GROWING A BUSINESS

BEING A LEADER

As your business grows, leadership becomes increasingly important. Read Peter Switzer's articles on what it takes to be a leader, developing your leadership skills, and how to lead your growing business through challenging times. Get the latest management tips, read how to stay motivated as your business grows, and chart a course to leadership success.

The views presented in these articles are not Optus' views. This article contains general information only and is not intended to be relied on as legal, financial or professional advice. Readers should seek their own advice based on their specific business needs.

Web savvy

Is your business online? If not, these survey results may make you think twice.

Good to great performance

When growing your business, it's important to get great people around you who can help take you business from good to great.

Tech route

A bank predicably playing hardball might have been the kick in the butt that Greg Roebuck had to have. It certainly put him on the road to create a car business that attracted some of the country's best connected equity partners.

Bumpy ride

In tough times its important to review your business and see how it can be improved in order to ride out the storm and be improved when things recover, especially in the personal services industry.

Give Gen Y a chance

It's important that staff, especially Gen Y staff, have a great leader to look up to. Motivation and inspiration is key.

Thinking about growth

Many businesses want to grow their business, but don't know how or where to start. Here are some tips to consider.

The evolution of your management team

Have you given any thought to what your business might look like at two or five times its current size? It is an exercise well worth undertaking because it provides insights into how the business will need to develop.

From Good to Great

As a business owner, a key to the success of your business is your leadership skills. Last year on the business speaking circuit I shared a speech with my audiences called Taking Your Business from Good to Great.

If you're a boss, you're a leader

In these troubled times a couple of clear messages have emerged. Firstly, the world - both the public one we share and our personal one - is in need of leadership. And secondly, the one area where we are all lacking has to be conflict resolution.

The 'L' word

Leadership is always in the news. A leading speaking agency principal who arranges business briefing breakfasts says when evaluation forms ask attendees what subject they are most interested in, 'leadership' always tops the list.

Balancing act

Many companies nowadays are being more proactive about helping staff achieve the elusive work/life balance. Business owners need to lead by example when it comes to managing time effectively.

Follow the leader

There are many common concerns when it comes to leadership in challenging times. What are some effective strategies to improve your skills?

The power of positive thinking

We've all heard of the power of positive thinking and how it can make you succeed in business, careers, sport and even relationships, but how do you make it happen?

The growth dilemma

Hey, if you don't want to grow a world-class business, don't worry, you're probably in the majority! These are the controversial findings of small business researcher Ross Cameron of Cameron Research Group.

How to be a good boss

OK, hands up those people who have had a nightmare boss? You're smiling, aren't you? Remembering that boss years ago who made your working life miserable, unpleasant and largely disappointing.

Do you want, or do you need, growth?

Growing a business can be a pretty tough thing to do. If you're committed to it, set goals, develop systems and strategies then you will get through the growing pains.

Do you want, or do you need, growth?

Growing a business can be a pretty tough thing to do. If you're committed to it, set goals, develop systems and strategies then you will get through the growing pains.

Learning from big business

Is a very small business different to big business? There are a lot of people out there who pass themselves off as business experts who want to tell home-based businesses ...

How to create results

Turn on the TV or flick through a magazine or newspaper and you'll see stories about high flyers. They could be holding up a book they've written or celebrating the growth of their business ...

Divine intervention

When starting a new business, it's important to develop a vision that states what you want your business to achieve.

Ethical operation

Being on top of your business means having a vision. As Sir Isaac Newton once said: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Dream big

Great advice I have never forgotten goes simply like this: "Never be afraid to dream big." The same goes for your business and a smart way to make it happen is to aspire to make your business world-class.

Live by the rules

Some time back I went to a World Masters of Business conference starring ex-communist Mikhail Gorbachev, I have to say it was a doctor who stole the show.

Different kettle of fish

Educating yourself in areas of business where you are not strong, rather than spending long hours on tasks you don't understand, is important in order to help your business grow.

The key ingredient

Over the years talking to some of the greats of business who have created household name business - the people behind these organisations never tell the truth, the whole truth, when explaining how they grew their business.

Being a leader

As the owner or boss of a business, it's important to have good leadership skills. Here are some tips to help you be the best leader you can be.

How to communicate

Good communication skills can help your business immensely. We think we're good communicators, but are we really?

Tips for leadership

For a business to succeed, it is important to be a good leader. Here are some tips to help you be a leader in your business and to your employees.

Being a leader

As the owner or boss of a business, it's important to have good leadership skills. Here are some tips to help you be the best leader you can be.

The retiring type

Here is the irony - planning to put your feet up in retirement is one of the toughest business challenges you can face.

Rules to Grow

Just about everyone wants to grow their business, so here are some rules to take on board to make it happen.

On top of the world

at's the common trait between Margaret Thatcher, Westpac CEO Gail Kelly, Kiwi Prime Minister Helen Clark, netballer Liz Ellis and Boost Juice's Janine Allis?

Finding a winning formula

To learn the skills you need to grow your business, you only need to look at the leaders who have been successful.

Leadership makes great customer service

Good customer service will get your customers' tongues wagging to other businesses and ensure they return to do with business with you.

Learn from abroad

There's a lot to learn by going overseas and seeing other businesses in action - and sometimes success comes down to simply knocking on doors.

In the black

Making your business unique is crucial to attracting not only clients, but good staff as well.

A job well done

When starting a new business, looking for areas of the market that are lacking in some way is important. Great leadership is then requires to make the business a success.

RECENT ARTICLES

Beating the clock

Most business owners need more time in their day. Here are a few timesaving techniques that will let you concentrate on growing your business.

Business in tough times

During tough times, cutting back on certain parts of your business may be detrimental.

Switzer's Hint

Here's another burnt onto my mental hard disk but I can't remember who said it! "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision."