So why wouldn’t you plan for the future? To use a well worn phrase “not having a plan is planning to fail”

Accurate Job Specification
In order to make sure you attract the right applicants for the job, make sure that the job specification is relevant to the needs of your business. The potential candidates must have a clear understanding of what the role entails and what skills and experience are required.

Standard Application Form
In order to filter candidates at an early stage (and therefore save time in processing applications) you should develop a standard application form which all applicants must complete in order to be considered for the role. The application form should record details of qualifications and identification in order to allow the business to filter out unsuitable candidates prior to inviting eligible applicants for interview.

Take time to review your processes
Try to be realistic about what you require from candidates. Define the skills required to do the job and agree them prior to the interview stage. Don’t change your mind about what you are looking for and take time to make decisions about which candidates to recruit.

Help new recruits on-board
In small businesses, a common mistake is to assume that a new employee will perform exactly as expected. A new employee must be provided with information that will help improve their chances of contributing immediately to the firm. Management should take the time to train new recruits, explain how the business works and give the new employee(s) a chance to learn the ropes. New staff should be provided with a manual outlining common processes and procedures in the business including safety, security, sales, ordering and so on.

Simone Greasley

The first of these is “co-ordinate more”:

Businesses operate through a number of processes, hopefully, if these are not linked, co-ordinated, it can severely hamper performance. Integrating back-office functions with customer-facing systems will mean you have one view of your business so all aspects of your organisation can focus on delivering the excellent service that helps retain customer loyalty.

The terms “disaster recovery” and “business continuity planning” are sometimes used interchangeably because their functions often overlap. When a disaster strikes, you need to have a business continuity plan to help you move forward. There are many simultaneous activities that you need to focus on depending on the priorities of your firm. You also have to manage the people in your firm who are affected and the customers and clients whose orders and business may be disrupted.

You can’t afford to wait until a disaster happens before you develop a plan. You may do your planning internally with your managers or you can hire an outside consultant specialising in business continuity planning. The first item on the list should be to designate the people who will assume leadership in the event of a catastrophe. When there is a designated leader, it becomes easier to implement your plans because someone is taking charge. The second most important item should be to evaluate the company’s processes in order to determine those which should be prioritised for restoration of business activities. This will minimise the effects of such disruption on the systems and on the company’s staff and clients. The next priority will most likely be to determine backup recovery on systems and storage.

In order to ensure that your business continuity plan is ready to roll out in the event of a disaster, it is essential to have a practice run at least once a year, just like a fire drill. Involve your employees, staff and management so that everyone will become familiar with the routine.

Simone Greasley

• 37% of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues
• 80% find it difficult to concentrate
• 57% find it harder to juggle multiple tasks
• 62% take longer to do tasks
• 50% are potentially less patient with customers/clients.

Employers need to recognise the symptoms of mental health and provide support to their workforce.

Simone Greasley

Achieving business goals are no different. The person responsible for them generally has the loneliest job in the World. This is where the personal trainer, business coach/advisor, comes in. As an experienced pair of ears they can the business leader explore and solve problems affecting their business.

Simone Greasley

Most people need more than seven hours sleep a night to avoid such ‘sleep risk’, the study said, with 56 per cent of people who get between five and seven hours ending up in the high risk category.

The study, based on ‘sleep scores’ also found that people working a regular five-day week generally enjoyed significantly better sleep than those working part-time or irregular hours.

Simone Greasley

Simone Greasley

·         Encourage customers to pay by direct debit

·         Invoice promptly and chase outstanding bills

·         Invoice accurately

·         Create a weekly spreadsheet showing all the money going in and out of your business

·         Credit check all customers