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
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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
How long can your organisation continue to deliver the same standard of products and services without your skills and knowledge or those of your key employees? How damaging would it be if an employee left to work for a competitor? Protect your competitive advantage, including customer and supplier information, by including clauses in all employeeRead more
The Cultural Intelligence Centre based in Michigan defines cultural intelligence, or ‘CQ’, as “the capability to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse situations”. Increasingly organisations are recognising that they are more successful when they embrace cultural intelligence. High cultural intelligence brings insight, creativity and innovation to organisations’ solutions and enables them to expand quicklyRead more
At the start of a new year many of us pause to consider how things are going in our lives. Those of us who are business owners or are in leadership positions often reflect on how our organisations are doing as well. Where we identify failure, or are dissatisfied with some results, we rightly askRead more