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 […]
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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 […]
How to Handle Employee Insubordination
Dealing with employees who don’t take your advice or listen to instructions Most managers and business owners have had the displeasure of dealing with an employee who failed to follow instructions, but even people who are experienced at the task still encounter difficulty with determining how to handle employee insubordination. It is necessary to address […]
5 Incredibly Easy Tips for Stopping Procrastination
Merriam-Webster defines procrastination like this: Procrastination: To put off intentionally and habitually. Everyone is guilty of the bad habit at one point or another, but some individuals are more guilty than others. People often procrastinate in order to avoid facing a situation, to put off making a decision, or because they “work best under pressure.” […]
Should You Work More Than 40 Hours a Week?
Maximize efficiency and productivity at work by limiting yourself to reasonable hours. How long is your work week? Fifty hours? Sixty? Seventy? If you consistently work more than 40 hours a week (or are the manager of employees that do), it’s probably time for you to make a change. Overwhelming evidence suggests that work weeks […]
Holding Employees Accountable for Performance
Employee performance in the workplace is a subject that can be evaluated from a multitude of different standpoints, one of which is the importance of setting employee performance standards. Establishing standards for measuring employees’ performance allows you as the business manager to evaluate employees’ achievements and effectiveness and make the adjustments necessary to encourage an […]
Alternatives to Layoffs
In times of economic crisis, many businesses find themselves facing the possibility of layoffs. They reason that the majority of their expenditures are in payroll, so logically, payroll should be the first area to face reductions. There are, however, hidden costs to layoffs, including severance packages and potential legal fees, as well as the future […]