we should coach our future leaders, our managers, - in fact every employee – that equality, fairness and justice are an integral part of our culture (or should be) and that all people have a right to learn those values irrespective of their age, gender, or ethnicity. Who are our ‘role models’ for the ‘fair go’ in business?

It used to be an honoured profession to work in the ‘service industry’. But here in Australia it seems to be all ‘self-service’ – whether it’s in a restaurant, a pub, a clothing store, selecting a phone service, paying a bill or even selecting a DVD. Now you can get a DVD from a vending machine! Where has the personal service gone?

When was the last time you were asked for (or gave) a client referral? Come on, think! How about: “Read any good books lately?” or “What did you think of that new restaurant?” or “Where did you learn about how to fix that?” What was that experience like? It’s just part of our everyday conversation. So why is it so hard to apply to a business situation?

The social media mix is participating in a conversation and is thus two-way, many-to-many, and unsanitized dialogue. The right message, delivered the right way, to the right audience will get the desired response. Do YOU speak with your customers without jargon and in a way that builds rapport and engenders loyalty?

How can you put fear to one side, and deliver that presentation or speech that hits a home run, everytime? For some people the fear it so debilitating it can affect career choices and career progression; for others, the preparation is a time of real stress and performance suffers. Read our Top Five Tips to overcome presentation nerves.

A survey reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that Australia ranked as one the worst countries in the world in terms of long working hours, with about one third of all Aussies working an average of 44 hours per week which is considerably more than their European counterparts.

“Silence Fails : The Five Crucial Conversations for Flawless Execution” extensive research study – www.silencefails.com – uncovered 5 crucial conversations that have an very significant impact on whether high-stakes business initiatives succeed.

A person’s brain is the operating system for their lives, driving the choices they make, the way they communicate, and what they listen to - or not. Getting the right thinking in your organisation is critical. Evidence collected from over a million thinking preference surveys shows that organisations traditionally favour left brained thinking styles.

Over the last 10 years KONA has been helping companies increase their sales and we are constantly amazed with how many Managers don't recognise the difference between a Sales Professional who will help them grow their business, and an "Oxygen thief" who will cost them money, time and sleep.