Business Brain Food

Richard Maloney knows what it takes to build a winning team. After having done his time as an AFL player, he became an expert on motivation and mind coaching in the sporting arena. He was so successful (to the tune of 25 Premierships) that directors and fans of the teams he worked with recruited him into their businesses, and he now has a worldwide business that helps companies maximize their potential through team building.

Rich has seen proof that the main teambuilding techniques in the world of sport are applicable to the world of business, and has authored a great book called ‘The Minds Of Winning Teams’. See below for a sneak preview of some of his best advice. As you’ll see, it’s surprisingly simple.

** When things are at their worst, it is a great window of opportunity to make change.

** A key responsibility of a leader is to keep learning and growing.

** Taking pressure off a leader by dividing it among other members of the leadership team is one of the best things you can do to improve your business.

** Create a critical mass of ‘we’ people rather than ‘me’ people.

** Hierarchy is basically a thing of the past.

** Don’t see millennials as a problem – see them as the solution.

** Social connection is the most important aspect of teambuilding

  And there’s plenty more where this came from. If you listen to Richard for 45 minutes, you can’t fail to find something that will help engage your team in business. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What a true leader really is

** How to re-engage employees

** The ‘quality, unity, trust, truth’ equation

** How to create social connection

** How to create a leadership group

** How to define a business in terms of its ‘heart’ and its ‘brain’

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group – What should we do for the 100th show? Post your ideas to the group! (facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Richard’s teambuilding website – check out the free employee engagement survey (http://www.engageandgrow.com.au)

** Richard’s mind training site: (http://www.qualitymind.com.au)

** Richard’s email address: richard@engageandgrow.com.au

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  ‘Engagement is the new leadership’ as Richard says, so understanding how the likes of Richard build engagement is vital to the future of your business. And we don’t just have his word for it either. Deloitte recently released the results of a survey that listed ‘employee engagement and culture’ as the number one priority for every business, so make it your priority today by having a listen! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF087_Turning_De-Energised_Businesses_into_Rocking_Success_Stories.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

We’ve got an interesting twist this week, as we speak to one of our loyal listeners about how he’s helping businesses around the world. Paul Higgins has a great corporate track record after having worked 18 years at Coca Cola, and now he has his own business which helps other companies automate those fiddly day-to-day tasks in order to free them up the time to think big and scale up the business. What’s more, Paul somehow managed to listen to 80+ BBF podcasts in just a couple of weeks, with my voice at double speed!

Paul talks specifically about a software package called Podio, which is what he uses to empower businesses to free up their time. In short, it is a different take on a CRM/internal reporting system, modeled on the concept of customisable templates and themes that we would normally associate with web building packages like Wordpress. Paul has a particularly personal stake in this. Because of a debilitating kidney disease, there will be a time when he will have to be on a dialysis machine for a number of hours every day, so this inspired him to find the perfect methodology for how to delegate day-to-day tasks and free up time. He wants his business to be able to run without him, and he wants to teach you to do the same. Below are some of the key points from the conversation:

** It takes a human being on average 16 minutes to refocus on a particular task, so it’s vitally important to eliminate distractions like constantly replying to emails.

** There are apps out there that can prevent you from opening certain applications on your computer or phone at certain times, and thus can help you focus on the job in hand.

** Poor implementation is of a system is a more likely reason for system inefficiency than a poor system itself.

** For implementing a new task-management system, it’s best to tailor it so it suits those at the very top of the company first. Once it has been proven to save time at executive level – the level where there is normally the biggest bottle-neck – then the value of the system can be fully ‘sold’ to the rest of the organisation.

** Successful entrepreneurs spend 20% of their time working on their business rather than working in it.

The last point is the most telling. It’s very easy for people at an executive level to be swamped by day-to-day tasks which distract them from the bigger picture. The solution is not to ignore them, but to find a system that can process them efficiently enough to free up time to think about developing the business beyond the day-to-day. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The concept of the “the time target”

** The inner workings of Podio

** The ‘discovery’ methodology

** How to fight ‘superman syndrome’

** How to use offshore virtual assistants to maximise efficiency

** How emails can be turned into tasks without actually having to read them

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Paul’s website: (http://www.bolloempire.com)

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Have you ever thought “I’m sure I can find a better system of working, but I don’t want to go through the hassle of implementing it”? It’s an understandable view, but listening to an hour of Paul talking will persuade you that it’s the wrong view, and that you should go out and make the effort to automate your business as best you can. As Paul says, “most people’s fears never come true”, and in the case of the business information system that Paul uses, he has the evidence to prove it. Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF086_Use_technology_to_scale_your_business_Paul_Higgins.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Anyone who is part of a company of a certain size will understand the difficulties of the recruitment process. It simply isn’t automatic that a new recruit is going to fit in, and one key reason is because of the vast range of ages and generations that work under one roof. It’s perfectly common for a new employee to be working under somebody who is the same age as their parents, and while it is generally accepted that children and parents will see the world in a different way, employers often fall into the trap of expecting all generations to behave the same way in the workplace.

It was certainly a very interesting chat. See below for a sneak preview of some of the great advice Lee shared with us on how best to manage younger employees: As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:

** Outline company rules from the very beginning, ideally at the interview stage, i.e. working hours, social media policy etc.

** Again, from the earliest possible stage, clearly outline the prospects of career progression.

** In many cases, there is no such thing as ‘normal’. What one generation assumes as ‘normal’ could easily not be reflected by another generation.

** Accept that people are going to leave, sometimes after a relatively short time. Remember that there is a high value in having your employers leave on good terms.

The key thing to remember is that younger workers have grown up in an era where information is more readily available than it was to certain older generations. Therefore they expect a lot of feedback, and a lot of clarity on company policy. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What ‘the millennial generation’ actually means

** How technology has shaped the perceptions of the millennial generation

** How the concept of ‘end of day’ is being challenged

** A reasonable expectation of staff loyalty and length of service today

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  As Lee saliently pointed out, if your company doesn’t cater for younger employees then it doesn’t have much of a future… you simply cannot afford to dismiss the challenges that younger employees bring. Learn about how best to work with them, and take action! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF085_Managing_Multi_generation_teams_with_Lee_Caraher.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

This has to be one of the most extraordinary BBF episodes – it isn’t every day you get to speak to a survivor of a plane crash. Dave Sanderson was on the now infamous US Airways flight 1549 which was struck by a flock of Canada geese just moments after takeoff on January 15 2009. The pilot was forced to ditch the plane in the Hudson river. This quick thinking helped save all 155 people on board, but it was not the only quick thinking on the plane that day. Dave Sanderson was also lauded for his quick thinking during the rescue. As he was making for his nearest exit, he heard the voice of his late mother in his head, and proceeded to step up to lead the rescue effort for all the passengers on his side of the plane. He became the last person to be rescued from the scene, and has since used his experience to become an internationally renowned motivational speaker.

As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:  

** Think hard about how you manage your time. If you were faced with an impending tragedy, would you regret having not spent enough time with your family?

** Don’t take anything you learn for granted. You never know when you might need the knowledge to save yourself or someone else.

** Communicate with people in the way they are most comfortable, not the way you are most comfortable.

  Dave has written a book called ‘Moments Matter’ which outlines 12 different lessons like the above. His story is a great lesson of what can be achieved when people seize the moment. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** A first-hand account of the Hudson river crash

** The concept of post-traumatic growth syndrome

** How to help people out of a trance situation

** How to manage focus

** How an extreme situation can focus the mind

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Dave’s site: (http://www.davesandersonspeaks.com)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Dave’s story is an unforgettable one. Listen to it in full and prepare to be inspired! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF084_Beyond_the_miracle_on_the_hudson_Dave_sanderson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

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