Page 5 - KZN Business Sense 7.7 ebook

ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING AN

EFFECTIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE

lives with work commitments – ■ Have set work hours – and stick and cost involved with regards
to keep productivity levels high to them. to expanding your network.
and stress levels low. ■ Find time for your finances. Most importantly – do what
Some tips that will help you You need to feel confident about you love! Whether it’s spending
create a solid work-life balance your finances no matter what more time with your children,
include: size your business is. Cash flow gardening, taking photographs,
■ Being able to manage your is a challenge that faces many cooking – whatever it is that
time on a long-term basis. small businesses and you you love, it will give you the
Create a timeline of your need to start using established energy that will help with
activities. This can be done accounting tools early on so creative thoughts – essential in
you know what is going on in
et me start by wishing you ideal work-life balance, however easily with various computer the finance department. any business.
all a wonderfully restful, research suggests that human programmes. Put dates You may not be able to travel
Make your workspace work
Lpeaceful and happy resource professionals seeking across the top and the activities ■ for you! With many people still overseas, but South Africa is full
holiday season. Some of you innovative ways to ramp up conducted at the side. Make of the most amazing places to
may be in an industry that is their organisation’s competitive sure that you BLOCK OUT working from home, it’s vitally visit. Now is the time to take a
flat out at this time of year, and advantage in the marketplace days when you have family important to create a work break. You deserve it! 
some of you may have already have found that effective work- commitments. Make them space that will help with
wound down and are preparing life balance challenges offer a a priority. productivity – and your overall Connect with Marlene through her e.card
for some quality family time, win-win solution. ■ Don’t try and be all things to wellbeing. https://linkshare.co.za/marlenepowell
but still have work issues in the Interestingly, work-life all people – rather play to your ■ Get lots of exercise! In fact,
back of your mind. Whichever programmes existed as early as strengths and outsource what make it a priority. It’s a well-
category you fit into, you need the 1930s. Before World War II, you’re not efficient at. known fact that a healthy body
to establish and maintain a solid the W.K. Kellogg Company in the ■ Prioritise your time and plot = a healthy, productive mind.
work-life balance to keep stress US created four six-hour shifts some valuable personal time. ■ Nurture your network!
levels low. Include your family and your Networking has become vital SCAN
to replace the traditional three
The definition of work-life daily eight-hour shifts, and the health. Both absolutely vital. If in establishing relationships QR CODE
balance is to “create a state new shifts resulted in increased you don’t prioritise these two, and building a solid data TO SEE
of equilibrium in which the employee morale and efficiency. you may not have a business to base. Prioritise growing your VIDEO
demands of an individual’s jobs People were spending more time go back to! network and make sure you
and personal life are equal”. We with their families – and were ■ Ask yourself what is urgent and have a well-structured lead/
need to accept that there is no happier. Today we are all looking important that needs to be dealt conversion system in place so (Open the camera on your phone and
hover steadily for 2-3 seconds over the
perfect solution to creating an for the ideal way to balance our with immediately. that you can track the time QR Code to see the video.)

WHY USE B2B LINKAGES ?

Monique Labat, Specialist your services or products and International B2B Networks Both parties are able to identify Case Study Success
in B2B market linkages, participate in a buying or selling the needs of the buyer and the Monique Labat Consulting
Monique Labat mission to target hundreds of A company seeking to find capacities of the supplier.
Consulting distributors, stockists or resellers successfully manages inward
contacts. This participation can in a new market, may find B2B interventions include site buying missions. French companies
I business relationships. difficulty in tapping into these visits, vendor promotion events, from Reunion Island were asked
develop into hundreds of valuable
to outline their objectives which
foreign networks. Language
product sample collecting and
had to be met for the inward
barriers, cultural differences,
buyers and suppliers. Inward
mplementing Customer Relationship managing global teams, currency networking events between buying mission’s success. The B2B
Management (CRM)
a strategy exchange and inflation rates and buying missions arranged for matchmaking was facilitated.
of Business Capturing the content and the nuances of foreign politics, importers or manufacturers have Manufacturers of fast-moving
to Business recording the responses in the policy and relations all impact the specific objectives. This begins consumer goods (FMCG) were
(B2B) form of a customer relationship cost of securing new markets. the business conversation in a invited to meet with the French
linkages has proven to be the marketing database across It makes sense when identifying targeted manner resulting in companies. A B2B deal was signed
solution for many companies the company means that at partners to supply goods and exports of locally manufactured and FMCG products manufactured
seeking to secure new markets, all levels of sales, marketing services, to collaborate with skilled goods and services. in Durban are regularly exported
new suppliers or new clients. and management, the content and experienced B2B firms who to Reunion Island.
is readily shared within the Virtual B2B Matchmaking Global business comes with
Fundamental to B2B is access company. This database proves to have the necessary experience in
to networks and information be a great time saver. those countries. During Covid-19 many of unique challenges but creates
systems to create these sustainable these exhibitions and trade fairs opportunity for excellent
linkages. What forms the basis of B2B Databases B2B Matchmaking have been undertaken online. company growth. To prepare for
successful B2B opportunities is When creating researched For local businesses, connecting Extensive growth in e-commerce challenges, follow foreign politics,
accurate and verified information. with one business can open up the and online B2B matchmaking use experienced B2B firms to
Companies undertaking B2B look databases be mindful to comply way to future opportunities and has demonstrated that prepare for today’s nuanced and
for integration into new markets with The Protection of Personal help the local market integrate into connecting buyers to suppliers interconnected business world.
and then have the ability to reach Information Act 4 Of 2013 a global supply chain. Business virtually is successful. Information on B2B match-
new customers. (“POPIA”). What B2B needs to matchmaking can help facilitate making and market linkages to
deliver is access to local supplier Promoting B2B market linkages
How does one go about securing and distributor networks. This and speed up this process. is an excellent strategy to make secure new markets, new suppliers
leads to grow one’s business? A entails contact verification, data Business matchmaking long-term investments develop or new clients is available from
clever sales technique is to host mining and company profiling. To services help connect national into new business. B2B requires Monique Labat. 
an educational webinar about undertake B2B successfully ensure and international buyers ongoing communication and
you find the key contact person and looking for goods and services will have long-lasting effects, T: +27 (0)82 924 6349
E: monique@moniquelabat.com
If you define the start building the B2B relationship. with verified local businesses. which will promote your business W: www.moniquelabat.com
problem correctly, you This involves researching and Business matchmaking is an growth. As B2B successes are
made known, it will be easier to
almost have the solution! verifying the contact details of the active approach of establishing
leads and then you can conduct the contracts between international include more local manufacturers
- Steve Jobs initial qualification. buyers and local suppliers. and buyers in the process.

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