Employees are losing trust in their bosses and their companies, with huge ramifications for small businesses. That’s according to Aaron McEwan, Vice President of Research and Advisory at global research firm Gartner. He says many employees feel their companies no longer value their contributions — especially as office mandates return post-pandemic. Aaron explores why employees’ sense of trust has diminished and how small business owners can turn things around by shifting their focus back to thei...
Nov 28, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1185
When it comes to influencing people to change their behaviour, we tend to use logic. That doesn’t work, says behavioural specialist Bri Williams. Humans are emotional creatures: we’re lazy, scared and confused, she insists. By lazy, she means we’re creatures of habit and therefore behaving in a new way takes effort. We’re scared because we don’t want to try something different in case it fails. And we’re confused, because we don’t know where to start. Believing that we’re rational is the biggest...
Nov 27, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1184
Victoria’s drastically expanded Vacant Residential Land Tax is setting a precedent that, if history serves as a guide, is likely to be followed by other states. The tax is being imposed in an attempt to address the housing availability crisis, and drastically impact homes that sit vacant for more than six months in the preceding calendar year. Forvis Mazars Partner Michael Jones explains how the tax is structured, its huge potential cost to property owners, and how it is already changing behavio...
Nov 26, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1183
We’re facing a world of relentless change and uncertainty right now, from industry transitions, post-pandemic impacts, technology advances, skills shortages, cost-of-living issues, and so on. So, as a leader, how do you guide your team through the challenges of change? Leah Mether says much of it comes down to communicating clearly and consistently to everyone. It’s all outlined in her book, ‘Steer Through the Storm: How to Communicate and Lead Courageously Through Change’. In this episode, Leah...
Nov 25, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1182
Changes to Fair Work laws that make wage theft a crime, are casting new light on the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman, Anna Booth. But with only one per cent of this type of dispute ending in court, she says her 1000 staff are actually at the service of employers, and not just the workforce. Anna Booth describes her desire to help small businesses achieve compliance with workplace laws and lists the many resources that are available to help them in this effort. The Ombudsman emphasizes that busin...
Nov 24, 2024•13 min•Ep. 1181
A toxic workplace culture grows over time but can strike without warning. It’s corrosive and can have a terrible impact internally on staff and externally with clients or customers. Colin D Ellis, a workplace culture specialist who has written extensively on the topic, has some words of wisdom about how bad cultures can be created and how to fix them. He breaks down how toxic behaviours can arise, from micromanagement to severe forms of misconduct, and offers workable strategies for owners and m...
Nov 21, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1180
How do you stand out from competitors? After all, it’s the ultimate goal – to differentiate your business in a way that builds engagement and brand loyalty. Well, sales and marketing guru Tom Poland may just have the answer with his marketing message formula. He says your message needs three elements to succeed: it must be benefit-rich, contain specifics and be differentiated. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for...
Nov 20, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1179
If you need a quick energy boost, or to restore your faith in the new generation, just spend a few minutes with Michael Black, the Founder and CEO of Success Tutoring — a business he started in high school. Now in his twenties and with the company established across Australia, he’s looking at international expansion. Michael reveals the unique business model that sets Success Tutoring apart, focusing on motivating students and providing flexibility for busy parents. Business Essentials Daily is ...
Nov 19, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1178
It’s not called ‘the silly season’ for nothing. The end-of-year party is meant to be a time to celebrate and recognise a job well done. But a well-meaning reward could turn into a legal nightmare, warns Business Lawyer Tracey Mylecharane. When you add free-flowing booze into the mix, your business could well be facing repercussions the next day. Tracey provides examples of what could go wrong, if you’re not prepared. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 ...
Nov 18, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1177
With so many wellbeing and mental health support apps in the market, could some of the more traditional self-help apps be limited in their offering? For Founder of SafeWatch™, Shane Muller, the answer is yes. For him, the focus should be on the human component of care. Which is why he developed the The SafeWatch™app, a wellbeing companion, based on the core idea that ‘it takes a village’. As a result, the app enables networks of family, friends and colleagues to provide support, build resistance...
Nov 17, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1176
Are you suffering from AI FOMO? There are so many potential benefits from adopting artificial intelligence, but is it just hype? Aaron McEwen, Vice President of Research and Advisory at global research network, Gartner, gives a grounded, down to earth assessment. He discusses the potential benefits small businesses could gain from adopting AI and he highlights how smaller enterprises may increase the pace of progress by avoiding the complex change management challenges faced by larger companies....
Nov 14, 2024•11 min•Ep. 1175
Simone Tsigolis saw a gap in the home-cleaning market: time-poor and exhausted families returning from overseas trips. That was just before Covid hit. She then pivoted her high-quality cleaning service, Jetlag Remedy, and has seen sales soar beyond $3 million. She puts it down to the quality and dedication of her 45 professional cleaning staff, whom she hires with a unique onboarding process. The sky’s the limit for Jetlag – she’s keen to expand into the major centres on Australia’s east coast. ...
Nov 13, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1174
The small business retail sector is collectively holding its breath ahead of this holiday shopping season. The economic indicators don’t look good. So how about some practical advice to keep your head above water? CEO of Fifth Dimension Research and Consulting, Lyndall Spooner, shares achievable strategies to help businesses stand out during this competitive time. From offering higher-quality products and personalised service to easing the stress of holiday shopping, she explains how businesses ...
Nov 12, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1173
The convenience of listening or reading almost anything from your hand-held device is convenient, simple and it’s big business. Steve Potash is CEO of OverDrive, the largest distributor of ebooks and audiobooks to libraries in the United States. OverDrive began in the mid-1980s by digitising reference books and documents for law firms. Today, as he expands overseas, including Australia, he discusses the success of OverDrive and the business opportunities in new media. Business Essentials Daily i...
Nov 12, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1172
As if the economic situation for small businesses wasn’t bad enough, an enormous number are now facing closure due to soaring insurance costs. Sometimes it is seemingly not available at all. Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Bilson, addresses the burden of rising insurance costs, exacerbated by a hardened insurance market due to pervasive natural disasters. Bruce offers solutions, including actively managing your insurance policies, working with brokers for specialized advice...
Nov 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 1171
There are indications that this holiday season will be far from a happy one for many small businesses. With Australians feeling the pinch from inflation and rising living costs, Deloitte's 2024 Holiday Period Survey reveals a tightening of consumer spending, with 90% of consumers planning to stay home and cut back on holiday shopping. Deloitte Partner Elise Shapley shares her insights from the survey around the importance of offering value, enhancing in-store experiences, and building trust. She...
Nov 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1170
Some people come to work full of beans ready to take on the world, while others can’t get going without beans – coffee, that is. Productivity expert Les Watson encourages bosses to take their employees’ chronotypes into consideration when it comes to their peak performance. Early birds work best in the morning, he says, while night owls are better later in the day. Les is a big believer in setting alarms, including one to remind him to go to bed. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCa...
Nov 06, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1169
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made himself abundantly clear: credit card surcharges will be banned. But what does it mean for small businesses? CEO of the new Australian Restaurant and Café Association, Wes Lambert, discusses the current inquiry into credit card surcharging and merchant fees, and how it could significantly impact businesses. In an increasingly cashless society, the association continues to lobby government to ensure small businesses aren't unfairly burdened by credit card ...
Nov 05, 2024•8 min•Ep. 1168
The CEO of Hatch Brands, Todd Foot, is carving an impressive niche into the e-commerce landscape. With his focus on acquiring and investing in ‘Mum-and-Dad’ small businesses, particularly those in the homewares space, Todd discusses his strategies to help these businesses thrive in the digital age. He emphasizes the importance of e-commerce and highlights common pitfalls and missed opportunities in social media marketing. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +...
Nov 04, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1167
Business owners who choose to deliberately underpay workers will face criminal charges from the first of January 2025. The new criminal measures are the latest to take effect, after the Federal Government’s “Closing the Loopholes” legislation passed at the end of 2023. But businesses shouldn’t be afraid, according to Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth. In this episode, the Ombudsman reassures business owners that it must be proven that the underpayment was deliberate. Anna also says that compliance ...
Nov 03, 2024•11 min•Ep. 1166
Many companies today are struggling with a skills shortage, forcing them to offer perks as they attempt to ramp-up hiring. The problem is that relying solely on perks as a lure leads to high dissatisfaction and disengagement. That’s according to HR specialist Roxanne Calder, who says perks alone won’t keep employees. To be effective, benefits must resonate with individual employee needs and align with their personal values and purpose. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundc...
Oct 31, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1165
What do Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Serena Williams and Victoria Beckham have in common? Aside from being mega-rich celebrities, they are all fans of entrepreneur Olivia Carr’s brand Shhh Silk. Olivia didn’t have a huge marketing budget when she launched her online marketplace of silk pillow cases; instead, she harnessed the power of public relations. For instance, she flew to Los Angeles to personally gift the Kardashians a box of embroidered pillowcases. And it worked – the Kardashians used t...
Oct 30, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1164
The majority of organisations are too myopic in their sales strategy, pushing monthly or quarterly goals. Sales teams need to understand and embrace the company’s long-term strategy for effective sales. That’s according to Roy Osing, former president of Canadian telco TELUS, who introduced a ‘customer report card’ to refocus sales teams on nurturing the customer rather than foisting pushy sales techniques. Sales people are guided by incentives, he says, so if you shift the incentive to the custo...
Oct 29, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1163
When Paris Cutler left the corporate world to pursue her own start-up dream, little did she know she’d be the undisputed champion of high-end cakes. Her internationally-acclaimed Planet Cake enterprise has created cakes for mega-star celebrities, and developed its own high-rating TV show. When the GFC hit, fewer people were splashing out discretionary goods, sending her business into a nosedive. But her pivot into educating others how through her Planet Cake Schools turned the business around. B...
Oct 28, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1162
Too often the role of HR is undervalued, if it exists at all in some businesses. The reality is that people make the difference, despite the benefits of your product or service, you need great people to develop your brand, sell the product, create experiences and connect with your audience. For Ilona Charles, CEO & Founder of HR Specialists, shilo people, she’s seen the impact on countless businesses that have not invested in a robust HR strategy. Ilona gives great advice for how to strength...
Oct 27, 2024•5 min•Ep. 1161
Jason T Smith started as an “accidental businessman,” running a small physiotherapy practice from his carport with the sole aim of paying the mortgage. After five years of running the practice, it became a scalable prototype, and they expanded rapidly. Over time, Jason grew the business into a major franchise, launching practices across Australia and New Zealand, eventually selling it for $100m. He credits the company’s success to strong relationships, industry disruption, and investment in tech...
Oct 24, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1160
If you’re looking for customer service inspiration, a large telco probably wouldn’t be your first port of call. But, there is one little-known teleco brand whose customers are raving: Macquarie Technology Group. New York Times best-selling author and customer experience expert, Dr Joseph A. Michelli, has built a career analysing the secrets behind world-leading brands. He’s published best-sellers on Starbucks, the Ritz-Carlton and Mercedes-Benz. His latest exposé examines how a focus on customer...
Oct 23, 2024•9 min•Ep. 1159
Inflation and cost-of-living pressures have contributed to a tightening of household budgets, which leads to employees scrutinising their pay packets. Some feel they should be getting paid more. If a staff member asks you for a pay rise, rather than dismissing them out of hand, it’s wise to give sincere consideration and be empathetic to their request. That’s according to Karen Gately, CEO of Corporate Dojo, who explains the importance of a remuneration plan. Business Essentials Daily is produce...
Oct 22, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1158
Great leaders are there to serve their staff and be of service to others. That’s according to customer service specialist Monique Richardson, author of ‘They Serve Like We Lead’. The more you care for your people, she says, the more they will care for your customers and provide a better experience. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 21, 2024•10 min•Ep. 1157
Successful businesses place people at the core of their strategy, recognising HR’s role in workforce engagement and performance. That's according to Ilona Charles, CEO of shilo.people, who says while HR can be a significant cost for small businesses, its value in attracting, retaining, and optimising talent becomes critical as companies grow. She says, misalignment between HR and business strategies can lead to inefficiencies and higher costs. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCarte...
Oct 20, 2024•7 min•Ep. 1156
