People Management Tips from a Successful UK SME

Published on: 04 May 2018 Last Updated on: 09 August 2019

Many business owners excel at the core activities of their company but can struggle with the supporting functions that come with it. It’s certainly true to say that not every business owner is a natural leader and manager of people, and nor would they consider themselves to be. However, this is something that must be learned, at least until the business is large enough to hire someone who is if the SME is to be a success.

So what are the realities of people management for business owners? We spoke to Vasco de Castro, the co-founder and business development director to find out what he has learned about people management during his time at the helm of the new international workplace fruit provider Fruitful Office.

1. Make your team the focus of the business

It’s the business owner who has grown the company from the ground up, so it can be difficult to let go. However, once you start taking on staff, it’s important to step back and play a supporting role. The tendency is to think the business is all about you, but it’s the people who work for you that play a key part in creating the business’s culture.

Making time for your team on a personal and professional level and listening to any problems or issues they may have is central to the perceptions they form about the business. It’s also important to acknowledge that in their specialist areas, employees may well be more knowledgeable than you. Asking for their input and acting on the insights they provide will help them become a valued part of the business.

2. Let them shine

The reason you’ve hired the workers you have is hope that they have the specialist skills you lack, so it’s essential you give them the support and space they need to put those skills to good use. The tendency to micromanage is something business owners should resist at all costs. Understandably, you will be protective of your business, but once you’ve provided clear direction and made your expectations clear, it’s time to step back and let them shine.

As Vasco de Castro explains: “In my view, it is the role of the leader to provide the vision for the business and communicate it clearly to employees. It’s then down to the employees to make it happen.”

3. Remember the bad bosses you’ve had in the past

When you’re finally in the position to be in charge, remember all those horrible bosses you’ve had along the way and make sure you don’t become them. There are a number of small and simple steps you can take to make your business somewhere your employees actually want to work.

Recognizing their achievements, giving them the freedom to make their own decisions, trusting them and actually getting to know them on a personal level all help. However, simply allowing yourself to relax and enjoy what working life has to throw at you has an important part to play in creating a loyal and energized team.

What do you think is the key to successful people management in an SME? Do you agree with Vasco de Castro? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How To Sell A Small Business Without A Broker

Once you’re ready to sell your small business, hiring a business broker tops your list. An article from this perfectly defines the role of business brokers that is to act as “intermediaries between buyers and sellers of a business”. They are the equivalent of real estate brokers or agents who sell properties on behalf of property owners. Business brokers manage everything necessary to sell your small business, from planning to marketing to closing the deal. Some even assist during the transition process. Considering such an enormous task, enlisting a broker may seem the easiest and most convenient thing to do. However, their service comes with an outrageous fee, usually around 10% commission from the sale. This is certainly a huge cut from your profits. If you want to retain the full profit from the sale, you can opt to sell your small business sans middlemen. This is an excellent choice especially if you have previous experience selling a business, you know of prospective buyers, or you’re not in a hurry to sell-off. However, when you decide to sell your business on your own, you have to be ready for a tedious legwork. So, how do you go about the sale? Know your reason for selling the small business According to a business broker, the first thing that a buyer would want to know is why a business is being sold. For a business to attract a potential buyer, you need to have a good reason. Some of the common reasons are retirement, sudden changes in personal circumstances, illness or death, boredom, partnership disputes, and burnout. Prospective buyers find these as ‘attractive’ reasons to buy a business. It may be harder to sell a business if you tell the buyer that you’re selling the business due to its sorry financial state, persistent losses, lack of manpower, and changing market conditions and trends. Make your business easily marketable by timing your sale properly. Show positive attributes to make it more marketable such as a strong customer base, increased profitability, consistent good financials, well-defined business processes, and a good contract. Plan your sale Prepare your business at least two years ahead of the sale, especially if you won’t enlist a broker. Have an ample amount of time to improve your client base, business structure, and financial records. This will help improve the value of your business and make it more attractive to buyers. This should also help ease the transition process. Get your business appraised Once you’re ready to sell, you need to decide on the worth of your business. It is best to work with a professional business appraiser to get a proper valuation. Often, business owners become illogical when it comes to evaluating their own business. Some price is too low in an attempt to make it more marketable but end up losing on potential profit. Others price it too high hence making it unattractive to potential buyers. A business appraiser will evaluate your business to determine its worth. He then prepares a detailed explanation to give credibility to the proposed price. Prepare all documents Give time in preparing the design or sales package for your business. This document represents your business in the best possible light to potential buyers. It should include financial, operational and marketing information. If you are not comfortable with your communication skills, you can enlist the help of professional business writers. Financial documents are an important part of the sale process. Gather your books of account, financial statements, and tax returns for the past four years. Review these documents with an accountant. In addition, develop a list of assets that are being sold along with the business. Include other necessary documents such as lease agreements, supplier contracts, and contact lists. Prepare an information packet or operating manual that provides an overview of your business processes. In addition, you want to add photographs of your business, testimonials, case studies, and customer profiles. Highlight accomplishments and milestones to make it more marketable and command better-asking price. Prepare your business on-site Alongside the documentary preparations, you should also make your business site presentable. Check your physical store, production site, warehouse, and other related locations. You might need to have some areas repainted or redeveloped. Check if equipment or machinery needs to be replaced or fixed before the sale. Investing in such developments can help improve the asking price. It might sound cliché but first impressions last. An unkempt and dilapidated business site might turn off a potential buyer. It pays to invest in your physical asset as soon as you decide to sell on your own. Look for a buyer to sell your small business Finding a buyer is difficult, but it becomes doubly challenging if you don’t have a business broker. Unless you have a ready buyer, it may take several months to years before you can find the right buyer. The advantage of hiring a business broker is that they have wide networks and established marketing methods. If you are working solo, you will need to compensate for these services. There are listing sites dedicated to businesses-on-sale. You only need to pay a one-time fee and your business becomes available to potential buyers. You can also tap your networks. Perhaps, a friend or an acquaintance (or someone they know) is planning to buy a business. You can check your local business clubs or chambers. Visit online forums and social networks. Don’t limit your advertising methods. Final Thoughts As you can see, if you sell your small business without a broker is possible. It can even be advantageous if you play an active role in the sales and negotiation process. Quite obviously, business owners are more passionate to sell their business to the right buyers. Of course, you just have to remain rational and avoid getting your emotions to affect your decisions. As a final caution, if you have no experience selling and buying a business, you should consider working with a business broker or someone who has experience in this field. Better yet, you can check with your local chamber of commerce for assistance and counseling. Read Also: How to Boost Traffic to your Small Business Cost Effective Custom Mobile Accessories Packaging for your Small Business How To Empower Your Small Business through Digital Marketing? 4 Simple And Cheap Methods To Attract More Customers For Your Small Business

8 Tried and Tested Secrets of a Productive Home Office

Whether you are an entrepreneur or you run your own business from home, or you are simply doing your office work, offices in the home are more than just a simple working space. Not only it gives you the freedom to work with ease, but it’s also a place where your work productivity depends upon. You can also transform your garage into your Productive home office. You can use the garage space for your office creation. If you are in a home and want space to not affect your productivity, here are some of the tips to help you: Different Tips You Can Follow For Creating Productive Home office There are different tips and tricks you can apply for creating your Productive home office. In this article, you will get the complete details of it. Try to follow some key tips that can work well in your favor. Do not make your choices in grey as it can defame your dreams. Do not make things more complicated for yourself. 1. Be A Mouse Find a nook and start working. Be it a corner of your room, or the divided study, find the space that makes you feel comfortable while working. Also, make sure that the place doesn’t amalgamate with noisy rooms. Busy rooms make the worst space to work, so find a distraction-free space where you can focus. 2. Declutter Space Although it's obvious to see extra pens and papers swimming on your desk, they can detract from your work and can hamper your productivity. Let your space think so that you can work peacefully. Allot different space to everything with your working device only on the table. 3. Segregated Log House If you have kids at home who constantly keep you nagging between your work, you surely need an individual workspace. While a study would be fine, kids can invade that too. However, you can construct a small log home to work in peace. You can even go for a log cabin kit if you don’t wish to build a complete house. 4. Green Can Help Make your workspace look appealing by bringing some outdoors into your space. A plant on the desk or floor is the perfect way to add a fresh feel to space. This will also give you a break from the screen when needed and will look pleasing to the eyes. You can add a small cactus or a succulent if you are not a fan of huge planters and pots. 5. Comfort Is Important Don’t create such an environment as you are napping, but you can incorporate something comfortable to relax during breaks. Since it’s hard to be focused by constantly straining to see screens, good and comfortable seating will prevent your fatigue and will increase productivity. Invest in a good office chair or a couch. If you are tired of seating too long, have a standing table in one corner. Things like small cushions, anti-glare screens and more can up your comfort level allowing you to stay focused during work. 6. Lighting Maximize work by incorporating good lighting to boost energy and also to reduce eye strain. If possible, increase natural light and let the fresh air come in. If it's impossible to bring natural light, use bright white bulbs to make the room look brighter. 7. Color Color can make a huge difference to your productivity, so use it smartly. While soft hues can give you soothing effects, yellow hues aim to increase creativity and induce a feeling of relaxation. So choose the colors that suit your personality and bring them into your productive home office. You can also add colors through accent wall painting or can paint the entire space. 8. Scents Also Work The key to staying active all day is a nice smelling room, and that means incorporating scents. You can use peppermint to add freshness and to energize the space. Also, peppermint can help you concentrate on your work. If peppermint is not your smell, use citrus scents to de-stress and to uplift mood. Diffused candles and essential oil diffusers are also a great way to make your scented game strong and your room refreshing. Well, it’s no secret that the office environment plays a major role in your product. However, the above tips can also help you to create a productive home office. Final Take Away Hence, these are some of the factors that you have to take care of while you want to build your own productive home office space that is essential for your business. Try to make things work well in your favor as it is one of the crucial aspects for your business to encounter at your end. Work well in all the aspects that can help you to achieve your business objectives in the right way and in a short span of time. Read Also : 8 Ways You Can Improve Safety In A Workplace Exploring A Full-Time Remote Working Opportunity The Best Pro Tips For Setting Up An Awesome Home Office

5 Steps To Launching Your Own Small Business

Commencing a business of your own is a dream for many in such a high-paced environment where competition is always on the rise. However, it is not as overwhelming as it sounds. With the right set of knowledge and planning, one can easily learn how to start your own small business. While you get started on the journey, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind. This article will walk you through the 5 important steps that help you build a brand right from scratch. So, make sure you scroll till the end and discover the unknown business tips. 5 Steps To Follow When Starting A Small Business Before actually starting to build a business, you have to get a detailed analysis of the market, your competitors, and the things that have been trending in this particular niche. If you conduct a thorough study on this, there’s absolutely nothing that can stop you from becoming an entrepreneur. 1. Research All of Your Variables This might seem obvious, but it's really not. Most people understand they need to research how to deliver the services or goods they intend to provide and how to advertise to the right customer base. It goes further, though. The kind of industry you would do best in and the business model that best suits your area and target marketplace are also variables to consider. You might know what you can do, generally, from your skill set, but you need to get specific about what your area needs and where it is underserved if you want to count on bringing in customers quickly. Look at the cost of setting up a company, leasing compared to buying operational space, costs for local advertising, and recommendations for staffing while you are at it. The more knowledge you have going in, the better your chances of success once you get things going. Running a company is all about building consistent processes for regular tasks, and you need research to understand which processes will be productive, too. 2. Assess Your Financial Reach Within any industry, there are players that work as individual professionals or owner-operators, and there are large corporations providing service at volume. Frequently, the latter are the biggest customers for the former. The scope of your company at startup is defined by the resources you can bring to bear. Understanding how much financing you can get with your available assets and capital will help you understand how to set up your company for day-one operation by putting realistic limits on things like equipment, utilities, payroll and the number of employees you can start with. You can make the most of this reach by getting the best small business loan rates you are qualified for, and that takes even more research to discover. 3. Choose a Business Model Once you understand what you can do with your skills, what size company you can afford to start, and where the demand is, the next step is to pick a model of operation. The model is different from the business. For example, you might want to start a restaurant. What kind? Fine dining, carryout, and mobile food service, all have different operations with different processes needed to be successful. Matching your model to your ability to reach customers and meet their needs is just as important as finding raw demand for a product or service. With a variety of options available, it might be a little confusing for you. So sit back, relax, and think about what kind of business will yield you the desired result. 4. Write a Killer Business Plan Writing your business plan is pretty much the last step in the preparation phase before you actually start launching the company. It serves as a roadmap to your goals as well as an important document for lenders to consider when you apply for financing. A well-written plan should spell out enough about your operation to let your key personnel make autonomous decisions in their spheres of influence. That means your managers should not need to consult you when setting up their departments. In solo operations, it means that you should not need to do extra research outside of consulting your plan unless something unforeseen happens. Your plan should describe the major operations, layout marketing tactics to reach the initial audience with demand and to keep growing from there, identify the equipment you'll need, and otherwise cover everything that goes into actually running the company. That makes it a lot easier to put the pieces together. 5. Put It All Into Motion The first step after finishing your plan is usually financing because that gives you the financial reach to start operating. There are just a few cases where that is not the case. Solo operations can sometimes bootstrap basic services to get a little income going by working out of the house or a client's facilities. Otherwise, it's a matter of lining up the money, then buying the equipment and hiring any staff you need. Last comes marketing and launch. It is always a better idea to keep a dedicated portion of your income aside to fund your business, irrespective of its size. Businesses are full of ups and downs, and once you have set foot, there is no backing off. As a result, you have saved a significant amount of your finances to back up your persistent losses. Upon completion of these steps, you might want to allocate a part of your economic resource to bring the necessary equipment for your business. This will streamline your operations and will ensure that your business operates seamlessly. Key Takeaways Starting your own business takes not only a great deal of money but also time and effort. However, it can also be extremely rewarding when done in the right way. Make sure to follow the above steps that will guide you throughout your business-setup process. For detailed insight, you can always consult a licensed professional for business advice. Get started today! Read Also: Essential Investments Small Business Owners Should Make For Long-Term Success Resolutions To Help The Small Business Owners To Avoid Being Bankrupt How You Can Invest In Your Small Business

People Management Tips from a Successful UK SME

1. Make your team the focus of the business

2. Let them shine

3. Remember the bad bosses you’ve had in the past

Role of Promotional items in branding

6 Tips to Help Your Business Stay Ahead of the Competition

Tags

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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How To Sell A Small Business Without A Broker

8 Tried and Tested Secrets of a Productive Home Office

5 Steps To Launching Your Own Small Business

People Management Tips from a Successful UK SME

1. Make your team the focus of the business

2. Let them shine

3. Remember the bad bosses you’ve had in the past

Share this Article

Role of Promotional items in branding

6 Tips to Help Your Business Stay Ahead of the Competition

Tags

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related