NewAccess for Small Business Owners

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Program aims to give small business owners, including sole traders, the support they need

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health coaching program, developed by Beyond Blue.

The program uses Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) that allows participants to recognise the way they think, act, and feel and break unhelpful thoughts.

Over six sessions, coaches with a small business background will work with you to overcome difficult issues, providing you with practical skills to manage stress and get you back to feeling like yourself.

At your first appointment your coach will complete an initial assessment with you, and develop a program tailored to your individual needs.

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is available nationally by phone or video call.

Why you’ll love NewAccess for Small Business Owners 

  • A free and confidential mental health coaching program, developed by Beyond Blue.
  • Designed to support small business owners like you, manage life pressures so you can move forward
  • The structured six session program will give you practical tools
  • You’ll work with a coach who will guide you through a tailored, personal program
  • No doctor’s referral or mental health treatment plan required – so you don’t have to visit a doctor first
  • It’s available via phone, video call from Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm AEST.  The program is closed on public holidays

NewAccess for Small Business Owners uses Low-intensity Cognitive Based Therapy (LiCBT) to recognise the way we think, act and feel. You will have a Coach to help you tackle unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, using an individual plan that you develop together.

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is available nationally by phone or video call. To read more about NewAccess coaches, the program or how to make an enquiry, visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess/newaccess-for-small-business-owners.

small business bookkeeping notch above bookkeeping brisbane

The Evolving Role of Leadership

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How The Tough Get Going

It’s a challenging time to be leading an organisation… but some leaders have stepped up admirably and are running thriving enterprises.

How are the leaders in your business doing? Perhaps they are thriving in these business conditions or maybe a different approach is required.

In this article, we look at some leadership skills which are proving to be really valuable as businesses find a path forward this year and beyond.

It’s lonely at the top

In ANY environment, being a business leader can be exhausting, lonely, and stressful. Many leaders will not succeed or meet the expectations of the board, shareholders, customers, or employees. And leadership is one of those roles which you ‘learn by doing’; no business school can fully prepare a leader, especially since each business is different.

When successful leaders are asked to explain their success, many will give standard replies like, “be clear on goals”, “set the strategy” or “build the right team”. Others will mention their own traits like drive, resilience and risk tolerance. These can help explain success… but unraveling the mysteries of great leadership remains challenging. Still, let’s give it a try!

Leaders organise themselves first

Successful leaders tend to clear their heads of distractions so they can focus on business challenges and opportunities. They are (or at least appear to be) organised, calm and reliable. Thus they can lead by example, concentrate on the job at hand and get buy-in from their teams.

Clarity on required talent

The team is a critical resource in any business and the best leaders will have a clear view on what talent the business needs. This will vary by business. A manufacturer may require exceptional production management skills, while a consulting firm may need strong interpersonal skills to interact with clients. Needs will change over time as the business matures and as it’s impacted by the economy, market, and other factors. Business priorities such as the need for speed, agility, resilience, or stability will influence what team should be in place.

Building the Team

Successful leaders help people play to their strengths. That requires a clear definition of roles and putting the right people in those roles… while still encouraging teamwork.

It also means acting decisively to move lesser performers out of important roles, or out of the organisation altogether. Poor performance cannot be tolerated because it will impact the entire organisation.  Reviewing performance (by tracking important metrics) and attracting new talent is an ongoing leadership responsibility that requires finesse.

Culture

Culture is important and it starts with employee engagement. This is achieved by setting ambitious goals, offering incentives, reinforcing the vision (partly through storytelling), and investing in training. Effective leaders set an example by constantly appraising their own performance and that of the management team

Asking for help

Managers, consultants, and the board offer support to leaders. Successful leaders remain humble and reach out knowing WHO to ask and HOW to get the most from colleagues on subjects such as legal, regulatory, audit, compliance, M&A, technology, risk, reporting, strategy, culture, talent, resilience, and external communications. The best leaders are self-confident and appreciate being challenged by people on certain topics. A leader surrounded by people telling them what they want to hear will not be effective.

Staying in touch

Successful leaders are aware of how work gets done in the organisation and spend time with employees.

A long-term view

In the frenetic busyness of day-to-day work, successful leaders remain focused on (and remind people of) the ‘Why?’ – the vision and values which should influence decision making and daily behaviours. In addition to financial success, this probably involves a social purpose. Leaders listen intently to stakeholders so they can prioritise actions.

Being prepared

Business is unpredictable and affected by many extraneous factors out of our control. Effective leaders recognise that there will probably be adverse events at some point and they manage this risk wisely.

Self-Awareness

Good leaders play to their strengths and understand their limitations. They limit their involvement in tasks that can be dealt with by others and reserve time to deal with unexpected developments. This helps them to honestly appraise their own performance and look for ways to improve.

Setting the Strategy

The effective leader will also set the direction and have a plan in the face of uncertainty, something that is being tested in the current environment. Taking a long-term view while getting things done in the short-term is a delicate balance which successful leaders navigate. A strong understanding of the market, competitive advantage, management team, and other factors allows leaders to act boldly in their decision-making. They won’t get everything right… but they can quickly pivot where necessary.

Sound easy?

It’s no surprise that many people will not lead organisations and even fewer will be successful as leaders. Interestingly, challenging conditions provide new opportunities for leaders to shine and for others to step up into leadership roles. Opportunities abound in the coming years for leaders and the businesses they run.

cozy winter read on ipad

Cocooning

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Helping your customers build a sanctuary allows them to feel right at home.

Where we have regained freedom and are bound by fewer restrictions, families are again eagerly exploring their local neighbourhoods and revisiting their favourite beaches, playgrounds and cafes.

For those now working from home, where once it felt like we spent much of our day stuck in traffic, we now have more time to spend close to where we love.

This shift has brought a new-found appreciation of the home and the rise of cocooning – the practice of spending leisure time at home in preference to going out. It came from the natural desire to shield ourselves from the health risks out in public areas as the pandemic unfolded. During all of the troubling developments, home was and still feels like a place that is safe.

Some workers relished the opportunity to ditch the commute to work from their ‘safe space’ and will want to keep doing so. This means the trend of spending more time at home is only likely to grow.

In turn, the rise of cocooning will shift how your customers buy your products, and could drive exciting new opportunities for your business.

Embracing the cocooning trend

The cocooning trend is visible in the growing popularity of self-sufficiency at home – everything from baking your own sourdough bread to starting a vegetable patch has entered the local lexicon. Households are storing higher quantities of staple foods, medical supplies, cleaning and personal hygiene products, all to ensure their cosy cocoon is safe and well-stocked.

If you have a business offering products for the home, this highlights the chance to help your customers set up their sanctuary, whether that’s home renovation products and advice, household staples, or even modern home office equipment.

Changing how we use our homes

Over the longer horizon, cocooning could see the physical fabric of Australian houses change. Larger residences with more generous office spaces and home gyms could be in high demand, while having lots of room to move in a country house might trump the location benefits of small inner-city pads.

If you’re a business supplying home goods, it’s a long-term trend to watch. Enabling customers to be more productive, safe and comfortable at the place they love best is an emerging avenue where small businesses can help.

Consider your customer

Can you enable your customers to be more self-sufficient by preparing meals from your ingredients, assembling your products, or teaching themselves via your courses from the comfort of home?

How can you help your customers make their home offices ergonomic and safe?

As customer expectations for home delivery grow, can you impress them with smaller, more precise delivery windows and faster turnaround?

Consider your business

What are the benefits to local foot traffic if more of your customers work from home?

How can you make your premises a sanctuary away from home and help your customers feel safe and comfortable?

Can you design new outreach or in-home services to bring your products and services to your customer?

Tips

  • Promote existing services that might help customers to cocoon and be more self-sufficient.
  • Trial new ways for customers to access your products at home.
  • Keep an eye on changes to foot traffic and consider what opening hours suit the changing times.
  • Consider adapting existing products so that customers can DIY if they wish.

Specialising in Xero bookkeeping, Notch Above are bookkeepers that offer Xero setup, as well as training and ongoing support. Call us Australia-wide on 1300 015 130.

Source: Xero

Australian Accounting Awards Bookkeeping Firm of the Year Finalists 2021 and 2020 #remotebusinessbookkeepers #cloudbusinessbookkeeping #xeroplatinumbookkeepers

tradie working on a deck

Be your best tradie with the right tech

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How can tradespeople go about streamlining their business and help set themselves up for success?

Reduce admin with the right tech

For trade business owners wanting to get more control and grow their business, reducing time spent on admin can have a huge impact.

Worldwide, 39% of tradespeople spend more than 12 hours per week on paperwork – that’s more than one working week every month. Using specialised trade business management software can drastically reduce this.

For example, one area that’s a time blackhole for tradespeople is quoting. A fast and efficient quoting system not only saves admin time, but can also have a positive impact on how many jobs a tradesperson is likely to win.

Managing staff and communicating with customers is another area where the right software can come to the rescue for tradespeople. It’s easy to see how this time can add up if operators are spending a lot of the time on the phone, booking jobs, giving customers updates and liaising with staff.

Whereas a cloud-based job management app like Tradify can ensure staff know exactly what they need, where to go and what to do just by checking the app. And app features like live job-tracking can help communicate to the customer exactly what’s happening.

Using software to set up efficient admin processes builds a solid foundation for a trades business.

The amount of time saved compounds over time, potentially saving hundreds of hours a year. And the flow-on effects can be huge. Not only does it mean time saved, it can also help tradespeople feel less stressed, more in control and give them time back to spend on higher-value activities, helping their trade business grow as a result.

We know that better efficiency gets you more family time and ability to take the time off you want to have!

Notch Above Bookkeeping are Platinum Certified Xero bookkeepers and BAS Agents in QLD and NSW. We help tradies across Australia to prepare their BAS returns and streamline their bookkeeping processes, payroll and accounting records using cloud technology. Call us to find out how your trades business can benefit on 1300 015 130.

Source: Xero

#remotebusinessbookkeepers

#cloudbusinessbookkeeping

#xeroplatinumbookkeepers

success

Distributed work

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Changing how, when and where you work can free up time, deliver new talent and boost morale

The pandemic has been referred to as the world’s “greatest working-from-home experiment”.

For those of us with the means to do so, the sudden switch has spurred the speedy adoption of digital technologies, including cloud-based file storage, and workplace collaboration apps. These tools have turned living rooms into home offices almost overnight, as we learn how to be productive away from the workplace.

Conference calls on webcam give us a peek into the lives of our colleagues, and teams are trying new ways to stay connected online whilst working apart. For some small businesses and their staff, this rapid transition has proven challenging, while for others, it’s been a welcome change.

Embracing a flexible workforce

As restrictions slowly ease (or, in some cases, threaten to return), you might decide to keep some of that flexibility in place. Working remotely could prove to be more cost-effective and convenient and, importantly, your team may prefer this arrangement.

Staff may also find it much less stressful to balance their work and family commitments if they can work remotely, even if it’s only for part of the week. Allowing flexibility isn’t just a boost to morale; it’s a smart way to reduce unexpected leave, and send a clear signal of trust.

Finding new talent in new ways

Importantly, the distributed work trend is not only about where work is done, but also who does it. More businesses are embracing the growing network of freelancers and contractors, which provides hard-to-get niche skills plus flexible surge capacity, all without growing your headcount.

If you’re recruiting for your business, you’ll have a broader talent pool to hire from if remote working is an option. Highly specialised global talent becomes accessible online, bringing the benefits of national and international expertise to your workplace when you need it.

It’s the perfect time to embrace flexible working, along with the tools that make it so effective. The benefits extend from bringing you closer to your customers to helping you save on the cost of under-used office space and giving your team the gift of better work-life balance.

Consider your customer

If your customers change where they work, will their buying patterns change?

Can you help your customers who are working from home with training on in-home technologies, office set-up, or digital collaboration tools?

If your staff prefer to work different shifts remotely, or work in different Australian time zones, can you extend your hours of customer service availability?

Consider your business

As working patterns change, do your staff have to work from nine to five, or would shifting rosters and job sharing make more sense?

If you’ll have fewer staff onsite, can you repurpose your floor space with fewer work stations or more room for meetings, using a smaller footprint to save on leasing costs?

How can you improve your team structure and role descriptions in light of new working patterns?

Tips

  • Review the current balance of staff working onsite and remotely. Reach out, check what their preference is, and think through what is most productive for your business.
  • Update your technology to allow for effective work to happen away from the office.
  • Make sure IT systems and in-home devices used for work purposes are secure from cyber attack.
  • Before hiring new staff, consider whether freelance or contract options give more flexibility.

With a few handy tools in your arsenal, remote working can be transformed into a smooth and stress-free process for you and your team. Many apps from the Xero app marketplace are designed to do exactly that.

Notch Above Bookkeeping is a team of Platinum Certified Xero bookkeepers and BAS Agents. We help small business owners across Australia (especially medical specialists such as dentists, orthodontists, optometrists and anaesthetists) to prepare their BAS returns and streamline their bookkeeping processes, payroll and accounting records using cloud technology.

Call us to find out more about our Xero remote business bookkeeping on 1300 015 130 today.

Source: Xero

#remotebusinessbookkeepers

#cloudbusinessbookkeeping

#xeroplatinumbookkeepers

small business bookkeeping notch above bookkeeping brisbane

Your wellbeing in 2021

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Bringing physical and mental wellbeing into focus allows for a happier, more considered lifestyle.

Some are labelling 2020 as the ‘great pause’ because it has given us more time with family, less time at the workplace, and more time to relax.

And while it has certainly been a stressful and challenging period for many, others (with the means to do so) have come to appreciate a slower, simpler lifestyle.

This slowdown has highlighted just how beneficial it is to take care of our own wellbeing in times of stress. As your customers focus inwards and make more time for loved ones in response, it’s a chance for you to think about how they want to live their lives, and how your business can help.

Helping your customers to take care of themselves

Many customers are now aspiring to be physically fitter, healthier, and want to take better care of their emotional wellbeing. If you’re providing fitness and wellbeing services, or can partner with someone who does, you might boost sales and reach new customer niches.

Looking out for what’s happening outside

As a local business owner, you may notice an uptick in foot traffic as customers change their daily habits and opt for a more leisurely routine. Outdoor boot camps and exercise classes have become more visible, as small business owners in the fitness sector adapt to the trend.

As more of your customers slow down to boost their health and wellbeing, the opportunity is there for small businesses to motivate, inspire and encourage them. Promoting the positive health benefits of your products and services, and raising the feel-good factor, will help your business adjust to your customers’ new health-conscious needs.

Consider your customer

Can you capture the imagination of customers wanting a slower lifestyle by pitching your products differently to inspire them in their quest for wellbeing?

Are there products and services that complement your existing offering that would help customers to feel fit and healthy?

If there’s more foot traffic on your street, how can you reach more of the people who are out and about?

Consider your business

Are you looking out for how your staff are coping with the lifestyle changes and will you know if team members working from home are OK?

How can you help your staff to find the boundary between working hard and having permission to switch off for family time?

Are you taking the time you need to ensure you are personally recharged and energised to focus on your business?

Tips

  • Update your advertising to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of your products.
  • Consider how to reach out to any increased crowds walking past your door.
  • Check in with your own team and ensure they are coping, particularly if they’re working remotely.
  • Share successful stress-relief techniques amongst your team so that everyone can improve their personal wellbeing.

Staying resilient in times of change

Running your own business takes a lot of focus and energy, both of which tend to get depleted during times of rapid change. In the wake of the pandemic, it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed at the challenges your business might face. Fortunately, there are some simple tips you can follow to keep yourself in good shape during the recovery.

Prioritise sleep: Rest helps the body to recover from long workdays and sharpens your decision-making.

Keep moving: Exercise as regularly as possible to spark those positive endorphins, whether that’s a morning swim, lunchtime gym session or an evening run.

Try meditation: Learning some simple breathing and relaxation techniques can help restore a sense of calm and confidence.

Nurture relationships: Having supportive friends and family around you keeps things in perspective.

Calm your surroundings: Your work environment matters, so listen to your favourite music, and reduce clutter and noise to minimise unhelpful stimulation.

Get some fresh air: Being out in nature keeps you grounded, so try not to stay cooped up at work all day – even a short walk outside can help clear
the mind.

Say no sometimes: Forgive yourself for not doing the things you don’t have capacity for, and be prepared to limit your activities to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Talk it over: Ease the sense of burden by putting problems into words, and talk over any worries with someone who cares about you.

Reward yourself: Celebrate the good days and take a moment to acknowledge your progress.

Thriving into the future

The last year has been incredibly challenging for Australia’s small businesses. Across the country, we’ve witnessed the strength and capacity for reinvention that being a business owner not only fosters, but demands.

Now more than ever, resilience will be your key asset. As you adjust to changing day-to-day, it’s time to take all that you’ve learned so that you can work towards coming back stronger and smarter. This guide is designed to help you do exactly that.

Adapting and innovating

Throughout history, it’s often the most challenging times that spark innovation. We saw this in action during the global financial crisis, which fuelled the launch of Uber and Airbnb, pioneered file storage in the cloud through Dropbox, and saw the rise of WhatsApp.

Out of this tumultuous period came new tools that we now use every day, new business models the economy embraced, and new ways for customers to fulfil their needs. This crisis will be no different. You too can take hold of pockets of opportunity and find fresh ways to succeed. That means seizing the chance to test new products, explore new services, and reach new customers – in ways you hadn’t imagined until now.

Respecting the process

As you adapt to your surroundings, it’s okay to recognise that progress may not be smooth or perfect. It’s entirely normal for there to be phases of rapid recovery and plateaus – especially in light of changing restrictions. But by drawing on your own experience, you can uncover how to move forward despite the challenges.

We encourage you to be bold, creative, and above all, open to change. Of course, anticipate that there will be obstacles, but also welcome the chance to test imperfect ideas and experiment quickly. So dive deep, take what you need from this guide, and ask yourself, “What can I do so that my business thrives into the future?” The decision is yours.

Notch Above Bookkeeping is a team of Platinum Certified Xero bookkeepers and BAS Agents. Based in Brisbane we help small business clients right across Australia prepare their BAS returns and streamline their bookkeeping processes, payroll and accounting records. Call us to find out how on 1300 015 130 today.

Source: Xero

online account

Watch out for online shopping scams this holiday season

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Losses to online shopping scams have increased 42 per cent this year

Scamwatch is warning Australians to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season.

Scamwatch has received over 12,000 reports of online shopping scams so far this year, with almost $7 million in reported losses.

“More people have been shopping online this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and scammers are now targeting people doing their Christmas shopping, including in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Scammers create fake websites that look like genuine online stores, offering products at very low prices and victims will either receive a fake item or nothing at all.”

“They also post fake ads on classified websites, often claiming they are travelling and someone else will deliver the goods, but the item never arrives and the victim can no longer contact the seller.”

Losses on classified websites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, have increased by 60 per cent this year, to $4.5 million.

Reports of online shopping scams involving consumer goods, such as shoes, phones, computers and toys, continue to be high. But the most common thing people were trying to buy when they were scammed was puppies and other pets.

People aged 24 and under-reported the highest number of scams involving phones and computers.

“Watch out for popular products being sold at prices much lower than on other websites and sellers requesting payment through direct bank transfer or cryptocurrency,” Ms Rickard said.

“Take the time to consider who you are dealing with and don’t be pressured by special offers.”

“Do your research by checking independent reviews of online stores or the seller’s history on classified websites.”

Another scam to be aware of if you have made recent purchases online is fake parcel delivery notifications via text message or email.

“Australia Post will never ask you to click a link to enter your personal details, nor will they ask for credit card details or a fee to deliver your packages,” Ms Rickard said.

“If you have been the victim of a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible and contact the platform on which you were scammed to inform them of the circumstances.”

Most financial institutions offer a chargeback service for credit cards and will dispute a credit transaction with the merchant if they still exist.

More information on scams is available on the Scamwatch website, including how to make a report and where to get help.

Also follow @scamwatch_gov on Twitter and subscribe to Scamwatch radar alerts.

virtual reality mask

Put your own oxygen mask on first

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2020 has brought tremendous change and uncertainty on individuals and organisations

For many, this uncertainty can create significant stress and over time can have a serious impact on deep thinking and productivity.

Business leaders have a role to play in ensuring their teams feel supported during periods of ongoing change.

Research shows our mindset contributes greatly to our ability to reduce the impact of our limbic system response. For leaders that mindset can keep our teams in the adaptive ‘sweet spot’ neither under nor overreacting to an evolving situation. This sweet spot is a belief in eventual success, combined with a deep acceptance of the harsh current reality.

“It may feel self-evident to look after our own wellbeing but in times of disruption, the day-to-day things we know we should be doing often fall by the wayside.”

As leaders we need to keep this in mind and help create clarity in our teams to remind them of our shared goals and the journey to get there.

A few habits can make the biggest difference in managing threat levels – taking care of ourselves as leaders, looking after others and delivering on what matters.

Another key aspect is the ‘Knowing – Doing Gap’. It may feel self-evident to look after our own wellbeing but in times of disruption, the day-to-day things we know we should be doing often fall by the wayside. It’s important to intentionally create the space for yourself and your teams and look for opportunities to demonstrate what we know we should do.

What drives you?

Our brains are constantly scanning the environment for anything that might harm us. In fact, there’s significantly more neural ‘real estate’ in the brain dedicated to detecting threat than rewards. It turns out feeling socially threatened or socially rewarded affects the brain in many of the same ways as physical threat or reward.

We can conceptualise this by way of the SCARF model which comes from research into how the brain processes the five different types of social drivers that impact how individuals respond to threat and reward – status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness. Everyone has a different ‘balance’ of each of the SCARF domains, some are more attuned to detect unfairness while others respond strongly to uncertainty or threats to their relative status in a group.

When we experience too much threat our more automatic, primitive brain systems tend to drive our behaviour. Under conditions of high threat, we may experience a fight-or-flight response and it becomes challenging for our executive functions which are involved in high-level thought processes such as critical thinking and creativity, to work optimally.

Create buffers to manage threat

While we can’t always avoid a threat, there are strategies to help manage when one appears. A buffer can help reduce the level of threat by providing a sense of certainty, autonomy, relatedness or fairness and as a result improve focus, decision-making and deeper thinking.

  • Establish a sense of certainty: creating and maintaining a daily routine can help provide certainty. For example, setting time aside every day to get outside to exercise or do an enjoyable activity such as playing a musical instrument.
  • Find opportunities to make choices: feelings of being out of control can be overwhelming. However these feelings can be more manageable when we find a way to gain some sense of control over them. By focusing on choices within our control, we experience an increased sense of autonomy. For example, try to focus on three key things you really want to achieve each day rather than overloading yourself with an unrealistic set of tasks.
  • Build relatedness: sharing experiences and goals with others through virtual meetings or events can help establish a sense of community.

By adopting buffering strategies leaders are not only helping themselves but they’re also helping their teams gain focus and clarity.

Notch Above Bookkeeping is a team of Platinum Certified Xero bookkeepers and BAS Agents. We help small business owners right across Australia prepare their BAS returns and streamline their bookkeeping processes, payroll and accounting records. Call us to find out how on 1300 015 130 today.

Source: Put your own oxygen mask on first. (2020). Retrieved from https://bluenotes.anz.com/posts/2020/10/neuro-leadership-david-rock-wellbeing?adobe_mc

1300015130

New 1300 number for Notch Above

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Notch’s new phone number

Still keeping your business a notch above the rest with even easier phone access.

We’re pleased to be able to advise all clients (and potential clients) of Notch Above Bookkeeping of our change in business phone number.

Effective immediately, our new phone number is 1300 015 130.

Kindly delete the old one from your records and replace it with this new one for all your Xero business bookkeeping needs.

It is our privilege to be able to provide cloud-based Xero bookkeeping services and support to small business owners. Taking care of our clients’ needs is always our number one priority so please feel free to contact our team anytime on our new number for assistance on our range of hassle-free bookkeeping packages.

All the Notch Above team looks forward to being of service to you next time we talk.