Retaining top performers starts on the day they first arrive and continues every day thereafter. In my business we celebrate a new recruit’s first day to let them know they are valued from the outset.

It is very difficult to lead yourself if you are in a very small business. There is generally no problem with motivation but you need to make sure you are heading in the right direction – or if you get thrown off course – you can get back on track.

If you believe that the greatest asset of any organisation is the people in it, the key question must be, “What are you doing to enhance the greatest asset of your organisation? Are What are you investing to maximise its development and/or potential?”

Most businesses don’t make it beyond 5 years. Whatever size of your company, from one employee (you) upwards, you need to maintain regular contact with your customers, retain them with a great service and delivery and keep them paying on time. Without cash flow you do not have room to manoeuvre your business.

‘DC’, business owner with an annual turnover of £5.5m asked: “With 60 staff, what is the best way to keep people doing what they should? As soon as we look in the other direction they suddenly stop doing what they should be doing! We’re Ok for a month but then they take their eye of the ball! What’s the best method to keep a large number of people focused on keeping the small things done as well each and every month without standing over them?”