Business Essentials

Customer service is not for the faint-hearted – it requires everyday attitude, mindset and commitment. So how do you find the right frontline staff and nurture them to be their best? Customer service expert Monique Richardson says it comes down to you and your leadership ability. Monique is author of ‘They Serve Like We Lead: How to take care of your people, so they take care of your customers’. S...

To be a successful negotiator, it’s not so much about what you say, but how you say it. Negotiation specialist Glin Bayley’s new book, 'The Negotiation Playbook', offers practical strategies to help you boost your communications skills in everyday situations. She says there are five keys to being a good negotiator: understanding value, analysing data, recognising leverage, embracing discomfort, an...

There are two types of buying behaviours that reflect the modern online shopper: planned and impulsive. When people plan to buy something, they turn into detective mode, using technology to scour the internet for reviews and recommendations, especially for expensive or complex items. But technology also has a sneaky side, luring us into impulsive buys with ads tempting us to reach for our credit c...

Andrew Ford, Founder of Social Star, has turned the elevator pitch on its head with his own pitch structure which aims to be more conversational. The standard elevator pitch, he insists, is one-directional and lacks true engagement. With practice, your pitch shouldn't feel like selling; instead, it should feel like you're providing answers to someone's questions. The challenge Andrew sets out to s...

If you want your team to be fully committed to your idea, first it's worth spending time with them to connect and develop a level of trust. That's according to Simon Dowling, business coach and author of ‘Work With Me: How to get people to buy into your ideas.’ You’ll achieve the best results, he insists, if you have a team who’s as enthusiastic and willing as you are about your idea. Business Ess...

The swings and the roundabouts of running a business can be stressful at the best of times. But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to business consultant Roger Perry. He advises his clients to build business resilience by concentrating on two key aspects of their enterprise: what he calls organisational fortification, and organisational adaptability. Business Essentials Daily is produced by...

Kimlligraphy’s humble beginnings in 2017 as a calligraphy and mindset workshop has grown exponentially to a nationwide calligraphy agency. Husband and wife team, Kim Tran-Flores and Mark Flores have refocused from purely educational offerings to live calligraphy personalisation, providing services such as point-and-pen calligraphy, hand lettering, and digital techniques. Their work has attracted l...

Do you begin your day feeling stressed and overwhelmed? The solution is a simple, science-backed method that involves asking five key questions each morning to prime the brain for a more positive, focused day. The 5Qs Formula, devised by global business psychologist Simi Rayat, helps business owners stay focused, gain energy, and accomplish much more. She outlines it in her new book, ‘Productivity...

The levels of stress, burnout and mental illness are increasing rapidly, societally, but also within the workplace. It’s more important than ever for business leaders to be able to talk with their staff about their mental health. Wellbeing leadership expert Fleur Heazlewood says despite providing psychologically safe and mentally healthy working environments, leaders lack the skills and training t...

If you want to motivate your team, retain good talent and create an environment where everyone is performing, it’s important to take the time to get to know your team members individually. Michelle Gibbings is a workplace expert and author of award-winning ‘Bad Boss: What to do if you work for one, manage one or are one’. She says people thrive under different circumstances; for some it’s the flex...

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...