Sometimes there are definitive periods of intense activity at work that we need to lead ourselves and our team through. I’m talking about the likes of audits, reviews, restructures, installing new software systems. These are times where you know its going to be...

In contrast to the subdued grey Wellington day outside – the back room of Trade Kitchen was abuzz as old friends met and new introductions were made. The diversity of the Wellington business leaders assembled and the energy levels they brought were testament to their...

It’s been in the news a lot lately, and footage of Mark Zuckerberg schooling the US Congress doing the rounds has provided me with much entertainment. The digital age and the art of information collection. Have we let it go too far? So, with the growing voices of...

For most businesses in NZ (excluding Government) 31st March marks the end of the Financial Year. P&L is calculated, investment and depreciation is adjusted and the resulting NPBT figure (Net Profit before Tax) is the slice of the pie the IRD takes a bite out of.

With less than one months’ notice Air New Zealand announced it will suspend its Kapiti-Auckland service. The daily flights that link our largest city with a region that is growing steadily on the back of other major infrastructure projects (namely the Kapiti expressway and the transmission gulley project) came as a surprise to many.

My grandmother used to tell me that I had two ears and one mouth, and I should practice using them in that ratio. I know I was born an ‘over-communicator’ but I am inspired by great leadership and so I sit up and take notice of great leaders. I observe how they apply their skills in a way that earns them the title of ‘a great leader’… and I’ve noticed something.

Leaders listen more… (at least the really great ones do!)

A bit like a savings plan – a cohesive Strategy is one of those things that everyone agrees you SHOULD have, but a lot of businesses just never get around to putting in place.

And why would you bother? The truth is there are a lot of VERY SUCCESSFUL businesses out there that have been around for a long time without a whiff of a strategic plan. Seriously. No plan at all.

There is a lot of weight sitting on the shoulders of business owners, especially as a new financial year approaches: cashflow, annual leave, tax, stock levels and getting your mind into gear by shaking off the desire to throw it all in for a ‘simple life’ at the beach. By now most of us find ourselves back at work with the regular business patterns kicking into place.

Late last month the government announced plans to limit the 90 day trial period to small businesses (20 employees or less) in favour of more Union orientated advocacy – a move which has created much discussion in the engine room of Jigsaw Strategy…