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Mind your FKN Language (In Business)

By Business Coaching Creative Leadership Public Speaking No Comments

Running a business brings about all sorts of challenges and it goes without saying that communication is one of them. Finding the right language to use to get your point across and convey the impact of certain situations that arise within your company isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Whether a meeting needs to be had about important changes happening in your business, or a long-time client is on the line and you need to act quickly to prevent losing them; conveying that information in a way that creates a common and coherent understanding amongst employees can be a bit of a pain in the ass, to be brutally honest.

Naturally, your favourite bearded business coach has a special trick up his sleeve to go about doing this in a straightforward and uncomplicated way:

Similar to the DEFCON (Defense Readiness Condition) system that the US Armed Forces makes use of, this approach is about creating a method of communication around urgent and important situations that pop up in your business – which can be helpful in developing an efficient and clear form of understanding between both staff and management.

This is a DEFCON 1 situation, so you’d better pay close attention.

Listen Closely. Your Job Could Depend On It! 

If I ask you to think about the situations that surface in your business and how you go about informing others of those situations, then the use of effective communication is a massive priority in getting your message across and understood.

If something serious is happening and the life of the business depends on certain actions to be taken; if you’re implementing a new strategy and everybody needs to be made aware of it; or if there’s a new rule, regulation or law that needs to be adopted by employees – starting a system of language that your staff understand and are aware of will help you gather them much quicker than an email that they might not read, or a lengthy statement that might spread confusion.

When I coach clients, I remind them that using the right communication tools are important in creating awareness around the defense conditions within their business.

The use of strategic language is a crucial tool to develop a sense of understanding around these conditions and it allows for a level of brevity when trying to get an important message across to staff.

Knowing whether it’s an existential problem that the company is facing (like the threat of a shut down), or if it’s something that can be dealt with at a later stage (like the implementation of new policies), it ultimately helps create a clear picture that everybody in the organisation can understand.

Reworking The DEFCON System Into Business 

The DEFCON system is basically a prescribed set of terms that highlight the urgency of dire situations being faced during war through the use of strategic language. It helps to ensure a sense of readiness so that the correct actions are taken and so by using it, everybody involved in the defence of a country will be informed of the severity of those situations, ensuring that certain measures are in place to deal with them.

When breaking it down, the ranking starts at DEFCON 5 (least severe/minor) and works its way to DEFCON 1 (most severe/serious) – and It functions extremely well when communicating serious and minor issues that need attention.

That’s why it’s such a great tool to adapt and implement into your business.

By creating a similar ranking system in the workplace, you’re able to quickly communicate a situation and ensure that the most appropriate responses are given by both management and staff. This speeds up action and creates a common awareness amongst everyone.

Instead of using long-winded and tedious statements like, “everybody, we have an urgent meeting at 5 o’clock and you all need to be there,” you’ll make use of a much quicker term or phrase, such as, “I’m calling a DEFCON 1 for 5 o’clock”, or “it’s a Defcon 5, when can everyone make it?”.

Obviously, you need to make sure that everyone in your business is aware of this terminology and that it’s taught in a way to be used in the right context.

If you abuse the language, then people will attach less importance to the severity of the situation that each term entails and it might be rendered useless. Do you remember the story of ‘the boy who cried wolf’? Well, the moral of the story is that you shouldn’t give an alert for danger when there is no danger, otherwise nobody will care about what you have to say when danger actually presents itself.

Make your DEFCON 1 known to be a serious matter and that employees should act accordingly. Perhaps you indicate that it refers to the risk of losing an important client – everybody needs to take that indication seriously, shift gears and take necessary action.

You also don’t have to use that particular ranking system in your business – I have clients that use a Bronze, Silver and Gold system or an animal-based system (zebra, rhino, snake) to differentiate the levels of severity.

Whatever imagery you choose, remember that it needs to be understood in a logical and applicable way.

Other than the fact that it creates ease-of-communication between management and staff, it can help bolster a stronger organisational culture; employees are essentially connected through a common language, allowing them to have a shared form of understanding. It creates a deeper bond within teams and forms a common-ground for everybody involved.

With this system, you will come to find more appropriate responses given when problems come to surface and that everybody is on the same wavelength when having to face difficult circumstances.

Come up with a set of terms. Train your organisation to react according to those terms. And get shit done properly through effective communication.

I’m calling a DEFCON 2, so you need to pay some serious attention right now.

Sources tell me that your business needs some TLC and that your time is far too scattered for you to make improvements in your strategies, communication and the overall operations of your business.

So in doing you a solid, I’ve called in some backup:

An experienced and well-balanced business coach, armed with powerful weapons, enough ammunition and the most superb strategies to take on any challenge that your business presents.

That business coach is me. So act fast, make the call (an email or Whatsapp will also do) and don’t be shy to reap the rewards.

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

 

In Fear Of Losing Valuable Employees? Try The Golden Handcuffs.

By Business Coaching Hiring Strategy No Comments

As a business owner, especially when operating a small company, it’s common to find a star employee that perfectly complements your vision – exceeding expectations, getting the job done perfectly and making a positive impact on your business.

It’s only when you recognise that employee that the fear of losing them becomes a reality.

And the last thing that you want to do is have to find someone else to replace that person, as it can become costly, time-consuming and often difficult to achieve.

So how do you keep them happy? How do you retain them for the long-haul?

While locking them in a room and hoping for Stockholm Syndrome to take its course isn’t exactly an option – arresting them with a sleek pair of golden handcuffs just might be.

Value Is In The Eye Of The Entrepreneur 

In a lot of the smaller businesses that I deal with, I come across clients that become incredibly dependent on one, or a few key members of staff. And it inevitably leads to a fear of loss, as they believe there’s a huge risk in losing any of them.

What often tends to happen is that these key employees begin to recognise their own value and the impact that they have on the business. This leads to them either asking for more money, or some kind of guarantee that their hard work will benefit them far more than just the salary that they receive.

And it’s at that moment when business owners make the mistake of giving away or selling shares to a star employee (especially in the early stages of starting their company).

More often than not, this comes back to bite them in the ass. After a few years, the realisation kicks in that giving away or selling shares early-on was a crap decision. What ends up happening is that you give them shareholder rights and create complications if you ever wanted to sell your business at a later stage.

So before jumping the proverbial gun, you need to first ensure that this person is capable of being a good partner, not just a good employee.

Just like in dating, you need to know if they fit the role of being a good parent, a caring partner and whether or not there are any red flags to be cautious of. The same applies to that star employee – you need to work with them for a long enough time before offering them a stake in your company.

If you’re feeling pressured to make promises or provide them with a reason to stay – then I’ve got some really great tricks for you.

Arrest Their Attention With Golden Handcuffs

Being a business coach means that I always have (or find) a solution to the problems that business owners have to face.

That being said, dealing with a situation like this can be easy if you have the right tactics to approach the situation:

Profit-Share Scheme: With this option, you give the employee the opportunity to earn more based on the success of the business. If the business makes a great profit, then the employee is rewarded with a piece of that profit. This can come in the form of a percentage (say 10% of the year-end profit) or even a flat bonus.

This method works great, because harder work results in more benefits for the employee. The performance of your staff is often affected by how they feel about your company – so by sharing a piece of your profits, there will be increased levels of trust, productivity and efficiency.

To make this work, you need to be transparent around the finances of the company and clearly set the expectations that need to be met in order to benefit from the profits.

With this approach, it’s important to note that small business owners don’t always feel comfortable with sharing how much the company is making – that sort of transparency often results in staff becoming less productive, as they feel they deserve more.

Ghost Shares: This method is usually based on an agreement between the employee and owner that gives them all of the benefits of being a shareholder, without the risk or the decision-making power of actually being one.

By using this approach, you offer an agreement to the employee that will give them a percentage of the profits that are declared – as well as a cut of the value of the business, should it sell. This can also extend to a seat at the management committee, where they have the opportunity for their voice to be heard – which gives them a sense of belonging and involvement. However, in the case that they leave the company, they forfeit those shares.

Doing this works, because they believe that they will benefit from the business without feeling like a pawn. And by implementing this type of share agreement, you become aware of the type of person the employee is over time, allowing you to figure out whether or not they’re cut-out to be someone that you can open discussion around proper equity with.

One of the biggest benefits of the ghost share is that you’re able to move the business forward without relying on partners giving you the go-ahead.

Also Remember That… 

You need to make it clear to these employees that profits will be forfeited if leaving the company before a pay-out; that these pay-outs are often only reflected annually or quarterly (based on performance reports); and that they ultimately affect the profits that the company receives.

Payments also don’t necessarily have to come in the form of straight cash, but can sometimes be used for education, vacations or things like retirement funds.

Ultimately, this approach will add value to the employee, their experience and the relationship that they have with the company.

Personally, I feel that the best approach to take is to dramatically increase the person’s salary. It not only says that you respect and need that employee, but that you’re willing to pay them more than any other business is – which will motivate them to stick around.

Either way, keeping your star employees just became a whole lot easier.

I happen to have a sleek, comfortable set of golden handcuffs that are waiting to embrace you:

While you might find it stressful to ensure that your business always moves in the right direction, that you are always making the right decisions for you and your staff, and that you keep focused on the ideal path to success – I’m here to tell you that winning just became a whole lot easier.

Based on the many clients that I’ve successfully coached, I know I can add massive value to your life. I know I can make you feel like a winner. I know that you’re ready to take the leap.

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

 

Don’t waste another second thinking about it. Let’s have a chat.

Death Or Disability – Don’t Be Selfish.

By Consulting Motivation No Comments

We all try to avoid the inevitable. And even if it’s just a case of thinking about it – death will always deal with a grimace. Although the decision to retire and comfortably wither away with age is one that we all keep close to us – you never truly know what life might have in store for you.

With the world that we live in, it would be naive to assume that being invincible is an option. At any given moment, unforeseen circumstances might take control of the steering wheel and change your life in ways that you could never have predicted.

So, being that life is short and unpredictable, have you taken the necessary steps to ensure that your family, loved ones and those dearest to you are financially and legally secure, should something happen to you?

If not, then it’s time to start gathering your documents and compile your death checklist.

Time Waits For Nobody. So Why Would It Wait For You? 

One of the very first questions that I make sure to ask new clients is whether or not they have access to all of their necessary legal documentation, should something fatal or life-changing happen to them.

And being a business coach, I’ve come to find that a significant portion of large business owners tend to avoid consideration of their personal risks – solely focusing their time and energy on business risks, instead.

But if something had to happen to them, what would happen to their family?

As a business owner, it’s extremely important to know whether or not you have your last will and testament on standby; if you have shareholder certificates between partners (provided you have partners); and if you have insurance for things like income protection and product liability.

Witnessing, first-hand, how so many successful entrepreneurs ignore the importance of having access to that documentation is quite shocking (and irresponsible), to say the least.

It not only puts your business at risk, but your family, as well.

If you don’t have a written will upon death, then you run the risk of your business being terminated and the assets liquidated to settle any debts, with little left for your family; your profits and losses are transferred according to the decision of the country/state you live in; and shares are given to either a spouse, children or valid family member with the responsibility to pay inheritance tax.

This could lead to issues for partners that now find themselves in business with people that they don’t know, whether experienced or inexperienced, and can cause problems between families and shareholders with regards to the valuation of the business.

While it’s essential to have the correct documentation on standby, should something go wrong, it becomes necessary to know which documents you need to have access to. So I’ve developed a checklist of those documents you need as a business owner:

Copy of Your Will

Where is your will? Is it up-to-date? Does your lawyer have a copy? As I mentioned above, there are certain risks that come without having an updated will ready.

Unabridged Birth Certificate

Is a birth certificate with the names and identity information of both parents or legal guardians. It becomes important if you have children that might want to travel overseas or if you’re planning to send them for schooling or to relocate.

ID

Having a copy of your ID or at least making your family aware of its whereabouts is helpful for any legal situations that might arise. It will be used to prove who you are when dealing with the registration of your death, funeral matters and handling your estate.

Marriage Certificate

Similar to the points made for the requirement of an ID – it’s highly important for when dealing with your will, estate, funeral and registration of death.

Marriage Contract

This can affect your will and the distribution of assets to your spouse. Depending on whether or not you sign an antenuptial agreement, the marriage contract will help in determining how your assets and debts are shared.

Death Certificate

Will come to affect certain legal processes if you are to pass away. It serves as the necessary proof for your family to claim life insurance, settle estates and even arrange the funeral

Recent Tax Assessment

To help define the amount in taxes that need to be paid for that final tax year. There are generally two forms of tax that apply to the deceased: Estate Duty and Capital Gains Tax. The Estate Duty is a tax that applies to the deceased individual’s property and Capital Gains Tax applies to any profit made from selling an asset.

Passwords for banking and devices

Passing away means that your passwords also get buried with you. In order to give your family access to any money in your bank account(s), they need your security information. And in the case that you have all of the necessary documentation on the death checklist, and it sits on the cloud or in a safe – there needs to be a place to get access to it. Your passwords and pin codes are important.

Bank Details

If you haven’t set your account(s) as Payable on Death to a beneficiary, the legal process behind it can become difficult. Your account can ultimately be drained through paying debts and fees, preventing any family from ever seeing or using it. It’s wise to keep them informed, or leave information for them to access those accounts, should anything happen.

List of monthly debit orders

Nobody wants to be surprised when dealing with monthly notifications of gym memberships, purchases or anything else that might be charged from your account(s) if you should pass away or become disabled. This can be a painful reminder or even a hassle – so keep a list and avoid surprises.

List of insurance, investments and funds

if you’ve made any investments or have any funds or insurance that might be helpful when dealing with the handling of your estate, then keep a list of them that can be kept together with all of your other important information.

Copies of insurance and funeral policies

The same applies to the legal procedures taken to deal with your estate. It’s important to help prove what insurance policies you’ve taken out. It will also help with arranging and paying out your funeral costs. Remember to leave a contact name and number behind of the person that handles everything.

Lease Agreement

To determine the terms of your lease. Landlords are able to keep charging rental fees depending on the length and terms that you’ve signed, so keeping that agreement with the rest of your documents can be helpful for your family to either pay it off or to take legal action.

Proof of Medical Aid and Gap Cover

In the case that you become disabled or deal with a crippling event, then both medical aid and gap cover documents are absolutely essential. If it’s a case of death, then providing proof of those policies will help your family with making a claim from the medical aid.

Title Deeds for Properties

Should you pass away, then having your title deeds collected and kept in an accessible place will be helpful to your family when you leave them property(ies). It also helps to avoid transfer duty costs if you’ve left your property to an heir.

Partnership Agreements

If you die without a legal agreement between your partners to keep operating, then the business will usually cease to operate and dissolve. Unless you’ve stated that your partner(s) must maintain operation of the company, then you forfeit the hard work that you would’ve put into the business for your family.

Although it might be scary (or crappy) to think about, it’s your responsibility to ensure that all of the important documentation is readily accessible, should something happen.

Get it all sorted. Make the effort. Your family and partners deserve it.

It took me quite some time to compile this important list and I’d appreciate it if you took the time to gather and accumulate all of those documents.

If you need any advice regarding the list, running your business or making good decisions – then give me a call, send me an email, drop a message [before you drop dead]:

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

Reducing The Load Of Your Slowest Hikers

By Business Coaching Consulting psychology Strategy No Comments

When building out your business, there’s always a clear, set mission to achieve significant growth and success – not only for yourself, but also the people that you take on that journey with you.

Similar to the task of hiking together with a team, you, as a leader and guide, must find a process that gets everyone to the top of the mountain in the most effective way, possible.

But what often tends to happen is that you and your team might be slowed down due to the hikers in the back; those that might be struggling to endure the arduous journey with you. And this usually means having to patiently wait for them to catch up to the rest of the team before you’re able to continue and push towards achieving your goal.

While culling those hikers might seem like an easy option, it’s often better to help them by offering to lighten their load, teach them a trick or two, or motivate them to succeed.

A Chain Is Only As Strong As Its Weakest Link 

Indeed, you may find it quite challenging to embark on that journey to reach the top and you will undoubtedly face certain obstacles, but through a healthy dose of desire and determination, you’re well aware of the effort and willpower it will take to get there.

Confronted by ravines, narrow ledges and the many areas of discomfort on the path to success, it’s your job to motivate and empower your team – so that they too help ease the process of getting to the top.

And although each of the hikers within your team have their own backpacks or loads to carry with them, there’s almost always a person (or select group of people) that struggle to keep up and endure the load. Contained in those backpacks are things like skills, personal issues, beliefs, etc. which come to affect the load that needs to be carried on the way up.

Some people handle their load better than others. While some need help to manage or compartmentalise their load in a more effective way.

The issue with those members that lag behind is that it restricts progress and productivity; it slows the entire team down and prevents you from reaching your goal in the fastest way, possible.

It certainly seems like a great option to just go ahead and send those slow, struggling hikers back home, freeing up the energy to keep pushing forward – however, a better approach would be to convince your strongest, fastest hikers to train, inspire and assist the weaker ones, instead.

To do this, you need to ask your strongest hikers to help carry or re-arrange the backpacks of those that are in need of assistance. By removing or re-organising their backpacks, you reduce work-load, provide them with more opportunity to be trained and developed, and create a sense of camaraderie amongst the team. This results in a better, faster and more effective unit.

Using Theory Of Constraints To Reduce The Load 

One of the most effective ways to view and come up with solutions to this situation is through the Theory of Constraints.

Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, a physicist turned business consultant, came up with this model back in 1984 in his book The Goal, which teaches readers that every organisation, at any time, is limited in its ability to achieve its objective due to a single constraint.

Goldratt defined it as, “A thinking process that enables people to invent simple solutions to complex problems.”

This method is ultimately about focusing on different areas that need attention; attending to the weakest link on that chain and fixing the problem in order to increase productivity and prevent it from getting worse.

By using the Theory of Constraints, it’s important to find the answers to three big questions: What to change?; What to change it to?; and how to change it?

Answering these questions will ultimately provide direction and assist you in coming up with a plan to solve the problems that need to be dealt with.

In order to identify and solve the constraints that need your attention, a five-step method is usually recommended. This will help you find a starting point and give you a process that works effectively when tackling the situation.

The five steps are as follows:

Identify the limiting constraint. In the case of our team of hikers, take a close look at those employees that struggle to keep up with the rest of the team and that slow everyone else down. Figure out what it is that they need help with, whether it’s a reduced workload, more training, counselling, or positive reinforcement – you need to focus on finding the reason why they are struggling in the first place.

Exploit the constraint using existing resources before any investment. If you’re able to identify  the constraint, come up with solutions that don’t require extra money and attempt to remedy the situation through resources that you already have available. If the slow hiker has issues with work that they are struggling to understand, then request one of your stronger hikers to train them, give practical advice or explain how to handle it better.

Subordinate all associated activities to the constraint. Although it might seem a bit counter-intuitive, it’s important to consider that every working part of the system might be supporting and giving fuel to an existing problem. By slowing the whole team down, you’re able to identify any hidden issues or problems that might be affecting the overall performance of your unit.

Elevate the constraint by throwing money at it. Once you’ve identified and worked on the issue at hand, it’s important to invest money or resources in it – so that you’re able to increase its durability and prevent it from causing any further damage down the line. If you buy better backpacks with more compartments and space to get you through the hike, i.e. spending money on training and education for those who are struggling – you create a barrier for those same issues surfacing in future.

Repeat the process to identify and solve the next constraint you could face. Go back and identify new constraints to be worked on and improve the ones that you’ve already solved, while keeping the cycle going. Ensure that everybody in the team is on the same frequency and keep a sharp eye on any new constraints that need attention.

This method has many benefits for not only your team, but the company as a whole. It helps you find and solve the reasons behind a lack of progress within the organisation, it provides a structure for continuous improvement, and allows you to approach constraints or issues without the need for investment or spending extra money on unnecessary band-aids.

Reducing or optimising the load of your weakest hikers will bring about a much faster and enjoyable journey.

Have the talk with your fastest and most efficient hikers. Butter them up, paint them as heroes and make them aware of how great they are and that they have the power to make a valuable and significant difference in the operation of your business, as well as those that need help.

If you’re starting to feel lonely in the front; nobody to bounce your ideas off of, tempted to try new routes or paths, or struggling to find the motivation to keep pushing – then I can help you with that.

Being a successful business coach means that I look forward to every opportunity to make a positive and remarkable difference in the lives of the entrepreneurs that I work with.

I’m like Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings. I will enhance your journey while offering you the perfect advice, guidance and respect that you need as a business owner. I will share my network, strategies and formulae for success with you. I will help you find what you’re looking for.

Do it. Make the call, send the message. Reap the rewards.

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

Growth Is More Than Just Profit!

By Business Coaching Consulting Leadership Motivation No Comments

Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the martial art Aikido, once said: “Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.”

And I couldn’t agree more.

Growth is fundamental to our existence as human beings and even more so as business owners. It takes discipline, focus and ambition to initiate growth in not one, but all of the many facets in our lives.

Seeking challenges and development on a personal level strengthens us in many ways; it moulds our understanding and sharpens our intellect, it builds our intuitions and perspectives, it breaks down barriers and gives way to opportunities, and it brightens our pathway to an often opaque future.

While business owners are hard-wired and driven to achieve growth in profits and revenues, seeking growth in other crucial areas of business and life is just as important.

So what other areas should every one of us be nurturing and focusing on?

Let’s take a look.

Five Important Areas That Should Always Be Growing 

As a business coach, I engage with many different clients that have a staunch focus on growing their businesses mostly towards a better top-line and profits but find that not enough interest is placed on personal growth, staff growth, networking and credibility, and the processes that drive success within their business.

Businesses should inherently be on a journey of growth, while also providing value for their shareholders. It’s important for many different areas to constantly be in a state of growth and development for not only the staff, the clients and the entrepreneur, but the owners, too.

It’s so important for every business owner to constantly be challenging him/herself, building on new and existing areas that are always in need of progress.

So what areas should we work on growing and improving?

Personal Growth:

The number one investment that anybody can make is in themselves. Putting in the energy, time and effort to enhance and develop yourself is one of the greatest things that you can do for your business and for your life.

We all determine what personal growth means for us on an individual level and what I might deem important for my growth might differ from the next person.

Whether it’s spending money on education, learning and exploring new skills, reading more to better your understanding, or spending time with interesting people that you don’t generally interact with – each and every one of us should constantly be striving for personal progress.

There are different areas of personal growth that you should always look at improving and enhancing, such as expanding your network and engaging with other entrepreneurs, or specialists in different fields to build beneficial relationships; taking courses or lessons to advance your existing skill set and any other interests that you might have; and working on your lifestyle to either spend time discovering or enjoying your passions and interests, as well as taking care of your health in terms of diet and exercise.

One of the absolute best ways to develop yourself and your business is by having a business coach, so keep that in mind when you’re looking for a place to start.

Your People: 

Taking the time to grow and develop the people that work for, and with, you is just as important. Your employees are absolutely critical to the success of your business and investing in them shouldn’t be considered an expense.

If your staff are constantly growing in terms of their skills, network and knowledge, then your business will become far more efficient and productive.Giving promotions or raises isn’t necessarily enough to motivate them to get the most out of their roles, but educating, training and exposing them to new areas of growth will go much further in creating a far more enjoyable and powerful work culture.

It’s important to realise that supervisors, managers and other staff members also need to develop their approach to leadership to get the absolute best out of their team, as well as themselves. Take good care of your people and they will do the same for you.

Processes and Policies:

Having outdated processes and policies can slow down your business and the functionality of your staff and your returns. Seeking new ways to improve your processes through the use of technology and other tested strategies will enhance productivity, employee and customer satisfaction, as well as reduce risks.

Tasks and processes that often require a lot of repetition waste plenty of time and effort. If certain processes can be automated or approached more effectively, then looking into modern methods should be prioritised to get the best out of your staff.

The same applies to the satisfaction levels of your employees and your client-base; if employees are able to focus on more important processes within your business, then they can produce much better results for your company and for clients.

By avoiding outdated technology and processes, you also avoid far more risk. Human error, fraud and slow information transfer can be harmful to your business in terms of both security and revenue. Growth in this area should be a high priority for you, as it will make operations far safer and smoother for everybody involved.

Clients:

Spending the time to grow your relationships and interactions with clients is highly beneficial for any business.

The experience that your clients have with you will either make or break your brand identity. Evaluating which of them you love and which of them you hate can help tremendously in your approach to growing the relationships that you have with them.

Loads of research and literature exists to prove just how important customer/client satisfaction is for any business and ensuring that you constantly strengthen your interactions with them is absolutely essential.

Remember that existing clients are more likely to spend more with you and that word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool in this day and age, so treating them in remarkable and unforgettable ways will go far in the development and growth of your business.

Exposure and Credibility:

Making the effort to develop your credibility and the perspective that outsiders have of you and your business is a very important facet of being an entrepreneur.

If people are to see you as unreliable, inconsistent, or unremarkable, then you’re sure to have problems. The first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when talking about your business can ultimately shape its success.

You need to constantly be building your credibility and exposing yourself to different audiences in strategic and impressionable ways. Leaving a good and lasting impression on anybody that you interact with, whether staff, clients or strangers, will strengthen your position in their minds and improve the perspective people have of you and your brand.

Growth in this area can come in the form of achievements that your business has made, through positive and impressive testimonials, as well as your ability to be authentic, reliable and consistent.

Seeking growth in areas other than just profit will make you a much better business owner at the end of the day.

So make sure that you focus on these different aspects of your business and embrace the benefits that come with the nourishment and care that you provide to your clients, staff, processes and yourself.

My role as a business coach is to give you all of the necessary tools, supplements and nutrients that are essential for your growth as a business owner. Let me be the person to bring about those improvements in your business, as well as your life and I’ll see to it that you attract success in everything that you do.

When you’re ready to bloom, then be sure to get in touch:

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

 

 

 

5 Leadership Types – What Type Of Leader Are You?

By Business Management Coaching Leadership No Comments

Being a great leader can be challenging. Nobody is born with some miraculous gene that grants them the ability to lead and also be effective at it. To be a leader means that you need to have attributes like patience, curiosity, interest and determination, so that you’re able to create a positive impact on those that you lead towards a collective goal.

But there are many different types of leaders.

Some are more aggressive than others, some more understanding and open-minded, some are strict and some are lenient; but they all have one thing in common: the ability to foster action and mobility while creating an impact on the lives of others.

While I deal with so many different personalities and leadership styles as a business coach, I’ve come to learn that being aware of each person’s approach to leadership is extremely important in developing and strengthening their business, as well as their people.

So, I’ve done a bit of research and listed the top leadership types that exist so that you, as the business owner, can find those that you resonate with in order to develop and enhance your approach to leadership. Let’s dive right in.

 

5 – The Autocrat

The autocratic leader is usually authoritarian in nature. While they’re a bit more aggressive, they tend to delegate the tasks and jobs that need to be done, so that workers listen and do as they’re told.

This style of leadership works well because it saves time and provides much-needed clarity around objectives, goals and outcomes. There are also fewer errors in strategy implementation, as less people are involved in the strategic process – which often brings about much better results.

However, the down-side to this style of leadership is that employees feel undervalued and easily replaceable. It leaves them less motivated and far more likely to rebel against either the leader or the company, which usually results in lower levels of productivity and morale, and increased levels of office politics and infighting.

Using this approach in high-risk environments can be quite effective, as there is usually no room for errors or mistakes to be made. However, it usually fails in educational and creative environments, where people need a lot more freedom and independence to give good ideas and feel heard.

 

4 – The Democrat

This approach to leadership is significantly different to that of the autocratic leader. They make sure to involve team-members in the decision-making process and give them the opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions. Most of the time, this type of leader has the final say, but values and embraces the input from employees and the team as a whole.

The only problem with it is that it can be quite time-consuming to take in every individual’s ideas and thoughts which can often lead to poor choices if the team or its members are inexperienced or unskilled in any way.

With this approach, the upside is that there is far more motivation from employees, as they feel valued and respected. It allows for the accumulation of different perspectives and approaches, rather than relying on one person to provide his/her viewpoint.

It works really well for those smaller teams or any team that has highly skilled and experienced members which can bring value to the decision-making.

 

3 – The “Let Them Do” Leader (Laissez-Faire) 

The complete opposite of the autocratic leader. This approach doesn’t usually fulfil the typical role of a leader, as everyone’s input is deemed valid and equal. Ultimately, they leave the decision-making up to their team members, giving teams complete trust in their abilities to motivate themselves and navigate the business effectively.

While this style seems quite favourable, it often leads to confusion, delays and slow-progress – especially in strategic planning. It also hampers individual development, as people become reliant on their own ideas and thoughts, rarely looking to improve themselves.

However, this approach can be great in that it helps team members feel valued, heard and appreciated. It empowers employees and leaves them with a greater sense of confidence and autonomy, as they feel capable of handling the work on their own without being pressured and undermined.

This approach works very well in teams with highly-skilled individuals that usually have the expertise to make valuable contributions (similar to the democratic approach). Each member is able to take the lead and has great trust in one another to make proper, productive and effective choices that add value to the company.

 

2 – The Incentiviser (Transactional Leader) 

These are the types of leaders that make use of effective reward and punishment systems in order to promote self-motivation and the ambition to succeed. By using incentives to drive employees, these leaders have a fixed and functioning system that says to work hard or receive no benefits.

One of the biggest issues with this approach is that the environment is usually quite strict in structure and rather inflexible. There’s often little room for different viewpoints or processes and can lead to people feeling undervalued, as they’re only there to follow the lead. Employees usually feel restricted in making an impact and everybody has the same measurement of achievement – those who sell or produce more, get more.

However, the upside is that goals and outcomes are clearly defined and can easily be understood by teams and individual employees. The incentives and consequences are also made crystal clear and it’s up to the individual to do a great job – so it also instills a sense of confidence and accountability in the employee regarding their expectations.

 

1 – The Transformer (Transformational Leader)

This approach to leadership puts more focus on the leader’s personality and the way in which they motivate employees to constantly innovate and improve. They are often guided by a clear vision of success and ensure that everybody is focused on the company’s mission and purpose. These leaders aim to inspire and create a positive work culture for everyone involved, acting as a role-model and exemplar.

One of the biggest issues with this style of leadership is that it makes way for a culture of sycophants that aim to please the leader at any given opportunity. Employees can become more focused on getting their leader’s approval, instead of focusing on performance, productivity and team support.

This approach works well, because leaders act as role-models to staff, inspiring them and motivating them to achieve greatness not only for the company, but for themselves. There’s usually a high focus on the vision of the company and what it will take to become more valuable in the long-run. These leaders value interpersonal relationships and are engaging in the way that they communicate with staff, leaving lasting impressions and a stronger sense of camaraderie.

 

What Type Of Leader Do You Want To Be? 

While there are these different approaches to being an effective and impressionable leader, it’s up to you to pick and choose. Weigh out the different options, see which of them suit your personality more and learn, learn, learn.

By taking the time to educate yourself on your favourite approaches, you’re able to decide which one(s) will be more advantageous to you and your business.

Perhaps you like two, or even three of them and want to make a cocktail that includes the best points into one powerful hybrid approach that suits you better – then by all means, do so. Being a unique individual means finding unique and remarkable ways to do things.

If you find that you’re already comfortable with your approach, but need advice, mentoring, guidance or more perspective, then I’m the right coach for you.

Even if you’re still trying to figure out what leader you want to be, I can help you make the right decision for you and your business.

I’ve worked with so many different clients that I’ve helped develop and grow – engaging with many different leaders and personalities that attract high levels of success, so I know exactly what to look for and inspire in you.

 

Get in touch today. Tell me about your business, your dreams, goals and ambitions. Let me help make the difference that you seek.

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

 

Scarcity VS Abundance Mindset

By Business Coaching Motivation psychology No Comments

As a business owner, you don’t only carry the responsibility of running your own company; you often assume the role of a leader that has to bring direction, guidance and ambition to others in order to build a successful business.

You act as a role-model to staff. You influence those around you. You create impressions that last.

That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the mindset that you carry, as you come to affect not only those around you, but your own behaviour, as well.

Indeed, constraints and obstacles will have an effect on your vision and can become a nuisance to accomplishing your goals, however, your perception will ultimately shape your reality and determine whether you fail or succeed as an entrepreneur.

Why Mindset Matters

 I’ve coached many business owners over the years and while personalities certainly differ, a common theme that I’ve come across is that of the two mindsets that people have: The scarcity mindset and the abundance mindset.

There’s always a problem or obstacle to face when running a business – unfortunately, it comes with the package. Being an entrepreneur is hard-work and nobody said it would be easy, but the way that some business owners go about solving particular problems can be ineffective, to say the least, and that’s often due to the limiting beliefs that come with having a negative mindset.

Based on the way that they approach a problem, there’s a level of pessimism and cynicism that ends up blinding their thoughts and governing their decisions.

Although we’ve become somewhat desensitized to those terms, being the pessimist or the cynic is a very dangerous path to choose. It doesn’t only have a negative impact on yourself, but bleeds through to others and can be harmful to business and personal relations.So much research has been done to prove how powerful the human mind is and how our mindset, philosophy and thought-processes can affect the behaviours and the decisions that we make.

It’s important to understand that we’re not like magnets; positive doesn’t attract negative and negative doesn’t attract positive. It’s quite the opposite, actually. If you remain positive in your approach, you’re far more likely to attract positive outcomes – the same applies with being negative and attracting negative outcomes.

Call it the law of attraction, a self-fulfilling prophecy or whatever you choose; at the end of the day, we are affected by what we think and the mindset that we carry with us on a daily basis.

Mindset matters. It shapes our interactions and achievements. It shapes the world that we live in.

 The 4 Constraints In Business That Affect Our Mindset

 With certain clients that I coach, I often come to recognise a mindset of scarcity and take the time to figure out the best way to understand where they’re coming from, so that I can help provide a solution to their problem.

Whether it’s a matter of strategic thinking, or day-to-day problem solving, they start from a negative standpoint, saying, “we can’t do that, because…”.

Often, the “because” is due to certain constraints.

“We can’t do that, because we don’t have the people, or enough people, or the skills in our people; we don’t have enough money to afford solving the problem; we don’t have the time to tackle these issues.”

The four biggest constraints are always around resources (lack of technology, skills, etc), people, time, and money.

These constraints can be problematic, but there’s always a solution to be found. So when I coach clients that deal with these issues, I start by recommending that they forget about those four constraints.

The Magic Wand

I like to use the hypothetical scenario of a magic wand that could wipe away all of those constraints with immediate effect and ask them what they would choose to do in their business and how they would go about it.

This usually brings about different thinking and solutions that they were previously unable to imagine.

It shifts the perspective from “how do we solve that thing?” to “how do we raise the money or find the right people to do that thing?”; creating a segue that changes their stance from reactive to proactive.

This brings about new ideas and changes the approach from scarcity to one more focused on the abundance that comes with solving the initial problem.

What I tend to find during this process is that there is no real shortage of solutions to the problem they’re facing, but rather that solutions were needed around those constraints. In my experience, solving the constraints opened the door to solving the initial problem.

This approach is based around an abundance mindset – one that seeks solutions through positive thinking. It motivates and allows you to think about problems differently and find answers from a different perspective.

Adopting An Approach To Abundance

 By adopting a mindset based on abundance, you begin to change your idea of life and business, as a whole. You see the advantages within the disadvantages and constraints; you find a silver-lining in everything that you approach.

It works itself into the way that you handle, influence and work with people. You’re seen as more positive and uplifting, rather than an emotional wreck that harbours problems and struggles to find solutions.

It prevents you from playing the blame game and invites you to take responsibility and accountability.

Scarcity acts like a leech on your thought processes and behaviour, while abundance acts as a catalyst to being a better, more productive individual. Again, we’re not like magnets in the sense that opposites attract; like attracts like, love attracts love, good attracts good.

Try it for yourself. Do the research.

And if you struggle, then fake it until you make it.

Struggling to find that silver-lining? Struggling to pick off all of the leeches that drain the optimism out of you? Worry not. I’m here to assist.

If it’s becoming so bad that it has an impact on your business, then get in touch with me and let’s discuss how I can help you move forward. I’ll bring all of the abundance you so desperately need and who knows, my cheerful attitude might just rub off on you – shifting your gear from scarcity to abundance.

Call me, Whatsapp me, contact me, today:

+2783 253 3339

brent@spillly.com

Change your goals from Success to Significance

By Business Coaching Mentoring Motivation Public Speaking

This week I had the privilege of hosting the launch event for Mike Saunders book, The Five Year Mark. The book is about all the lessons learned in the first five years building Digitlab, a digital agency. You can read my review and my learnings here but those are not the most salient points for me. It was what Mike said when I asked him about the next 5 years and his level of pride in what he has built in the past year, that stuck.

What he said was [in much better English than this] when he started the business, his view of success was to take from the world as much as he could [money] and measure his success against this metric, but over time he has moved the needle of achievement from “Success to Significance.”

Mike wants to be significant. That can mean a legacy business. That can mean helping people grow in their own lives and businesses. That can mean helping someone who is desperate on the side of the road make it through another week. Significance is different from person to person and from interaction to interaction but if Mike is significant to you, then that is his new definition of success.

I like this outlook. A lot. I also believe that if he is significant in peoples’ lives and in business that the old metric [money] will come, in spades as the byproduct. Its not often you meet people who say things like this that you actually believe. Its often just a marketing message, but I believe Mike. You should too. Buy the book.

21 Signs You Should Invest In Business Coaching.

By Coaching Mentoring

Running your own business is hard. It’s lonely at the top. Often business owners just wish they had someone [who isnt a friend or spouse] to just give open, honest and objective advice on what they should do and not do next. That’s where business coaching plays a vital role in your organisation. If you aren’t even sure what business coaching is work out how many of these 21 points resonate with you?

  1. You can’t determine what’s really important on a daily basis and aren’t even focusing on the ones you feel are. You are unsure what to do next and even what sequence to follow.

  2. You aren’t seeing the blind spots and feel you need someone to clue you into things you don’t know exist

  3. There is no one that you are accountable to and feel that having to answer to someone will keep you on track.

  4. You say yes to every opportunity and aren’t chasing the most fruitful ones.

  5. There is no focus on your weaknesses and you aren’t developing your strengths further.

  6. Your company lacks a differentiating factor that will advance your growth quicker and separate you from the pack.

  7. Your team are looking for a strong leader with powerful techniques to improve their own skills and keep them motivated.

  8. The business is treading water and just not growing fast enough and not reaching the potential you knew was there when you started the company.

  9. On a daily basis you are not happy at your workplace and are making excuses to not engage with clients and staff. You are looking for clarity, joy and increased success.

  10. There is no objective soundboard in your life that you can bounce ideas and frustrations off.

  11. Decisions are being made with no confidence and you are tired of making these choices alone. You know that what you are doing has been done before and just want someone to show you how.

  12. There is still passion in the business but you are finding it impossible to articulate this to potential clients and often find that people don’t really understand what it is you do. You lack a clear message and a juicy desirable brand.

  13. The constant “No’s” have bruised your ego and confidence. Getting new business is harder than you thought and you are too exhausted to keep trying.

  14. Your income is a roller coaster with great months and terrible month back to back, making it impossible to plan for stability and giving your team a feeling of insecurity.

  15. You really want to make more money and don’t know why its taken this long and aren’t sure if its meant to be this hard. Questioning yourself has become almost a daily occurrence.

  16. Marketing and cold hard sales are not your friend, but you would like them to be.

  17. You have heard of this myth called “work-life balance” and are desperately looking for a little of this.

  18. Comparing your business to other businesses has become a pastime and opposition are always quicker off the mark than you are.

  19. Your version of success has become muddy and your goal dates have come and gone more than a few times.

  20. There are no set processes in the daily operations and you keep repeating yourself to your team and making the same mistakes over and over.

  21. You’re serving everyone but yourself and you want better clients and don’t even know what your ideal client looks like.

If you don’t know how to build a business and are looking for the “Ah-ha” moments that will make your company a great company and getting a job is not an option, then you are ready for a business coach. Invest in your business. Invest in you and receive incredible value and freedom.

It is time to give something back!

By Business Coaching Mentoring No Comments

Pro bono publico

 

Apply via email to kim@spillly.com

 
 
Terms and Conditions (the small print that you should always read)
  • Applicants must be Johannesburg based or able to meet in Johannesburg at their own cost.
  • Applicants must have a registered business that is not younger than 12 months old, have at least one full time employee and one paying client.
  • The business must be legitimate and legal.
  • Nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to, or must be understood to, unlawfully restrict, limit or avoid any rights or obligations, as the case may be, created for either the entrant or the promoter in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 (“the CPA”).
  • The entrant acknowledges that by submitting his or her entry to the competition he/she has been given an appropriate opportunity to first read these terms and conditions before entering and the he/she understands and agrees to the terms and conditions.
  • All entrants to this competition participate entirely at their own risk.
  • Winners will be selected no later than 7 November 2014. This date is subject to change without notice.
  • Entrants to whom prize will be awarded will be selected through a random draw.
  • The names of the prize winners may be published on the spillly.com website and other social platforms .
  • Any queries in this regard can be addressed to kim@spillly.com .