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How Do You Give Negative Feedback?

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To have a productive and profitable company you need to be able to give positive and negative feedback to your employees. It is important that you work on helping your employees know what they need to be able to improve upon. Negative feedback is a sore spot for a lot of manager and employees alike. The negative feedback you give should actually be used to help your employees grow and to become stronger in their job. You need to make sure you are focused on presenting the negative information in a positive way. This will really help your employees to know what needs to change and it will really help them to become better at their jobs and productive overall.

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Are Your Employees Underperforming?

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How many goals do you set for your staff and how often do they reach these goals? Do you have people that are underperforming all the time? If you have employees that were hired on for certain jobs and they always seem to fail at these jobs, you need to address the issue. What can you do about employees that just are not pushing themselves to become successful and to live up to the standards that you have created? There are some things that you can do in order to make anyone into a successful employee so long as they are willing to listen and to make changes.

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How To Make Sure Your Employees Follow Procedures

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Making sure that your employees follow all the procedures in your company is a very important and difficult task. This should be part of their training process. The best way to do this is to assemble a manual to make sure that your employees follow procedures correctly.

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What Are You Doing About Lazy Employees

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Dealing with lazy employees can be a large challenge for any manager. Employees that are lazy might give you quality work but it just seems to take a really long time for you to be able to get the work out of them. You might even deal with other issues as well like morale concerns as other employees are impacted by the laziness of their co-workers. They may feel like they have to pick up the slack from the lazy employee or the lazy employee will impact their ability to turn in their work on time. It is important that you understand how to deal with all the different type of personalities and the way in which people work so you can easily create a positive working environment and one where productivity is high. Here are some tips to help you in managing lazy employees.

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The best ways to motivate your employees

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Savvy business owners understand that their staff is their great resource, when it comes to the long term success of their business. Successful business owners will take the time to show their employees that they are needed, and praise them, for a job well done. There is no denying the fact that the more motivated your workforce is, the more excited they are to do their job and the more productive they will be. Employees who are highly motivated will have a desire to be the best at their job, and they will want to win the respect and trust of both their managers and their co-workers. Employers can only benefit when they take the time to motivate their employees. Here are the best ways to motivate your employees-

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Managing employee morale

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Employee morale is hugely important for a successful business. If employees are unhappy, production goes down, and customer interaction may be less than positive, etc. The following are a some guidelines for business managers for how to improve and better manage employee morale.

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The art of business administration

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As a business administrator you are required to take on many roles and to wear a lot of hats to lead your employees. Leading employees can sometimes become a challenge as people are not always willing to listen or you may have employees that try to lead themselves. It is vital that you understand how to take control of your staff so you can lead your employees in the right direction. You will need to assess your business plans and policies in order to take the business in the right direction.

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Motivate employees with fun

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Work is serious, it is how we provide for ourselves, but it doesn't mean it can't be fun as well. In fact, studies have shown that increasing the fun factor at work can also improve or increase productivity. No fun means less motivation, more sick days (when people aren't even sick), more coming in late and leaving early, or shirking responsibilities while at work to play games on the computer or chat online. In fact, a work environment that lacks fun often has an increased amount of discordance in the staff. Thus, lack of fun is not good, fun is. Motivating employees with fun can have a lot of positive outcomes.

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Maximizing in office time

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One of the greatest costs to a company is that of inefficient or non-productive employees. Paying employees for time that is not spent on work means paying for nothing. However, every business faces the problem of unmotivated, lazy, or inefficient employees. Employees frequently use work time to check email, chat, go on Facebook, socialize, eat, talk on the phone, etc. The following are some questions and ideas for maximizing the time employees spend in the office.

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Managing disgruntled employees

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One of the key components in many businesses is the staffing or employees. An unhappy employee can lead to inefficient work days, unhappy customers, and lower productivity. The following is a look at how to manage disgruntled employees:

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What to do with employees that do not feel engaged

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Have you ever been bored at work? If you have worked at a job where you did not feel like you were challenged at all, it's easy to resent this job and to start looking for a new job. As the manager of a company you don't want to be the person that is causing your employees to feel this way. You need to look for ways to help push them forward when they have to deal with the repetitive tasks day after day.

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What to do with employees that are on the verge of insubordination

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Handling employee conflicts and problems comes with the territory of owning or operating a small business.Although common problems exist in both large companies and small, the way they are handled differs sometimes due to the close relationships built in small businesses.

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What does stress do to your productivity?

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We all know that stress can lead to health consequences specifically those surrounding your heart but what about what it does to the productivity levels of your staff? Stress is a part of life and it is definitely a part of the workplace but you need to be able to control the amount of stress in the office or it will have an impact on employee morale along with the production levels of your staff.

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What does stress do to your productivity?

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We all know that stress can lead to health consequences specifically those surrounding your heart but what about what it does to the productivity levels of your staff? Stress is a part of life and it is definitely a part of the workplace but you need to be able to control the amount of stress in the office or it will have an impact on employee morale along with the production levels of your staff.

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What does stress do to your productivity?

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We all know that stress can lead to health consequences specifically those surrounding your heart but what about what it does to the productivity levels of your staff? Stress is a part of life and it is definitely a part of the workplace but you need to be able to control the amount of stress in the office or it will have an impact on employee morale along with the production levels of your staff.

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Tips to help you improve employee retention

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Having good employees is the backbone of any successful business. You are only as good as your employees and the talents and services they can provide. A staff that has exceptional customer service, drive, teamwork and talent is hard to come by, and even harder to keep.When you've got a great team, the last thing you want to see is the departure of even one piece of that puzzle.

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The power of employee motivation programs

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We all know that motivating employees is vital to the success of a business. However not all of the business managers out there realize how they can properly motivate their employees and get them to become more productive and happy in their job responsibilities. Quality employee motivation programs not only encourage employees to become more productive but they also make them happier with their jobs and this helps lead them to stay with the company for many years.Employee retention can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of headache since you don't need to replace the employees and worry about the time it takes to train them and to also deal with the loss of productivity you will have as you are training them.

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The impact an HR manager has on an organization

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The role of a human resource (HR) manager varies from business to business, especially based on the size or type of organization they are representing.The role of a good HR manager is never ending as they work to identify the talent and challenges within each employee while still maintaining the overall goals of the company.They often need to wear multiple hats within the company as well since they need to not only hire and fire people but they have to help out the secretaries and billing managers too.

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Productivity with a purpose

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Notice that your productivity levels are dropping? Why are they dropping and do you know what is really going on with your company? If you haven't got a clue as to why productivity is decreasing and why your employees are no longer satisfied with their jobs, you have a little investigative work to do. Productivity needs to have a purpose in order to get your employees on board with it. They need to see that you are contributing to the overall success of the company and that you are actively seeking ways to strengthen the company and that it's not all on their shoulders to make the company stronger and better.

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Introducing your employees to ethics

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Ethics in the workplace can be defined by the way employees and managers handle both internal and external transactions of the business.Unfortunately, many businesses have proven that the trying economic times, the opportunity for quick financial growth, and ethical treatment of customers and employees do not always go hand in hand.In fact, what has been found by many an employee and manager, is that in times of economic hardship, companies are more apt to disregard their past ethics and use improper ways to grow their profits.

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How do performance management scorecards work?

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When a company is trying to work toward set goals, performance management scorecards will be able to help you do this.A scorecard will be able to help you set measurable goals for the company and you can see if you are able to effectively accomplish these goals and if you are working toward them properly.

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Defining how multitasking should work for businesses

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Every workplace has a number of standards that they implement on their staff. Dealing with multitasking is one thing managers often ask their employees to work on but unfortunately for them; they can't always perform to the same expectations as their managers. Multitasking in the workplace can be very complex and it can leave a number of employees feeling stressed and burned out.

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Are your employees happy?

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When you come into work each day, are you happy? Do you think that your employees are always happy to be at work? While you shouldn't expect everyone to love being at work all the time, you should expect them to be mostly satisfied with their jobs and to have a desire to be there. Managers play a big role in helping their employees to be happy and satisfied with their jobs. Here are some ways to help your employees love their jobs and have a commitment to the company:

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Choosing a great coach for your staff

coworkers23120152.jpg Many companies send their employees off to training seminars and conferences for 10 days or longer. A training program will allow your employee to learn and perfect their skills. It's a great way to boost morale within the company and its also an effective way to increase production and job satisfaction. Since the sting of the economy is hitting companies all over, it is common now to see coaches come into the company to work closely with a team or department to help them learn how to perfect their skills. Choosing the right coach for your staff is a very tricky process and it needs to be done with a lot of research and interviewing to find the right person. Here are different types of coaches and how they can help.

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Improving your business with time and attendance

businessportrait30393821.jpgWhen employees arrive to work late, it starts to impact the overall employee morale of your organization. Your company will struggle with organizational issues and you may find it challenging to keep your employees focused on their jobs. As the owner or manager, one of your primary roles and responsibilities to make sure your employees are arriving to work on time and that they are following the rules. Employees that are calling in all the time to use sick leave, even if they do not have sick leave can really start to wear on your company, especially on the responsible employees. What can you do to work on time and attendance with your staff? Here are some things that may help.

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Help for dealing with employee motivation

groupofcoworkers32012584.jpgKeeping employees motivated can be a very challenging task. There will be times when you have periods of high morale due to large sales that are completed; new products launched, reduced workloads, etc. While these times may be some of your most productive times, it is unrealistic to think that your employees will have high morale all the time. A variety of factors play into employee morale and you cannot always control everything in order to keep your employees happy and satisfied. Here are some things you can try to see if it will boost employee morale and provide you with a happier and more productive working environment.

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How to be a better business manager

PDA19095472.jpgManaging your business should be an ongoing learning process. It is important that you focus your time and energy on the tasks that will have the biggest payoffs, for the long-term success of your business. The best managers are the ones that are constantly striving to improve themselves, their business and their management style. Here is what you need to know about how to be a better business manager-

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A guide to management

businessmeeting26668232.jpgNo matter how large or small your business is, you need to possess the skills necessary to be a good manager. There are multiple levels of business management, all of which play a critical role in the success of your business. Here are some of the things you need to do when you are learning about management and how you can manage your company effectively.

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How you can strengthen employee performance

confidence30842627.jpgCompanies are always looking for new ways to strengthen employee performance so they can get the most out of their staff members as possible. When employees perform well, it leads to a stronger company overall. You will have a stronger reputation with your customers as they are able to see how well you are able to work as a team and how much your staff enjoys working for the company. Here are some of the different ways in which you can strengthen employee performance:

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Developing work balance by removing stress

stressedwoman16009389.jpgCreating a positive working environment is important to strengthen employee morale. Stress can cripple your staff and make for a toxic working environment. When employees are overworked, they will experience high loads of stress which can lead to illnesses, reduced employee morale, lower productivity, and several other issues. The attitude a manager brings to the office can lead to higher amounts of stress. Are you coming into work with a dictatorship working style? Do your employees run around like crazy when you are in the office because they are trying to please you?

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Dealing with employee whining

arguingcoworkers23282211.jpgEvery manager has a breaking point and employee whining can trigger it in a hurry. If you have employees that tend to whine, there are some things you can do to limit their whining and to prevent it from becoming a toxic effect on the work environment. Here are some tips to deal with employee whining:

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Showing employees you value them

busfriends30396999-1.jpgYour company can only run effectively when you have a happy and productive workforce. It is important to your business to show your employees you respect and appreciate their hard work and service. You must show your employees that you value them and you can do this with some easy tips. This article will guide you through simple ways to show your employees you value them and to keep them on staff for many years.

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Bullying and manipulation at work?

mantiedup28718953.jpgBullying exists in school but it also exists in the office. No matter what type of business you have, you will have at least one employee that plays that difficult person that likes to push others around and manipulates them. This person is often avoided by other employees because they are considered to be a selfish individual that does not care about the team. Self-centered behavior that leads to bullying can reduce productivity, decrease employee morale, cause stress, and lead to a number of other office problems. As a manager it is your responsibility to try and diminish bullying and manipulation at work as soon as possible.

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What is performance management?

airplane30902462.jpgPerformance management involves analyzing the performance of all of your employees as a whole. You need to look upon them as a team and look for different things they can do to improve and what they are doing right. Managers must be able to help their employees set obtainable goals and to constantly strive to accomplish them.

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The best way to lay off employees

concernedman19185284.jpgThe need to lay off employees is a reality that is facing more and more businesses these days.Companies that had never before considered letting their employees go are now being faced with this option as a necessary step towards keeping their business afloat.No business owner hopes to ever find him or herself in the situation where they are responsible for informing an employee that they no longer have a job.While the feelings of the employees who will be laid off are no doubt at the front of your mind, there is also reason to be concerned about how news of layoffs will affect the work of the remaining employees.The remaining employees will likely be concerned about the stability of their own jobs, and this concern or even fear, can seriously and negatively affect your workplace culture.Communication is the key to ensuring that your struggling financial situation and resulting layoffs do not destroy your business.

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Managing employee relationships in an organization

businessportrait30393821.jpgAsk any business owner and they will tell you that, when it really comes down to it, they couldn't manage the business without their employees and that they are very important for the overall success of the business.Effective employees are essential to the success of any business and managing employee relationships can help them become more efficient and effective.

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How to hire the right employee for your business

handshake32145701.jpgThe most important aspect of your business beyond having the right product or service is hiring the right employees to run your company.It can not be overemphasized how crucial having the right employees will be to the success of your business. Failing to hire the right person for the right job can cost you valuable money and time and doing it to often can spell doom for you company.So before you hire your next employee here is what you should know about how to hire the right employees for your business-

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How to manage people better

groupofcoworkers32012584.jpgBusiness management involves a number of different traits and roles. As a manager, you need to learn how to deal with several different personalities and find a way to blend them together to create a productive work environment. Learning to manage people is a hard job; we have created some simple suggestions that will help you learn how to manage people.

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How to keep your best employees

portfolio71367089.jpgOne of the hardest roles as a manager is learning how to find good employees and then finding a way to retain employees. The average employee will stay with a company for about 3-5 years. It will be difficult to learn how to retain employees, especially when times get tough and you need to start looking for different ways to scale down the amount of money you spend on payroll and other expenses.

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Helping employees overcome their resistance to change

confidence30842627.jpgWhen you take over as a manager, there are a number of changes that you will probably need to implement. People are naturally resistant to change, especially employees that have been with an organization and different management styles for several years. Since most people are resistant to change, you can find different ways to work with them and help them overcome this problem.

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Eight major leadership theories

businessmeeting26246912.jpgHere are eight different leadership theories that your business can use.

Number one: Great Man Theories
This theory actually assumes that a person's capacity for leadership is inherent.

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Developing leadership skills

business41865609.jpgSome people believe that leaders are born. While this statement may be true some of the time, you can learn how to become a good leader by working on some of the skills a good leader needs. Here are some tips to help you become a good leader:

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Creating a vision for your employees

ladypresentaion30392759.jpgIn order for a business to become successful, the manager must be able to lead them in the right direction. As a manager, it is your responsibility to create a vision for your employees to give them something to work toward. To create a vision, you first need to describe what it is you would like your employees to accomplish and them show your employees what they need to do to see this vision become a reality.

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Business management 101

groupofmenatlunch30338711.jpgIf you are trying to choose a career or perhaps get onto a different career path you may be wondering if Business management if for you.It is important to realize that Business Management is a wide ranging field with lots of diversity but there are certain basic principles that apply to almost every aspect.Here is a brief overview of Business Management-

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Title: 10 things you can do to be a better manager

businessmeeting30392878.jpgThose who wish to succeed in business are always looking for ways to improve their management skills.The following list includes 10 things that can help you become a better manager-

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What's training good for?

graphpresentation16486405.jpgWhen you originally hire an employee, you typically put them through a rigorous training program of at least a week. This training should include all the information they could ever possibly need to properly perform their job duties. Unfortunately some employers do not see the benefits of enrolling their employees in a longer training program and they don't see the point of training them later on down the road.

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The long-term effects of downsizing

contractor30905267.jpgDownsizing is emotionally draining on everyone, especially managers. While it may be easy to pick out which employees you are going to lay off, dealing with the after-effects is going to be extremely challenging and sometimes frustrating. Most managers just focus on the immediate needs that happen when you go through the downsizing process and they don't think of the long-term effects of downsizing.

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The importance of training

charttwo30340387.JPGWhen it comes to building a successful company, you need to begin with the training of your employees. If you don't give your employees enough training, they will be unable to handle all of their job responsibilities and different situations that will arise in the workplace. Taking more than a week or two to train your employees is one of the best ways to give them enough training so they can become a successful employee.

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Team Building tips

businessmeeting26668385.jpgBuilding a team is important to create a healthy working environment. The sad reality is that only a few people understand how to work as a team and what it means to work as a team. Teaching your employees that they belong to a team can be frustrating and often challenging for many managers. Belonging to a team means giving up selfishness and finding a way to work together to help the company progress in a positive manner.

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Leading your employee ahead after your company has dealt with layoffs

businessportrait30393821.jpgWith the ups and downs in the economy, thousands of people have been laid off and the employees left behind have been forced to pick up the extra work and try to fill the shoes of those that have been fired. After you have laid off some people, it can be difficult to find a way to lead the rest of your employees and to keep their trust. These individuals may be naturally worried about being laid off too and the psychological effects of losing their friends can often be a bigger burden than employers realize.

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Know your role and become an inspiration

businessmeeting26668232.jpgEmployees need guidance and inspiration from their managers and the people they trust and respect. As a manager, you need to understand what your role is and look for different ways to inspire your employees.

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Introducing humor into the workplace

busfriends30396999-1.jpgManagers have to fill so many roles that it can be challenging for them to forget themselves sometimes and remember to be a human. Humor is an important part of the workplace and you need to be able to laugh with your employees once and awhile to break the tension in the office and gain your employees trust.

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How to conduct performance appraisal

interview26236689.jpgEmployees often look forward to their performance appraisals as they want to see what their managers think of their skills and devotion to the company. While most performance appraisals turn out to be a good thing, there will be times when you have to deal with difficult employees and it will be a bittersweet message to your employees. This article will explain your role as a manager when it comes to conducting performance appraisals.

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How to conduct a meeting

businessmeeting26252755.jpgNo matter how much time you spend planning a meeting, it's not going to be successful without a few simple tools that will help you manage the meeting. If you would like to conduct successful meetings, here are some helpful suggestions.

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Helping your employees to become more productive

businessmeeting26668412.jpgWith the many hats a manager is required to wear, increasing employee productivity often proves to be one of the most challenging. To increase productivity, you need to take a look at the current policies of company along with the current employee morale level. Try out a few of these tips that will improve employee morale and help your employees become more productive:

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Handling employee discipline

businessmeeting30396676.jpgCreating a discipline policy is not going to be enough in today's world. Employees like to push the envelope and they like to see what they can get away with. This new generation of employees can be frustrating to manage, especially when it comes to employee discipline. If you haven't dealt with discipline much, here are some helpful tips designed specifically for you.

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Handling employee discipline

manconferencetable30341271.jpgCreating a discipline policy is not going to be enough in today's world. Employees like to push the envelope and they like to see what they can get away with. This new generation of employees can be frustrating to manage, especially when it comes to employee discipline. If you haven't dealt with discipline much, here are some helpful tips designed specifically for you.

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Employee Management and communication

businessmeeting30392878.jpgPart of business management involves learning how to communicate with your employees. Managing a variety of personalities can often be challenging and frustrating for a lot of people and it can lead to your demise as a manager if you aren't careful.

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Do you need motivational speakers?

oldermanpointing30841371.jpgThere comes a time in every manager's role when they need a way to boost employee motivation. Some managers boost motivation through incentive programs while others take on the role of becoming or hiring a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker is a great way to give your employees a break from the daily grind and help them focus on how they can become better employees and better individuals.

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Conflict prevention help

perparingforboxing33338232.jpgWith all of the responsibilities a manager has, dealing with office conflicts can be one of the most frustrating ones. While we all want employees to get along with one another, there is no real way to prevent it. This article will guide you through some simple tips you can use to prevent conflict as much as possible.

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Using incentives to create a positive work environment

cashflow19162760.jpgIt is important for the workplace to be a positive one. When the workplace is positive it makes going to work a better experience for the employees and the employer. People tend to work better in a positive work environment and more employees will enjoy coming to work instead of dreading it.

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Training employees into a skilled staff

businessmeeting30381062.jpgWhen college students are hired to work for Disneyland and Disneyworld, they spend about 6 weeks in training, only to work for 8 weeks out of the summer. The reason why Disney invests so much time and money into training their employees is because they want their employees to memorize every aspect of their job. This way they will be able to thoroughly help the people that come to visit Disneyland and Disneyworld and the entire business can run smoothly.

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Tips for using conflict resolution in the workplace

businessmeeting33030104.jpgNo matter who you are, you have faced some kind of conflict in the workplace, whether it is a co-worker who drives you insane or a manager's who style you do not particularly care for. Facing these types of conflict is a normal part of life, but that doesn't mean we should ignore them. If you ignore even the little conflicts in the workplace employee morale can go down, which can ultimately affect production and performance.

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Managing employee conflicts

manconferencetable30341271.jpgConflicts happen in any human relationship. And when people work together day after day they will develop some type of relationship and will likely experience conflicts some time during their relationship. Here are some tips to help business owners and managers manage their employees' conflicts.

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Improving communication in the workplace

businessmeeting30393267.jpgGood communication is an essential part of a productive and successful business. Most companies have some way that they can improve communication in their workplace. Here are some areas of communication that generally need to be improved, why, and how to improve them.

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How to keep employees focused on their work

overworkedwoman23649135.jpgSince employees are an essential part of any successful business it is important to make sure they are good employees. One crucial characteristic of a good employee is for the employee to be focused on their work. Here are some ways for business owners and managers to help keep employees focused on their work.

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How to encourage employees to work together

groupofcoworkers32012584.jpgOf course it is important for employees to be able to work well and be productive on their own. If employees did not have the ability to work well on their own a business would likely fail. But when many skilled and hard working employees know how to work together then a business can be better than just a good business, it can be a great business. Here are some ways that a business owner or manager can encourage their employees to work together.

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How does conflict resolution work?

arguingcoworkers23282211.jpgConflict resolution, also referred to as Alternative Dispute Resolution, is something that is used in the workplace to help handle any disputes that might come up. Conflict resolution works by peacefully handling any disputes between coworkers or between management and their workers. The main concept behind conflict resolution is that you should handle conflicts peacefully rather than resorting to violence or even going to court.

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Helping employees deal with change in the workplace

confidence30842627.jpgEvery business owner and their employees have to deal with some type of change in the workplace. And an employer can do a lot to help their employees deal well with the changes that will occur so that the employees can continue to be productive and the business can be successful.

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Ensuring a quality work product

carpart67965274.jpgSuccessful businesses must have customers. And one of the best ways for a business to have customers is for them to produce a quality work product. But to produce a quality work product a business owner and the managers have to rely a lot on the work of their employees. Here are some tips to help a business owner and the managers ensure a quality work product from their employees.

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Different tactics that will help you successfully manage employees

folder22474997.jpgWhen you have a variety of personalities to work with, it can be difficult to find a way to successfully manage all of them. No matter how large or small your office is, you need to find a way to get everyone to work together as a team. This task may seem next to impossible, but you can do it with a few simple tactics. Here are some tips to help you manage the different personalities and backgrounds you have in the office:

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Dealing with personality conflicts

businessmeeting26668277.jpgEvery business will have its ups and downs that are caused by a number of different things, personality conflicts are just one of the things that can cause problems in an office. When you are put in charge of managing so many different personalities, it is impossible to please everyone and no matter how good of a job you do there are going to be times when people are going to criticize you.

To help you deal with personality conflicts, make sure everyone at the office understands the importance of getting along with one another and working as a team. No matter how much they hate one of their co-workers, they still need to learn how to get along with them because you are all in it together to accomplish the same thing. It's not going to be easy but with hard work, you can make even the most difficult personalities get along.

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Crisis management in the workplace

fighting28710646.jpgOne of the biggest problems with crisis management in the workplace is that nobody thinks about it until they are actually faced with a crisis. Rather than waiting until there is a crisis to deal with in the workplace you can get proactive and plan ahead for the crisis. Planning ahead will help reduce the severity of the crisis, but it can also help reduce the number of crises that your business is faced with.

Another benefit to using crisis management in the workplace is that it will help your business save money. Crisis management saves your business money because you will be spending less time dealing problems that could have easily been avoided. When you are dealing with problems, you are going to have to spend time and money on identifying the problems and then resolving them. Not to mention crisis management can help save your business money because you will be faced with fewer interruptions and the interruptions that you are faced with will be shorter.

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Communication skills in the workplace

gossiping34488071.jpgGood communication skills are an essential part of a healthy work place. Listening, understanding, and talking are three very important parts of communication at work.

Listen

Listening is a very important par to communication. Most of the time listening is even more important than talking. Everybody would like to be heard, especially in the workplace. Whether they want to be heard by their coworker, their manager, or even the owner of the business, most people need a chance to say what they need to say.

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Activities that you can use for conflict resolution

womenboxingman28724766.jpgIn order for conflict resolution to be effective, you have to have good communication skills. In order to resolve a conflict the lines of communication between all of the parties involved must remain open, this allows people to talk about how they feel and why they are upset. To help improve communication in the workplace it is important to work on communication building exercises.

Here are some activities that you can use for conflict resolution in the workplace.

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5 tips to manage employees for effective productivity

businessportrait30393821.jpgIn order to manage employees, a manager must have good people-skills that allow them to work hard and get along with a variety of personalities. Employees need to work for a person that they trust and respect in order to have motivation to work hard. If you are trying to find ways to encourage your employees to work hard, here are 5 tips you need to follow for effective productivity:

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Dealing with personality conflicts

businessmeeting26668277.jpgEvery business will have its ups and downs that are caused by a number of different things, personality conflicts are just one of the things that can cause problems in an office. When you are put in charge of managing so many different personalities, it is impossible to please everyone and no matter how good of a job you do there are going to be times when people are going to criticize you.

To help you deal with personality conflicts, make sure everyone at the office understands the importance of getting along with one another and working as a team. No matter how much they hate one of their co-workers, they still need to learn how to get along with them because you are all in it together to accomplish the same thing. It's not going to be easy but with hard work, you can make even the most difficult personalities get along.

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5 tips to manage employees for effective productivity

businessportrait30393821.jpgIn order to manage employees, a manager must have good people-skills that allow them to work hard and get along with a variety of personalities. Employees need to work for a person that they trust and respect in order to have motivation to work hard. If you are trying to find ways to encourage your employees to work hard, here are 5 tips you need to follow for effective productivity:

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Tips for team efficiency

twobusinesswomen23306487.jpgBuilding and efficient team is one of the greatest ways to improve the dynamic of your business and to make it more profitable in another way.Improved efficiency is one of the greatest ways to increase profits for your business and also makes work a more enjoyable place to be for you and your employees.There are lots of different things that can be done to improve team efficiency and here are just a few examples.

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Time management for team efficiency

clock63312045.jpgManaging any aspect of a team and a business can be very challenging, but one of the most important things to manage properly to make a business successful is really time.Time is one of the things that you can never get back and can't make up for no matter hard you try.Managing time effectively will help make your team more efficient.

Managing a team well and making it as efficient as possible requires that everyone take responsibility for the things that they are responsible for.Sometimes there can be problems when responsibilities are not clear or when they overlap from person to person.Having a good time management system in place can help mitigate many of the problems that arise from poor management.

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Team efficiency vs. effectiveness

busfriends30396999-1.jpgTeam efficiency is very important for running a business properly and making sure that it is going to be profitable.But what many people don't realize is that a business can be efficient and still not be effective.Here are some tips to help you understand the difference between team efficiency and team effectiveness and to determine how to reach both.

Having a great team can really mean a lot for your business and is very important to your success.Having a team that performs poorly can cause a great deal of stress for the business and also for you personally.But being productive isn't only driven by how well a team is managed, but also by how well they manage themselves.Creating an environment where team members can develop themselves and their talents will also help the whole team improve their performance.

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Monitoring without micromanaging

oldermanstanding26239732.jpgMonitoring the progress of the responsibilities that you delegate is a necessary part of management, but there are definitely some ways of managing that are better than others.Unfortunately, micromanagement is an all too common component of delegation.When a manager micromanages, he or she acts as if the employee who was delegated to is incapable of doing the job.They do this by giving close instruction and checking everything the person does. A micromanaging manager seldom praises the work of others and instead continually criticizes everything.Nothing that the employee can do is going to be enough for the micromanager.

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Managing introverts and extroverts

buisnessmeeting26238539.jpgThere are countless personalities in the workplace.All people bring a different flare to what they do.By trying to understand the common character traits of different personalities, we can better understand how to communicate and work effectively with all kinds of individuals.While you can spend your whole life learning about all the different personalities out there, most people fit into two very general categories: extroverts and introverts.Understanding the differences between introverts and extroverts, is an excellent starting place for effectively working with and managing as many people as possible in the work place.

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Managing difficult employees

mantiedup28718953.jpgManagers make more money than the rest of us for several reasons, but one of the main reasons why they are more handsomely compensated for what they do is because it is their responsibility to handle the unsavory people who they come in contact with both in the office and from consumers.Good managers are able to put themselves in the other guy's shoes, so to speak, and work well with just about everyone because of their ability to find a way to communicate with all personality types.

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Managing different personality types

businessmeeting30393267.jpgManaging different personality types is one of the first challenges that you will face as a manager.Succeed and you will have a team that works well together and utilizes the strength of each individual.Fail and you will have the constant disagreements, misunderstandings, stresses, and frustrations that make many people hate waking up and going to work in the morning.

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Getting different personalities to work together

handshake30395603.jpgWe have all been born with different personalities.Because we all have different personalities, we all have developed varying strengths and weaknesses.This variation of skills, experiences, and attitudes makes for a wonderful and sometimes challenging team dynamic.We have all had experiences meeting people who compliment our personalities. On the other hand, you can likely recall those individuals who did not compliment your personality; in fact, you may recall some folks who completely rejected your personality.What is most unfortunate is if we must be made to work with the individuals with whom we simply cannot relate.

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Deciding when to delegate

airplane30902462.jpgDelegation is a method of redistributing work in such a way that everyone on a team is busy doing something productive, yet no one member is over worked, or stressed because of their workload.Successful delegation can make working a more pleasant experience but unfortunately, while the concept of delegation is simple, the execution is rarely perfected.There are times when delegation, however desirable, is not appropriate.When you are deciding when to delegate, you should ask yourself the following questions:

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Building an efficient team

businessmeeting26251473.jpgTeamwork is an essential factor in running any kind of organization effectively and is even more important when people's incomes and well being are on the line.Making sure that your business team is effective is one of the most important things you can focus on while looking for ways to improve your business.Here is some more info on building an effective team for your business.

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Discussing Strengths and Weaknesses with Employees

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All employees have strengths and weaknesses and it is an employer's job to discuss them with their employees. This article will discuss why it is important to discuss employee strengths and weaknesses as we as how to go about doing it.

Why discuss strengths

It is important for employers to discuss their employees' strengths for a couple of reasons. When an employer talks to their employees about their strengths it can help them develop their strength even more, making them a better employee. When an employer discusses an employee's strengths it shows the employee that their employer is not focused on their weaknesses and they can therefore have a more positive attitude at work.

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Discussing Aims with Colleagues

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It is important that successful businesses have aims. Aims are like goals. They help a business owner, a business manager, and the business' employees know where the business is wanted to go in the future. It is important for business employees to discuss the aims of the business with their colleagues. This article will discuss why it is important to discuss business aims and how to go about doing so.

Why discuss aims

There are a few reasons why it is important for business managers and other employees to discuss the business' aims with their colleagues. One reason is that every employee needs to understand what their purpose is in working of the company. They all need to be on the same page at work. If the aims of the business are not discussed, employees will probably end up coming up with their own aims and goals for the company. This could cause colleagues to work against each other instead of for the same thing.

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Tips for firing people without legal ramifications

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Positions of responsibility usually mean plenty of dirty work as well as good clean fun. When you own a company, and are responsible for not only its health and well-being, but for the health and well-being of your family and employees, you can't afford to pay someone to undermine your attempts. Chances are that you'll make a hiring mistake at least once during your glorious reign. It's easy to do so; you only know the person from an interview and from what they've written on their resume; it's easy for some people to be charming for the first five minutes, and horrendous and moronic for the next five years. These are the kind of people you need to fire before they bring all your dreams shattering down like glass, the shards of which pierce the hearts of many. However-times have changed since the days when you could simply say to a horrendous moron, "You're fired," and watch them sulkily gather their things and slam the door on their way out, and breathe a sigh of relief and not see them ever again. These days you're likely to see them happily gather their things, go traipsing and twirling out the door, and-not see-but hear from them again quite soon, through their lawyer.

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Using incentives to increase work efficiency

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When your employees aren't performing to the level that you would hope there are many things that you could do to give them the push they need to give a little bit more.For some employees giving their best is their only option, for others it has to be worth their time.

There are some great ways to encourage your employees, incentives is one of them.Here are some great ways to make incentives work for your business and employees.

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Tips for encouraging discussions at meetings

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Sometimes staff meetings are lively and eventful, others you feel like you are talking to a bunch of tin men.If you are having trouble getting active participants in staff meeting discussions, there are a few ideas that might help.

Here are some tips for getting your staff more involved in your discussions at meetings.

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Promoting freedom of idea flow

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Many businesses benefit daily from the suggestions of their employees.But some have trouble getting their employees to share their opinions.There are some great ways to help your employees to voice their opinion, and many businesses overlook them.

Here are a few ideas that will help the idea flow in your business.These are ways to encourage employees to share their feelings and ideas for improvement.

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Tips for defining goals in a way that helps put plans into action

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Taking the time to carefully choose your goals and writing those goals down will help you to reach them quickly. Goal setting can be quite the challenge but well worth it. There are five basic steps in goal setting:

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How to use budgets as a positive business tool to enhance performance

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One of the most effective management tools is your budget. This tool can be used each and every month to check the progress of your company towards it's goals. The budget is one area that is consistently underutilized and underappreciated. There are few business that take the opportunity to develop, analyze, and use budgets to help achieve the overall objectives and goals of the organization. The budget will also provide help to you when selecting alternatives to make your business plan realistic and achievable. A budget is simply a projected income statement that provides a detailed plan of future receipts and expenditures.

Once you have a complete budget, you can use it to compare actual results with anticipated goals. Use the information constructively and effectively, make any adjustments immediately, if they are needed. This will help improve the next budget. Your budget can also be used as a tool to assess whether your present profit is adequate.

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How to motivate your sales team to close more deals

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It is worth your time and effort to understand what motivates your team of salespeople, because your business relies on them to generate revenue. Your sales people and the revenue they bring in are the life of your business. Your sales team must have good presentation and communication skills, along with a strong belief in the company.

One method to motivate your sales team is with an incentive program.A good incentive program must have three critical components. It must be understandable, measurable, and achievable. If the program lacks any of these components it will quickly become confusing and counterproductive. Hold a meeting with your sales team. State the sales incentive program in clear terms and put it in writing. Make sure each member of your sales team understands the program thoroughly. When deciding what the reward will be, make sure it is in relation to the sales goal. The higher goals deserve higher rewards. Some rewards you may want to consider are an all expense paid, seven-day trip for a family to the Bahamas or Disneyland. If this seems to costly, take into consideration the cost of such a trip is only a mere fraction of the generated sales, the increased revenue will have paid for it. Restaurant gift certificates, concert tickets, or sporting events could be smaller rewards. To come up with some creative reward ideas, find out what each member of the team is interested in and what types of activities they enjoy in their free time.

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6 tips to ensure your employees practice good business ethics

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The employee-employer relationship is much like that of a child's relationship to his parents.As with children, employees look to their superiors for cues that will help them in determining what kind of behavior is acceptable.Of course there are always exceptions to the rules and some people will choose to act contrary to how they have been instructed.But for the most part, the most powerful way to ensure that your employees practice good business ethics is to make sure that you are the example to follow.

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How to increase productivity by using dual monitors

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This article is on how you can increase productivity in your workplace by using dual monitors.A few years ago, Jon Peddie Research did a study on productivity and dual monitors.Their results demonstrate that adding another monitor to your workstation-putting the two side by side and synchronizing them-actually increases your productivity a whopping 20 percent to 30 percent.Now tell me, honestly, that that bit of information does not make you excited.

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Using adjustable keyboard trays to increase efficiency and reduce injury

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The topic of this article is how you can use adjustable keyboard trays in your office environment in order to increase efficiency and reduce injury.Work place injuries are not just for those with heavy equipment jobs or jobs playing on professional sports team.There has been an increasing amount of injuries associated with more white collar jobs, where you spend the majority of your time in a cubicle, at a desk, working on a computer.This attachment to and dependency on computers had led to the development of eye problems that now are medically treatment, and an increase in injuries associated with repetitive movement, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.One of the best ways that you can avoid the chance of serious injury to your wrists, arms, hands, back, and neck, along with improving your efficiency and productivity, is to use an adjustable keyboard trays.

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Using adjustable keyboard trays to increase efficiency and reduce injury

organizedoffice16487189.jpg
The topic of this article is how you can use adjustable keyboard trays in your office environment in order to increase efficiency and reduce injury.Work place injuries are not just for those with heavy equipment jobs or jobs playing on professional sports team.There has been an increasing amount of injuries associated with more white collar jobs, where you spend the majority of your time in a cubicle, at a desk, working on a computer.This attachment to and dependency on computers had led to the development of eye problems that now are medically treatment, and an increase in injuries associated with repetitive movement, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.One of the best ways that you can avoid the chance of serious injury to your wrists, arms, hands, back, and neck, along with improving your efficiency and productivity, is to use an adjustable keyboard trays.

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Tips on using employee relocation services

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The purpose of this article is to give you tips on using employee relocation services.First, let us define what exactly employee relocation services are.First of all, relocation itself.Relocation is the name for the process of moving something to a different place, either your entire business or your employees.You would obviously move your employees if you have more than one office or center for your business.For example, my uncle is a lawyer for a major international technology company.He has been moved on several locations by his company from various places in Asia and the United States. The United States government is a major industry which often has to relocate employees as they move from different field offices.Anyone who works for maybe the State Department or any foreign offices, such as embassies, will undergo a substantial amount of employee relocation.Relocation services are services provided by a relocation firm that fully relocate businesses or, in this case, employees and their families.

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The importance of anti spam filters to increase employee productivity

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Spam is unsolicited e-mail.Spam is sent commercially to mailing lists, individuals and other groups.It is also referred to as junk mail.Spam is just that too, junk.Spam wastes time space and productivity.That is why it is so important to have some sort of spam filters for your employees.

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Instant messaging at work - should you block it?

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The question that we are going to address in this article is whether or not you should block instant messaging at work.So, instant messaging at work: should you block it?Initially you might automatically say yes, of course I'm going to block instant messaging at work!It's a huge waste of time!But let's examine the issues that you have to take into consideration before you decide whether or not you are going to block instant messaging at work so that your employees can or can't make better use of their time.

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How to reduce repetitive motion injuries in office workers

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This article is going to address how you as a manager or employer can reduce repetitive motion injuries in office workers.There are a number of reasons why you as an employer or manager will want to make steps-proactive steps-to reduce repetitive motion injuries in office workers.As a manager or employer, there are a few things that you need to be concerned with.

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How to reduce employee eye strain

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This article is on how you as a manager or employee can reduce employee eye strain.Now, you might wonder why on earth you as a manager or as an employer should be worrying about the eye strain of your employees.But I am going to ask you to sit back and think a minute about yourself.You are probably reading this article on your computer.Now, how long have you been looking at your computer?How long have you been working at your computer, going through budget spread sheets, scrolling through information, working up presentations, going over orders, looking up information on how you can better manage your workplace and workforce, comparison shopping for equipment that your office and/or warehouse or wherever you work needs.Now close your eyes.Do they ache?Is your vision strained at all?Do you have a headache?When you go home at the end of the day, do your eyes feel tired and strained?Do you ever, in the middle of the day, find that you just have to lean back and close your eyes and rest them for a little while?Nobody is immune from the strain and damage that computer screens do to eyes.Some people experience the strain and damage worse than others do-for example, if I am looking at a computer screen for an extended amount of time straight, I end up with a migraine that puts me in a dark room for about 48 hours trying to recover.That's one way to stop looking at a computer screen!

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How to decide where you need an ADA ramp

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The topic of this article is how to decide where you need an ADA ramp.Now, at first glance, to those of you who maybe are just starting up your own business or haven't thought about the ADA before-and shame on you-you might not think that designing a ramp according to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is that big of a deal.I mean, a ramp is a ramp is a ramp, right?
Wrong.

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How to choose an alcohol treatment center for employees

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Did you know that over 70% of all illegal drug users are employed?Did you also know that other kinds of substance abuse problems including alcoholism affects nearly 1.5 million of U.S. workers?Employers are feeling the pains of what these kinds of personal problems can do to their businesses.Managers are seeing lower productivity, high employee turnover, low employee morale, mistakes, accidents, and more!Not to mention the increase in insurance premiums which are a direct result of ineffective treatment for employees suffering with alcohol abuse.

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How to choose an alcohol treatment center for employees

businessmeeting30393267.jpg
Did you know that over 70% of all illegal drug users are employed?Did you also know that other kinds of substance abuse problems including alcoholism affects nearly 1.5 million of U.S. workers?Employers are feeling the pains of what these kinds of personal problems can do to their businesses.Managers are seeing lower productivity, high employee turnover, low employee morale, mistakes, accidents, and more!Not to mention the increase in insurance premiums which are a direct result of ineffective treatment for employees suffering with alcohol abuse.

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How to choose a 19 inch LCD monitor for your workers.

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This article is on how you should choose a 19 inch LCD monitor for your workers in your workplace.This article is valuable for employers or for managers.

Let's start with the definition and discussion of LCD monitors and why an LCD monitor is a good investment for your company workplace.LCD stands for liquid crystal display.LCD monitors used to be so pricey that most small businesses and entrepreneurships couldn't afford to purchase them for their workers.However, prices having been dropping on LCD monitors, and technology has been improving.Now you can get better LCD monitors for less money than you ever could buy one before.In fact, now LCD monitors make up every three out of four monitor purchases.The older models are called CRT, which stands for cathode ray tube.These are still less expensive monitors, and they also have better displays for full-motion video and games.In fact, sometimes CRT monitors actually have better color reproduction.But according to a number of reports, the latest technology in LCD monitors is closing the gap between quality in motion and color display.Besides, CRT monitors are bulky, heavy, and can be hard on the eyes (you might want to research how to lessen the strain placed on eyes by computer monitors).

So here is some advice on why and how you should choose a 19 inch LCD monitor for your workers.Now, the standard entry level size for LCD monitors is 17 inches.17 inches improves significantly on the display technology and color of the 15 inch LCD monitors.Now, 19 inch monitors actually don't have any higher pixel resolution than the 17 inch LCD monitors.But because the screen is larger than the 17 inch monitor, then it is actually easier to read the screen.

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Employee training?Make sure you only pay for an accredited college.

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Are you involved in paying for employees to receive specific training?If you are, make sure that you only pay for an accredited college. Let's go through the reasons why you as an employer or as a manager would want to pay for employee training.And then let's examine the potential pitfalls of paying for employee training and how you can avoid those employee training pitfalls by only paying for accredited colleges.

It's only to your advantage as an employer to have more highly trained employees.There's a reason why so many employers offer paid training compensation for college tuition, tuition payment credits and options, and lots of other benefits in order to enable their employees to become more trained and also to go to school while working for them.More highly trained employees are better at their job.They require less supervision when it comes to their job.They are more able to adapt to new technologies and theories in the workplace.They are proficient at the skills that you need them to excel at.Employee training is of benefit not only to your employees, but to the success and the efficiency, and thus the money making ability, of your company.

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Alcohol abuse treatment - a good idea in many cases

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Alcohol abuse treatment is a good idea in many cases.As an employer you know the effects that alcohol abuse can have on employees in the workplace.Alcohol abuse leads to impaired work, poor performance, and absenteeism.Ultimately as a person in management you will have to decide whether or not to terminate the employee or to try to help them find help.

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Alcohol abuse treatment - a good idea in many cases

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Alcohol abuse treatment is a good idea in many cases.As an employer you know the effects that alcohol abuse can have on employees in the workplace.Alcohol abuse leads to impaired work, poor performance, and absenteeism.Ultimately as a person in management you will have to decide whether or not to terminate the employee or to try to help them find help.

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ADHD in your workforce - how to manage it.

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The topic of this article is on ADHD in your workforce and how you as a manager and/or an employer can manage it.ADHD is a condition, a neurological condition, that is characterized by a few things:ADHD is characterized by an inability to pay attention.ADHD is also characterized by a constant amount of energy.It is characterized by an inability to stick to deadlines.It is characterized by an inability to stay organized.ADHD is also characterized by constant moving, a stream of energy that seems to be uncontrollable and unchanelled.As you can see there are many behaviors that characterize ADHD. Because of all of these manifestations of ADHD, people with ADHD have a tendency to become frustrated, confused, depressed, even irritable and prone to conflicts with co-workers because of low self-esteem.

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Wellness Incentives -- Are They Right For You?

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Wellness incentives are just one of many ways employers can choose to provide to their employees. Typically, these incentives include such things as gym memberships, free flu shots and health screenings, smoking cessation courses, or other things that help to promote health and wellness. But employees aren't the only ones who benefit from these services; oftentimes, wellness incentives are cost effective and can end up saving the company money in the long term.

Are Wellness Incentives Right for You?

Wellness incentives can be costly, so some employers are more apt to shy away from them. However, many people see wellness incentives as a win-win situation for all involved. Employees who take advantage of wellness incentives benefit through improved health. With this improved health comes fewer doctor visits and treatments; as a result, the employer can then lower their health plan utilization, which results in health benefit costs. Thus, wellness benefits are an attractive option for the many employers who are feeling the pinch of health benefit costs. One study estimated that in general, employers can earn back the cost of programs over the course of five years if they can reduce risk factors as a result of wellness programs by less than 0.2 percent.

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How to hire a sales training consultant

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Whatever your business may be, it is always important to have a good system in place to help sell your product or service.Without such a system, you business suffers and your product or service is not sold, leaving you without your desired amount of profit.Perhaps you already have a well-designed sales system in place.But without a good training program to teach new employees the "ropes" of your sales procedure, your business will also suffer.That is why it is important to hire a good sales training consultant.

Continuing sales training is an essential part of a business, whether you sell a product or a service.It is especially important for a business in an area like technology or marketing (where the field is always changing and growing) to have a sales training consultant who will help keep you and your employees up to date on recent developments.

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How to Create an Effective Drug-Use Policy

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Drugs in the workplace are a real problem for many employers. While employees may not be using illicit drugs in the facilities themselves, 90% of drug users have jobs, and 20% of employees between the ages of 20 and 30 used at least one illicit drug in the past month. So how does that affect you as an employer? Drug users on the job utilize almost twice the benefits of non drug users, are absent almost twice as much, and file twice as many workers' compensation claims. As you can see, those who use drugs can quickly drain a company of its resources and reputation.

There are a number of ways you can help to create a drug and alcohol-free work zone. One way to significantly reduce the number of drug-related incidents in the workplace is to create an effective drug-use policy. Your drug-use policy should include:

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Using adjustable keyboard trays to increase efficiency and reduce injury.

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The topic of this article is how you can use adjustable keyboard trays in your office environment in order to increase efficiency and reduce injury.Work place injuries are not just for those with heavy equipment jobs or jobs playing on professional sports team.There has been an increasing amount of injuries associated with more white collar jobs, where you spend the majority of your time in a cubicle, at a desk, working on a computer.This attachment to and dependency on computers had led to the development of eye problems that now are medically treatment, and an increase in injuries associated with repetitive movement, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.One of the best ways that you can avoid the chance of serious injury to your wrists, arms, hands, back, and neck, along with improving your efficiency and productivity, is to use an adjustable keyboard trays.

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Tips on using employee relocation services

cellphone30362662.jpgThe purpose of this article is to give you tips on using employee relocation services.First, let us define what exactly employee relocation services are.First of all, relocation itself.Relocation is the name for the process of moving something to a different place, either your entire business or your employees.You would obviously move your employees if you have more than one office or center for your business.For example, my uncle is a lawyer for a major international technology company.He has been moved on several locations by his company from various places in Asia and the United States. The United States government is a major industry which often has to relocate employees as they move from different field offices.Anyone who works for maybe the State Department or any foreign offices, such as embassies, will undergo a substantial amount of employee relocation.Relocation services are services provided by a relocation firm that fully relocate businesses or, in this case, employees and their families.

If you are relocating an employee internationally, there are a number of elements that you have to keep under consideration.Not only will you have to find a house, pay for schooling for children, provide and organize transportation and more.You are also going to have to arrange for visas, passports, and finding a job for the spouse of the employee.

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How to hire a sales training consultant

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Whatever your business may be, it is always important to have a good system in place to help sell your product or service.Without such a system, you business suffers and your product or service is not sold, leaving you without your desired amount of profit.Perhaps you already have a well-designed sales system in place.But without a good training program to teach new employees the "ropes" of your sales procedure, your business will also suffer.That is why it is important to hire a good sales training consultant.

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Instant messaging at work - should you block it?

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The question that we are going to address in this article is whether or not you should block instant messaging at work.So, instant messaging at work: should you block it?Initially you might automatically say yes, of course I'm going to block instant messaging at work!It's a huge waste of time!But let's examine the issues that you have to take into consideration before you decide whether or not you are going to block instant messaging at work so that your employees can or can't make better use of their time.

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Full time temp workers: The advantages and disadvantages of using them

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In The Office season one and two a well know character, Ryan, fills the role of the office temp. Ryan accepts this job in the first episode of the first season, and you can see from episode one that he is not thrilled to be working at this office (as he is seen calling corporate helping to spread a rumor that the company is going under). Although Ryan is never ecstatic about working at Dunder Mifflan and Co, the office Manager, Michael, puts him to good use, and by so doing shows us, the quizzical, how useful a full time temp can be.

Mainly the temp, Ryan, is useful because he doesn't have a permanent job at Dunder Mifflan and Co, and so he can be used for any job or assignment that comes up. Sometimes this is filing (which is what he seems to have been hired for) but other more useful times this is assignments such as, cleaning out the bosses car, organizing spring cleaning, helping the boss play pranks on other employees, or my favorite, showing up before dawn to bring the boss breakfast. In this example, if you are the boss, hiring a temp worker is nothing but advantages as it would seem you have more a personal slave (or friend) than anything.

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Employee training?Make sure you only pay for an accredited college

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Are you involved in paying for employees to receive specific training?If you are, make sure that you only pay for an accredited college. Let's go through the reasons why you as an employer or as a manager would want to pay for employee training.And then let's examine the potential pitfalls of paying for employee training and how you can avoid those employee training pitfalls by only paying for accredited colleges.

It's only to your advantage as an employer to have more highly trained employees.There's a reason why so many employers offer paid training compensation for college tuition, tuition payment credits and options, and lots of other benefits in order to enable their employees to become more trained and also to go to school while working for them.More highly trained employees are better at their job.They require less supervision when it comes to their job.They are more able to adapt to new technologies and theories in the workplace.They are proficient at the skills that you need them to excel at.Employee training is of benefit not only to your employees, but to the success and the efficiency, and thus the money making ability, of your company.

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Credit Checks on Employees - A Good Idea? How to Perform Them

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Nowadays, it is becoming more and more commonplace for employers to run credit checks on potential employees.

A credit check shows more than whether or not a person pays their bills on time. They also include previous addresses and employers, which can be useful in verifying previous jobs and dates. The credit check, also called an employment background check, provides information seen on a normal credit report, except for the date of birth and credit score.

Why Credit Checks?

There are several reasons for running credit checks on employees. One of these reasons is to check the employee's level of responsibility. Some employers feel that a valid way to check an employee's level of responsibility is via a credit check. While there are limitations as to what can and can't be accessed by a potential employer in a credit check, the credit check will generally show the credit score and whether the person has paid bills in a timely fashion or not. The absence of credit can also be a determining factor in whether or not a potential employee is offered a job.

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Alcohol abuse treatment - a good idea in many cases

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Alcohol abuse treatment is a good idea in many cases.As an employer you know the effects that alcohol abuse can have on employees in the workplace.Alcohol abuse leads to impaired work, poor performance, and absenteeism.Ultimately as a person in management you will have to decide whether or not to terminate the employee or to try to help them find help.

Many companies may prefer to try to solve the problem rather than replace the employee.If a manager is made aware of the problem and that there is a treatment for the cause of impairment, he is going to be more likely to refer the employee in question to receive alcohol abuse treatment then to terminate the employee's employment.

Granted, the employee will most likely have to take a leave, and also would be on a probation or semi-suspension upon his return to work.However, the results are well worth the efforts.After straightening out the alcohol abuse problems in his life, the employee is more likely to return to work with a new conviction to make a fresh start.These employees turn out to be among the most loyal and hard working because they recognize the kind of investment that management felt that they deserved.As a person in management, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have not only changed a life for the better but you may have saved this employees life as well.

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Air filtration in the office to reduce employee sick days

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Hopefully it is not new news to you that using air filtration in the office can reduce employee sick days.You should know that air-born contaminants are a leading factor for common illnesses that can make your employees feel ill and call in sick for work.Obviously, indoor air quality is a serious concern.It is the business/building owner's responsibility to ensure that working environments are clean and safe.That means ensuring that the air employees breathe has been filtered and is as safe as possible.Ultimately, air filtration in the office will reduce employee sick days due to respiratory illnesses.

Employee absence due to illness is a huge concern.Sick pay and in this case when the illness is caused by the business can lead to high pay outs.As the business owner you are responsible for the health of the employees that are a direct result of their working environment.Respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma are just a few conditions that poor indoor air quality can lead too.Using air filtration in the office is the smart way to prevent these problems.

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How to set clear goals for your employees

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Setting clear goals for your employees is the only way to move your business forward in an efficient and quality manor. If the people working for you know exactly what to do and know how much time there is to do it, they will be able to work to the clock and keep your business goals on track. Ingenuity and creativity can take over when employees have a clear road map that they can follow. Many times an employee will become confused and will spend most of his or her time wondering what exactly needs to be accomplished trying to decipher what they are to do. Being able to see the end goal from the beginning will keep the work flow and motivate your employees to work harder for you. Here are some ideas on setting clear goals for your employees.

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How to hone in on specialties and nurture talent

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Let us assume that the person reading this article is an employer. You are currently going over new resumes and are looking for people to fill some positions in your company. As you are going along, something catches your eye. There is a resume with a person who seems to have all of the qualities that you are looking for. They don't necessarily have the experience you might want, but they do have a great record. Something about them seems impressionable enough that you take the plunge and hire them. If this ever happens, it is then your responsibility to hone in on specialties and nurture talent that this new employee has. If you can do this, it will not only improve your company, but it will also improve a person and make their life more meaningful and satisfying. Just because you are running a business doesn't mean you aren't concerned with humanity and the happiness of your employees to a certain point. Let's go on a journey now and look at an employer who has just hired a girl named Jen who has only been in the work place for a couple years now.

Jen Jones graduated from UCLA in Economics and minored in Business Management. She won numerous awards in areas in and outside of business. She came to interview for a job at a business consultation outside of San Diego and impressed the interviewer with her track record of internships and college experience. Hired immediately, Jen starts as the company's public relations secretary and does a fine job. She does exactly as the previous person had done and does it just perfectly. Suddenly you realize that this Jen could actually do better if she was just allowed some creative freedom and a chance to expand the job into a broader responsibility. Soon after you inform her that she is free to improve her job in any way that she sees fit, you are pleased to see that she has started putting together an ad campaign that is simply genius. She brings the idea to you and it is absolutely what you have been needing to push the company forward in the public mind. The campaign is released and your company begins to slowly grow. Your client's has tripled and the money the company is making is almost too much to take in at once.

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How to handle an exasperated employee


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There are so many different things that you have to worry about when you are in management. One thing that is a huge part of being in management is making sure that your employees are happy. There are so many different types of problems that can come up among your employees. One problem that you might have with an employee is having and exasperated employee. If you have an exasperated employee and do not know what to do with them there are some things that can help. Here are some tips on how to handle an exasperated employee.

The first tip on how to handle an exasperated employee is to know exactly what an exasperated employee consists of. An exasperated employee is an employee who out of patience. They might be so overwhelmed with everything they have on their plate that they might just not be able to handle to work load.

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How to handle an evasive employee

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There are a variety of different types of employees that you might have to deal with if you are in management. You might have to deal with the employee that is never on time to work, you might have to deal with the employee that is always sick; you also might have to deal with the evasive employee. If you have an evasive employee and do not know what to do with them there are some things you can do. Here are some things that can help you know how to handle an evasive employee.

The first thing you will want to know when it comes to how to handle an evasive employee is to know exactly what an evasive employee consists of. An evasive employee is some one that is not direct.

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Why you should award achievement

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Achievement should always be awarded in all aspects of life.When you award someone for achieving greatness they strive harder to do even better.When you give a child money for getting good grades they will strive to get good grades all the time.When you tell your spouse that you love the new recipe that she tried, she will feel like she can try more things.An achievement is not always the big things it is the small things too, something as small as running your first mile non-stop should be awarded.In the work place you as a manager have the obligation to award achievement to employees who deserve it.Let's talk about why it is always good to award achievement.

Self esteem is something that everyone deals with, even the person that seems perfect to you has self esteem issues.Having low self esteem can hurt.Some people feel that they are not good enough.When you are a manager it is your responsibility to help your employees feel good about the job that they are doing.Compliment your employees on their performance at work.Tell your employees you can see that they have a good work ethic.If one of your employees is down and not feeling the best that they can help them realize that he/she is a huge part of the company and you really enjoy having him/her on your staff.This will make them feel like they are really making a difference and boost their self esteem.

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How to get staff to improve their range of skills

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An employer should always have the goal in mind to improve his or her staff. Improvement comes from constant coaching and analyzing the work that has been done. Let your staff understand that the good work they do today should not be the good work they do tomorrow. The work should always improve. Putting this little stress in their lives will push them to improve their range of skills.

One way to push staff to the limit of their range of skills is to give them responsibilities that they can do with hard work and focus. As they work through it, watch how they go about seeking instruction and not the improvements they make themselves as they go along. Bring those qualities up when you talk to them. If you notice that they are getting frustrated and stuck, this is the time to step in and be a motivating coach. As the employer, put yourself outside of the problem. Don't have your employees motivated by fear of your wrath. Motivate them by being on their team. They will want to work hard to please you because they know they can trust you.

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How to exploit the strengths of those working for you

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Everyone has something they are good at. You have to exploit the strengths of the people who are working for you. When you are a manager you need to let your employees know their strengths and their weaknesses.They need to know their strengths so that they can work to keep on doing a good job.They need to know their weaknesses so that they can work to overcome them.Managers have a big job of taking care of their employees.Sometimes a manager is the only mentor that employees have.As a manager you can exploit the strengths of your employees in several different ways.Let's talk about ways you can let your employees know their strengths.

You can hold personal one on one meetings with each of your employees.When you have one on one time with your employees it makes them feel that they are more then just and employee to you.When someone goes to work they need to look forward to working with their co-workers especially their managers.During your one on one meeting with each employee tell them what you have noticed about their recent work performance.Be honest and up front.Let your employees know what they are doing right, and let them know how they can keep up the good work.When you have meetings with your employees it is a good way to exploit their strengths in a personal way.

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How to choose appropriate delegates

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There are so many things that you have to worry about when you are running a business. One thing that is very important to think about is who you are going to let delegate. Choosing who you are going to let delegate is a very important things because you need to make sure that you choose some one that is going to be able to get the work done with out a lot of hassle. If you do not know how to choose appropriate delegates there are some things you will want to know. Here are some tips on how to choose appropriate delegates.

The first tip on how to choose appropriate delegates is to make sure that they know what they are doing. You want to make sure that the people you are delegating to know what you are asking them to do. If the person you delegate to does not know what they are doing you are going to spend more time trying to explain how to do something then if you would have just done it yourself. This is why it is so important to make sure that you take into consideration who you are asking to delegate.

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How to better work with your IT staff

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Are you having problems working with your IT staff? Or, do you just want to make sure that you and your IT staff members are both able to do your jobs as effectively as possible?Being able to work well with your IT staff is a really important part of a business, especially because you really depend in IT so much to keep your business running!There are a couple of things that you can do to work better with your IT staff.Here are a couple of suggestions so that you and your IT staff will get along great:

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  • Give your staff the opportunity to grow and develop:One of the hard things about being on an IT staff is that they feel very limited in their capacity.As a person involved in business, you probably are solely interested in having an IT staff on hand so that your computer equipment and business devices are working properly.However, IT workers also need to have a chance to grow.If you are incorporating new computers and technologies into your business setting, take a lot of time to train your IT staff members properly.This is a great way to boost morale and work better with your IT staff, because a lot of IT staff members love to learn about new and different pieces of technology.This is also a great way to show your IT staff that they are important, because you are willing to pay the money or take the time to have them trained properly.

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Do employee incentives really work?

mansmiling30396607.jpg There are employees who work hard and there are employees who do not work very hard.There are businesses that have instilled incentives and other businesses that wonder if employee incentives really work to motivate those employees that don't work so hard.Do employee incentives really work?They do for many different businesses.

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What to do if two people on your staff do not get along

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Your employees won't always get along.There will be one person who doesn't get along with others, two people who just hate each other, or a group that doesn't like another group.It is just human nature to be upset sometimes but there are ways to resolve issues between employees.

Mediation between the two parties is a great idea.It brings in a third person and lets them decide what the other is going to do to resolve the issue or who should apologize and what not.There are several consultants who will mediate between two parties at work.It is probably the best way to resolve issues between a couple people or a small group of people.

Mediation helps the two people communicate.Often arguments come up because people aren't communicating.Even if someone has a different opinion than another person they will usually have respect for the other persons views.

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Staffing problems common to business managers

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Staffing problems range from not having enough employees to having too many.You can always hire regular employees but sometimes you only need someone for a little while.When you're company needs help they often need it right away.Markets change and the economy changes with it.Businesses need to have that type of flexibility also.The economy could change in one or two days. So you have to be prepared to make changes in your business within a day or two as well.If you're not prepared it could mean your business goes into a slump and if the rest of the economy is in a slump too it could be really hard for your business to recover.

Every manager has to make sure that they have enough employees.Without employees there is no product or company.So how should you deal with staffing problems?There are many types of temporary workers that can help you get through the busy season or tough time in a company.

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Helping Your Employees Manage Stress

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Every single person deals with stress in life.There is no way to ignore it.How you deal with stress makes or breaks you.At work stress can be particularly hard because it often impacts a lot more than just you. For example if you were to lose your job it would impact your whole family not just you and therefore giving you a lot more stress to deal with.There are ways to help your employees deal with the types of stress that they are going to have to deal with no matter what.

Making sure your employees are getting their breaks is the first thing.If someone isn't getting a break from work in an eight hour workday they will just feel more overwhelmed.Taking a half hour lunch where an employee eats and just relaxes helps them refresh themselves.It gives an employee the chance to just focus on nothing for a short time.Then when they go back to work they are more productive and tend to do a lot better.It works every time.

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Tips for turning sales around by improving employee morale

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Business's fall into sales slumps every now and then. You may be wondering what you can do to turn your sales around. Improving employee morale can be one of your options. Improving employee morale can improve productivity, customer loyalty, workplace absences, and any safety related costs. When all these are improved so is company morale and your sales can skyrocket. Keeping morale in the workplace should be high on the list of all managers and business owners.

Some of the ways to improve morale will require money and time. You as a manager need to be willing to invest money into employee morale in order to get better sales. Better employee morale can equal better sales and a happier work environment.

One of the easier ways to improve your employee morale in any company is simply to make your employees feel appreciated. Talk to them when there is a job well done. Thank your employees for their work and let them know that you value them. Some of the most productive companies have managers that are seen everywhere in the company and tell the employees how much they are appreciated. Do not interact with employees only when there is a problem. That is one of the worst things you can do for morale.

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Take your child to work day, is it a good idea?

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Take your child to work day is a day that is set aside annually to show your children what you do at work. This is a day that will also help your child to discover the link between what they learn in school and what they can do as a grown up. In most workplaces there are special hands on activities for your child to do and workshops that will demonstrate what your company does. So, take your child to work day, is it a good idea?

Take your child to work day can also be known as take your daughters and sons to work. This was started in 1992 so that kids could see the direct correlation between school and work. It is aimed to help your kids learn why schooling is important and to achieve their full potential whether they are your daughter or son. Taking your child to work can also help strengthen the bond between parent and child by allowing your child to see exactly what it is you do all day.

Most companies will only allow children ages 8-15. This is mostly because of safety concerns. Some companies will only allow the older kids because there will be less disruption to the work day. Older kids are more adept at listening and following directions. Taking your child to work may also be more interesting to the older kids depending on your workplace and the child's interests. Taking your child to work should show your kids what it is that your company does and what makes it important. There should be activities and workshops to help all age groups understand.

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How to get your sales team fired up

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If your company is lacking in sales you may be wondering how to get your sales team fired up. Your sales team is one of the biggest money makers for your company. If you have good sales for whatever product you are selling then you will have more money coming into your store. On the other hand if you have a lackluster sales team who don't connect with your customers or don't understand the product you may need to look at some options of How to get your sales team fired up.

Getting your sales team fired up can easily be done with some simple training. This training can be done on site making it easier for your sales team to attend. These seminars or training workshops are geared especially for your sales team. In these seminars or workshops your sales team will learn how to effectively answer questions so they are not guessing as to what the customers are asking for. Your sales team will learn how to better interact with existing customers to make sure all their needs are still being met. They will also learn how to up sell or use add-ons to generate more sales with existing customers or new customers. Your sales team will learn new and innovative ways to sell your existing products.

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Great employee incentive ideas

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Incentives are a great motivator for your business. Not only can incentives improve the morale in your workplace they can also improve the productivity of your group. Incentives can also generate more sales giving your company more money. The overall quality of your employees work will improve. Incentives can also help you motivate any of your employees or help in implementing new systems. All of this can be achieved with great employee incentive ideas.

Great employee incentive ideas will be different for all the different departments in your business. For any incentives to work in your business you will also need to know what you want to improve and in what time line. Set the goals you want your employees to achieve to high levels. Make the goals step by step and clearly written so there are no arguments or questions. Nothing is unachievable with a great employee incentive program in place. There should also be many incentives for the employee to choose from.

You can make the incentives according to the years the employee has been with the company. Giving an incentive every 5 years is common in most workplaces that have an incentive program. Your incentives can also be geared towards any sales goals that your company may have. The monetary incentives can be made just for your sales team or for the whole company. You can also give monetary incentives according to the profits that your company gets quarterly.

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Managing disputes with clients and customers

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Regardless of where you work, there always seems to be problematic customers. So how do you manage these occasional disputes with your customers? The key is to resolve such disputes before they escalate and get out of hand. Here's taking a look at some key steps in managing disputes with clients and customers.

The first step is to try to avoid disputes all together. Some disputes are just bound to happen, but avoiding them all together can save you a lot of time, headaches and money. Some guidelines to avoid disputes are:

  • Deal with customer complaints fairly
  • timely and professionally
  • Make sure all employees treat customers with respect and show good customer service when interacting with them.
  • Develop and train employees on how to negotiate with customers.
  • Comply with all representations and other promises made to your client or customer.
  • Have easy and fair ways with addressing customer concerns, such as: return policies and in-store credit if necessary.
  • Always treat customers with respect and kindness.
Managing complaints and concerns quickly will lessen the chances of a full out dispute. Small percentages of complaints actually become disputes. Any disputes that aren't dealt with and resolved can seriously affect the profitability and success of the company.

What are some common disputes seen in small businesses?

Products:

  • quality

  • service

  • price

  • packaging

  • delivery and customer service

Financial:

  • the ability and willingness to pay accounts

Leases:

  • the term

  • relocation

  • price increases

  • quality of location

Breach of contracts:

  • termination period

  • quality of product

Misleading conduct:

  • failing to meet expectations

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How to ensure no one is padding their time clock

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Your employees' time is your company's most precious resource. Time is a vital component in the cost of doing business. But what happens when your employees are being dishonest about their time? This can essentially cost you hundreds and thousands of dollars per year. There are some specific ways you can know if they are cheating your time clock or not. Here is how to ensure no one is padding their time clock.

There are many instances where employees are "padding" their time clock. What this essentially means is they are not clocking in and out at the right time during their work day.Padding a time clock can be done a few different ways:

Personal time
One common way padding is done is when employees take breaks or take personal time without clocking out. For example they choose to: talk on the phone to friends, email or chat online, go out for a smoke break when they are on the clock and should be doing company work. This is one of the most common ways people pad the time clock.

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Steps for proper conflict resolution

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Conflict is viewed many different ways. Conflict is definitely a part of human interaction and can have a positive or negative influence. The biggest question is how do you resolve conflict? Managing conflict requires a safe and supportive climate where people can express ideas and opinions without scrutiny. Let's go over some steps for conflict resolution:

Create a Supportive Environment

People must feel free to discuss their concerns and ideas without being belittled by coworkers. The ultimate goal is to come up with a mutually acceptable compromise. Having your team working together to create a constructive solution is essential. Of course you will have conflict between staff, but try a few tips.
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  • Inspire your staff. Having positive influences around the office helps to encourage employees. When staff has a mutual respect and behavior toward one another, conflict tends to disappear.

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How to resolve conflict between employees

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Most professionals in the workplace will tell you they feel pretty neutral about their coworkers. Many times they like some and dislike others. There are times coworkers absolutely despise one another. This can make an unpleasant workplace environment for the entire company. The real problem arises when there is conflict between employees. Your company better have a good policy in place for how to resolve conflict between coworkers. If you don't, let's go over some helpful tools to resolve conflict.

1. Resolve a dispute as soon as it starts.
Most companies have a human resource department who is in charge of resolving conflicts between coworkers. Employees should know when they are hired that a disagreement should not become such a large problem that they are not willing to resolve it.
A meeting should be set up with the HR department to talk to each coworker individually. From there a strategy can be drawn up of how to fix the problem.

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How to make employees feel valued

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Gaining the loyalty of your employees is done by making them feel valued. Having a good employment relationship builds trust and value to the job. When employees feel respected, they perform better and respect their bosses and the company in return.

So how can you gain the respect and trust of your employees? Here are a few tips from other companies:

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  • Be ready to listen to the employee's questions and concerns about the job.

  • - Treat your employees with respect, not as inferior people.

  • - Be polite to your employees.

  • - Recognize and reward your employees for a job well done.

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How to evaluate employee performance

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Many companies take the time to do a six month or yearly evaluation on their employees. This is a great idea to assess employee performance, set goals, and determine compensation. Employers who do a routine evaluation of employee performance reap tremendous benefits. It sets certain standards for the company and the employees:
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  • Expectations for employees and company. Regular feedback obtained from both.

  • - Reward good work; and discuss shortfalls in performance.

  • - Open communication to discuss employee performance and keeps the needs of the workforce in check.

When you are evaluating employee performance, it is a great time to address problems and find solutions for them. Having documentation of issues that have arisen with employees will help keep your company out of legal battles if that employee leaves the company on bad terms. Having that written proof before the employee leaves, goes a long way in court.

Starting the employee evaluation process to address their performance requires a few plans you need to have in place. You need to have some performance standards and goals set up so you can evaluate each employee's performance against it. Below are a few tools you can start with.

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How to deal with sexual harassment problems with your employees

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Sexual harassment problems have plagued employees for years. It has become a national media sensation in some rural areas that are still struggling with sexual harassment issues.

One large court case gained national attention about sexual harassment. Clarence Thomas has now heard his first cases as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Prof. Anita Hill, whose charges of sexual harassment against Thomas were rejected by the U.S. Senate in its vote to confirm him, is back in her law-school classes. The impact of this high profile case is still being felt by companies.

The three main point companies typically use to discuss sexual harassment are as follows:

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  • State clearly that sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the workplace.

  • - Set up procedures for dealing internally with complaints promptly, thoroughly, and fairly.

  • - Provide training programs to ensure that all employees understand what constitutes sexual harassment and the employer's plans for dealing with it.

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Managing personal conflicts amongst your staff

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Companies are usually made up of employees from a variety of backgrounds.Many times employees have been raised in different cultures from one another or are from completely different countries.Sometimes employees who each have successful philosophies on how to do something, but who ultimately do things differently, may not see eye to eye on some issues.Other times, long hours and high stress may cause employees to have conflicts.Managers are often the person that must resolve these issues and should take into account the following tips when dealing with a conflict amongst their employees.

Consider the Conflict

When presented with a conflict, managers may be tempted to ignore a problem in favor of what seem like more pressing needs at the time.This approach to a conflict amongst employees could lead to a more serious conflict which could cause disruption in employee morale and productivity.Conflicts must be dealt with early in order to help employees return their concentration from the conflict with a co-worker, back to their purpose in the department or company.

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Key success factors for a manager

For many managers, they are looking for ways to be the best manager the company has ever seen! This is not only a lofty goal, but a great challenge. Think back to some of your first managers you had as an employee and pick out qualities that you liked and disliked. How can you find ways to be a successful manager? Here are a few tips for becoming a successful manager:

Trust
Establishing trust is one of the most difficult things a manager faces. Trust involves feeling that you can depend upon another person to achieve a common goal.

People will know they can rely on you if you show qualities of integrity and consistency. So how to you build this trust? Start by listening. Bring each member of your staff into your office and talk about their needs and concerns and what they think you can do to improve the office environment. Give each employee your full attention and make an effort to get to know them.

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How to train your supervisors

If you have an HR department, now is the time to ask for their help. A trained human resources professional can teach certain leadership skills that supervisors need to know. Typically your HR department can discuss the relevant policies and procedures for different scenarios. They also will provide your new supervisor with policies related to training and development.

Discuss with your new supervisor what their role in the company is; here is a general description of a supervisor:

A supervisor is considered a junior level position and is a step above a general employee. The supervisor is in charge of the day-to-day performance of the small group and they guide the group toward their goals. If problems arise, they are in charge of solving them and making sure each individual on the team is productive.

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How to motivate your employees

Now that you are a manger, you are in charge of several different types of people. Each of your employees has a different personality and responds differently to situations. How can you motivate your employees to work harder at their job? First, you need to gain the respect and trust of your employees. Here are a few tips you can follow to gain your employees trust:
- Be ready to listen to the employee's questions and concerns about the job.
- Treat your employees with respect, not as inferior people.
- Be polite to your employees.
- Recognize and reward your employees for a job well done.
- Ask for your employees' input in making decisions that affect their work.
- Gradually build trust in your employees by giving them additional responsibility or extra latitude in making decisions.
- Treat all your employees fairly and impartially.
- Be firm, but not tyrannical, when making decisions and disciplining employees.
- Apologize or admit to employees when you were wrong.
- Give employees credit where due.
- Express genuine concern for employees' problems.
- Keep your employees informed about work-related matters.

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Improving employee retention

Here are some tips that you can follow to help improve employee retention.

Tip one:
One thing you can do that will not cost you any money at all is to provide a positive work environment. The best way to provide a positive work environment is to treat your employees how you would want to be treated.

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Managing tactics for hard to handle employees

Sometimes being in management is not exactly fun, especially when dealing with difficult employees. Why is it that some personalities will never be easy to get along with? Why are there people that will never get it, no matter how hard you work with them? Why are some employees just flat out hard to get along with? If only those were easy questions to answer.
There are all types of difficult employees:
There's the hard to handle employee who complains all the time. They never seem to have suggestions, just a lot of complaints. There's the classic tardy employee, that no matter when they are scheduled, they always show up late. There's the aggressive employee who is always on the defensive. When these difficult employees are asked to do or correct something, they immediately "blow up" and get angry. There's also the harasser who just likes to bug people to get a reaction out of them. No matter how people are raised, we are always faced with the dishonest one. They may not tell the truth and they may like to steal from you. We may not know what drives someone to be difficult, but here are some managing tactics to help with those hard to handle employees.

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How to talk to an employee about a hygiene problem


There are times as a business manager when an employee may have a hygiene problem.Not only does this issue need to be dealt with, but it needs to be addressed in a sensitive manner.Here are some things to consider when dealing with this problem.

Be Tactful- No one wants to have soap placed in their locker anonymously.No one wants to receive a note with unkind words.Take a soft approach with the situation, but be direct. You are the manager and you have a reputation to uphold in your office. Perhaps have a meeting with the employee in private.Having other co-workers involved can make the employee feel like they are under attack.A hygiene problem can be embarrassing and lead the conversation to be defensive.Beginning your conversation with "You don't" would not be as well received.Perhaps start off with "I think" or "I feel."This approach will not be so abrasive.Talking to an employee in private is one method.There have even been times where companies end up having a meeting for all the employees as to not attack one person.Let the employees know that hygiene is a part of the overall dress code and give ideas on how to overcome the issues involved.

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How to deal with people wanting time off around the holidays.

Staffing for the holidays can be an employer's biggest headache!

Many people want to have numerous days off through the holidays, or will choose to call out sick if they can't get the time off. This can cause issues in any kind of business. To avoid some of the hardships, the best step is a proactive one. If a business takes a proactive, organized approach to the holidays there can be less unplanned activity.

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Your role in dealing with employee personal issues

Attitudes toward dealing with employee personal issues have definitely changed over the past ten years.There was definitely a time when it was fairly common to see companies with policies that in essence said that you should leave your personal life at the door when you came to work.That is certainly not the most common case anymore but be warned that you may come across companies that are still very hesitant to get mixed up with an employees personal life.

The main reason for the change in attitude regarding employee personal issues can be largely attributed to the fact that studies have found (and experience has added to the fact that) when an employee is assisted with their personal problems, they are less likely to have those personal problems have a negative result on their work.So helping with personal problems is good, but the debate still exists for just how much personal help given by employers is appropriate.

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Setting Expectations with Employees


Few things are as frustrating when a manager and employee realize, either well into a project or when it is finished, that they didn't have the same thing in mind. Either the manager didn't communicate the details of the project clearly or the employee didn't understand what was expected. Such a miscommunication could have been avoided if the manager had taken the time to set the expectations of the project with the employee.

Setting expectations with employees is an effective management tool. By doing so, productivity will increase because neither the manager nor the employee will have to retrace as many steps or, worse, start over. While taking the time to set expectations with an employee may take some time initially, it is truly a time-saving practice in the end and something that all managers should do. Plus, it saves a lot of frustration for both the manager and employee, thus creating a more positive working environment.

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Keeping a Positive Outlook and Attitude to Motivate Employees

Keeping a positive outlook and attitude to motivate employees is something a manager must consistently work at. Motivation is key to helping employees stay enthusiastic and productive in their work, even when difficulties arise.

Having a positive outlook can go a long way in motivating employees - every one prefers working with someone who is optimistic about the capabilities of their staff and the direction of their work. And when someone is positive and energetic about their work, that feeling can be contagious and spread to the rest of the staff.

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Tips for improving employee morale


When a company faces complicated issues with their employees such as non-attendance and tardiness, it often disrupts the flow of operations and can impact employee efficiency and customer contentment. There are a number of different reasons that cause poor work attendance, which include family emergency situations and illness. However, poor work attendance can also be caused by lack of interest, lack of enthusiasm or burn out. Employee attendance can be increased by improving employee morale. Here are some tips to help boost employee morale and improve employee performance and attendance:
1. Involve employees.
Ask employees for suggestions and ideas on matters that affect the company. Encourage employees to give feedback and ask for solutions to problems within the company. People feel they are part of the solution when they are asked to help in solving the problem. When you involve employees in the problem solving process you show you trust their judgment and value their opinions. Let employees make choices that directly affect them and their work, such as selecting office furniture or as simple as choosing the radio station.

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Keeping top employees happy so they do not leave


As an employer, you know how difficult it can be to find good employees. It often seems impossible but after hours and hours of sorting through resumes and several days filled with interviews, you have found several people to employ with your company. Just because you have found and hired some good people to work for your company does not mean you have nothing to worry about. Now you need to focus on keeping good employees happy so they do not quit working for your company.

Having a team of employees that are productive, efficient, hard working people that work well together can sometimes take years to establish. Having this type of staff is an employer's dream. Over the years you will see a number of employee's come and go. Some that leave will be missed, some won't. It is the ones that will be missed you want to try and keep because losing even one good employee is a set back to establishing your dream team.

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How to stop people from milking the time clock


Good leadership skills are a key factor in having employees that are productive and efficient. You will often find when there is poor leadership, employees are less motivated and less productive. Many are habitually late for work, take long breaks and continually milk the time clock by not working productively and getting paid for it. This type of employee behavior can cost a company a lot of money.

There are several ways to improve leadership skills and qualities to help lessen negative employee behavior and poor work performance. Here are just a few suggestions;
- Your employees are not children, they are adults and should be treated as such. Set a minimal amount of rules instead of a bunch of rules and regulations. Or even try having only the policies necessary to ensure a fair, consistent work environment that is pleasant for everyone. Many times when adults are treated like children, they will act like children.

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Dealing with conflict between employees

We are all human and as such we all have flaws that we are trying to overcome.Surely you can remember a time when you got into an argument or disagreement with someone.Or perhaps you have simply come across another individual that "rubs you the wrong way."There is nothing wrong with not being able to get along with every single person that you cross paths with.However, the problems can definitely become magnified if the person that you are in conflict with is a co-worker.As a manager, surely you can understand how differences between individuals is natural and to be expected.Conflicts will occur.But when those conflicts do not resolve themselves the way that you hope and interfere with business, there are some things that you may have to do in order to deal with the conflict between employees directly.

Individual assessments of job performance

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How to fire an ineffective employee without causing discord amongst remaining employees


Firing an employee is difficult.What makes the process even more difficult is the process of damage control that often follows the termination of one employee.Co-workers are generally very loyal to each other.Managers are often viewed as detached from the employees that they are responsible for.When an individual needs to be fired, his co-workers are likely to come to his defense regardless of the manager's argument.Thus it is important to take care of these delicate matters in a way that does not create discord amongst remaining employees.

Remaining employees become upset when one of their own is fired for many reasons.The delinquent employee might fabricate data in order to shed a better light on himself and may tell his co-workers that he does not deserve the poor treatment he is receiving.Or perhaps remaining employees feel that their jobs have been threatened.Of course there are many other reasons why "discord" is not unusual but there are ways that you can manage and minimize the harmful effects that firing an employee might have on the remainder of your team.

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How to recognize good performance

As a leader it is always good to recognize good performance from your team.You should always let your team know that you are seeing their efforts.Not only do you have to conscientiously recognize that your team is doing well but you have to tell your team what you are recognizing.You team will feel much better about themselves and their work if they know they are doing a good job and that they are pleasing their supervisor.You team will strive to always put their best efforts in to get their job done when they know that they are appreciated, that is why it is always good to recognize good performance.Let's go over ways that you can recognize good performance.

The most obvious way that you will recognize good performance is by seeing it.You will need to be very observant.You can watch your team and observe what they are doing.You can pick the people who are putting in the most effort, and the people who are absolutely excelling.You can also observe the work that is being done.If you see that a job has been done efficiently and correctly, then you have recognized good performance.When you see good performance you are observing this information for your self, and you will need to take that information and pass it on by letting your team know you acknowledge their efforts.

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Tips for understanding behavior in employees


The world of business management is not all about cash flow, spreadsheets, and marketing, there is the tricky business of human behavior that must be attended to.Most business managers who studied management in school spent a lot more time in accounting and economics class than they did in psychology class and sometimes human behavior can be quite a mystery. Here are a couple of tips to help you understand the behavior of your employees.

Employees are "trainable"-at one level, humans are just animals and our behaviors can be understood as a series of stimulus and response patterns.At a very basic level, we repeat behaviors that have worked for us in the past and fail to repeat behaviors that have not worked for us.This concept is called behaviorism and it says that when employees are rewarded for good behavior, they will repeat the behavior.In a bad job, the only reward an employee gets is a paycheck and he or she will do as little as possible to keep getting that reward.In a good job, there are constant rewards; even praise can be considered a motivating reward that encourages good behavior.

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How to handle commuting problems with your staff


Depending on where your office is located will depend on what type of commuting problems you will have with your staff. If you are continually have staff members that are late due to commuting there are some things that you can do to help with them. Here are some ideas on how to handle commuting problems with your staff.

The first idea on how to handle commuting problems with your staff is to have them come at an earlier time or later time when the commute isn't s bad. For example if the commute is better for them to come in at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. maybe give them an option of having them work 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This will help your staff be happier because they are not spending so much time in traffic and it will help you to be happier because you are not always stressing because your employee is always late.

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How to develop ability in your staff


There are so many different things that you have to worry about when you either own your own business or if you are managing a staff. If you are either you know one thing that is important to keep in mind is your staff. Your staff is a very important part of your team because they are what keep the business running. If you are just getting a business started or revamping your team and need to develop ability in your staff there are a few things you will want to keep in mind. Here are some tips on how to develop ability in your staff.

The first tip on how to develop ability in your staff is to first find out how your staff reacts to different levels of management. For example some people might like to be told every step of the way what needs to be done while others like to be given direction but like to do the layout them selves with little supervision. You will want to make sure that you get an idea of how your employees will respond the best so you will know how to develop ability in your staff.

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How to deal with inter-office cultural differences


There are a lot of different issues that each office faces. One issue that is a really big deal is inter-office cultural differences. If you are having problems with inter-office cultural differences and do not know how to deal with them there are some things that you will want to know. Here are some tips on how to deal with inter-office cultural differences.

The first tip on how to deal with inter-office cultural differences is to have education on different cultures in an office. Having people know about different cultures will help them to be more educated and will help them to be more comfortable around people that are different from themselves. Make sure that you have meetings regularly about inter-office cultural differences so people will know that it is not good to have in an office.

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How to build better relationships with your colleagues


Introduction

You spend about one fifth of your life at work so you might as well work on making that time as pleasant as possible.One way to make the time you spend in the office pleasant is to build good relationships with your colleagues.Fortunately, this is relatively easy to do.

Instructions

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Dealing with layoffs, what can you do?

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Maybe one of the hardest things you will ever have to do in your business management career is layoffs.Of course, if things go perfectly, you won't ever have to do layoffs.There are things that you can do to protect yourself from the financial problems that lead to layoffs; but that is another article.The sad truth is that most business managers will have to enact some layoffs at some point.If you do get into a layoff situation, here are a few tips to help you handle the situation.

Be upfront BEFORE the layoffs occur-the rumor of an impending layoff can be as traumatizing to your staff as the actual layoff.As soon as you know that you will have to do a layoff, hold a meeting and tell you employees what to expect.This approach will reduce rumors and it will allow some forewarning so that the actually layoff isn't such a shock.It is a terrible thing for a family when mom or dad goes to work one day, just like every other day, and comes home unemployed.Often one of the questions that people ask is, "how am I going to tell my family?"If your employees get some warning beforehand, they will be able to prepare their families for the possibility of a layoff.

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How to properly offer incentives


Offering incentives is a big part of a manager's job. Whether you're managing "regular" employees, other managers, whole buildings of both, etc., the truth holds: incentives are known to spur a company's workers forward, give them extra energy, increase their loyalty to the company, and so forth. But there are proper and improper ways of offering incentives. Let's look at the improper ways first.

Improper ways of offering incentives, number one.

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How to overcome employee objections to policy


First of all, I can hear you asking: Who cares? Why should I care about overcoming employee objections to policy? Now, of course I could swiftly rebuke you with a bunch of talk about how employees are human beings too and part of the team and need to be treated as such. But I won't. I understand perfectly your reaction (assuming you had it). I know that you know that employees are human beings and so forth. I know that you know that employees are part of the team. But you, after all, make company policy; and you're the only one with a broad view of the company's current situation and where it's headed; so it does irk a little when employees get disgruntled and start complaining about company policy. Let's consider a few things, however.

1. No matter how bothersome it is, employees are always going to object to policy changes, especially when those changes seem to affect them negatively.

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How to overcome employee objections to policy


First of all, I can hear you asking: Who cares? Why should I care about overcoming employee objections to policy? Now, of course I could swiftly rebuke you with a bunch of talk about how employees are human beings too and part of the team and need to be treated as such. But I won't. I understand perfectly your reaction (assuming you had it). I know that you know that employees are human beings and so forth. I know that you know that employees are part of the team. But you, after all, make company policy; and you're the only one with a broad view of the company's current situation and where it's headed; so it does irk a little when employees get disgruntled and start complaining about company policy. Let's consider a few things, however.

1. No matter how bothersome it is, employees are always going to object to policy changes, especially when those changes seem to affect them negatively.

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How to overcome employee objections to policy


First of all, I can hear you asking: Who cares? Why should I care about overcoming employee objections to policy? Now, of course I could swiftly rebuke you with a bunch of talk about how employees are human beings too and part of the team and need to be treated as such. But I won't. I understand perfectly your reaction (assuming you had it). I know that you know that employees are human beings and so forth. I know that you know that employees are part of the team. But you, after all, make company policy; and you're the only one with a broad view of the company's current situation and where it's headed; so it does irk a little when employees get disgruntled and start complaining about company policy. Let's consider a few things, however.

1. No matter how bothersome it is, employees are always going to object to policy changes, especially when those changes seem to affect them negatively.

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How to address a communication problem with an employee


Unfortunately, a part of business management is also conflict resolution.It can be tricky but when you have a communication problem with an employee, you have to address it.This is a dangerous area for business relations and employee moral because "communication problem" tends to be a euphemism for "personality conflict".

If you encounter a communication problem with an employee, it is important to address it as quickly as possible."Nipping the buds" of these sorts of problems will prevent the problem from blossoming and affecting more of your team.These kind of problems never fix themselves, so do yourself a favor and get on it before if gets out of control.

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How do you choose a monitoring system for monitoring employees

How does one go about choosing a monitoring system for monitoring employees?

Well, the monitoring system you choose for monitoring your employees really depends on how many employees we're talking about here. If you've only got a few employees, and they're assigned to relatively simple tasks, your monitoring system can be as simple as a few managers who walk about the place every

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How to track the progress of your employees

The progress and productivity of your employees is going to depend a lot on you and your skills as a supervisor/manager. Your role as a supervisor/manager is to help employees to improve their performance and help them to achieve the required levels of performance. Your role as a supervisor is not to sit back and bark out orders.
As a supervisor/manager you need to ensure employees are conducting their work in a professional and productive manner. Encouraging your employees to be successful in their work can be done by coaching. Coaching employees doesn't mean you are going to have a big shiny whistle and shout at them. Coaching employees consists of helping employees to understand what is expected of them and their job performance. Recognizing and rewarding employees for their work performance is also part of coaching. Evaluating employees work performance should be done on a regular basis. One idea to document employee performance during an evaluation is a progress report. During an evaluation you should discuss performance and development with the employee that is being evaluated. If the employee is reaching the levels of expectation recognize and reward their efforts. If the employee is exhibiting poor work performance, discuss with the employee ways to help the employee raise their performance and meet the expected work standards. Employee evaluations should not be seen as a negative procedure, but as a positive. Employee evaluations should be used as a tool to help employees be more productive in their work performance. Evaluations should be documented and kept in the employees personnel file. Documentation should consist of employee's strong points and also their weak. You should also document suggestions and training that has been discussed with the employee to strengthen a poor work performance. The progress report should state what is going to be done to improve the employee's performance along with ways to maintain a good work performance. Both you and the employee should sign and date the report. At the next evaluation use the employee's previous progress report to track the progress they have made.

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Are team building adventures right for you?

What are team-building adventures and are they right for you? That is a very good question and a question many managers ask. With this article, we can explore the options of team building adventures and what they can do for your team.

Businesses currently have a great deal of strife and competition out there. They have so many things to worry about with new technology, fresher products and higher competition; team stress and strife is the last thing that should be an issue. However, with teams there is always going to be stress and strife. What options are available to resolve some of these issues?

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How can I find the current inflation rate?

Knowing inflation rates and trends in as important part of your finances. If you know the rates and you know the trends you can better plan for your future. Someday things will not be worth what they are worth today; they will probably be much more expensive. You want to plan you finances around that possibility so that when the time arrives you are not left with too little money to take care of yourself and your family with. If you plan for inflation rates in the future you can plan to save more today so that when that times comes you will still have enough money saved to cover your costs.

Finding out inflation rates and trends is not very difficult. The government calculates and displays inflation rates as do many other companies. These rates are usually displayed month by month and year by year. To find those that calculate inflation rates all you have to do is look them up on the internet. Some companies give more detailed calculations than others. The government usually takes inflation rates to the nearest decimals. Other companies will take the inflation rates to the nearest two decimals to show a more accurate counting.

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Employee training?Make sure you only pay for an accredited college.

Are you involved in paying for employees to receive specific training?If you are, make sure that you only pay for an accredited college. Let's go through the reasons why you as an employer or as a manager would want to pay for employee training.And then let's examine the potential pitfalls of paying for employee training and how you can avoid those employee training pitfalls by only paying for accredited colleges.

It's only to your advantage as an employer to have more highly trained employees.There's a reason why so many employers offer paid training compensation for college tuition, tuition payment credits and options, and lots of other benefits in order to enable their employees to become more trained and also to go to school while working for them.More highly trained employees are better at their job.They require less supervision when it comes to their job.They are more able to adapt to new technologies and theories in the workplace.They are proficient at the skills that you need them to excel at.Employee training is of benefit not only to your employees, but to the success and the efficiency, and thus the money making ability, of your company.

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Alcohol abuse treatment - a good idea in many cases

Alcohol abuse treatment is a good idea in many cases.As an employer you know the effects that alcohol abuse can have on employees in the workplace.Alcohol abuse leads to impaired work, poor performance, and absenteeism.Ultimately as a person in management you will have to decide whether or not to terminate the employee or to try to help them find help.

Many companies may prefer to try to solve the problem rather than replace the employee.If a manager is made aware of the problem and that there is a treatment for the cause of impairment, he is going to be more likely to refer the employee in question to receive alcohol abuse treatment then to terminate the employee's employment.Granted, the employee will most likely have to take a leave, and also would be on a probation or semi-suspension upon his return to work.However, the results are well worth the efforts.After straightening out the alcohol abuse problems in his life, the employee is more likely to return to work with a new conviction to make a fresh start.These employees turn out to be among the most loyal and hard working because they recognize the kind of investment that management felt that they deserved.As a person in management, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have not only changed a life for the better but you may have saved this employees life as well.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that,"Many companies across the nation have recognized the problem [of employee alcohol abuse] and realized that with proper treatment employees who have a substance abuse problem can, and do become happy, healthy and productive workers."
Alcohol abuse treatment varies.It may involve weeks of intense rehabilitation and in or out patient care.Treatment may need to be ongoing such as becoming a member of a regularly meeting group such as Alcoholics Anonymous.Whatever the method of treatment the key is to create an environment of assistance where the employee can admit that they have a problem and know that they can receive help in trying to overcome it.

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Air filtration in the office to reduce employee sick days

Hopefully it is not new news to you that using air filtration in the office can reduce employee sick days.You should know that air-born contaminants are a leading factor for common illnesses that can make your employees feel ill and call in sick for work.Obviously, indoor air quality is a serious concern.It is the business/building owner's responsibility to ensure that working environments are clean and safe.That means ensuring that the air employees breathe has been filtered and is as safe as possible.Ultimately, air filtration in the office will reduce employee sick days due to respiratory illnesses.

Employee absence due to illness is a huge concern.Sick pay and in this case when the illness is caused by the business can lead to high pay outs.As the business owner you are responsible for the health of the employees that are a direct result of their working environment.Respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma are just a few conditions that poor indoor air quality can lead too.Using air filtration in the office is the smart way to prevent these problems.

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ADHD in your workforce - how to manage it.

The topic of this article is on ADHD in your workforce and how you as a manager and/or an employer can manage it.ADHD is a condition, a neurological condition, that is characterized by a few things:ADHD is characterized by an inability to pay attention.ADHD is also characterized by a constant amount of energy.It is characterized by an inability to stick to deadlines.It is characterized by an inability to stay organized.ADHD is also characterized by constant moving, a stream of energy that seems to be uncontrollable and unchanelled.As you can see there are many behaviors that characterize ADHD. Because of all of these manifestations of ADHD, people with ADHD have a tendency to become frustrated, confused, depressed, even irritable and prone to conflicts with co-workers because of low self-esteem.

With all of these characteristics and potential problems stemming from ADHD in the workplace, you as a manager or you as an employer might think that it would just be easier to try to exclude ADHD from your workplace.However, you should stop that thought right in its tracks.People who suffer from ADHD might have a lot of difficulty concentrating, paying attention, being attentive in meetings and meeting deadlines.However, people who have ADHD are also incredibly creative, often incredibly bright and intelligent, are very hard workers when they are disciplined and have a concrete project in front of them, and can end up being your most productive, your most innovative, and your most successful members of your workforce team. Not to mention, that not hiring someone because they have ADHD is discrimination, which is illegal.

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How to Create an Effective Drug-Use Policy

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Drugs in the workplace are a real problem for many employers. While employees may not be using illicit drugs in the facilities themselves, 90% of drug users have jobs, and 20% of employees between the ages of 20 and 30 used at least one illicit drug in the past month. So how does that affect you as an employer? Drug users on the job utilize almost twice the benefits of non drug users, are absent almost twice as much, and file twice as many workers' compensation claims. As you can see, those who use drugs can quickly drain a company of its resources and reputation.

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Should You Pay Stock Options?

It used to be that stock options were reserved only for executives or members of top management. However, more and more employers are opting to offer stock options to all employees as part of their compensation package. In fact, more than 10 million American workers receive stock options as part of their compensation or as bonuses.

What Are Stock Options?
Stock options give employees the right to buy a specific number of shares of their company's stock during a time and at a price that the employer specifies. The price the company sets on the stock, also referred to as the grant or strike price, is offered to employees at a discounted price. This price is most often the market price of the stock at the time the employee is given the stock options. After a certain amount of time, an employee can elect to cash in his stock options. The idea behind this is that the stock price will have gone up during that amount of time, so the employee will be able to sell them at a higher price, thus yielding a profit.

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Should You Pay Bonuses? How Much and to Whom?

An employee bonus can be a motivating factor for any employee and is an excellent way to boost performance, build loyalty in employees, and motivate employees to reach goals. However, if handed out incorrectly, a bonus can be ineffective in regards to motivation as well as a waste of money for employers.

When Should You Pay Bonuses?
Many people believe that in order for bonuses to be effective motivational tools, they should be given solely based on performance. An employee who, for example, knows that he will receive a 10% bonus at the end of the year if he reaches his sales quotas will be more likely to work harder and increase performance than an employee who is given a 10% Christmas bonus each year, regardless of performance. When a bonus is commonplace and not based on performance, it can become expected as a part of the salary instead of what it truly is - a reward for above-average work.

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How to Find a Good Accountant

An accountant is a vital part of any business. Not only do accountants handle a company's taxes, they can also help determine whether or not certain moves will have an effect on taxes, such as buying a company vehicle or leasing computers. In addition, they can help employers when deciding whether or not to incorporate the business.

While having an accountant is important, it's even more important to find one who is qualified, competent, and honest, as a portion of the company's financial well-being lies in the accountant's hands.

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Hiring a Marketer - Should You Hire Experience or Potential?

A marketer is an important part of your business. He or she is especially vital when the business is just starting out and needs to be promoted in all the right ways. That's why you need to make sure you hire the right person for the job.

When hiring a marketer, you have two options - hiring someone who is experienced in the field, or hiring someone with talent and potential but little on-the-job experience. Both have their pros and cons.

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Credit Checks on Employees - A Good Idea? How to Perform Them

Nowadays, it is becoming more and more commonplace for employers to run credit checks on potential employees.

A credit check shows more than whether or not a person pays their bills on time. They also include previous addresses and employers, which can be useful in verifying previous jobs and dates. The credit check, also called an employment background check, provides information seen on a normal credit report, except for the date of birth and credit score.

Why Credit Checks?
There are several reasons for running credit checks on employees. One of these reasons is to check the employee's level of responsibility. Some employers feel that a valid way to check an employee's level of responsibility is via a credit check. While there are limitations as to what can and can't be accessed by a potential employer in a credit check, the credit check will generally show the credit score and whether the person has paid bills in a timely fashion or not. The absence of credit can also be a determining factor in whether or not a potential employee is offered a job.

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How To Build Loyalty In Employees

Employee loyalty is, for many companies, a trait that is difficult to find. If an employee is not satisfied with his or her job or feels unappreciated, he or she will walk; in fact, the average employee in the United States spends just 3 years at one job.

High turnover rates can be costly for a company. Searching for qualified applicants, posting openings on job boards, the interview process, and hiring a new employee can cost the company both time and money.

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Legal Issues in Checking the Background of Employees

Many employers are opting to run background and credit checks on potential employees. In some fields, such as those where applicants will be working with minors or working in environments where there is a great deal of confidential information is kept, background checks are required for safety and liability reasons; for example, a convicted bank robber would most likely not be hired to work at a bank.

Other times, employers will run background checks simply to verify the person has no criminal record or to verify past employers, and then match that information to that entered in the application or the resume.
Regardless of the reason for the background check, there are certain rules and regulations in place designed to protect applicants when background checks are being obtained about them.

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How to improve your communications skills


One of the most important aspects of good business management is having excellent communication skills.Your ability to communicate your ideas says much about you as a person and about your business.Good communication skills are an essential part of a successful business, and are necessary when communicating with employees, customers, clients, superiors and even potential employees.Here are nine tips to help you improve your communication skills.

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How to hire a rising star

As a business manager you are always on the look-out for the next "rising star" to hire for your company.This person is the kind of worker that every business person dreams of having, or even becoming one themselves.A rising star is an employee with the right kind of skills for the job.They are well educated and talented, and also have the kind of attitude you're looking for in an employee.They are passionate about what your business does and for them, work is more than just a paycheck.

A good way to be on the look-out for a rising star is by looking into the academic background of your potential employees.The type of major that they had in college, the types of classes they took and the kinds of extra-curricular activities they participated in are indicative of the type of worker they will become.The type of school they attended may also be a mark of their status as a rising star.An applicant who attended a well-known party school may be less of a rising star than an applicant who attended a prestigious Ivy League school.

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Hiring for attitude, not just skills

The work force today is filled with qualified individuals with all the skills you could possibly want-just not the attitude that fits in with your company.Many individuals go to work each day just looking for a paycheck, but not caring about the way the business is run or the kind of service they give.This makes it difficult to run your business as smoothly as possible.Employees who are only there for a paycheck are not likely to invest time and emotion in improving your business.

But how do you, as a business owner, find an employee who will have the attitude you're looking for?Things like a passion for your product or a love of the company or a strong work ethic are valuable attitudes that can improve your business.So as a business owner, you need to devise a way to hire for attitude, not just skills.

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The Top 10 Reasons Your Staff Wants to Quit

From an employee's perspective, management often conducts itself in ways that make no sense. When the economy is slow, jobs are few and far in between or people are fearful, staff will tolerate management behaviors and policies that are nonsensical (in their eyes) or they judge are harmful.

But when staff gets together for lunch and they start critiquing management, these are the Top 10 Reasons Why Staff Quit.

10. "My boss is arrogant and believes his own press clippings." As a result, staff feels taken advantage of..

9. "My manager micromanages rather than trusting staff to perform." Staff hates the boss and looks for ways to resist being over controlled.

8. "My manager is crushing my drive and desire." Hired because they were smart and energetic, the manager is afraid that she will not be seen as the shining light (the reason for success) and crushes the very qualities that made the new employee attractive to hire (and desirous of joining).

7. "My boss guesses what is needed without resorting to data or facts." Maybe he has the facts, but they sure aren't being communicated leaving the impression of "It's my way or the highway." There are a lot of new roads being built in this country and staff will leave rather than be abused.

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Managers: PR More than Tix and Plugs?

You bet! And in three ways vital to you as a business, non-profit or association manager.

To succeed, your public relations effort needs to do something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your operation.

It needs to deliver external stakeholder behavior change - the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

And it needs to do so by persuading those important outside folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

All three, hopefully long before anybody worries about theater tickets or radio plugs!

But how do you get to the point where all three of those dynamics actually contribute to your success as a manager?

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Who Answers Your Business Phone?

Your Small Business Image can be Shattered by Your Phone

Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level of professionalism, from the first telephone call to the final delivery.

Your business can be on the Really Big 500 list, employ only a handful of people, or be a business of one but what is said by that business to other business customers will reflect the personality of that business. It can be a PR boost or a PR blowout.

Have you called the telephone company or your long distance provider lately? Chances are you will get a machine telling you to "listen closely because the menus have changed" (as if they know you called last year).

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Understanding MLM Compensation Plans

Introduction

Down lines, up lines, overrides and spill over. Understand? Of course not! But it was exactly these types of terms that I was bombarded with when I was at first trying to learn about the world of multi level marketing. It made it a slow process to say the least, so I thought that I would write an article to help the folks out there that are about to undertake the same journey.

The way that a multilevel marketing company pays the person who invests in it and sells the products or services that it provides is through a "compensation plan," and there are a great many types of them that are employed.

Matrices

The first one we will look at is the one that revolves around the idea of matrices.

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Get Paid To Shop And Keep Everything You Buy - Without Having To Pay!

Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For Money; Compare Prices, Staff Efficiency, Product Range, Customer Service Between Rival Firms?

If so you might easily find work as a 'Mystery Shopper' and be paid to comment on service in shops, banks and building societies, hotels, cinemas, veterinary surgeries, restaurants, even on long distance flights and holidays.

Poor service is the number one reason customers turn their back on a business and start shopping elsewhere. Worse still, one dissatisfied customer tells on average sixteen more people about their experience, meaning even greater loss of customers and profits for business owners.

Even taking too long to answer the telephone or replenish the shelves, inadequate parking facilities, crowded toilets and poor staff-customer relations can alienate customers quickly.

No company can afford to be complacent or fail to check its own operating standards for long.

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