Go commando: Military tactics for businesses August 5, 2015 Invest in onboard training and establish a dynamic of trust While the aggressive nature of business is often wryly compared with armed conflict, commerce might do well to adopt some military practices. According to a working paper by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, chief executives with military experience were found to be [...]
Tax-free savings: Double up your pension relief August 5, 2015 Transitional rules mean savers could have twice their annual allowance before April Higher earners may have a golden opportunity to lock away more money tax-free in their pensions this year, before pension tax relief is cut next April. Currently, people can put £40,000 of their earnings into a pension each year, without paying [...]
Three tips for negotiating a win-win deal August 4, 2015 Start off with the low-hanging fruit and know your red lines In business, negotiation is not always a zero-sum game. By treating proceedings as adversarial and hostile, you risk walking away without knowing what you could have won. But with patience, strong research and a clear idea of your next best alternative, you can reach [...]
Is China fragile? It could well surprise us – CNBC Comment August 4, 2015 WITH earnings season in full swing, China remains the buzzword – but for all the wrong reasons. As analysts who have questioned the strength of the world’s second-largest economy start to look a lot less like Cassandras, the question remains: when will the Asian powerhouse stabilise? Short answer: it’s tough to tell at this stage. [...]
Black gold: As prices stay low, is $50 oil here to stay? August 4, 2015 Is $50 oil here to stay? Oil has dominated the headlines as persistently low prices continue. The halving of the oil price from over $110 a barrel last summer was widely expected to be a short-term blip. But one year on, prices remain depressed. Last week, Brent crude touched a five-year low of [...]
All eyes are on the Canadian dollar in a data rich week – eToro tips & picks August 3, 2015 Many currencies have been struggling for direction of late, and the euro in particular has generated a news-flow fatigue. Currency markets have been tricky to judge over the last few weeks, and it doesn’t look like that is about to change any time soon. Euro-dollar has been struggling to jump any higher than $1.1150 and, [...]
Don’t be afraid to fire your failing staff: How to eliminate problem employees August 2, 2015 Are you frightened of firing your staff? If so, you’re not alone – it’s hardly surprising that most managers are. After all, such interactions are commonly known as the worst of “difficult conversations”. But what if I told you they were not, and said that it is both easy to sack staff and that you [...]
How to make your talent “liquid” July 31, 2015 Consider cross-border training and make use of your partnerships to deliver better results NOBODY needs to be told that keeping your staff digitally savvy is a must in today’s workplace. Giving them more opportunities to broaden their skill sets and work on client business in different countries, across different disciplines and teams is important. [...]
Career change: It’s not all about you July 30, 2015 The LSE’s Jesse Potter looks at the crucial questions we can forget to ask when moving into a new job THE DECISION to change careers is, for many, the most difficult of their lives. When to make the leap from one industry to the next, or to a competing firm within the same field, [...]
How the traditional world of law is embracing entrepreneurial values July 29, 2015 THE legal profession has always been exactly that – a profession. It has grown within a strict statutory framework, which has been vital for maintaining standards, but it’s perhaps not the easiest environment for flexibility and entrepreneurialism. However, that doesn’t mean law firms can ignore this growing trend. After all, the legal profession vies for [...]