A good business strategy includes the right structures, planning, business apps and other technologies to improve efficiency. Learn how to increase productivity in the workplace, making your business faster, leaner and more profitable.
Productivity
Telstra's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Penn was recently in Las Vegas for world-leading electronics trade show CES. He writes in, with no shortage of excitement, to announce ...
Productivity
Every new generation of mobile technology, from 1G to 4G, has heralded faster speeds and more functionality. Now we are headed towards 5G – the next-generation of wireless tech...
Productivity
Most business owners know what they want, but few can do it all in the digital age. Lisa Messenger explores how you can learn to let it go and control a successful business without being a control freak. How many items are on your to-do list right now? Or – if you’re anything like me – how many to-do lists do you have on the go? Whether your tasks ...
Productivity
Looking to make the most of the busy season? Jeff Haden looks at five apps to make your life a little easier. Sure, Santa Claus is holly and jolly and merry, but in one way he ...
Productivity
Big corporates often talk about the benefits of flexible working. Now, some of Australia’s most successful small and medium businesses are jumping on-board and finding that att...
Productivity
Spending time ‘out of the office’ is all part of modern business, particularly for business owners. But while working from the road presents its challenges, remote computer acc...
Productivity
What’s the power of technology? PB Seeds changed its operations and improved its work efficiency using a combination of Telstra Cloud, National Broadband Network (NBN) and Tels...
Productivity
Staff are the backbone of any small business. And when employees are overwhelmed or stressed, the impact often carries over to the general health of the work environment and te...
Productivity
Business trainer and former professional sports coach Kirk Peterson works with large corporations, small businesses and AFL footballers to develop leadership and management ski...
Productivity
The workforce is changing – and enterprise mobility combined with a decentralised management structure means change is unlikely to slow down. Is your business ready to go ‘mobi...
Productivity
The idea of a ‘typical’ work environment is evolving, from the traditional offices we grew up with to a more distributed network of productivity. For finance operations, team e...
Productivity
Looking for new salespeople? It takes a good recruitment strategy to find a great sales pro.
Productivity
As a busy business owner, it’s tempting to try juggling all the balls at once in order to get things done. But using the right technologies and processes – not constantly multi...
Productivity
BYO mobile devices can make staff more productive at work, but what are the pitfalls? On weekends I like to go for long bicycle rides that I track with my phone, then share ...
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Productivity
Business technology has become a bit of a maze, with so many considerations and options available that it’s very easy for a small business to become lost. And with more workers...
Productivity
Mobile technology has transformed the way many businesses and employees connect, collaborate and carry out their work. But, as with most things, there is a right way and a wron...
Productivity
Are you worried there’ll be more bah humbug and less magic this Christmas? You’re not alone. Read on to see how to stress-proof the silly season.
Productivity
Environmental conservation groups urge you to re-think your choice of business gifts this year. So, what options other than the stock standard promotional presents can you send...
Productivity
Electronic signatures (sometimes called eSignatures) provide a quick, inexpensive and easy way to sign and receive digital documents. Businesses have taken advantage of the man...
Productivity
There's an app for everything these days, but to make the most of new technology, it's important for your business to develop an integrated app ecosystem. Blindly diving into n...
Productivity
Technology is meant to make business easier, not harder. While running old technology might seem like the cheaper option for busy small business owners, do you know how much av...
Productivity
Every day, small business owners in Australia draw upon their unique knowledge, experience, intuition and creativity to make crucial business decisions. But there are ma...
Productivity
Time is money, and here are some great ways to squeeze more value from the working day. Many busy small business owners spend their lives rushing around working on so many proj...
Productivity
It’s easy to always be connected to your business if you have the right technology, but what about family? Stuart Ridley caught up with two businesses run by couples that are l...
Productivity
Is bringing your employees together in an office redundant when we can work from just about anywhere, or is there still a place for the traditional office structure in the mode...
Productivity
Forget the theory, here’s how file-sharing and storage services help make businesses more productive in real life. For most of us, file-sharing and storage services are an ea...
Productivity
Can your office really go completely paperless, or should you just be aiming to use less paper? Two Smarter writers tackle the great paperless debate.
Productivity
While providing mobile access to business resources has the power to improve productivity and performance, the benefits of these rewards can be compromised if security is not p...
Productivity
Get your workers completely engaged ‑ and at the same time free your management teams from low-value tasks ‑ with astute use of an intranet. You’ve worked hard to grow your bus...
Productivity
Let’s be honest – moving offices or expanding a workplace is a pain. But smart planning and clever cloud-based technology can take a lot of the headache out of the process. T...
Productivity
Here’s how to conquer your business data. Really! Improved storage technology means you can keep almost all the information you generate and receive nowadays. That’s great, but...
Productivity
Smartphone technology means a Sydney harbourside eatery can be successfully managed from a beach in Broome. Now that’s bi-coastal! The customers at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar, ...
Productivity
Make this year the one where you don’t just intend to use all those great apps, software and technology to streamline your small business’s operation, you actually do it!
Productivity
Automating as many processes as you can will make your business more productive – and also give you the freedom to pull away and take a much-needed break over the holidays.
Productivity
Did you know…one in three Australian businesses has experienced a major disruption?
Productivity
As savvy consumers expect more from businesses when it comes to digital, fast internet is key. Did you know Australia ranks 56th in the world when it comes to internet download...
Productivity
Four business owners let us inside their operations to show us what nbn™ has enabled them to do. Real people. Real businesses. Real benefits. Being a small business owner means...
Productivity
What technology is best for work – and how do you stop it taking over every other aspect of your life? Technology infiltrates almost every part of our lives. It’s changed the w...
Productivity
The best innovations often come from frontline staff, who deal with day-to-day operations and have great ideas about how incremental improvements can transform the business. It...
Productivity
Procrastination can mean nothing ever gets your full attention and work that deserves more input goes neglected. In psychological terms, procrastination is a trade-off between ...
Productivity
Don’t be a hoarder. Deleting unused apps and outdated accounts can assist in strengthening your digital security and may also help to save you money. If someone asked how many ...
Productivity
Industry leaders share tips on productive moves as we head to the end of the financial year. Managing a business can be a constant exercise in multitasking. You may find that y...
Productivity
A solid organisational culture is a differentiator between you and your competition. Jason Cunningham shares the lessons he learned in changing his own business’ culture. Any s...
Productivity
We’ve pulled the figures on the stories hundreds of thousands of small businesses read last year. Here’s what you read last year and four business tips to get you ready for the...
Productivity
Consistent training, determination and mental fortitude. Here’s what your business can learn from centre court. Tennis champions aren’t stars over night. It takes years of trai...
Productivity
For Lisa Messenger, a flexi-workforce is a reality and she’s needed to build the tech infrastructure to cater for it. One employee works Monday to Friday, another Wednesday to ...
Productivity
It’s January. Things are a little quieter. Time to take a breath and relax, right? Not the case, argues Jeff Haden. It’s business development time. If you’re in retail, or B2B,...
Productivity
Less than one in 10 of us keep our New Year’s resolutions. Jeff Haden explores four that should be on your list, and are well worth keeping. New Year’s resolutions: easy to mak...
Productivity
To social entrepreneur and founder of Playground Ideas Marcus Veerman, we all have a ‘mojo-meter’ – an internal dial for us to assess our wellbeing and sense of purpose. But ho...
Productivity
A business without leadership is like watching grass grow. Things happen, but at a very slow pace. Leaders fuel progress. They create a mental picture of what the future can lo...
Productivity
It’s easy to identify inefficiency and risks when you’re a sole operator. But what happens when you're at the top of a 100+ person workforce? Identifying inefficiency in your b...
Productivity
Many businesses are discovering the value of employing interns and apprentices as a source of fresh and inexpensive young talent. So build a relationship with a local universit...
Productivity
Coming to the end of the year can mean impending deadlines and a huge upturn in activity, especially for retailers. That means the holiday period might feel like it’s all about...
Productivity
Collaboration is a buzzword used in boardrooms across the country, but understanding its implications can have big benefits for business. “There are more people willing to give...
Productivity
Sydney’s reputation has always been heralded as “business HQ” for many top companies, so why not extend your network and branch out of your home to venture into a coworking spa...
Productivity
For many of us, tax time means digging through shoeboxes and gloveboxes of receipts and paper invoices, if you’re not preparing for it all year round. Luckily, there’s an app f...
Productivity
Ramp up your team’s productivity with connected tablets and an app that makes paperwork, scheduling and collaboration intuitive and simple to manage. Many construction firms ar...
Productivity
Storm Electrical broke out of a cycle of paperwork by giving their staff access to modern technology and a system to manage their workflow. Storm Electrical were looking to mak...
Productivity
People are the core of any business. So how do you balance staff management with morale? You get a solid Deputy. There are lots of things that make up a successful business: gr...
Productivity
It’s National Recycling Week. And from rebates to plans, there’s a lot businesses can be doing to cut down on waste. Every year, Aussie businesses throw out thousands of comput...
Productivity
For Penny Locaso, a cracked foot in her childhood is a perfect metaphor for finding her resilience. Here’s her advice for businesses looking to find theirs. I secretly always w...
Productivity
Christmas can be a demanding time of year for wholesalers. So how do you ensure your peak periods are your profitable ones? A MYOB whitepaper, Defining the challenges to a whol...
Productivity
The future’s bright for businesses with company owned vehicles. The connected car’s a reality in the near future. Connected cars are becoming more prevalent on our roads and ev...
Productivity
For small businesses, getting employment right can make all the difference. But what do you look for outside of the right resumé? A resumé tells a story someone looking for a j...
Productivity
Working less and earning more is the dream for many business owners. Jason Cunningham looks at ways you can change the way you work. When it comes to owning a business, your re...
Productivity
The connected office is upon us, but how can you set your own space up to make the most of staff and future technology? When we think about the idea of an office, it’s easy to ...
Productivity
From typewriters to tablets, technology has changed how we operate. But has it taken over our lives? A staggering 13 million Australians spend 18 hours a day online – that’s 6,...
Productivity
Health and success have inextricable links. But how can you ensure you’re setting yourself up for success in the workplace? Healthy minds and bodies are energetic and motivatin...
Productivity
Where you work says a lot about what you do and why you do it. Ennis Cehic looks at why your space should reflect your brand. Regardless of your industry, your office space inf...
Productivity
Dealing with difficult staff can be a challenge. Jeff Haden explains why it could be you as much as them. All the great bosses I know are optimistic – especially when it comes ...
Productivity
At the heart of any small business is the staff. By applying some discipline and the right tools, you can give yourself the best chance of scoring the cream of the crop.
Productivity
It’s fine to love your job, but drawing a line in the sand can make you a better boss and build your business’ brand. If a couple spent every minute of every day together, woul...
Productivity
When the only constant is pressure, as a small business owner you need to know the signs that indicate the need for time out. Whether you opt for a day at the spa or spend the ...
Productivity
Having the right feedback can be the difference between a good decision and a bad one. Here’s how to get the information you need. You’re in charge. You make decisions – lots o...
Productivity
Body language can say a lot about a person. From how to stand to internal psychology, Jeff Haden explores the benefits of being mindful of how you act. You’re attending a netwo...
Productivity
Business owners are often required to know everything about everything, but this is neither realistic, nor reliable. We explore where and how small business owners can make con...
Productivity
The best leaders know how to manage their time effectively. They know where their time is best placed and how to make things happen. Lisa Messenger breaks down how she does it ...
Productivity
Looking back at the way your business has run is often done to find out what went wrong, not what went right. But understanding the importance of a project debrief is more valu...
Productivity
Generation Y is a polarising generation. But as they approach the majority share of the workforce, how can business take advantage? Attitudes to Gen Y vary greatly across workf...
Productivity
It could be argued that a credit card is one of the absolute-must have tools of trade for small businesses. But every card has different options and benefits and it’s important...
Productivity
Being smart is a desirable trait. But will it get you to the top? Jeff Haden looks at why emotional intelligence trumps IQ every time.
Productivity
Ryan Trainor has sold more companies than some people work for. But for the founder of Republica Education, the motivation is his family.
Productivity
Does business regularly take you away for the night? Join the club. Australians collectively clocked 49.4 million nights of overnight business travel in the 2014 financial year...
Productivity
The immediacy of email changed the working world forever, and overwhelmingly for the better. But with immediacy comes responsibility, says Jeff Haden.
Productivity
For business people on the go, getting the most out of the money you spend can be the difference between cattle class and the lap of luxury. So which frequent flyer program sui...
Productivity
Running a franchise can have significant benefits, but managing staff across multiple premises can prove challenging. However, technology may have an answer. According to the F...
Productivity
How many staff members do you need to be successful? Serial entrepreneur Lisa Messenger, CEO of The Collective, says pick a number – and then halve it. In the modern world, mor...
Productivity
The lunch business meeting is a classic strategy for building client relationships, but is it possible to seal the deal without spending a fortune?
Productivity
Follow our strategies for setting up a home office where you can get things done and stay productive. Planning to start using your home as an office? Or perhaps you’ve been hea...
Productivity
During school holidays, running a small business and managing your kids (along with staff) can seem like you’re going non-stop on a hamster wheel.
Productivity
End of financial year presents a prime opportunity to start thinking about how your business runs next financial year. We look at the ways you can work Smarter.
Productivity
Shaping a business is reliant on knowledge. Knowing your team is not only empowering, it’s also the sign of a resilient, tuned-in leader. Meetings and workshops foster collabor...
Productivity
Everyone thinks they’d be a great boss. But Smarter spoke to Jim Whitehurst, President and CEO of Red Hat on what you don’t realise about being the boss, and what you can learn...
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Productivity
Looking to build bonds between your team? Jeff Haden looks at ways to create a culture without resorting to craft activities.
Productivity
Whether you run a small graphic design firm, restaurant or construction business, one thing is for sure – creativity is a valuable trait. And getting fit could help you harness...
Productivity
Innovation is the aim of the game for many small businesses, but is it an inherent quality, or can it be built?
Productivity
Pay equity is still an issue, despite equal pay being introduced in Australia in 1969. But a recent Workplace Gender Equality Agency report has highlighted ways your small busi...
Productivity
What is the biggest difference between efficient people and effective people? Efficient people are organised and competent. They check items off their to-do lists. They get stu...
Productivity
The personality traits that bug your friends and family might just be the key to your success.
Productivity
A CareerGuide Australia survey has suggested nearly 30 per cent of Australians surveyed are doing some type of freelance work. That doesn’t mean those individuals are solely do...
Productivity
Many of us slave away in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. But should conventional measures of success be defining your business?
Productivity
Imagine a business world where contracts are signed in minutes, receipts are easily stored and staff can access product specs on their way to the next sales meeting. Sara Howar...
Productivity
Accessing a range of “new” skills – especially those focused on maximising digital engagement and marketing – can help you keep up with the big end of town in an ever-changing ...
Productivity
As smartphones get bigger and computers get smaller, where is the sweet spot in terms of productivity? A decade ago we raced to build ever-smaller mobile phones, but these days...
Productivity
How a new wave of young professionals are finding a way to live and work from every continent of the world. “Gypsy and jet set just seemed to fit so perfectly with what I was d...
Productivity
Every small business owner says they want innovative, creative, collaborative, team-oriented employees willing to embrace and pursue a larger purpose.
Productivity
Some very familiar names grace Glassdoor's 'Best Places to Work 2015' ranking. What makes them so popular with their employees?
Productivity
Jason Fremder, managing director of Harwyn, says his idea of prefabricated pods to provide businesses a little extra room for a lot more freedom came to him like a bolt of ligh...
Productivity
Bought a new iPad over the holidays and wondering how you can turn it into a productivity workhorse? Read on to find out. With a remarkably thin and light construction and unbe...
Productivity
Is your current smartphone looking a little rough around the edges? Why not make the most of the new year by upgrading your existing handset? Advanced features, a better screen...
Productivity
Telecommuting is becoming commonplace, but can it work for small business? Serial entrepreneur and editor-in-chief of The Collective, Lisa Messenger, examines the pros and cons...
Productivity
A new study has found that one in every five employees is sleep deprived and more likely to experience stress in their job. Read our top tips to minimise stress in the workplac...
Productivity
Australia’s medical sector is high stress and high pressure, but there’s plenty to learn as it moves to promote a better workplace.
Productivity
Philanthropist Justine Curtis started fundraising agency Inspired Adventures after a year travelling through India and Tibet.
Productivity
Employees who are engaged and committed are crucial to the success of a business. Yet for many business leaders, their own incivility could be the biggest obstacle to nurturing...
Productivity
Business travel is often rushed, flights can be delayed causing long-booked in meetings to be rescheduled. We’re constantly on the search for solutions to make work trips as st...
Productivity
For small businesses, the decision to invest in education can be a difficult one. Smarter has compiled some upskilling, education and training options for small business.
Productivity
It’s Australia Day and all over the country people are donning thongs featuring the flag, throwing a slab of home-grown steak on the barbie and celebrating what’s great about t...
Productivity
Renowned internationally for our larrikin but hard-working habits, there are plenty of Australians punching above their weight in every arena from the sports field to the board...
Productivity
Have you ever experienced bill shock? Many businesses are concerned about their energy bills, but few ever add up how much they spend each year. When they do, it can come as a ...
Productivity
Turn your home office into a productive money-making hub. It’s time to dress the part, invest in some good technology and achieve a real work/life balance. It’s easy to think t...
Productivity
Centrally located coworking hubs are becoming the first choice for budding entrepreneurs and freelancers keen to spread their wings (and increase their networking opportunities...
Productivity
It’s not just Ennis Cehic champions who have coaches to help them become the best at their game. Business leaders are turning to coaches in droves – and finding both business a...
Productivity
Cubicles, permanent desks and fluorescent lighting are SO passé. Instead, innovative entrepreneurs and freelancers are finding flexibility and success in Melbourne’s new crop o...
Productivity
The more successful your sales team, the healthier your bottom line. Here’s how to get your sales team operating efficiently and effectively to maximise profits.
Productivity
When you are passive, you risk compromising your needs. When you are aggressive, the other person might be compromised. Assertiveness is a middle ground and there’s a simple te...
Productivity
Want to know the secret to leaving work on time? Follow these 15 tips and you’ll be able to help squeeze two days into one. Back in the office after a fully loaded festive seas...
Productivity
Job hunters are increasingly turning their attention to mobile devices to find work, a new global survey by professional social media platform provider LinkedIn has discovered.
Productivity
Even when you’re running your own small business, dragging yourself out of bed every morning can be hard – especially if you’re a night owl and you do your best work when the s...
Productivity
Time-poor but keen to fit in an easy brekkie that ticks the boxes and suits an entrepreneur’s hectic schedule? When it comes to making a nutritious breakfast on the go, the opt...
Productivity
Is the mad rush getting the better of you? Follow our expert guide on what to eat to lower your stress levels and get more out of each working day. If you live with a small bus...
Productivity
When it comes to hiring young recruits, do you pay greater heed to work experience or university degrees? 80 per cent of the new graduates you interview have a strong opinion o...
Productivity
Stand up for your health at work with our list of budget friendly standing desk options. Our sedentary lives have hit the headlines as the consequences of spending most of our ...
Productivity
Need a hand to get through the Christmas chaos? If you’ve left recruitment to the last minute, there is hope! Read on for tips on staffing your business during the festive seas...
Productivity
With 2015 just around the corner it’s timely to think about workplace change. A new study purports that we are undergoing the biggest workplace changes since the industrial rev...
Productivity
With more and more workers opting for the mobility benefits of a laptop versus a desktop, the screen that you use on a day-to-day basis is likely to be a lot smaller than 19 in...
Productivity
Here are 10 high-tech suggestions for the business go-getter you thought had everything already. Smartphone? Check. Tablet? Check. Wristwatch that can time a soft boiled egg an...
Productivity
Want to reward your staff with a cool gadget, smartphone or wearable device this Christmas? Follow our gift guide and avoid being slugged with fringe benefits tax. Tired of the...
Productivity
The seven secrets of driving high business performance have been revealed through ground-breaking research and published in a new book. Is there a secret recipe to sustainable ...
Productivity
Smarter assess the pros and cons of leasing, hire purchase agreements and chattel mortgages, so you can work out which option is most beneficial to your bottom line. When you’r...
Productivity
Business owners are, by default, also leaders. But Leadership comes in many different shapes and sizes. Read on to see if you can pinpoint your own style.
Productivity
Alex Malley believes that effective leaders should possess the courage to fail, so they are able to succeed. Here’s a sneak peek of the lessons you’ll learn in his new book and...
Productivity
JJ Metro air conditioning trusts Toyota Fleet to provide the right vehicle for every job as part of its amazing growth strategy.
Productivity
The latest stats on physical activity in Australia are concerning. According to The Department of Health, low levels of physical activity is the second greatest contributor, be...
Productivity
Despite the fact that experts have repeatedly cautioned against multitasking, small business owners keep doing it. Why?
Productivity
Apple’s latest handsets, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, have been out for only a short time, but we are already seeing a raft of new accessories hit the market.
Productivity
The right mix of music can go a long way towards improving your productivity levels. Here are the best products and services to bring music to your ears.
Productivity
Happy people lead to happy customers which leads to happy shareholders, says top ranking businesses in BRW’s Best Places to Work 2014 survey.
Productivity
This burgeoning area of psychology research shows what is more productive for business leaders to focus on than trying to improve weaknesses.
Productivity
The importance of getting a good night’s sleep has been drilled into us from birth, yet the reality of achieving a good eight hours a night is but a dream! Or is it?
Productivity
The best way to learn how to run a business and increase growth is to learn directly from a mentor who's been around the block, but how do you know what to look for in a mentor...
Productivity
A successful business is made of happy workers. Check out these 6 simple strategies for keeping your workers engaged and happy.
Productivity
Workplace mental health laws not only protect workers but can help with business productivity and profit.
Productivity
Think of motivation like this – you’re playing a video game and you need to unlock the next level.
Productivity
Lucy Karnani’s expertise in training corporate high flyers has helped her friend Fiona Trembath to hone her own business presentation skills, writes Emily Brayshaw.
Productivity
Before you pack your bags for your next business trip, make sure you’re prepped with the right tech to help you work effectively.
Productivity
How does small business compete with the big corporates when it comes to hiring the best talent?
Productivity
From rising early to fit more in to installing systems that will make working on the road easier, we find out what processes help Tetra Tea Tree get more done in less time. Ste...
Productivity
Chasing payments isn't exciting — but it’s a top priority for any business. So how can you make it easier for customers to do their bit for your cash flow?
Productivity
Yvette Chegwidden holds a red-hot poker to the feet of three business leaders to find out how they motivate their staff. These experts have to say about motivating their staff ...
Productivity
Corporate social responsibility is about doing your bit for your community. It can boost your business’s reputation and also change how you see yourself. We speak to some very ...
Productivity
While the old days of being able to transfer your contacts using only your SIM card are well and truly gone, it has now become even easier to bring your contacts across to your...
Productivity
Improved technology is bringing the power of video to small and medium businesses, and as Stuart Corner explains, not only is it easy to set up, it’s become remarkably affordab...
Productivity
It takes time and effort to train up young workers, but how do you keep Gen Y happy and not moving on? Sometimes it comes down to how you arm them with technology, as Jonno Sei...
