Q: My time seems to be constantly taken up responding to staff questions about a whole variety of subjects from aspects of their normal everyday work to unusual situations and how to handle them. As a result I never seem to get my own work done. How can I get them to think? Continue reading
Q: What characteristics should I look for when hiring a manager? So far I have had two who have not worked out and I’m gun shy about hiring another.
Michael Gerber, author of the best selling small business book, The E-Myth Revisited, believes there aren’t any bad managers; only untrained managers, unmanaged managers, managers operating without a management system or managers expected to produce miracles without the right perspective and without the right tools and training. Continue reading
Q: My operations manager has also taken on the responsibility of managing the marketing for our business, however, I am not sure how to guide him or how to advise him on marketing strategies. And right now we need it. Help! Continue reading
Q: I cannot afford a full-time sales person. What is the best way to incentivise someone? A base plus a % or just a %? With or without expenses? Continue reading
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