Demonstrate, do not tell. That is one of the secrets of selling. Every organization is always open to fresh talent. Someone who is practical in solving the problems at hand. Forget a list of qualifications after your name. Those are mere papers. The issue is what can you do to improve my condition? It is common to find a company which boasts of a fully-fledged IT department but lacks the skills to connect computers to a printer on the network so that people don’t have to waste time and resources in copying files on thumb drives! And so it occurred…

Running a private business is about two things: business development which covers branding, marketing and sales; and cost management which focuses on increasing shareholder value. If you have five staff, ideally more than 60% should be focused on the revenue side of the business. It does not matter how much costs you try to cut, if revenue is not growing, you will soon be cash trapped. Before you think about cost-cutting, first generate some money to keep the business moving. Why organizations struggle? Any company that must look for money in order to deliver her mandate, must make a deliberate…

Are you self-driven? The issue Every employer states that one of the qualities they need in a prospective employee is self-drive. Now all job seekers now indicate they are ‘self-driven’. As an employer, how do you assess whether a prospective employee is indeed self-driven? How to assess self-drive? The quality of the cover letter and CV of an applicant says a lot. Is the cover letter customized to the new job requirements? Does the cover letter demonstrate the applicants understanding of the organization, business model and gaps which the candidate feels they are the best people to close? Is the…

How many of your staff know why you have implemented internal control systems? Why do you require people to come early at work and sign in the attendance register? Why do you require staff to sign a form that makes them acknowledge having ‘received, read and understood’ respective policies and procedures? Why are visitors required to register at the reception their laptops model, serial number and color, if they visit your office carrying private laptops? Why are staff required to provide accountability for money when they return from a trip? Any company that implements controls and fails to explain why…

Always ask the following questions to assess your relevancy to any organization you join. Whether it is a political office or board appointment, are you the right person for the job: What value in terms of skills, experience, and networks do I bring on the table? After my term in office, what organization achievements will be identified with me? Considering the nature of the organization and its competitive environment, which kind of leadership is needed and how do I help fix it? I am the best person for this role or I am just being rewarded by the appointing authority?…