Giving employee feedback is considered by many managers to be one of the most difficult parts of their job, and many managers struggle with nearly every aspect of employee feedback, including when to give it, what types of activities warrant inclusion, how to deliver their message, and other specifics of the task. Because of this, […]
Communication
Developing a Policy for Employee Texting at Work
Years ago, employers’ biggest concern about communication during work hours involved employees using the business’s phone line to make expensive long distance phone calls on company time and with company money. However, the days of paying for long distance phone service have mostly gone the way of dial up internet connections and Facebook as solely […]
Handling Personal Calls and Texting at Work
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 […]
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 Handle Adjustments: Part 2- Refusing an Adjustment
Adjustment requests from customers are more common in some fields than others, but, regardless of your line of work, understanding how to effectively grant or refuse a customer’s request for an adjustment is an invaluable skill to add to your list of employee know-how. But how should you go about delivering the bad news and […]
How to Handle Adjustments: Part 1- Granting an Adjustment
Adjustments are a fact of life for nearly every company, so, with rare exception, all good employees should know how to go about handling adjustments. Depending on your line of work, adjustments could be a frequent and routine task, or they could be a task with which you are quite unfamiliar. Manufacturers of physical goods, […]
How to Use Social Media to Grow Your Business
Businesses across the globe have discovered the marketing power of social media. Social media is an effective tool for not only growing your customer base and increasing name recognition of your company or product, but also in garnering existing customers’ loyalty. Facebook, Twitter, and company blogs have all proven extremely useful as integral components of […]
How to Design a Good Business Website (Part 2)
A well-designed business website is an essential part of every business’s marketing campaign. Without a good website, customers are likely to abandon your business’s site in favor of a website that is easier to navigate, meaning you could lose many potential customers to competitors. Remember, your business’s website is often the first impression that customers […]
How to Design a Good Business Website (Part 1)
Designing a website is one of the most important things you’ll ever do as a business owner. We live in an age where customers turn to the internet for instant information, so businesses without websites or businesses with poorly designed websites are at a significant disadvantage. When designing your business’s website, it is important to […]
Three Things to Never Do When Designing a Good Business Website
Your business’s website is one of the most important marketing tools at your disposal. Your website will be many customers’ first impression of your company, so it is crucial for it to be well-designed and capable of acting as a reliable representative for your brand. There are a number of traps to which amateur website […]
How to Create a Culture of Trust Within Your Company
The importance of trust within a company is truly immeasurable. A culture of trust (also referred to as corporate culture of trust, although business cultures are certainly not limited to corporations) not only promotes a positive work environment, but it can also impact your company in more concrete ways. For example, a trusting workplace environment […]
How Do Cellphones, Facebook, and Personal Email Affect Productivity at Work?
There’s no denying that technology has become an integral part of our lives, and the implications for businesses are numerous. On one hand, cellphones and the internet have revolutionized the way companies across the globe do business, and employees are more accessible (and therefore more productive) than ever before – at least in theory. The […]
Addressing Uncomfortable Personal Issues in the Workplace
There are certain personal issues you will probably never feel comfortable discussing with your employees. Whether the discussion involves problems with attitude, inappropriate dress, inadequate hygiene, or cultural misunderstandings, your first instinct may be to avoid the situation altogether. However, these issues can – and often do – have a real effect on the productivity […]
Becoming a Better Negotiator (Part 2)
Negotiations are an essential component of doing business with other parties, and when your negotiating skills are well-developed, your chances of realizing mutually satisfactory deals are rather high. Although no two negotiation processes are alike, and the only certain way to become a skilled negotiator is through real life experience, the following general tips should […]
Becoming a Better Negotiator
As a business owner or high-ranking employee, learning to negotiate effectively in the business world is one of the most important skills you will ever need to employ. Successful negotiations often boast win-win outcomes and can benefit your company significantly, but if your negotiating skills are inadequate, you could be putting your business in serious […]