Too often sales people tell the customer what they think they want to hear, rather than asking questions and listening to customer concerns. That’s according to business coach and trainer Jim Cocks, who equates great questions with great sales. Jim offers insights into how to improve sales performance by focusing on mindset and building rapport with potential clients. He offers strategies for handling objections and closing the sale. And he shares seven sales beliefs that can impact success.

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The complexity of the General Retail Industry Award is creating unnecessary challenges for small businesses, which make up the great majority of the retail sector. That’s according to the CEO of the Council of Small Business Associations Australia (COSBOA), Luke Achterstraat. COSBOA has joined a new collaboration with the Australian Retailers Association to push for sensible reforms - simplifying pay structures, increasing flexibility, and ensuring workers benefit too. With nearly 1,000 different classifications in the award, small business owners are struggling to navigate the system while juggling multiple roles.

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A brand is more than just a logo — it’s the entire experience your business delivers. Rod Curtis, Director of Strategy & Creative Lead at Kommunal - Brand Strategy Architects, explains that while a well-designed logo is important, it’s just an empty symbol without a strong strategy behind it. Rod explores the deeper layers of branding, from the way you present yourself to the promises you make to your customers. Every interaction, from answering the phone to meeting a client, shapes how your brand is perceived. He explains how to craft a brand story that truly resonates with your stakeholders.

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A successful sales team as one that is fully engaged, highly satisfied, able to handle pressure, and performs at their best. That’s according to Anna Glynn, speaker, author and coach on thriving workplaces, who shares her six secrets to sales success. Implementing the six principles, she insists, takes time and should be part of an ongoing plan.

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Speaking up isn't always easy — especially for people who are early in their careers or from cultures that value deference. But organisational psychologist Stephanie Bown says your voice is your value. With AI transforming the workplace, it’s more important than ever to show up with your ideas, back yourself, and make your thinking heard. Stephanie helps us overcome self-doubt, prepare with purpose, and tap into both logic and emotion to build confidence and contribute meaningfully.

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Businesses are scrambling to keep up with latest trends in technology and take advantage of the efficiencies of digitisation. At the same time, mediocre customer service is rampant. So, how can you embrace the benefits of the digital era while also servicing customers with the human touch they crave? Well, Jaquie Scammell provides the answers in her new book, ‘The Future of Service is 5D’. The concept encompasses the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of human interaction. Jaquie encourages bosses to create conditions that allow employees to thrive in each dimension.

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Struggling to generate revenue in today’s tough market? A sales revolution might be the answer. That’s according to Ingrid Maynard, Founder and Managing Director at The Sales Dr. Ingrid explains why traditional sales models are failing, how a lack of skilled sales talent is holding businesses back, and why a company-wide approach to customer engagement is essential for growth. She also discusses how every role in your business contributes to profit — whether through sales, cost retention, or improving customer experience — and how a shift in mindset can drive success.

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As the nation goes to the polls tomorrow, Business Essentials Daily brings you the final episode of our special week of pre-election interviews, and it’s certainly revealing. A new report by OnDeck - small business loan experts, shows that out of the 500 Australian small businesses they surveyed, 85% cite cost of living pressures as the key issue shaping their vote this election. It’s an extraordinary number and illustrates how personal finances have overtaken other small business concerns for the sector. The survey also says energy bills and red tape are still hitting small businesses hard, even though resilience remains strong. In this interview, OnDeck Marketing Director, Justin Brady delivers key insights from the survey.

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Global volatility, tariff tensions, and shifting global trade dynamics continue to shape the outlook for small and medium businesses in Australia. For the next in our special series of pre-election interviews, Economist Professor Robert Brooks unpacks the ripple effects of global uncertainty on Australia — highlighting inflation risks, exchange rate pressures, and why smart, steady policy responses may help shield local businesses from the worst impacts. He also explains how Australia’s exposure to Asian markets adds another layer of complexity, and why avoiding trade retaliation has been crucial in maintaining stability.

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Hospitality is one of Australia’s largest small business sectors, and it’s been on the front lines of recent economic uncertainty. So, are government policies doing enough to help, and what is the Coalition offering? CEO of the Australian Restaurant and Café Association, Wes Lambert, unpacks the pros and cons of each major party’s offerings for small business owners, with a focus on energy relief, tax breaks, and support for apprentices.

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