Take New Year's Resolutions to the Next Level in Your Business this Year

It’s the time of year to toss out the typical “to do” lists and plan your New Year’s resolutions filled with new plans, new dreams and new directions. Here are some New Year's resolutions geared to businesses and organizations.

Take the time to write out your resolutions and post them in a spot that you can easily see every day.

Be good to yourself this year. Promise that you will:

Do something you love to do, and that you do best, every single day. Carry this through to your team by asking them the following questions as this helps define if you have a happy, motivating and productive workplace:

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?

People who could answer these questions affirmatively were more likely to be happy and productive. Get passionate about your work. Do something you do best every day.

Do something just for you every single day. As a manager or business professional, you can get caught up in doing for others during every minute of your work day. If you have family members who occupy the off-work hours, this problem is compounded. Resolve to set time aside for yourself every day to exercise, relax, reflect, cook a gourmet dinner, eat ice cream, write in a journal, garden, walk your pet or do any other activity that takes your fancy. Just make sure the activity is different than what you already do all day long. You will feel as if you have a life.

Give yourself credit and a pat on the back when you deserve it. People who receive praise or recognition for their work in the past seven days are more happy and productive.

In this era of empowered employees and broad spans of managerial control, you are less likely to have frequent interaction with your boss. Thus, it is important that you recognize yourself for excellent efforts. One way to do this is to keep a file of positive notes, thank you letters and reminders of successful ventures. Stop to assess success after each project you complete.

Strive to learn something new every single day. It is easy to get bogged down in the same old, same old. Read an article; discuss a new approach with a colleague; research what other organizations are doing on the Web. The opportunities for learning are multiplying every day in this information age.

Make professional contacts and conduct focused networking. Look up colleagues with whom you have lost touch. Make sure you attend at least one professional meeting each month. You will benefit from the friendships and relationships you develop from active participation. It is not enough to “join.” You need to participate to reap the rewards from professional collaboration.

Practice professional courage by stepping out of your comfort zone. You know when you are in your comfort zone. An issue occurs. You hear yourself making up excuses in your mind about “why” you don’t need to speak, or “why” taking a stand on an issue will get you “in trouble.” Just once, when you find yourself in this situation, state what you are really thinking. After the shock wears off, your coworkers will admire you. It is so important that organization members provide honest feedback and participate in needed conflict to improve your products or services for customers.

Once you have begun breaking through your own self-imposed barriers, you will find that stating your mind gets easier and easier. Why? Because you will find you survived the experience. In fact, your career may thrive as a result of you leaving your comfortable home. Most people who practice professional courage expected the worst, but found they were rewarded for their new stance. If you find yourself getting beaten up instead, perhaps it’s time to look for different employment. After all, wouldn’t you really rather work where you can safely speak your mind?

Listen more than you talk. The old adage about one mouth and two ears is generally true. As a manager, you spend much of your time in problem-solving activities and efforts. Plan this year, to listen to all that your coworkers are saying; they may want a sounding board, not advice or problem solving. You may find you don’t have to take the monkeys on your back. Your listening may empower them to solve their own problems. When they feel completely heard out and listened to, they are more likely to move from “stuck” to action.

Develop a method to track your life goals, your daily engagements, and your to do list. Using a planner, whether in Microsoft Office Outlook on your laptop or on your smartphone, allows you to empty much of the daily detail from your mind. This gives your mind room for more important thinking.

Whether you choose a paper method or an electronic method, tracking your daily activities against your most important goals is critical. You want to ensure you accomplish your most important priorities.

Read voraciously to continue to learn and grow. Try to read a couple of business books a month plus periodicals and online journals. Try to read widely and broadly. Get out of the business books once in awhile to see how other subjects enhance your point of view.

Take up a new hobby or activity this year. Maybe this is the year you begin your collection. If something has always intrigued you and piqued your interest, resolve to take the first steps in participating this year. You’ll add a new dimension to your world and clear your head.

Take yourself a little less seriously. As we strive for business success, we can get bogged down in serious deliberation, advising and problem solving. Take time to laugh. Take time to smell cookies and bread baking. Smile when you hear stories about what all of your crazy employees are doing; you don’t need to be the “mom” or “dad” all the time. Enjoy them for all their little quirks and differences.

With warm regards, and great best wishes for your success, everyone on the McPherson Berry team wishes you a happy, healthy, prosperous, outstanding 2012 as you adopt these New Year's resolutions and continue to be creative and add more of your own.

Ideas to Show Your Colleagues, Coworkers and Employees How Much You Value Them

You can tell your colleagues, coworkers and employees how much you value them and their contribution any day of the year. No occasion is necessary. In fact, small surprises and tokens of your appreciation spread throughout the year help the people in your work life feel valued all year long.

Looking for ideas about how to praise and thank coworkers and employees? Here are ten ways to show your appreciation to employees and coworkers.

Praise something your coworker has done well. Identify the specific actions that you found admirable.

Say "thank you." Show your appreciation for their hard work and contributions. And, don't forget to say "please" often as well. Social niceties do belong at work. A more gracious, polite workplace is appreciated by all.

Ask your coworkers about their family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended. Your genuine interest - as opposed to being nosey – causes people to feel valued and cared about.

Offer staff members flexible scheduling for the holidays, if feasible. If work coverage is critical, post a calendar so people can balance their time off with that of their coworkers.

Know your coworker’s interests well enough to present a small gift occasionally. An appreciated gift, and the gesture of providing it, will light up your coworker’s day.

If you can afford to, give staff money. End of the year bonuses, attendance bonuses, quarterly bonuses and gift certificates say "thank you" quite nicely.

Almost everyone appreciates food. Take coworkers or staff to lunch for a birthday, a special occasion or for no reason at all. Let your guest pick the restaurant.

Create a fun tradition for a seasonal holiday. One example is that employees draw names for their Secret Santa gift exchange. Think of creative ways to make it fun.

Bring in bagels, doughnuts or another treat for staff and coworkers. Offerings such as cookies or cupcakes, that you've baked personally, are a huge hit. (Have you tried baking cupcakes in ice cream cones? People love them.) Another hit? Bring chocolate - chocolate anything.

Last, but not least, provide opportunity. People want chances for training and cross-training. They want to participate on a special committee where their talents are noticed. They like to attend professional association meetings and represent your organization at civic and philanthropic events. 

Proper Employee Orientation Increases Retention

For years employers have suspected a link between new employee orientation programs and retention. Research over the last decade repeatedly confirms that organizations who conduct new employee training programs can not only expect decreased turnover rates, but happier, more productive employees.
 

Companies invest a great deal of time, energy and money to recruit talented people for their businesses.  It only makes sense that a portion of this time & money be allocated to new employee orientation programs as well.  A good orientation program can help employees feel welcome and part of the organization they have joined.

Employee orientation is an important aspect in not only welcoming and retaining newly hired employees but also increases their productivity.  By developing an effective new hire program, employees will develop a positive impression of your business and get up to speed faster.

It’s important that orientation programs are carefully planned to educate and inform employees not only about their role with the company, but also to help create awareness and understanding of the organizations values, culture, vision and objectives/mission. 

Here are some basic guidelines for a new orientation program: 

Welcome

Help the new employee feel welcome. Have a card signed by fellow employees, introduce the employee to coworkers, take the employee to breakfast or lunch.  

Company Introduction
Take the time to explain your organization's history, mission and philosophy of doing business.  “Nothing is more important to us than….”  

Acclimate the Employee

Help the employee feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Provide them with names, phone numbers and job titles.  

Productivity
Assist the employee in feeling productive by providing a work area that is set up and ready to use. Have supplies on hand and provide instructions on how to use phones and equipment.  Assign a mentor that can help along the way.  

Review Paperwork and Policies.

Review Employee Handbook,  I-9 and W-2 forms, job description and expectations etc…

Taking a few hours to orientate new employees to your organization can not only make a significant difference in how quickly a new employee becomes productive, but can also result in positive long term impacts for your organization.

Etiquette and the Speakerphone

Speakerphone etiquette is to respectfully consider that the person at the other end of the line may believe that this is a private conversation.

One must therefore observe proper protocol so as not to cause embarrassment to that person.

It could prove disastrous to all parties if the discussion is about a third person and that person happens to be present. The caller would talk less freely if it was known that a third person could hear both sides of the discussion.

So, speakerphone etiquette rule number one is – to always first obtain consent to put a person on to speakerphone.

• Advise them of who else can hear the conversation and whether that person is going to participate in the conversation.
• Then it will not come as a surprise to suddenly hear a third voice talking to them. This applies to conference calls as well.
• Speakerphones sometimes create an echo effect on the line, which can irritate and distract a caller.
• This is another reason to advise them that they are talking on a speakerphone.
• Speakerphones are a very convenient device, which have the added benefit of hands-free operation.
• This enables the performance of other physical activities at the same time such as sifting through papers pertinent to the discussion.
• Be warned, however that some activities will cause you to be listening with only ‘half an ear’.
• This is not good telephone etiquette as the caller can often hear the activity and detect that you are being distracted.

Speakerphone etiquette rule number two is – to have regard for anyone else that is present. This is irrelevant if you are home alone.

• But, in an office environment it can be a distraction to others present and even to the caller who would generally be able to hear other office activities such as phones ringing, people typing or just talking. 

Share these suggestions with your friends and colleagues and help make our world a more considerate place to live in.