Posted on March 16, 2010 by Nick
Ructions in the office today. I heard four words which always make the hairs on the back of my neck bristle with rage: “It’s not my job…” One of the things I tell people starting a business for the first time is that the buck stops with them. And that means everything is their job. [...]
Filed under: people skills, service | Tagged: business, company, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, HR, human resources, it's not my job, job, job description, job roles, job satisfaction, motivation, people skills, personnel, recruitment, run a business, staff, start a business | 2 Comments »
Posted on May 12, 2009 by Nick
I’m not usually a fan of Human Resources departments. It’s not particularly the people who become HR consultants (there’s nothing congenitally wrong with ‘em); no – it’s the fact that I think it’s rather hard to bat for both sides at the same time. When times are good, there’s nothing to worry about. But when [...]
Filed under: current affairs, mobile, people skills, retail | Tagged: business, business blog, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, flexible working, HR, HR management, human resources, kellogg, kelloggs, people management, people skills, run a business, work at home, work from home | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 6, 2008 by Nick
One of the things they always say about business (I don’t know who ‘they’ are, but they’re right) is that you need a good team around you. Even if you’re a sole trader, you need a good accountant, assistance from friends, subcontractors etc. They’re all part of your team. Last Friday, I saw teamwork in [...]
Filed under: people skills, tips | Tagged: business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, filming, HR, people, people skills, run a business, start a business, team, teambuilding, teamwork | Leave a Comment »
Posted on June 16, 2008 by Nick
The BBC’s businessfest that is “The Apprentice” has finally run its course for 2008; it returns in 2009. First, a fact. Did you know that Sir Alan Sugar was not the first choice of tycoon for the top man’s job? Sugar’s good friend and retail giant Sir Philip Green was the Beeb’s number one choice. [...]
Filed under: people skills, tips | Tagged: Alan Sugar, apprentice, business, CV, Dragon's Den, HR, Lee McQueen, lie on a CV, people skills, Philip Green, recruitment, start a business | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 5, 2008 by Nick
As I write, the political landscape has changed. Labour has lost over 300 local government seats, and Ken Livingstone has been ousted as Mayor of London. But the Tories, the key beneficiaries of this sea change, are all too aware that this was not a pro-Tory vote. It was an anti-Gordon Brown vote. For whatever [...]
Filed under: current affairs, people skills, sales | Tagged: confidence, negotiation, people skills, presentation, presentation skills | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 27, 2008 by Nick
It’s 1am, I’m shattered, but it’s been a great day. A great day, because I sealed a new deal with a client; and every businessman knows how good that feels. It’s also a long-term deal (a three month initial contract, extending in quarters from there)- and as a service business, that’s great news too. Projects, [...]
Filed under: people skills, sales | Tagged: clients, instinct, people skills, sales | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 13, 2008 by Nick
So, this morning I spent some time reading the papers to get an idea of their thoughts on the Budget. What I found most amusing was that many were as interested in Mr Darling’s rather boring personal style and delivery than the actual substance of the Budget itself. Now that might be partly because they [...]
Filed under: current affairs, people skills, sales | Tagged: people skills, presentation, public speaking | 1 Comment »
Posted on March 10, 2008 by Nick
I hope this week finds you well! At the end of last week, I had to tell one of the several writers who work for me on a freelance basis that we were parting company. It’s obviously not as painful as releasing a full-time employee, but it’s still an unpleasant experience on both sides. Before [...]
Filed under: people skills, sales | Tagged: employment, hiring and firing, people skills, relationships | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 6, 2008 by Nick
Scroll a couple of posts back, and you’ll see that I spent the early part of this week on a rather fruitless jaunt to New York. Having decided to enjoy my time there anyway, I was lucky enough to eat at one of the city’s finest fish restaurants. Let’s give them a plug- it’s Esca. [...]
Filed under: people skills, service | Tagged: career, people skills, restaurant, service, waiter | Leave a Comment »
