This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations. Today we discuss your business performance.

Most small businesses are started by someone with personal expertise in their chosen field. While they are truly experts at what they do, the good ones also recognise that there comes a point in time when they also need to take a helicopter view and build skills in ‘the business of business’.

Q: I sometimes feel so close to the coalface in my business that I find it hard to be objective in assessing my business performance and what I need to do next to keep it moving forward. Continue reading →

This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations. Today we talk about being the “Captain” of your business.

I always have a flurry of questions around time – specifically that it seems to be in short supply. “I never have enough time to do everything I have to do.” “I seem to spend my time at everyone else’s beck and call.” “I could do with an eight day week and then I might keep up.” And the most common theme is “There’s so much to do and I’m the only one here who can do it. No-one else knows what to do or how to handle tricky situations/clients.” This is really the nub of it. Continue reading →

Running a business or practice can be a daily challenge. Everyone else seemingly does it so easily, so why does it sometimes seem like so much hard work? This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations.

Business owners’ key frustrations can almost always be sorted into time, people or money issues with the people category making up the lion’s share. In today’s article, we discuss delegation. Continue reading →

This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations.

Q: I know I have to put systems in my business but I don’t seem to have the time. It just seems like another thing I have to do. How do I overcome this challenge?

We have addressed the question before, but it is such a predicament in small business, it bears repeating.

The challenge is threefold: how do I find the time? Where do I start? And what the hell does a system actually look like? Continue reading →

This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations.

Q: Any tips on motivating an unmotivated team?

One of the truths about businesses is that they are a reflection of their owner. If your team is unmotivated, look first to your own behaviour and attitudes at work. See what they see. How would you rate your level of motivation? Where on the meter are you standing? Are you really motivated or just driven and cranky that people aren’t meeting your standards, so you feel you have to jump in and do the work yourself? What really gets and keeps you excited? Continue reading →