Most teams hit a point where results stall, morale dips, or execution slips. The default fix sounds like, “Let’s do some leadership training.” Sometimes that’s right. A lot of times, it’s not. At The Alternative Board, we see this mix up all the time. Companies buy a...

Most managers don't lose the week on big decisions. They lose it in small, untracked promises, half finished follow ups, and meetings that exist because nobody stops them. A good manager's weekly routine isn't a packed calendar. It's a simple set of repeatable time...

 If you run a small business, you probably did not sit down and design your performance management approach. You picked up habits from past jobs: a once a year review, a raise conversation when you feel good about it, and quick feedback only when something...

Employee evaluations are for performance improvement. As such, they need to be regularly measured and managed. Yet most companies treat reviews as a cumbersome year end, 360 degree process that management hates, as uncompleted reviews become a monkey on their backs....

An executive dashboard gives you a quick and easy to read view of the business metrics that matter most to your organisation, your Key Performance Indicators or KPIs. The goal is simple because you should be able to spot performance, risks and opportunities at a...

Doesn’t every entrepreneur or business owner start and maintain a business in order to see it grow? The answer seems obvious. But as many top business coaches will tell you, some business leaders who attain a certain level of success are content to stay at this...

Successful and effective business leaders often share notable common traits. You know, things like vision, enthusiasm, and integrity, to name a few. Research suggests, however, that communication is the number one key attribute of great business leaders. Strong...

In the feverish hunt for qualified job applicants, businesses sometimes rush through the hiring process and miss out on some promising candidates. By optimising your recruitment practices, you can significantly enhance the efforts of your team to do everything...

Growing a successful company is remarkably similar to building a family home. Both ventures demand a clear vision, immense effort, and a fair amount of grit. You would never find a reputable site manager or builder who would start a project without a comprehensive set...

Running and growing a business is a significant undertaking, but rarely due to a lack of effort on the owner’s part. In fact, it is often quite the opposite. Many local business owners find themselves stuck in 80 hour work weeks, endless meetings, and time consuming...

Most companies spend valuable time and resources creating strategic plans, giving their best to outline a strategy that establishes a solid long term vision. While having a strategic plan is necessary, a vast number of organisations often lack a critical strategy...

Running a business today is no small feat. For many private business owners from Perth to Sydney, it can feel incredibly isolating. You carry a level of responsibility that doesn't switch off when the sun goes down. Decisions follow you home to the dinner table....

For many small and medium business owners, the biggest challenge isn’t ambition. It’s time. Running a business means wearing multiple hats. One moment you’re leading the team, next you’re handling operations, reviewing finances, replying to emails, or solving...

Many business owners make the mistake of confusing basic accounting capability with true financial literacy. Being able to keep your books balanced is important, but it doesn’t give you the deeper, more dynamic understanding of your business’s financial health that...

Few metrics matter more to SMEs than cash flow. Revenue might suggest growth, but cash flow determines survival, flexibility, and long-term opportunity. In practical terms, cash flow is one of the clearest indicators of a business’s financial health. When cash flow is...

Even when business operations appear to be running smoothly, many business owners and CEOs find they are falling short when it comes to clear strategic direction and effective execution. Creating a compelling vision for the future is one thing. Turning that vision...

At The Alternative Board, we are committed to continual improvement. For nearly five years, we have worked closely with a team of independent researchers led by organisational behaviour expert Dr Roman Terekhin. Their work examines a wide range of peer advisory boards...

The beginning of the year is an ideal time to step back from the day to day operations of your business and make space to tick a few important items off your list. Here are 10 practical tasks that will help you begin 2026 on the right foot. Strategic Planning Review...

The business of doing business is evolving at breakneck speed these days. Advancements in technology, changing consumer preferences, and a range of global dynamics continue to create both opportunities and challenges for small to medium sized businesses and the...

With so much change happening in business, from new tariffs and global shifts to the unprecedented impact of artificial intelligence, smart business owners know they need to recognise and respond to changes in their market, customers and industries. But recognising...

Business leaders often struggle with developing and training their mid level management teams. In fact, managers are often the most poorly trained employees in an organisation. A 2023 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) study showed 82% of new managers had no formal...

The equation is straightforward: a leader with poor or ineffective management habits will likely get less from their team, while employees under strong business leadership tend to work harder and achieve more. Think about the benefits when small business team...

Many business owners start with a bold vision, yet too often, the daily grind takes over. Instead of running their business, they feel like their business is running them. They have a general idea of where they want to go, but lack a structured plan to get there....

Running and growing a business in Australia is no walk in the park. But often, it’s not due to a lack of effort from business owners, it’s quite the opposite. Many business leaders are putting in 80-hour weeks, attending back-to-back meetings, juggling recruitment...

“Employee happiness” might not appear as a line item on your profit and loss statement, but it can make or break your business. In Australia’s competitive job market, keeping your team happy is not just about being a “nice” boss. It is about attracting the right...

Imagine this. You are a business owner who has painstakingly built an organisation, in large part by hiring the most talented, capable people you could find. You wanted them to be happy and inspired, so you installed a mini basketball hoop near the staff kitchen and...