{"id":7284,"date":"2020-02-10T13:42:52","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T13:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=7284"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:18:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:18:36","slug":"perform-at-your-best-small-business-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/perform-at-your-best-small-business-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Perform at your best: A guide for small businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPerform at your best: A guide for small businesses\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2020-02-10T13:42:52+00:00\">10 February, 2020<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Perform at your best: A guide for small businesses\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/perform-at-your-best-small-business-guide\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/staceymcintosh\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/11\/Stacey-McIntosh-350-1.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Stacey McIntosh<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Achieving optimal business performance can be a challenge for any company. With many moving parts to deal with and daily demands to stay on top of, it can be tricky to make sure everything is moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you might have the best intentions for your business to perform at its best, numerous things may try to hold you back: chasing late payments, manual data entry, working in silos, the cash flow balancing act \u2013 the list goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you could start working more efficiently, make smarter business decisions, and empower your staff so they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/\">elevate their performance<\/a> \u2013 all to propel the company in the right direction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Perform at your best<\/strong> is a guide that will help you take the steps to improve how your business functions so that not only can you achieve your company goals, you&#8217;ll increase your chances of massively exceeding them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the guide, you\u2019ll learn how using automation can free up time to spend on tasks that add more value to the company, how real-time data can be used to generate insights that lead to smart business decisions resulting in increased revenues, and why giving your employees the tools and support they require to succeed in their roles will mean your company will prosper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Perform at your best<\/strong> covers the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What does business performance mean to you?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Becoming more efficient and productive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making smarter decisions and gaining insights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empowering your people so your business can thrive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How DPR Motorsport performs at its best<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you ready for a new way of working?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#gate-3fd72661-0876-48cd-9e8a-6554cac8a0be\">Download your free copy of Perform at your best<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-an-excerpt-from-perform-at-your-best\"><strong>An excerpt from Perform at your best<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s it like if you, your team and the wider business are all healthy and performing at your best?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ironically, it shouldn\u2019t be noticeable at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as a well-oiled machine is one that runs silently, it\u2019s the absence of the problems discussed earlier that serves as an indicator of good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/business-performance\/\">business performance<\/a>. Additionally, you should find that your business can seize opportunities as soon as they arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To create this kind of business, three things are required:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-productivity-and-efficiency-have-to-be-the-key-focus\"><strong>1. Productivity and efficiency have to be the key focus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The complexity discussed earlier needs to be overcome by automating tasks where possible, freeing you and your team to use your skills and experiences to help the business grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-smarter-decisions-have-to-be-facilitated\"><strong>2. Smarter decisions have to be facilitated<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everybody must have the insight into the business they need to do their work. Silos need to be broken down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every employee and department needs to be \u2018open for business\u2019, so information can flow freely, and they can make decisions with the highest level of understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-you-have-to-get-the-most-from-your-people\"><strong>3. You have to get the most from your people<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Technology can play a key role to improve your business processes but your people are your most important asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those who work for you or alongside you need to be engaged with the business and allowed to use their skills and experience for the benefit of all. They need to be motivated and rewarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their success needs to be your success \u2013 and that of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Perform at your best<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discover how to improve productivity, make smarter decisions and empower your people so you can elevate the performance of your small business.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-3fd72661-0876-48cd-9e8a-6554cac8a0be\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1022379466-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Planning is important for business\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1022379466-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Achieving optimal business performance can be a challenge for any company. With many moving parts to deal with and daily demands to stay on top of, it can be tricky to make sure everything is moving in the right direction. While you might have the best intentions for your business to perform at its best, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":346,"featured_media":11589,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[139,9],"tags":[180,126,45,49,47],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74],"imagine_tag":[109],"coauthors":[353],"class_list":["post-7284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-guides-templates","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-business-performance","tag-data-analytics","tag-employee-engagement","tag-employee-retention","tag-productivity","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Stacey McIntosh","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-681887339.jpg","imagine_tags":{"109":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/11589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}