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Leadership Accountability in Australian Business: Commitment to Performance

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Leadership accountability reflected in modern corporate office building architecture

As a Director, Executive, or Manager of a company, you have an obligation to manage the day-to-day operations of the organisation, its people, and its resources. Leadership accountability in Australian business plays a critical role in the effectiveness with which those responsibilities are carried out and in the consistency with which results are achieved.

Each year, you may reflect on how you would like things to be, making sure you meet your obligations to the company while still ensuring you have quality time for yourself and your family.

For the first few weeks, you may be able to implement these changes, but somewhere along the line, you find yourself slipping back into old patterns.

• Staying back at work when you have promised the kids that you would be home on time. 

• Doing more of the workload than you anticipated because you can’t seem to get your team to do it, or it’s not to your standards

• Finding that you feel withdrawn from work and are no longer feeling that same drive.

But what if you could change this? What if stronger leadership accountability allowed you to work fewer hours and still increase the profits and performance of the company consistently every month?

For some, that may sound impossible. But what if it were possible? What if it could be a win-win for everyone, the company, your staff, you and your family?

Why Leadership in Accountability in Australian Business Matters

Sustainable change does not happen by accident. It starts with clear expectations, disciplined planning and consistent leadership behaviours that set the tone for the entire organisation.

Here are 5 strategies to get you started:

1. Set the intention
How do you want your day to play out, and what does it need to include? Plan your day so that the most urgent tasks are completed in the first half of the day. Often, your day becomes chaotic when unexpected issues arise, and that is when pressure starts to build. Much of this can be minimised with planning and by allowing time for the unexpected. Strong leadership accountability begins with taking ownership of how you structure your time.

2. Block out time
Do not let things drag on longer than they need to. For example, when setting meetings, make sure there is an agenda communicated to all attendees, and be disciplined about sticking to both the agenda and the scheduled time.

Have you ever been in a situation where a meeting runs over time, and you spend the rest of the day trying to catch up? In some cases, that is what leads to staying back late at work. Effective leadership requires boundaries that protect both productivity and performance.

3. Attitude/Mindset
Think about the current mindset you have around challenges. If the first thought that pops up in your mind does not support your intention for the day, then you need to change it.

4. Set some rules
Have some general rules that you instil into your day-to-day activities at work. For example, do not schedule meetings at 4.30 pm if work hours finish at 5.00 pm. People are less likely to be attentive at that time of day because they are focused on leaving work on time

Another example is setting up a meeting with yourself, yes, yourself, for the first half hour of the day so you can get a few things done without disruption. Something that would normally take you an hour can often be completed in half an hour when you are fully focused.

5. Challenge the status quo

How many times have you heard people say, “But that is how we have always done things around here”? What if you did things differently, or perhaps did not do them at all?

For example, imagine sending out a monthly report that takes one full day to complete. What if you stopped sending it and waited to see whether anyone noticed or asked for it?

If they do ask for it, question what they actually use it for. If they only need one piece of information from it, perhaps that could be sent in a simple email that takes five minutes, rather than losing an entire day. Strong leadership means questioning inefficiencies and making decisions that improve performance.

Tomorrow make sure to have your intention already mapped out. Take fifteen minutes at the end of today and write these down. Start with the top three activities, allocate time to each activity and make sure to schedule them in your calendar.

Tomorrow, make sure your intention is already mapped out. Take fifteen minutes at the end of today to write it down. Start with the top three activities, allocate time to each one, and schedule them in your calendar.

Remember to challenge the status quo and be aware of your daily thoughts, asking yourself whether they support the needs of the company, its stakeholders, your staff, your family and you.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products and services, and improving productivity and cash flow.

Are Your Business Guidelines Clearly Communicated?

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business guidelines for small business and team communication

Think about how many times you have given a client a discount on their first visit, and from that point on they expected a discount every time. Yet that discount was only ever meant to apply to the first purchase for first time customers. Situations like this often occur when business guidelines for small business owners are not clearly communicated from the beginning.

Or have you ever seen a client on the weekend, even though that is not something you would usually do, and then they start expecting you to be available every other weekend as well?

When it comes to your staff, do they know what is expected of them? Do they know what working at the required standard looks like, and what would be considered below or above expectations?

Guidelines can be set in a business to help ensure that the values and direction of the business are reflected in the day to day activities that take place. Guidelines are not about being right or wrong. They are about creating clarity. For anyone engaging with your business, whether as a staff member, client, or customer, it is important to communicate those business guidelines where relevant so the working relationship can operate with a shared understanding.

Why Business Guidelines for Small Business Matter

These guidelines can be communicated verbally, in writing, or through both. Written guidelines can be formal, such as contracts, or informal, such as marketing material, website terms and conditions, or signage displayed in your workplace. They can also be documented through policies and documented business processes.

Verbal communication can happen before someone engages your services or purchases your product. For example, the other day someone reached out to ask for an initial consultation with me, which I offer as a complimentary session, and I said yes. He then asked if I could do it on the weekend, and I said no. There was no hesitation in my response because I have clear business guidelines around how I run my business. He respected that, and we arranged the consultation for a weekday.

Think about what happens in your business. When people ask you questions, do you answer straight away, or do you hesitate? If you find yourself hesitating, it may be a sign that your guidelines have not yet been clearly set.

Here are some common scenarios that can come up in business;

• From a client/customer

– Can I have a discount?

– Can I call you on the weekend?

– Can I come and pick up my products at 7 pm? What are your standard operating hours?

– Can I use your service for 1 month instead of 12 months?

– Can you also do this for me?

That last one is especially important. Is what they are asking for actually within the scope of the service they signed up for? I have a client who is a consultant and was working with an agency on a project that had been clearly scoped and agreed to. During the project, the agency’s system went down, and they knew my client had the skills to help. Before agreeing, she made it clear that this new work was outside the scope of the current agreement and would involve an additional fee. Once that was made clear, the agency agreed to engage her for the extra work.

• From staff

– Can I work back today so I can leave early tomorrow?

– Can I submit the finance report a week after the normal due date?

– Can I use a new supplier for a material we use in our product?

– Can I take the company vehicle?

– Am I doing a great job? Having guidelines, such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or targets, will allow them to answer this question themselves.

Another question might be:
“Will I get the promotion for the role I applied for?”

With regular communication throughout the year, including quarterly performance reviews, staff should already have a clear understanding of what is required to be successful in that role. That way, there are no surprises when the position is filled with the best candidate.

In your business right now, do you have clear business guidelines or policies? Establishing and communicating business guidelines for small business helps set expectations, maintain consistency, and ensure both staff and clients understand how your business operates.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products and services and improving productivity and cash flow.

How Can I Make Today Better Than Yesterday?

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continuous improvement in business represented by a sunrise over a busy city street symbolising progress, momentum and daily business growth

For your business growth, you need to build relationships, speak to people, and find out what they need, because you may be the person they need, either now or in the future. This approach supports continuous improvement in business because every interaction creates opportunities to learn, adapt, and strengthen how your business operates.

Every day at work, we have good moments and some not so good ones. However, we learn from every experience. When you focus on the positives, it can lift your energy, increase your momentum, and strengthen your drive. So, if we aim to have an even better day today than we did yesterday, each day can be filled with more positives and better results,, helping to build stronger habits that support business growth over time.

Small Daily Actions That Supports Continous Improvement in Business

There are many ways to have an even better day than yesterday, like;

Set your intention the night before – Know exactly what you want to achieve, so that first thing in the morning you can get started straight away. No time is wasted, and you feel a sense of achievement early in the day. Small daily planning habits like this contribute to continuous improvement in business because they help you stay focused on progress.

Put a smile on your face – You are probably thinking, of course I have a smile on my face, but maybe not as often as you think. Smiling is contagious. Wouldn’t it be better to work in an office where people are happy rather than miserable? A smile can change your whole demeanour, how you respond to people, and how they respond to you. Give it a go.

Be around people you enjoy being with – People who encourage you, support you, and help you learn. That leads me to the next point.

Learn something new – What is something you have been meaning to learn more about, but have not made the time for? Even if it is reading a book on a topic you want to understand better, watching a video, or listening to a podcast, set aside an hour a day.

Challenge yourself – Sometimes we prefer to stay safe and avoid stepping outside our comfort zone. But if we want to improve our current experience and the results we get, we need to challenge ourselves. For example, you may know that making a phone call to book a meeting with a certain person could open new doors for you, but you have not yet built up the courage to pick up the phone and make it happen. So instead, you are left wondering what could have been. Taking these small steps can create momentum that leads to business growth.

At the end of each day, remember to REFLECT. When you reflect, you begin to notice what you enjoyed about the day, and what you would like even more of tomorrow.

So tell me, “how can you make today even better than yesterday?”

Developing the habit of reflection and improvement is one of the simplest ways to encourage continuous improvement in business and create consistent business growth over time.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products, and services, and improving productivity and cash flow.

Why Business Focus Matters for Small Business Owners

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business focus for small business planning daily priorities and productivity in a planner

Distractions, going in different directions, and doing too many things at once can all leave you feeling busy but not productive. It is easy to fall into that pattern. That was me years ago, coming up with excuses about why I was not getting things done and why the results I was getting were not what I had hoped for. I was too busy being busy, and spending far less time planning and staying focused. Developing stronger business focus is something many small business owners struggle with when trying to improve productivity. That all changed when I started to implement what I now call the Focus 123 Strategy.

How the Focus 123 Strategy Improves Business Focus

So what is the Focus 123 strategy?

It is a SIMPLE strategy I use daily that helps me stay focused on the day ahead and take action on the tasks that move the business closer to its goals. Creating daily structure helps improve business focus, particularly for small business owners who are managing many responsibilities at once.

If you have not set goals for your business you can click here for a free template to get started.

Tony Robbins has a quote, “Motion creates emotion.” Once you begin, you start to shift how you feel. How many times have you procrastinated over something on your to-do list, but once you got started, you built momentum and felt proud of the result?

I know I have.

For me, that has looked like sitting down to write an article, picking up the phone to follow up prospects, creating a presentation for a speaking event, marketing a webinar I was running, or doing my bookkeeping. My background is in accounting, and I love numbers. Think about a time when you were in that position, and how you felt once you actually got started.

So what should be on this list of 123? 

Focus on the top 3 things that will help grow your business and ensure you fulfil the needs of your clients. Prioritising tasks like this helps maintain business focus and improves overall productivity within your small business. 

At the top of the list should be:

• Following up on prospects and making those calls. When you add this to your list, include the names of the people you are going to call.

• Deliver the service you promised your client. Be specific about what needs to be done. For example, send Business X a report on recommendations to increase productivity in their business.

• Then add other important items such as administration, marketing, and teamwork.

 

For each item on your list, make sure you allocate a timeframe. For example, if you are making calls to prospects, you might schedule 30 minutes at 10 am to complete them.

Setting a timeframe helps you complete tasks rather than dragging them out. It also reduces procrastination and helps you move more efficiently from one task to the next. Remember, it is not about how busy you are. It is about how productive you are with your time. Maintaining business focus for small business owners often comes down to managing time effectively and committing to the actions that drive results.

You do not need to limit your entire day to only three things, but these three should be your must-do items. If there are other things you want to get done, add them to your daily list, but do not start them until you have completed your top 3.

If you are a visual person, like I am, you may also like to track your productivity colours. For example, once I complete an item on the list, I highlight it in green. I also write the completion date next to it in red.

If one of the 3 items is not completed, it remains unhighlighted. That way, at a quick glance, I can see what still needs attention. If I have started but not finished an item, I highlight it in yellow. For anything not completed, I write in pencil next to it when I plan to finish it, and then I add it to my 123 list for that day

Give this a go and notice how much you can achieve in a day

Most importantly, do it daily so it becomes a DAILY HABIT. I know personally that when I choose not to do this, my focus becomes blurred. It is time to stop the blurred vision and start creating clarity around what your day will look like. Developing consistent habits like this strengthens business focus for small business owners who want clearer priorities and better productivity.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products and services, and improving productivity and cash flow.

Who You Need to Contact to Grow Your Business

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Smartphone displaying communication apps representing a digital, small business support network connecting entrepreneurs and business communities.

For your business growth, you need to build relationships, speak to people, and understand their needs, because you may be the person they need, either now or in the future. Building a strong, small business support network can open opportunities and help you connect with the right people who may need your expertise either now or later.

Whether you have met someone through a casual conversation, a formal meeting, or a networking event, what you do after that interaction is what will make the difference in building a genuine business relationship with that person and strengthening your support network.

Think about how many times you have gone to an event or met someone and they have said, “We should catch up” or “I’ll call you next week to arrange a meeting,” and then they never do.

Maybe you have been one of those people. What is the reason you have not taken that next step to make the call and arrange a meeting?

Could it be:

• You are not sure what to say at the meeting

• You are not sure how to articulate what to say

• You are not sure what you want as the outcome of the meeting

• You are worried they will say NO to the meeting

I’m sure you could come up with even more reasons why you have been holding back from contacting the people you know you should be contacting.

Why Your Support Matters for Business Growth

You see, being in business is about communication and listening. It is about listening to the other person’s needs and helping provide a solution to their problem. Developing a strong, small business support network allows you to better understand these needs and identify opportunities to help others.

Think back to the initial conversation you had with that person. What were their needs? What is something you could help them with? Or do you know someone who could help them? By doing nothing, you may actually be doing that person a disservice and limiting your potential for business growth.

Imagine you had a problem or a challenge, and the person standing right in front of you had the answer but chose not to offer it. How would that make you feel?

So right now, think of three people you need to contact who you could possibly help. Write their names down and set aside 20 minutes today to call them and arrange a time to meet.

Let’s not stop there, once you have those three meetings confirmed, write down the next three people you could help or add value to within your support network.

Start to notice the momentum you are building. Even if you experience a small setback, keep making those calls, because you will already be far ahead of where you were before you started.

For some of you, the rewards may not be instant. They may come months later. Book in meetings now that could lead to work in the near future.

I personally had a meeting in November, and that one meeting led to me being booked as a guest speaker for three events in early 2018 for a particular industry of small business owners.

Before you know it, your calendar will start to fill up, and it will not only be filled with meetings with leads and prospects, but also with client appointments.

Building relationships and consistently reaching out to people strengthens your business support network and creates opportunities for long-term business growth. When you intentionally nurture your small business support network, you position yourself to create value for others while also opening doors for future collaborations, referrals, and business success.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products, and services and improving productivity and cash flow.

Lining Up All Your Ducks: Small Business Growth Strategies

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ducks walking in a line representing small business growth strategies and taking action in business

I don’t think it’s the right time. I don’t have all the resources I need yet. What if this happens? I don’t know all the steps to take.

Do you hear yourself saying these things often, and find they stop you in your tracks?

They stop you from taking the next step, from doing what you know you should be doing in your business, but don’t.

You either have a clear idea or some idea as to what you want to achieve in your business but until you have all your ducks lined up, you hold yourself back from taking that step. This hesitation often delays progress and prevents you from applying the business growth strategies that help move your business forward.

What happens here is the following:

• You get stuck and don’t get moving

• You take longer to get your results

• You are ready to give up

But what if we turned this around and assumed you already had all the answers you needed? Would you then say yes?

Let’s try this for a moment.

Choose a situation, a thought, an idea, or a challenge you have been sitting on for a while, and say:

“Yes, I’m going to move forward with this, even though I don’t have all the answers yet and I have some fear about how this will turn out.”

Say yes, and then work out the how.

That is the approach to take.

I know it can feel scary, especially if you like certainty around the decisions you make, but give it a go. What is the worst that can happen?

Grab a notebook and write down what you have said yes to.

Taking Action Is One of the Most Effective Small Business Growth Strategies

Examples, of saying yes to:

• Creating an offer to your target market by the end of the month

• Generating [insert dollar amount] by [insert the date]

• Sending out weekly educational emails to your database by [insert start date]

• Posting [insert frequency] on social media

• Contacting a certain person who has been on your list for a while

• Creating an event, online or offline for your audience/potential clients

• Getting help from a person you know can assist you

• Setting boundaries in your business [example, the days and hours you work]

What’s important here is knowing your intention, what outcome you want to achieve.

It is also about getting started and trusting that the how will become clearer as you move through the process. Taking consistent action is often the difference between stalled ideas and real business growth.

In some cases, your plan may not go as anticipated. You may be led in a different direction. But ultimately, your aim is to get to your destination, the outcome you want.

No more reasons or excuses about why you can’t move forward in your business.

It is time to say YES and begin your journey towards your goal by taking the first step.

So, what is the first step you need to take?

Once you know what that is, take action.

Once that is done, ask yourself, what is the next step from here?

Keep going and before you know it, things will start to unfold for you and your business.

Along the way, you will also learn a lot about yourself. You may even surprise yourself with how resourceful you have been with your time, knowledge and the resources available to you. This is where practical business growth strategies begin to take shape through experience and action.

At each step reflect on your experience and ask some questions – Here are some questions to get you started:

1. Am I on the path to achieving the outcome I want  

2. What have I learned from this 

3. What resources did I need 

4. Who was able to support me  

5. What could I have done differently 

6. What will I continue to do moving forward, in the way I think, what I say to myself and the actions I take?

Use this process for one area of your business you want to work on right now, then repeat it for another area.

Taking action, reflecting and adjusting your approach are among the most practical small business growth strategies you can apply to keep your business moving forward.

EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products, and services and improving productivity and cash flow.