Leaders spend a better part of their lives helping others grow and build capacity, sometimes to their own detriment. Saying No is an important part of learning to be a good leader. Here are some instances when you should say no and mean it.

In the first instalment in our series of interviews with the Ulster Bank agriculture team, we speak to Ailish Byrne, Head of Agriculture, about the continual need for upskilling amongst farmers and the challenges posed by Brexit.

The introverted personality has received much media attention lately. Author and lecturer Susan Cain brought the introverted personality into the spotlight when she published her book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" in 2012. It's been a hot topic ever since. Some jobs seem more suited to extroverts than introverts. Is that a fair assumption? How about sales, where interacting with people is necessary? Can an introvert be as good a salesperson as an extrovert? Here's why introverts can be amazing salespeople.

Running a successful business is not easy. The bottom line for a business to succeed is to generate more revenue than it spends. Generating revenue is obviously a key focus but reducing costs can also help. Here are 10 tips for lowering your business costs:

Regardless of whether you are a brick-and-mortar business or a technology company selling online services, obviously digital and social marketing is vital but offline marketing is still crucial for building a strong brand. Here are some low cost ideas for offline marketing for small businesses:

Are you keen to run your own business? Have you been considering becoming a franchisee? Here are some key things to consider if becoming a franchisee is of interest to you.

The latest InterTradeIreland Business Monitor shows that business uncertainty isn’t confined to Brexit. Brexit is still the biggest concern on the minds of most SMEs (44%) but it’s worth noting that other issues are rising in significance, for example, rising costs are a concern for over a third of SMEs (36%) while cash flow is an issue for 32% of firms. 

Constantly updating your business plan can help your organisation survive – and thrive. “Fail to plan and you plan to fail” is more than just an old adage – in business, it’s a fact. According to the Harvard Business Review, start-ups built on a formal business plan are 16% more likely to survive – while research from the University of Oregon, 20% of new businesses with plans in place are more likely to enjoy growth and almost twice as likely to attract investors. Here are top tips for creating a successful business plan:

Being a small business owner isn’t easy. Simply being able to reach customers and retain them can be difficult. However, if you are able to successfully engage with your core customer base, you could develop a loyal following that will provide you with revenue for years to come. Here are six ways to engage your customers.

The next Dublin Chamber Momentum event for businesses takes place Thursday 21st March in Dogpatch Labs. We asked the Chamber to tell us a bit about the upcoming event:

Customer research is integral to the success of any business. Without knowledge of your target demographics’ needs and preferences, your product or service may never be sold. However, eliciting customer feedback isn’t always as easy as it seems. The feedback you get may not provide you with the kind of things you want to know, or may not be helpful enough to have you respond with the appropriate changes. With that in mind, below are some tips you can use to get more genuine customer feedback from your audience and what you’ll need to look at to get good information.

KPMG Private Enterprise / Business Achievers / Going Global from XPOSURE on Vimeo.

Business Achievers have partnered up with KPMG Private Enterprise, Ulster Bank and Enterprise Ireland to run a series of insightful events for business leaders around Ireland. Find out more about the "How-To of Going Global Events" and when one will be coming near you. 

A useful way for the management team to get a quick read on how the company brand is perceived and is performing in the market place is to do an annual "Brand Check Up". Here's how to check your brand perception:

This November will be my sixteenth-year anniversary of starting my own human resources consulting business. As I look back on the years, I am amazed at what I have accomplished and learned. If you have tentatively been thinking about taking your first steps in business, then read on for my tips for launching your own business!

In 2017, an estimated 9,800 women became new business owners in Ireland (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Entrepreneurship in Ireland 2017). That might sound like a healthy number, but there is still some way to go before women can achieve entrepreneurial parity with men. According to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) 2018, just one in five of all entrepreneurs in the country are female, and only 10% of women say they would like to start and run a business in the next three years. Here's a guide to the supports that are available for women in business in Ireland:

Being a business owner or manager doesn't always make you a person others want to be around. Certain individuals have traits that make them stronger and more qualified for leadership roles than others. They have qualities that unify that workplace, keep morale high, and increase productivity. Here are some traits that great leaders have that make people gravitate towards them:

Our lives are go-go-go in today's competitive world. Careers are important; getting ahead is the goal of the game. The problem is that in the long run, there will be detrimental effects on your physical and mental wellbeing if you don't allow yourself the proper self-care. Even well-respected business resources like Forbes and Business News Daily understand the value of work-life balance. Achieving it goes a long way to helping you fulfil your work and family responsibilities while staving off burnout. Here are a few easy ways you can start.

Exercise At Work

Exercise is an excellent way to let off steam and keep fit. It also floods you with endorphins – our body's feel-good chemicals, and stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps keep you calm. Since you probably spend the better part of your day at work, you could manage your time more efficiently if you incorporate exercise into or around your workday.

If you work in a building with a gym or workout room – or there's one close by – get in a bit early for a quick workout to kickstart your day and use its shower facilities before heading in for the day. Alternatively, schedule your workout there at the end of your workday, before you go home. Nowadays, more and more businesses offer employees valuable discounts, memberships to gyms or fitness centres or have their own facilities in Ireland and around the world – take advantage if you can.

Don't Overdo It On Overtime

You may think that doing lots of overtime is a surefire way of getting yourself noticed by the powers that be, and a lot of time, that's just what it is: face time. In terms of the idea that working overtime can boost your productivity, it's actually not true. If anything, doing too much overtime will just lead to tiredness, and if you succeed in burning out, lower quality output on your part.

If you're doing overtime because you want to get more done, work on your time management skills so that you work more efficiently during the actual work day. There will be exceptions, of course, but commit to leaving at your designated end time. In the long run, you'll thank yourself.

Staff can be motivated by an increase in their wages, or by a good incentive program. However, often employee motivation can be increased with the aid of a great motivational speaker. They can motivate and inspire a workforce in a way that no manager can by simply appreciating them from the point of view of an outsider. Motivational speakers do not need to be expensive although the cost of hiring a good one can be more than offset by the increased productivity and motivation of your staff. Here's how using motivational speakers can help engage employees.

As a small business, you know that pinching pennies is a necessity in order to stay afloat. Small businesses need to find creative ways to use their cash so that they can compete with other businesses. Check out the following five ways your small business can save money.