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How I Turned $6,000 Into A Multi-Million Dollar Travel Empire (The Broke Backpacker’s Business Journey)

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broke backpacker

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by Will Hatton, founder of The Broke Backpacker

For more than fifteen years, I’ve been embarking on thrilling adventures to remote, off-the-grid destinations — and, for many of those years, I did it all on a budget of $10 a day.

I started documenting my travels online in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same. All of those that thought it wasn’t possible. I wanted everyone to be able to taste that very same life-changing freedom I was experiencing on the road…

My name is Will Hatton, and I’m the man behind The Broke Backpacker. My journey started at the tender age of nineteen when I found myself hitchhiking through India, immersing myself in its vibrant culture for over two years. With no fancy gadgets, I scribbled down my first blog posts on a battered iPod touch while navigating the unknown territories of the world.

Fast forward to the present day, and things are looking very different. As I write this article from the mesmerising Island of the Gods, Bali, in Indonesia, where I currently reside, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible path that led me here.

Over the years, my passion for travel propelled me to experiment with various online ventures. Along the way, I’ve founded a total of nine different businesses, each teaching me invaluable lessons, especially during the challenging times of the global pandemic. Despite facing numerous setbacks, I’ve persevered and came back stronger. Every frickin’ time.

Recently, I’ve fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening up a hostel – not your average hostel, though. Tribal Bali is the island’s first custom-built co-working hostel, designed to cater to aspiring adventurers that have ditched their desks to step away from the norm and forge their own destiny. I believe we’ve really built something unique and it continues to inspire me every day!

But believe me, reaching this point has been a whirlwind adventure, filled with triumphs, setbacks, and countless lessons learned.

In this article, I’m thrilled to take you along for the ride, sharing the ups and downs of my entrepreneurial journey. I’ll shed light on the invaluable lessons I’ve gathered along the way, empowering you to transform your own passion for travel into something truly extraordinary. 

Buckle up, fellow wanderers, as we embark on this wild ride together.

Laying the Foundation: Launching the Travel Blog

The early, early days of The Broke Backpacker began with handwritten notes I shared with fellow travellers during my time in India. Back then, travel blogs focusing on extreme budget travel were scarce. I was couchsurfing, camping and sleeping in train stations, really pushing my comfort limits – and very few people were covering that style of travel online.

On January 30th, 2013, the site was born with a mission to prove that travel is possible for almost anyone, even with no money, as long as they are capable to FULLY embrace discomfort — and to come out infinitely stronger on the other end.

In my ten years of travel blogging, there were significant moments that shaped the trajectory of The Broke Backpacker. I ventured into destinations like Venezuela before they became popular, I embarked on a journey from England to India without taking any flights, I hitchhiked all across Iran and through Pakistan’s wondrous peaks… and the raw accounts of those journeys started finding their way into the likes of BBC and the Daily Mail, earning valuable backlinks that would help build my authority in Google’s eyes.

As the site gained traction, I recognized the importance of building strong content silos, providing practical information for adventure planning. Our extensive backpacking guides, like the comprehensive guide to backpacking Europe, became our cornerstone pieces of content.

Additionally, our gear guides gained recognition for helping readers choose the right equipment for their hiking expeditions, their camping trips, you name it. Over time, we expanded to include “Where to Stay” guides and hostel recommendations, establishing a strong partnership with Hostelworld along the way.

As our audience grew, The Broke Backpacker became a trusted name in the travel community. Our content aims to inspire, educate, and inform, with writers who have firsthand experiences in the real world. Our readers can relate to the authenticity we put on the table. We have contributors from all around the globe living the broke backpacker lifestyle, keeping our content fresh and genuine.

We focused on ranking for relevant backpacker keywords, tailoring recommendations based on our readers’ preferences, whether they were digital nomads, couples, or party enthusiasts. Our readers trust our word, which often leads them to book through our platform, allowing us to earn a commission and reinvest in our growth.

Money is not all, obviously, and we do also prioritise serving our audience with valuable guides on topics such as avoiding burnout, maintaining mental health, travelling responsibly, reducing plastic waste, and staying safe at festivals, for example. We cover it all.

The financial success of The Broke Backpacker stemmed from our unwavering commitment to our core mission and our expertise in SEO and unique travel experiences. By implementing effective systems and assembling a team of exceptional adventurers, I built a formidable powerhouse that paved the way for expansion into other ventures.

From Backpacker to Business Visionary

There was a very important step I missed just there. Something that changed EVERYTHING…

Amidst my ambitious overland journey, I found myself backpacking Pakistan, a place that changed me for life. Since then, I’ve visited 5 times and I’m itching to get back (it’s happening soon amigos!).

And whilst travelling there for the second time in 2016, I had a crazy idea. I turned to my audience on Snapchat, which I had been developing through the unfiltered nature of my travel tales, and asked if folks would be interested in seeing this amazing country with me as their guide.

Without much thought, I tentatively put up a Paypal link to secure deposits and… overnight it sold out.

I suddenly had $6000 (12 x $500 deposits) in the bank. The most money I had ever had up until this point, which I immediately spent on trying to grow The Broke Backpacker, reasoning that I had 6 months before I led my first tour to Pakistan and therefore time to make the money back to fund the actual tour. 

It was a pretty big risk but… I had a plan.

The funds generated from this tour alone allowed me to invest further, hire writers, and focus on mastering SEO and targeting untapped niches. Fortunately, things worked pretty alright and slowly but surely, my humble travel blog was making its way to the top.

I spent a tough two years working my ass off until finally there was an explosion like moment where I was making enough to actually upgrade my lifestyle, and continue to invest in the growth of the blog. 

Diversifying Income Streams

I had always had a bit of an entrepreneurial eye, and as a young backpacker in India, I bought scarves and leather satchels and brought them back to the UK to sell at festivals. Whenever I returned to the UK, I packed my bag with as much hippy stuff as possible because I knew I could make 1000% selling it on eBay. 

I always worked on my travels and picked up jobs along the way. I’ve worked 100 crazy jobs all around the world: herding goats in the Holy Lands, handing out flyers in Vietnam, renting inflatable tubes in Laos, and unloading trucks. 

But it was online that I knew the real money was to be made. And so, when my travel endeavours started to bring in some cash, I decided to expand my efforts into different experiments.

In 2017, I launched several new online ventures to test out different ways to make money online. I experimented with content sites in all kinds of weird and wonderful niches, most of which have failed at one point or another – but others still bring a solid income to this date. 

I started a dropshipping company, Active Roots, in which I focused on selling backpacker essentials like hammocks and quick-dry towels. This crashed and burned hard during 2020 when shipping costs rose by 400%.

I also started an SEO agency with a business partner, which also crashed and burned hard in 2020 but I made about $30k out of it before it did – that one definitely counts as a success.

I also dabbled in cryptocurrency, getting in when a Bitcoin cost a mere $650… I traded an original investment of $9000 up to 7 figures at its height but lost almost all of this in a couple of short weeks. I ain’t much good at trading it turns out, and the anxiety and dreaming in freaking charts really didn’t help my mental health. Overall, my journey with crypto could have been remarkable but was not. One can still dream — can’t sell, won’t sell…

Amidst these diverse experiments and ventures, I never lost sight of my passion for travel. And it was during this period that I realised the immense potential to scale up my investments in the travel industry itself. With a keen eye for business opportunities and a deep understanding of the travel market, I began envisioning a project that would go beyond online ventures.

Inspired by my own backpacking experiences and fueled by the success of The Broke Backpacker, I set out to create something tangible — a one-of-a-kind hostel that would cater to the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs and digital nomads. This ambitious vision marked the next phase of my entrepreneurial journey, where I would bring together my expertise in travel, my knack for spotting untapped niches, and my determination to create a thriving travel empire. The seeds were sown, and it was time to turn dreams into reality.

The Travel Empire Grows

In the year of 2019, a spark of an idea led me and my buddy Mark to finally make the move on establishing a hostel. We both share a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of travel, and the ability to sustain one’s life on the road through our very own entrepreneurial pursuits. 

This shared passion helped bring our vision into reality, and so, Tribal Bali was born.

The idea of building the ultimate hostel for aspiring entrepreneurs and digital nomads to begin their online journeys had been a dream of mine for many, many moons…

The dream was to create a place that catered to the needs of digital nomads, aspiring entrepreneurs, and full-time travellers who were looking for a space that allowed them to 1. Hustle hard and 2. Still enjoy the best aspects of the backpacker lifestyle and community. 

Throughout my years on the road, I realised that there was a BIG gap in the market. As a digital nomad myself, I faced numerous challenges in finding accommodations that offered reliable Wi-Fi, quiet zones, and ample charging points. To that, you add great coffee, delicious food, a swimming pool, an almighty pool table… and you get a space where working travellers can really balance work AND play. 

The goal was to design a space that not only provided the essential amenities for digital nomads but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration amongst guests. We really believe we’ve created something special here and we are just getting started… 

Tribal has been specially designed to serve the entrepreneurship community, but it is a melting pot for broke backpackers, intrepid influencers, veteran digital nomads and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. We have individual co-working booths, plentiful rice-paddy views, delicious coffee, an extensive menu of healthy food and treats, lightning fast WiFi, standing desks and many different configurations of seating, tables, nooks and crannies. It’s sleek, custom-built and we have an incredible team on-site who really make the place feel homey. 

Moving forwards, we plan to expand Tribal and build some more private rooms, as they are literally fully booked weeks in advance, as well as adding in AC meeting rooms that can be hired by the hour. We are still learning how best to serve our community and we’re excited for these additions and some other secret projects I can’t quite reveal right now.

Tribal is a great place to network, to find your tribe, and to meet a friendly community of folks who have ditched their desks and stepped away from the norm with the dream of building their own online incomes or remote working their way to success. It’s honestly awesome to see so many folks from so many different backgrounds all working hard on forging their own destiny. 

Do come by and say hi if you ever find yourself around — and keep an eye out for exciting developments through Tribal’s Instagram.

Lessons Learned and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

I have gathered some wisdom over my decade of working online, so here are some of my top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs…

Discipline eats intelligence for breakfast: it is your sword and shield with which you shall cut your way through the fray and onwards to victory… Develop a strong routine that guarantees you have dedicated work time each day and keep chipping away. It takes TIME to build anything worthwhile, be consistent. 

Minimise distractions: Limit your tendency to procrastinate and practise good phone habits – if your phone constantly distracts you while working, keep it in another room.

Focus on the ONE THING that truly matters each day: identify the key task that will make the most impact on your business and prioritise getting it done before anything else.

Know when to outsource: Some tasks are best handled by you, while others are better suited for people who know it better. Deciding which is which requires some finesse. Ask yourself: Am I the best person for this task? Is it a recurring task with expensive outsourcing costs? If either answer is yes, take care of it yourself.

Be patient, work hard, dream big: Many people give up too soon or fail to commit to the hard work, getting caught up in trivial matters like endless logo redesigns or excessive social media use in the name of “work.” By cultivating a strong work ethic, practising patience on your journey, and setting ambitious goals, you’re already way, way ahead of the game.

Embrace failure: Fail cheap, fail fast, fail young. Try crazy things when you have little to lose. 

Educate yourself: Modern Wisdom is an awesome podcast for that. Consider reading Tools of Titans for valuable insights.

Use the right tools: Trello is incredibly powerful for organising thoughts and projects. A roll of statically charged whiteboards could literally change your life… these are endlessly useful for planning, habit tracking and goal setting. Use a journal to strengthen your mental health, focus on your wins, project out the steps you will take to reach your goals.

If you’re on the fence, I strongly encourage you to take the leap and pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. It is entirely possible to create the life you desire if you can motivate yourself to consistently put in the effort. Expect a journey of at least two or three years before reaping the rewards of your hard work.

Be ready to pay the price. It is hard work, but if you can remain disciplined, optimistic and proactive, anything is possible. Get out there, get it done. 

 

Will Hatton started travelling more than a decade ago as a headstrong and penniless youth, but his years on the road quickly turned him into an expert of the budget backpacking trade. He travelled, he made mistakes, and through it all, he found his calling – to explore, to share, to learn. Will is passionate about the power of budget travel as a personal development tool, and about teaching others to ditch their desks, embrace adventure and to build an online income.

 

Digital Transformation Is Changing These 3 Things About Hybrid Work

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by Joe Aherne, CEO of Leading Edge Group

If you weren’t familiar with the practices of hybrid work before 2020, there is a good chance you are now. The pandemic drove the swiftest and quickest transition to online work formats we have ever experienced.

Despite the overall success of the transition, many vital business practices got lost in translation. Additionally, the nature of work-from-home (WFH) has variable effects on productivity levels and employee communication. Not to mention company culture has been lost in the shuffle for many teams veering from in-person collaboration. Organizations now must deal with expanding teams and inadequate process improvements to maintain communication and collaboration amongst team members.

As it stands, adjusting to hybrid work is simultaneously an effect of and challenge for digital transformation.

The Current Digital Landscape

At this point, it almost feels difficult to remember the technological reluctance that many organizations had prior to the pandemic, because, for the last three years, everyone has been depending on IT leadership for solutions to WFH issues. Whether related to internal processes issues or external customer concerns, there has been accelerated dependency on IT support teams to help others troubleshoot issues and errors. Due to many organizations being rushed to carry their business processes into a hybrid working model, there has been limited time to dedicate to advising teams on best technological practices.

Many organizations have still not properly trained their team members on tech and security best practices for a hybrid model. For many teams, this has resulted in overall process deficiencies and a day-to-day work culture of simply trying to ‘keep your head above water’, so to speak.

What has changed in the workforce?

Culture.

The first thing to change in the workforce during the digital transformation is company culture. As teams switch to hybrid or fully remote environments, the values and practices that support culture can become less accessible and harder to practice in the new remote environment. Many companies struggle with higher employee churn, which is compounded by the new accessibility to larger talent pools through exclusively remote work. People switching positions more often and working without a centralized location often comes at the cost of writing off in-person collaboration altogether.

However, hybrid work environments supported by adequate technology and policy can ultimately elevate company culture. The remote environment provides more accessible policies that promote an agile culture, such as flexible start and end times and working from anywhere, which helps mitigate organizational costs and promotes a positive culture. Cultural change can be an incredibly positive thing for an organization, especially if it means that new digital processes are being implemented that save the company money and give the employees more flexibility. Use available technology to ensure your company’s culture is driven in towards positive change rather than stagnation.

Processes & Productivity.

The changing of company culture is a byproduct of changing processes and productivity. Processes can be streamlined with online project management tools and communication platforms that mimic in-person collaboration. Through the use of these tools, many teams have found that there are new ways to collaborate without the need for constant communication. In heavily collaborative environments, those who prefer independent working styles often feel that their mandatory meetings could have just been through email. In hybrid environments, digital platforms help make this switch while encouraging collaboration.

Streamlining processes to support different working styles is more accessible in the remote environment and can be capitalized on with the right technology. Using project management tools, secure instant messaging services, and even intranets and internal newsletters can increase productivity and keep the entire team more connected digitally.

Customer Experience.

While culture, processes, and productivity are all internal operations affected by increased reliance on technology, customer experience is an external element that has also been altered. Fortunately, increased digitization provides improved accessibility for communication between customers and businesses but creates heightened consumer expectations. The new and improved customer experience landscape relies on the IT team and corresponding technology to provide 24/7 access to services, no matter the organization. Mechanisms like live chat boxes are already leaning into artificial intelligence to serve customer demands better. However, with this new territory comes more concerns over privacy and security which must be addressed internally to ensure customers’ data is not compromised.

Leveraging Agile Principles in Digital Goals

Now that we have established how internal and external elements of work are changing to cement new digital transformation goals, we can explore the best practices for CIOs and IT teams to tackle this.

Since the turn of the century, business philosophies have focused on incorporating agile and lean principles into all facets of operations to better meet demands in the changing digital landscape. While both have a healthy obsession with the end result, agile encourages dividing the job into manageable, value-driven chunks completed in brief iterations while encouraging creativity along the way. Agile embraces change, while lean focuses on linearity. With change being a cornerstone of digital transformation, it calls for an agile response from IT teams.

Many different businesses are looking to be agile to optimize development processes. This requires a focus on cooperation between people working on each moving piece within the project. Digital transformation provides resources to promote creativity, a key pillar of agility training. Providing teams with the technology and training to improve and constantly innovate new ways to adapt will help to optimize your hybrid work environment.

Promoting Agile Digital Platforms In The Hybrid IT Landscape

If your organization still needs to embrace cloud technology in the hybrid space, this will be the first step in scaling your business and promoting agility for teams. Mixing the public and private to scale what information needs secure infrastructure versus what can be off-loaded to the cloud will greatly increase team flexibility. Additionally, when scaled appropriately for the organization’s size, the overhead cost should be less than that of traditional data infrastructure.

Even with integration into cloud computing services, security can remain the Achilles heel for IT teams, especially with remote and in-person work environments operating simultaneously. As discussed, one of the major benefits of the hybrid workspace, which has remained post-pandemic, is the flexibility it provides employees and employers alike. Therefore, to mitigate security challenges with employees using different hardware from anywhere worldwide, implement one digital workspace where employees’ devices can be added and discontinued as needed. This implementation will help maintain flexibility and security to improve teams’ agility.

Implementing these programs will put the IT team to work, but for great long-term rewards. Firstly, with cloud integrations, the company, through the extension of its IT team, has greater control over sensitive data. The noise from day-to-day tasks will remain on the public cloud allowing security to be scaled down and focused in one space for IT teams. Additionally, when it comes time to scale cloud services in either direction, this is much easier than traditional infrastructure. The agility provided by digital workspaces such as VMware cannot be understated either. Employees can securely access their workspaces from anywhere, at any time, and on any device, making the hybrid workspace a truly accessible place.

Conclusion

Digital, transformation, and agile are all loaded buzzword terms that have gained traction since many businesses shifted to remote work. Regardless of your opinion on these terms, the shift has dramatically affected how we think about hybrid work. On the surface, a digital transformation implies technical advancements and training, and many organizations have embraced remote and hybrid work using the technology available. At its core, however, leaders’ adoption of agile practices will help keep the humans behind the technology on track to meeting goals and ultimately transforming the workplace.

 

Joe Aherne

Joe Aherne is the CEO of Leading Edge Group, a leadership training and consulting organization focused on business transformation. As CEO he acts as relationship manager for many of the company’s continuous improvement consulting projects.

 

 

A Holistic Approach To Building A High Performing Team

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by Craig Goodliffe, Founder & CEO of Cyberbacker

As a business leader, your goal is obviously to have your employees functioning at the height of their capabilities. However, if employees feel unhappy or disillusioned in the workplace, chances are their output will suffer. It makes sense if you think about it — happy employees invest more in their company’s success, and are therefore more likely to perform better.

The importance of mental health in employee productivity

Recent trends have seen more businesses emphasizing mental health in the workplace. However, employers must do more to promote positive mental health for their employees than to allow workers to take a sick day or vacation time for a “mental health day.” Instead, there must be a radical shift in company policies to show employees that you legitimately care about their mental well-being.

Many employers work to improve workers’ mental health by offering downtime, PTO, and vacation periods. However, the most important thing for employers is to deliver on their promises in terms of employee benefits. For example, “unlimited PTO” has become more common among startups and other companies, but companies who choose this model must do so for the right reasons, and actually allow their employees to take advantage of this offer. If employees feel pressured not to take PTO, this policy could be worse on their mental health than offering a set amount of annual PTO.

Some business leaders might be surprised by how significant of an impact even minuscule adjustments to their business could have on their employee’s mental health. For example, the process of time blocking and hourly scheduling can be invaluable to an employee’s mental well-being. By breaking down the day into periods designated for specific tasks, productivity can be significantly improved. 

Many companies have also seen success by implementing stress-reducing workplace events. These events can be major — from team building exercises to catered lunches or post-work dinners — or minor — such as a break during the day for yoga or meditation. It’s important for business leaders to be sincere about these types of events, as employees can easily see through insincerity. However, so long as leaders show they care about their employees and their well-being, these events can help employees feel more valued and happy in the workplace.

Building a company culture conducive to employee performance

Indeed, even a small investment in the company’s culture can go a long way. As a business leader, your goal should be to create a culture of gratitude, with minimal negativity. Remember, energy is infectious. If you go about your day looking and feeling visibly unhappy, chances are this unhappiness could transfer to your employees. However, the reverse can also be true. Do your best to communicate feelings of happiness, and recognize your employees to make them feel more valued.

However, where many business leaders go wrong with employee recognition is thinking that the only form of recognition is pay. Sure, giving employees a raise for doing great work is important — arguably even necessary — to keep them feeling happy with their position and the company. However, there are other forms of recognition that are equally important, and each person may feel recognized in different ways.

There are many ways in which people can feel compensated: time off, self-expression, leadership, and the ability to grow vertically within the company, and — of course — pay. For most employees to feel fulfilled, they will need a combination of all of them, but there are some methods of recognition that will be more important than others. For example, one employee may feel more rewarded by being publicly recognized for their contributions — such as being thanked in a meeting or being given an award for their performance — while others may be more fulfilled by being given more responsibility through delegation or promotion. 

Another essential aspect of the workplace culture that is necessary to strong employee performance is a culture of open communication, as this is what is required for employees to trust their employer and workplace. According to the Harvard Business Review, “employees in high-trust organizations are more productive, have more energy at work, collaborate better with their colleagues, and stay with their employers longer than people working at low-trust companies.” However, it is important to remember that while it is difficult to build this trust, it is very easy to lose it, and nearly impossible to regain it once it is lost.

One of the most important steps to building trust with employees is asking questions, as this is the most natural way to create a conversation. However, it is essential that leaders not only ask questions, but also ask the right questions. Questions like “Are you happy in your position?” are unlikely to be much help because employees could find themselves intimidated answering anything but yes. Instead, take the time to gather feedback in a more valuable, honest way by asking specific questions about what you and your workplace get right — and wrong.

Prioritizing mental health in the workplace is a process that will take time and continued investment in employees’ well-being. However, it is important for business leaders to look at it as just that: an investment. By prioritizing employees’ mental health, you are likely to leave them feeling happier and more fulfilled in the workplace, and in turn, improve their productivity.

 

Craig Goodliffe new

Craig Goodliffe is the CEO of Cyberbacker. Launched in January of 2018, Cyberbacker is one of the fastest-growing remote working companies. For over a decade now, Craig Goodliffe has also been coaching people to achieve – and exceed – their goals. Craig enjoys coaching people who are truly committed to hitting their goals and helping them uncover their purpose.

 

Networking To Plug Entrepreneurs’ Skills Gaps

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by Emma Maslen, CEO and founder of inspir‘em and author of “The Personal Board of You Inc.”

People need to build (and rebuild) their networks over time, for example when you decide to set up your own business or have a portfolio career of part-time roles, or if you intend to seek out directorships once you’ve made it to senior executive level.

For entrepreneurs, building a network or ‘Personal Board’ can offer essential support. A Personal Board is a well-respected group of people built from your network, with whom you have regular contact, and whose advice you will carefully consider (even if you end up not acting on that advice). It emulates a corporate board as a group of key advisors who meet often to make strategic decisions about the recommended next steps for a person or organisation.

Extending your network

Your network is the keystone – the foundation – of your Personal Board strategy. A Personal Board should not be a static concept. It needs to evolve alongside you, adapting to your career, your promotions, new markets, new sectors, new skills, etc.

Common stumbling blocks to extending your network include:

  • ‘I just don’t know how to get those connections.’
  • ‘I don’t know how to meet the people I need for my Personal Board.’
  • ‘I’m not comfortable searching for people I don’t already know.’

Today’s generation has a significant advantage when setting up a Personal Board. The internet and the advent of social media render the world a far smaller, more intimate space, as evidenced by the original six degrees of separation theory having been reduced, by 2016, to less than four degrees.

If you have any reservations about extending your network, remember the specific purposes for and benefits of your Personal Board:

  • New role:
    • Acquire new skills for the new elements of the role.
    • Increase your ideas and knowledge of a new industry.
    • Expand your network, getting to know key people in the industry
  • Customer connections:
    • Extend your client base if you are starting a business.
    • Make customer connections if you are engaged in a customer-facing role.
  • New territory/country:
    • Improve your local market knowledge and connections.
  • Peer review:
    • Benefit from new peer-to-peer connections.

There are endless benefits to expanding your network. Pretty much any new role, business or promotion will require a shake-up and expansion of your network, and asking your existing Personal Board members to provide you with their valuable connections can be a game-changer too.

Asking contacts for contacts

It’s simple. There are people out there who can potentially help you, but you don’t know them. However, some of your network contacts do.

One of the most effective uses for your Personal Board is to brainstorm additional connections that could impact your situation or future.

When asking your contacts for new connections, the trick is to make the introduction quick and easy. You then need to ‘sell’ the meeting and arrange it with as little hassle for the other person as possible.

If these are new connections and you are looking for a deeper level of help and assistance, there will be a process you will need to go through to establish the new link, to build the relationship and rapport, before finally asking the connection to help you. This does take time and should be a consideration when you are thinking about what you are going to ask of them.

It can be easy to make initial connections, but there’s no guarantee every person will respond positively to every request they receive. However, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by nearly all the reactions you receive.

Linking people in this manner costs me virtually nothing in time, and providing I have thought carefully about a connection that will be relevant and useful, I have managed to help both parties. This way I am placing a penny in the jar for a later day when I might need a connection.

Most senior people understand the value of helping others, whether that is for building connections, enhancing their personal brand or simply for the good feeling from helping others. When I hear of an opportunity or receive a request, I immediately consider whether there is anybody in my network who might be able to help, and I’d say that around 80% of the time somebody gets something materially useful out of the situation. It’s worked for me many times over with my Personal Board, and I am confident it will continue to yield results.

 

*this is an adapted extract from “The Personal Board of You Inc.” by Emma Maslen

 

Emma Maslen

Emma Maslen is a sales leader, coach, CEO and founder of inspir‘em and author of The Personal Board of You Inc. She works with start-ups, scale-ups and large enterprises, coaching their teams to higher growth and in 2018, became an angel investor through Angel Academe.

 

The Bottom-Line Benefits of VoIP Technology

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by Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is the evolution of outdated PBX (Private Branch Exchange) calling, allowing phone calls to take place over an internet connection. The benefits of adopting a VoIP phone system are big, and it starts with your business’s bottom line.

Here, we’ll break down the difference between VoIP and more traditional solutions while exploring how the technology can improve business outcomes altogether through:

  • Better employee and customer experiences
  • Reduced cost and complexity
  • Seamless cloud migration paths
  • Support for a flexible, extensible solution

How is VoIP an improvement over legacy systems?

VoIP phone systems offer advanced features and modern flexibility that PBX simply can’t match. And adopting VoIP can yield tangible results for your company, including:

1. Easy deployment, onboarding and maintenance.

Cloud-hosted VoIP solutions eliminates the need for on-premises PBX hardware. So, adopting cloud-hosted VoIP mitigates all of the associated maintenance and management of that hardware. This ultimately leads to less of a need for internal IT to troubleshoot and amend issues. With that saved time and budget, businesses can focus less on upkeep and more on productivity.

2. Better call quality.

Another benefit of moving to a cloud-hosted VoIP phone system are the advanced features a business can take advantage of. Advances in AI for collaboration have led to much better call quality for fully cloud-hosted VoIP phone systems. From background noise removal and audio intelligence to personalized voice optimization settings, call quality is taken to a whole new level, which means less distractions for remote and hybrid workers and less interruptions for any size call.

2. Advanced functionality and features that are always up to date.

Landlines are limited to a single function: voice. With VoIP, users can communicate in real time with voice or video calls, and keep software stay up to date thanks to the cloud—among a myriad of other functionalities.

The best VoIP phone systems include a single dashboard to manage users and onboard new team members. Plus, you eliminate the headaches of PBX installation, since you can port over existing lines or create new lines without external help.

3. Built-in security that protects sensitive data.

Thanks to additional layers of encryption like Transport Layer Security (TLS), VoIP offers built-in call and data protection that’s better at guarding sensitive information than landline phone systems.

4. Improved collaboration.

With an increasing number of professionals working in a hybrid environment, employee availability and their ability to connect to each other is essential. Leading VoIP providers can deliver elite features to make team collaboration smoother in these cases. For example, the ability to elevate a VoIP call into a full video conference with ease. Or the ability to use a personal mobile phone with the native phone dialer when on-the-go and transition to any other device without leaving the call. And of course, teams need full-featured communication capabilities—instant messaging, group chats, file and screen sharing, and breakout calls.

How a cloud VoIP phone system can improve your business’s bottom line

The improvements that VoIP makes over legacy PBX systems will help your business’s bottom line. Here’s how:

1. Reduced capital costs.

Without the need for additional hardware or service packages, VoIP is far more affordable than landline calling. It’s not unusual for traditional private branch exchange (PBX) systems to cost upwards of $1,000 per user. On average, VoIP systems come in at a much lower cost per user, usually somewhere around $20 per user, per month.

2. Scalability for evolving workplaces.

Without the need for additional hardware, and the only requirement being an internet connection, VoIP is much easier to scale as IT personnel are able to add additional lines and numbers with ease, all in one dashboard. This gives VoIP a clear business advantage over traditional PBX.

3. Supporting flexible work environments.

VoIP empowers businesses to lean fully into hybrid work. With the right tools, employees can work more easily from home and with less trouble than outdated communication tools. With that, VoIP can have a material impact on efficiency of your business by providing streamlined communication to all employees, no matter where they’re working from.

4. Easier management and administration, and reduced IT costs.

Another key benefit of VoIP technology is how much easier it is to manage for your IT department. Typical VoIP solutions feature a centralized platform for administration. This empowers IT admins to monitor call performance for the entire phone system and every user from a single dashboard. From optimizing call quality and bandwidth utilization to easily adding users, this feature makes life easier for your entire IT team.

Key takeaways

VoIP enables better experiences for employees and customers across the board while being more affordable, reliable, and flexible than legacy PBX technology. Its benefits far outweigh those offered by traditional landlines. And, it’s incredibly easy to move away from a PBX system to cloud-based VoIP. Whether taking a phased approach or moving completely to the cloud, businesses can significantly cut costs, simplify management for IT, and make work easier for every department.

 

Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco has more than 10 years of experience across the technology, healthcare, interior design, consumer goods, and fashion industries. Unpacking the human aspect of the product experience is what informs his writing most. In his spare time, Reilly has published and shortlisted fiction in a variety of national literary magazines.

 

The Benefits Of Talent Pairing For Service-Based Businesses

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by Gerlie Corachea, Director of Talent Pairing at Cyberbacker

Today’s labor market remains tight, meaning businesses must continue to prioritize worker retention. Talent pairing is an onboarding strategy that can help companies keep their valuable workers. This approach is especially important for service-based businesses, which often rely on the relationships employees build with clients to generate revenue.

As Director of Talent Pairing at Cyberbacker, I spend the vast majority of my time thinking about how to match the right people to the right roles. Below, I explain the benefits of talent pairing, as well as best practices for doing it successfully.

Why service-based businesses should employ talent pairing

Talent pairing is just like it sounds — the process of pairing talent with the appropriate roles.

Matching individuals with the roles that fit them best is an effective way to keep workers happy and engaged. When people feel capable, competent, and valued in a role that suits their own unique strengths and talents, they rate their job satisfaction higher. This makes them more committed to their organizations and boosts their performance.

Talent pairing is also an effective retention strategy. Since many service-based businesses depend on the connections that employees establish and maintain with customers, when employees leave, clients may also face the decision of whether to stay or go. This makes employees’ job satisfaction even more important for service-based businesses than other kinds.

Effective talent pairing is essential because when people are in the wrong roles, it’s only natural for them to seek alternatives. Some of those options may come from within your organization, but the majority will be found elsewhere.

The US Department of Labor estimates that employers lose at least 30 percent of an employee’s first-year salary when they make a bad hiring decision. By putting people in the right positions from the beginning, you can ensure that new hires will not only be productive, but also want to stay.

If companies don’t invest enough time and resources into talent pairing, they can miss opportunities, fritter away productivity, and lose good staff. All those problems lead to a negative impact on the bottom line.

Best practices for talent pairing

When pairing talent with open roles, it’s necessary to know as much as possible about the available position. Toward that end, I take lots of time to understand the role in concrete detail. How would an employee in that job spend their day? Is the work predominantly task-focused, or would it involve relating with other people?

It’s also necessary to spend a lot of time paying attention to the candidates. Even in a competitive labor market, organizations should take care to select the best people. There’s a big difference between talent and non-talent, but the key difference is that talent will give you solutions to problems and continuously raise the bar. Those are the kinds of people you should look for.

While reading resumes will give you a sense of candidates’ training, skills, and abilities, each is a unique human being. Spend time getting to know them. How are they wired? What are their strengths?

Conducting formal assessments of candidates’ values and personalities can be a big help for this part of the process. For instance, extroverts who love to talk to people are generally good for public-facing roles, while those who find interaction draining are probably a better fit for back-office or administrative roles.

The employees’ own sources of motivation should also be considered, perhaps even as the most important factor when it comes to talent pairing. For instance, some people love to establish order and provide structure, while others like to explore and expose themselves to new ideas. It’s important to know what motivates any given employee, so you can ensure their role meets these needs.

Matches shouldn’t just look good on paper

Many HR professionals and business leaders may feel tempted to place an individual in a role if he or she has special expertise in that area, but this can be a mistake if the given worker doesn’t have the desire to do that kind of work. They might be supremely qualified, but what would they actually enjoy doing? What do they want to do and how do they desire to grow professionally?

In my experience, it can be better to put someone in a new area they want to learn about — as long as there is a reasonable expectation they would succeed — than to insist they do something that replicates their decades of experience on paper.

In addition, I like to keep the culture of the particular team in mind when looking for the right new employee. However, there is a limit to the amount that any human resources professional can foresee. At the end of the day, some people get along and others don’t, sometimes for no apparent reason. That’s why it’s also important to arrange meetings between existing team members and new prospects — everyone needs to feel comfortable. When both sides can discuss their expectations, outcomes improve.

How to employ talent pairing

If talent pairing sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. I would be lying if I said that hiring managers can control every part of the process and that mistakes never happen. But the more you get to know your candidates, roles, and teams, the greater the chance you’ll pair people successfully.

In addition, the more time and effort you invest upfront, the less likely you are to be fooled if someone stretched the truth on their resume or lied on their personality inventory. By pairing talent with the right roles and avoiding bad hires, you can ensure your entire business will grow.

 

Gerlie Corachea is the Director of Talent Pairing at Cyberbacker, the leading provider of virtual assistance services worldwide. An expert in talent management, onboarding, culture, and skills training, she manages the Career Division at Cyberbacker, which is responsible for pairing candidates and clients within the organization.

 

9 Steps To Take To Prepare Yourself For The Most Important Meeting Of Your Day: Sleep

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by Dr. Dwight Chapin, author of “Take Good Care: 7 Wellness Rituals for Health, Strength & Hope“

In sleep, you unlock a powerful therapeutic force that protects the mind and body. Think of it as a daily reboot. The goal is not perfection.

Give yourself permission to rest. It will charge your performance. If sleep continues to be difficult, bring your desire to improve the quality of sleep to your next appointment with your primary healthcare practitioner. There is help available.

Getting your sleep-wake cycle regulated is essential to living up to your potential. Set your bedtime like an important business meeting. Show up to this meeting on time and prepared — lights out, TV off, and phone out of reach. If logging seven to nine hours a night is a challenge, start by going to bed twenty to thirty minutes earlier each night for a few weeks until you meet the recommendations.

Go to bed and wake-up at the same time every day. Schedule seven to nine hours of sleep every night if you are between the ages of eighteen and sixty-four, and seven to eight hours if you are aged sixty-five and over. This is the most important meeting of your day.

Take these steps to show up for this meeting prepared:

1. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine late in the day.

My rule is no caffeine after lunch. Caffeine hits the body quickly, and its impact can linger with a half-life (the time it takes your body to eliminate half of the substance) of roughly three to five hours. Consuming caffeine late in the day can cause lighter and more disturbed sleep that night. In a 2013 study, researchers found that consuming 400 mg of caffeine (a large Tim Hortons coffee has approximately 140 mg of caffeine) six hours before bed cut total sleeping time by more than one hour.

2. Avoid alcohol consumption too close to bedtime.

Alcohol may speed the onset of sleep, but it disrupts your sleep quality in later stages as the body begins to metabolize the alcohol. This process causes arousal. Alcohol will also reduce  the amount of time that you spend in deeper sleep stages, which has an adverse effect on memory, concentration, and physical coordination.

3. Exercise can promote good sleep.

Keep your vigorous exercise to the morning or late afternoon. A relaxing exercise, such as a gentle yoga class or a casual neighborhood stroll with your dog is fine and can be done before bed to help initiate a restful night’s sleep.

4. Do not consume large meals close to bedtime.

Eating can be disruptive right before sleep. Pre-bed snacks will also sabotage your efforts with Wellness Ritual #3 – Fight for Your Waistline.

5. Ensure adequate exposure to natural light.

This is particularly important for people who may not venture outside as frequently. Light exposure within the  first thirty to sixty minutes of your day will help you maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle. If you are up before the sun, turn on artificial lights and get outdoors for a few minutes once the sun rises.

6. Establish a regular relaxing bedtime routine.

Prior to your committed bedtime, take twenty to thirty minutes to begin to unwind. This practice cues your mind and prepares you for sleep. Try to avoid emotionally charged conversations  and activities right before bed. A hot bath or shower, reading, or listening to a meditation app may be helpful. (I recommend the Calm App. As a side note, listen to LeBron James’ seven-minute podcast on “The Power of Sleep” featured on  this app for extra sleep motivation). Do your best to maintain a consistent sleep  schedule seven days a week.

7. Associate your bed with sleep.

If falling asleep is a challenge, avoid watching TV, surfing the web, or reading in bed. Keep your bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature. If you are still tossing and turning after thirty minutes, get up. Listen to some relaxing music or read a book until you feel sleepy, then return to bed. Research has shown that this helps to train your mind to associate your bed with sleep instead of struggle.

8. Track sleep patterns.

Tracking the trend line of your efforts to practice this Wellness Ritual helps link the quality of your daytime performance with the quality of your sleep. Download a smartphone app or purchase a wearable smart  bracelet or watch. Smart technology can record sounds and movements during sleep, journal hours slept, and monitor heart rate and breathing patterns.

9. Ask for feedback.

Discuss your sleep patterns with your partner. If you snore  loudly, gasp, or seem to choke during sleep, you may have sleep apnea. There are treatments available, including weight-loss strategies and pressurized masks to facilitate better breathing, which can dramatically improve sleep quality.

 

*excerpted with permission from “Take Good Care: 7 Wellness Rituals for Health, Strength & Hope” by Dr. Dwight Chapin

 

In his private practice, Dr. Dwight Chapin has successfully demonstrated the role chiropractors can play in acute, chronic, and preventative care, corporate health, and sports performance. Dr. Chapin has made it his life’s mission to care for, educate, and inspire others in their journey toward optimal health. In his first book, “Take Good Care: 7 Wellness Rituals for Health, Strength & Hope“, he brings the science of preventative medicine to life.

 

The Role Of Risk Intelligence In Banking Stability

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The bedrock of conventional banking is subjected to an escalating array of threats. Risks as diverse as credit, market, operational, and liquidity loom, poised to destabilize even the most robust financial establishments. This intensifying cyclone of uncertainties amplifies the crucial role of risk intelligence in banking.

Unraveling the Intricacies of Risk Intelligence

To navigate this tempest, banks need more than an armored vessel; they require an advanced navigational system – a sophisticated risk intelligence platform. But what does this system entail, and how does it fortify banking structures?

Risk intelligence is a holistic strategy designed to aid institutions in the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of a broad spectrum of risks. It is far from a mere luxury; it is an essential lifeline for sailing the turbulent waters of the banking domain.

Predictive Analytics

At the core of this platform pulsates the power of predictive analytics. This cutting-edge tool equips banks with the capability to foresee potential hazards by meticulously analyzing past patterns and datasets. Thus, it enables the prediction of risk scenarios and the crafting of fitting countermeasures.

Real-Time Reporting

Real-time reporting, another cornerstone, bestows banks with the capacity to persistently scrutinize the risk environment. This constant vigilance allows for the rapid reaction to evolving threats, minimizing damage and facilitating a smoother voyage.

Scenario Modeling

Scenario modeling, the final key component, permits banks to construct ‘what if’ scenarios for various eventualities. This valuable precautionary measure prepares banks with a battle plan even before risks metamorphose into full-blown crises.

Implementing a Risk Intelligence Framework

Implementing a risk intelligence management system is a comprehensive and precise operation that necessitates the thoughtful contemplation of several determinants:

Regulatory Compliance – Primarily, the framework should be in harmony with all relevant regulatory obligations. Banks must ascertain that the platform bolsters their compliance prowess rather than hindering it.

Data Quality – Secondly, the data’s quality cannot be compromised. Pristine, high-grade data is non-negotiable for the generation of accurate analytics and reporting.

Technology Infrastructure – Subsequently, the institution’s technological infrastructure should be potent enough to accommodate the risk intelligence platform. For many entities, especially those transitioning towards fintech risk intelligence, this step may necessitate considerable technological advancements or modifications.

Organizational Culture – Lastly, the creation of a risk-conscious organizational culture is imperative. Banks need to cultivate a milieu where every member acknowledges the merit of risk intelligence and is committed to its effective deployment.

Risk Intelligence in Decision-Making and Crisis Management

Risk intelligence transcends the realm of risk identification and mitigation; it carves a niche for itself in strategic decision-making and crisis management.

Armed with insights derived from the risk intelligence platform, banks are empowered to make strategic decisions, aligning their tactics with the discerned risks and prospects. During a crisis, a bank imbued with risk intelligence can swiftly navigate the stormy seas and chart its course back towards stability.

Cultivating a Risk-Aware Culture

To anchor banking stability, a risk-aware culture must be steadfast at the command deck. The torchbearers of this transformation should be the leaders, underscoring the significance of risk intelligence and stimulating its assimilation across the organization. Training initiatives can infuse a deeper understanding, while transparent, effective channels of communication guarantee everyone is tuned to the same frequency. Only under these conditions can the best risk intelligence platform fully unfold its potential.

Collaborating with risk management consultants can provide banks with expert steering in establishing their risk intelligence frameworks. However, the selection of consultants should be conducted with due diligence, ensuring that their advice is compatible with the bank’s needs and not solely marketing a particular platform or solution.

Just like the boundless ocean, the terrain of finance is ceaselessly in flux. To stand resilient amidst these oscillations, risk intelligence strategies must be agile, responding to emerging financial trends and threats. Banks must perpetually learn, adapt and innovate, ensuring that their risk intelligence platforms remain a trusted compass guiding them through the treacherous waters of banking risks.

By adopting such a proactive and comprehensive approach, banks can convert risk from an ominous threat into an opportunity for growth and stability. They can transform the challenging uncertainty of the banking environment into a more manageable and navigable terrain, ensuring their long-term resilience and success in an increasingly complex and volatile world.

This transformation isn’t just about embracing advanced technology or regulatory compliance. It’s about a fundamental shift in culture, in mindset, in the very way banks perceive and handle risk. It’s about being prepared, not just for the risks we know about today but for the unpredictable risks of tomorrow.

So, as the winds of financial change continue to blow, banks that make risk intelligence a central part of their strategy will be better equipped to set sail into the future, no matter what storms may come. Because in the end, it’s not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those most adaptable to change.

 

3 Low-Cost, High-Impact Tips For Aspiring Business Leaders

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by Donald Thompson, co-founder/CEO of The Diversity Movement, author of “Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success”

I have grown companies, sold companies, and coached global business leaders. By most standards, I’ve done well, but my success was built on years of working hard, learning from poor decisions, and understanding how to dream big (and win big), even when I was underestimated based on someone else’s vision of “success,” usually defined by pedigree or pigmentation.

My backstory is filled with twists and turns, but centered on hustling and working smartly to achieve my aspirations. I have seen firsthand how young leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs feel pressured into expensive training programs, MBAs, or bootcamps in hopes of advancing based on an outside vision of what it takes to be accomplished.

While these are fine paths for some people, I also know growing your business knowledge and gaining leadership skills is a lot easier and less costly than you think. The following high-impact, low-cost leadership practices helped me reach my leadership goals and I think they will benefit you too.

1. Network as if your life depended on it.

Your success in business depends on your network; take time to cultivate meaningful relationships. To carefully curate a winning network, be proactive and selective as you build it. Work on building your network before you need it. Connect with successful business people who can relate to your hustle and dreams. Your hunger for success reflects their younger selves and adds to their desire to help you.

Don’t be afraid to direct-message a few questions or send an invite for a coffee chat.  Many successful executives want to help, but they do not have time to waste on small talk. Prepare for meetings by writing down worthwhile questions about their decision-making process. Then, ask thoughtful questions about lessons they’ve learned, pathways to success, and their core qualities. The more you know about their personal and professional growth journeys, the more you can apply those lessons in your own career. Leaders feel valued and important when they can share their knowledge and experiences.

Also, seek out peers on a similar leadership path. From sharing knowledge gleaned from mentors to sharing business opportunities, like-minded peers provide a unique support system and valuable resources. The connections you build with other aspiring leaders and successful leaders will carry you throughout your leadership journey.

2. Always be learning and improving.

As a leader, it can be easy to fall back on the old “tried and true.” However, that can block you from embracing new ideas, trends, and strategies. Be open-minded and adaptable. Approaching problems in a different way takes deliberate effort. Lots of people remember the comedic approach to this in Seinfeld, when George did the opposite in every instance. It was funny on TV, but can actually be beneficial as a way to break out of rigid thinking.

As leaders get more experience, they realize that success is really about the collective effort of teams, not the greatness of individuals. One way to build unity is to seek input from teammates. Create an environment of mutual trust where those around you feel comfortable voicing their viewpoint or suggesting a new approach. You’ve selected this team, empower them to use their skills.

A consistent trait among highly-accomplished executives is voracious reading. This is a characteristic that you can mimic by reading books by leaders in your field. Then, add knowledge to what you’re learning by listening to podcasts and signing up for newsletters that address industry and marketplace trends.

3. Empower your team and be a good teammate.

Strong interpersonal skills are key to getting great people in your corner. Inclusive leaders lead from a “we” perspective. Ask your team, “How will ‘we’ take on this challenge together?” You win collectively in an environment where all voices are heard and valued, not just the loudest or most outspoken.

After you define objectives, give your team ownership over planning and execution. This is how you empower and engage workers to be their most productive.

As a rising leader, become efficient enough that you can handle your workload in 85% of your time. Use the other 15% of your time to help your team. Stretch yourself and take a task off your boss’ plate. Efficiency and selflessness goes a long way when it comes to promotions.

Always try to be the team member who goes above and beyond to help. Being selfless helps create connections, motivates, and increases productivity. When the need arises, your team will be willing to take on challenging tasks based on how you role modeled what you expect from them.

Let’s be realistic, not everyone can afford the costs associated with education programs and other pricey options. There is always room, however, for you to seek out alternatives, especially if you are willing to put specific practices into your daily and weekly journey. I guarantee you will see benefits. And, if you aren’t convinced, connect with me on LinkedIn and drop me a note if you’d like more information.

 

Donald Thompson

Donald Thompson founded The Diversity Movement to literally change the world. TDM’s global recognition centers on tying DEI initiatives to business objectives. He is the author of “Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success“ and hosts the podcast “High Octane Leadership in an Empathetic World”. As a leadership and executive coach, Thompson has created a culture-centric ethos for winning in the marketplace by balancing empathy and economics.

 

The New Grad’s Influence-Building Skill Set: 12 Tips For Thriving In An Uncertain World

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by Robert L. Dilenschneider, author of “The Ultimate Guide to Power & Influence: Everything You Need to Know“

It’s graduation season, and young people everywhere are in a time of great transition. Whether that’s high school or college receding in the rearview mirror, you’re zooming toward the future (well…perhaps after enjoying a bit of well-earned fun). I have a two-part message for you. One, it’s time to get focused on building your influence skill set. And two, make sure you understand what influence really is.

We live in a time of great upheaval. Our lives have been upended by a pandemic, social change is accelerating, and technology is reshaping our lives in ways we don’t even comprehend yet.

When all paradigms are being disrupted, our ability to influence becomes incredibly important. It’s what allows us to find the opportunity hidden in the uncertainty. It’s what allows us to thrive in virtually any field and any job. It’s what gives us staying power.

There are lots of misconceptions about influence. It’s not about being pushy or manipulative or convincing resisters to change their mind. And the rise of social media “influencers” (with their short-term focus on getting “likes” and orchestrating superficial trends) hasn’t helped.

Growing your influence is about deciding how to direct your power. My message to grads is this: As you’re figuring this out, don’t confuse activity with progress. Don’t get caught up in things that might make you highly visible but fail to build real influence.

Whether you’re heading off to college or searching for (or stepping into) your first real-world job, here are a few tips for growing your influence skill set:

Start with a complete self-inventory.

What are your values? You must start here, because this is what drives everything else. Influence is about who you are, not just what you do. When you’re young, you may still be learning about yourself, and that’s fine. But be sure to ask yourself why you want the power to influence others.

Will you use your power for personal gain or for the greater good? “Do you want to have the power to lord it over others or the power to make things happen that will benefit many?  The way you use your power says a lot about your character and will determine your legacy.

Ask yourself: How can I help others?

Counterintuitive as it may sound, real influence comes from the ability to help the people around you and shape the world into a better place. This is what makes others want to follow you and what will ultimately drive your success.

Find a cause that matches your interests and passions. Use your skills and talents to support it. Your help may not be monetary. It may be something less obvious, like the ability to help people think creatively. Not only will you draw others to you, you’ll become a better person and experience a real sense of fulfillment.

When networking, focus on what you can do for others, not vice versa…

It’s not just shaking hands and smiling at networking events. It’s about really connecting with people based on shared values and being prepared to add value. And it’s not a one-way street.

Focus on what you have to offer. Research industries and leaders you are likely to meet. Have something to talk about with them that will convey your knowledge and interest. And most of all — listen. The people you connect with need to come away thinking about what you could do for them, rather than the other way around.

… and know that it’s an ongoing process, not a “one-and-done” activity.

You may think the purpose of your network is to grow your business, make sales, recruit, or be recruited. But the truth is that it’s about building relationships. You are not there, hat in hand, seeking a job. That may come eventually, but don’t be so desperate to make it happen. Life unfolds in its own time.

Keep your name in front of people you want to connect with.

Make a list of people you would like to know in your field, the media, politics, or other realms. Then narrow that list to a manageable number. Research their backgrounds, such as where they went to school, what boards they serve on, their charitable causes. Then, find ways to regularly connect with them.

I know a fellow who wanted to reach three key people. He put their names in his electronic Rolodex, and when something would come up in the news related to their interests, he would contact them with the information. It was an enormous help in making connections. Don’t overdo it, of course. You want to be helpful, not pesky.

When making personal connections, know that the little details matter.

Much depends on how you interact with others. Always be nice. Know birthdays and send cards with a short personal note. Use correct grammar and spelling. Give credit to others. And be respectful of people’s time: Return phone calls and emails promptly (within 24 hours is best).

Don’t underestimate the power of gratitude.

In our nonstop, sometimes frantic lives, we may easily forget the importance of gratitude, the value of that often brief but vital connection we make when we take a moment to smile and say “thank you.” People benefit from saying it as much as the one listening appreciates hearing it. Vast emotional distances may be overcome in a moment by a “thank you” that conveys “I value you and what you do.”

Protect your reputation, starting now.

The more power and influence you end up accumulating, the greater the efforts of others to take them away — or at least take them down a few notches. Assume your life is an open book. Social media has forever blurred the lines between “personal” and “professional,” so think before you post anything inflammatory, controversial, or politically sensitive. It could come back to bite you, many years from now.

Before you say it or write it, get clear on what you want to communicate.

The more focused your communication is, the deeper the impression it will make. Focus begins with clear thinking. Ask yourself what result or action you want before you send the email, pick up the phone, speak up at the meeting, or write the speech.

Make sure your tone and word choice match your goal. Be succinct. Always. No one wants or has the time to wade through verbiage.

Use the strong language of success.

For example, avoid cliches. Not only do they make your message unclear — after all, what does “Get the ball rolling” or “Think outside the box” really mean? — they make you seem lazy. Be original. Always use the active voice, never the passive. Make your sentences energetic, not flabby.

When speaking, as in writing, use active, muscular verbs. And please, avoid the temptation to ‘-ize’ a word. Don’t promise to ‘prioritize’; say that you will ‘set priorities.’ Use the strong language of success.

Seek to be a problem solver and conflict neutralizer.

Dr. Zoe Chance, an author, researcher, and professor at the Yale School of Management, claims the question that can “transform conversational dynamics” is: What would it take for us to resolve this?1

The key to having influence is to get people to focus on a problem that is clearly and succinctly stated (and usually, you’ll have to be the one to do the clarifying and the stating). Then, you find out why the issue is so emotionally important to the people involved; finally, you offer a solution that satisfies all the parties needed to make the solution work.

Own your mistakes.

Mistakes are bound to happen, particularly if you are doing new and innovative things. Never try to hide from them or shift blame to others. Instead, own the mistake. Take responsibility, learn from it, and find a constructive way to move forward. Don’t wallow in failure. Do continue to take risks.

Finally, people of power and influence aren’t afraid to change direction. When work and life cease to be exciting and energizing, it may be time to pivot.

The well-rounded individual makes little distinction between work and play, labor and leisure, the mind and body, education and recreation, love and religion. When you are doing work that provides satisfaction and personal fulfillment, it doesn’t feel like work. It is part of the natural flow of your life. It’s like moving effortlessly with the current in a river instead of fighting every inch to go upstream.

 

Robert L. Dilenschneider, author of “The Ultimate Guide to Power & Influence: Everything You Need to Know“, formed The Dilenschneider Group in October 1991. The firm provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs, and international media. He has authored 18 books. 

 

Automated Accounting: Threat Or Opportunity For Accountants?

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As we stand on the precipice of another technological revolution, accountants worldwide are faced with a pressing question: “Is automated accounting a threat or an opportunity?” This burning query, akin to the suspenseful ticking of a time bomb, resonates in boardrooms and accounting firms alike.

According to “Bookkeeping Services Sydney,” the pivot towards automation is inevitable, heralding an era where machines may perform tasks formerly reserved for skilled human accountants. However, is this shift a daunting specter of job loss, or a gateway to untapped potential and efficiency?

The Emergence of Automated Accounting

The process of modernizing traditional accounting methods with automated software isn’t a novel concept. For years, businesses have been gravitating towards digital solutions to streamline and optimize their operations. By automating tedious tasks like data entry, account reconciliation, and payroll management, businesses can increase accuracy, improve efficiency, and minimize the risk of human error. Indeed, the ‘bookkeeping‘ revolution is here, but does it mean we’re bidding adieu to human accountants?

Automated Accounting: A Threat to Accountants?

The fear that automation will displace jobs is not unfounded. McKinsey & Co. estimates that automation could replace up to 375 million jobs worldwide by 2030. Moreover, a report by the Institute for Robotic Process Automation states that an automated bot can cost up to 60% less than a human employee. These startling statistics underscore the looming threat posed by automation to traditional accounting roles.

Counterpoint: A Change, Not an End.

While these figures may incite alarm, it is essential to understand that automation does not necessarily mean the eradication of the human accountant. Instead, it represents a fundamental shift in the accountants’ roles and responsibilities. As with every technological advance, new roles emerge while older, redundant roles become obsolete. The advent of automation is no different.

Automation: Elevating the Role of Accountants.

Contrary to popular belief, automation might not be the grim reaper for accountants but rather their liberator. The routine tasks that automation can handle will free accountants to focus on tasks requiring more critical thinking and strategic input. They can concentrate on providing value-added services such as financial analysis, business strategy, and advisory roles, transforming the accountant from a number cruncher to a strategic business partner.

The Human Element in Accounting.

Even as automated systems become more sophisticated, they still lack one crucial attribute – the human touch. Machines cannot replace human intuition, emotional intelligence, and the ability to comprehend complex, subjective scenarios. Human accountants will continue to be pivotal in interpreting data, making strategic decisions, and building relationships with clients.

Upskilling: The Way Forward.

The future belongs to those who adapt, and for accountants, this means embracing the change that automation brings. Upskilling, learning new software, and understanding the interplay between artificial intelligence and accounting are the ways forward. There is a growing demand for accountants who can use data analysis to provide business insights and strategic advice, demonstrating that the field of accounting is evolving, not disappearing.

The Future of Automated Accounting

No one can predict the future with absolute certainty, but the trend towards automated accounting seems irrefutable. According to a report by Deloitte, only 34% of a Finance department’s time is spent on value-adding activities, leaving a massive scope for automated systems to pick up the slack. As technology evolves, automation will likely play an even more significant role in accounting, but it’s important to remember that this does not mark the end for human accountants. Instead, it will redefine their roles and responsibilities, opening up new opportunities for growth and development.

The Roadmap to Automated Accounting: An Opportunity Unveiled.

The key to weathering this wave of change is to understand that automated accounting is not a threat but a tool to elevate the accounting profession. By automating mundane tasks, accountants can spend their time and expertise on activities that require a human touch, such as business strategy, financial advisory, and relationship building. This perspective is illuminated by “Bookkeeping Services Sydney” that underscores the shift towards automation as a boon, unlocking the accountants’ potential to explore uncharted territories and ascend to more strategic roles.

Conclusion: Embracing the Inevitable

While fears about job displacement due to automation are justified, it’s essential to view the changes from a wider perspective. The evolution of technology has always brought about significant shifts in job roles, and automation in accounting is no different. Instead of being a threat, it represents a unique opportunity for accountants to upskill, evolve, and embrace a more strategic, analytical role that adds immense value to businesses.

The rise of automated accounting is not a sign of the end times for accountants but rather a call for adaptation and growth. As machines take over the manual, repetitive aspects of the job, they free up human accountants to do what they do best – provide insight, strategy, and a human touch. In this sense, the automated accounting revolution may indeed be a significant opportunity for those willing to evolve with the times.

With the ever-evolving landscape of automated accounting, it is incumbent upon professionals to view this shift as a golden opportunity. So, let’s embrace this change with open arms, continually learn, and adapt to the changing landscape to not just survive but thrive in this brave new world of automated accounting.

 

Good Manufacturing Practice Audits In Japan: How To Prepare

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The manufacturing landscape in Japan is characterized by its stringent standards and rigorous audit procedures. To navigate this terrain, understanding the importance of preparing for Good Manufacturing Practice Audits in Japan is paramount.

This blog post offers an in-depth exploration of the regulatory landscape, steps to successful audit preparation, and the benefits of ensuring compliance with local standards. It will also provide practical recommendations for companies looking to excel during a Japan GMP audit.

The Regulatory Landscape in Japan: An Overview

The Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA).

In Japan, the entity at the forefront of enforcing medical GMP manufacturing standards is the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). It upholds regulatory compliance, ensuring public safety by monitoring the manufacturing, distribution, and overall quality of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Though specific Japanese laws will not be detailed in this article, it’s essential to know that key regulations cover aspects such as quality control, product safety, and packaging standards.

Differences in Regulations and Standards.

When considering a Japan GMP, recognizing the differences between local and global standards is crucial. Japan’s regulatory standards are some of the strictest globally, often exceeding many international requirements. This discrepancy underscores the importance of understanding these differences, as it helps companies avoid non-compliance risks and demonstrates respect for local practices and regulations.

Steps for Successful Preparation for a Good Manufacturing Practice Audit

Familiarizing with Local Standards.

A thorough understanding of Japanese regulations and standards is the cornerstone of preparing for a good Japan GMP audit. Companies can achieve this comprehension by studying the guidelines provided by the PMDA, engaging in training sessions, and participating in seminars and workshops focusing on Japanese GMP regulatory requirements.

Developing a Robust Quality Management System (QMS).

A well-established QMS is integral to successful audit preparation. An effective QMS ensures that products consistently meet regulatory requirements, focusing on continuous improvement. Key components include documentation control, process control, and an efficient system for handling complaints and recalls.

Conducting Regular Self-Inspections.

Self-inspections are a crucial tool in preparation for a good manufacturing audit in Japan. Regular internal audits identify potential non-compliance issues before the actual audit, fostering an environment of continual improvement. It’s advisable to adopt a systematic approach, where internal inspections are frequent, thorough, and address all relevant regulatory standards.

Creating and Implementing Corrective and Preventive Actions.

Implementing robust CAPAs is critical in reducing audit risks. They help in identifying, documenting, and addressing non-compliances, thereby preventing their recurrence. Developing effective CAPAs requires a thorough analysis of non-compliance causes, setting clear action plans, and monitoring their effectiveness.

Employee Training and Awareness.

Employees are crucial in upholding regulatory compliance. They must grasp the relevant regulatory requirements and procedures for their roles. Regular, comprehensive training should encompass pertinent regulatory updates. Utilizing interactive training tools and conducting regular competency assessments can enhance learning effectiveness, ensuring employees are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain compliance with GMP regulations.

Benefits of Ensuring Compliance with Local Standards

Avoiding Complications and Reducing Risks.

Compliance with Japan’s GMP guidelines acts as a preventive measure against potential audit issues. Adhering to these guidelines, businesses can eliminate complications arising from non-compliance, minimizing business risks, and ensuring seamless operations. However, the benefits of compliance extend beyond passing audits. It fosters a culture of quality and compliance within the organization, reinforcing a commitment to excellence and reliability in every aspect of the business.

Creating a Robust Presence in the Japanese Manufacturing Industry.

Compliance with Japan’s manufacturing industry regulations is vital for establishing trust and credibility. Demonstrating a proven record of compliance not only appeals to potential business partners but also has a profound impact on overall business success and achievements. In consistently adhering to these regulations, businesses can showcase their commitment to quality, safety, and ethical practices, instilling confidence in stakeholders and paving the way for long-term partnerships and sustainable growth.

Incorporating Audit Preparation into Business Strategy

Audits should be viewed as an ongoing and strategic process rather than a one-time event. Integrating audit preparation into the overall business strategy enables companies to achieve a state of perpetual “audit readiness.” By consistently aligning operations with regulatory requirements and implementing robust internal controls, organizations can proactively address compliance issues, minimize risks, and ensure long-term success in meeting regulatory obligations. This strategic approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement and reinforces the company’s commitment to GMP compliance and operational excellence.

Seeking Professional Help When Necessary

Preparing for a Japanese GMP audit requires a multifaceted approach, and while internal efforts are crucial, seeking external help can be highly beneficial. Japanese regulatory professionals specializing in GMP possess valuable expertise and can offer critical insights and guidance throughout the GMP audit preparation process. When considering external assistance, it is essential to evaluate the Japanese regulatory consultant’s experience, particularly in relation to Japanese GMP regulations.

A Japanese regulatory consultant who is well-versed in the intricacies of Japan’s GMP regulatory landscape can provide nuanced advice tailored to your compliance needs. Additionally, examining the consultant’s track record in previous GMP audit preparation activities can provide assurance of their competence and effectiveness. Combining internal efforts with the expertise of external Japanese GMP consultants, international medical companies can optimize their audit readiness and increase the likelihood of successful outcomes during GMP audits.

Preparation is key when it comes to meeting Japanese GMP requirements. As outlined in this post, a deep understanding of local standards, a robust QMS, regular self-inspections, effective CAPAs, and employee training are vital components of successful Japanese GMP audit preparation. Strive for compliance and successful navigation through the audit process — it’s a journey towards business excellence.

 

Want To Move Forward in Business? Top Software Options That Can Help You

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In the rapidly evolving business landscape, staying ahead of the curve requires leveraging innovative software solutions, especially if you are looking to grow as a business in 2023.

From improving productivity to enhancing customer experiences, the right software can propel businesses forward and even help yours to make money as well as keep your staff happy and engaged.

So, which software options are ideal for businesses in 2023? Read on to find out!

GRC Systems

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) systems play a vital role in helping businesses grow by promoting effective management practices. GRC systems provide a comprehensive framework for organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate risks while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. By implementing GRC systems, businesses can enhance transparency, accountability, and decision-making processes, leading to improved operational efficiency and reduced legal and reputational risks. GRC systems also enable companies to establish robust internal controls, monitor performance, and align strategies with organizational objectives. If this sounds like something that your business needs, head to surecloud.com.

AI-Powered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

2023 is the year of AI, and AI-powered CRM software is revolutionizing the way businesses manage customer relationships. These advanced platforms leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze customer data, provide personalized insights, and automate sales and marketing processes. By harnessing AI, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of customer preferences, enhance customer engagement, and optimize sales strategies. Leading CRM software options, such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and HubSpot CRM, offer robust features like intelligent lead scoring, predictive analytics, and chatbot integration, empowering businesses to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive revenue growth.

Cloud-Based Project Management Software

As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, cloud-based project management software has become a game-changer for businesses. These platforms, such as Asana, Trello, and Monday.com, provide centralized collaboration hubs, enabling teams to streamline project workflows, track tasks, and facilitate effective communication. With features like real-time progress updates, task assignments, and file sharing, businesses can enhance team productivity, improve project visibility, and meet project milestones efficiently. Cloud-based accessibility ensures teams can collaborate seamlessly from anywhere, enabling companies to adapt to flexible work environments and manage projects with agility.

Advanced Analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) Software

In the era of big data, advanced analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) software are critical for businesses seeking to extract actionable insights from vast amounts of information. Solutions like Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik offer powerful data visualization and analytics capabilities, enabling businesses to explore trends, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. With intuitive dashboards, interactive reports, and predictive analytics tools, these platforms empower businesses to uncover hidden opportunities, optimize operations, and enhance strategic planning. Real-time data analysis facilitates agile decision-making, helping companies to stay ahead of the competition in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence Software

As cyber threats continue to evolve, robust cybersecurity and threat intelligence software are imperative for businesses. Solutions like Palo Alto Networks, Cisco Umbrella, and McAfee provide comprehensive security measures, including firewall protection, intrusion detection, and advanced threat analytics. These software options offer real-time monitoring, proactive threat detection, and incident response capabilities, allowing businesses to safeguard their digital assets and protect sensitive customer data. Additionally, they provide threat intelligence insights to anticipate emerging threats and strengthen security posture. With the rising frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, investing in cutting-edge cybersecurity software is crucial for businesses to fortify their defenses and maintain trust in the digital realm.

 

Discover The Power Of The 24-Hour Rule:  A Productivity Superpower

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by Adrienne Bellehumeur, Owner of Risk Oversight and author of “THE 24-HOUR RULE — and Other Secrets for Smarter Organizations“

Though we may like to imagine ourselves as a species of conscientious planners, humans have an optimism bias. We convince ourselves that we’ll remember the gems generated at that last strategy session… but it ain’t gonna happen. You know it; I know it.

In the moment, we truly believe we will remember:

  • The brilliant idea we heard in a meeting
  • The changes to the report that the client requested on the fly
  • The contact we bumped into on our way to work
  • What time our appointment is after hanging up from the call to schedule it
  • The life-changing tip we heard at a conference or training session
  • The next steps and decisions the team agreed on in an update call
  • What we need to pick up for our spouse on our way home from work (yes, this transfers to our personal lives as well)

The Limits of Short-Term Memory and Willpower

Our brains are designed by nature to focus on a few key things at a time for our own survival, and remembering the milk just doesn’t always make that priority list. Short-term memory is like having Post-it Notes stored at the front of your brain.

In an influential paper titled “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two,” psychologist George Miller suggested that people can store between five and nine items in short-term memory. The magic number of items the average adult can hold in short-term memory is seven (plus or minus two), Miller concluded, because of the number of “slots” available.

So, you only have room for seven Post-it Notes.

That’s not a lot of space for all the Post-it Notes you need for business and life! And more bad news — these Post-it Notes don’t stick. They fall off our brain wall after 24 hours. (Technically, this is when a nerve impulse has stopped transmitting through the neural network; you can look that one up.)

Researchers say that the small capacity of our short-term memory was essential for human survival. We needed to take care of the basics (e.g., keep warm, find food, fend off that saber-toothed tiger) without getting bogged down in the details.

But this relatively small short-term memory capacity makes modern-day life difficult. Trust me. Your memory is not as reliable as you think.

Picture this:

You hold an important meeting with your boss, leadership team, or a key client on a Friday afternoon before a long weekend. But after the meeting, it’s the long weekend! (Drinks!) You jump in the car with your friends (or family, or whatever situation you’re in) for three days of fun. Returning to work Tuesday morning, you tell coworkers about your weekend, post pics on Instagram, check the news, roll into a check-in meeting, and grab your third Starbucks. Uh oh – it’s time to get on those notes. Between your sleep-deprived glances (and mild lingering hangover), you can’t quite remember the context or nuances of your chicken scratches or half-typed words in front of you. 

There goes your chance to impress your boss or client.

Does this situation sound familiar? If it does, you’re not alone. I have laid out this scenario in presentations many times, including to senior leaders, consultants, and successful entrepreneurs who have found themselves in this situation more times than they’d like to admit.

Early in my career, this situation plagued my work weekly, if not daily. I have been embarrassed, lost credibility, wasted some time (OK, a lot of time), and had to repeat meetings (with my proverbial tail between my legs).

I crafted this rule to save my career, and it’s served me to get a grip on my workload and drive killer momentum, while being reasonable at the same time too. And it’s worked for the many people I’ve trained, coached, and consulted with in all kinds of roles.

The Basics of The 24-Hour Rule

You must rethink, reprocess, or rewrite information within 24 hours of hearing it.

Or in simpler terms: Just do something with the information.

The 3 Whys of The 24-Hour Rule

The longer you wait past 24 hours to document your notes, record that new prospect you met at the conference, reflect on the brilliant idea, or file that form, the harder it gets. But there are more reasons beyond just the limitations of short-term memory.

We have an energetic connection with information – tasks, projects, ideas – that we hear in a 24-hour window. Take advantage of it and remember these 3 “whys” of taking action — any action — in 24 hours.

1. We turbocharge our momentum.

Have you ever had something that sat on your to-do list for weeks that you just couldn’t seem to get to? But then, a new task – ah, adrenaline burst – comes your way and you attack it with record speed?

There will be times when you will have to fight with every inch of your body to move a task forward. So, surf that wave. Ride with the wind at your back. Excuse the metaphors. But the point is to momentum as fleeting and precious. Don’t squander it.

2. It’s a gauge on reality.

Imagine a factory. It has a conveyor belt where widget parts are coming in every day. But the outgoing conveyor belt is broken. More and more widgets pile up daily and there is no way to move them off. Naturally, it jams. Does this remind you of your work?

Consider the basic math of it. If you keep piling on to-dos throughout your day but you aren’t moving enough out in 24 hours, your system isn’t going to work. This breakdown is sending you an important signal. You may need less meetings, more time for focus in your schedule, or better delegation, planning, or workflow.

3. It’s a superpower, even if it’s not perfect.

The 24-hour processor is not a perfect system. You won’t feel like reviewing your meetings or reprocessing what was said yesterday on many (if not most) days. It will be hard – even impossible – to process everything in 24 hours on many days, too.

However, if you use The 24-Hour Rule as your default, you’ll (almost) always take one step to move work forward. You’ll recap those key points from your meeting. You’ll send one email. You’ll tackle one follow-up. That’s the superpower at work — keeping work moving in the right direction.

The 24-Hour Rule isn’t a techno-savvy or silver-bullet rule. But it isn’t inefficient, either. What is truly inefficient is bouncing from meeting to meeting, sales call to sales call, conference to conference, seminar to seminar, conversation to conversation without doing anything with the information. Now that is a tragic waste.

 

Adrienne Bellehumeur

Adrienne Bellehumeur is Owner of Risk Oversight, a leading Canadian firm specializing in governance, risk and compliance, internal audit, SOX, and CSOX programs. She is also the founder of Bellehumeur Co., where she consults, speaks, trains, and writes on documentation and workflow best practices. She is the author of “THE 24-HOUR RULE — and Other Secrets for Smarter Organizations“.

 

Customer Effort Score: What It Is And How To Use It

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by Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco

Broadly speaking, a customer effort score measures how easy or difficult it is for a customer to resolve a given issue with a company’s customer service team.

Have you ever waited your turn to speak to a customer service representative, only to be transferred to another agent? Have you ever waited on hold so long you that you hung up? Have you ever yelled “Agent” at a voice automation system until you were hoarse? You’re not alone.

Poor customer experiences like that are much more common than you might realize. In fact, bad customer interactions are putting over $4.7 trillion in sales at risk every single year.

The good news is there are simple strategies to improve how you interact with your customers. By calculating your Customer Effort Score (CES), you can assess how easy (or difficult) you’re making it for your customers and work toward improving your customer experience.

What is a Customer Effort Score?

HubSpot defines Customer Effort Score as a single-item service metric that measures how much work it takes for someone to get what they want from a business. In other words, it’s a reflection of how much effort a customer has to expend when interacting with your company.

The idea is simple: The more effort required to reach a certain outcome (such as making a purchase or resolving an issue), the more frustrating the customer experience. By contrast, a low-effort interaction makes for a better, smoother experience that casts your brand in a positive light.

Researchers from the Corporate Executive Board (CEB) first introduced the concept of a Customer Effort Score in 2010. According to their study, reducing effort is far more effective at increasing customer loyalty than trying to wow consumers with over-the-top service: “All customers really want is a simple, quick solution to their problem.”

The only issue? Many times, customer service does the exact opposite. Whether it be because of long wait times, having to repeat oneself, or jumping through hoops, customers are four times more likely to leave a service interaction disloyal than loyal.

That’s where CES comes into play. Tracking CES allows you to identify pain points in the customer experience, isolate troublesome channels, and make immediate and long-term improvements.

Better yet, Gartner says that reducing customer effort also allows you to:

  • Increase repurchase rates
  • Improve customer loyalty
  • Lower service costs
  • Reduce employee turnover

Creating a CES survey

The first step in measuring your Customer Effort Score is designing a CES survey — a short questionnaire that asks current customers to rate the amount of effort involved in a recent interaction. Questions normally ask respondents to choose a rating on a scale that best represents their experience.

Here are some examples of questions you might include on a survey:

  1. On a scale of 1-10, how easy was it for you to resolve your issue?
  2. How much effort did you have to put in to find an answer to your question?
  3. How easy was it to navigate our website and obtain the information you were looking for?

Typically, businesses send CES surveys at particular moments in the customer journey. These moments almost always come after the customer has taken a certain action, such as:

  • A customer support interaction like a phone call, chat, or email thread.
  • A transaction such as a completed purchase, downloaded white paper, or subscription sign up.
  • A website or mobile app interaction (this one is especially useful, as it helps you measure your interface’s ease of use and functionality).

Recency is important when it comes to gathering feedback. It’s best to immediately follow up an interaction with a questionnaire on the channel where it took place. This makes it easy for customers to fill out the survey without having to jump through additional hoops.

Calculating your score

Once your respondents have completed the survey, it’s time to analyze the results and calculate your company’s average Customer Effort Score. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a math whiz to figure it out.

Here’s the basic formula: Sum of all CES scores ÷ the total number of responses = average CES.

So, what does a good CES look like? It depends. Your survey’s parameters will influence how that score is weighted, but generally speaking, the higher the number, the better.

Let’s say you’ve asked 100 respondents to rate interactions on a scale of 1-10, and the sum of all scores is 880. That’d give you an average CES of 8.8.Not too shabby!

How to use (and improve) your CES

Keep in mind that there’s no industry standard you have to live up to—only your own scores matter.

If you find that your CES is teetering on the lower end of the spectrum, that just means you have work to do. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to improve CES and reduce customer effort. Let’s take a look at two of the most impactful methods:

1. Automate tasks with customer self-service.

Customer self-service options are growing in popularity, especially among younger demographics. In fact,  66% of Millennials prefer self-service options for completing simple requests. People are using these alternative solutions more frequently today than just three years ago , so it’s increasingly important to offer these functionalities to your consumers.

Take AI-powered chatbots, for example. Often, chatbots can answer common support questions and handle basic requests faster and more efficiently than human agents. This frees up your contact center agents to focus on more complex issues, reduces wait times, and eliminates unnecessary effort.

2. Deliver an omnichannel experience.

Taking an omnichannel approach to customer service means offering consumers a seamless, cohesive, and uniform experience across all possible touchpoints.

Today’s customers want to transition from one channel to another without skipping a beat or having to repeat themselves. With a Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solution, you can meet these expectations and offer a truly connected customer journey. As one comprehensive tool for customer experience management, a CCaaS platform enables agents to interact with consumers from any channel, all in one easy-to-use desktop view.

Enabling a low-effort customer experience

Establishing low-effort customer experiences helps simplify the buyer’s journey. By offering new, existing, and prospective customers a path of least resistance for issue resolution, business leaders can significantly minimize effort, foster loyalty, and deliver more positive interactions.

Of course, calculating CES is only half the battle. To truly understand and reap the benefits of a low-effort experience, organizations will need to get creative with how they optimize their customer experience strategy. Whether it be through self-service tools or omnichannel contact center solutions, technology is undoubtedly at the center of the equation.

 

Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco has more than 10 years of experience across the technology, healthcare, interior design, consumer goods, and fashion industries. Unpacking the human aspect of the product experience is what informs his writing most. In his spare time, Reilly has published and shortlisted fiction in a variety of national literary magazines.

 

4 Steps To Take If You Are Injured At Work

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Being injured at work can be both confusing and distressing. Your injuries can cause pain and difficulties or bring with them more worries, like how your life and income will be affected.

Therefore, it’s essential to take immediate steps to protect yourself when you sustain an injury at work. You can file a personal injury lawsuit or a workers’ compensation claim to get your deserved settlement.

Here are four steps you should take after being injured at work.

1. Inform your supervisor.

Find your supervisor immediately after you sustain an injury at work and let them know what happened. If you fail to do so, you may not be eligible for employee benefits. Your employer might claim you were injured away from work if you don’t report the accident immediately.  

You are required to write a notice to your employer in some states, but others allow verbal notice. However, it’s essential to report any on-the-job injuries in writing to be safe.

2. Seek immediate medical attention.

Get your injuries treated by your workplace first-aider immediately after the accident. After that, get a full assessment of your work injury by a qualified physician or medical practitioner.

While some injuries might initially look minor, they can later develop into something serious. For instance, head injuries can take hours or even weeks to appear fully. In a worst-case scenario, even a slight injury can become a long-lasting condition if you don’t get proper treatment.

When you see a doctor, be sure to let them know that your injury is work-related. Tell them exactly what happened and all your symptoms. The doctor should record everything you tell them and send the report to the worker’s compensation board.

3. File a workers’ compensation claim.

Anyone is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if injured at work. Workers’ compensation will cover the medical treatment you require to recover from your job-related illness or injury. It will also partly replace the salary or wages you lose while recovering and help you get back to work.

Be sure to hire an experienced attorney to get your claim right. If you injured your hip,  a hip injury workers’ compensation lawyer in Pennsylvania can guide you through the complicated process of filing your claim and ensure you get all the benefits you are entitled to. You certainly don’t want to remain within the statute of limitations, so file your case right away to ensure you don’t miss the deadline.

4. Keep track of your expenses.

A personal injury claim might last for some years, so it’s best to record everything you have lost or paid out due to your injuries. Record your losses on a paper, computer, or Smartphone to ensure you don’t miss them out on your claim.

It’s also essential to be able to prove your losses. Therefore, keep any evidence of your losses by taking pictures of your receipts and then sending them to your personal injury lawyer.

Endnote

Getting injured at work can lead to pain that may affect your physical and mental health for months, years, or the rest of your life, in the worst cases. Luckily, there are regulations in place to protect you when you get injured at work. If you are injured at work, follow these steps to build a solid claim and ensure you secure the compensation you deserve.

[Photo by Mikael Blomkvist]

 

Impacts Of Equity Devices In Virtual Meetings

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Equity is relatively easy to achieve when all participants are present in the same physical space or most of the meeting time is spent in a virtual venue. However, establishing new norms can be challenging when people participate in hybrid meetings.

Make equitability a meeting priority by practicing accessibility (including captioning, transcriptions, and secondary languages) and diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.

Visual Equity

In-person meetings need implicit and explicit power dynamics that can be difficult to navigate. Gender, race, age, physical ability, seniority, income level, and communication styles affect team dynamics, affecting the quality of contributions and meeting participation.

With hybrid work returning to many workplaces, virtual meeting technologies have the opportunity to create a more inclusive experience for all. But this change also brings new challenges.

Prioritizing meeting equity is the best way to ensure that all attendees are equitably represented in a virtual meeting regardless of where they join from. To enable this, consider incorporating real-time closed captioning, videoconferencing, transcriptions, accessible slide decks and documentation, assistive listening systems, and qualified sign language assistance. 

Audio Equity

In virtual meetings, audio is arguably the most important aspect of equity. If people can’t hear what’s being said or consistently get the dreaded reverb sound, they will quickly tune out and most likely leave the event entirely.

With that in mind, IT and AV leaders must ensure meeting equity for onsite and remote attendees. This requires best-in-class audio paired with camera control systems for the on-premise space and usage of Neat devices.

Similarly, meeting leaders need to be mindful of how their actions impact the tone of the virtual space. For example, parents bringing their children into a video conference may unavoidably have young faces appearing in the background. Instead of chastising these parents, meeting leaders should welcome them and encourage them to let their children know they’re participating in a work-related activity. This helps create a respectful, inclusive environment for everyone. It also supports a culture of accountability and respect that’s important for teams working virtually.

Interaction Equity

While some of the same issues that may impact in-person meeting dynamics can carry over to virtual meetings, there are also new considerations. Gender, race, age, physical ability, and income level can all affect how people participate in team meetings.

For example, women are more likely to be assigned administrative roles that may hinder their participation in the meeting. In a virtual setting, they cannot contribute ideas and share information.

Incorporating interactive meeting tools such as chat functions, yes/no voting features, and breakout room functionality can encourage participation among all participants. Similarly, ensuring access to real-time closed captioning, secondary languages, transcriptions, audio recordings, and assistive listening systems can allow everyone to participate fully. Providing these types of access to virtual meetings lets more people be included in the conversation, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all.

Access Equity

In in-person meetings, many factors impact the participation and contribution of team members. Gender, race, age, physical ability, seniority, income level, and communication styles can all contribute to the meeting dynamic.

When it comes to a virtual meeting, these factors can be amplified. For example, discussing what new hobbies colleagues are taking up during the pandemic may sound tone-deaf to women managing unnecessary household tasks while working from home.

Thankfully, with the right unified communications tools, many inclusive practices that make in-person meetings more accessible can be replicated in a virtual setting. This is called meeting equity, and it’s an essential element to consider as you prepare for a future of hybrid work. It’s time to prioritize meeting equity and inclusion. The impact will be felt by employees, customers, and the communities you serve. You’ll also benefit by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in high-impact conversations and reach their full potential.

 

Get Started With The Metaverse: Best Practices To Create Such An App

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by Alexey Shalimov, CEO of Eastern Peak

The recent advancements in VR, AR, blockchain, the Internet of Things, and other technologies opened up the perspectives of creating the metaverse and making it accessible to customers and businesses around the world. The metaverse gives almost infinite opportunities for companies in different niches. Yet, many entrepreneurs don’t know how to get started with the metaverse and create a competitive metaverse app, and they stumble upon technical issues and challenges.

Although many people still consider the metaverse as something out of the far future, this industry is actively evolving and growing, being expected to generate over $678 billion by the end of this decade. Analysts expect that by 2026, a third of the world’s companies will use the metaverse as a platform for their business, and a fourth of all people will use the metaverse daily for their everyday activities.

The fact is, you can build your own metaverse app and enjoy its benefits right now. Read on to learn everything you need to take your first steps in metaverse development.

What is the metaverse?

Cyberspace, a merger of multiple 3D worlds, a parallel digital reality, the next iteration of the Internet – these are common descriptions for the metaverse. The metaverse is a theory of a united virtual space that can be accessed through AR or VR devices. Users can explore the world and meet other visitors via personal avatars. Not only can the metaverse be a fantasy game reality like Fortnite, but it can simulate the real world, where users can trade products and even properties using cryptocurrency.

But if this immersive AR/VR-driven world is rather a theoretical conception, then one may ask how to build a metaverse today with the available tools?

While there’s no integrated metaverse space, this concept offers many opportunities for businesses that want to give a new dimension to their products, services, or advertisement strategies. A common application of the metaverse for businesses is to create a metaverse app that can provide users with an entirely new experience.

Let’s take a look at the features that distinguish metaverse platforms.

Key features of a metaverse app

A metaverse business deals with a concept that is different from other platforms, tools, and content. Let’s break the metaverse down to its basic components.

  • Infrastructure

The foundation of the whole metaverse platform is its infrastructure. It defines the capabilities and functioning of the app. The metaverse infrastructure should be built using technologies that provide connectivity (Wi-Fi, 5G, cloud computing, etc.) and can support its scalability.

  • Decentralization

The metaverse is known for being free from authorities and centralized control, which makes it a more democratic version of the Internet. Users can interact with each other and the object of the digital space independently, as well as create and trade their assets without constitutional regulations.

  • Digital avatars

An avatar is a digital representation of a user in a metaverse app, and thus a central metaverse design feature. It allows customers to explore the digital world, express themselves, and communicate with other avatars. Users can customize their avatars, and it may give even more metaverse opportunities for gamification and additional engagement.

  • Experiences

Businesses of all kinds use the metaverse as a platform that can be filled with nearly any experience that can come to mind. On the edge between the physical and digital worlds, the metaverse offers an environment for a fantasy world, an immersive and interactive classroom, a showroom for a fashion brand, or even a trip to another part of the world.

  • Security

Metaverse tech companies put a special emphasis on user data protection when it comes to businesses entering the metaverse. Although the decentralized form of this ecosystem may be groundbreaking, it requires even more attention to its high privacy standards.

  • Persistence

The metaverse is often compared to video games. For that matter, a metaverse app is similar to a multiplayer online role-playing game, an environment that exists and evolves, whether the user is connected or not – pretty much like the real world. The metaverse operates continuously and uninterrupted, even if you leave it for a while.

Underlying technologies behind metaverse apps

Speaking of the development stage, a metaverse app can be built by combining several core technologies:

  • 3D Reconstruction — An essential building block of the metaverse; used to copy or simulate real-life objects. 3D reconstruction technologies may include 3D cameras, 4K photography, as well as 3D modeling tools.
  • Blockchain — This metaverse technology is responsible for providing decentralized, yet secure and transparent experiences. It is especially important for protected transactions.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) — This technology goes hand in hand with 3D modeling and allows users to see virtual objects and environments. VR makes the metaverse immersive and engaging.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) — A true metaverse can’t be achieved without AR technologies. They are used for real and digital experiences to intertwine. While virtual reality provides visual contact, AR complements it with physical senses, such as hearing, feeling, and interaction.
  • Internet of Things (IoT) — IoT integrates real objects and phenomena into the digital environment of the metaverse. Thanks to this technology, users can connect their real-life devices to the metaverse and improve how their avatars function.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) — This technology is used widely in the metaverse, as it can process immense amounts of data, and that’s exactly what metaverse apps are about. Additionally, AI helps to create more realistic avatars, as well as NPCs and bots.

How to start a business in the metaverse?

Since the metaverse industry is pretty new to the modern market, companies often don’t know how to build a metaverse app and start a business in this field.

So, how to get involved in the metaverse in practice? Here are the basic steps you may want to take to create a solid foundation for your business.

Find the right platform.

When it comes to the question of how to create a metaverse app, it turns out that the beginning of this journey is pretty much like traditional app development. First, you need to select the platform where the product will be presented. Depending on the features of your business and target audience, you can choose, for instance, a gaming-inclined platform like Roblox, or a more commerce-focused one with its own currency like Sandbox or Decentraland.

Boost your online presence.

Many may think that excellent products are all it takes to build a reputable and profitable company. In fact, good marketing does half the work for you. If you want to use all the metaverse business opportunities, it’s better to prepare the ground for your company and tell your potential customers about your brand via promotional channels. 

Develop AR/VR apps.

Although there are many metaverse options that don’t require using augmented or virtual reality technologies, you can’t provide the full metaverse experience without them. Employing AR and VR in your metaverse app will entertain and engage your users and bring more benefits to your business, which is proven even by world-famous brands.

Focus on your target audience.

Just like in the case of working with any other project, your metaverse app should aim at a certain age and gender group or at people with specific interests and issues. This approach will also help you include appropriate essential features that will clearly solve the problems of a concrete audience.

Focus on the user experience.

The metaverse is all about experience, and moreover, a new and enjoyable one. Thanks to the technologies used for creating a metaverse, your customers will have an opportunity to see usual things from an unusual angle, entertain themselves, or make better decisions for their purchase.

Remain adaptable.

Today, any metaverse company is in some way pioneering in this field. It’s a great chance for your brand to experiment and get creative. With the further advancement of technologies associated with the metaverse, your business should be able to adjust to new challenges and opportunities and embrace emerging trends in metaverse app development.

Recommended metaverse development tools

Although your team should choose a technology stack according to your specific metaverse software, there are some popular tools and platforms for building such an app. They may include:

  • metaverse programming languages: Python, Java, Node.js;
  • mobile development: Kotlin, Swift;
  • cloud computing: Google Cloud, AWS;
  • database: MySQL, Oracle Database, MongoDB;
  • AR/VR: ARToolKit, GoogleARcore, AppleARkit;
  • AI: AWS sage maker, TensorFlow;
  • 3D reconstruction: Unreal Engine, Unity, CRYENGINE; and 
  • IoT: MQTT, Azure IoT hub.

Be miles ahead with the metaverse opportunities

The metaverse is a pretty young approach to communicating your brand’s ideas and products with an audience. By mastering the metaverse trends today, you can leave your competitors far behind. And by the time the metaverse becomes a common space to create and spread products and services, you’ll surely remain in top positions. So, explore new opportunities for your business right now and invite your customers to radically new experiences of the metaverse.

 

As CEO at Eastern Peak, a professional software consulting and development company, Alexey Shalimov ensures top quality and cost-effective services to clients from all over the world. Alexey is also a founder and technology evangelist at several technology companies. Previously, as a CEO of the Gett (GetTaxi) technology company, Alexey was in charge of developing the revolutionary Gett service from ground up and deploying the operation across the globe from London to Moscow and Tel Aviv.

 

The Wonders Of Using Container Offices For Startups: Unleashing Creativity In Compact Spaces

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In the world of startups, every square foot counts. Limited space is no longer an excuse for lacking creativity or compromising on functionality. Enter the realm of container offices – a groundbreaking solution that combines innovation, practicality, and a touch of unconventional style.

If you’re ready to embrace a new way of working and redefine the traditional office space, fasten your seatbelts as we take you on a journey through the wonders of container offices for startups.

Using Shipping Containers As Offices

Welcome to a world where innovation meets sustainability, and creativity blends with practicality. In the realm of startup culture, where flexibility and cost-effectiveness reign supreme, container offices have emerged as a fascinating alternative to traditional workspaces. These repurposed shipping container offices offer a unique combination of versatility, style, and functionality, making them the go-to choice for startups looking to make a statement while staying within budget.

Here are a few samples of container office designs to give you an idea of the possibilities:

  • The Modern Oasis: Step into a container office that exudes contemporary style and sophistication. Clean lines, large windows, and minimalist furnishings create a sleek and professional environment. With an open floor plan and strategically placed partitions, collaboration and productivity are seamlessly integrated. This design is perfect for startups that value a minimalist aesthetic and a clutter-free workspace.
  • The Nature Retreat: Imagine working in a container office nestled amidst lush greenery and panoramic views. This design incorporates eco-friendly elements such as living walls, rooftop gardens, and ample natural light. It blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, providing a refreshing and serene work environment. For startups that prioritize sustainability and connection with nature, this design offers an oasis of inspiration.
  • The Creative Haven: Inject a burst of colors and creativity into your container office. Bold artwork, vibrant furniture, and playful décor elements create a lively and stimulating workspace. Flexible seating arrangements, collaborative work zones, and inspiring breakout areas encourage brainstorming and out-of-the-box thinking. This design is ideal for startups in creative industries or those who want to foster a dynamic and energetic work atmosphere.
  • The Industrial Chic: Embrace the raw and rustic charm of an industrial-inspired container office. Exposed brick walls, metal accents, and salvaged materials give a nod to urban aesthetics. With a blend of open spaces and private nooks, this design promotes collaboration while providing areas for focused work. It appeals to startups with a taste for edgy and unconventional design elements.
  • The Coastal Retreat: Transport yourself to a beachfront paradise with a container office that embodies a coastal vibe. Light colors, natural textures, and breezy décor create a relaxed and calming atmosphere. Large windows offer breathtaking views of the ocean or nearby landscapes, fostering a sense of tranquility. This design is perfect for startups seeking a serene and laid-back work environment that promotes focus and well-being.

Remember, these are just a few samples, and the possibilities for container office designs are limitless. Each design can be customized to fit your startup’s unique needs and brand identity. With shipping container offices, you have the freedom to unleash your creativity and create a workspace that perfectly aligns with your vision and culture. In the next section, let’s go back to why startups must consider using shipping containers.

Unleashing Creativity in Compact Spaces

Whoever said startups need to be confined to dull, generic office spaces has clearly missed out on the container revolution. Picture this: a sleek and modern workspace nestled within the sturdy steel walls of a repurposed shipping container. It’s a blend of functionality and aesthetics that captures attention, sparks conversation, and ignites the flames of creativity.

The charm of container offices lies not only in their uniqueness but also in their adaptability. These customizable spaces can be tailored to fit your startup’s specific needs, from brainstorming sessions and collaborative workspaces to private offices and meeting rooms. The possibilities are as vast as your imagination, and the compact size ensures that every inch is utilized effectively.

Turning Limitations into Opportunities

Let’s face it – startups often face budget constraints, especially when it comes to office spaces. Sea Containers Perth provide an affordable alternative without sacrificing style or functionality. These repurposed wonders are not only cost-effective but also eco-friendly, promoting sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of your startup.

By embracing container offices, you’re not only making a smart financial choice but also joining a growing movement of businesses that prioritize responsible and efficient use of resources. It’s a win-win situation where creativity and sustainability go hand in hand.

Flexibility on the Move

One of the standout features of container offices is their mobility. Just as startups constantly evolve and adapt, container offices can be easily relocated, expanding your horizons and embracing new opportunities without the hassle of traditional office relocations.

Imagine your startup thriving in a bustling coworking space one month and then seamlessly transitioning to a serene beachfront setting the next. The freedom and flexibility to move your office effortlessly provide a sense of adventure and endless possibilities for growth. With a container office, the world becomes your startup’s playground.

Workspaces with a Personality

Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and impersonal work environments. Container offices offer a unique opportunity to infuse your startup’s personality into the very fabric of your workspace. From vibrant colors and inspiring murals to cozy nooks and breakout areas, you can create an environment that reflects your company culture and sparks inspiration in every corner.

Think outside the box (or container) and unleash your startup’s creativity. It’s time to ditch the cookie-cutter approach and embrace a workspace that truly represents your vision and values.

Conclusion

As startups navigate the competitive landscape, container offices provide an innovative and cost-effective solution to unleash creativity, promote sustainability, and adapt to the ever-changing business environment. From their compact yet versatile nature to the endless possibilities for customization, container offices are redefining the way we work and inspiring startups to dream big, even within limited spaces.

So, are you ready to step into a world where creativity knows no bounds, where professional and witty coexist, and where container offices become the catalysts for your startup’s success? Embrace the wonders of container offices and embark on a journey where innovation and imagination thrive. Your startup deserves nothing less.

The only question that remains is: what wonders will your container office unlock for your startup? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below!

 

Charity And Fundraising Events: Making A Difference With Donation Pickup

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In a world where acts of kindness often go unnoticed, charity and fundraising events play a pivotal role in bringing communities together and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. However, organizing these events involves more than just planning and execution. It requires an intricate web of logistics to ensure that donations, both monetary and in-kind, are collected promptly and safely.

This is where the power of pickup services comes into play, revolutionizing the way we give back.

Donation collection acts as the bridge between generous donors and charitable organizations, streamlining the process of contributing to worthy causes. These services serve as the backbone of successful charity and fundraising events, ensuring that the efforts of the community are translated into tangible assistance for those in need.

Making Giving Back Convenient and Accessible

With the fast pace of modern life, finding the time to drop off donations can be challenging for many individuals. Balancing work, family, and other responsibilities leaves little room for additional errands. That’s why pickup services like those from PickUp Please Jacksonville have become a game-changer. By offering a convenient and accessible solution, these services make it easier than ever for donors to contribute to their chosen causes.

Through a simple phone call or online request, donors can arrange for their donations to be collected from their homes, workplaces, or other specified locations. This eliminates the need for multiple trips and provides donors with the flexibility to contribute on their terms. Whether it’s a monetary donation, clothing, furniture, or other items, pickup services ensure that the process is as seamless and effortless as possible.

Ensuring Timely Delivery for Maximum Impact.

Time is of the essence when it comes to charitable giving. The immediate support provided by donations can greatly impact the lives of those in need. Recognizing this urgency, pickup services prioritize prompt collection and delivery of contributions. By efficiently coordinating schedules and routes, these services ensure that donations swiftly reach their intended recipients. This timely assistance not only makes a tangible impact but also fosters a sense of hope and support within the community.

The efficiency of pickup services extends beyond the collection and delivery process. These services also employ stringent quality control measures to ensure that the donations received are in good condition and suitable for use or distribution. This attention to detail ensures that the resources provided through charity and fundraising events are of the highest value and contribute effectively to the causes they support.

Putting Generosity into Action: A Real-Life Example.

Sarah Thompson, a compassionate resident of Jacksonville, recently experienced the impact of pickup services firsthand. Inspired by a local charity’s cause, Sarah wanted to contribute but faced transportation limitations due to her busy schedule. However, thanks to the charity’s pickup service, Sarah was able to arrange for her contributions to be collected from her doorstep. This effortless process allowed her to make a meaningful contribution without disrupting her daily routine.

Sarah’s story serves as a testament to the transformative power of pickup services. By bridging the gap between donors and recipients, these services enable individuals like Sarah to make a positive difference in the lives of others while maintaining their regular commitments.

Amplifying Impact through Collaboration

Furthermore, pickup services create opportunities for collaboration among local businesses, charities, and community organizations. By forging strategic partnerships, these services enhance collective efforts to address social issues and maximize the impact of charitable initiatives. Through collaboration, stakeholders can pool resources, expand outreach, and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout the community.

The power of collaboration lies in its ability to create synergy and amplify impact. By working together, businesses can contribute resources, such as transportation and storage facilities, while charities and community organizations can provide valuable insights and connections to identify and reach those in need. This collaborative approach not only benefits the immediate recipients of donations but also strengthens the fabric of the community as a whole.

Embracing the Power of Pickup

In an era where generosity is more important than ever, pickup services have emerged as a vital tool for mobilizing kindness and affecting real change. By providing convenience, accessibility, and timely delivery, these services empower individuals to make a tangible impact on the lives of those less fortunate.

As members of a compassionate society, it is our duty to embrace the power of pickup and unite in creating a brighter future for all. By supporting charity and fundraising events and utilizing pickup services, we can collectively make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. Together, let us embrace the spirit of giving and foster a community built on compassion, understanding, and hope.

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

One important aspect that pickup services bring to the table is enhanced transparency and accountability. When individuals contribute to a charitable cause, they want to ensure that their donations are utilized effectively and reach the intended recipients. Collecting donations play a crucial role in building trust by providing a clear and traceable process.

By implementing robust tracking systems and documentation protocols, pickup services enable donors to have visibility into the journey of their contributions. This transparency instills confidence and reassurance that their generosity is making a direct impact. Moreover, it helps charitable organizations maintain accurate records, ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately and in accordance with their mission.

The commitment to transparency and accountability is not only beneficial for donors but also for the overall credibility and sustainability of the charitable sector. By embracing these practices, pickup services from PickUp Please Jacksonville foster an environment of trust and encourage continued support from individuals and businesses alike.

Empowering Local Communities

Collecting donations have a profound impact on local communities by empowering them to address their unique challenges and needs. They act as a catalyst for change by connecting donors within a community to local charitable organizations. This localized approach ensures that resources stay within the community and are utilized to tackle specific issues that resonate with its members.

Through pickup services, individuals and businesses can directly contribute to causes that are close to their hearts. Whether it’s supporting local schools, healthcare facilities, shelters, or environmental initiatives, these services enable community members to make a difference where it matters most. This localized support not only strengthens the community’s resilience but also fosters a sense of unity and collaboration among its members.

Inspiring a Culture of Giving

Pickup services go beyond the logistical aspects of collecting and delivering contributions. They play a vital role in inspiring and nurturing a culture of giving within society. By providing convenient and accessible avenues for individuals to contribute, these services remove barriers and make philanthropy a part of everyday life.

When people witness the positive impact of donating and the difference it makes in the lives of others, they are more likely to be inspired to join in and give back. The visibility and accessibility of these services create a ripple effect, encouraging more individuals to become active participants in charitable endeavors. This collective effort not only leads to increased support for worthy causes but also cultivates empathy, compassion, and social responsibility within the broader community.

Looking Ahead: Innovations in Pickup

As technology continues to advance, pickup services are also evolving to leverage its potential. From mobile apps and online platforms to automated scheduling systems, these services are embracing digital solutions to streamline the donation process further. Such innovations make it even easier for donors to contribute and for charitable organizations to efficiently manage and distribute resources.

Additionally, the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence holds promise in optimizing routes, predicting donation trends, and enhancing overall efficiency. These advancements enable donation pickup to operate with greater effectiveness, ensuring that donations are collected and delivered in the most optimal and impactful way possible.

Takeaway: Making a Lasting Impact through Pickup

In conclusion, pickup services play a vital role in charity and fundraising events, enabling individuals and businesses to contribute to causes they care about in a convenient and impactful manner. By streamlining generosity, ensuring timely delivery, and enhancing transparency, these services empower communities to make a lasting difference in the lives of those in need.

As we embrace the power of pickup, let us also remember the intrinsic value of human connection and compassion. While the logistics may be facilitated by technology, it is the collective spirit of giving and the empathy that drive us to support one another. By coming together, we can create a brighter future and build a society that thrives on the principles of kindness, empathy, and generosity.

 

What Is The Difference Between Business Administration vs. Business Management?

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What is The Difference Between Business Administration vs. Business Management?

Business administration and business management are two terms that are often used synonymously, but there are some key differences between the two. While both fields involve managing resources and people to achieve organizational goals, the focus and approach of each field is distinct. In this article, we will explore the differences between business administration and business management, and the career opportunities available in each field.

Business Administration vs. Business Management: An Overview

Business administration is a broad field that encompasses various aspects of business operations, including finance, marketing, human resources, operations, and strategic management. It involves overseeing the day-to-day operations of an organization and ensuring that all activities are aligned with the organization’s overall goals and objectives. Business administration also involves managing financial resources, including budgeting, accounting, and financial analysis.

On the other hand, business management is more focused on the planning and organization of resources to achieve specific goals. This includes managing people, processes, and resources to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards. Business management is about making decisions and taking action to achieve specific objectives, while business administration is more concerned with overseeing and coordinating activities across the organization.

Business Administration Courses Online

If you are interested in pursuing a career in business administration, there are several online courses and degree programs available. These programs offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of business operations, including finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic management.

Some of the popular online courses in business administration include:

  1. Introduction to Business: This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of business operations, including management, marketing, finance, and accounting.
  2. Principles of Accounting: This course covers the basic principles of accounting, including financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  3. Organizational Behavior: This course explores the behavior of individuals and groups within an organization, and how this behavior affects organizational performance.
  4. Business Ethics: This course examines the ethical issues that arise in business, and how businesses can ensure that their operations are conducted ethically and responsibly.
  5. Operations Management: This course covers the principles of managing the production and delivery of goods and services, including process design, quality control, and supply chain management.

Business Management Courses Online

If you are interested in pursuing a career in business management, there are several online courses and degree programs available. These programs cover various aspects of business management, including project management, leadership, operations management, and strategic management.

Some of the popular online courses in business management include:

  1. Project Management: This course covers the principles of project management, including planning, execution, monitoring, and control.
  2. Leadership: This course explores the principles of effective leadership, including communication, motivation, and team building.
  3. Strategic Management: This course covers the principles of strategic planning and implementation, including market analysis, resource allocation, and performance measurement.
  4. Operations Management: This course covers the principles of managing the production and delivery of goods and services, including process design, quality control, and supply chain management.
  5. Human Resource Management: This course explores the principles of managing human resources, including recruitment, training, performance management, and compensation.

Career Opportunities in Business Administration

A degree in business administration can prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities across various industries. Some of the common career paths in business administration include:

  1. Financial Analyst: Financial analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data and providing insights to help organizations make informed decisions.
  2. Human Resources Manager: Human resources managers are responsible for managing the recruitment, training, and performance of employees within an organization.
  3. Marketing Manager: Marketing managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote products and services to customers.
  4. Operations Manager: Operations managers are responsible for managing the production and delivery of goods and services within an organization, including managing resources, processes, and supply chain logistics.
  5. Business Consultant: Business consultants work with organizations to identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations for increasing efficiency and profitability.

Career Opportunities in Business Management

A degree in business management can also prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities across various industries. Some of the common career paths in business management include:

  1. Project Manager: Project managers are responsible for managing projects from start to finish, including planning, execution, and monitoring.
  2. Operations Manager: Operations managers are responsible for managing the production and delivery of goods and services within an organization, including managing resources, processes, and supply chain logistics.
  3. Business Analyst: Business analysts are responsible for analyzing data and providing insights to help organizations make informed decisions.
  4. Sales Manager: Sales managers are responsible for leading sales teams and developing strategies to increase revenue and profitability.
  5. General Manager: General managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of an organization, including finance, marketing, operations, and human resources.

Conclusion

In summary, business administration and business management are both essential to the success of any organization, but they are distinct fields with different responsibilities and focuses. Business administration involves overseeing and coordinating the day-to-day activities of an organization, while business management focuses on planning and organizing resources to achieve specific goals. Whether you choose to pursue a degree or certification in business administration or business management, or both, it’s important to understand the differences between the two fields to determine which career path aligns with your interests and goals.

Online courses and degree programs can provide a flexible and convenient way to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in either field, and offer a great way to continue your education while still working and managing other responsibilities. Ultimately, the choice between pursuing a career in business administration versus business management comes down to your personal preferences, skills, and career aspirations.

 

Four Lessons To Remember As A New (Or Experienced) Entrepreneur

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by Laura Dribin, CEO & Founder, Peritius Consulting, Inc.

What do you think of when you think of an entrepreneur?  Unless you are one or know one personally, you may jump to images of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates.  Images of obscene wealth.  While that may be true for them, it is not the reality for most.

When you meet a “typical” entrepreneur, the reality is usually different.  Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and terrifying line of work. There are so many things that can go wrong (and often do), but at the same time those things could go so right! Yet, given that most entrepreneurs do not make the fame and fortune of a Jeff Bezos, why do so many entrepreneurs base their expectations of success on achieving a Bill Gates-type achievement? As a reminder … “comparison is the thief of joy.”

Therein lies the problem.

1. Know your goals

Entrepreneurs need to set expectations AND boundaries. From the beginning. While those expectations and boundaries may evolve through the years, make sure it occurs in a planned, thought-out process.

2. Live your goals.

Entrepreneurs are expected to do a lot to help their company succeed. Yet, it is easy to lose sight of your goals on a daily basis. Entrepreneurs need to stay focused on their goals and live them. Spend time examining your goals independently of a specific opportunity or ask. What’s changed? Will this opportunity take me down a rabbit hole or is this the direction I want to move forward in the future?

3. Taking stock.

So as a downturn in the economy has hit my company (we’ve been through many recessions over the years), I have been thinking about why I haven’t become as global as Bill Gates or as expansive as Elon Musk (we used to joke about becoming the “McKinsey of Delivery”)? Our firm does high-quality work every time and our clients are extremely happy, but we struggled to grow. What’s going on?

As I reflect on my career, here are some key points I try to remember (or wish I’d known before I started out).

Define, understand, and live your goals

When I started my business, I was trying to get back into consulting work, yet I wanted to avoid travel. I was about to be a new mom and wanted to make sure that I could focus on my family. I made all my business decisions around those goals. I said “No” often. That translated into lost opportunities and potential growth of my company—which was okay. I was meeting my (and my family’s) needs. I knew that because I had figured those needs out before I started.

Don’t get me wrong.  I understand that money is often a driver of entrepreneurs and if that’s your goal, great.  All of your decisions should relate to that goal.

Everyone needs time off

Often my best ideas come when I am on vacation—or at least when I come back. As an entrepreneur, you are often expected to “be on” all of the time. That can be exhausting. When you are in the midst of chaos (as you often are as an entrepreneur), you are forced to react to problems. From my experience, when I am stressed and overworked, I tend to make more emotional decisions. Pulling away for a weekend or taking vacation has always brought me back to a fresh mindset to take on all the other problems heading my way.

Love what you are doing

I always said that if I hated what I was doing for three months straight, I would move away from the business. It’s a guideline that helped me through some bad times. I knew that if I didn’t feel good about the work/company for that length of time, I probably wasn’t doing good by my company, employees, vendors, and most importantly, my clients. Who needs a sad entrepreneur that doesn’t want to be there?

Life is too short

I am a successful entrepreneur that can do something else when I get tired of my role. Make sure that you find time (not only for vacations) to do the “other things” you love to do. You know the saying: “All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl.” As I mentioned, I love to travel, so I decided that as I got older, if I continue working, I need to find a way to insert more travel. So, over the last four years, I have chosen international sites and decided to work remotely (I was a digital nomad before it was cool!). Don’t sacrifice your hobbies/interests on the altar of entrepreneurial success!

4. Set your priorities — Now.

Entrepreneurs may give their heart and soul to their company and that is perfectly fine (if that is what they want). Creating a company is not easy; it takes a lot of work, but still, not everyone is going to be Musk, Gates, or Bezos—and achieving that type of entrepreneurial success should not make one lose sight of the sacrifices that have to be made along the way. I am pretty confident that if I had prioritized the growth of my company as my No. 1 goal, my company would be bigger than it is now. Yet, that wasn’t my goal.

Mission accomplished!

I can say that I reached my goals that I had set all those years ago. While in my weak moment, I may ask why I’m not bigger, the truth is that wasn’t my lived goals along the way. In turn, I did in fact create a phenomenal company that allows me to remain proud of the work we do for our clients, enjoy the people (present and past) that have worked alongside me to get us here and the life it has allowed me to live while taking care of my family. I took care of my needs! This is something that most entrepreneurs need to remember so they can continue to love what they do and who they are.

 

Laura Dribin

Laura Dribin is CEO and founder of Peritius Consulting, Inc. Prior to founding the company, Laura worked as a Big Five management consultant and for Microsoft Corporation. With more than 25 years of experience, she brings the hands-on leadership necessary to guide project teams through complex initiatives and to help organizations develop and improve their project management competency.

 

Does Social Learning Benefit People Of All Socioeconomic Backgrounds?

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by Nellie Wartoft, Founder & CEO of Tigerhall

Talent development programs can be a powerful tool for business growth. When used to boost the knowledge and skills that employees have at their disposal, they unlock untapped potential and open the doors to new opportunities.

Too often, however, talent development programs fail companies by empowering only a privileged few. To be truly effective, the programs must be accessible and applicable to everyone. Programs that fail to serve people of all socioeconomic backgrounds will have limited impact and will send the message that career advancement is open only to an exclusive group.

Social learning is the best tool for businesses that want to unlock the potential of their entire organization. Unlike many talent development tools, social learning provides all employees with equal access to information and learning opportunities. It breaks down the hierarchical barriers that limit the effectiveness of traditional learning models, fostering a sense of inclusivity and belonging that is essential to the success of startups.

The key features of social learning

Social learning packages talent development in a highly accessible platform that mirrors the features and functionality of social media. It allows employees to get relevant and actionable insights from real-world business leaders by connecting users to a supportive community of fellow learners. Social learning brings talent development into an environment that is familiar, convenient, and flexible.

Social learning platforms also allow businesses to capture and capitalize on internal insights by empowering business leaders to quickly and easily share solutions specific to their organization’s unique challenges. It is a tribal knowledge tool, equipping employees to pursue collaborative learning with coworkers across the organization who face the same challenges and seek the same success.

A platform for equitable learning

Accessibility is one of the top benefits that social learning brings to the world of talent development. It opens the door for every employee to learn from senior business leaders, whose wisdom and insight are typically accessible only to those in the highest levels of the socioeconomic strata. Regardless of your background, social learning gives you the opportunity to learn directly from leading CXOs in a way that is searchable, applicable, and affordable.

By creating a community of learning, social learning also empowers people from all socioeconomic backgrounds to learn from each other in a rich and diverse environment. This aspect of social learning ensures that content is practical — rather than theoretical — and sensitive to the social context where it will play out.

Consider the challenges faced by those who grew up in an environment where the social cues and unspoken rules of business were not taught. Traditional talent development ignores those topics, forcing “outsiders” to learn “the hard way” through first-hand experiences that can lead to embarrassment, shame, and discouragement. Social learning creates an environment where those topics can be spoken about explicitly in a safe and encouraging environment. It doesn’t shy away from challenging topics and it leaves no one on the outside.

Social learning also promotes the idea that the “right answer” has everything to do with context. Its user-generated content provides multiple solutions that flow from a diverse group of real-world business leaders. This approach acknowledges the value of equity and diversity, encouraging learners to find the best solution for their personality and situation.

A platform for personalized learning

Another key benefit of social learning is its capacity for personalization. Each worker operates in a unique context, which means their learning needs are unique. A platform is only valuable if it considers who the worker is and what they are expected to do. Programs that provide sterile, academic, one-size-fits-all content bring zero value to organizations seeking to empower all employees.

Social learning happens in the flow of work. It delivers relevant content when you need it, where you need it, and in a way that addresses your specific context. It considers your geography, your industry, and your seniority level, as well as the meetings on your calendar, your personal and corporate long-term goals, and the specific challenges you are facing at the moment.

On the organizational level, social learning gives talent development the agility that it desperately needs. It allows learning goals and content to pivot quickly as new business opportunities arise. Today’s businesses don’t have years to gear up for meeting customer needs. Social learning provides the speed that organizations need to rapidly equip and empower their teams.

Today’s highly competitive and rapidly evolving business landscape demands a new generation of talent development tools. Businesses that want to maximize their talent development efforts will find social learning to be the only tool capable of unleashing an organization’s full potential.

 

Nellie Wartoft is a Swedish entrepreneur who launched social learning platform Tigerhall in 2019, revolutionizing how professionals learn from one another in the real world. Under her leadership, Tigerhall has quickly gained traction with users across 32 countries, and employees in 12 markets. Tigerhall’s customers include global Fortune500 firms in technology, FMCG, professional services, and financial services.

 

Thinking Of Starting A Property Business? Finding The Ideal Conveyancing Experts

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Many people these days decide to go into the property business, as this is very lucrative and eventually enables you to earn a passive income. Investing in properties by way of your business can be a great way to accrue wealth over the years, particularly if you start at a relatively young age. You can become a true property mogul if you get things right and enjoy all of the perks and financial benefits that come with it.

However, you need to ensure you do everything by the book, and this includes finding the right conveyancing experts for buying and selling your investment properties. As a business-minded person, you will already know that this is a vital part of the process, and you need to ensure you find the right company to carry out this work.

In this article, we will look at some of the steps you can take in order to find the ideal provider for your property business.

Making the Right Choice

When it comes to finding the ideal sale and purchase conveyancing experts, there are a few important steps that you need to take. This includes:

Find Out Costs

As a property business owner, it is important to keep overheads down as much as possible without cutting corners when it comes to something as important as conveyancing. So, one of the things you need to do is to find a reputable provider that does not charge over the odds for services. You should make sure you do your research and look at the cost of getting conveyancing done when buying or selling your investment properties, but never compromise on reputation when you are looking at pricing.

Check Out Reviews

Getting the opinions of others in the same business as you can prove invaluable when it comes to finding the ideal conveyancing company for your investment property business. One of the easiest ways to achieve this goal is to look at reviews that have been submitted by other property investors who have used the same provider that you are considering using. This will make it easier for you to get an idea of what to expect, learn about any issues you might experience, and get an idea of the overall reputation of the provider. You can then make a far more informed decision with regard to the company you choose.

Consider Experience Levels

One of the other things that you should look at is the experience of the provider and whether the company has a solid background and track record within the industry. You should do as much as research as possible before you make any commitment, and this is something that you can easily do online these days. You can also learn more about experience levels by checking out past reviews from other investors.

By following these steps, you will find it easier to determine which conveyancing company is the right choice for you as a property investor.

 

How Smaller Companies Can Leverage Payment Systems To Drive Growth

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by John Badovinac, VP of B2B at Fortis

Company leaders have a natural inclination to batten down the hatches when they suspect an economic storm is approaching; that goes for large enterprises and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) alike. Taking preventative action now can help you ride out a rough period and emerge ready for growth when the storm subsides.

Keep in mind that the operative word is “action.” Business leaders might choose to put some projects on hold in times of economic uncertainty to conserve cash, but businesses should be doubling down on efficiency and growth. Therefore, moving forward with investments that can streamline and simplify core processes, improve cashflow and deliver a better customer experience makes sense for businesses of all sizes.

Improving cashflow directly correlates to your payment systems. Using advanced payments technology can also facilitate more efficient operations and drive growth by delivering a better customer experience. Here’s a closer look at steps SMB leaders can take to maximize cashflow and position their companies for growth, no matter what the economic climate.

Conduct an internal process review

The first priority should be a thorough process review to identify ways to streamline operations and save money. For example, take a look at processes around accounts payable and accounts receivable. Does the payment system you use to transmit and receive payments create records automatically, or does it require manual data input? Are records created in the company enterprise resource planning (ERP) system automatically, or do AP (Accounts Payable) and AR (Accounts Receivable) processes require manual intervention to record transactions? Look for ways to streamline those processes with automation.

Consider upgrading a legacy ERP system

During your internal process review, you may find your ERP systems need an upgrade. Many business owners are surprised to discover how many manual processes exist within their day-to-day operations. In addition, it’s often alarming to learn how dependent companies have become on ad-hoc, work-around processes that are only documented inside the heads of the individual process owners that manage them. As a result, businesses have been taking advantage of the opportunity to consider switching from outdated, legacy on-premises ERP systems to cloud-based ERP or are making plans to do so as part of their digital transformation roadmap.

Cloud-based ERP systems typically allow businesses to operate with greater agility and flexibility. The ability to easily integrate data with other business applications — including payment systems — is one of the core advantages of a cloud approach. In addition, on-premises ERP systems typically need to devote a greater portion of their ongoing spend to maintenance and annually required upgrades of existing systems – rather than on future forward enhancements. Business owners should evaluate the ongoing cost of maintaining legacy systems and calculate the opportunity cost of not being able to easily adopt options like advanced payment systems, which can streamline processes and improve cashflow.

Assess the customer journey

It’s also a good idea to assess all of your customer-facing systems and look for ways to improve the experience from the customer’s point of view. Payment systems have a direct impact on the customer journey as well as internal processes. Think of payments as a strategic asset that can help you drive more sales and increase customer loyalty and be on the lookout for touchpoints where automation and expanded payment options can remove friction to accelerate revenue activation.

Tap expertise specific to your payment system needs

If you determine that you can gain efficiency by modernizing your payment system, make sure you work with a payment system provider who understands your industry and is capable of orchestrating payments within a modern ERP system. You’ll have a range of payment providers to choose from, and their capabilities and support levels vary widely. For example, some of the most well-known payment providers are essentially offering a self-service product, leaving critical tasks like ERP integration up to the user. To get the maximum benefit from your payment system transformation project, make sure you find and deploy the expertise you need.

Focus on the most profitable activities for your business

SMBs that leverage technology to streamline back-office activities and consistently deliver an exceptional customer experience will receive an added benefit: more time to focus on profitable activities. That’s a huge bonus that automation delivers across the board — you gain labor hours that used to be devoted to data entry and other manual tasks and can redirect that time to high gain initiatives that drive more revenue, generate more customer loyalty, or transform the business.

One thing that both SMBs and larger companies have in common is that they are dealing with rapidly evolving customer expectations. That’s true if you sell directly to consumers or to other businesses. Buyers in the B2B world are consumers too, and they expect the same seamless customer experience they receive as consumers when making purchases on behalf of their employer.

When people talk about the “Amazon effect,” they’re usually referring to the pressure other retailers feel to deliver products quickly and offer free shipping. But the effect extends to a seamless payment experience too, which is offered not only by Amazon but also other tech-forward product and service providers, including ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. Customers don’t even have to think about payments, which happen automatically.

Customers know a good experience when they see it, and their expectations have changed because they now understand what’s possible. Larger companies have invested in the technology that allows them to accept the payment methods their customers prefer and securely store preferred payment account information so that they don’t have to provide that data again every time they make a purchase.

It’s also an expectation that companies have access to their transaction information so they can answer questions about purchases at any touchpoint and resolve any disputes that arise. Businesses that meet those expectations will build customer loyalty and gain a greater share of the consumer wallet while streamlining internal processes at the same time to operate more efficiently.

When sophisticated payment systems first emerged, larger businesses tended to be the early adopters because they had the resources to invest or the staff to internally develop them. Now smaller businesses can get the same benefits when they adopt advanced payment technology. Leaders of smaller businesses can take charge and build more certainty in uncertain economic times by assessing and upgrading internal and customer-facing processes, leveraging expert advice, and focusing on value-generating tasks. Taking action now can drive efficiencies, devote a greater portion of ongoing spend to future-focused initiatives, and grow and cashflow in any economic climate and come out poised for growth when the economy inevitably bounces back. There’s no time like the present to build your future.

 

john badovinac

John Badovinac is a payments professional with over 25 years’ experience across the full spectrum of payments services including B2B, Merchant Acquiring, Integrated Payments, Value-Added Resellers and Point-of-Sale systems, EMV Certification, Issuing and Operations Management. He is most recently the Vice President, B2B Channel at Fortis where has executive leadership responsibilities for the Fortis B2B team.

 

Why The Future Of Work Depends On VoIP

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by Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco

Now that employees are splitting time between home and the office, distributed workforces are doing their jobs more flexibly, happily, and efficiently than ever before. According to research from Owl Labs, 62% of employees feel more productive when working remotely. In fact, people love hybrid work so much that 1 in 2 are even willing to take a pay cut of 5% or more just to maintain their flexibility.

Suffice to say, hybrid work is here to stay.  But with all it’s benefits, hybrid work still presents plenty of challenges, too.  Many businesses are struggling to communicate and collaborate as they would in a typical work environment.

That’s where cloud calling comes into play. But first, let’s dig deeper into the technology that makes cloud calling possible: VoIP.

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice-over-Internet-Protocol. In simple terms, VoIP allows you to place phone calls over an internet  connection instead of a traditional landline.

Here’s how it works: When you make a call, a VoIP system synthesizes your voice signal into smaller data packets and ships them over the internet to an awaiting IP address. If you’re calling a regular telephone, the solution converts the digital signal into a traditional format before reaching the recipient.

Unlike a traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)VoIP systems don’t use physical phone lines or cables. This means businesses can deploy a full phone system for both internal and external calls, entirely in the cloud.

And the best part? All it takes is an internet connection. That means anyone can use VoIP from any location on any device. That’s flexibility you just don’t get from a traditional PSTN.

Why VoIP is a must-have solution

The adoption of VoIP for business has been gaining steam for well over a decade. As a matter of fact, cloud calling licenses have nearly doubled from 47 million in 2018 to more than 90 million in 2022.

The U.K. is even planning on shutting down its entire PSTN by the end of 2025. Once its aging infrastructure has sunset all calls will become digitized through VoIP calling.

Of course, some forward-thinking businesses are ahead of the curve. During the pandemic, when countless organizations shifted toward remote-first policies, several identified cloud calling as a necessary upgrade from costly on-premises solutions. Fueled by the continued use of hybrid work, the global VoIP market will more than double in size to roughly $100 billion in 2032.

So, why VoIP? Well, consider the drawbacks of legacy infrastructure.

Traditional systems are inflexible in terms of adequately supporting a distributed workforce. Worse yet, they’re exceptionally complex and expensive to install, manage, and maintain. As phone systems age, older hardware becomes obsolete, requiring recurring upgrades and potentially costly overhauls.

Benefits of VoIP and cloud calling

VoIP systems aren’t restricted by the  on-prem limitations of PSTN and Public Branch Exchange (PBX) systems.  By enabling comprehensive cloud calling solutions, VoIP offers a range of advantages, including:

  • Reduced costs: According to estimates, cloud calling can help businesses save up to 90% on international calls, 75% on operational costs, and 30% on teleconferencing and phone bills. Why? No fiber optic cables, installation, or maintenance required.
  • Global scalability: VoIP coverage is expanding around the world, allowing you to support a truly global workforce. Because it’s cloud-based, you can add or remove users as your business grows or changes, rolling out new phone lines according to your needs.
  • Collaboration: Cloud calling can also deliver cloud-based messaging, video conferencing, and contact center solutions into the same experience. Along with next-level call quality, these advanced features make it easy for all team members to stay connected no matter which device they use.
  • Simple set up and maintenance: No physical phone lines or robust hardware required. All it takes to set up is an internet connection and a web-enabled device, which means new users can be onboarded within minutes. Plus, thanks to minimal on-premises hardware and automated software updates, IT departments don’t have to worry about outdated communications technology.
  • Cloud security: One of the biggest challenges of working from home is keeping your business data safe and secure. The leading cloud calling platforms deliver built-in security features like real-time data loss prevention, SOC-2 compliance, and bring your own key (BYOK) capabilities to safeguard information and prevent outside intrusion.

Future-proofing your hybrid workforce

Simply put, the way we work is evolving. That means your business needs to be evolve too.

Thanks to VoIP, it actually can. As a more flexible, feature-rich, and cost-effective solution, cloud calling is poised to carry enterprises into the next phase of hybrid work and empower tomorrow’s businesses to perform at their best.

 

Reilly Nolan, Content Marketing Manager, Webex by Cisco has more than 10 years of experience across the technology, healthcare, interior design, consumer goods, and fashion industries. Unpacking the human aspect of the product experience is what informs his writing most. In his spare time, Reilly has published and shortlisted fiction in a variety of national literary magazines.

 

7 Drivers Of Startup Community Activity

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by Christopher Heivly, managing director of The Startup Factory and author of “Build the Fort  – The Startup Community Builder’s Field Guide“

Are you motivated to build a more robust startup community in your area? Do you have the right mindset and a clear sense of where your community currently is and what matters to you? Then it’s time to focus on the action steps you need to take to make your goals happen. 

There are seven basic cornerstone drivers of activity with respect to startup communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems. You’ll need to set the right attitudes among current and new local leaders, inspire and support founders, increase the current level of mentorship for founders at all stages, activate more local and regional investors, plug regional corporations into the ecosystem, connect to regional universities, and secure support with local, regional, state, and federal government. 

Below, I’ll break each of these drivers down and give you a clear roadmap for creating a thriving community. 

1. Develop Leaders.

The first and most foundational of the seven drivers of startup community and entrepreneurial ecosystem building is community leadership and the culture they create. 

Your community’s culture is the collective bucket of the current community norms. You can develop tools, tricks, and programs around setting a new community culture. If that sounds like an impossible task, you’re not alone in thinking so. But what if we only needed to change eight or ten people and then had the patience for that invisible influence to diffuse throughout the community?

If you can prioritize building meaningful connections with members of your ecosystem – including those “leaders”, your future work will ultimately invite a new set of community norms. 

How? It turns out that we influence our friends and our friends’ friends and even our friends’ friends’ friends without even being intentional about our influence. What if we were actually intentional about sharing those new principles? Like every hour of every day of every week? Imagine the influence we could create. What if we found a handful of peers to do the same thing?

That is ecosystem leadership.

2. Develop Founders.

Community builders should rally around the idea that 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the people in their regions are likely high-growth entrepreneurs. 

Your first task is to find the active and unknown entrepreneurs and bring them into the community, as they are operational and in need of your help, network, and experiences. They also instantly add their experience to your community as mentors. 

Some of them think there’s no reason to leave their basement. Some of them aren’t aware that there are others like them. Some have chosen to not engage, mostly because engagement activities aren’t created in their best interest (rather, in the interest of the ESOs). It’s imperative that you create activities with and for entrepreneurs and not for organizational vanity purposes.

3. Develop Mentors.

Mentorship is both a concept and an activity. The concept has its roots in the idea of community. The activity is something that two or more people do together.

If you think about the idea of community and tribe, you should think about the camaraderie and connection that members have as they have similar interests. With that similar interest comes a willingness, or dare I say, a responsibility to support one another. Mentorship as a concept is the idea that sharing your thoughts, feedback, experiences, and advice is a natural occurrence in startup communities. The breakdown occurs when new members aren’t aware of that implied community support contract.

So, your task and the task of all members of the community is to be available and to create situations where new and veteran members can frictionlessly support each other. It’s not just the give, but also the ask. For some reason, nascent and developing communities are full of founders who think it’s weak to ask for help.

4. Develop Investors.

Your community can’t just set up a new fund without having a healthy number of  entrepreneurs. What every developing or emerging community requires is an active angel community. Local angels serve as the first real investors for a company (outside of friends and family). 

Professional investors will rarely be the first investors in a company, local or not. Angel investors typically get involved at what’s called the seed round, and this label should tell you everything about investing.

The good news is that every town and city has a population of high-net-worth individuals who have the means to do seed investments. Your challenge is to unlock this group. Start by inviting them to your coffee meetups or any other networking activity.

5. Engage Corporations.

Local corporations are one of the largest assets in your community. The challenge for community builders is to encourage a meaningful interaction between your startup community and corporate staff.

Today’s corporations are nervous. Very nervous. In nascent communities, corporations might imagine community startup efforts as competition for employees or ideas. 

They would be wrong. A strong high-tech, high-growth entrepreneurial ecosystem creates innovation energy that waterfalls to everyone in the region. Corporations will have access to hundreds of startups acting as free R&D departments, a larger pool of talent in technology and growth marketing, and an exciting community to engage their employees, spouses, and children. That is your lead-in.

There are obvious and compelling activities a corporation can choose to deepen their engagement. The impact that cascades to all involved parties is immeasurable. Your task is to connect these disparate community actors for the betterment of both, a classic need that simply needs a passionate broker.

6. Engage Universities.

Almost every town has a college or university within its greater region. The core mission of every one of these institutions is to prepare students for their careers. These higher-learning institutions have within their walls an eager group of students searching for knowledge, purpose, and direction. By definition this student-state is ripe for creating awareness of entrepreneurship.

As I see it, there are a handful of knowledge systems within colleges and universities that are able to drive local innovation and potentially result in playing a key role in entrepreneurship:

  1. Educating and training students 
  2. Developing potential products from science, research, and experimentation
  3. Encouraging and even facilitating a problem-solving mindset across department and class boundaries
  4. Actual company formation 

Finding ways to connect students, staff, and faculty to the community is task one. Finding opportunities to support researchers, inventors, and staff at the intersection of their interests and entrepreneurs is task two. 

7. Engage Government.

One of the most discussed aspects of startup community development is the role government should play. In Startup Communities, Brad Feld explains: “Government can and do play a critical role when their interactions are generally in a supportive role of the overall ecosystem rather than an attempt to lead the ecosystem.”

A problem often arises in cities, states, or countries where the population tends to rely on the government for on-the-ground leadership. Though there can be some quick short-term impact, this government-led set of activities  unfortunately quickly runs out of steam. I have seen this firsthand where those early wins translate into “let’s put more money or staff behind the purveyor of those successes.” 

As time goes by, everyone begins to count on those entities for progress. The entity gradually begins to spend as much time running itself (fundraising, political lobbying, management oversight, etc.) as it does supporting its original mission. Staff changes further exacerbate this lost mission. 

Engaging the government matters, but ultimately, in order for your startup community to accelerate, the effort must be more citizen-based than government-based.

Do Your Thing

The underlying goal is for you and your peers to embrace the ecosystem principles and proactively share and support them throughout your community. 

If this sounds daunting, you may be overthinking the goal. Just do your thing. I hereby deputize you as an agent of change. Show up at events. Guest speak at college classes, judge competitions, and sit on panels. Every interaction you have creates an opportunity to strengthen your ecosystem and drive more activity at all levels of your community. 

 

*adapted from “Build the Fort  – The Startup Community Builder’s Field Guide“

 

Christopher Heivly

Christopher Heivly is a life-long entrepreneur and multifaceted investor who spent forty years working as, for, and with entrepreneurs. Chris currently serves as a managing director of The Startup Factory and is a highly sought-after public speaker. His first book, “Build the Fort: Why 5 Simple Lessons You Learned As a 10 Year-Old Can Set You Up for Startup Success“, was inspired by his widely acclaimed TEDx talk in 2014.

 

5 Best Virtual Business Phone Systems For Small Teams

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In today’s fast-paced business world, small teams need efficient communication systems to stay ahead of the curve. One way to achieve this is by utilizing a virtual business phone system that offers cost-effective, professional, and flexible solutions for seamless communication.

In this blog post, we will discuss the five best virtual business phone systems tailor-made for small teams – OpenPhone, Grasshopper, RingCentral, CallHippo, and Nextiva.

Why Small Teams Need a Virtual Business Phone System

Small teams need a virtual business phone system for cost-effectiveness, professionalism, and credibility, and greater flexibility in managing their communication needs.

Cost-Effectiveness.

One of the significant advantages of using a virtual business phone system for small teams is cost-effectiveness. Traditional landline systems often come with hefty installation fees, expensive equipment, and ongoing maintenance costs that can be financially burdensome for smaller organizations.

By embracing a virtual phone system, small businesses can save money without compromising essential telecommunications capabilities.

Professionalism and Credibility.

A virtual business phone system significantly elevates the professionalism and credibility of a small team, leaving a lasting impression on potential clients and partners.

For example, having a professional greeting message or an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) menu offers your callers a seamless experience while navigating different departments or reaching intended contacts within your organization.

Moreover, with features like custom voicemail messages, dedicated business numbers for each department or employee, and call-forwarding capabilities, you can tailor the phone system to match your brand identity.

Receiving calls from a distinguished business number rather than personal mobile devices demonstrates that your team is well-established and invests in customer service excellence.

Greater Flexibility.

One of the main advantages of using a virtual business phone system for small teams is greater flexibility. By leveraging internet-based communication, these systems free businesses from the constraints and limitations of traditional landline setups.

This adaptability makes scaling up more manageable and allows employees to work remotely without sacrificing communication quality. For instance, if a customer support representative attends an industry conference overseas, they can still field client queries just as efficiently as if they were in the office.

Top 5 Virtual Business Phone Systems for Small Teams

Here are the top five virtual business phone systems that small teams can consider for their communication needs: OpenPhone, Grasshopper, RingCentral, CallHippo, and Nextiva.

OpenPhone.

OpenPhone is a popular virtual business phone system that caters to solo businesses and small teams. It offers advanced features such as team messaging, call recording, and voicemail, making it a versatile option for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

One of the key advantages of using OpenPhone is its affordability – with plans starting at just $10 per user per month, making it an excellent choice for small businesses on a budget.

Additionally, OpenPhone makes it easy to set up and use their virtual phone system without needing any technical expertise or special hardware.

Grasshopper.

Grasshopper is a popular virtual phone system catering to small teams and entrepreneurs. Designed for affordability and ease of use, Grasshopper offers a range of features that help small businesses appear more professional and credible.

One of the standout features of Grasshopper is its mobile app which enables users to manage their calls from anywhere in the world. This flexibility makes it an excellent option for remote teams or those who frequently work on the go.

RingCentral.

RingCentral is a cloud-based virtual business phone system that has become popular among small teams due to its ease of use and flexibility. Its advanced call management features give small businesses full control over communicating with customers, clients, and team members.

One key benefit of RingCentral’s virtual phone system is its affordability. Small businesses can select from several pricing tiers that fit their specific needs without sacrificing quality or functionality.

Additionally, RingCentral offers integrations with other business tools like Salesforce and Slack for greater efficiency in communication.

CallHippo.

CallHippo is a top-rated virtual business phone system for small teams, known for its rich features and affordable pricing. It offers advanced call management options such as call transfer, voicemail, call recording, and IVR systems that ensure your customers receive the best quality service possible.

What’s more impressive about CallHippo is its flexibility; it allows you to work on the go or remotely without any hassle. With this tool, you can maintain a professional image that enhances customer trust while keeping expenses low.

Nextiva.

Nextiva is a popular choice for small teams that need a reliable virtual business phone system. With its suite of HIPAA-compliant features, including call recording, virtual faxing, and team collaboration tools, Nextiva offers an all-in-one solution for modern businesses.

Nextiva’s advanced call management and routing options make it easy to handle multiple calls simultaneously while maintaining professionalism and credibility with clients.

One of the standout advantages of Nextiva is its affordability and remote-friendly solutions suitable for small budgets without sacrificing quality features. The platform also integrates seamlessly with other business tools via APIs such as Microsoft Teams or Slack making it easy to streamline operations efficiently across various communication platforms on your desktop or mobile devices.

Key Features and Benefits of Virtual Business Phone Systems

Virtual business phone systems offer advanced call management and routing options, are easy to set up and use, integrate with other business tools, allow for remote work, and are affordable pricing.

Advanced Call Management and Routing Options.

One of the most important features to look for in a virtual business phone system is advanced call management and routing options. These can include call forwarding, call screening, and even setting up custom greetings for specific callers or periods.

For example, with RingCentral’s virtual phone system, you can set up rules to automatically route calls based on criteria like location or time of day. Grasshopper also offers advanced routing features like simultaneous ringing so multiple team members can answer the same incoming call from their respective devices.

Easy To Set Up and Use.

One of the most significant advantages of virtual business phone systems is their ease of use and setup. These cloud-based services do not require complex hardware installations or extensive training for employees to operate them efficiently.

For example, Grasshopper provides a straightforward dashboard that allows small teams to set up extensions, record voicemail greetings, and manage call-forwarding preferences effortlessly.

Similarly, CallHippo offers an intuitive interface that lets users purchase local numbers from over 50 countries worldwide and route incoming calls with a few clicks.

Integrations With Other Business Tools.

One of the key benefits of selecting a virtual business phone system is that it often integrates with other commonly used business tools. For example, Nextiva, which is one of the top five options for small teams, can integrate with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams.

Integrations like this are important because they allow for greater productivity and efficiency. By leveraging the small business tools you already use, like Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zapier, by selecting a phone system with integrations.

Ability To Work Remotely.

Virtual phone systems allow small teams to work remotely without sacrificing productivity or connectivity. With a virtual business phone system, users can make and receive calls from any location using their laptop or mobile device.

In addition, remote-friendly features such as call forwarding and voicemail-to-email notifications enable team members to stay connected and responsive even when they are not physically present in the office.

For example, someone away on vacation can still easily access voicemails and return important calls promptly without needing access to a dedicated desk phone.

Affordable Pricing.

One of the main advantages of virtual business phone systems for small teams is their affordable pricing. Compared to traditional business phone systems, virtual alternatives offer cost-effective options catering to smaller businesses with limited budgets.

With prices ranging between $10 and $30 per user per month, these systems provide various benefits, such as advanced call management features, integrations with other business tools, remote work capabilities, team messaging options, video conferencing access, and more.

For example, OpenPhone offers a base subscription plan costing only $10 per user each month, while Nextiva provides pricing plans starting at just under $20 monthly per user.

How To Choose the Right Virtual Business Phone System for Your Small Team

Choosing the right virtual business phone system for your small team is an important decision that can impact your business’s efficiency, professionalism, and bottom line.

To make the best choice, evaluate your current and future needs and assess the integration with other tools or systems you already use in your business. Also, take advantage of free trials or demos before committing to a provider.

Overall, by carefully considering your needs and preferences while taking advantage of trial periods offered by providers, it is possible to choose a high-quality virtual business phone system that meets all your requirements without breaking your budget.

Conclusion

Virtual business phone systems offer small teams an affordable and efficient communication solution. With advanced call management features and integrations with other business tools, these virtual phone systems can help improve professionalism and flexibility in remote work environments.

When choosing the right virtual phone system for your team, consider factors like pricing, key features, and customer support to ensure you select the best option for your needs.

 

Accused Of Criminal Charges? An Entrepreneur’s Guide

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Being an entrepreneur entails a multitude of risks and challenges, and one of the most daunting situations you may face is being accused of criminal charges. Although the majority of entrepreneurs operate their businesses ethically and lawfully, there are instances where legal complications may arise. Some common grounds for criminal accusations against entrepreneurs include the following: 

  • Financial misconduct 
  • Intellectual property infringement 
  • Occupational safety and health violations 
  • Environmental offenses 
  • Corporate espionage 
  • Regulatory non-compliance 

It’s important to note that accusations do not necessarily imply guilt, and entrepreneurs have the right to defend themselves against these charges. Some accusations may stem from genuine wrongdoing, while others may be based on misunderstandings, false information, or personal vendettas. Every case is unique, and navigating the intricacies of the legal system can be devastating for anyone.  

So, if you’ve been recently accused of criminal charge(s), this guide will provide you with valuable advice on handling the situation effectively, protecting your business, and upholding your reputation.

Stay Calm And Seek Legal Counsel.

The initial shock of being accused of criminal charges can be overwhelming, but it’s crucial to remain calm and composed. Immediately consult with a skilled criminal defense attorney from PCS Law or other reputable legal services who specialize in business-related cases. They will assist you through the whole legal process, evaluate the accusations, and help develop a strong defense strategy. Remember, a competent lawyer is your best ally in safeguarding your rights and navigating the complexities of the legal system.  

Preserve Evidence and Document Everything.

As soon as you’re informed about the criminal accusations, take immediate steps to preserve evidence supporting your innocence. This includes gathering relevant documents, emails, contracts, financial records, or any other materials that can potentially refute the charges against you. Maintain a meticulous record of all conversations, meetings, and interactions related to the case. This documentation will serve as crucial evidence and can greatly assist your legal defense.

Maintain Confidentiality And Limit Public Statements.

In the face of criminal accusations, it’s easy to get emotionally carried away and speak out in public to defend yourself and your business. However, when going through criminal charges, it’s essential to exercise caution when discussing the case. Refrain from making public statements or engaging in conversations that could harm your defense.  

Be mindful of social media posts or public comments that can be misinterpreted or used against you. While it’s natural to feel the urge to defend yourself, it’s best to let your attorney handle all communication regarding the case to avoid any potential pitfalls.

Assess The Impact On Your Business.

Evaluate the potential impact of the criminal charges on your business operations. Consider the short-term and long-term consequences the accusations may have on your company’s reputation, partnerships, and customer trust. Then, develop a contingency plan to ensure the continuity of your business in case the situation escalates. Communicate with key stakeholders, such as employees and investors, transparently and honestly to maintain their trust and confidence during this challenging period.

Review Insurance Coverage and Seek Support.

Reevaluate your business insurance policies to see if they cover legal expenses related to criminal charges. Then, engage with your insurance provider and seek clarification on the extent of coverage and any specific requirements for filing claims. 

Additionally, consider contacting organizations or support groups specializing in assisting entrepreneurs facing legal challenges. Their expertise and resources can provide valuable guidance, emotional support, and access to relevant networks.

Prepare for Reputation Management.

Accusations of criminal wrongdoing can damage your personal and business reputation, whether proven true or not. To address this issue, you can develop a reputation management strategy. Consider consulting with a public relations professional to help you craft an effective communication plan.   

For any media inquiries, you can promptly respond to them with guidance from your legal counsel. Transparently communicating with your stakeholders and expressing your commitment to resolving the matter will reinforce your dedication to ethical business practices.

Cooperate With Law Enforcement.

It’s crucial to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies during the investigation. Provide requested information, documents, or evidence that are under the guidance of your legal counsel and within the bounds of the law. Cooperating demonstrates your willingness to resolve the matter and can help build a more favorable perception of your case.

Conduct An Internal Investigation.

Depending on the charges, conducting an internal investigation within your company may be beneficial. This can help identify any potential misconduct or areas of vulnerability that may have contributed to the accusations. Consult with your legal team and consider involving external experts, such as forensic accountants or compliance professionals, to conduct a thorough examination.

The Bottom Line.

Facing criminal charges as an entrepreneur is an immensely challenging situation. Remember, the specifics of your case will determine the most appropriate steps to take. Each situation is unique, so you must rely on the expertise of criminal defense professionals to guide you through the process effectively. With their assistance and along with these steps, you can better navigate the challenges associated with criminal accusations and work towards a fair resolution with greater resilience.  

 

Conflict Resolution: Strategies For Managing Disagreements And Difficult Conversations

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In any workplace, conflicts and disagreements are inevitable, and they arise from differences in opinions, values, and approaches, and can often create tension and hinder productivity. However, mastering the art of conflict resolution is crucial for fostering a harmonious work environment and maintaining healthy relationships among team members.

This article will explore effective strategies for managing conflicts and navigating difficult conversations, ensuring positive outcomes and improved collaboration.

The Impact of Unresolved Conflicts

Unresolved conflicts can have detrimental effects on both individuals and organisations. Consider these statistics:

  1. Decreased Productivity: According to a study by CPP Global, employees in the United States spend an average of 2.8 hours per week dealing with conflicts, resulting in an estimated loss of $359 billion in paid hours. Unaddressed conflicts can lead to decreased productivity, as individuals become preoccupied with the conflict rather than focusing on their work.
  2. Negative Work Environment: Unresolved conflicts create a toxic work environment characterised by tension, resentment, and mistrust. This can lead to increased absenteeism, turnover, and decreased employee satisfaction, ultimately impacting overall organisational performance.
  3. Poor Decision-Making: Conflicts that are not effectively resolved can hinder the decision-making process. When team members cannot communicate openly and constructively, reaching a consensus and making informed decisions becomes challenging.

Strategies for Conflict Resolution

1. Foster Open Communication.

  • Encourage dialogue: Create an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their opinions and concerns openly. This promotes understanding and allows for the early identification and resolution of conflicts.
  • Active listening: Encourage active listening, where individuals listen attentively to each other without interruption. This fosters empathy and helps build a foundation of mutual respect.

2. Seek Common Ground.

  • Focus on shared goals: Remind team members of the common objectives they are working towards. By highlighting shared interests, it becomes easier to find mutually beneficial solutions.
  • Explore win-win solutions: Encourage brainstorming sessions where all parties involved can contribute ideas to find creative solutions that address everyone’s needs.

3. Embrace Mediation and Collaboration.

  • Utilise a neutral third party: In situations where conflicts escalate and become challenging to resolve, consider involving a neutral mediator or facilitator. Their role is to guide the conversation, encourage active listening, and help parties find common ground.
  • Collaborative problem-solving: Instead of approaching conflicts with a win-lose mentality, encourage a collaborative problem-solving approach. This involves actively involving all parties in finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.

4. Practise Emotional Intelligence.

  • Self-awareness: Encourage individuals to reflect on their own emotions, triggers, and biases. This self-awareness helps prevent emotional reactions that can escalate conflicts.
  • Empathy: Foster empathy by encouraging individuals to understand and acknowledge the perspectives and emotions of others. This facilitates a more compassionate and understanding approach to conflict resolution.

5. Implement Conflict Resolution Training.

  • Training programs: Investing in conflict resolution training or general management training equips individuals with essential skills for effectively managing conflicts. These programs provide practical techniques, role-playing exercises, and real-life examples that enhance conflict resolution capabilities.

By implementing these strategies and promoting a culture of open communication and collaboration, organisations can create a supportive environment where conflicts are addressed constructively, leading to increased productivity, enhanced teamwork, and improved job satisfaction.

The bottom line

Conflict resolution is an essential skill for maintaining a harmonious work environment and fostering positive relationships among team members. Unresolved conflicts can have detrimental effects on productivity, employee satisfaction, and decision-making processes. By embracing effective strategies such as fostering open communication, seeking common ground, and practising emotional intelligence, organisations can navigate disagreements and difficult conversations with finesse, leading to positive outcomes and improved collaboration.

Remember, conflict resolution is not about avoiding or suppressing conflicts but rather addressing them proactively and constructively. By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, organisations can transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Conflict resolution is a vital competency for individuals and companies seeking to foster a positive work environment. Organisations can effectively manage disagreements and difficult conversations by embracing open communication, seeking common ground, practising empathy, and implementing conflict resolution strategies. Proactively addressing conflicts promotes collaboration, enhances productivity, and cultivates a culture of trust and respect.

So, let us embark on this journey of mastering the art of conflict resolution, transforming conflicts into opportunities for growth, and building stronger, more resilient teams. By doing so, we create a workplace where differences are celebrated, creativity flourishes, and relationships thrive.

 

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Young Upstarts is an online business resource for startup entrepreneurs, small business owners, idea people, and intrapreneurs seeking change within their organization.
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