Why productivity matters
Productive companies get more out of what they’ve got, enabling them to increase their profits, pay higher wages and invest in their future. More productive businesses mean a more prosperous country. Discover why productivity matters below.
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Digital Readiness
Article
Let Google train your team in Google Analytics
While most SMEs agree that Google Analytics is a vitally important data tool founder of marketing agency Digital Clarity, Reggie James says that more than half of all companies are not very clear on how they should be using it.
Digital Commerce
Planning
Video
A business mentor gave me a sounding board for my ideas and decisions
A business mentor may seem formal, expensive or out of reach, but there have never been more opportunities to access an experienced individual to bounce ideas off in times of need and drive effective change.
Ambition
Leadership & Strategy
Article
The power of prioritising business must-dos over can-dos
Business leaders need to manage the tension between investing resources in long-term strategic must-dos with the more immediate and easier can-dos.
Leadership Behaviours
Digital Readiness
Article
Discover the innovative strategies behind a productive commute
A productive commute can not only help you arrive at work feeling enthused for the day ahead but also make delays and congestion more palatable. From making calls to podcast listening, we discovered the different approaches at your fingertips.
Collaborative tools & analytics
People & Team
Video
Know your customers and inspire your people
Louise Fowler is chief customer and marketing officer at The Post Office, and has spent a quarter of a century working with some of Britain’s leading brands.
Talent development
Leadership & Strategy
Article
How to build a self-managing business
Pete Fraser has never been one for micro-managing and has built a self-managing business that let's him get his head out of the sound more often than most.
Improve your own leadership capabilities
People & Team
Article
How to stop your employee talent from leaving the business
You spend all that time, money and effort securing the best hires and then your employee talent decides to leave well before you’d like them to. Find out how two very different businesses keep their best.
Talent development
People & Team
Article
Building a cost-effective training culture requires knowledge sharing
Developing an internal training culture is essential to keep employees engaged, motivated and productive. Be the Business spoke to three companies, each of which have taken different approaches to training staff.
Talent development
Leadership & Strategy
Article
Strong values can attract the right talent
Sustainable building supplies company EnviroBuild has found that the company's job ads are attracting the right talent and just the kind of people they want to work there.
Vision & Values
Digital Readiness
Article
A skills plan that works just as well for older staff as it does for younger
With the age of retirement set to hit 66 by 2020, it’s vital that companies ensure a skills plan is in place that's as appropriate to people in their sixties as it is to those aged 16.
Digital Commerce
Digital Readiness
Article
Prioritising new business development
Yash Dubal, founder of A Y & J Solicitors, has chosen to seize the moment and come out fighting with exciting new business development and a marketing push.
Leadership & Strategy
Article
The different approaches taken to communicating vision and values
Taking the vision and values a company develops from the drawing board and into the workplace is easier said than done – but there are some proven strategies for communicating vision and making values stick.
Vision & Values
Sales & Growth
Article
Countries in focus: How the Irish economy took a hit but came out the other side fighting fit
It’s weathered crippling recessions and struggled with an uncompetitive currency, but now the Irish economy is booming and producing highly-productive small and medium-sized businesses.
Expanding & Exporting
Planning
Article
Coronavirus cash flow crib sheet
Cash flow is going to be a big focus for all businesses the next 12 months. This article brings together expert advice, tips and best practices.
People & Team
Article
Creating team leaders to maximise sales and profitability – stories from the beauty and hospitality worlds
As a business grows it gets harder and harder to stay on top of all day-to-day activities. Nurturing and empowering team leaders helps take some of the pressure off, as Be the Business found out.
Talent development
Digital Readiness
Article
How Facebook Live cookery sessions are putting one business on the map
When coronavirus threatened their business, The Cooking Shed turned to Facebook Live and connected with some surprising new customers.
Collaborative tools & analytics
Leadership & Strategy
Article
A look at the management style changes made by successful business leaders
Whether they realise it or not, leaders in everything from business to sport have a management style. What separates the best from also rans is the ability to change this style as the environment around them evolves.
Leadership Behaviours
Digital Readiness
Article
The most effective digital tools for growing businesses
The best business tools increase productivity and focus. Digital tools link teams, improve collaboration and act as personal organisers. We spoke to business owners about what’s worked for them.
Digital Commerce
Leadership & Strategy
Article
The different interpretations of vision and values in business
They're discussed a lot in terms of their importance in setting a successful strategy, but interpretations of vision and values are often unique to each company and leader. Be the Business digs a little deeper.
Vision & Values
Planning
Article
Cash flow management: You know how to do it, but can you do it in a crisis?
Our crib sheet brought together 15 steps to cash flow management best practice. Now, we've asked some finance experts what they're saying to SME clients.
Planning
Article
Good cash flow forecasting will show the way
Peter Watson explains how his four-point coronavirus crisis survival strategy is backed up by careful cash flow forecasting that will inform big decisions.
Leadership & Strategy
Article
I felt like I was in my dad’s shadow
It took Liz Davis a long time to realise she didn’t need to be her dad after taking over the family business – she just needed to be herself.
Improve your own leadership capabilities
Planning
Article
Executive education is a powerful tool for leaders
Business leaders have to keep learning. Working with peers and the management team is important, but executive education also plays a crucial role.
Ambition
Leadership & Strategy
Article
What you can learn from Ceviche’s Martin Morales
At a Be the Business masterclass business leaders shared what they learned from the Ceviche story and how they would use it to make their firms even better.
Improve your own leadership capabilities