Management Matters
News, opinions and advice on managing business systems and people.
Does Australia’s attitude to customer service stink?
While Australians have come to expect a casual approach to service, visitors aren’t so forgiving. “Having recently been in the USA, the standard of customer service there is great, staff actually want to help you,” says Australian marketing manager Jessica Hannant. “Here the sales assistant doesn't get off the phone to her friend to even serve you at the checkout.” Are things here getting worse?
311 ways to look bigger than you really are (lessons from Anthill’s first webinar)
On Wednesday, Anthill held its first ever webinar, with the help of Roger Courville and Citrix GoToMeeting. At its conclusion, I invited participants to share any 'take-homes', as a way to reinforce lessons and share their knowledge. To get the ball-rolling, here are three of my own.
How to become the master of your domain [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY]
There are a number of myths and misunderstandings surrounding registering a domain name. The reality is domain registration is just one small step towards interwebs domination, not the end goal. The following myth busters will ensure you go online with eyes open.
New scam turns online job-seekers into unwitting money-launderers (LinkedIn used to recruit ‘money-mules’)
A new, nefarious twist on cybercrime is turning innocent jobs seekers into unwitting money-launderers. "The bad guys monitor legitimate job boards and recruitment websites, such as LinkedIn, and harvest personal information from job posts or resumes."
What is ‘design registration’? It’s all about protecting your good looks.
It’s vital that you take care of your looks. No, we are not talking about wearing the right sunscreen or drinking two litres of water a day (although that’s important too), we're talking about the best way to protect the appearance of your new product. Design registration refers to the overall visual appearance of a product, rather than the way it functions. Remember that when determining the appropriate type of protection for your product.
How to run a global empire in your under-pants [Anthill’s First Ever Webinar]
You know the feeling. Yes, the fear is real. Would they still take you seriously if they knew the real size of your organisation? You might be a solopreneur or a 15 person upstart. You could be a medium enterprise well-practiced in the skill of looking bigger than you really are. If this sounds familiar, don't fret. You are not alone!
Talking Business podcast. Commonwealth Bank: free money for all!
In the latest edition of Talking Business, Leon and Garry have a natter about Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s push to turn the prospective carbon price into an election issue. According to the chaps: “The horse trading’s begun already.”
How to achieve more sales with less: 7 steps to increasing sales and gaining...
Trying to run the whole business yourself is not only stressful for you, the business owner, but also for the staff, who feel inadequate and unchallenged. But how do you drive revenue and increase sales if you have a very tight budget and you really can’t afford to hire sales staff on a full or part time basis? In short, the business owner must get more creative. Here are seven different strategies any business owner can employ to not only increase sales but also systemise the sale process – and do more in less time.
Do you have ‘who’ it takes? Successful businesses need ‘improvers’ on the payroll.
The gap between what your people are paid and the value they deliver determines people performance and company profit. Do you have who it takes? Andrew Horsfield delivers some hard truths.
Would you like to be a chapter boss for Anthill’s Entrepreneurs’ Night Out networking...
The Entrepreneurs' Night Out offers a chance to meet and learn from other business builders, share a drink, have a laugh, gain insights from a panel and benefit from the wins and losses of other attendees. So far, we've held events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. However, we can't be everywhere at once.
Patently obvious: 7 things every business owner should know about patents (but usually doesn’t)
‘Patents’ and ‘patent pending’ are much more than words bandied about on late-night infomercials. Like other tools in the intellectual property stable, patents are intended to protect an inventor’s product or method. As with copyright and trademark, patents can initially seem daunting. However, the following seven tips will set you on the path to understanding how patents apply to your business.
How to see opportunities that your competitors think are stupid. Do you suffer from...
If you have ever asked yourself, ‘Why didn’t I see that?', you were experiencing an example of ‘Weak Signal Theory’. We are constantly bombarded with ‘weak signals’. Some of them are genuinely weak, while others are weak because our brain has suppressed them. This automatic filtering of information is quite natural and designed to prevent sensory overload. But it also means that we often overlook opportunities.
When hiring salespeople, make them give you 35 reasons why they want to work...
At sometime during the recruitment process, ask the candidate to write down 35 reasons why they want to be a salesperson within your company. Allow up to 15 minutes for this process alone. I’ve conducted this exercise with hundreds of sales consultants. A common theme is that by the time they reach around the 15th reason they get stuck. Why? Because the first 15 reasons are typically high level and relatively easy to communicate.
Report suggests that Australian women are more likely to be successful if they work...
The Hydrogen Group, through its report ‘Global professionals on the Move 2011’, has found that women are more likely to advance in their professions if they have experience abroad. Yet, according to the survey, of all the Australians working overseas, 67% are men and 33% are women.
Will this cheeky ad shake loose the equal pay that women deserve? [VIDEO]
We recently we shared with you an ad in which women put on goofy mustaches with the hopes of getting pay that's equal to men -- a disparity that's a big problem in Australia. And now a new video has surfaced with the same message. But it's, um, cheekier.
How to turn our daughters into powerful business leaders of the future
Recently, I attended a breakfast about gender disparity. Interestingly, the research shows some real gems of wisdom about how to raise girls to become future leaders. Our lessons about leadership start very early on, it seems, and our ability to lead is ingrained well before we even leave school. Here are five ways to turn our daughters into powerful business leaders of the future.
Business failures increase 23% in 2010, but entrepreneurs undeterred
A new report by analysts Dun & Bradstreet has found a 23% increase in business failure in 2010. The relative strength of the Australian economy was no match for rising costs and delayed payments, with many businesses folding despite Australia's success weathering the global financial crisis, in comparison to other nations.
Six lessons from a collective buying newbie (what we got right, what we got...
On Friday 25 February, Anthill launched a group buying website for bsuiness owners, called Antmart. We promised, at the time, to share what worked... and what didn't. At this early stage in the site's development, our attention has largely been on aspects that didn't work. Here are six lessons from our first week.
Tim Minchin vs business: 5 lessons from comic genius
“This is about me, not you!” So proclaimed Tim Minchin, a London-based Australian “rock star” comedian, to his audience at the Palais in St Kilda on 25 Feb 2011. What follows are the business-life lessons I’ve drawn from his stage craft.
Melbourne conference maps the future for venture capitalists
The Melbourne International Venture Capital Conference, featuring more than 30 expert speakers, keynotes and panel sessions, will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 8 March, at the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Speakers will include Tan Yinglan, author of "The Way of the VC -- Top Venture Capitalists on Your Board" and "Chinnovation -- How Chinese Innovators are Changing the World."
