NZBusiness+Management

A long-awaited holiday in the South Island for yours truly in early March was not just a highly memorable experience, it was also a total eye-opener on the impact our closed borders have had on local tourist-geared businesses. Queenstown especially had a completely different vibe to previous visits, with the absence of international tourists resulting in little foot traffic and closed or near-empty pubs, restaurants, cafés and retail stores. Behind our N95 masks my wife and I felt sad, somewhat privileged, and yes, a little guilty all at the same time. It was obvious that business owners and operators were doing it tough, yet it was bitter-sweet to experience the hospitality and stunning scenery without the traditional hordes of people everywhere. Let’s hope this Covid disruption is a once-in-a-lifetime event. However, to…

When David took on Goliath he took down the giant with a slingshot, a handful of stones and an immense amount of courage. “I can’t think of a better symbol for New Zealand’s small businesses who battle obstacles, often daily,” says The David Awards founder, Heather Douglas. “What they achieve with limited resources is little short of a miracle.” It’s also hard to earn credibility and recognition, she says. Since 2008, The David Awards has grown considerably. “It’s more robust, and better known. It’s not only the number, but the quality of entries which has increased,” says judge Pam Martin. It’s faced its share of challenges, including flip-flopping Covid level changes and sponsorship continuity – but it hasn’t wavered on backing the underdog, or bestowing kudos on ordinary Kiwi businesses punching above their weight. The…

A venture agency based in the Queenstown-Lakes region wants to help entrepreneurs achieve more with an attention management SaaS platform named Focus. To make entrepreneurs’ lives easier, Southern Software founder Duncan Faulkner says his distraction-free tool can set users up for success while monitoring the progress of various goals. “Focus doesn’t involve other users, nor is it constantly monitored,” he says. “It encourages users to set up a calendar reminder to block out time every week to check the status of various goals.” Once a user interacts with a ‘card’ (a project or desired outcome) and updates it, the card fades into the screen. Users set a frequency for reminders on cards instead of due dates. This way, Focus ensures that things keep moving forward. Designed for desktop use, Focus launched in February, and…

The impact of the pandemic on economic activity, employment, and the way we work has been far-reaching. All of this has substantially impacted the world’s collective wellbeing and of course, this state of unease has flowed into workplaces. As workers grappled with a host of pandemic-related grievances, the duty of care employers have for employees, especially in relation to their wellbeing, suddenly assumed unprecedented levels of importance. One thing is certain: the past 18 months have placed employee wellbeing firmly on HR’s agenda. Fast forward to now and many countries around the world find themselves in a state of limbo. They are not yet clear of COVID-19 but are learning to live with it thanks to vaccinations and other restrictions. This uncertainty is also impacting mental wellbeing. In a New York Times article,…

Paige Wills is a farmer. While her husband performs most of the physical work around the farm, Paige was aware that if anything ever happened to her, all hell would break loose with their employees, insurance, indeed all of that business management ‘stuff’ that only she knows about. So Paige created My Peace of Mind – a ‘guide to life’. In the event of your death, a severe injury or sudden illness, your family can pick up the pieces with a lot less stress and worry. My Peace of Mind is not an app, but an easy-to-complete, 105-page online e-document that allows you to fill in the blanks with question prompts so others know how to pick up where you left off. The e-document covers broad guidance, such as how to pay the…

In today’s tech-saturated, digitally-[dis] connected world it is authentic human connection that gives you or your team that competitive advantage. Everyone has a natural ability to connect, yet many people shy away from the spotlight. Most people are simply untrained in how to harness the power to connect. Now Russell Pickering’s book Step into the Spotlight can help teams and individuals find their spotlight and step into it – to present with impact, inspire confidence and get results. For the past 15 years Pickering has helped thousands of people across Australia and New Zealand become better presenters. “In my experience, the most interesting and persuasive presenters deliver their message in a way that feels like a conversation they’re having with me, rather than a performance for me,” he explains. “They own who they…