MOTIVATION – Don’t Ever Do . . . . Nothing
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Theodore Roosevelt said “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing that you can do is nothing.”
Wow! Ironically enough, my good friend and colleague Colleen Larsen of Women In Finance (http://www.womeninfinance.co.za) and I were discussing this very issue earlier today. Doing nothing about something never makes the problem go away – in fact it usually just makes it that much worse.
Obviously, in any given situation, it is always a good thing to do the ‘right’ thing. That’s just a given and it always makes life just that much easier.
The dilemma comes along when there is indecision or when the decision comes packaged with a huge consequence – one that we are perhaps not so willing to subject ourselves to.
Here is where the danger lies. Here is where we meet the challenge . . . or not. This is where we usually step back from the situation. Oh and don’t misunderstand me for one moment – stepping back from a situation is within itself, not a bad thing if the reason we are stepping back is to take a breath and look at what is happening. That is definitely not a bad thing. But once you have stepped back you still need to action something.
Step back, but don’t come to a full stop. Strategize, plan, engage and get going again. Do something for goodness sake!
Doing nothing is quite detrimental to yourself. Doing nothing means that nothing will happen. Doing nothing will often created a negative situation or even a vacuum and it will result in . . . nothing!
Remember that every action causes a (re) action. So get busy, get moving, get actioned!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Monday, November 30, 2009
MOTIVATION - Don't Ever Do . . . . Nothing
MOTIVATION – Don’t Ever Do . . . . Nothing
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Theodore Roosevelt said “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing that you can do is nothing.”
Wow! Ironically enough, my good friend and colleague Colleen Larsen of Women In Finance (http://www.womeninfinance.co.za) and I were discussing this very issue earlier today. Doing nothing about something never makes the problem go away – in fact it usually just makes it that much worse.
Obviously, in any given situation, it is always a good thing to do the ‘right’ thing. That’s just a given and it always makes life just that much easier.
The dilemma comes along when there is indecision or when the decision comes packaged with a huge consequence – one that we are perhaps not so willing to subject ourselves to.
Here is where the danger lies. Here is where we meet the challenge . . . or not. This is where we usually step back from the situation. Oh and don’t misunderstand me for one moment – stepping back from a situation is within itself, not a bad thing if the reason we are stepping back is to take a breath and look at what is happening. That is definitely not a bad thing. But once you have stepped back you still need to action something.
Step back, but don’t come to a full stop. Strategize, plan, engage and get going again. Do something for goodness sake!
Doing nothing is quite detrimental to yourself. Doing nothing means that nothing will happen. Doing nothing will often created a negative situation or even a vacuum and it will result in . . . nothing!
Remember that every action causes a (re) action. So get busy, get moving, get actioned!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Theodore Roosevelt said “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing that you can do is nothing.”
Wow! Ironically enough, my good friend and colleague Colleen Larsen of Women In Finance (http://www.womeninfinance.co.za) and I were discussing this very issue earlier today. Doing nothing about something never makes the problem go away – in fact it usually just makes it that much worse.
Obviously, in any given situation, it is always a good thing to do the ‘right’ thing. That’s just a given and it always makes life just that much easier.
The dilemma comes along when there is indecision or when the decision comes packaged with a huge consequence – one that we are perhaps not so willing to subject ourselves to.
Here is where the danger lies. Here is where we meet the challenge . . . or not. This is where we usually step back from the situation. Oh and don’t misunderstand me for one moment – stepping back from a situation is within itself, not a bad thing if the reason we are stepping back is to take a breath and look at what is happening. That is definitely not a bad thing. But once you have stepped back you still need to action something.
Step back, but don’t come to a full stop. Strategize, plan, engage and get going again. Do something for goodness sake!
Doing nothing is quite detrimental to yourself. Doing nothing means that nothing will happen. Doing nothing will often created a negative situation or even a vacuum and it will result in . . . nothing!
Remember that every action causes a (re) action. So get busy, get moving, get actioned!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Friday, November 27, 2009
HR - Preparing for Disputes - Part 2
ARTICLE 47
Preparing for Disputes – Part 2
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Following on from last week, today we are going to look at some of the most typical and also most important issues that can be discussed at the ‘pre-meeting’.
Some of the most typical and also important issues that are or can be dealt with are (but not limited to):
· Any means by which the dispute may be settled. Both parties would be expected to express exactly what they are wanting that would give them a sense of vindication. It is often at this point that an “out of court” settlement is reached and agreed to and once this agreement has been signed, the arbitration hearing would therefore be totally unnecessary .
· Facts that are the common cause. In some cases it is the ‘straw that breaks the camels back’ that mess the whole works up and it is easier and more beneficial to all parties to get consensus on these and to agree to the facts up front. Issues such as (but not limited to)
+ the exact date that an employee was employed
+ the exact date that the employee was dismissed
+ the exact reason for the dismissal
Here’s the thing – the more issues that can be agreed upon before the hearing, the less time (and expense) will be needed to establish the facts during the hearing.
· Facts that are in dispute. These are usually the issues that the parties cannot or will not agree on. These are issues such as (but not limited to)
+ the employees benefits
+ the employees package
+ the employees remuneration
+ whether the treatment by the employer was fair and/or unfair.
It may also include issues such as whether the employee was at the workplace on the day that the incident took place and so on.
Often at this point the parties may agree that the arbitrator will need decide if the dismissal was procedurally fair or unfair and also whether it was substantively unfair.
· Precise Relief claimed. Usually this is the discussion that takes place that highlights whether the employee wants to be re-instated or whether they want some kind of financial compensation.
It is also at this stage that the sharing and exchange of documents takes place and one ‘common’ bundle of documents can be compiled. Parties fighting about documents and their contents or lack thereof take up huge amounts of time and getting this resolved up front and beforehand makes life a lot easier and it will also greatly reduce the amount of time that is spent in the actual hearing.
Both parties should of course, document the entire meeting, making sure that all the issues that they have agreed to are correctly recorded as well as all the issues that were not agreed on. These minutes can then be signed off on by both parties that then can also be presented to the arbitrator who will use them to get a clear idea of key issues that are relevant to the case.
Be careful though that you don’t give away too much of your case. It is for this very reason that it is in your own interests to use someone who is an expert in Labour Law and it’s relevant processes and the negotiation thereof. If you don’t and the whole thing goes pear-shaped, it could cost you a great deal of money.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Preparing for Disputes – Part 2
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Following on from last week, today we are going to look at some of the most typical and also most important issues that can be discussed at the ‘pre-meeting’.
Some of the most typical and also important issues that are or can be dealt with are (but not limited to):
· Any means by which the dispute may be settled. Both parties would be expected to express exactly what they are wanting that would give them a sense of vindication. It is often at this point that an “out of court” settlement is reached and agreed to and once this agreement has been signed, the arbitration hearing would therefore be totally unnecessary .
· Facts that are the common cause. In some cases it is the ‘straw that breaks the camels back’ that mess the whole works up and it is easier and more beneficial to all parties to get consensus on these and to agree to the facts up front. Issues such as (but not limited to)
+ the exact date that an employee was employed
+ the exact date that the employee was dismissed
+ the exact reason for the dismissal
Here’s the thing – the more issues that can be agreed upon before the hearing, the less time (and expense) will be needed to establish the facts during the hearing.
· Facts that are in dispute. These are usually the issues that the parties cannot or will not agree on. These are issues such as (but not limited to)
+ the employees benefits
+ the employees package
+ the employees remuneration
+ whether the treatment by the employer was fair and/or unfair.
It may also include issues such as whether the employee was at the workplace on the day that the incident took place and so on.
Often at this point the parties may agree that the arbitrator will need decide if the dismissal was procedurally fair or unfair and also whether it was substantively unfair.
· Precise Relief claimed. Usually this is the discussion that takes place that highlights whether the employee wants to be re-instated or whether they want some kind of financial compensation.
It is also at this stage that the sharing and exchange of documents takes place and one ‘common’ bundle of documents can be compiled. Parties fighting about documents and their contents or lack thereof take up huge amounts of time and getting this resolved up front and beforehand makes life a lot easier and it will also greatly reduce the amount of time that is spent in the actual hearing.
Both parties should of course, document the entire meeting, making sure that all the issues that they have agreed to are correctly recorded as well as all the issues that were not agreed on. These minutes can then be signed off on by both parties that then can also be presented to the arbitrator who will use them to get a clear idea of key issues that are relevant to the case.
Be careful though that you don’t give away too much of your case. It is for this very reason that it is in your own interests to use someone who is an expert in Labour Law and it’s relevant processes and the negotiation thereof. If you don’t and the whole thing goes pear-shaped, it could cost you a great deal of money.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Thursday, November 26, 2009
SALES - Knowledge is Key
SALES – Knowledge is Key
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I know that I am one of the most impatient people on the planet. Talk about instant gratification – when I want something, I want it right now! Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Fact of the matter is that I am no different from most people on the face of the earth and certainly no different from any of my SMME colleagues.
Here’s the thing though, you would not expect yourself to become proficient or an expert after one piano lesson or a master chef from reading one cookery book, so why on earth would you expect yourself to become an expert sales person after making just one sale? Doesn’t make any kind of logical sense now does it?
Like most things in life I have to keep learning about it, I have to keep reading up on it, I have to keep implementing what I have learnt. I have to keep up to date with the trends and what is happening in my working and business environment. Those of you who know me and who have been in my office will attest to the large piles of books, magazines and articles that I have all over the place, not to mention the pile of magazines in the bathroom and the toilet. As I have mentioned in some of my articles before, much of what I write is what I most need to hear and this is no exception. As I do the research for and write these articles for my blog and to share with my fellow SMME’s so I learn and grow my own business.
I understand that after almost 40 years since I was last in a classroom, I have to again become a student and learn, not only about selling but all the other skills that are needed as a small business owner. Skills such as branding and marketing, general business skills, skills around negotiation and the ‘how to’ of people skills and please don’t forget anything and everything around finance and tax. New technology also needs to be understood to a certain degree and for me that means knowing what can be done rather than how it does it.
Of late, I find myself becoming quite an information junkie, I devour books, magazines and shamelessly trawl the internet for information, I can’t seem to get enough and I also seem to need more and more.
Don’t forget though, although the saying is ‘knowledge is power’ the true power is unleashed when you do something with that knowledge! So don’t just be learning, make sure that you do something with your new found knowledge. That’s the key!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I know that I am one of the most impatient people on the planet. Talk about instant gratification – when I want something, I want it right now! Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Fact of the matter is that I am no different from most people on the face of the earth and certainly no different from any of my SMME colleagues.
Here’s the thing though, you would not expect yourself to become proficient or an expert after one piano lesson or a master chef from reading one cookery book, so why on earth would you expect yourself to become an expert sales person after making just one sale? Doesn’t make any kind of logical sense now does it?
Like most things in life I have to keep learning about it, I have to keep reading up on it, I have to keep implementing what I have learnt. I have to keep up to date with the trends and what is happening in my working and business environment. Those of you who know me and who have been in my office will attest to the large piles of books, magazines and articles that I have all over the place, not to mention the pile of magazines in the bathroom and the toilet. As I have mentioned in some of my articles before, much of what I write is what I most need to hear and this is no exception. As I do the research for and write these articles for my blog and to share with my fellow SMME’s so I learn and grow my own business.
I understand that after almost 40 years since I was last in a classroom, I have to again become a student and learn, not only about selling but all the other skills that are needed as a small business owner. Skills such as branding and marketing, general business skills, skills around negotiation and the ‘how to’ of people skills and please don’t forget anything and everything around finance and tax. New technology also needs to be understood to a certain degree and for me that means knowing what can be done rather than how it does it.
Of late, I find myself becoming quite an information junkie, I devour books, magazines and shamelessly trawl the internet for information, I can’t seem to get enough and I also seem to need more and more.
Don’t forget though, although the saying is ‘knowledge is power’ the true power is unleashed when you do something with that knowledge! So don’t just be learning, make sure that you do something with your new found knowledge. That’s the key!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Power of Networking - Part 139
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
PART 139
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
I was reminded again yesterday about how trust is such an important factor in Networking and referrals.
You see my friend (let’s call her Jill) met me for lunch and was telling me about this huge opportunity that has presented itself to her. There is this chap (let’s call him John) who heads up a multi million Rand organisation who is looking for a particular product to brand as a corporate gift for his clients for 2010.
Jill had a meeting with him on an unrelated issue and he mentioned this corporate gift idea that he had and said that no-one had gotten back to him and that in fact he had had little response from anyone. How bizarre is that? The man wants to give someone huge amounts of money and/or business and no-one appears to wants the business!
Well now Jill, who is in a totally unrelated type of business, really does not know how to pass up on a good deal and she asks him if she could perhaps assist him and John gives her 24 hours to get back to him with a proposal. 24 hours people, in a field that she knows nothing about!
You would think that Jill’s initial reaction would be one of “Panic! I have no idea where to even begin to find what he needs” – well, in a way you could be right but more importantly you are most definitely wrong.
Here’s the thing – Jill may not know much about the product that she had 24 hours in which to come up with, but Jill knows me and Jill knows that I know lots of people. So Jill, who loves to work ‘smart’ rather than ‘hard’ called me!
So here is what happened – I have connected Jill with several people in my database, one in particular being (let’s call her Jane). Jill and Jane have never met one another, but because I referred both of them, one to the other, they are now doing business and John is a happy man. My contacts know and trust me and they also know how to deliver. The result is . . . . well let’s jus say that Jill owes me several large whiskeys!
Here are two people, who have yet to meet one another, who are doing hundreds of thousands of Rands worth of business because they both know and trust me.
Now that . . . is the Power of Networking!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
PART 139
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
I was reminded again yesterday about how trust is such an important factor in Networking and referrals.
You see my friend (let’s call her Jill) met me for lunch and was telling me about this huge opportunity that has presented itself to her. There is this chap (let’s call him John) who heads up a multi million Rand organisation who is looking for a particular product to brand as a corporate gift for his clients for 2010.
Jill had a meeting with him on an unrelated issue and he mentioned this corporate gift idea that he had and said that no-one had gotten back to him and that in fact he had had little response from anyone. How bizarre is that? The man wants to give someone huge amounts of money and/or business and no-one appears to wants the business!
Well now Jill, who is in a totally unrelated type of business, really does not know how to pass up on a good deal and she asks him if she could perhaps assist him and John gives her 24 hours to get back to him with a proposal. 24 hours people, in a field that she knows nothing about!
You would think that Jill’s initial reaction would be one of “Panic! I have no idea where to even begin to find what he needs” – well, in a way you could be right but more importantly you are most definitely wrong.
Here’s the thing – Jill may not know much about the product that she had 24 hours in which to come up with, but Jill knows me and Jill knows that I know lots of people. So Jill, who loves to work ‘smart’ rather than ‘hard’ called me!
So here is what happened – I have connected Jill with several people in my database, one in particular being (let’s call her Jane). Jill and Jane have never met one another, but because I referred both of them, one to the other, they are now doing business and John is a happy man. My contacts know and trust me and they also know how to deliver. The result is . . . . well let’s jus say that Jill owes me several large whiskeys!
Here are two people, who have yet to meet one another, who are doing hundreds of thousands of Rands worth of business because they both know and trust me.
Now that . . . is the Power of Networking!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
BUSINESS TIPS - What is Cash Flow?
BUSINESS TIPS – What is Cash Flow
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
We all hear the words every day – “Cash is King”! Clearly it is preferable to have physical cash in your hand, than say a cheque or even money in the bank. Why do you think that that is?
Firstly if the money is in the bank, then there may be expenses that still need to go off your account, you would still need to go to the bank to draw money or alternatively you may not have the card or the correct access codes to get the money out of the bank. So having physical cash in your hand is always a good thing.
Let’s have a look at what cash flow is – exactly. Quite simply, it is the physical money that you have access to at any given time. It’s not the money that you are waiting to be paid. It’s not the stock that you are waiting to sell – it’s the physical cash that you have access to at any given time.
Having a good cash flow is absolutely imperative. As SMME’s (Small, Micro, Medium Enterprises) we need a good cash flow in order to purchase our supplies, to pay rent, to pay our staff and to pay our way in the every day manner in which we conduct our business. In short it is that lifeblood that we need in order to earn our livelihood, without it we would whither up and literally die.
So how do we get this ‘cash flow’?
First of all we need to get money into the business – this is usually referred to as a “cash inflow” and it is usually made of up four different components, these are:
· Sales of our products and/or services – well that’s pretty self explanatory.
· Loan or credit card proceeds – this is either money that we have loaned from a bank or financial institution or indeed money that we have loaned our business in our personal capacity and/or money that is coming to us from sales that were paid for by means of credit cards or indeed money that we have ‘borrowed’ on our credit cards, even money that is owed to us by our debtors.
· Asset Sales – this would be when we sell assets (such as old computers or vehicles etc) that were previously purchased by the company that we are now upgrading and/or even just getting rid of.
· Owner investments – these would be property and/or financial and/or business investments that we have made on behalf of our company.
Then of course money goes out of the business – this is usually referred to as “cash outflow” and again it is usually made up of four different components, these are:
· Business expenditures – these are of course the expenses that are raised in the normal day to day running of the business. This would also include salaries and wages etc for the staff.
· Loan or credit card principal payments – just as you got the money either from a loan or your credit card, now you have to pay that loan back or pay your credit card back.
· Asset purchases – again, just as you sold old equipment or equipment that you no longer needed, so now you have to buy new equipment and/or assets for the business.
· Owner withdrawals – again that is pretty self explanatory and it is when the owner takes money out of the business for personal use. These drawings are usually offset against the money that the owner has lent to the business out of his/her loan account.
Both the ‘Cash Inflows’ and the ‘Cash Outflows’ also fit into three main categories within the business and these are:
· Operating – this covers the sales of product and/or services of your business, together with the business expenses that you incur in the selling of your product and/or service.
· Investing – this would be all the assets that you buy and sell and
· Financing – this obviously covers all the loans and the repayments of the loans as well as the money that the owner has invested into his/her business and the withdrawals that he/she makes for personal use.
So there you have it, basically what cash flow is and the ‘how’ and ‘what’ it relates to.
Next week we will have a look at some simple tips on how to manage your cash flow.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
We all hear the words every day – “Cash is King”! Clearly it is preferable to have physical cash in your hand, than say a cheque or even money in the bank. Why do you think that that is?
Firstly if the money is in the bank, then there may be expenses that still need to go off your account, you would still need to go to the bank to draw money or alternatively you may not have the card or the correct access codes to get the money out of the bank. So having physical cash in your hand is always a good thing.
Let’s have a look at what cash flow is – exactly. Quite simply, it is the physical money that you have access to at any given time. It’s not the money that you are waiting to be paid. It’s not the stock that you are waiting to sell – it’s the physical cash that you have access to at any given time.
Having a good cash flow is absolutely imperative. As SMME’s (Small, Micro, Medium Enterprises) we need a good cash flow in order to purchase our supplies, to pay rent, to pay our staff and to pay our way in the every day manner in which we conduct our business. In short it is that lifeblood that we need in order to earn our livelihood, without it we would whither up and literally die.
So how do we get this ‘cash flow’?
First of all we need to get money into the business – this is usually referred to as a “cash inflow” and it is usually made of up four different components, these are:
· Sales of our products and/or services – well that’s pretty self explanatory.
· Loan or credit card proceeds – this is either money that we have loaned from a bank or financial institution or indeed money that we have loaned our business in our personal capacity and/or money that is coming to us from sales that were paid for by means of credit cards or indeed money that we have ‘borrowed’ on our credit cards, even money that is owed to us by our debtors.
· Asset Sales – this would be when we sell assets (such as old computers or vehicles etc) that were previously purchased by the company that we are now upgrading and/or even just getting rid of.
· Owner investments – these would be property and/or financial and/or business investments that we have made on behalf of our company.
Then of course money goes out of the business – this is usually referred to as “cash outflow” and again it is usually made up of four different components, these are:
· Business expenditures – these are of course the expenses that are raised in the normal day to day running of the business. This would also include salaries and wages etc for the staff.
· Loan or credit card principal payments – just as you got the money either from a loan or your credit card, now you have to pay that loan back or pay your credit card back.
· Asset purchases – again, just as you sold old equipment or equipment that you no longer needed, so now you have to buy new equipment and/or assets for the business.
· Owner withdrawals – again that is pretty self explanatory and it is when the owner takes money out of the business for personal use. These drawings are usually offset against the money that the owner has lent to the business out of his/her loan account.
Both the ‘Cash Inflows’ and the ‘Cash Outflows’ also fit into three main categories within the business and these are:
· Operating – this covers the sales of product and/or services of your business, together with the business expenses that you incur in the selling of your product and/or service.
· Investing – this would be all the assets that you buy and sell and
· Financing – this obviously covers all the loans and the repayments of the loans as well as the money that the owner has invested into his/her business and the withdrawals that he/she makes for personal use.
So there you have it, basically what cash flow is and the ‘how’ and ‘what’ it relates to.
Next week we will have a look at some simple tips on how to manage your cash flow.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Monday, November 23, 2009
MOTIVATION - Believing It Is Possible
MOTIVATION – Believing It is Possible
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – November 2009
Richard M De Vos says “The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.”
So what exactly is it that we are all so afraid of? Why is it that we are afraid to believe that “things” are possible? Why is it that we have so little faith in ourselves and the magnitude of ‘that’ person that we are, that we are afraid to try things in life? Quite honestly I don’t have the answers.
What I do have is a life and business coach by the name of Vanessa, who is teaching me and guiding me through this process. I always smilingly say that I am a ‘work in progress’!
What I am discovering in this amazing journey through life is that I am beginning to ‘try’ things – not just wanting to try them or thinking about trying them, but that I am actually actively engaged in the process of ‘trying’ life. I am physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually engaged in ‘the business of trying life.’
Please believe me when I tell you that it is the most difficult thing I have ever done and also the absolute easiest. Difficult because I have had to let go of and work through my own fear and my faith in myself and the Universe. Easy because, once I let myself ‘do’ it, I could not for the life of me understand what it was that I was so scared and afraid of in the first place.
Yip – a work in progress, that’s me! You see every time I hit a ripple in the road (usually put there by myself) my first reaction is one of fear and then I have to stop – work through everything from a logical perspective, understand the fear, throw the fear and the uncertainty out and then continue on my way. I do understand and am aware of the fact that as I continue on my journey the ‘fear factor’ will become less and less though.
You see, the ‘fear’ had been a part of my life for so long that it had become a really nasty and evil habit. Like any other bad habit, you have to be consciously and consistently aware of the damage that it is doing to you and only in that awareness will you be able to rid yourself of it.
It’s a habit that I am expunging on a daily basis.
It’s a habit that will soon be gone from my life forever.
In my new found ‘fearless’ freedom, I am finally starting to try new things and in so doing I have found the faith and trust in myself and the purpose of my life, which will ultimately allow me to live my life to the fullest.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – November 2009
Richard M De Vos says “The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.”
So what exactly is it that we are all so afraid of? Why is it that we are afraid to believe that “things” are possible? Why is it that we have so little faith in ourselves and the magnitude of ‘that’ person that we are, that we are afraid to try things in life? Quite honestly I don’t have the answers.
What I do have is a life and business coach by the name of Vanessa, who is teaching me and guiding me through this process. I always smilingly say that I am a ‘work in progress’!
What I am discovering in this amazing journey through life is that I am beginning to ‘try’ things – not just wanting to try them or thinking about trying them, but that I am actually actively engaged in the process of ‘trying’ life. I am physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually engaged in ‘the business of trying life.’
Please believe me when I tell you that it is the most difficult thing I have ever done and also the absolute easiest. Difficult because I have had to let go of and work through my own fear and my faith in myself and the Universe. Easy because, once I let myself ‘do’ it, I could not for the life of me understand what it was that I was so scared and afraid of in the first place.
Yip – a work in progress, that’s me! You see every time I hit a ripple in the road (usually put there by myself) my first reaction is one of fear and then I have to stop – work through everything from a logical perspective, understand the fear, throw the fear and the uncertainty out and then continue on my way. I do understand and am aware of the fact that as I continue on my journey the ‘fear factor’ will become less and less though.
You see, the ‘fear’ had been a part of my life for so long that it had become a really nasty and evil habit. Like any other bad habit, you have to be consciously and consistently aware of the damage that it is doing to you and only in that awareness will you be able to rid yourself of it.
It’s a habit that I am expunging on a daily basis.
It’s a habit that will soon be gone from my life forever.
In my new found ‘fearless’ freedom, I am finally starting to try new things and in so doing I have found the faith and trust in myself and the purpose of my life, which will ultimately allow me to live my life to the fullest.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Saturday, November 21, 2009
HR - Preparing for Disputes - Part 1
ARTICLE 47
Preparing for Disputes - Part 1
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Over the last few months, I have been inundated with clients who have had the need to discipline staff. In every single instance, although I have previously taken them through the “how to” and the “what to” with their staffing challenges, they have chosen not to listen to or take my advice. The result now is that they are deep in the smelly brown stuff and getting them out of it is going to be expensive. Had they but listened in the first place, none of this would have happened and they certainly would not have been in the space that they have now found themselves in.
In all of the instances, a huge amount of time and resources, not to mention cost has been spent to ensure that the damage is now contained and that it does not spiral out of control.
Preparation of documents and a comprehensive documented statement of account is vital, so ensuring that the telling of the story and how it unfolded is critical and whilst it is always a good idea to leave ‘emotions’ at the door, explaining how you felt, your perceptions and expectations is always a good thing.
Having your story backed up with documentation is extremely useful, but having witnesses who can corroborate your story and the documents is even better and in all probability the most powerful thing of all.
Remember however, that a disciplinary hearing is still a process and it doesn’t matter how powerful your case is, you still have to follow the process, especially the most basic of all of the processes and they have to be followed completely and to the letter of the law. Not doing so will actually make things a whole lot worse instead of better. So please take notice of this.
From there, depending on the outcome of the findings, the dispute may be referred to the CCMA for conciliation, con-arb or arbitration.
Please be aware of the fact that should the dispute go to con-arb or arbitration, the responsibility of preparing the case properly will be yours. So if you are not sure of what to do make sure that you get someone who knows what they are doing to help you and guide you through the process.
The reason that you need to prepare yourself properly is because you can expect to go through a court type hearing with all the relevant proceedings and processes. You see you will not only have to present your evidence in a manner that is professional, but yet concise and easy to understand – you will also have to respond to and try and counteract the evidence of your opponent, also in a profession manner. You have to come across as believable and ensure that what you have to say bears merit rather than malice.
There may be a need for a “pre-arbitration” meeting with your adversary. In many instances this type of meeting could in fact resolve the matter, thereby removing the need for an arbitration meeting altogether. At worst the pre-arbitration meeting will assist in the reducing of time that it will take to complete the hearing and/or assist you in the preparation of the meeting. For the record though, although the CCMA would like the parties to have a ‘pre-meeting’ and that it could be to your own advantage to do so, the fact of the matter is that it is not compulsory.
Next week we will look at some of the most typical and also most important issues that can be discussed at the ‘pre-meeting’.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Preparing for Disputes - Part 1
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Over the last few months, I have been inundated with clients who have had the need to discipline staff. In every single instance, although I have previously taken them through the “how to” and the “what to” with their staffing challenges, they have chosen not to listen to or take my advice. The result now is that they are deep in the smelly brown stuff and getting them out of it is going to be expensive. Had they but listened in the first place, none of this would have happened and they certainly would not have been in the space that they have now found themselves in.
In all of the instances, a huge amount of time and resources, not to mention cost has been spent to ensure that the damage is now contained and that it does not spiral out of control.
Preparation of documents and a comprehensive documented statement of account is vital, so ensuring that the telling of the story and how it unfolded is critical and whilst it is always a good idea to leave ‘emotions’ at the door, explaining how you felt, your perceptions and expectations is always a good thing.
Having your story backed up with documentation is extremely useful, but having witnesses who can corroborate your story and the documents is even better and in all probability the most powerful thing of all.
Remember however, that a disciplinary hearing is still a process and it doesn’t matter how powerful your case is, you still have to follow the process, especially the most basic of all of the processes and they have to be followed completely and to the letter of the law. Not doing so will actually make things a whole lot worse instead of better. So please take notice of this.
From there, depending on the outcome of the findings, the dispute may be referred to the CCMA for conciliation, con-arb or arbitration.
Please be aware of the fact that should the dispute go to con-arb or arbitration, the responsibility of preparing the case properly will be yours. So if you are not sure of what to do make sure that you get someone who knows what they are doing to help you and guide you through the process.
The reason that you need to prepare yourself properly is because you can expect to go through a court type hearing with all the relevant proceedings and processes. You see you will not only have to present your evidence in a manner that is professional, but yet concise and easy to understand – you will also have to respond to and try and counteract the evidence of your opponent, also in a profession manner. You have to come across as believable and ensure that what you have to say bears merit rather than malice.
There may be a need for a “pre-arbitration” meeting with your adversary. In many instances this type of meeting could in fact resolve the matter, thereby removing the need for an arbitration meeting altogether. At worst the pre-arbitration meeting will assist in the reducing of time that it will take to complete the hearing and/or assist you in the preparation of the meeting. For the record though, although the CCMA would like the parties to have a ‘pre-meeting’ and that it could be to your own advantage to do so, the fact of the matter is that it is not compulsory.
Next week we will look at some of the most typical and also most important issues that can be discussed at the ‘pre-meeting’.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Thursday, November 19, 2009
SALES - Boosting the Sale and Soft Selling
SALES – Boosting the Sale and Soft Selling
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I don’t know about you guys, but I am a real fan of the South African Lotto (AKA the lottery). Granted most of us win far less than we pay to play, but for me, as long as it is fun and not an addiction – where’s the problem?
I used to grab a couple of ‘quick picks’ each week leaving the thrill of the win up to the Universe as the machine picks the numbers that you end up playing, on a random basis. I was fairly successful and used to feel the same sense of elation and well being, whether I won R7.00 (my smallest and most frequent win) to a few thousand Rand (my largest win), and since each ticket was R2.50 the R20.00 or so I spent a week was really not a train smash at all.
Then they upped the cost to R3.50 a ticket and now they have introduced another component called “Power Ball”.
Powerball forces you to choose your own numbers and that has changed the whole ‘feel’ of the experience because now I have to choose the numbers which means that I am also looking at statistics to see which numbers come up more than others and ‘my win’ is no longer left entirely up to chance. The draw is also done on two entirely different days to the normal lotto draws.
Thing is though that whilst I was quite happy to accept the R1.00 increase, I doubt very much that I would have been enamored with, say a R2.50 or R3.00 increase.
The R1.00 increase, together with the introduction of the “Power Ball” game gives the perception that I am getting more value for my money.
But what if the lotto ticket was, say R100.00 a ticket? Would I be willing to spend that amount of money twice a week? I doubt it very much – in fact knowing the kind of person that I am – I probably would not play anymore at all.
So what does this all tell me? Well, generally speaking it evidences that the more the item costs the more reluctant people are to spend the money in the first place. Put that together with the risk involved and people become even more reluctant to spend the money.
In the grand scheme of things, there are a relatively small number of individuals who are willing to take financial risks.
So therefore to make the ‘sale’ more attractive, it is in your own best interests to ensure that the perception is that the risk is kept to a minimum.
That’s why referrals work so well. You see, because the product and/or service arrives tried, tested and trusted, the perception is that there is very little risk.
So for me, the biggest and easiest way to reduce risk is by being recommended by an existing client and/or contact.
It’s the easiest way to increase my database and the easiest way to boost my sales and most definitely the easiest way for me to get new business.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I don’t know about you guys, but I am a real fan of the South African Lotto (AKA the lottery). Granted most of us win far less than we pay to play, but for me, as long as it is fun and not an addiction – where’s the problem?
I used to grab a couple of ‘quick picks’ each week leaving the thrill of the win up to the Universe as the machine picks the numbers that you end up playing, on a random basis. I was fairly successful and used to feel the same sense of elation and well being, whether I won R7.00 (my smallest and most frequent win) to a few thousand Rand (my largest win), and since each ticket was R2.50 the R20.00 or so I spent a week was really not a train smash at all.
Then they upped the cost to R3.50 a ticket and now they have introduced another component called “Power Ball”.
Powerball forces you to choose your own numbers and that has changed the whole ‘feel’ of the experience because now I have to choose the numbers which means that I am also looking at statistics to see which numbers come up more than others and ‘my win’ is no longer left entirely up to chance. The draw is also done on two entirely different days to the normal lotto draws.
Thing is though that whilst I was quite happy to accept the R1.00 increase, I doubt very much that I would have been enamored with, say a R2.50 or R3.00 increase.
The R1.00 increase, together with the introduction of the “Power Ball” game gives the perception that I am getting more value for my money.
But what if the lotto ticket was, say R100.00 a ticket? Would I be willing to spend that amount of money twice a week? I doubt it very much – in fact knowing the kind of person that I am – I probably would not play anymore at all.
So what does this all tell me? Well, generally speaking it evidences that the more the item costs the more reluctant people are to spend the money in the first place. Put that together with the risk involved and people become even more reluctant to spend the money.
In the grand scheme of things, there are a relatively small number of individuals who are willing to take financial risks.
So therefore to make the ‘sale’ more attractive, it is in your own best interests to ensure that the perception is that the risk is kept to a minimum.
That’s why referrals work so well. You see, because the product and/or service arrives tried, tested and trusted, the perception is that there is very little risk.
So for me, the biggest and easiest way to reduce risk is by being recommended by an existing client and/or contact.
It’s the easiest way to increase my database and the easiest way to boost my sales and most definitely the easiest way for me to get new business.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Power of Networking - Part 138
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
PART 138
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
Ralph Marston says “What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank-you for it, would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you are already have.”
What makes you think that Networking is any different? One of the issues around Networking and one of the reasons people don’t believe that it actually does work is the fact that people don’t say thank you or that they don’t appreciate or even respect the referral that they have been given and also that very often people don’t reciprocate.
A couple of months ago, I was at a Networking event that was attached to a huge exhibition. Walking around the different exhibits, I came across two individuals who I had introduced to each other about three years before, working together at one of the stalls. I saw synergy between them that they clearly did not see at the time and they have since formed a JV (Joint Venture) that is obviously working very well.
Here’s the thing though – after I introduced them to each other, I have never heard from them again. In fact, I didn’t even recognise them, they both called out to me as I passed by. They are still in my database, they still get my ‘newsletters’ and invitations to the workshops that I run (so they know where and how to contact me) – but at no time did they ever feel the need to call me and tell me that they had formed the JV or to thank me for the referral. From what they told me, they have made loads of money from the relationship and yet no-one has even thought about me – the person that started the whole thing off.
Now quite honestly, whilst I am pleased that they eventually saw (and acted on) the synergies between themselves (that just proves to me once again that Networking does work) I am also quite miffed at the lack of respect that they have shown me. What they have shown me without a doubt too though, is that they are incredibly ungrateful. It will be their own loss though at the end of the day, because each and every time, going forward, that I have a possible connection or link for them and to them, I will certainly think twice about referring it. The connection or referral will go to others in my data base who have shown me respect, who have thanked me and who are obviously grateful about what I have passed onto them.
So think carefully about how you were brought up – I was always taught to say ‘thank-you’ and even if nothing comes of an introduction or referral that has been passed onto me, I always make contact and thank the person who connected me. The Universe is a really wonderful place, with many opportunities and you have no idea where the next great/big/enormous one is going to come from, so be thankful, be respectful and always be grateful.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
PART 138
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
Ralph Marston says “What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank-you for it, would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you are already have.”
What makes you think that Networking is any different? One of the issues around Networking and one of the reasons people don’t believe that it actually does work is the fact that people don’t say thank you or that they don’t appreciate or even respect the referral that they have been given and also that very often people don’t reciprocate.
A couple of months ago, I was at a Networking event that was attached to a huge exhibition. Walking around the different exhibits, I came across two individuals who I had introduced to each other about three years before, working together at one of the stalls. I saw synergy between them that they clearly did not see at the time and they have since formed a JV (Joint Venture) that is obviously working very well.
Here’s the thing though – after I introduced them to each other, I have never heard from them again. In fact, I didn’t even recognise them, they both called out to me as I passed by. They are still in my database, they still get my ‘newsletters’ and invitations to the workshops that I run (so they know where and how to contact me) – but at no time did they ever feel the need to call me and tell me that they had formed the JV or to thank me for the referral. From what they told me, they have made loads of money from the relationship and yet no-one has even thought about me – the person that started the whole thing off.
Now quite honestly, whilst I am pleased that they eventually saw (and acted on) the synergies between themselves (that just proves to me once again that Networking does work) I am also quite miffed at the lack of respect that they have shown me. What they have shown me without a doubt too though, is that they are incredibly ungrateful. It will be their own loss though at the end of the day, because each and every time, going forward, that I have a possible connection or link for them and to them, I will certainly think twice about referring it. The connection or referral will go to others in my data base who have shown me respect, who have thanked me and who are obviously grateful about what I have passed onto them.
So think carefully about how you were brought up – I was always taught to say ‘thank-you’ and even if nothing comes of an introduction or referral that has been passed onto me, I always make contact and thank the person who connected me. The Universe is a really wonderful place, with many opportunities and you have no idea where the next great/big/enormous one is going to come from, so be thankful, be respectful and always be grateful.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
BUSINESS TIPS - Encouragement
BUSINESS TIPS – Encouragement
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Dr Renate Volpe, in her Political Intelligence nuggets says “Game 8: The Poker player. Encourages another person to share information, without revealing their own position.”
Oh I know these ones – they are the people who usually throw one or two words out and on very rare occasions an entire sentence may go into the pot and then they sit back and wait and watch and listen to everything that everyone else has to say. As the conversation wanes or stops altogether they will throw the next lot of words or sentence into the mix again.
Usually, they sit back with a huge self satisfied grin across their faces as they take in all the information that comes out of the conversation, whilst putting very little back in.
From this information they use whatever they need to for their own purposes, never, ever giving anything back.
From my own personal point of view they are like vampires, constantly sucking the life blood out of you. Always looking for new information, always on the periphery of any conversation, but never actually part of it.
In my opinion an exchange of ideas/information, is exactly that . . . exchanging or brainstorming and I always try and make myself aware of individuals who hang about just to listen in and not contribute in any way.
Should you require any additional information on Renate and what she does, please visit her website on http://www.HIRS.co.za.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Dr Renate Volpe, in her Political Intelligence nuggets says “Game 8: The Poker player. Encourages another person to share information, without revealing their own position.”
Oh I know these ones – they are the people who usually throw one or two words out and on very rare occasions an entire sentence may go into the pot and then they sit back and wait and watch and listen to everything that everyone else has to say. As the conversation wanes or stops altogether they will throw the next lot of words or sentence into the mix again.
Usually, they sit back with a huge self satisfied grin across their faces as they take in all the information that comes out of the conversation, whilst putting very little back in.
From this information they use whatever they need to for their own purposes, never, ever giving anything back.
From my own personal point of view they are like vampires, constantly sucking the life blood out of you. Always looking for new information, always on the periphery of any conversation, but never actually part of it.
In my opinion an exchange of ideas/information, is exactly that . . . exchanging or brainstorming and I always try and make myself aware of individuals who hang about just to listen in and not contribute in any way.
Should you require any additional information on Renate and what she does, please visit her website on http://www.HIRS.co.za.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Monday, November 16, 2009
MOTIVATION - If You Can Dream It
MOTIVATION – If You Can Dream It
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
One of the most profound sayings that I know of is Walt Disney’s “If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.”
This certainly is one of the motivational tips that resonates the most with me – and boy do I love to dream. It is my most favorite part of the day. When I am lying in my bed at night, just before I slip into ‘lala land’ (if I am extremely lucky you understand), in that place between being awake and being asleep that I love to call ‘the twilight zone’, where I allow my mind to wonder to all the delicious possibilities that are available, and believe me when I tell you there are millions! I doubt very much that there is a single night that I don’t go to sleep with a huge big grin on my face and that I think is very good for the soul!
Sadly, even in this day and age, there are still millions of people out there, who never mind don’t have even a single dream, but worse still, they have no idea how to dream. People who are caught up in their mundane lives, who are so busy putting ‘one foot in front of the other’ in order to stay alive, so focused and intent on just existing that there is no room for anything else. Or, what about those folk who have been so damaged by life that they do not think that they deserve anything good in their lives, much less even the notion that they too can dream? Then of course you have the people who do not even believe in dreams, people who are so cynical about the magical aspects of life that they cannot even begin to understand how important it is to dream. My heart really does go out to all of these – I could not even being to imagine my life without my dreams.
Here’s the thing though – it’s no good just dreaming! Sure it’s a lot of fun and sure it feeds the mystical, magical, fantasy side of our lives, but in order to have those dreams become a reality (the ones that you do want to be part of your reality that is, not the ones about the flying red dragons), then you have to do something with them, about them and to them, in order for them to become the reality. There has to be some sort of action on your part. You have to become (if you’re not one already) a ‘doer’! You have to create the ‘space’ for the dream to become a reality and I think for most, therein lies the challenge.
Think about it for a moment – how would you feel about reading a book that has no ending! You get all caught up in the twists and turns, the plots and the pleasures, the drama and seductions and as you get to the most critical stage, you turn the page and . . . . nothing. You hastily turn the page back, believing that you have missed something, that you have done something wrong and no, there it is the twists and turns, the plot and the pleasures and you turn the page again, hoping that the tale continues and there, as plain as day, staring right back at you, a blank page!
That for me is what happens when a dream is not turned into reality. Irritation at having been brought this far down the road and then left dangling, the plot not realized, the twists and turns only half completed and the story that started off rich and vibrant and full of life brought to an abrupt end.
So remember that the dream that you want to turn into reality, must be brought to fruition, the tale needs to unfold and the story needs to have an ending and quite honestly, whichever ending that you need to write will be the right one for you – it’s all about the choices that you make and how you want the dream to end. So put in the effort, make it happen. Dream the dream but don’t forget to turn the dream into your reality.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
One of the most profound sayings that I know of is Walt Disney’s “If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.”
This certainly is one of the motivational tips that resonates the most with me – and boy do I love to dream. It is my most favorite part of the day. When I am lying in my bed at night, just before I slip into ‘lala land’ (if I am extremely lucky you understand), in that place between being awake and being asleep that I love to call ‘the twilight zone’, where I allow my mind to wonder to all the delicious possibilities that are available, and believe me when I tell you there are millions! I doubt very much that there is a single night that I don’t go to sleep with a huge big grin on my face and that I think is very good for the soul!
Sadly, even in this day and age, there are still millions of people out there, who never mind don’t have even a single dream, but worse still, they have no idea how to dream. People who are caught up in their mundane lives, who are so busy putting ‘one foot in front of the other’ in order to stay alive, so focused and intent on just existing that there is no room for anything else. Or, what about those folk who have been so damaged by life that they do not think that they deserve anything good in their lives, much less even the notion that they too can dream? Then of course you have the people who do not even believe in dreams, people who are so cynical about the magical aspects of life that they cannot even begin to understand how important it is to dream. My heart really does go out to all of these – I could not even being to imagine my life without my dreams.
Here’s the thing though – it’s no good just dreaming! Sure it’s a lot of fun and sure it feeds the mystical, magical, fantasy side of our lives, but in order to have those dreams become a reality (the ones that you do want to be part of your reality that is, not the ones about the flying red dragons), then you have to do something with them, about them and to them, in order for them to become the reality. There has to be some sort of action on your part. You have to become (if you’re not one already) a ‘doer’! You have to create the ‘space’ for the dream to become a reality and I think for most, therein lies the challenge.
Think about it for a moment – how would you feel about reading a book that has no ending! You get all caught up in the twists and turns, the plots and the pleasures, the drama and seductions and as you get to the most critical stage, you turn the page and . . . . nothing. You hastily turn the page back, believing that you have missed something, that you have done something wrong and no, there it is the twists and turns, the plot and the pleasures and you turn the page again, hoping that the tale continues and there, as plain as day, staring right back at you, a blank page!
That for me is what happens when a dream is not turned into reality. Irritation at having been brought this far down the road and then left dangling, the plot not realized, the twists and turns only half completed and the story that started off rich and vibrant and full of life brought to an abrupt end.
So remember that the dream that you want to turn into reality, must be brought to fruition, the tale needs to unfold and the story needs to have an ending and quite honestly, whichever ending that you need to write will be the right one for you – it’s all about the choices that you make and how you want the dream to end. So put in the effort, make it happen. Dream the dream but don’t forget to turn the dream into your reality.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Friday, November 13, 2009
Don't Forget the Basic Procedures
ARTICLE 46
Don’t Forget The Basic Procedures
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Most people have this absolute loathing for procedures and policies in the workplace, believing, somewhat naively that “It won’t happen to me”. Sad that.
Many others, having burnt their fingers once or twice or indeed several times over, now do a 180 degree turn and belabour the point, going too much into the finer detail and forgetting the basics.
Here’s the thing – too much is just as bad as too little. Oh I can just see all of you, shaking your heads sadly and wondering (probably out loud) if ‘this woman will ever be happy’ with what you do.?
Stick to the basics – keep it as simple as possible. Putting in too much detail and complicating the whole process may well result in the whole thing going pear-shaped as chances are you will be opening the lid of “Pandora’s Box”.
Here’s the story.
Mike owns a courier company and has many vehicles and drivers in his employ. Both George and Simon are drivers who were driving around the yard early one morning prior to going out onto the road to do their deliveries. George was still inebriated from the night before and should probably not have been driving anything. George’s reactions were not what they should have been and coming around a corner, he failed to react in time and went smack bang into the side of Simon’s vehicle, which was parked at the loading bay. Clearly George was at fault.
Mike drove George off to the nearest police station and requested that station commander and/or one of his staff test George for alcohol excess. This implied that Mike did not have the means to conduct an alcohol test on his own premises.
For whatever reason, the police could not do the test either.
Mike then conducted a disciplinary hearing on George the next day. George was found guilty and dismissed for drinking and driving, for endangering the lives of others and also for the damage that he caused to both vehicles.
George was also not advised that he had the right to appeal the findings.
The Court was not impressed. You see although it agreed that George was intoxicated at the time of the accident, proper procedures were not followed.
· George did not know that he could be dismissed for being drunk on duty – there was no Dismissal policy or Code of Conduct policy in place.
· George was only advised that the charges were at the actual disciplinary hearing. The charges should have been recorded on the charge sheet or the notice to attend a disciplinary.
· George’s previous disciplinary record was not taken into account.
· George was not given enough notice of the disciplinary
· Mike did not ‘test’ to see whether George’s conduct had damaged the employment relationship to such an extent that George’s continued employment would be intolerable.
· What about the element of ‘trust’ in the relationship. Mike had not shown that the trust between himself and George had been irreparably damaged.
· The most damaging aspect of this case though was that the Court said that it was the ‘responsibility of the Management to ensure that George (or any other employee for that matter) did not start working if he was drunk and/or had consumed alcohol prior to commencing work.’
Mike had not followed that basic procedures when putting this case together and based on that alone, he would have lost the case.
So before you do the ‘knee jerk’ thing – step back, take some time to think about what you are doing. Look at your own internal policies and procedures and make sure that you follow them step by step. Chances are that if you are procedurally correct, the case will not go to CCMA for arbitration.
Remember, if you are not sure about what you are doing, find an HR specialist, don’t try and do things yourself. It will cost you more in the long run.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Don’t Forget The Basic Procedures
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Most people have this absolute loathing for procedures and policies in the workplace, believing, somewhat naively that “It won’t happen to me”. Sad that.
Many others, having burnt their fingers once or twice or indeed several times over, now do a 180 degree turn and belabour the point, going too much into the finer detail and forgetting the basics.
Here’s the thing – too much is just as bad as too little. Oh I can just see all of you, shaking your heads sadly and wondering (probably out loud) if ‘this woman will ever be happy’ with what you do.?
Stick to the basics – keep it as simple as possible. Putting in too much detail and complicating the whole process may well result in the whole thing going pear-shaped as chances are you will be opening the lid of “Pandora’s Box”.
Here’s the story.
Mike owns a courier company and has many vehicles and drivers in his employ. Both George and Simon are drivers who were driving around the yard early one morning prior to going out onto the road to do their deliveries. George was still inebriated from the night before and should probably not have been driving anything. George’s reactions were not what they should have been and coming around a corner, he failed to react in time and went smack bang into the side of Simon’s vehicle, which was parked at the loading bay. Clearly George was at fault.
Mike drove George off to the nearest police station and requested that station commander and/or one of his staff test George for alcohol excess. This implied that Mike did not have the means to conduct an alcohol test on his own premises.
For whatever reason, the police could not do the test either.
Mike then conducted a disciplinary hearing on George the next day. George was found guilty and dismissed for drinking and driving, for endangering the lives of others and also for the damage that he caused to both vehicles.
George was also not advised that he had the right to appeal the findings.
The Court was not impressed. You see although it agreed that George was intoxicated at the time of the accident, proper procedures were not followed.
· George did not know that he could be dismissed for being drunk on duty – there was no Dismissal policy or Code of Conduct policy in place.
· George was only advised that the charges were at the actual disciplinary hearing. The charges should have been recorded on the charge sheet or the notice to attend a disciplinary.
· George’s previous disciplinary record was not taken into account.
· George was not given enough notice of the disciplinary
· Mike did not ‘test’ to see whether George’s conduct had damaged the employment relationship to such an extent that George’s continued employment would be intolerable.
· What about the element of ‘trust’ in the relationship. Mike had not shown that the trust between himself and George had been irreparably damaged.
· The most damaging aspect of this case though was that the Court said that it was the ‘responsibility of the Management to ensure that George (or any other employee for that matter) did not start working if he was drunk and/or had consumed alcohol prior to commencing work.’
Mike had not followed that basic procedures when putting this case together and based on that alone, he would have lost the case.
So before you do the ‘knee jerk’ thing – step back, take some time to think about what you are doing. Look at your own internal policies and procedures and make sure that you follow them step by step. Chances are that if you are procedurally correct, the case will not go to CCMA for arbitration.
Remember, if you are not sure about what you are doing, find an HR specialist, don’t try and do things yourself. It will cost you more in the long run.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Thursday, November 12, 2009
SALES - Timing is Key
SALES – Timing is Key
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I am sure that you have all experienced the sale that you really, really push for. You are geared up and excited. Everything seems to be going in the right direction and then . . . . . . nothing. You cannot seem to close the deal. You cannot seem to get hold of anyone who can make a decision. Everything spirals downwards and the whole bloody thing goes pear shaped. You’re left sitting there wondering what the hell happened!
You go back to the beginning and analyze everything that you did, what was said, by whom and when and in all honesty you cannot for the life of you see what went wrong, where it went wrong, and why it went wrong.
Relax! Chances are that it has nothing to do with you anyway but that it is a timing thing. It happens to me all the time – it’s almost like I am ‘before my own time’ if that makes any sense. Go back to them in a few months time, pitch it again and watch the whole concept fall on very fertile ground. Most of the time it will seem as though you have pitched an entirely new concept, one that they have never even heard before. It’s quite extraordinary.
Here’s the thing though – you need to stay in touch. Continue to build the relationship. Continue to add value to the potential client. Remain focused. Be consistent and be persistent and believe me it will pay you big dividends in the long run.
It’s just a matter of time.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
I am sure that you have all experienced the sale that you really, really push for. You are geared up and excited. Everything seems to be going in the right direction and then . . . . . . nothing. You cannot seem to close the deal. You cannot seem to get hold of anyone who can make a decision. Everything spirals downwards and the whole bloody thing goes pear shaped. You’re left sitting there wondering what the hell happened!
You go back to the beginning and analyze everything that you did, what was said, by whom and when and in all honesty you cannot for the life of you see what went wrong, where it went wrong, and why it went wrong.
Relax! Chances are that it has nothing to do with you anyway but that it is a timing thing. It happens to me all the time – it’s almost like I am ‘before my own time’ if that makes any sense. Go back to them in a few months time, pitch it again and watch the whole concept fall on very fertile ground. Most of the time it will seem as though you have pitched an entirely new concept, one that they have never even heard before. It’s quite extraordinary.
Here’s the thing though – you need to stay in touch. Continue to build the relationship. Continue to add value to the potential client. Remain focused. Be consistent and be persistent and believe me it will pay you big dividends in the long run.
It’s just a matter of time.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Power of Networking - Part 137
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
PART 137
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
I see it all around me all of the time and quite frankly it was one of the reasons that I started this Networking blog in the first place. What on earth am she talking about, you must be wondering – well it’s quite simply this, all SMME’s/Entrepreneurs get caught up in the day to day running of their businesses and/or dealing with one crisis after another. This usually means that they often cannot see the wood for trees and then bad decisions are made with bad solutions being brought into place and these of course have really bad consequences.
We get lost in our own minds and head space and I have even, on occasion heard someone say that they felt ‘lonely’ in business. We get this whole mentality that it’s us against the world, us all on our lonesome! What about the “I am an island” syndrome – I wonder how many times I had to hear that particular phrase?
Here’s the thing though, we are not alone, much as we would often like to do the dramatic “woe is me” thing and play the ‘victim/martyr’ role. The reality is that we are really not alone. Every small business owner/entrepreneur out there has gone through/is going through/will go through, exactly what you and I are going through right now! How presumptuous of us to think that we are so completely special in the grand scheme of things, that we get to do things differently.
Not only are we not intrinsically different to every other SMME/Entrepreneur out there, but we also don’t have to try and do it on our own, even if we are the only person in our businesses. How’s that for a statement?
You see, that is the beauty of Networking. We can interact with others who are going through what we are going through – others from businesses that are completely different to ours and even others from businesses that are very similar if not the same as ours. We can learn from each other, we can learn together, we can brainstorm and find suitable solutions for ourselves and for others. We can share information and ideas and we can keep each other grounded.
We can look out for each other and be a guiding light when someone else loses their way and starts to feel alone.
This is one of the reasons that Networking, for me is one of the most powerful tools in my business.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
PART 137
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
I see it all around me all of the time and quite frankly it was one of the reasons that I started this Networking blog in the first place. What on earth am she talking about, you must be wondering – well it’s quite simply this, all SMME’s/Entrepreneurs get caught up in the day to day running of their businesses and/or dealing with one crisis after another. This usually means that they often cannot see the wood for trees and then bad decisions are made with bad solutions being brought into place and these of course have really bad consequences.
We get lost in our own minds and head space and I have even, on occasion heard someone say that they felt ‘lonely’ in business. We get this whole mentality that it’s us against the world, us all on our lonesome! What about the “I am an island” syndrome – I wonder how many times I had to hear that particular phrase?
Here’s the thing though, we are not alone, much as we would often like to do the dramatic “woe is me” thing and play the ‘victim/martyr’ role. The reality is that we are really not alone. Every small business owner/entrepreneur out there has gone through/is going through/will go through, exactly what you and I are going through right now! How presumptuous of us to think that we are so completely special in the grand scheme of things, that we get to do things differently.
Not only are we not intrinsically different to every other SMME/Entrepreneur out there, but we also don’t have to try and do it on our own, even if we are the only person in our businesses. How’s that for a statement?
You see, that is the beauty of Networking. We can interact with others who are going through what we are going through – others from businesses that are completely different to ours and even others from businesses that are very similar if not the same as ours. We can learn from each other, we can learn together, we can brainstorm and find suitable solutions for ourselves and for others. We can share information and ideas and we can keep each other grounded.
We can look out for each other and be a guiding light when someone else loses their way and starts to feel alone.
This is one of the reasons that Networking, for me is one of the most powerful tools in my business.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
VAT - Invoice Requirements
VAT – Invoice Requirements
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
As a VAT vendor – it’s not just about ensuring that you do the calculations correctly. It’s not just about making sure that you only claim for what you are entitled to claim for. There are several other issues at stake and if you are not aware of them, chances are that you are going to end up in hot water, should SARS decide to do an audit.
Firstly, let’s just get the most important issue out of the way. You need to retain all of your tax invoices. Whether you retain them in hard copy or soft copy or both, is not the real issue – the bottom line is that you have to keep them for a minimum of 5 years. So don’t be going throwing anything out!
Here’s a basic checklist for the requirements that MUST appear on your invoice.
· The words “Tax Invoice” must appear in a prominent position. Don’t try and be clever and hide it in amongst the rest of the wording on your invoice. Rather display it together with the number of the invoice. That way there can be no misunderstanding
· The Name, address and VAT registration number of the supplier. As a supplier myself, I have found it just easier to have my VAT number quoted on all of my correspondence. That way there can be no confusion.
· The Name, address and VAT registration number of the recipient. This one is not always easy to get. Sometimes clients are reluctant to give some of their personal details. Tip. You can check you client/supplier’s VAT number on the SARS site. Beware of people posing as VAT vendors. It will affect your return.
· The invoice number and date of the invoice. Remember that the invoices have to run consecutively and therefore the dates must be consistent with those numbers. There is nothing to stop you from personalizing the invoices, as long as every number follows on from the previous numbers.
· A full and proper description of the goods or the services supplied. Abbreviate if you must, but ensure that your description is understandable.
· The value of the goods/services supplied. It is also a good idea to evidence the cost of the goods/services supplied and then the VAT value as a separate figure and then the total cost of the invoice (which would be the value of the goods/services and the value of the VAT added together).
Remember though that unless you are a Sole Trader and/or a partnership where the partners are natural person, you will have to pay VAT on invoices raised. This means that irrespective of whether you have been paid by your client or not, you have to pay the VAT portion of the invoice across every two months.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
As a VAT vendor – it’s not just about ensuring that you do the calculations correctly. It’s not just about making sure that you only claim for what you are entitled to claim for. There are several other issues at stake and if you are not aware of them, chances are that you are going to end up in hot water, should SARS decide to do an audit.
Firstly, let’s just get the most important issue out of the way. You need to retain all of your tax invoices. Whether you retain them in hard copy or soft copy or both, is not the real issue – the bottom line is that you have to keep them for a minimum of 5 years. So don’t be going throwing anything out!
Here’s a basic checklist for the requirements that MUST appear on your invoice.
· The words “Tax Invoice” must appear in a prominent position. Don’t try and be clever and hide it in amongst the rest of the wording on your invoice. Rather display it together with the number of the invoice. That way there can be no misunderstanding
· The Name, address and VAT registration number of the supplier. As a supplier myself, I have found it just easier to have my VAT number quoted on all of my correspondence. That way there can be no confusion.
· The Name, address and VAT registration number of the recipient. This one is not always easy to get. Sometimes clients are reluctant to give some of their personal details. Tip. You can check you client/supplier’s VAT number on the SARS site. Beware of people posing as VAT vendors. It will affect your return.
· The invoice number and date of the invoice. Remember that the invoices have to run consecutively and therefore the dates must be consistent with those numbers. There is nothing to stop you from personalizing the invoices, as long as every number follows on from the previous numbers.
· A full and proper description of the goods or the services supplied. Abbreviate if you must, but ensure that your description is understandable.
· The value of the goods/services supplied. It is also a good idea to evidence the cost of the goods/services supplied and then the VAT value as a separate figure and then the total cost of the invoice (which would be the value of the goods/services and the value of the VAT added together).
Remember though that unless you are a Sole Trader and/or a partnership where the partners are natural person, you will have to pay VAT on invoices raised. This means that irrespective of whether you have been paid by your client or not, you have to pay the VAT portion of the invoice across every two months.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Monday, November 09, 2009
MOTIVATION - Actions Speak Louder Than Words
MOTIVATION – Actions Speak Louder Than Words
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Ralph, Waldo Emerson says “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.”
So many times I get the feeling that I am talking “at” people rather than talking to them or with them.
The perception, when you are engaged in conversation is that people are hanging onto every word that you say or alternatively, not listening at all. The reality is of course that it’s somewhere in the middle.
What does always really stand out however (well it does for me) is the credibility of the person who is speaking and in order for most people to gain credibility they have to be seen “Walking the talk”.
Let me tell you now, people are tired of “Talk Shows”! More and more people want to see that a person lives up the expectations that they have set up. They want to see that you are a person of your word, a person who can be depended on, a person of moral character.
Many years ago, when I was still a child, my father said “You have no control over the name that you bring into this world because it is the name that I have given you, but you are responsible for the name that you take out of this world because it is the name that you have made for yourself”.
It is something that I have been aware of my whole life and it is something that I live by and something that I live for within the parameters of my business. It is intrinsically who I am and what I stand for.
SMME’s (Small, Medium, Micro Enterprises), in general have earned themselves a reputation and sadly it is one of being unreliable, one of not being able to deliver.
Why? We because we are so busy telling people how fabulous we are, that there is no time to be the ‘fabulous’ that we say we are. On a personal level, I am far more comfortable being ‘fabulous’ than talking about how ‘fabulous’ I am. I am far more comfortable ‘doing’ than talking about doing.
So tell me – are you a ‘doer’ or are you just a talker? Do walk the talk or just talk the talk?
I know exactly which one I want to be know as – do you?
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Ralph, Waldo Emerson says “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.”
So many times I get the feeling that I am talking “at” people rather than talking to them or with them.
The perception, when you are engaged in conversation is that people are hanging onto every word that you say or alternatively, not listening at all. The reality is of course that it’s somewhere in the middle.
What does always really stand out however (well it does for me) is the credibility of the person who is speaking and in order for most people to gain credibility they have to be seen “Walking the talk”.
Let me tell you now, people are tired of “Talk Shows”! More and more people want to see that a person lives up the expectations that they have set up. They want to see that you are a person of your word, a person who can be depended on, a person of moral character.
Many years ago, when I was still a child, my father said “You have no control over the name that you bring into this world because it is the name that I have given you, but you are responsible for the name that you take out of this world because it is the name that you have made for yourself”.
It is something that I have been aware of my whole life and it is something that I live by and something that I live for within the parameters of my business. It is intrinsically who I am and what I stand for.
SMME’s (Small, Medium, Micro Enterprises), in general have earned themselves a reputation and sadly it is one of being unreliable, one of not being able to deliver.
Why? We because we are so busy telling people how fabulous we are, that there is no time to be the ‘fabulous’ that we say we are. On a personal level, I am far more comfortable being ‘fabulous’ than talking about how ‘fabulous’ I am. I am far more comfortable ‘doing’ than talking about doing.
So tell me – are you a ‘doer’ or are you just a talker? Do walk the talk or just talk the talk?
I know exactly which one I want to be know as – do you?
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Friday, November 06, 2009
ARTICLE 45
WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . Staff Take Time Off
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Once again the issue of what and how much time can be taken by employees has come up. There always seems to be so much confusion around this issue – here are the facts.
Annual Leave – This is a legal requirement
In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCOA), employees are entitled to a minimum of 15 working days per annum. This is essentially the very minimum for employees that work an eight hour, five day week. Obviously the longer their day or week the more leave that they are entitled to.
When leave can be taken and the procedures for completing leave forms and authorization therefore needs to be documented into a “Leave Policy”.
Sick Leave – This is a legal requirement
Again the BCOA is quite specific. Rule of thumb is as follows: If you take the number of days that your employees generally work over a six week period, that is the number of days that they are entitled to take over a three year period.
So for example, if your employee works a five day week for six weeks, this culminates to thirty days. Therefore your employee is entitled to take thirty days sick leave over a three year period.
Obviously issues like doctor’s certificates and leave forms should also be taken into account and these requirements should be documented when you are putting your leave policy together.
Maternity Leave – This is a legal requirement.
In terms of the NCOA, female employees are entitled to four months maternity leave. At this particular point in time, this is unpaid, however should the Company elect to put the employee on some sort of remuneration or even fully paid maternity leave, they are entitled to do so. Remember though that once the precedent is set, it need to be consistently maintained.
As usual the Company’s requirements as well as the rules pertaining to ‘what to do’ when applying for maternity leave should be included in your leave policy.
Family Responsibility Leave – This is a legal requirement.
The BCOA allows for three days in any given year. There are several requirements as to when and under which conditions this leave can be taken. The BCOA have the basic requirements, however that said, as long as the basics are me and complied with the number of days as well as the requirements can be extended by the employer.
The BCOA stipulates that Family Responsibility leave can be taken by employees, in relation to the immediate family as defined by the law. The exact requirements together with the relevant documentary evidence should be included in the Company’s Leave Policy.
These are all of the leave applications that are required by law. Other leave requirements such as (but not limited to):
Paternity Leave
Study Leave
Unpaid Leave
May very well be included in the Company policy, however this is not a legal requirement and is at the discretion of the employer.
Remember though, if you are not sure about what the requirements are, contact a Labour specialist – don’t just guess. Guessing will usually end up costing your in the long run.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
WHAT TO DO WHEN . . . . Staff Take Time Off
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Once again the issue of what and how much time can be taken by employees has come up. There always seems to be so much confusion around this issue – here are the facts.
Annual Leave – This is a legal requirement
In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCOA), employees are entitled to a minimum of 15 working days per annum. This is essentially the very minimum for employees that work an eight hour, five day week. Obviously the longer their day or week the more leave that they are entitled to.
When leave can be taken and the procedures for completing leave forms and authorization therefore needs to be documented into a “Leave Policy”.
Sick Leave – This is a legal requirement
Again the BCOA is quite specific. Rule of thumb is as follows: If you take the number of days that your employees generally work over a six week period, that is the number of days that they are entitled to take over a three year period.
So for example, if your employee works a five day week for six weeks, this culminates to thirty days. Therefore your employee is entitled to take thirty days sick leave over a three year period.
Obviously issues like doctor’s certificates and leave forms should also be taken into account and these requirements should be documented when you are putting your leave policy together.
Maternity Leave – This is a legal requirement.
In terms of the NCOA, female employees are entitled to four months maternity leave. At this particular point in time, this is unpaid, however should the Company elect to put the employee on some sort of remuneration or even fully paid maternity leave, they are entitled to do so. Remember though that once the precedent is set, it need to be consistently maintained.
As usual the Company’s requirements as well as the rules pertaining to ‘what to do’ when applying for maternity leave should be included in your leave policy.
Family Responsibility Leave – This is a legal requirement.
The BCOA allows for three days in any given year. There are several requirements as to when and under which conditions this leave can be taken. The BCOA have the basic requirements, however that said, as long as the basics are me and complied with the number of days as well as the requirements can be extended by the employer.
The BCOA stipulates that Family Responsibility leave can be taken by employees, in relation to the immediate family as defined by the law. The exact requirements together with the relevant documentary evidence should be included in the Company’s Leave Policy.
These are all of the leave applications that are required by law. Other leave requirements such as (but not limited to):
Paternity Leave
Study Leave
Unpaid Leave
May very well be included in the Company policy, however this is not a legal requirement and is at the discretion of the employer.
Remember though, if you are not sure about what the requirements are, contact a Labour specialist – don’t just guess. Guessing will usually end up costing your in the long run.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Thursday, November 05, 2009
SALES - Finding What Your Customer Wants
SALES – Finding What Your Customer Wants
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
The easiest sales usually come about with the right kind of marketing and quite frankly I was not really sure where to put this particular article – there is such a huge divide between sales, marketing and branding and yet they are so incredibly close to. So if your perception is that it should be under something else . . well just pretend that it is!
Here we go –
Let’s take the same product, in the same place. On one of “The Apprentice” shows the challenge was to see which team could sell the most food at a football game. Both teams had exactly the same food, both teams were at the same game, both teams had the same number of members.
Team # 1 had hundreds of people crowded around the point where they were selling the food from. They had cheerleaders doing whatever it is that cheerleaders do, there were eating type competitions, lots of ra ra going on and lots of people everywhere. Sounds quite like fun doesn’t it. I am sure it was a lot of fun, but they did not win – Team # 2 did.
Team # 2 did not have a specific point where they sold the food from. There were no cheerleaders, there was no ra ra. So what happened? What made Team # 1 and Team # 2 so very different.
Well let’s examine the setting. Why do most people go to a football game? For me the most logical answer is ‘because they want to see the game’!
If you are going to the football game to watch the game, logic must tell you that you will not wanting to be queuing to buy food and drink irrespective of how gorgeous the cheerleaders are, or what the prize is for the eating competition. You’re there to watch the game and speaking from my own experience, I even resent having to queue up to go to the bathrooms.
So being logical again, it stands to reason that I would prefer it if someone came around to me with food and drink. It would mean that my focus was removed from the game (as I decided and ordered whatever it was that I wanted to eat and/or drink) for seconds rather than hours.
Here’s the other thing – people who get exactly what it is that they want, when they want it, don’t usually have a problem with paying more for it. Again, speaking from my own experience I would much rather pay say R30.00 for a steak roll that was delivered to me in my seat than say R15.00 for the same steak roll that I had to get up and go and find in another part of the stadium, where I had the irritation of having to queue for 15 to 20 minutes, have people pushing and shoving at me (we all know how that happens in a queue and it is one of my personal pet hates) and then when I eventually get back to my seat, I have missed most of the play and as luck would usually have it, the best goal/catch/run (insert whatever you want here). That would just annoy me immensely!
So what does that tell me? Simple really, “The key to success in business is GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT”.
Very simple, yet so many people get it all wrong!
So change your mindset – find out how to do things better, or faster, more profitable but most of all, find out what it is that people want and then give it to them in a better way, or much faster and then watch how your profits grow!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009.
The easiest sales usually come about with the right kind of marketing and quite frankly I was not really sure where to put this particular article – there is such a huge divide between sales, marketing and branding and yet they are so incredibly close to. So if your perception is that it should be under something else . . well just pretend that it is!
Here we go –
Let’s take the same product, in the same place. On one of “The Apprentice” shows the challenge was to see which team could sell the most food at a football game. Both teams had exactly the same food, both teams were at the same game, both teams had the same number of members.
Team # 1 had hundreds of people crowded around the point where they were selling the food from. They had cheerleaders doing whatever it is that cheerleaders do, there were eating type competitions, lots of ra ra going on and lots of people everywhere. Sounds quite like fun doesn’t it. I am sure it was a lot of fun, but they did not win – Team # 2 did.
Team # 2 did not have a specific point where they sold the food from. There were no cheerleaders, there was no ra ra. So what happened? What made Team # 1 and Team # 2 so very different.
Well let’s examine the setting. Why do most people go to a football game? For me the most logical answer is ‘because they want to see the game’!
If you are going to the football game to watch the game, logic must tell you that you will not wanting to be queuing to buy food and drink irrespective of how gorgeous the cheerleaders are, or what the prize is for the eating competition. You’re there to watch the game and speaking from my own experience, I even resent having to queue up to go to the bathrooms.
So being logical again, it stands to reason that I would prefer it if someone came around to me with food and drink. It would mean that my focus was removed from the game (as I decided and ordered whatever it was that I wanted to eat and/or drink) for seconds rather than hours.
Here’s the other thing – people who get exactly what it is that they want, when they want it, don’t usually have a problem with paying more for it. Again, speaking from my own experience I would much rather pay say R30.00 for a steak roll that was delivered to me in my seat than say R15.00 for the same steak roll that I had to get up and go and find in another part of the stadium, where I had the irritation of having to queue for 15 to 20 minutes, have people pushing and shoving at me (we all know how that happens in a queue and it is one of my personal pet hates) and then when I eventually get back to my seat, I have missed most of the play and as luck would usually have it, the best goal/catch/run (insert whatever you want here). That would just annoy me immensely!
So what does that tell me? Simple really, “The key to success in business is GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT”.
Very simple, yet so many people get it all wrong!
So change your mindset – find out how to do things better, or faster, more profitable but most of all, find out what it is that people want and then give it to them in a better way, or much faster and then watch how your profits grow!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
The Power of Networking - Part 136
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
PART 136
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
One of the things that has become more and more evident to me as I continue on this Networking journey that I have undertaken is this: I have to mix with positive, passionate people!
I am currently going through my data base to clean out all the people who I never hear from or who have moved or just plain fallen off the planet (and believe me it is something that you need to do at least twice a year) and as I delete certain folk off the list, I am both saddened and relieved.
Saddened because, no matter how hard I have tried they just did not get the plot and they remain negative. They just cannot or will not see what is right in front of them – that’s their choice I guess. There are so many opportunities out there for people who will just look and then act.
Relieved because, well it’s hard on me to continually hit my head against a brick wall and quite frankly I don’t have to do that at all. For every person that I delete off the list I have no doubt that there will be five or more that I add onto the list. Five more individuals who are passionate about what they do and who will go for opportunities with me.
You see I choose to work with and mix with individuals who want to grow their businesses and who want to grow their profits. I choose to work with individuals who are not only passionate about what they do but also passionate about life. I want to work with people who are full of enthusiasm for life and for business and whose enthusiasm is infectious and contagious.
You see I believe that you become like the people that you mix with and I have no desire to be negative and a pessimist. I want to see the good in life, I want to live the good life and I want to empower others to do the same.
So here’s the thing – if you are one of those folk who are negative, who always see the bad in everything, who always have something derogatory to say about people, the country, the politics (insert anything you like here), please do me a favour – walk the other way when you see me. Quite honestly there is no room in my life for you!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
PART 136
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC. November 2009
One of the things that has become more and more evident to me as I continue on this Networking journey that I have undertaken is this: I have to mix with positive, passionate people!
I am currently going through my data base to clean out all the people who I never hear from or who have moved or just plain fallen off the planet (and believe me it is something that you need to do at least twice a year) and as I delete certain folk off the list, I am both saddened and relieved.
Saddened because, no matter how hard I have tried they just did not get the plot and they remain negative. They just cannot or will not see what is right in front of them – that’s their choice I guess. There are so many opportunities out there for people who will just look and then act.
Relieved because, well it’s hard on me to continually hit my head against a brick wall and quite frankly I don’t have to do that at all. For every person that I delete off the list I have no doubt that there will be five or more that I add onto the list. Five more individuals who are passionate about what they do and who will go for opportunities with me.
You see I choose to work with and mix with individuals who want to grow their businesses and who want to grow their profits. I choose to work with individuals who are not only passionate about what they do but also passionate about life. I want to work with people who are full of enthusiasm for life and for business and whose enthusiasm is infectious and contagious.
You see I believe that you become like the people that you mix with and I have no desire to be negative and a pessimist. I want to see the good in life, I want to live the good life and I want to empower others to do the same.
So here’s the thing – if you are one of those folk who are negative, who always see the bad in everything, who always have something derogatory to say about people, the country, the politics (insert anything you like here), please do me a favour – walk the other way when you see me. Quite honestly there is no room in my life for you!
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
BUSINESS TIPS - Negotiation
BUSINESS TIPS – Negotiation
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Whilst clearing out a whole lot of ‘old’ paperwork destined for destruction, I came across part of an article on Negotiating. Since I don’t have the whole article (just the first page) I have no idea who it’s by or indeed who even made the notes all over the page in my possession. There seems to be one main stream of thought though and I thought it might be a good idea for me to share it with you as it really resonated with me.
Some of the points raised (but not limited to) go along the lines of:
· Stop talking and listen
· Pay attention to what is being said
· Pay attention
· Eliminate distraction
All of the above make one thing really clear (well to me anyway) and that is we need to listen carefully before we jump in feet first.
Some of the notes written all over the page go along the lines of:
· Understand what is being said – no assumptions
· Compromise
· Try Again
Very interesting don’t you agree?
Assumptions and perceptions! Those two are really bad for business! I have come to the realization that if ‘money makes the world go round’ then ‘assumptions and perceptions’ bring it to a dead holt. So many bad decisions are made, based on assumptions and perception.
The common thread throughout though seems to me to be along the line of we need to listen, in order to understand and in understanding we are able to compromise.
If the response you get is not what you expected, chances are that either you did not communicate it properly or alternatively they don’t understand what you are saying, try giving them the same information but in a different way.
Be patient, not only with yourself but with them too. Make sure that you understand the deal on the table, only once you are sure that you understand and that the other person understands clearly, can you begin to put the finer details in place.
Make sure that you have your emotions under control. Getting irritated and frustrated will do more harm than good. Use the additional energy to try and understand what is being said and why.
Don’t be scared to ask questions, but ask questions that are helpful or useful. Don’t try and just make your point and be heard – doing this could jeopardize the whole negotiation. Listen before you speak - think before you speak.
The time for assertiveness is only once you fully understand what has been said and the implications thereof. Don’t be shooting your mouth off and be the first out of the starter’s gate – you may very well be the last over the finishing line, if indeed you even get to the finishing line at all.
Open up to people, don’t be afraid to show that you too are vulnerable.
Above all don’t forget that other people also have a right to their own opinions especially when those opinions are of you. Opinions can be changed, but they cannot change or do anything about your level of competence. So think about what you want, think about how you are going to get it and then think about how you are going to go about it.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC November 2009
Whilst clearing out a whole lot of ‘old’ paperwork destined for destruction, I came across part of an article on Negotiating. Since I don’t have the whole article (just the first page) I have no idea who it’s by or indeed who even made the notes all over the page in my possession. There seems to be one main stream of thought though and I thought it might be a good idea for me to share it with you as it really resonated with me.
Some of the points raised (but not limited to) go along the lines of:
· Stop talking and listen
· Pay attention to what is being said
· Pay attention
· Eliminate distraction
All of the above make one thing really clear (well to me anyway) and that is we need to listen carefully before we jump in feet first.
Some of the notes written all over the page go along the lines of:
· Understand what is being said – no assumptions
· Compromise
· Try Again
Very interesting don’t you agree?
Assumptions and perceptions! Those two are really bad for business! I have come to the realization that if ‘money makes the world go round’ then ‘assumptions and perceptions’ bring it to a dead holt. So many bad decisions are made, based on assumptions and perception.
The common thread throughout though seems to me to be along the line of we need to listen, in order to understand and in understanding we are able to compromise.
If the response you get is not what you expected, chances are that either you did not communicate it properly or alternatively they don’t understand what you are saying, try giving them the same information but in a different way.
Be patient, not only with yourself but with them too. Make sure that you understand the deal on the table, only once you are sure that you understand and that the other person understands clearly, can you begin to put the finer details in place.
Make sure that you have your emotions under control. Getting irritated and frustrated will do more harm than good. Use the additional energy to try and understand what is being said and why.
Don’t be scared to ask questions, but ask questions that are helpful or useful. Don’t try and just make your point and be heard – doing this could jeopardize the whole negotiation. Listen before you speak - think before you speak.
The time for assertiveness is only once you fully understand what has been said and the implications thereof. Don’t be shooting your mouth off and be the first out of the starter’s gate – you may very well be the last over the finishing line, if indeed you even get to the finishing line at all.
Open up to people, don’t be afraid to show that you too are vulnerable.
Above all don’t forget that other people also have a right to their own opinions especially when those opinions are of you. Opinions can be changed, but they cannot change or do anything about your level of competence. So think about what you want, think about how you are going to get it and then think about how you are going to go about it.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
Monday, November 02, 2009
MOTIVATION - Pressing Limits
MOTIVATION – Pressing Limits
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – November 2009
Dr Joyce Brothers says “In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them.”
Good Grief! It is said that as authors, wordsmiths and writers, we often write about what we most need to hear and quite honestly, this is never so true as it is right now. You see for years and years I have lived in a very safe space in my personal life and right now I am pushing the boundaries and pressing for ‘no’ limits. In some ways I am scared out of my wits and in another space it feels like I have shrugged off the velvet ropes that have kept me bound for so long. It is liberating and empowering and deliciously, enticingly scary. It feels as though every nerve ending is straining at its roots to stretch itself to its fullest capacity in order to achieve its ultimate goal.
Quite honestly I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Quite honestly I am petrified at what could happen next.
Quite honestly I wonder why it has taken me so long to get to this point – I cannot believe that it was fear alone or perhaps I don’t want to believe that I could allow fear to hold me captive for so long.
The point is though, I feel alive!
The point is I am really excited!
The point is, I am the author of my own book, the director and star of my own movie. The point is, that for the first time, in a very long while I am doing what is important for me.
The strange thing though is that I am always aware of me pushing the limits in my business capacity. My friend Tess Elsen of Tessen Enterprises (http://www.tessen.co.za) said at out monthly breakfast get together, that for years now, she has seen me work hard towards my goal, my focus has never waivered and my intention were very clear. Sure there were months when I wondered what the hell I was doing. Sure there were months when I did not know if there was enough money to put food on the table. Sure there were months when I faltered and fell, but I got up and shook my fists at the Gods and at the Universe and more often than not, even at myself, but I persevered. I knew that deep down in that place inside all of us that hears the truth, what it was that I wanted to achieve. I knew that what I wanted to achieve is right for me and I also knew that I could achieve it. It is within my grasp!
So if I knew all of this in my business life, why did I not know it in my personal life? Truth be told, how could I not know it in my personal life? Quite simple really – I think that in our business lives, we write “Business Plans”, we compile “Mission Statements” and live our professional lives by a business “Code of Conduct” and our personal lives just get the scraps that are left. The moments in time that are not focused on what we need to do in our professional capacity. It’s like we put the business before anything else.
Here’s the thing though – by leaving the ‘personal me’ behind, I am making it all that more difficult to achieve the ‘professional me’! Confusing as that may sound, Gemini or not, I am still one whole person and whichever side I neglect will have a pronounced affect on the other sides. I need, as a whole person, to be balanced.
In order to achieve that, I have to push the personal boundaries in much the same way that I push the business boundaries.
I have to ensure that I find those places inside of myself that I have never gone to and get myself there.
I have to ensure that I am never in my ‘comfort’ zone for too long.
I have to ensure that I am focused on what it is that I want to achieve.
I have to be all that I can be, at work, at play and as me.
I have to ensure that I live my life, my whole life for me.
What about you – do you push your limits?
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – November 2009
Dr Joyce Brothers says “In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them.”
Good Grief! It is said that as authors, wordsmiths and writers, we often write about what we most need to hear and quite honestly, this is never so true as it is right now. You see for years and years I have lived in a very safe space in my personal life and right now I am pushing the boundaries and pressing for ‘no’ limits. In some ways I am scared out of my wits and in another space it feels like I have shrugged off the velvet ropes that have kept me bound for so long. It is liberating and empowering and deliciously, enticingly scary. It feels as though every nerve ending is straining at its roots to stretch itself to its fullest capacity in order to achieve its ultimate goal.
Quite honestly I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Quite honestly I am petrified at what could happen next.
Quite honestly I wonder why it has taken me so long to get to this point – I cannot believe that it was fear alone or perhaps I don’t want to believe that I could allow fear to hold me captive for so long.
The point is though, I feel alive!
The point is I am really excited!
The point is, I am the author of my own book, the director and star of my own movie. The point is, that for the first time, in a very long while I am doing what is important for me.
The strange thing though is that I am always aware of me pushing the limits in my business capacity. My friend Tess Elsen of Tessen Enterprises (http://www.tessen.co.za) said at out monthly breakfast get together, that for years now, she has seen me work hard towards my goal, my focus has never waivered and my intention were very clear. Sure there were months when I wondered what the hell I was doing. Sure there were months when I did not know if there was enough money to put food on the table. Sure there were months when I faltered and fell, but I got up and shook my fists at the Gods and at the Universe and more often than not, even at myself, but I persevered. I knew that deep down in that place inside all of us that hears the truth, what it was that I wanted to achieve. I knew that what I wanted to achieve is right for me and I also knew that I could achieve it. It is within my grasp!
So if I knew all of this in my business life, why did I not know it in my personal life? Truth be told, how could I not know it in my personal life? Quite simple really – I think that in our business lives, we write “Business Plans”, we compile “Mission Statements” and live our professional lives by a business “Code of Conduct” and our personal lives just get the scraps that are left. The moments in time that are not focused on what we need to do in our professional capacity. It’s like we put the business before anything else.
Here’s the thing though – by leaving the ‘personal me’ behind, I am making it all that more difficult to achieve the ‘professional me’! Confusing as that may sound, Gemini or not, I am still one whole person and whichever side I neglect will have a pronounced affect on the other sides. I need, as a whole person, to be balanced.
In order to achieve that, I have to push the personal boundaries in much the same way that I push the business boundaries.
I have to ensure that I find those places inside of myself that I have never gone to and get myself there.
I have to ensure that I am never in my ‘comfort’ zone for too long.
I have to ensure that I am focused on what it is that I want to achieve.
I have to be all that I can be, at work, at play and as me.
I have to ensure that I live my life, my whole life for me.
What about you – do you push your limits?
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za
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