Business Coaching

Leading Teams - 10 Ways To Do It Better

I have been aware that on my Business Coaching Blog, I haven't been writing enough about the entire issues of leading teams, managing people and all the soft skills that can be so important in success. So I am pleased to say that I will be featuring more guest articles from business and management coach Martin Haworth as his article on How To Build Rapport has been very popular.

What better way to increase the articles on the blog about leading teams than to start with

Leadership - Ten Ways To Be Better At Leading Teams

Leadership is a fascinating art. A balance between getting things done and having enough about you to maximize both the motivation and engagement of all of your people for now and the future.

Delaying Tax Payments Can Help Your Business To Survive

I received an interesting email from business recovery expert Paul Masters of Leonard Curtis, the Mid-Sized Corporate Recovery Firm of the Year 2008 which looked at how delaying UK tax payments can help your business to survive.

I must point out that this is about the official Business Payments Support Service. It is a big mistake to think that you don't have to talk to HM Revenue & Customs and can just delay sending in the money you owe.

How To Twitter - Beginner's Guide To Twitter

One of my little interests at the moment is to use the Micro-blogging website Twitter to help my business interests and to form a closer connection with followers as well as see what other people are doing.

I was going to write a "How to Twitter: a beginner's guide" but then "IT dealmaker" Mark Shaw beat me to it so asked for permission to re-publish.

Getting Started with Twitter: What You Need To Know

I am sure by now that there are a lot of you that are using Twitter. But there are still probably plenty of you that don't get it, don't understand it, and are not using it... So I just wanted to highlight why you may want to use it, but also to point out that Twitter is not the be all and end all.. Twitter can be one single string in your overall marketing plan.

Excellent Customer Service Is Even More Important In Tough Times

My Business Coaching Blog came a long way in 2008 but one of my regrets is that I did not focus enough on on bringing you articles about creating excellent customer service.

All my ideas for increasing your sales to and through your existing customers rely on you delivering the excellent customer service your customers can depend on and confidently build into their own business strategies.

And when it comes to customer service, one customer service guru stands out and that is Ron Kaufman.

Social Networking For Business: Mistakes To Avoid

I believe an essential key to business is helping people to know, like and trust you and that's why networking is so important. But networking can now be face to face or online in all the different social networking sites.

So how can you use social networking for business - and in particular, how can you avoid making social networking mistakes which will stop you achieving what you want?

This is not a question I can answer but I know a man who can. Below is an article from Rick Itzkowich, VP Marketing Productive Leaning & Leisure and author of the Social Networking For Newbies Blog.

5 Deadly Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make While Social Networking

If you haven't received the results that you hoped for after joining and participating in various Social Networking (SN) sites, there's a good possibility it's because you've made one or more of these mistakes. I've made everyone of these mistakes and paid the price. On the flip side, I've also corrected these mistakes and the results have been phenomenal.

Public Relations Definition For Business Owners

Public relations / PR is an important element of the marketing techniques you should be using to promote your business but are you clear on a public relations definition?

When you think of public relations, do you have a hazy view that you find difficult to pin down in your mind so you never take any PR actions?

If so, this article from PR expert Penelope Herbert will help dispel a few negative thoughts about public relations and clarify your public relations definition.

Over to Penelope.

Unlike Bridget Jones, PR people don't "just fanny around with the press releases". As a public relations consultant, I know that PR can be mis-understood. So I'm happy to share with you some simple things to remember.

What Public Relations Is Not!

Effective Networking Tips

I have found an excellent article with practical networking tips to help reduce your stress at your next networking event. It is written by networking expert Sue Henry from Australia and as I read it, I smiled as I remembered some of the awkward networking situations from my past.

It's over to Sue Henry.

Stress Free Networking

The thought of attending networking events and functions can be terrifying to some people and even slightly unsettling for the most confident amongst us.

Here are the three top things that people worry about the most when attending networking functions and how you can avoid them.

Coaching Myths: The Truth About Coaching

Today I feature another new guest blogger, Ian Broadmore, a leadership executive coach with some hard-hitting thoughts on the coaching industry which I know some will find controversial.

This article was first published in August 2007 but I believe that it is even more relevant as more people look at coaching as an alternative career.

Over to Ian.

The Truth about Business and Executive Coaching

People from all walks of life are jumping onto the coaching bandwagon, lured by stories of £100,000 salaries, many with little or zero experience are fighting for their piece of the pie.

How To Get Referrals

I am pleased to feature a new guest blogger, Ewan Sturman who is a networking expert and BNI Director in Cheshire and wrote this very interesting article on how to get referrals.

Over to Ewan.

Have you ever wondered why when you do a good job for someone you do not get referred on?

Do you know someone that trusts you and has a contact that you want but it never seems to come through?

One of the reasons is that you referral partners are waiting for someone to say "Do you know someone who does?" or " I need a?"

Maximising Opportunities In A Downturn / Recession

I received an interesting letter yesterday from one of my clients, AMP Associates, a small accountancy and tax advisory firm in south London.

Jonathan Amponsah, the senior partner has turned his attention to helping his clients through the recession and has identified a number of sectors which are recession-proof or at least are sheltered from the harsh realities the construction and motor industries are currently experiencing.

Full marks to Jonathan and it is good to see an accountancy firm being proactive. I asked for permission to publish his letter and the details - anyone else, please note this is copyrighted AMP Associates.

How You Can Maximise Opportunities In A Downturn