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? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.

Q: I have a small and reasonably successful business with pretty good people on the whole, but when I ask someone to do something that I consider part of their role I seem to be coming up against the ‘not my department’ response, and end up doing the jolly thing myself. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable and in most instances am sure that the tasks in question were mentioned in their employment interview, but have been conveniently forgotten. What is the best way to deal with this? 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? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.

For today’s question and answer article, I have taken one that focuses around leadership and management. Rather than being two different qualities, they are interconnected. Leadership is a part of management. Management is applying the skills and abilities that shape the business and controls its activities so that it can achieve its set goals. Management includes leadership and also administration, which is about organising and controlling the activities of the people and the systems. Is it possible for a business owner to have any one with out the other? Yes. You can be purely a leader as long as you have good administrative support and a strong management team. However, most small businesses don’t have that luxury and when they do, they are no longer small businesses. 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? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.

Q: I have never done annual reviews or appraisals with my staff, but I think I need to bite the bullet. Where do I start and how can I introduce them without making them sound threatening? 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? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.

Q: My partner and I are trying to grow our business but growth is painfully slow. We seem to take as many steps back as we do forward. We are both very clear on what we want, but it seems elusive. How do we get from here to there? 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? Business owners don’t always have someone they can turn to for answers to daily frustrations, which is why more and more are looking to find a business coach. The most common issues revolve around people, money and time. In particular, the lack of it. This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for practice and business owners to find answers to those frustrating situations.

Q: In the spirit of open management, I asked my office manager what his biggest frustrations were so we could address them. Among those he listed were: I don’t know what my job really is; and ‘inconsistent direction and instruction’. How do I deal with this? Continue reading