Selling a business: how to get started?

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Selling a business: how to get started?

Do you want to sell your business sooner or later? Then it is best to prepare well. In this article, you will discover how to attract the right buyers for your business. We will show you how to make yourself redundant. That way, you are guaranteed to get more money when you sell your business.

Like most entrepreneurs, you probably have an emotional attachment to your business. Whether you founded it yourself, acquired it or grew it, it is and will always be your baby. And yet, sooner or later, you will have to say goodbye. By selling your business, it will live on and you will keep a nice sum. Ideal for your old (or still young) days.

But how do you get started? With the 5 tips below, you can easily sell your business for the highest possible price.

Selling business tips 1: Make yourself redundant

Most entrepreneurs are constantly busy with their business. Sales, marketing, HR, logistics, ... them
want to control everything themselves. That way, they can be sure that everything runs as it should. Does this sound recognisable? And
is that really why you became an entrepreneur: even more headaches and even less time for
yourself?

Fortunately, it can be done differently. By relinquishing control, you make yourself redundant to your
business. With the right people managing your company's crucial processes, you strengthen the
fundamentals of your business. This will make your business much more interesting to potential buyers.

Sell business tip 2: Create efficient business processes

To sell your business, it needs to work efficiently. Therefore, map and align all business processes. A visual flow chart helps to identify pitfalls and opportunities and set the right priorities.

Provide clearly defined job descriptions and roles. Create manuals that describe each role, position, team and department, including their duties and responsibilities. Then cross-train your employees so they can take over various tasks when needed. This will keep your business running, even in unforeseen circumstances.

Sell business tip 3: Keep innovating continuously

Want to showcase your business in a positive way? Then make sure it continuously evolves with the times. Therefore, regularly ask yourself the following questions:

Do our offers still meet the market?
What can we do to reach more customers?
How can we positively differentiate ourselves from our competitors?
What can we do to sell more?
How can we make our processes more efficient?
What can we do to cut costs?

Continuously innovating your business keeps it flexible and more resilient to unexpected market changes. This makes selling your business a lot easier.

Sell business tip 4: Build a super team

Your business, that's your people. Your team keeps your business running. Only with good teamwork, will you achieve good results. A team achieves so much more when it works well together than the individual members of this team achieve alone.

Want to get the most out of your team? Then first formulate a clear mission, vision and code of ethics. That way, all noses point in the same direction. When a team shares the company mission and vision with a common sense of ambition and passion, it gains clout and will achieve better results.

As an owner, you then no longer have to step on the field yourself. This is also very interesting for potential buyers of your business.

Sell business tip 5: Appoint someone as director

When your business structure is in place, your processes are efficient and your team knows perfectly well what needs to be done and can also execute it independently, you can take a step back as an entrepreneur. By appointing someone else as director, you can completely remove yourself from your business.

Thanks to the good functioning of your business with clear responsibilities, there is probably a good candidate to be found in your current team. Now everything is ready for a successful business sale.

By giving the reins to someone else, you achieve a higher level of personal pleasure and financial rewards. This is how you realise the power of true freedom.

Want to get your business ready for sale?

Want to sell your business so you can live the life of your dreams? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and business owners how to get their business ready for sale. With our individual coaching and mentoring programmes, we help you tackle all the challenges successfully.

Kurt Vervloet

Kurt Vervloet is a business coach, blogger and speaker. Since 2017, he has been coaching businesses around the world, ranging from solo entrepreneurs, SME companies to executive management teams at large organisations. His clients choose to work with him because of my proven, no-nonsense approach to optimising and scaling businesses. By achieving great results with his clients, he has already been rewarded with several Awards.

Recruiting staff - right talent for your business

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

Recruiting staff - right talent for your business

Finding new employees, it remains one of the biggest challenges for many companies. Ideal staff are scarce and competition is fierce. So how do you still find the right talent for your business? In this article, we will tell you how to profile yourself as an attractive employer and what you need to do to recruit the right staff.

Do you want to find the best employees for your company? Then, first of all, make sure you are an attractive company for potential candidates. A promising job ad that makes people enthusiastic to apply for a job with you is indispensable for this. But, it is best to start at the beginning...

Staff recruitment tip 1: Make your mission, vision and values clear

More and more people are looking for an employer that promotes the same values as themselves. They find it important that a company pursues a positive mission. Therefore, as a company, it is important to define and communicate an inspiring mission, a clear vision and strong values. This way, you can attract new employees who identify with your company and are therefore extra motivated.

Hiring staff tip 2: Invest in your company culture

Establishing your mission and vision is not enough. You need to ensure that everyone in your organisation knows them, feels them and lives them. Your employees need to be imbued with them. To achieve that, mere words are not enough.

To ensure that every individual in your organisation pursues the corporate mission, it is best to create culture points as a guide for good cooperation. Business leaders, managers and team leaders should lead by example and actively promote these culture points.

At ActionCOACH, we work according to 14 culture points, such as commitment, integrity, collaboration, excellence and gratitude.

Staff recruitment tip 3: Vacancy text that makes your mouth water

The job description can make or crack your recruitment process. If your vacancy text is unconvincing, the chances of finding the ideal candidate are slim. Conversely, if your job description appeals to and inspires people, the pool of applicants, and the chances of finding the ideal new colleague among them, will be a lot higher.

Tips for writing a successful job ad:

Describe the job content, desired profile, and expectations.
Tell enough about your business and make it inspiring with your mission and vision.
Let your corporate culture shine through in the text.
Write for your target audience and adjust your tone accordingly.
Be honest and clear.
Make your job posting stand out by adding playful or funny elements, for example.
If necessary, add a nice quote from an enthusiastic employee.
Set yourself up reachable for questions.
Clearly include instructions on how to apply and include your contact details.

Staff recruitment tip 4: Spread the rumour

A good job posting is one thing, but if nobody gets to see it, it is wasted effort. So make sure as many people as possible know that you are looking for a new colleague. Share your vacancy on your own website and social media channels, but also in groups where there are many potentially interesting candidates.

Also disseminate your vacancy through job platforms, such as Indeed, Stepstone and the VDAB website.

If necessary, also make a vacancy video in which you give candidates an immediate impression of your working environment or in which you also let colleagues speak.

Staff recruitment tip 5: Organise a trial day

Job applicants sometimes dare to hide the truth. Want to be sure what kind of meat you have in the barrel before hiring someone? Then invite the candidate to a trial day (or half-day). Let him work in your team and see how he cooperates with colleagues. Ask your team for feedback afterwards. That way you will immediately have a good idea about your future new employee.

Want more tips on how to grow your business?

Do you have ambitions with your business but could still use help to grow further? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and business owners tackle all challenges successfully. We do this with individual coaching and guidance programmes tailored to your business.

Kurt Vervloet

Selling online - what others aren't telling you

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Selling online - what others aren't telling you

Selling online, many see it as the Valhalla for their business, but is it. It is true that you can reach a large audience online, but there is also a lot of competition. That's why you need to be smart about your online sales. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to successfully sell online.

According to a research by Statistics Flanders among companies with at least 10 employees, 33% of total sales come from online sales. In large enterprises with at least 250 employees, it is as high as 59%. And that share will only grow in the future.

Download our financial plan sample

You can access a Google Sheet of our financial plan example via the Google Drive link above. You can also copy this to your own Google Drive, share it with others or download it as Excel.

Download fincancial plan example excel

Why is it important to have a financial plan?

A financial plan ensures that you think about your costs, product and services. Based on this, you can also adjust your asking price to still break even. When starting a company or to get loans, it is often also mandatory to present a financial plan.

Why is breaking even a must?

The break-even point is the point at which total revenues equal total costs. In other words, it is the point at which you make no profit or loss. Calculating the break-even point is important to determine when a business will become profitable. In your financial plan, this calculation helps you set realistic goals and develop strategies to reach those goals.

Should I start selling online now?

YES... Because more and more consumers as well as businesses are making their purchases online. According to some studies, as much as 95% of all purchases will be made online by 2040. As a forward-looking and ambitious entrepreneur, you cannot ignore that. So you better start thinking sooner rather than later about how to sell your offering online.
NO... Because it's best to think it through first. Your online sales will only be successful if you do it the right way. That is: according to the right strategy and tailored to your business, your offer and your target audience.

Below, we give you lots of practical tips to make your online sales successful.

Selling online tip 1: Analyse your offer

Many entrepreneurs and businesses never start selling online because they think their offerings are not suitable for selling online. But is that really the case? We are all familiar with the idea of buying and selling physical items online. But, services like consulting, coaching and advice can also be sold perfectly online. So don't be too quick to say that your offering is not marketable online.

However, it is advisable to analyse your offer properly before offering it for sale online. Take a critical look at your products and services. Perhaps not all of them are suitable for selling online.

Selling online tip 2: Define your niche

Think about where your services fit in the market and how you differentiate yourself from the competition. If your company offers services, you may aim to reach as many potential customers as possible by offering a wide range of basic services at affordable prices. But, you can also choose to offer only higher-priced specialised services in a certain segment.

Selling online tip 3: Know your target audience

To reach your ideal clients, you first need to know who they are. That is why it is important to define your ideal customer very precisely. That way, you can be much more responsive to their needs.

The goal is to make your ideal buyer as human as possible. You have to present him as a real person. Therefore, define the following characteristics:

Age
Gender
Relationship status
Number of children
Monthly income
Education level
Hobbies and interests
Books and magazines he reads
Brands or influencers he follows
Problems, frustrations and fears (regarding your offer)
Dreams and goals
Places where he often attends and obtains information (blogs, seminars, books, forums, ...)
Preferred communication channels
Specific language and words he uses
...

This list is not exhaustive and depends on the ideal buyer himself. The representation of your ideal buyer should become super specific.

Selling online tip 4: Define your strategy

People often mistakenly think that they can only sell online with their own webshop. However, there are several ways to sell online. We list the main sales opportunities:

Own webshop/website

Many companies have their own webshop. Sometimes it is part of their website, but it can also be completely separate. With your own webshop, you are completely free to sell online the way you want. A major disadvantage of having your own webshop is the cost of development and maintenance.

Online marketplaces

There are a lot of online marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, Etsy or Stream. Many companies sell exclusively through these channels. It costs you nothing in terms of development or maintenance. On the other hand, you have much less freedom in terms of design and user experience.

DIY e-commerce platforms

There are also e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, which let you quickly and easily create an online shop on their domain. So you don't have to pay to develop an expensive website yourself, and you can usually customise the design and branding.

Social networks

Nowadays, you can also sell online via social networks. With Facebook Shop, you can quickly create a Facebook shop page to sell your products. You don't even need to have an existing online shop. You can also sell online via other social networks such as Twitter and Instagram.

Online selling tip 5: Deploy multiple marketing channels

Once your online shop is ready, you need to bring your offer to the attention of your target audience. Time for marketing, then. We always recommend using several marketing channels at the same time. That way, you reach many more people and people will see your message several times. And the power of repetition also works in marketing.

Choose the marketing channels that best suit your brand and your ideal customer:

SEO

Most people start any purchase on the internet. Through search engines like Google, they are directed to websites that best match their search term. With search engine optimisation (SEO), your webshop ends up high in the search results. This is how you attract more visitors.

Social media

Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, ... Social platforms are ideal for reaching many people at once. Build your own community with hashtags and boost your organic reach.

Paid ads on social media

Social ads on Facebook, Instagram or other social media are ideal for attracting new customers, encouraging people to download an application and for remarketing. With social ads, you also have a wide range of targeting options. Because social platforms hold a lot of information about their users, you can target your ads very specifically.

Google ads

With ads in Google, you are immediately visible to customers who are specifically looking for your offer.

Content marketing

With blogs, podcasts and YouTube videos, profile yourself as an expert in your field. Make your voice heard and share your expertise. Then make people curious about your offerings.

Word of mouth

Encourage customers to share their experience with your brand with their network.

Even more (online) sales?

Starting to sell online is just one way to make your business even more successful. Do you want to get the most out of your business? At ActionCOACH, we help entrepreneurs and companies build an organisation that will remain successful in the long run.

Kurt Vervloet

Structure in your business - How do you do it?

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

Structure in your business - How do you do it?

Setting up a good organisational structure, it is the beginning of an efficient business operation. Yet for many entrepreneurs, it often remains in the background... until it is too late. In this article, you will discover how you can create a streamlined organisation with a better business structure.

Busy, busy, busy. That's how it goes for entrepreneurs. Is time also your biggest obstacle? Or do things sometimes go haywire because of a communication error? Good organisation solves more than a chaotic work environment: you save time, intercept mistakes in time and create a worry-free workplace for your employees.

Structure your business tip 1: Start right away

To focus on what matters right now, start-ups like to put their organisation on the back burner. The moment you are well and truly gone, you then have no time left to take care of your internal operations. While your company is growing, make sure it is structured right away. This preparation will bring a lot of benefits when you need it most.

A handy start is a shared planner. In it, you not only keep track of your own calendar, but also see your staff's availabilities and vice versa. Your employees know when they can disturb you or schedule appointments. It's a first step towards transparent communication.

Structure your business tip 2: Work in pieces

Already passed Step 1? Then you probably don't have much time to tackle your entire business structure at once. Fortunately, structuring can also be done step by step. Look at which parts of your work process are most in need of reorganisation and how you can take care of them: automate? Outsource? Or shorten the chain?

Always define a concrete objective for each item. Don't say "I want orderly administration", but "by Friday I want to process all the invoices for that week". Then choose the solution that best achieves that goal, for example an invoicing programme that automatically reminds you of that task.

Structure your business tip 3: Give yourself time

The time-honoured expression 'time is money' does not mean never sitting still, but reminds you to use your time as efficiently as possible. Structuring requires time to scrutinise the workings of your business, devise solutions and implement changes. The time you spend doing this may seem like a waste in the short term, but you'll win it back twice over in the long run.

Moreover, quality over quantity. Entrepreneurs often tend to add more and more, whereas improving what you already have is a more cost-effective solution. It ensures that you are not doing half a job, but delivering quality - even when you do decide to expand your business.

Structure your business tip 4: Trust your people

Smooth operations start with driven staff. If you put the right people in the right places, you will automatically create an efficient shop floor. Capitalise on your employees' strengths and listen to them. Maybe your administrative assistant is full of ideas to improve your communication with automated mailing... Give your people the chance to develop their skills, so you can use them in multiple areas.

Structure your business tip 5: Be prepared to change

A good organisational structure does not emerge automatically, especially if your business has been running for a while. You might not find the solution right away and might have to abandon familiar habits to explore alternative processes. Is a shared planner not for you? Then try a weekly meeting with your colleagues where you share agendas together. Be daring and make time to try different things. If you are willing to change, so are your employees.

Structure in your business: the ultimate test

Structuring your business is a long-term job, but achievable for any entrepreneur. Decide what the priorities are for your business and tackle them step by step. Every little bit helps and together build a cohesive whole. When have you succeeded in your set-up? When the business keeps running even without you, you have taken the most important step towards greater efficiency. After that, you can fine-tune.

Want more tips on how to structure your business?

Are you ready for a more efficient operation, but could use some help? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and companies bring more structure to their processes. With individual coaching individual coaching and assistance programmes customised, you will turn your company into a streamlined organisation.

Kurt Vervloet

7 Tips for business success

Posted on April 10, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

7 Tips for business success

Here are seven super tips for entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level!

1. Marketing

Remember: Consistent marketing is the key to the growth and success of your business. Marketing should be an investment and not just an expense. Identify which strategies are generating leads, implement a system of 'testing & measuring' for all your marketing campaigns and always ensure that each new customer grosses more than the marketing spend.

2. Know your numbers

You don't have to be an accountant to own or run a business, but it is absolutely necessary that you understand and keep track of the important numbers in your business.

3. Time management

Make sure you use your time as efficiently as possible. As a business owner, you should focus on the high-value-added tasks and hand over the lower-value-added tasks to your team members. Consider using a standard diary to make sure you spend enough time working "on" the business, in addition to working "in" the business.

5. Learn to lead

There are no bad employees, only bad leaders. Learn to be a great leader and you will attract the people you deserve in your business.

6. Frenzied Fans

Focus on turning your customers into Frenzied Fans. Frenzied Fans are customers who go out of their way to recommend you, bringing you an amazing stream of new leads thanks to their passionate sales power that costs you nothing.

7. Money-and-time-free

Entrepreneurship should give you freedom in terms of money as well as time. If not, you are doing something wrong and you need to re-evaluate key areas within your business to see what adjustments are needed.

Be prepared, stay positive, and plan deliberately to ensure that the last half of 2021 is filled with successful business opportunities!

Working with a professional and certified ActionCOACH can help you develop a solid corporate culture and environment to build and sustain a powerful business!

Kurt Vervloet

Are your salespeople sabotaging your business?

Posted on April 9, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

Are your salespeople sabotaging your business?

If a salesperson does not have the right sales skills, they can potentially talk a customer out of a sale.

Here are seven signs that could stand in the way of a sale:

1. You get objections.

Objections mean that during the conversation you did not give them an opportunity to bring up what are important points for HIM, or that you did not listen when they tried to get more details about certain aspects. Simply stop talking and start listening.

2. You follow your own agenda, rather than theirs.

Follow them. If answers to your questions point in a different direction, follow them.

3. You will be asked for your CV or a testimonial.

This means selling yourself, rather than solving their problems.

4. You have a success score ('closing rate') of less than 50%.

If customers agree to see you after filling in a questionnaire or after half an hour on the phone and more, it is clear they are interested - but you lose them as soon as you actually meet them.

5. You lose customers

You lose customers within the first three to six months of getting them. There can be many reasons for this, but ultimately it is because they are not getting the results they expected.

6. You think your impeding thoughts are real.

"I need to know more! I don't have enough experience. I need to be more! " you say to yourself. You don't win a marathon - or a client - by being more. You win by training more, running more and working harder.

7. You stop following up too soon

After two or three times you give up. Most customers only buy after at least five contacts and as long as they don't clearly say 'no', you can feel free to keep approaching them. The persistent often wins.

A good salesperson makes a difference

Especially in this day and age, it is crucial to build an excellent sales force. Customers know what they want and, thanks in part to the internet, are well-informed and will not settle for less.

Precisely because almost everything can be bought everywhere, a good salesperson can make all the difference. With tact, the right questions and good listening, a potential customer can be guided to the right solution for their needs.

Being skilled at dealing with objections without being the 'pushy' salesperson is a skill that can be learnt where lots of practice and honing is crucial.

How we help

ActionCOACH can help optimise your sales process, can train you and your team in the right 'mind set' and skills to sell professionally and successfully.

Kurt Vervloet

10 TO-DOs to make your business Corona-proof

Posted on April 9, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

10 TO-DOs to make your business Corona-proof

As an entrepreneur, you have a great responsibility. You have to provide security and lead your team during this period. It is not obvious, but it is certainly achievable. How is your company dealing with the virus and its effects?

Train not only your team in sales, but also your customers

Based on the figures from the recent crisis, we can conclude that 1/3rd of companies go out of business, 1/3rd survive and 1/3rd come out stronger.

Which part do you belong to? Those who ACTIVELY bet on all possible opportunities now and adapt to market demands will emerge stronger from this crisis. Surround yourself with experts and the right advice!

Here are 10 to-do's to get ahead of your competition!

1. First things first, don't panic

Stay calm and take your time to sort everything out; Read these to do's carefully and then shoot into action. Don't keep thinking for too long and step into ACTION. In any crisis situation, it is also important to communicate clearly what you are going to do. Keep every employee (and your customers) informed of your plans.

2. Don't argue about the facts

It is true that a pandemic is underway, but there are a lot of messages going around via the (social) media. Whatever one says or whatever one does, there is no point in commenting on it.

The focus should be on your business. Many rules will be added or changed and there will always be people who do not follow certain rules.

3. Think of yourself

Your own health is important! Make sure you are healthy physically, mentally and financially. You are responsible for your people and you cannot help anyone if you are not well yourself. Don't underestimate the importance of this! Besides, you wouldn't want to infect others, would you?

4. Do you need to change your distribution model?

During this difficult period, you may have to change the way you distribute. What you sell or what you deliver may also become different. You may even have to deliver the product or service through a different form.

Think of a fitness coach who could now digitally offer a coaching package with videos. Don't wait until the customer has found the alternatives with the competition. Act on this NOW!

5. Change the source of your stock

Need to find products elsewhere than from previous sources? In many situations, the original source for products or stock can no longer offer the quantity or deliver on time. This can be an opportunity to make a change that was actually needed before.

6. What is your weakest link?

Take a step back and look closely at your entire organisation. Where is the biggest issue causing a negative impact? For some, it is the sales. For others, it's making the product or delivering a service and for still others, it's making sure the team is doing the job effectively.

Can modern technology solve this? Or is there another solution to eliminate or reduce this biggest failure point?

7. Financial challenge or financial opportunity?

In some cases, you have the option to finance debt at a lower rate. That means this pandemic could actually still be useful. Refinancing debt at a lower cost is a unique opportunity that could be a huge benefit.

A reduction in cash flow due to slow payments (higher debtors) could mean higher use of debt capital. A disaster like this, or any other situation (e.g. prepared by local or national governments) often releases large amounts of cash to keep the economy stable.

Whether it is a hurricane, a tornado, floods, forest fires or a pandemic, look at finance as an opportunity that is rare, but a definite possibility... at least if you are well prepared.

8. Your team's morale must be high!

People will always continue to buy products and services. Taxes will be due, restaurants will be open and travel will take place, even if it is now in limited quantities.

There may even be growth in certain sectors. Those who do better at marketing and bet on sales, than their competition, will be the winners in the long run. And those who think 'out of the box' and innovate their services will also be rewarded for their efforts.

This is an opportunity to attract customers from the competition to you. You may even need to change your marketing messages to help customers continue to do business with you. You may want to help your customers understand now that this is even a great opportunity to do business with you.

Does this opportunity present opportunities you can use to increase your marketing and sales efforts? Look for the bright spots. There will certainly be some!

9. Stay committed to marketing and sales

10. Proactivity

React quickly. Prepare for extreme situations. How will your business survive if you only generate half your current turnover?

What should you save on first and how do you communicate this to your team without panic? Quick action and communication are key to success (and survival).

Only, make sure you act from a well-thought-out action plan! You're not alone As an ActionCOACH, I can help you properly evaluate the whole process and make the right decisions.

Kurt Vervloet

3 Steps to attract and retain the ideal employee to your company

Posted on April 9, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

3 Steps to attract and retain the ideal employee to your company

Have you ever said that you just can't find the right people? Or that when you train them, they leave and even take over clients at their next job? Or that they just don't have a work ethic like you do?

If that is the case, you are like many people we know. Still, why is it so difficult to attract and retain great people?

Until the crisis, we had the lowest unemployment ever in Belgium. That meant that the people you wanted were already working for someone else. You really had to go find them and show them why they should choose exactly YOU.

Those days are sadly over. Ask yourself: Are you treating the recruitment process like filling a position? Or are you instead treating the process like a marketing campaign? And is your company really a company they WANT to work for?

You know how much money and time it takes to fill a position, so let's look at some key aspects to increase your chances of doing well:

1. Who or what?

To search for people for a particular position, I recommend writing three pages on the following topics:

Job content (content)
Start with a page on job content.

What are the responsibilities of the job? Think from A to Z about every aspect of the job content. This is immediately a good exercise for your existing employees. Visit them and have them figure out and write down what they think their top 10 priorities are.

You do the same and then compare the lists. If you notice that they differ, then you have someone who is not sufficiently productive.

The type of person (target group)
Second, ask yourself who is the ideal person you want for the position. Just as you take a targeted approach to finding the right client, you should also take a targeted approach to finding the right employees.

Who do YOU want for this position? Who do they currently work for? Where do they currently live? What education have they received? What personality profile do they ideally have, etc.

Think like you would run a marketing campaign where you also summarise your target audience as sharply as possible. Be as clear as possible.

Expectations
On the third page, write what is specifically expected. Or what logical content looks like in your eyes. This is important for the interview.

That way, you give them a clear picture of what you expect from them during the time they work for your business. Recruiting the right people is not just putting up an ad with 'vacancy: new employee wanted'.

It is about finding the BEST person for that job. It is not about finding people who do not have a job, but finding someone who already has a job.

We don't want someone who just wants any job. We want someone who likes to come every day, be productive, AND stay. It's about de-selection.

2. Marketing

You want to reach people who already have a job. After all, many working people are on the lookout for a new job. Create a web page and you, the company owner or manager, will tell more about the job and its content there.

There is space at the bottom of the page to apply. On this page, also discuss the company's vision: where do you want to go?

Aim to inspire readers. Imagine, you come across 2 job offers and the first wants to become the biggest in their industry and train their employees to be experts.

The other had no vision, which one would you choose? Link this webpage to all social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

Share wherever you can - make sure your suppliers, friends, employees and customers can share it. Be a true 'recruiter' and not a 'job poster'.

You will have to do enough marketing to find them. Use Facebook ads if necessary.

TIP: Use a job video for this purpose!

3. Schedule 3 to 5 interviews

Remember, you want them to actually de-select themselves. That's how you end up with the ideal candidate.

Group interview
For the first interview, schedule a group interview. Have all candidates answer these three questions in the group:

1. What are your 3 strongest attributes?
2. What are your 3 biggest success experiences?
3. Why do you think you are suitable for this position?

At the same time, bring in your team to observe them and take notes. They can also mingle with the interviewees, talk to them and get a feel for them. After all, they will have to work with them.

Panel interview
You can also do a panel interview. Each member of your team gets to ask questions. This provides variety and takes the pressure off yourself.

Personal interview
Then plan a 1-on-1 interview. Let the candidates talk and make sure there are at least two difficult questions in the "Tell me about a time you..." section.

Question
Devise questions based on your company's core values and mission. If you have experienced team members not being a match for the company in the past, chances are their core values did not match yours.

Trial day
It is a good idea to give them a job interview - and then immediately invite them to come and work for half or full days.

This will allow them to spend time with you and the team and also give you feedback. You are not alone If it is a high-level position, take an interviewee out to dinner and ask them to bring their partner.

You want to hire someone who can get you where YOU want to go. As an ActionCOACH, I can figure out how to get what you want for your business!

Kurt Vervloet

6 Indispensable qualities of good managers

Posted on April 9, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

6 Indispensable qualities of good managers

Good management is essential for the evolution of your business results. What employees and employers expect from a manager has changed enormously in recent years.

New management styles are needed now and it is important to help your managers develop so that they are at their best.

Nowadays, there are so many possible styles. You have a hard approach, a soft approach, an approach where there is more letting go, etc.

If a manager is able to build trust with his or her team, retention, productivity and engagement can increase.

I have therefore listed 6 indispensable traits to chart the path to professional management.

1. Top managers do NOT micromanage

Successful managers don't try to lord over every detail. If you are invested in the success of your team, you might fall into the trap of feeling you have to guard every detail.

Micromanaging can undermine employee initiative and damage employee motivation. A good manager can let this go.

Make sure they have a sense of responsibility and also give them a chance to grow in their qualities.

2. Top managers build a work culture of mutual trust

Trust is a key element in professional leadership. After all, productive teams know that mistakes are just milestones on the road to innovation. You need to be open to employees coming up with risky experiments.

3. Top managers have fantastic communication skills

Managers who are excellent communicators are good listeners and give others time to speak. They have a clear understanding of the organisation's vision and share it with their team in a way that motivates them. They also keep their team informed about what is happening within the company.

4. Top managers help develop employees' careers

A management study by Google shows that identifying opportunities for employees to master new skills increases the strength and depth of a team. At the same time, you convey a powerful message that you care about the personal well-being of your people.

5. Top managers can handle pressure well

One of the most important qualities of a manager is being able to handle pressure well. There will be days when you feel you are a target for everything and everyone, and you will be held accountable for the performance of others.

Emotional stability is therefore an essential trait for successful managers. Your ability to take care of yourself and withstand work pressure ensures that you remain clear-headed in times of stress.

6. Top managers recognise and reward good work

Giving rewards and recognition to employees is a golden opportunity for managers that is often overlooked. Employee recognition not only increases individual employee engagement, but it has also been shown to increase company loyalty and productivity. Recognising people for their good work is an extremely powerful message to the recipient and their team.

Kurt Vervloet

Are you coachable?

Posted on April 9, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Are you coachable?

A business coach is like a sports coach. A sports coach encourages an athlete to achieve optimal performance, also offers support when exhausted and teaches the athlete to execute tactics that the opponent will not expect. A sports coach makes you run more than you want to. A sports coach does not mirror things better than they are. And a sports coach listens.

The role of the business coach is to coach entrepreneurs to improve their business through guidance, support and encouragement.

A business coach helps the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with their sales, marketing, day-to-day management, team activities and so much more.

Like a sports coach, your business coach will let you focus all your attention on the 'game' itself.

"We are Business Coaches, not business consultants..."

What is the difference? It's actually quite simple to explain.

Your ActionCOACH will do more than just tell you what to do. Your ActionCOACH will be there for you when you need it most. As soon as an idea is formed, when challenges come your way and more importantly; when you are not sure what your next step is.

We are there with you every step of the way to help, guide, support and motivate you to achieve your goals. Your ActionCOACH is an experienced entrepreneur who has received world-class training and is supported by extensive international resources.

Together with your accountant, lawyer or banker, your ActionCOACH will keep you focused on your goals, holding you accountable and supporting you through ups and downs.

Our coaching system has proven itself for more than 27 years, with tens of thousands of SME entrepreneurs worldwide in more than 80 countries.

Want to showcase your business in a positive way? Then make sure it continuously evolves with the times. Therefore, regularly ask yourself the following questions:

Do our offers still meet the market?
What can we do to reach more customers?
How can we positively differentiate ourselves from our competitors?
What can we do to sell more?
How can we make our processes more efficient?
What can we do to cut costs?

Continuously innovating your business keeps it flexible and more resilient to unexpected market changes. This makes selling your business a lot easier.

The question now is: Are you coachable?

Circle the mark that best indicates how true the statement is for you at this moment. Add up your score using the total score table at the bottom of this page.

It is essential that you determine whether you are in the place in your life and business where you are coachable.

This index helps your coach and you discover how coachable you are... right now.

The Coachability Test

Fill in for yourself on the scale 1 = Less true, to 5 = More true...

TOTAL SCORE
(add up all the numbers to one total)

14-28: Not very coachable at the moment. Perhaps an ActionCOACH seminar or workshop would be most suitable for you. See our offer here CLICK HERE

29-42: Coachable, but make sure basic rules are followed.

43-56: Coachable

56-70: Very Coachable, ask the Coach to ask a lot of you.

Sell business tip 5: Appoint someone as director

By giving the reins to someone else, you achieve a higher level of personal pleasure and financial rewards. This is how you realise the power of true freedom.