Well, that was an accident waiting to happen! How often do we hear those words after something breaks or there is physical injury? In the workplace it is never acceptable for someone to know that something might cause harm and yet do nothing about it. Apart from personal injury, accidents and incidents can affect staffRead more
Articles
Simon Sinek’s ‘How great leaders inspire action’ remains one of the most popular TED talks ever. Sinek says ‘people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.’ Research from a cross-section of industries has proven that organisations that put their ‘why’ at the centre of everything they do are more likely toRead more
In reflecting on my work in 2019 I have been reminded that: Organisations delivering social or environmental good are more likely to survive in the long term. Big goals can be achieved by taking small steps. Great solutions can come from unexpected sources. Results improve when we seek and receive help. An understanding of criticalRead more
The ability to retain staff is a significant determinant of organisational success. As recruiting and training is costly, it is wise to create a workplace that people don’t want to leave. Research has shown that employees decide in their first few days whether they will stay. They might not leave immediately, but if that isRead more
What comes to mind when you think about managing health and safety? Sadly, despite the number of workplace accidents causing serious harm in NZ, many leaders still see health and safety management as an unnecessary and costly burden limited to the domain of pessimistic, risk averse people. While the Health and Safety at Work ActRead more
Economists are warning of a slowing economy. While of concern, trends depicted by macro data do not necessarily translate into reduced returns for all businesses. The trends are a reminder, however, of the importance of paying attention to business fundamentals and adjusting your business model accordingly. Customers – how has demand for your products orRead more
It is common for leaders to neglect their wellbeing when juggling the many responsibilities involved in managing an organisation. While that might be a short-term solution in times of peak workload, it should never become the norm. Poor mental and physical health can rob you of enjoyment and, if ignored, lead to poor decision makingRead more
Information about prospects, clients, donors and members can greatly help to improve product and service offerings and increase income. Databases with contact details – especially when segmented by factors such as age, gender, location and interests – assist in informing, selling and receiving feedback cost effectively. However, when data is poorly managed, not held securelyRead more
All leaders have expectations of their team, be they employees or volunteers. While some are agreed to in employment contracts, job descriptions and health and safety plans, it is rare for these documents to list all that is expected. When staff do not comply with unstated expectations, and leaders manage against the unspoken standards orRead more
In a perfect world, organisations would have stock ready for sale just before customers buy it, and they would receive their customers’ payment before they pay their suppliers. Too little stock and customers switch to competitors, too much stock causes cash flow and storage issues. Stock levels should be reviewed regularly. A useful indicator ofRead more