What every business owner needs to know for the third quarter

So it looks like summer might well be here, but as this is England, none of us like to count our chickens about what’s to come next.  However we’re almost exactly slap bang in the middle of the year, and now’s a great time to take a step back from the day-to-day running of your business and consider the bigger …

Three difficult questions you need to ask yourself before 2016

  By now, it’s highly likely that you’ll have asked yourself the big, important, and very obvious questions about how your business measured up during 2015.  You’ll know how much you increased your turnover, how many new staff you recruited, and what your goals are moving forward. Planning and reflection sessions can be hugely useful, but sometimes, it can be …

How to welcome new staff into existing teams

Recruiting a new member of staff for your growing business can be a really exciting time, but it’s something that you should definitely consider carefully before you rush into taking action. One of the key challenges that you’re going to face is ensuring that your new recruit is welcomed into your existing team without any significant teething problems. Now of …

It’s time to rethink your appraisals

  Recent research from PwC revealed that two thirds of larger companies are thinking about revamping their appraisals processes. The 2015 Performance Management Research found that businesses are becoming increasingly eager to ditch the once-a-year approach and instead concentrate on developing practices that create a continuous feedback culture. It’s often suggested that it’s time for appraisals to be scrapped in …

Are your HR practices in desperate need of an overhaul?

You probably started your own business because you’re passionate about bringing your product or service into the world, and providing a much-needed solution for your customers and clients. This people management malarkey though – it’s not necessarily what you signed up for.  Call it a necessary evil if you like, but the fact remains that if you want to grow …