The HRMan

Some Points on Establishing a Web Presence for Small Business

2009-10-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Veteran entrepreneurs and business start-ups alike have already embraced the phenomenal web 2.0 trends. In fact, web 2.0 trends may no longer be called as such, but as a norm.

Close to a majority of our target markets have already embraced the internet as the new medium of buying and selling, and the rest are slowly following. So, the real issue now is how do you establish your web presence amidst the noises being created by your competitors?

I must confess, in spite of the available resources on the subject matter, taking concrete steps that produce tangible results is still not easy. It does not only entails hard work and more time, but making a difference in a very crowded market is serious business in itself.

Having a beautifully designed and SEO optimized will no longer suffice. More often, the money you spent in these efforts will go to waste if you have not grasped what it means to compete in the web 2.0 market. Even if you were guaranteed a 100% uptime by your web site hosting provider, that still leaves you with no felt-presence on the web.

Generating traffic to your websites is easy. There are a plethora of ways and means to accomplish that end. But the question is, would this visitors take you seriously?

Gone are the days where you wait for the search engines to deliver you buying customers. The web 2.0 era requires us to reach-out to these same customers, interact with them not sell, and listen rather than barking at them because they have enough of that.

These customers want to know if you are human, not some automated response email or video clip. Because they want you to know that, they are more likely to buy from you if they can discuss with you their concerns and that you are trustworthy. Meaning, first, you need to establish rapport. Second, you need to develop a relationship based on trust. After which, can they only be interested in what you have to offer.

In a brief, establishing web presence for small businesses and novice entrepreneurs simply means developing relationships with your market. Be personal. Go to them via the different social networking platforms. Only then will you slowly see that your web presence is taking roots.

Business Planning is not Time Consuming

2009-10-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

Business planning is like water to a thirsty plant. It keeps our businesses vital and thriving. Without business planning, your business will never be as healthy as it could be and may even sicken and die. But many small business owners don’t do the business planning they should, because they’re hard-pressed to find the time to do it. How many times have you thought that you should do some business planning – if only you were not so busy taking care of business!

Nevertheless, business planning does not have to be a time-consuming ordeal. In just a pair of two to three hour sessions, you can put together the basics of a business plan that will invigorate your business for the course of a year.

So set aside the time on two days for a pair of business planning sessions. The days do not have to be consecutive, but should be fairly close in time. You may choose to have your business planning sessions as much as a week apart.

If you are the sort of person who prefers to work in a group, get together with a like-minded friend or two who also runs a small business. You will find the brainstorming in these business-planning sessions easier with input from other people, and they will certainly be more fun as social occasions.

Practical Tips to Streamline Business Processes while Increasing Profit

2009-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some practical tips to help you ‘cut the fat’ and improve the productivity and profitability of your business. If you apply a few of these, you are well on your way to achieving greater profit and creating less stress!

1. Cut the Slackers!

“Carrying dead-weight employees? Lose them now!” Ever tried to run a marathon whilst towing an old tire? This is what it’s like trying to grow a productive business with unproductive (or unmotivated) employees. Not only will they not add value to your bottom line, they’ll drag other ‘productive’ workmates to their level. Cutting a slack worker (legally of course) will actually increase the productiveness of other workmates.

2. Cut the Paper!

“Start a war against paper!” Do you need to print that email to read it? Or that brief? Reduce office clutter on desks and encourage better use of digital filing. Ask clients to email files rather than send faxes, and printed media. Use a web based project management or time tracking solution rather than paper based timesheets. Get the drift – saves trees too!

3. Cut the Time!

“A task can take both 10 minutes and an hour!” Have you noticed that if you give a task (i.e.: write a proposal) to an employee and they have a day to do it, they will, but if you give them 3 days to do the same task, guess what, they’ll take 3 days! Put tight and exact deadlines (i.e.: Wed 3:30pm) on important tasks, and your staff will become more productive.

4. Cut the Expenses!

“Plug all the holes in your cash flow!” Make a list of all general expenses in your business. Next to each one, write one of the following: Need it, Review it, Cut it. Take this list to either a receptionist or employee with some free time. Have them work down the list firstly on the expenses to ‘Cut’. This will create immediate savings. Then have them ‘Review’ the expenses you need, but perhaps could get a better deal on. ‘Trimming the fat’ every 6 months can help you create profit.

5. Target Different Work!

“One project for $20,000 or ten projects for $2,000 each”. Look at the type of work you’re targeting. Is it worth targeting a different type or value of work? Most businesses just ‘do what they’ve always done’ rather than looking for more profitable types of revenue. Think hard about other more profitable work your business can do with its available resource.

6. Don’t Work Late, Come in Early!

“A clear mind is a productive mind!” Outside of work, this time should be used to recharge. Don’t take extra work home, rather just go home, relax, play golf, go for a run, enjoy the family & come in early to do that extra work. Not only will you work better after relaxing, but your family life will improve!

7. Motivate Staff, Offer Incentives!

“Staff priorities are not the same as manager priorities!” Managers, Owners & Directors have different motives and priorities than staff. Just because you are excited about your business doesn’t mean the staff are. Your mind is on the bottom line, whereas staff think of their pay, and they’ll get paid whether they perform or not. Motivate staff with performance related bonuses such as money, time off & job flexibility.

8. Hire multi-skilled workers!

“Enlarge your skill base without the cost!” It’s better to have two designer/developers, than a designer and a developer. Multi-skilled workers, by nature are generally better problem solvers, more flexible and more productive than single skilled workers. You’ll also have more options for work delegation and due to an increased skill base will be able to take on a wider range of projects.

9. Clean your Desks!

“Start the Week Fresh”. Make it company policy that every Friday, before staff leave, all loose paper is to be filed away or organized in racks, drawers, folders or cabinets. A messy workspace is a messy mind. By having staffs organize their desks on Friday, when they start on Monday, they will get straight info focused work, rather than looking at clutter wondering where to start. More productive time!

10. Clean your Digital Files!

“Make it easy to find information!” Searching hard drives and servers for information can waste a lot of productive time. Designate a tech employee the job of tidying the server. Have them organize files logically into client folders, archive or remove old files, check everybody has good network access and tidy the other staffs’ desktops and PCs.

11. Prioritize Your 20%’ers!

“Do the important things first!” Most people procrastinate on the 20% of the tasks that create 80% of the revenue. At the end of each day, make a list for the next day. If you have 25 tasks, list the 5 most important revenue generating tasks (the 20%’ers), then list the 5 most urgent tasks (usually admin). By working through the 20% items first, you’re working ‘on’ the business (growth), rather than ‘in’ the business (maintenance).

12. Review your Services!

“Your services should be team players, not just expenses!” Do you consider your accountant, or lawyers an expense? Or do they truly add value? A good accountant will save you more money than they cost. With so many accountants, lawyers, printers, couriers etc available, are you sure you are working with the best you could be? Every 6 months you should review your external services with this question in mind: “Are they helping or hindering my business?”

13. Systemize your Processes!

“How can I do it easier, faster, and cheaper?” As a matter of habit, always look for ways to systemize processes. Create template emails, template forms and documents, a ‘roles and responsibilities’ chart, use process automation applications, digital timesheets, auto responders, automatic payments etc. Almost every process in your business can be creatively systematized to be easier, faster, and cheaper! If you systematize 3 processes a month, that’s 36 processes a year – what a difference!

14. Use Remote Workers!

“Only pay for what you use!” Every staff member not only costs a salary, but also a chair, a desk, a computer, power, square footage, coffee in the kitchen etc. By using remote workers and contractors, you’ll save money and maybe not even need a huge office. They’ll even pay for their own coffee!

15. Learn to Delegate!

“Work on your business, not in it!” If you are a manager, you should be spending at least 80% of your time working on growing, systematizing, trimming, and strategic planning. Are you spending too much time on menial tasks and grunt work that can be delegated? If so, learn to delegate (or use contractors) as this will free your time to concentrate on the big picture – “Growing your business and making it profitable!”

Closebys: A Creative Way of Attracting Customers

2009-06-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have always said that putting up a small business, that is, when you the capital, is easy. But nurturing and managing it to grow or even maintaining its viability is another. It takes more than having a perfect product that is saleable or a service that is superior to your competitors. It takes more than using the tri-media (should you have a huge budget for advertising) to make your business known. What you need is customer base.

Loyal customers still make a business or unmake it.

Of course, as small business owners, you definitely prefer the former. But the best way to keep these type of customers is when you offer value for their money. And you can only make that offer if they find you. Closebys social network can help you in that department.
How? It is actually easy and simple.

Closebys helps businesses, like yours, to publish announcements, special events and via other means which conventional advertising mediums cannot effectively deliver. They use web 2.0 technology. Harnessing the influencing power of online social networking through their site, blog, and list emailing, they bring your potential customers to your business. What more, their little announcements about your recent business offers and events are available via mobile phone. This means, your announcements can reach more audience. Creative huh.

If you are interested and want to know more, you might want to CloseBys.com and /or view these closebys help videos.

The Angst of Relocating and Hiring Moving Companies

2009-06-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

In the early days of my career, I worked as a Sales Account Executive for printing and publishing machines. I was assigned the bigger accounts to cover which entails traveling in and out of the country. Hence, I never really had the chance to build my own nest for over 5 years. Why should I, anyway? I rarely stay more than a week in my rented apartment because of the nature of my work.

When I quit that job and took an assignment that entails me to stay more on the office, I started deepening my roots in so far as the place where I want to stay permanently. So, I did.

However, as they say “nothing is permanent”. After completing the my house mortgage for almost 10 years, I was obliged to move to another place because of a bigger role and a very generous compensation package, something that I don’t want to miss in this lifetime.

But, I am faced with a big task of ensuring that all my stuff will be transferred safely and I have the ideal house to transfer on my new assignment. It was a relief though that there are great moving companies out there to rely on, although I still have to find time to compare.

It is good though, there is Move Me.com. This outfit is great because it exactly what I need to alleviate some of the angst and anxieties the relocation has caused me. Here are the important things they can do for me or for anyone who is relocating interstate or offshore:

They plan and organize your relocation through a good moving company that they recommend;
They can assist you in competitive local removal quotes;
They can help you in transferring your utilities;
and they will compare prices for home services for your approval.

Another best thing about MoveMe.com is, it is completely free and an independent service for home movers! What they actually do best is serve people like you and me who are looking for renting or buying homes, moving to new homes and looking for finance to take care of their homes. Thus, ensuring you of an exciting and worry free relocation.

10 Really Good Reasons To Use Predictive Analytics in Business

2009-05-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

I don't set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them. ~Dick Clark

But how do you find them? --through predictive analytics.

The business and market landscape is dynamic, it is always changing. Those who lead the pack are those who are able to predict accurately trends and shifts.

Predictive analytics is a powerful tool that helps organizations solve key challenges by using business knowledge to drive efficiencies and strengthen their competitive advantage.

Read this best practices paper and you will discover ten ways predictive analytics will make it easier for your organization to:

Gain a more complete view of your business
Find hidden value in your data
Build stronger customer relationships
Reduce your exposure to risk and fraud
And much, much more...

Get your your copy of complimentary best practices here, NOW!

While you're at it, check also our full listing of complimentary industry publications to help you in your business or career.

Why you should read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2009-04-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

This book was a publishing phenomenon in the early 1990s, and it deserved to be.

Stephen R. Covey managed to repackage an ethical and moral tradition thousands of years in development and make it meaningful to a late twentieth century, secular audience.

Most of what you find in this book you will find in Aristotle, Cicero, Benedict, Tillotson and their heirs. Covey adds a few references to psychology, a twentieth century science, and many to Viktor Frankl, a sage of the Holocaust. Covey wraps the mix in a distinctively American can-do program of easy-looking steps calling, mostly, for self-discipline.

The result is a quite worthwhile, useful manual for self-improvement.

I sincerely believe that most readers, like you, can learn something useful from this book, though some will find the style too familiar and easy-going, and the prescriptions easier to agree with than to act upon, much less adopt as habits.

Get the book summary for free here courtesy of GetAbstract.com, and know in 10 minutes what it takes others hours, and keep up with the latest trends in your industry.

Also, in this summary you will learn:

Seven approaches that effective people take to attain fulfillment
How to build your character and shape your life more deliberately

Why wait, grab your free book report now!

Website Building Basics for Small Business Owners

2009-04-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

While the global financial crisis has affected almost all types of businesses off-line and online, many are still venturing to tap the huge internet market. Who would not? Investment is very small by comparison with an offline business, that is, if one knows the basic tools required to succeed online.

For one, you need a good website to sell your products or services online. Moreover, for most of newbie online entrepreneurs, or us small business owners, building a website is a daunting task. We will more likely hire a web developer or professional to do this for us. I do not recommend this however. It could be costly. The basics of online business and website building can easily be learned. You need not to be technically savvy to learn these things. In fact, the eagerness and patience to learn are all but you need.

If you are planning of developing your small business website, here are four basic things you need to consider carefully:

Domain Name
A good and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly domain name is something that is almost identical to your website title and has the keyword/s of your website description, according to experts. This is for easy recall and for SEO purposes. Have that domain name registered to a refutable domain registrar.

Website Hosting
This is the space you rent on a server out there somewhere, to put your web site on. IMO, if your domain registrar offers a good hosting package, then have your website hosted there. If not, find a cheap web hosting plan to fit your budget. Compare offers and benefits packages. In this respect, I would highly recommend that you ask the assistance of a web professional to explain to you the merits and demerits of certain web hosting features. For advanced hosting services, you might want to consider Web Hosting Metro.

Web Site
This is a combination of HTML files and images, which are uploaded to that web hosting service you rent. You definitely need an expert to design for you on this.

Shopping Cart Software
You do intend to sell, right? Some hosting company offers this as a bundle. More often, this is something you have to purchase separately and installed on your website. Read reviews, compare, and ask from experiences online business professionals regarding this. A reliable shopping cart is indispensable in any online business. Simply because, this is where your sales revenue funnels through.

Pillars of Employee Performance Management

2009-03-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Does your organization consider Employee Performance Management a laborious, tactical annual practice, or is it a strategic, business-critical cycle?

Maybe it’s time to reassess. Now more than ever, HR professionals like you are tasked with optimizing Employee Performance Management processes across the board to ensure the most efficient use of corporate resources. Employee Performance Management has the power to accelerate time-to-revenue, reduce risks, and help your organization proactively address threats and opportunities.

The Pillars of Employee Performance Management eBook and strategy manual for leveraging Employee Performance Management in your organization is one of the latest must-have manuals for any HRM professional.

What you will learn with this very practical HRM manual on Employee Performance Management? Here are a few:

How to derive real value from Employee Performance Management;

How HR can help align organizational goals;

Best practices for successful competency management;

Five costly succession planning errors to avoid;

How to manage compensation during the economic crunch; and more.

Get your complimentary download of this excellent HRM Manual on Employee Performance Management here when you qualify.

Mobile Phones for Small Business

2009-03-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Most business owners and business seem to be on the move these days. Also, mobile phones now became indispensable in doing business. But the question is, how much are you spending for your business mobile phone subscriptions? Does your existing mobile phone contract return value for your money? Alternatively, does it add up only to your costly operation?

These are crunch times. It is but logical that you look into each aspect of your business operation, which includes your utilization of business mobile phones subscriptions, and see where you can cut or streamline costs.

If your business currently suffers from the high cost tied-up with your existing business mobiles contract, you might want to consider Confused About Mobiles offers.

Confused About Mobiles not only offers cheaper mobile phones contract rates for small businesses, but they have also tied up with it their refutable experience in the field of business mobile phones services. They have exclusive rights to some of the latest software bundles for mobile phone applications, offer expert advices on the best mobile phone contract deals for your business requirements, and other features and benefits that their competitors cannot easily match. But IMO, the best part is the savings you get, and that they can guarantee. Check them out, and see.

Prescription Eyeglasses

2009-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

When you grow older, your eyes seem to grow dimmer along. It is inevitable. I am a year older, and somehow I need a new pair $ 8 Rx eyeglasses. I was reminded of this when I chance upon Zenni Optical on TV!!! Well, it sure does need that sort of attention because it offers quality and cheaper eyeglasses. Thus a High Five to Zenni Optical is in order.

Small Business Bankruptcy | Avoidance at Startup is the Best Medicine

2009-03-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

“However, the economics of our business continued to deteriorate. We barely escaped bankruptcy a year ago, and in the aftermath of that escape we had to make some even tougher decisions.” ~Gerard Arpey, elected Chairman of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, Inc.

The news of the financial meltdown of AIG (American International Group, Inc.) is not shocking to like to some because I get to see small business bankruptcy taking place from time to time. They are here today; they are gone tomorrow. Certainly, stability and organizational size today, in a highly volatile and competitive business market, is not an assurance that an organization will last for long. However, business bankruptcy can be avoided.

For a seasoned businessman or entrepreneur, filing for bankruptcy is the last resort. Although, this is always a better alternative than going to prison. It is something that you hope that you have not to deal with. The best medicine to this is avoidance at the outset. What I mean is like a newborn baby getting an immunity inoculation against certain types of disease.

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The easiest way to ruin your business at the outset is through bad credit loans. In fact, running into a huge loan at the beginning is tantamount to closing shop or filing a business bankruptcy even before you started. So, how do you avoid this undesirable scenario? Here are a few tips you might want to consider:

Don’t start a small business with a loan. Why? You would easily lose steam running a startup business to pay a loan.

Get help from a reliable and credible financial expert. Running a business and managing your finances are two different activities, although the latter is part of the former activity. The counsels of the experts in this area are invaluable. Seek, and use them to your advantage. Besides, with a financial aid at your side, you can better manage your business to profitability.

Use the Pareto economic principle of investment. Meaning, invest your money on 20% aspect of your business that will yield 80% of your revenue and profits. This principle holds true regardless of any economic condition. (Good Article on Pareto Principle here after the jump.)

Again, let me reiterate; small business bankruptcy can be avoided. Good business planning is definitely invaluable, thus spend more time and efforts on this before you launch your business.

Forget the house!

2009-03-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

I can still remember my friend arguing with his wife when they were deciding which house to buy. “Honey, forget about how big the house is. What is more important, how big the garage is.” Ironic, but true. More often men prefer to buy a house not as how their wives or girlfriends prefer but on how they can park their priceless possessions –their cars.

Where I am going with this?

Well, I must admit, I also think on the same premise as my friend. Nevertheless, here, I am more concerned on our car buying habit.

Would it suffice just to buy a used car from a trusted broker, like Carmax, to make a hasty buying decision? Or most probably you might reasoned that you already made a thorough car historical background over at Carfax or AutoCheck and thus confident that you are getting the best deal. For me, neither will suffice.

For my next car, I always rely to an expert’s advice. As much as I am fascinated with cars, I always rely to those who know best, especially when buying a used car. Good thing though, you can easily get free expert advice online. Among those I would highly recommend are car-buying articles at IsItaGoodDeal.com.

Honestly, you need not worry more about the garage than how and which car to buy. Forget the garage, get an expert’s advice!

Survive the Recession Debt- Free

2009-01-28T06:52:00.000-08:00

The economic recession is in full swing. Inflation rates continue to soar and unemployment rates continue to rise, and our purchasing power continue to weaken, so tell me that we are not in a recession yet? There is no denying. No need for additional stats to convince en masse that we are not in a economic slowdown. What has happened with the major financial institutions in the US is no longer isolated. The effect crossed their borders already.

What an average employee needs to do right now is save, cut on expenses, find other sources of income, and strive for a lifestyle that is debt free. Although the last one is probably the most difficult to do. We now live in a society where the value our plastic cards dictate our lifestyle. In addition, the latest in technological pads has somehow added further strain on our finances, though all the while we thought that it would make life more convenient for us. It seems the contrary. It is not hopeless though.

Debt companies are eyeing on you right now. They want to cut their losses, and so they will try to pursue all unsettled debts. Hence, this is the best time that you cut your losses too. Debt consolidation is the best way to do this. Have an agency consolidate your bills and debt for you and arrange for a single, flexible repayment scheme at a lower rate. Do this the soonest. Because the sooner you get out of debt, the better are your chances of surviving this recession. More so, without debts, you worry less and you can concentrate more on saving and finding other sources of income. That is way easier than having a debt hanging like a grind stone around your neck.

Again, it is not too late to rectify your situation and make yourself financially fit to face the worse woes of the recession yet.

Selective Tech News that is worth the read

2008-10-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Office routines for me normally starts from reading the headlines in the paper, check on emails, and browse through the memos on my inbox tray. Among these three, checking my emails consumes much of my time because I have to sipped through the junk mails before I get into what is worthy of my attention or needing immediate reply. Similarly, when browsing the net for political and tech news, I had to wade through many items that are not in effect “newsworthy” before I can read something of value. Can you relate? I bet you do.

We are bombarded daily with tons of information that we need to filter. I am so glad that there is Gadget Advisor that seems to address this pesky issue in a different light. Here is another tech site that aims to present only the Tech news and updates that you want to know.

If you are looking for the latest models of universal remote control, audio-video equipment, network media player, or the best tech offer like online backup services, and more –then Gadget Advisor is the right single site to visit. You will not be wasting your time here by weeding-out trivial info that are irrelevant because they only publish the latest and the best tech news you need to hear. In addition, if you are on the look for a particular gadget, you will not be disappointed because they will only present you the best product in the market.

So, if you want t selective tech news and product reviews, start your office day with the Gadget Advisor –it’s worth your time.

Managing Polarities in Change Management

2008-09-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

"The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order." --Alfred North Whitehead, Mathematician, Logician and Philosopher

Increasingly, an organization’s ability to respond and adapt quickly while providing increased stability in the midst of change is a great leverage point for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. But this is not about predicting or riding trends; change needs to be a lot more than that. Organizations can get caught in pendulum swings from one trend to another. Sometimes Human Resources professionals are responsible for flavor-of-the-month initiatives; other times they may be trapped by flawed strategies advanced by senior executives. Common examples of these traps include the following.

Cultural shifts: such as from directive to participative management styles, or from hierarchical to team based management and decision-making
Structural shifts: such as from more centralized to more decentralized operations (and back again!), or from downsizing to rehiring
Strategic shifts in focus: such as from quality improvement to cost cutting or from product focus to customer focus.

Many change efforts follow a predictable pattern likely to lead organizations down paths filled with frustration, resistance, and ultimately preservation of the status quo. After compelling arguments are developed as to why change is needed, a plan for getting from “where you are now” to “where you want to be” is viewed as the solution, with implementing the strategy seen as the last step. However, if your vision of the future - the “where you want to be” - is a shift from one pole of a polarity to the other, your efforts are guaranteed to generate amazing resistance.

Is Education Necessary for a Successful Business Career?

2008-08-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

There are obviously two educations: One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. In order to acquire both educations, three things are necessary: We need information, knowledge and wisdom. We get information out of newspapers and magazines. We acquire knowledge through good books, encyclopedias, lectures and seminars. But these first two will not give us both educations. If information and knowledge were the complete answer, every Ph.D. in America would be rich and happy, and every high school dropout would be broke and miserable. Obviously, that is not true. (James Truslow Adams)

Some successful entrepreneurs and businessmen I knew were college drop-outs. Bill Gates, for example, is one among them. However, this should not be construed as the norm, but rather the exception. College education, in particular, is necessary in business success. College education, as Adams said, teaches us how to make a living. This should always be the case. Given this perspective, and getting your degrees or professional training from reputable colleges like Brown Career College, Harrington College of Design, and Missouri Medical School, a good college education can propel you to success.

These colleges were established with goals to provide students with the technical knowledge, skills and hands-on training needed to succeed in many of today’s popular fields. They are dedicated in providing quality programs that are sound in concept, implemented by a dedicated educators, and geared towards those seeking a solid educational foundation for employment in their chosen careers. Therefore, if you are considering a degree in one of today’s in-demand professions and business careers, grab any of the programs in the fields of criminal justice, television production, visual communications, medical profession, and business management.

Is college education necessary for success? Yes. That is, if education is, as Daniel Webster puts it:
Knowledge does not comprise all which is contained in the large term of education. The feelings are to be disciplined, the passions are to be restrained, true and worthy motives are to be inspired, a profound religious feeling is to be instilled, and pure morality inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in education.

Continuing Business Education

2008-05-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

I do not equate success with education for I do not believe that good education can guarantee you success in your professional life and/or business ventures. I do believe however, that good education is one of the cornerstones of success.

Education does not stop when we received our college diploma. Education as professionals is continuing process. It never stops, unless you are 6 feet under. The more successful you are, the more that it necessary for you to continue educating yourself. ‘Lifetime education’ is imperative, as Peter Drucker, a prominent Quality Management guru puts it aptly:

“The growth for education and training will be in continuing adult education. Online delivery is the trigger for this growth, but the demand for lifetime education stems from profound changes in society. We live in an economy where knowledge, not buildings and machinery, is the chief resource and where knowledge-workers make up the biggest part of the work force.”

The best thing about this internet era, virtually anyone can get an online degree without leaving the comfort of their homes, or taking a leave of absence from work. Try, for example eLarners.com. They offer a host of online undergraduate and graduate degrees are fully accredited and offered by both traditional schools, Cornell, NYU, University of Michigan as well as newer institutions like University of Phoenix, Walden University and Kaplan, etc . Choose from any of their online business degrees and continue educating yourself for success.

Is there such a thing as Employee –Employer Matching?

2008-04-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

There is. In fact, most employers, if not all, believe that finding the right employees that match the needs and/or requirements of the organization is crucial to its success. Hence, they look for the best people for particular skill and knowledge sets, but also people who fit into the organization’s environment and culture. They value employees’ contribution to such extent that they want a real match for any prospective addition to their roster.

For smaller companies with no established HRD or HRM departments, a refutable Recruitment Agency like Search.Co.Uk plays a very important role in achieving those I described above. They provide a complete recruitment solution. Also, they are competent employee-employer matchmaker. With a huge database of potential candidates available for positions in accountancy, information technology, sales and marketing, among others, surely they can easily provide the right match for any employer. In the UK or even overseas.

Economic Forecast Basics by John McCallum

2008-04-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts for executives on how to use an economic forecast:

First, the economy involves myriad variables and interrelationships of varying measurability and complexity. Not every business depends for its prosperity on the same variables and relationships. Executives should know the key economic drivers of their business and focus on forecasting them. Having said that, economic growth is big for almost everyone; a rising tide does lift all boats.

Second, no economic forecast will ever get everything even close to right, so the wise executive focuses on directional tendencies and worst case/best case scenarios.

Third, not all economic forecasters are equal. Some actually do have better records than others. Executives should spend some time discerning who really is good at forecasting what matters to them.

Fourth, economic forecasters are not the only source of knowledge on where the economy is going. Statistics Canada, industry associations etc. compile data and do studies that can be very helpful. Within organizations, things like order books, customer intention surveys and supplier intelligence may provide hints on the future. Executives sometimes forget that their organization and its relationships can be a goldmine of information on the future.

-by John McCallum

Workplace Training and Development

2008-03-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Training and Development are HRM core functions that remain to be indispensable process for increasing employees’ effectiveness and productivity. Learning and innovative organizations place much emphasis on these because they provide the impetus for corporate growths and profits, being the bottom line. While other organizations find this as unnecessary cost of money and manhours, it does not negate its importance.

Training and Development solutions are not cost, but rather investments. When you regard your employees as your primary asset, you will give more importance on competencies’ enhancements and development. You will invest more in these areas. After all, your business’ success hinges on your employees’ abilities to produce goods at a cost-effective way and satisfy your customers’ demands.

In this regard, you might want to consider TrainingTime as a partner. They fill the gap of finding the suitable training provider that can meet your requirements. They are in partnership with credible training consultants and organizations that design, facilitate, and host training seminar & events. More so, TrainingTime makes it easy for you to explore a huge selection of training and development resources across formats, topics, and industries. Hence, the burden of finding a suitable training and development program and provider is eased out from your end.

Do not wait till your employees’ productivity deteriorates and your sales revenue suffer –invest today on workplace training and development programs.

Managing Employees and Preventing Unionism through Open Communication

2008-02-24T23:50:00.000-08:00

One of my clients was asking how he can prevent his employees into organizing a Union. While I respect the constituitonal rights of employees to organize themselves for a common and beneficial goal, sometimes the absence of such, IMO, can mean industrial within the organization or less headache for the employers, especially for small businesses. Can you prevent employeed from orgainizing without violating their constituitonal rights? I say, ‘YES!’

One Labor Union President was heard to comment: The employees who are most difficult to organize into Labor Unions are those who are best informed. The reason is obvious. Allowing news and updates about the company to simply spread through the grapevine is dangerous. The grapevine breeds on bitterness and dissatisfaction from both real and imagined causes. If an employer, a manger, or a small business owner makes no effort to keep employees informed through an efficient and effective communication system, scandals, gossips, rumor mongering, and malcontents can reap easy success in maligning and badmouthing the employer or management –as a manager, yours in particular.

Effective channels of communication adopted by companies -aside from using the bulletins, newsletters, emails, paging systems, memos – are regular weekly or monthly dialogues with the employees. Labor unrest and dissatisfactions is readily put-out when employers and managers maintain an informal dialogue with their employees in order to address various issues and concerns. Most major and serious employee-management problems were bred out of trivial ones that were left unattended. An open dialogue provides a venue for employees to air their sentiments in public and be heard. An employer or a manager does not have to promise or commit to address all the issues and concerns raised, enough that a hearing was made and accepted and that actions may be taken.

The importance of an open-door policy in communication is allowing the least of your employees to see and talk with the highest officer of the company in order to seek guidance, redress his or her complaints or grievances cannot be overemphasized. A key factor to this communication system is the feedback mechanism. Periodic opinion surveys of employees’ perceptions can be conducted on critical issues such as pay and benefits, working conditions, supervision, career growth, and other matters. Results of this survey can then be analyzed and where there are areas that indicate malcontents or dissatisfactions, corrective or mitigating actions can then promptly be implemented. Moreover, summary report of these surveys should be publicly published to obviate any suspicion that unfavorable feedback is being swept under the rug, so to speak.

Managing Unions: Supervisor's Role

2008-02-17T23:59:00.000-08:00

There is no magic formula to avoid Labor Unions. A company may be people-oriented, well-managed, and generous with employee compensation, but its employees may still organize a labor Union.

It would, however, be useful to examine key strategic approaches adopted by some unorganized companies and industries that have helped them avoid the problems of unionism.

Recognizing that supervisors can make or unmake companies' union policies, companies can train these people continuously on how to be effective supervisors of people. Supervisors distribute work, allocate overtime, recommend promotion, demotion, and salary increases, and implement disciplinary actions. In the eyes of the people, the supervisor is management himself.

The Supervisor's job as a front liner is critical to the union avoidance policy of the company. If he does not treat his people well, he is despot, plays favoritism, is not fair and firm to his subordinates; he can be a cause of dissatisfaction which can trigger unionization. Of course, it goes without saying that a supervisor must also be treated well and satisfied in his individual needs lest he sabotage the avowed no-union policy of the company or organizes or supports Labor Unionism himself.

Workplace Signpost | Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

2008-02-12T04:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a typical provision on the above on a Company Code of Conduct:

Terminable Offense: Reporting for work under the influence of alcohol or drug is strictly prohibited.

What is wrong with the above provision? None.

It is fair and square. Many major workplace accidents I witnessed and investigated are related to this provision. Either the involve employee has a hang-over or is under the influence of alcohol, or may have taken a prohibited drug prior to the accident. I have also terminated or recommended for dismissal employees who violated the above provision.

I never compromised on the issue. However, I have a bit of a misgiving on this particular policy.

It is a lot easier to punish the offender.

Many companies, however, failed to implement anti-drug abuse or alcoholism campaign. Also, they do not have any program to help the employee go through drug treatment and/or alcohol rehab. I understand that there is a need for expertise in this area. There are better alternatives. Why not try them?

1800NoDrugs is good alternative to take care of this issue. The best thing about them is your company will not cost you anything. It is a free, non-profit portal for finding a long or short-term drug rehab program that is right for your particular needs. There is never a charge for the referral, and they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They offer an International network of drug rehab treatment centers for all types of alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, and chronic relapse clients… and they can help assist you (your company) in finding the right treatment solution for you."

Consider this. I have always thought of a humane and holistic approach in drafting an employee’s code of conduct or personnel policy. While the punitive aspects are imperative, employee counseling and other positive interventions should also be initiated alongside, especially in cases involving drug use or alcoholism.

Three Major Benefits of Buying a Small Business or Franchise

2008-02-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Why buy small businesses for sale or franchises rather than start from scratch? What are the benefits of buying a established small business? There are at least three major benefits as follow:

1. Immediate Savings

When you buy an established small business or franchise, you save time, energy, and money out rightly. You also skip the lengthy process of researching and creating business plans and models, for these things were already taken care of. Usually when individuals decide to sell a business they prepare a business plan or offering summary for you. Also, if there is financing needed for your purchase, it is not as difficult to obtain since lenders are more likely to finance a business with a proven track record.

2. Turnkey Operation

In most cases, everything is included in the purchases of small business for sale. You inherit the infrastructure that has already been established by the previous owner, which includes the customers, suppliers, employees, equipment, and systems as well. These things normally takes longer period of time to establish. It is a good possibility that the previous owner(s) may offer some insight and assistance, therefore making the transition easier. In addition, the cash flow most likely will start immediately, rather than in an unknown timeframe when starting a brand new business. Profitability is not in question as it would be in a startup.

3. Duplicated Success

Opening a franchise comes with the advantage of knowing that this business has been successful in other locations. The idea and process of running this business have already been proven. Therefore the learning curve in operating the business can be virtually eliminated. In addition, risk of failure is much lower with a franchise than starting a brand new small business. There is a much higher likelihood of success if the same business has done well in other areas. Moreover, with this set-up you can immediately focus more on the expansion and profitability aspects of your small business.

If you are interested in buying or selling small businesses, visit BusinessMart.com today.