-million beer empire decades later. Stephen’s Hunt Hospitality has a portfolio of seven pubs on Australia’s east coast and employs 350 people. He explains how he has turned...

When Belinda Eden founded Troop Events, a business which provides on-demand hospitality and event staff across Ballarat and regional Victoria, she wasn’t to know that COVID was about to hit. She weathered the storm, and now that restrictions have lifted, demand for Troop has gone through the roof. As well as smaller events, like weddings or home parties, she has won lucrative larger events includi...

For those with a self-managed super fund, what happens if you become incapacitated or when you die? It’s not the cheeriest of subjects, but it’s important to plan well in advance, for your peace and that of your loved ones. That’s according to tax specialist, Michael Jones, Superannuation and Business Advisory Partner at Mazars, who details the opportunities and risks for older members of SMSFs. B...

Google Analytics can seem intimidating, but without question it should be the foundation for all of your digital marketing - monitoring and guiding you towards successful outcomes. Leigh Hanney, SEO and Analytics Specialist and Founder of DataCraft Digital, offers five ways that Google Analytics can help support your marketing strategy.  Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundc...

Cinzia Cozzolino started her smoothie business almost by accident. After she started preparing delicious nutritional smoothies for her daughter, word got out. Her daughter’s friends and their mums wanted them. The local cafes and retail outlets wanted to sell them. Next thing, Cinzia found she had a very successful business selling to hundreds of stores in the Australia and overseas. She explains...

There is, as they say, a first time for everything. And that includes stepping into a leadership role. To help first-time managers, we hear from leadership expert Anna Marshall, founder of People Mastery and author of ‘On you marks, get set…LEAD!: A beginner’s guide to people leadership’. She outlines her five essentials for business leaders. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel s...

Online spending went through the roof during the pandemic, as consumers stuck at home relied on ordering goods that could be delivered to their door. The increased confidence and reliance in the online marketplace means that your business’s digital presence is more important than ever. So, what should you be doing to ensure you’re front-and-centre in the digital world and are serving your customer...