Very few of us seem to find the right balance when it comes to apologising. Occasionally I’m faced with a small business owner for whom summoning an apology is like coaxing the last bit of Heinz Big Red out of the sauce bottle (much to the detriment of their customer relationships). Far more common, however, is the opposite predicament; some of my coaching clients can’t stop apologising. They beg forgiveness for others’ mistakes, they say sorry for taking up people’s time, they apologise to a table they’ve bumped into. A few years ago, I came across an idea that acts ...

I’ve got you sorted for a list of handy mobile apps to help your small business thrive, but what about your most priceless business resource – you? I recommend these wellbeing apps to my Tenfold coaching clients, to help keep their bodies and minds happy and healthy.   Catch more Zzzs Getting good quality sleep is possibly the biggest factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This is when your body goes into repair mode and your mind processes all the noise of the day. These apps are designed to help you get more of the good stuff:   Pzizz Offering ...

In my last blog, I explored the topic of resilient leadership and put forward some ideas for how small business owners can develop this valuable skill within themselves. Now, let’s widen the focus and look at how you can build a more resilient team and work ‘bounce-back’ strategies into your business. Become a ‘supermodel’ As a leader, you can’t really make demands about how your employees live their lives or change their mindset. What you can do is openly discuss the importance of resilience and model this quality for them. It’s not exactly ‘monkey-see, monkey do’, but your team observes ...

For business owners, stress is a constant companion. As the head of the table of your own business you have dished yourself up an extra helping of responsibility. Knowing that the livelihood of both yourself and your employees depends on the success of your business is quite the heavy load. There will be times when this idea could potentially overwhelm you. The smallest thing when added to an over-loaded plate can become that proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. That's the moment when resilience, the one leadership skill that underpins all the rest, comes into its own. What ...

It’s amazing how many of my business coaching clients believe that they “don’t have a creative bone in their body”. They consider themselves as ‘business-minded’ – logical and strategic. Of course, many small business owners possess those qualities, but they are often selling themselves short by not actively exploring their creative side. We tend to think of creative people as those who dwell in the arts: writers, painters, sculptors, chefs, musicians, architects etc. These are certainly creative pursuits, but in its purest form, creativity is best defined as making a new connection between existing ideas. When you look at it ...