There has always been great debate over whether employees should take personal calls while working. It is understandable that a friend or family member would need to get in touch with you in the event of an emergency or for a number of reasons. While each company has their own policy on personal calls, cell […]
Articles
5 Ways to Properly Greet a Customer
When entering a store, most customers want to see an employee make a genuine effort to acknowledge and assist them. As a customer in a hurry, I might be just looking for one specific item and may need the assistance of the employee. However, if I am ignored and my time is wasted waiting for […]
Four Strategies for Addressing Company Conflict
It doesn’t matter what type of company you run, conflicts within your business are quite inevitable. These company conflicts generally fall into two categories. The first is known as interpersonal conflict and is defined as hostility between individual employees on a personal level, which could arise as a result of personality differences, a specific negative […]
How to Become More Productive at Work
Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, there’s a good chance that you’re concerned about improving productivity at work. Productivity tends to improve business operations, increase profits, and boost employee morale, and productivity is very closely linked to efficiency. Below you will find the top five tips for becoming more efficient at work: 1. […]
How to Become an Efficiency Expert
Hardly a week goes by without my being contacted by someone posing the question: “How do I become a business efficiency consultant?” After repeatedly (and inefficiently) responding to many of those emails with similar advice, I’m now sitting down to hopefully write out that advice in a more permanent form. Before I begin, however, let […]
Is Performance Based Pay Practical for Your Company?
Over the years, many companies have attempted to implement performance based pay for employees. Some have been successful with the programs, while others have experienced utter failure. So what makes a performance based pay program work in some situations and not others? Research and real-world trial and error suggest that the success of a performance […]
Combating the Mid Afternoon Productivity Lull in the Office
It’s the 3 o’clock lull, a universal experience in the stereotypical office environment. You can see it in the “yawn wave,” as cubicle after cubicle emits a restless sigh or groan. Tired, distracted employees move in their chairs aimlessly. Paper shuffling declines, while keyboard tapping grows faint, and an occasional snore is heard coming from […]
How to Stay Focused at Work During Tough Times
Staying focused at work during times of trouble at home can be extremely difficult. A divorce, death in the family, or other traumatic event can turn your entire world upside down. So how are you supposed to care about work (much less stay focused at the office) when your entire life feels like it’s been […]
Do Tuition Reimbursement Programs Benefit the Employer?
Tuition reimbursement programs – agreements in which you (the employer) agrees to finance all or part of an employee’s post-secondary education – are one type of benefit that many employers choose to provide to their staff. But it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether or not a tuition reimbursement program is right for your […]
Tips for Overcoming the Winter Blues at Work
Winter time can be a challenging season for the office manager who has a vision to increase employee performance and overall productivity. Not only does winter seem to increase employee sick days through the colds, flu, and viruses which have perfected the cubicle hop, but winter’s coldness and decreased daylight result in an increase in […]