Dealing with high emotions at work

Organisations and businesses are composed of people. Emotions are part of our human nature, and they may intensify when we interact with others. When you are working as a team, and there is so much energy, pressure, egos and excitement in the environment, it is unavoidable that emotions may run high, which can lead to conflicts or friction among colleagues.

How to sell your business

Selling a business, big or small, is not something that happens overnight. If it is part of your exit plan, you need to outline how to go about it so that when the right time comes, you can easily start the ball rolling. Whether it’s the point when you feel you need to move to another industry or retirement, attend to other personal matters or navigate through a crisis, such the pandemic that the world is experiencing, selling a business is always an option that an entrepreneur can consider doing.

President's Update - May

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

Reflecting on what I most want to share with everyone this month, an idea my mind turns back to is that of service. From the contribution I have witnessed Member-to-Member as we collectively lean on each other (“we are stronger together”), to being witness to our Board ideate, plan and execute on our 90-day Member Support Plan and thinking beyond, to watching our Chapter management team learn how to navigate the technologies of webinars and think outside-the-box, to Past Presidents and tenured Members appearing out of the woodwork to support, guide and lead, one word that encapsulates the entirety of the above is “service”.

The need for concept testing

Good ideas can raise your business to greater heights. Whether it’s a brand name, logo, packaging, new product or service, promotional design or marketing campaign, concepts help your venture grow and thrive. But how do you know if your brainchild is indeed a good one? Some may seem brilliant but they don’t necessarily translate to sales or profit.

Benefits of business collaborations

Companies, big or small, sometimes work together for a common goal that will mutually benefit each party involved. Collaborations are not uncommon among brands and organisations, especially if this can lead to increased knowledge and sales. Such partnerships may occur through joint projects in developing new products and services, enhanced processes, training and upskilling of people, sales and marketing initiatives and so much more.

Dealing with angry customers in your business

At some point in your business, you might encounter unhappy clients or customers. It could be that a fault in your product or service was found, a mix-up took place or an unexpected misfortune occurred. Whether the concern was caused by internal or external factors, businesses have the responsibility to look into the complaint and even appease the customer.

How to pivot a business

During interesting times, such as a global pandemic and an economic crisis, some industries and businesses suffer due to little, no or negative growth. It often happens during normal days as well, when the market does not seem to be enthusiastic about a brand or certain products or offerings. There are several moments when a business hits a plateau or reaches a downward slope. When this occurs, maybe it’s time to revisit your goals and if you need to do a pivot.

President's Update - April

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

EO is here for you. As we approach renewals, if a Member wants to stay in EO, EO will find a way to make that happen by combining 3 support packages: (1) Global; (2) Local; and (3) Scholarship Fund (to provide renewal relief for those severely impacted by COVID-19).

On Friday, 8 May, we will announce the Local Support Package and information on how to access the Scholarship Fund if your business has been impacted.

Letting go of employees

Certain circumstances may cause you to rethink your current organisational line-up and let go of some people in your team. Staff members performing poorly at work, acquisition or merger that may result in redundancy or financial difficulties or disasters that force businesses to downsize. Firing an employee is not always easy and may sometimes be unpleasant.

The 5 C’s of PR Crisis Management

Unforeseen circumstances are not uncommon in any business and industry. You may not fully prepare for it but you can somehow mitigate the ill effects of a crisis if you just know how to handle it. There are many aspects of crisis management. Some may be working directly in the frontline to lessen the problem, others may be looking for a concrete solution, while others may be tasked to face and update the public.

Practising hygiene and sanitation at work

With the rise of so many illnesses and the world coming face-to-face with a pandemic, it is high time that we revisit our sanitation and hygiene practices at work, whether you do it from home, from the office or at the field. Nevertheless, it is a must to observe cleanliness at all times to keep you and people around you healthy and fit and safe from infectious diseases.

An entrepreneur’s daily checklist

The life of an entrepreneur is demanding. It means facing risks, meeting challenges head-on, taking responsibility for lives reliant on you, and dedicating yourself to bring the business forward towards your goals. If you take a look at it, it is not an easy role, but the emotional, financial and social gains of its success are tremendous.

10 Biographies to Inspire Your Entrepreneurial Journey

If you’ve got some “me” time or when you’re stuck indoors for some reason, why not spend it by poring yourself on reading materials that will inspire and energise you to keep going in your entrepreneurial journey? A good start is to look into the life stories of business leaders who withstood adversities and exhibited determination and persistence in achieving their dreams.

President’s Special Update on Sustaining EO Melbourne Through the Crisis #2

From the President

A single hand can easily break a lone stick, but if the same hand, or even both hands, gather many sticks into a bunch and then attempts to break them, the task becomes more difficult. Similarly, when we stand together, we become ever stronger, collectively smarter and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges. One thing I know with certainty is that we never need to navigate life’s challenges alone.