When it comes to finding accurate information about starting or running a business, it can be hard to know who to ask or where to look. Reading the articles on this website are a very good place to start, but it can be even more valuable to find an expert who can give you face-to-face advice. A mentor can walk with you on your journey as a small business owner.

Business etiquette involves more than eating with the right fork or leaving a suitable tip. It's about generally acceptable, courteous, and respectful behaviour. Of course, this changes over time, and varies across contexts and between cultures. That being said, there are general guidelines for any given business situation. Basic knowledge of business etiquette can be priceless. Here are some tips to get you on your way.

Blogs and book reviews to empower entrepreneurs.

If you are a veteran in the SME sector, are running a very successful business or just feel you have something to offer a budding entrepreneur, you may consider becoming a mentor. Let's look at the characteristics of a good business mentor. Mentorship is all about giving back and contributing to the growth of someone who may be where you were as a would-be business mogul. Use your experience and expertise to help other small business owners

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is more important than IQ when working with other people. In today’s business world organisations do not compete with their products. They compete through using their most valuable resource, their people. Good interpersonal skills are vital to allow this to happen. How good are your interpersonal skills?

No matter how good you are at running your business, you can do better. As a small business owner, you have to be pretty hands-on when it comes to the day-to-day handling of the company, which means you always need to be at the top of your game. This is the year you’re going to do that. Here are some tips on how to be a better business person.

Long gone are the days when receiving text messages and emails were a novelty, celebrated by the receiver. In today’s technological age, most of us crave an hour or two in the day when we can escape our phones, tablets and laptops, either for a run on the mountain, or to go into strategic thinking mode and switch off from the outside world for a while. How many times a day do you let your phone distract you? Here are 6 tips on how to stay present and focused, without missing out on all the action.

As business owners, we charge clients for services. But how many business owners put a price tag on their time? This is not the per hour rate some of us charge clients. We’re talking about your time. The answer to the question is “not many”, because we don’t necessarily think of our time in terms of Rands and cents. As a business owner, you should, though. Your time is never free and it is most certainly valuable. Here are 6 ways for you to save and make the most of your time.

There are so many things you can do to improve your business – not just incrementally, but monumentally – and often the specifics are rather simple. Here are 50 things that you can start doing today to make your business work, grow, and keep on growing. If all you did was pick a new item from this list-each week – and put it into play, can you imagine how much progress you would make?

Leaders and managers are often identified as the same, but there is one very distinct difference: a leader mentors and takes part in tasks together with their teams, unlike managers. This article looks at the qualities you should consider in your role as a leader.

Have you stopped to think that your business actually reflects your own character? As an SME owner, the tone and way you operate your business are determined by who you are as a person. Let us look at some of the factors that influence your effectiveness as a leader and, in doing so, unpack some of the key reasons why certain leaders fail.

What is it exactly that makes the world's most successful people tick, and why have these mercurial individuals have arrived where so few have? Here are 10 tips and rules that stand out.

For many people, becoming a leader isn’t part of their career plan. But when you’re running a small business, you become the leader of a team of people.

Delegate as much work as you can if you want your business to thrive. If you don't, chances are you'll be short on time and long on responsibilities. Read more.

Leadership training for SMEs