Top 10 Business Tips
From Peter Perivolaris, General Manager, Hardings Consulting
www.hardingsconsulting.com.au

1. Let more people know that your business has expertise. Create free seminars to educate your currents clients and prospective clients on subjects that are of interest or problematic to them, and where you can represent your company as a leader in the field.
2. Staff incentive plans are tricky. You don’t want to create unintended behaviours where employees are taking actions that reward them under their bonus plan, if it hurts the business. The plans that seem to work best are those where bonuses are paid after the business has met its targets and the owner is getting a good return.
3. Time management is about what it says: Manage your time. Take control. Plan. Make lists and decide what’s urgent. Choose a time when you will not be interrupted or just close the door, and clear up the important items. Delegate anything that you do not absolutely have to do yourself. Every single day.
4. Many managers do not hire competent staff because they feel threatened that their methods might be challenged. Never employ such managers. Let them work for the government or in big companies. Me, I always try to get the best people because it makes my job easier, and they make me look good.
5. Learn to be a delegator. Hire good people and give them responsibility; then manage them. It will take less time to train someone in a task than if you always do it. It’s far easier to grow as a company and far less stressful for you.
6. Nobody knows what time you read your emails. If you have something urgent to do, don’t open your emails until you’ve finished it. If you always answer emails immediately, that’s what people will expect of you. Fifty percent of emails can go without being answered for days. Some, forever.
7. It is important to have employees who challenge and question everything. Conversely, too much negativity is counter-productive. You just don’t want them constantly talking the business down. Good employees strike a positive balance.
8. An employee who is not performing is holding you back, like a bird in a cage seeking to break out. Replacing that employee with somebody productive will remove the barriers and allow you to fly to unimagined heights.
9. A new employee who has worked before, should impress you from the very start. If they don’t, replace them immediately. You will waste time and money training them and wishing and hoping they will improve. The odds are against you.
10.  As the boss, you should be aware that everything emanates from you. This is even down to how positive and energetic you are around your employees. Start every day with a positive outlook, no matter how you feel. If you don’t, your negativity and grumpiness will be contagious and everyone will soon be arguing and uncooperative.

In this issue

Essential Marketing Practices

Top 10 Business Tips

Harding’s Business Plan