Business Essentials

It’s a fine line: having the perseverance and grit to constantly manage a business, without succumbing to burnout. Andrew May, CEO of StriveStronger, recognises the challenge businesses face and says looking after your physical and psychological wellbeing is paramount to a healthy business. He says you shouldn’t ignore the signs that your body and mind might be suffering.   B...

The fundamentals of selling still exist, but sales people need to fine tune their skills and techniques to get to their prospects earlier in the decision-making process. That's according to sales and business growth advisor, Rob Hartnett. You need to train your sales staff to be better, he says, in order to create new opportunities, capitalise on them and grow your business.   Business Essent...

“ Oh no, I’ve stuffed up the payroll and underpaid my staff!” Heard that one before? Cheryl-Anne Laird of Mazars will tell you how easy and how common it is to make mistakes in payroll. But while the headlines talk about “wage theft”, Cheryl-Anne sees it differently. Because in the vast majority of cases, she says, the mistakes are unintended. Modern awards are not ea...

While the vaccine is being rolled out, snap lockdowns are still on the cards, keeping many businesses in a holding pattern. Financially and mentally, riding the COVID rollercoaster has been a daunting task, not all have made it through, business intact. One that has is Kate Fennessy, social media marketer and Director of Paperboat Digital . As a small business owner and single mum of one, Kate say...

To achieve your potential, you need to schedule regular time away from your business. That’s according to Andrew May, CEO and Founder of StriveStronger. Andrew reflects on the practices of sports men and women who achieve peak performance with quality rest and recuperation. Andrew explains what that means as people attempt to bounce back from a year upended by COVID. Business Essentials Dail...

The COVID vaccination roll-out may come as a huge relief for most people, but it  brings all sorts of curly challenges for employers. For example, can you require staff to have the jab before they front up at work? Can you take disciplinary action against the tricky few who refuse? What if you have anti-vaxxers in your midst, or religious purists? Can they argue the anti-discrimination rules?...

A few years ago, Australian Rules football legend, Rodney Eade, changed his coaching boots for the corporate sector, offering businesses lessons in leadership, especially around the area of change. Rodney's venture is called Facing Change – a timely initiative as the world of business transforms as never before. Like team sport, he's found building a strong culture in the workplace helps bri...

Many small businesses have managed to stay afloat thanks to the government’s JobKeeper program but as JobKeeper is withdrawn, serious cost-cutting may need to be considered to keep the doors open. That might include the grim task of laying off staff. How do employers navigate the process without being dragged to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal? Athena Koelmeyer, Principal and M...

A research and development tax incentive has been a nightmare for many small businesses, who have been told to pay thousands of dollars back to the government. Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, says the Incentive is unsuitable for software development in its current form. She explains the lessons for small businesses owners who are considering applying for an...

Before making a big impact as a sales consultant, Tony Gattari was a leading sales manager at Harvey Norman. And for decades since, Tony’s shared his sales wisdom with some of Australia’s leading brands and sales teams. He explains how sales works in the modern world of business. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com...

Mandy Holloway isn't a fan of your typical performance management appraisals which allow managers to hide behind a system. Instead, she says, managers should talk with their staff more often and in a meaningful way. Mandy outlines the seven types of conversations you should have with your team members on a regular basis to help motivate them and ultimately increase the business's performance....

A lot fewer businesses have gone broke in the last 12 months than during “normal” times. Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, says it’s a consequence of JobKeeper and other benefits to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. When JobKeeper entitlements expire on March 28, it will be a real concern for a lot of companies. Kate Carnell s...

When it comes to social media, it can be hard to keep up, especially as you consider how to tackle your communications for 2021. Should you be on TikTok? What is Clubhouse? Kate Fennessy, social media marketer and Director of Paperboat Digital, discusses 7 trends to keep in mind as you approach your social media strategy, what to block out and how to get the best results for your business. Kate al...

It may not be yet but soon - perhaps very soon - employers will start entreating their staff back to the office. But what happens when employees resist the move and simply say “No”. This will be the start of a difficult conversation between employer and employee, says Athena Koelmeyer of Workplace Law. But the legal rules are clear. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel...

Before you do anything, before you take out an ad or write a blog post, understand what your target market wants and needs. That advice is from marketing consultant Hunter Leonard, Founder and CEO of Silver & Wise. He’s surveyed thousands of business owners and shares more than 30 years of marketing experience by listing his seven key principles for marketing success. Business Essentials...

No, the US sharemarket didn’t collapse when Donald Trump left office. In fact it’s been busier than ever, there and here…on top of which we’ve had share price manipulations on a grand scale, take Reddit, for example, and then, there was Silversqueeze. What was that all about? Elio D’Amato, investment consultant and commentator, has the answers as he discusses his vie...

Managing a team is not set and forget. Tony Gattari, Achievers Group, Founder and Managing Director, likens it to sport – your players have a KPI scoreboard which keeps them on track every single day. Tony says if you want to improve the performance of your team members, you must set regular targets and keep revisiting them. Tony's a stickler for performance review meetings. They’ll ke...

Are you and your staff slowly heading back to the office? (COVID restrictions permitting, of course!) It’s not easy to manage. Not everyone’s as enthusiastic about it as you might be, so don’t be surprised if your request is greeted with a “Thanks but no thanks boss - I’ll see you on Zoom!”. Leading demographer Mark McCrindle has been researching the latest on w...

Consumers are spoilt for choice. Confronted with so many shopping options every day, people perform shortcuts in their purchasing decisions. But building brand value is more important than short-term sales results. That's according to Troy McKinna, Co-Founder of Agents of Spring, who identifies four keys to building brand value: find your consumers' most valuable problem; design a clear solution t...

The frontline of business is customer service. That's where we engage with customers and – hopefully – persuade people to buy. But, why do some frontline staff fail? It comes down to a lack of empowerment, according to customer service expert, Michael Carrick. When people feel empowered, they're much better at helping others. When we take care of our own people, Michael insists, our pe...

The profession of selling has been hijacked by the bad behaviour of a few, leaving a negative perception about selling and salespeople as a whole. That's according to sales expert Sue Barrett, Founder of Barrett Consulting Group, and she’s determined to reverse that perception with her Selling Better manifesto, a set of principles to help the profession reclaim and practise the true essence...

Be aware of Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams warns tech expert, Steve Sammartino. He says that scams like these are increasing as improved technology allows scammers to impersonate you and your business. Steve explains what they are and how to protect yourself from them. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Show humility, be open and transparent, and be comfortable within your own skin. Those are some of the qualities of good leadership. Tony Gattari, Founder and Managing Director of Achievers Group, says charisma isn't necessarily the way to achieve great leadership – instead it's making yourself vulnerable and open with your team, and having brutally honest and fearless conversations to build...

If a high amount of trust directly affects your bottom line, as Harry Mills proclaims, how then do you build, or re-build, that trust with customers? Harry is CEO of the Aha! Advantage and he says finding something special in common helps build a bond. It's all about communicating warmth, and Harry provides tips on how to get customers to buy into the relationship. Business Essentials Daily is pro...

With the summer holidays well and truly behind us, it's often now that key staff leave for another company. That's according to recruitment specialist Geoff Balmer, who explains why they might head out the door and what you can do to prevent that from happening. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...