Listening to customers and understanding their needs is an important part of selling, 'unless you know exactly what they need you can never give advice or sell a product successfully' says Sandra Swanepoel who shares more of her top tips on how to become a proficient sales consultant.

The South African government will continue to prioritise higher economic growth and job creation at the core of its economic policy, despite the country's bleak A3 investment grade rating, according to the National Treasury.

The use of colour in the work environment can affect the mood of the individuals who operate in that space as well as set the tone for both customers and employees. Kim Meszaros speaks about the different shades of colour and what they signify in the workplace.

With frustration increasing among South Africa’s unemployed youth, President Jacob Zuma has promised that things will improve soon, as government continues to look for ways to create jobs and restore the dignity of many dejected South Africans.

What ICT skills will be most sought after in 2012? Mario Matthee, head of DVT’s Intern Programme, looks at some of the most keenly sought software skills and the role of business analysts and project managers in 2012 and beyond.

A business coach can direct your focus, spark creativity and provide the tools you need to grow by tapping into stores of experience and knowledge. Learn more about the role of businesses coaches and the value that these experts can bring to any business.

Local companies wanting to compete on a global scale must possess specific elements, and Stellenbosch Business School will host a seminar to equip business leaders with the keys they need to survive in the volatile global market.

You cannot expect to win the respect of your clients and maximize your influence without demonstrating thought leadership. Take the sales quiz and listen to Colleen Francis as she explains the principles behind thought leadership in sales.

Managing change within a work team can be a challenging and daunting task and many managers shy away from their leadership responsibilities during these high-pressured moments. Elmarie Pretorius reflects on her recent experiences as an agent of change.

Under the unifying theme “Chemistry—our life, our future”, the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011 has offered a range of educational opportunities which have boosted science education across the world. Sasol brought the dialogue home to South Africa by hosting projects which brought chemistry to life by demonstrating the important role it plays in peoples’ daily lives.

The gazetted revisions to the Preferential Procurement Policy Financial Act (PPPFA) have been fully aligned to the B-BBEE Act, adding yet another piece to the transformation puzzle. EconoBEE will present a half-day course on how to implement these changes in business.

Maximising budgets to improve business operations is a skill that every good manager longs for, but many fall short due to poor planning and insufficient data. Noreen Macpherson shares her insights on how to avoid the pitfalls of budgeting.

As APPETD's representative on the QCTO council, I have been following the debate regarding the QCTO with lots of interest. I have to admit there is a lot to be done before answers will be available on all questions. The problem that providers have is that there is not time available to waste! We need guidance and answers as soon as yesterday.

This is the report of what I have found with my survey inot private training providers experience with quality assurance procedures with Setas and other bodies.

Some private providers who attended a workshop offered by the CHE/HEQC earlier this year claimed that it was stated that private learning institutions will in future no longer be accredited and that those who offer learning without being accredited will be arrested by the police.

We have been trying to get our accredtation with CETA since Sept 2010 to no avail. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. To date we have had a site visit, we have submitted 2 lots of our documentation and 2 leverarch files of our applications for assessors - which have subsequently gone "missing" from the CETA offices.

What I am advocating is that whether you are an assessor, moderator, SDF, provider, facilitatior, HR Practitioner, training manager or whatever we should not have 5 or 6 different bodies representing us and fighting for a share of the market. We need a representative body, preferably with no fees involved, where we can all work together for the common good and in order to achieve our objectives.

Corporate social responsibility has become a critical component of business strategies as companies recognise the value of using their influence to improve the surrounding communities. Daniel Malan speaks about the importance of corporate responsibility in creating sustainability.

Ken Blanchard talks about how companies must live according to the values they have established as it is the values that guide the behaviour of those within the organization. Leaders have a responsibility to live out the values as employees model their attitudes on what they see.

Officials have criticised the National Skills Fund for its poor spending practices after reports revealed that expenditure for the 2010/11 financial period was over R600 million, leaving an alarming net surplus of nearly R1.5 billion.

Business survival is based on sound business practices and a strong focus on growth, particularly in times of global economic uncertainty. Allon Raiz goes back to the basics of operating a business and provides guidelines about what to expect during this post-recession period.

The country needs to double the number of accounting professionals it produces and the recent accreditation obtained by the University of Limpopo to develop accounting skills has signalled a breakthrough in the financial sector and accelerated the national drive to develop skills.

There are regulations that companies must adhere to in order to ensure compliance however many fail to meet these legal requirements which leads to costly and time consuming labour action. Des Squire provides guidelines to ensure employers meet the necessary requirements.

The Extra School Support Programme designed to provide homework assistance and sporting activities to underperforming schools in the province was recently launched by Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy.

President Jacob Zuma remains positive that the new regulations under the Preferential Procurement Act, which come into effect in December, will help government meet its job creation targets.