Archives for June 2018

Want A Cohesive Company? Ensure Your Remote Workers Feel Part Of The Team

June 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Remote Workers

Nowadays the word “team” can conjure up so many different perceptions. In the workplace, the remote worker is being used more and more. And as the demands on every worker’s life means that, as an employer, you need to have more flexibility, you are going to have to provide for these remote workers. But, these remote workers can feel like they are not part of the business. So it’s your duty to ensure that they feel this. So, what can you do to ensure that they do feel part of this cohesive unit?

Constant communication

It’s very simple, if you are trying to make your workforce feel as one, you need to speak to them all in the same way. One method in which you can do this is to set up regular Skype meetings, or, if your workforce numbers are minimal, you could speak to each one individually. Now, this may sound like a tumultuous task, but using simple approaches to check in with your workers in the morning employs that personal touch. If you have the budget to make the most of technology, you could even invest in a Push To Talk walkie-talkie, which combines the mobile phone and old-fashioned walkie-talkie method. In investing in specific remote working technologies, this means you are in better communication with your colleagues so everyone can feel as part of a team.

Give them the same opportunities as your in-house staff

From learning experiences to employee rewards, each staff member that works at home can feel far removed from the office environment. Ensuring that they have access to the appropriate technology to do the job, but also, giving them the opportunities to develop within the company framework is vital. Remember, remote working is not an excuse to treat someone differently just because they’re not there in person. They should have the same support and rewards as everyone else.

Meet up in person

But, of course, there’s only so much you could say in an email, and some people feel like they’re not communicating themselves best through this method, or even over the telephone. Meeting up in person on a regular basis gives each staff member the ability to provide feedback, and for you to check in with them on a personal level to see how they are coping with this setup. As remote workers can feel far removed from the situation, little insecurities can arise. So it’s important for you to communicate to them that, not only are they doing a good job, but are integral to your team, even though they are not there in person.

The topic of remote working throws up so many issues from the perspective of an entrepreneur, but also the worker. Isolation can be one of those common concerns but it’s vital you provide remote working capabilities for anyone who wants it. Remote working benefits so many of us from time to time, that it needs to be part of the package. But as remote working can cause a lack of cohesion, it’s vital that you address these issues to ensure that those people who work at home, as well as in the office, feel as one.

5 Excellent Methods Of Forging Business Connections

June 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Business Networking

It’s vitally important for anyone interested in growing themselves in the business world to network. This is true if you’re a low level employee of a business with large ambitions, you run a a business, or you’re simply looking for more opportunities. People often say it’s not what you know but who you know that makes all the difference in making it big. This is somewhat true, but not completely true. It also pays to build a good reputation, and stay competent. You can forge all the business connections you like, but unless you’re Frank J Abagnale, it’s unlikely it’ll take too long until you are exposed. However, a competence business guru can really explode in popularity and find new standing points to really boast about if only they’d network.

There are a few methods of doing this. Just like forging any social connection, it’s best to do it in the most natural manner of all. The following suggested methods have taken this into account, and should hopefully help you find your intended goal:

The first place to look is LinkedIn. Think of this as a social media website for business professionals. It’s likely you’ve heard of this to some degree already. Ensure that your profile is updated, continually refined and that you open yourself up for contact, and you might find some interesting business opportunities coming your way .We’d also suggest adding into the ‘business network’ connections that the website allows, or to look for profiles that might feature external networks like this. This can help you talk to like-minded people on online message boards, helping you discuss ideas or even meat specific people that could be important for your career later on.

Tour The City

You’d be surprised how simply traveling the city, attending lunchtime bars and nice cafes in the financial district can open you up for natural discussion with people who walk and talk as you do. This might look different in different areas. For example, using www.ridester.com to find Lyft promo codes and trying to explore Silicon Valley could introduce you to many new startup farms, and slowly begin building a mental roadmap of where the positive action is. Then, using your ‘street reconnaissance,’ (for lack of a better term.) you might have your finger on the social pulse, at least much more directly that the new norm of doing things.

Word of Mouth

It can be essentially important to listen to the recommendations of people around you. If someone finds it worthwhile to mention a name to you, try and locate them with all your heart. You will often find that these people have been recommended for a reason, but if not you might consider simply moving on. This word of mouth can help you build a natural sense of who’s who, as this is the way business reputation worked for the longest time. This can also help you feel out people from the ground level, and gain the skill of assessing someone’s character and business intelligence from one simple meeting. This can be invaluable to forging the right connections.

With these simple efforts, you will forge business connections worthy of consideration from the start.

How to Simplify Your Business for Better Results

June 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Business Simplification

The business world is a tricky one to navigate. With so many changes happening all the time, it can be tough to keep up with the crowd and ensure that you are always providing the best in your industry.

However, simplifying your business could be a great way to get back to basics and work on the things you do best. Where multi-service agencies have flourished before, the market is shifting to encourage more specialist businesses to grow.

While simplification might not sound appealing, this is your best chance to save a failing business as well as hone in a thriving one. Essentially, you need to cut away the chaff to get the very best results, profits and clients.

Find Your Specialism

The first thing you should do is decide what your specialism is. If you are currently offering a wide range of services, the easiest way to decide might be to look at where the best profits are and where your staff skill sets are most effective. You should also factor in the demand for a service to see whether it could be a viable business model on its own.

If your business is failing, finding your specialism might be more difficult. In this case, you should look at what sort of business you would like to transform into. It may be that you don’t just simplify your current business, but you do an entire rebrand to give yourselves a fresh start.

Outsource Other Services

Now that you have a specialism, you should make sure that you are not going to get distracted by other things. Though many large companies have IT and HR departments within their own business, for a smaller business, it makes much more sense to outsource these services.

For example, IT support is a necessary role within a business but outsourcing it is much smarter than hiring someone who won’t be needed all the time. Plus, outsourcing will mean that you can get the best team to help you, giving you continuous support and expertise at a cheaper rate.

Quality Not Quantity

It is always tempting to do as much as you possibly can in a business, but people are looking for so much more these days. They are looking for a high quality service that incorporates all their needs and reaches a high standard. In other words, people are looking for quality not quantity.

Though there are, of course, lots of business models that thrive on churning products and services out, for you to make a splash in the industry, this is not the route to go down. Instead, focus on getting as good at your specialism as possible and become a true expert in the field. This way, when people are reviewing you or recommending you to their friends, they can speak highly of the service you provided.

Most businesses are slim lining these days and in the age of the internet, it makes more sense to specialize in one thing and do it amazingly well than it does to offer everything at an average quality.

Ensuring Your Business Is Legal

June 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

If you are thinking of starting a small business, or are in the process of setting one up, then there is a lot to be thinking about. To be at this point, you are likely to have a plan in place an know what you want to be doing and achieving with the business. You’re likely to know the funding of it all, as well as what you want it to be called. But at the end of the day, you need to make sure that your business is legal and doing all that it should be. If it isn’t, then you really won’t have a business at all. Here are some factors to be thinking about.

Business Legal

Registering

To properly have a business, you need to be registered as one. Then it makes sure that you are declaring income, and paying taxes and all of that good stuff. Companies House is a good place to start, to check that the business name you want to use is available (though you can trade under a different name than the business name, you still need one). So register, and trademark any names that you need to, especially if you are starting a brand.

Legislation

The law can change on a few different things. After all, it was only last month that the European data protection regulations changed. And if your business isn’t compliant, there can be fines. That doesn’t only just apply to businesses in Europe. But if you have a business in Europe that sells to Europe, and has European customers, you need to adhere to the rules too. So you need to stay on top of the legislation, to make sure that your business is adhering to what it should be.

Insurance

If you don’t get insurance for your business, then you are opening yourself up to a whole heap of costly drama. In an ideal world, you won’t need to use it. But if you do need to use it, then it is going to cost you a lot of money without it. If you are planning your business well and keeping the rules, then things should be fine. But speaking to an insurance agency could guide you as to the best kind of insurance for your needs.

Data Protection

As well as keeping on top of the law and legislation for your business, it is a good idea to stay on top of other aspects of your business too. Take the data that you do have; what is your privacy policy? Do you have information locked away in a filing cabinet or is it all based online? What backups do you have? You need to make sure that you can’t be hacked, especially if you have customer data kept online. These can be small checks, but are what you need to do to make and keep your business legal.

These things are all part and parcel of owning a business, and are likely to be things that you have thought of already. But if you’re new to business, then I hope that this helps.

Upgrading To A Nicer Area – Some Helpful Tips

June 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Moving Up in Home

It’s unlikely that unless you are forced to, your move will be to a less-quality area than you are currently residing in. We all hope to aim up, be that in career moves or of course our living situation. Upgrading to a nicer area does require some insight on our part. Moving to a nicer area isn’t as simple as choosing a nicer looking or larger home and being done with it. There are many factors that go into ‘nicer’ and they might mean different things to different people, or be weighed with various priorities.

Keeping the following as a handy checklist will allow you to attach your hopes and tastes to a home, and make certain compromises where necessary:

Consider The Payoff

Moving to a nicer area can be wonderful, but it’s also something that might come with it’s own downsides. For example, a larger home will require more time cleaning, or will require investment in a professional weekly cleaning service. It also seems that the more you upgrade, the more the upkeep costs can be. For example, it might be that living in a gated community seems like a wonderful idea, but the payment you must make to ensure the collective security of the guard and fence station might be an unwanted side effect of the purchase. People have different levels of interest in different features and benefits of home living, so simply make sure the majority of the new considerations appeal to you rather than prevent you from enjoying your new home.

House market values can also change. It might be that a recent development near your new property is threatening to actually reduce the house prices of your new area, somewhat mitigating the financial cost in a manner you might not desire, despite the actual asset being a better living experience. This is up to you, so consider it carefully.

Consider The Neighbors

Moving to a nice area is likely to put you in contact with people who are a little more affluent than you have been used to experiencing. There is nothing wrong with this, but it can lead you to certain different social situations. For example, heading to dinner with your neighbor might be a much more expensive affair than you were used to as default. It might be that you feel a pressure to host a wonderful and extravagant dinner party simply because you were invited to one that blew your socks off.

Also, it does seem that when people have plenty, they are more adept and inclined to compare their home to those in their neighborhood. That might put you in the ‘keeping up with the Jones’ mentality from the moment your moving company places your last belonging carefully on the floor. This might not be the personality flaws of your neighbors, but your fault, as trying to adapt to our new social surroundings is a very common occurrence. This might not influence your decision to buy or even be a problem, but guarding against your own response can help you enjoy your property from the first moment.

With these simple tips, upgrading to a nicer area is sure to be well considered.