Category Archives: small business

Being Mr. Mom: Stay-at-Home Dad Job Opportunities

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Father’s Day is quickly approaching; June 18 will be here before you know it! Our dads are our first hero; they are the strongest men alive and the best spider killers on the planet (well, mine is at least). Many have also taken on the role of “Mr. Mom.” If you just look at the cost of childcare, you’ll understand why some parents are opting to stay at home rather than pay for daycare. Though dads taking the stay-at-home caregiver role are slowly becoming a more common occurrence, it is still met with some social resistance.
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Show Me the Money: How to Ask for a Raise

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Have you been established in your current work position for a while? Do you think it’s time for a raise? Maybe you’re thinking, “How do I ask my boss for more money without sounding ungrateful or unhappy?” You’re in the right place. Today we are going to discuss the do’s and don’ts of asking your employer for a raise.

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PR Crisis Handling: Are You Ready?

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Public Relations is an important aspect of any modern business. Universities are offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the subject and most companies have entire departments dedicated to it. In a world of technology and social media, it is important to be proactive as well as reactive. Think about the most recent PR crises in the news. Pepsi with their release of an ad featuring Kendall Jenner, United Airlines with their handling of a customer interaction, and Ja Rule’s Fyre Festival. were all crises the companies had to react to immediately.

PR Crisis

Today we are discussing tips for businesses to better help them handle a PR crisis.

Address the Problem

A business can ignore many problems; a PR crisis is not one of them. Once a problem has been identified, the best way to work toward a solution is to acknowledge what went wrong. Then address how you plan to handle the situation. Make sure your solution is well thought out, sincere, and delivered appropriately. Americans appreciate honesty and solutions.

Is your company ready to handle a #PRcrisis? We’ll give you four tips.

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Take Time to Listen

If there are enough complaints for an issue to be considered a PR “crisis,” there is a reason it’s a problem. Listen to the public’s opinion of the situation. By listening and specifically addressing the issue, your business can rebuild the trust of its customers and clientele.

Stay Professional

No matter the issue, handle it professionally. As a business, the stakes are high during times of PR crisis. Avoid unprofessional interactions. This is most important on social media outlets.

Avoid Crisis

Employ a team of highly skilled PR professionals. Makes sure they are up to date on technology and social media etiquette. PR is a fast-paced, ever changing environment disaster can strike due to a lapse in education and current expectations.

 

There are many aspects of PR and crisis handling, many of which depend on the company’s PR reputation before the crisis. The best way to handle a PR crisis is by avoiding issues in the first place with a top-notch staff and continuing education. All it takes is a PR spark to ruin an entire business.

 

Changing Careers? Here are the Do’s and Don’t’s

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Change. So many feelings are caught up in just one word. Change can be scary. It can bring a sense of renewal. Many times we meet it with opposition. However, in the end, change is a fact of life; nothing stays the same forever. Since “The Great Recession” jobs are not as secure as they once were. Millennials are finding out that things are not how they were for their grandparents and parents who found jobs right out of school and stayed there until retirement. When you are changing careers things can be daunting. Though this can be stressful, it can also be very rewarding. Here are some do’s and don’t’s to consider when switching careers to help make the process go smoothly.

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Back to Work: How to Re-Enter the Workforce after Being a Stay at Home Mom

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MomFinding a new job using the skills you’ve acquired throughout your career can be hard. What if your most recent resume is filled with changing diapers, breaking up sibling battles, and preparing lunch while holding a toddler? Re-entering the workforce is a challenge facing many mothers. In recognition of Mother’s Day this weekend, we will discuss tips and challenges for those parents looking to re-enter the workforce.

Modern companies are designed to embrace rapid changes in the economy, workforce, and society. This is the biggest challenge for those who have been out of the workforce for as little as a year. Many parents find that they are over qualified for entry level positions, but have missed out on experience to get them to the next step in their career. How can you translate your time as a parent into the workforce? Below are some great tips to make sure you’re ready to go when the kids go to school.

Utilize Technology

Let technology be your best resource for brushing up on your skills. From finding jobs online to taking free classes to enhance your professional skills, use technology to help you ease back into the job market and keep up on industry news.

 Network

Mother and child

 

You haven’t been out of the workforce so long that networking has become obsolete. There are many ways to begin networking. Volunteer at a local nonprofit or your children’s school to meet other parents who can help you break back into the workforce. Yet again, use technology to network via LinkedIn.

 

Translate your skills

Take some time to sit down and think about all of the skills you’ve gained as a parent, then translate them to the professional world. Time management, leadership, communication, and attention to detail are skills that both parents and professionals need to have to make your workplace and household run smoothly.

Have you been a stay at home parent who has re-entered the workforce? What advice would you give others looking to do the same?

Let’s Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day!

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 Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  ~William Arthur Ward


This Wednesday, April 26, is Administrative Professionals Day. Because they are an important part of any business team, take a minute to celebrate by showing gratitude to your Administrative Professionals!  

Administrative Professionals DayHere are four ideas to show your appreciation of those who support your departments.

1.      Order Lunch! Have lunch in the office with the team today. Many restaurants and fast food restaurants will cater lunch for your office. Order ahead and get a variety of foods then take an hour out of the day to relax and have an enjoyable conversation. Tip: Give your administrators a break by doing the ordering yourself!

2.     Swag! Order some company swag for your administrators. Polo shirts, sweatshirts, pens, blankets, and keychains branded with your company logo make great gifts. Get something exclusive for your administrators to show your gratitude for all that they do within the company.

3.     Head to Hallmark! Stop into your local greeting card store and browse the Administrative Professionals Day cards (yes, there is a section for that!). Pick a card and personalize it for each administrator; express your appreciation for the work that they do for you and your department. You can also take this a step further by adding a gift card for lunch, a massage, or a local store.

4.     Extra Time! Show gratitude with the best gift you can give, and extra few hours or day off. Even though you depend on them, try to fend for yourself for an extra afternoon and allow your administrators some extra time off to themselves.

These are just a few ideas to help you recognize your administrative support team. Do you already have plans to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Employee Retention: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

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Whether you are an employee thinking about leaving your current position, or a supervisor wondering why you have so much turnover this post is for you. Today we will discuss reasons good employees leave their jobs and ways to keep them.

Why do good employees leave?

Although unhappiness may be one reason good employees leave their jobs, it isn’t always the top or even the only reason.

Thinking1.      Lack of growth and opportunity: The number one reason good employees leave is to pursue better opportunities for themselves. They may even leave for lateral or downgraded positions if they see better growth opportunities in a new company.

2.      Poor leadership and vision: Another reason good employees leave is due to company leadership. If leadership within a company is disorganized, one-sided, or barely present, good employees will look for a new position within a company that has vision.

3.      The absence of passion: Many employees will leave because they lack passion for the job, company, or field in which they are working. This is common with employees finishing degrees or training programs. They may be working in a field to get through college where they will leave to work in their field.

#EmployeeRetention: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

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 What can you do to keep your best employees?

1.      Provide growth and opportunity: As a company leader, be sure to provide growth and opportunity for your employees. This doesn’t always have to be by way of money and promotions; organize lunch and learns, trainings, or meetings with executives to allow your team the opportunity to create their own growth.  

2.      Manage using strong leaders: Choose strong leaders who will lead by example for your organization. Leaders who are mentors will encourage and inspire your employees to look for opportunity within the company.

3.      Create passion: Learn about your employees’ passions. If the job or field itself is not aligned with their passion, encourage employees to pursue their passions in other ways using the organization. Allow them to volunteer, promote philanthropic activity, and allow them to share their passions with the rest of the company through newsletters or emails highlighting their efforts.

Have you already tried some of these methods within your organization? Share in the comments your ideas for employee retention.

Dress for the Job You Want: How Dress Affects the Workplace

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Work clothingThey say, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” If that was the case for me, I’d be wearing a tiara and be dressed like Belle. Alas, a professional princess is a position that isn’t widely available. Dress codes are quite common in the professional world, some more relaxed than others. What you wear can affect many things–how you feel, how others react to you, even how you perform. So, why do employers institute dress codes, why are there so many controversies surrounding them, and how does it affect the workplace?

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Coaching vs. Mentoring: What’s the Difference?

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Coaching

Many leadership terms sound incredibly similar, however, when used as leadership strategies they may produce vastly different results. Today we will discuss two terms that fall into this category–coaching vs. mentoring. We will discuss what the terms mean, how they apply to organizations, and the different results each strategy can produce.

 

Coaching and Mentoring Meanings

Coaching is a term used to describe a leadership strategy focused on performance and goals. A coach is focused on the group and task at hand and driven by power and position.

Mentoring is a term used to describe a leadership strategy focused on facilitating individual growth and responsibility. A mentor is focused on giving advice, personal growth, and is driven by the value of growing relationships and individuals.

Does your workplace differentiate between #coaching and #mentoring?

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What do coaching and mentoring mean to organizations?

Both coaching and mentoring have a place in business and leadership. Coaching can be used when implementing new technology or systems, developing specific skills organization-wide, or helping a group of employees meet expectations. Mentoring, on the other hand, can be used as a tool for succession planning, developing expertise in specific departments, or helping individual employees grow within their roles.

Results

Coaching produces tangible results; it helps departments to meet productivity goals. On an individual level, it helps employees learn skills that may be holding them back in terms of technology or systems. As a whole, coaching helps the organization develop groups of talented individuals to accomplish organizational goals.

Mentoring, on the other hand, helps the organization develop future professional leaders.  On an individual level, mentoring gives professionals access to current leaders and resources they need to grow professionally for their future roles.  On an organizational level, mentoring aids the organization by developing dedicated professionals for succession planning and leadership roles.

Although coaching and mentoring seem similar on the surface, there are many different approaches to workplace development. Does your workplace differentiate between coaching and mentoring?

 

 

How to Find Your Pot of Gold Dream Job

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In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, today we will discuss how to identify and work toward finding your own “pot of gold” in the form of your dream job. Everyone has a dream job, that one employer or position they would stay with forever. Have you ever considered what your dream job would be? Are you currently working toward obtaining your “pot of gold”?

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