Business Management | BizSieve.com

How to Reward Your Staff After Christmas

Offices can be very chaotic and stressful just before Christmas, with everyone scrambling to get all of the work done before the festive break. This may leave you with no time to stop and reflect on the year’s successes, and to thank your hard-working team for all their efforts over the last 12 months.

With Christmas comfortably out of the way, the first weeks of the New Year can be the perfect time to reward, motivate and incentivise your team. Here are just a few ways you can say thank you…

Launch a new corporate rewards scheme

Sometimes, the occasional thank you gift isn’t quite enough to make your staff feel valued, motivated and enthusiastic. You may want to consider implementing a more comprehensive recognition and rewards scheme such as those provided by http://www.corporaterewards.co.uk/. These schemes can be hugely inspiring for employees, rewarding best behaviours and making the people most valuable to your business want to stick around.

Hold an employee awards ceremony

It may seem superficial, but most people really do like to win prizes. This is especially true for those who have worked very hard on a particular project in the run-up to Christmas and feel that nobody has noticed. Put together a number of categories and choose the winners yourself based on feedback from your management team, then hold a party to announce the winners. Your employees will love the occasion as well as the chance to be recognised for their hard work.

Put new sales targets and prizes in place

Sales professionals love challenges and targets, so your reward to them this January is to give them a shiny new prize to aim for. Set new targets and attractive prizes for those that achieve them. This will motivate your team, give them a personal reward and of course – help to boost your sales figures for the new year.

Implement feedback

Staff like to feel that they have been listened to and their feedback taken on board. The start of the new year is the perfect time to ask for thoughts, opinions and suggestions from your team, on everything from workplace practices to the systems and processes used to do the work itself. Take these ideas seriously and aim to implement at least a handful, giving special mention to the staff that suggested them. If some ideas aren’t financially or practically viable to do right away, let your team know that you’re considering ways in which you can implement their suggestion in the future. This is a golden opportunity to say to your team – ‘you’ve given us your feedback, and we have listened’.

Throw a party

Didn’t get round to having an office Christmas party in December? Many firms do it in January when there is less of a rush to get everything organised, and it can be cheaper and quieter too. This is also a good chance to get everyone enthused about the year ahead, as well as to say thank you for their efforts in the previous year.

7 Smart Moving Tips for the Budget Conscious Business

Relocating your business can be a headache, there’s no doubt about it. But if you look past the challenge, you can see an opportunity. What are the problems with your current location? Bad positioning, awkward layout, too far from your customers—these are all things you have a shot at improving when relocating your business.

Not only that, but it’s a chance to save a little money—can you get a better deal on rent, a workspace more conducive to your business model, a better location? We’ve put together a little guide to make sure you not only save money on your move, but you put your business in a better position—both physically and financially!

1. Leverage Your Network

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know as the old chestnut goes. When it comes to real estate this is especially true. Figure out who you know that might be able to land you a plum space—real estate agents, people in local government, other bigger businesses who might have a spare office floating around—and give them a call. Do you really want to turn up to viewings and put your name down on a list with all the other losers and wait for the agent to call back? I don’t think so, so pick up the phone and get cracking!

2. High Street Branding Opportunities

Is your current location in a back alley, the 50th floor of a building, or an outer suburban business park? You might be missing out on walk-ins and the opportunity to get your brand in people’s faces. Picking a high-traffic area can have significant benefits, including the positive association with well-known brands. Given, if you’re running a meat packing or chemical company this might not be the place for you, but everyone else should take it into consideration.

3. Finding the Right Space Can Be Great for Your Work Culture

Opting for the cheapest rent may save you money in the short term, but is it really worthwhile in the long term? Research shows that an optimal work environment can serve as the foundation for an effective workforce. Happy employees are productive employees, so why not do your best to facilitate this? Of course, different industries have different needs when it comes to space, for example tech workers might prefer an open plan environment, while other industries may require that workers have more privacy. Why not talk to your staff about their preferences before you move? It could have an impact on your bottom line in the long run.

4. Neighborhood Trends

You might get a great rent deal in an up and coming neighborhood, but if the area is in flux you might spend the next 6 months trying to concentrate with a jackhammer outside your window. Similarly, if you have a young, hip workforce, moving to a quiet, outer suburban neighborhood might not fit your company’s culture (and may even result in a loss of staff). Make sure you do your research before deciding on a space.

5. Legal Issues

Does your business handle dangerous chemicals or involve loud noise? Many neighborhoods have restrictions on the types of activities that can be performed in specific areas. Contact the local government or ask other businesses in the area. You don’t want to sign a lease only to realize that you’re trapped in an area where you can’t run your business properly.

6. Negotiate a Long-Term Lease

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years even? We all know that long term planning is important but can get put on the back burner while we deal with the more urgent day-to-day issues that inevitably crop up. If you’re moving office, now’s the time to sit down and do a little planning. If you know what type of space you’ll need over the long term, it gives you leverage to negotiate a better deal on rent. Landlords love stability, so if they know you’re in for the long haul, they’ll do everything they can to get you to sign that lease—perhaps even giving you a little discount.

7. Move On a Weekend

When you’re planning your move, getting a free moving quote, and getting your staff organized—make sure you schedule your move over the weekend. You’ll be hiring professional movers anyway, and they’re available 7 days a week. So why not make an effort to cause as little disruption you can to your day-to-day operations?

How Employee Training Can Benefit Your Company in the Long Run

Employee training is an essential part of a company’s growth and development. There are many different benefits to investing time and money into this area. There are plenty of studies that show employees who are trained well tend to be happier and more effective for a company. Here are several ways that employee training can benefit a company and how it can be implemented.

Worker Productivity

One of the biggest ways that employee training can increase the bottom line of a company is through increased worker productivity. Workers who are trained well in their position can get the job done in less time with fewer resources.

In the information economy, workers are one of the most valuable assets to a business. It only makes sense to increase this productivity in any way possible. Increased employee training is usually a small investment up front that pays off over the long term. Any company wanting to increase worker productivity should consider investing more time and resources into this area of their business.

Higher Morale

Workers who know how to get their job done effectively have higher morale than those who do not. This is a great selling point for any company in increasing its employee training.

The culture of a company starts with the employees and how they feel at work. Anyone who works in a company with happy employees knows how much of a difference this can make over time.

Investing in employee training will increase employee morale and benefit the company overall.

Better Job Candidates

The best workers want to work at a company that invests in the employees’ growth and development. There are many ways in which this can be accomplished, but one of the best ways is through better employee training.

With all of the free online training material today, it is vital that workers feel as though they are being developed. The best job candidates want to work at a company that has a culture of pouring in to their employees. By investing in the employee training program, this can show future employees how much the company truly cares about their growth and development.

Financials

Increased employee training is not something that is free. There are training materials to purchase and man hours to spend on the project. However, it is vital to invest in this area for many reasons. The pay off on employee training can be felt for years down the line. Anytime employees can perform a job more efficiently, this is time that can be reinvested in other projects that benefit the business.

There is a huge financial payoff for any company that invests time and money in employee training. Not only will employee training help the workers, but the business will increase its financial position as well.

Take Control of Your Business Communications

Communications is a vital part of every business, and also one of the most difficult to get right. Things have really changed recently in the way people conduct business and of course also in the expectations of customers. Even suppliers now sometimes have different expectations.

For one thing, it is vital these days for businesses to have a website and email address available for contact. Social media is also good to have, but it’s actually not as essential as email and a good website. For some people, especially those on a low budget, social media is best avoided. When handled incorrectly, it can prove to be very costly.

The reason for this is that some customers prefer to have all communications in written form. You really do need to ensure that you can accommodate their preferences or they will take their business elsewhere.

Equally important, of course, are voice communications. Many customers prefer to be able to interact with a live person and get quick responses to their concerns. The problem is that, except for a few really small businesses that cater only to the local area, in the modern world there is a global marketplace and it never closes. There is no opening hours on the Internet. Customers expect you to be available 24/7 and when you are not, they take their business elsewhere.

According to Reuben Singh, CEO of alldayPA, you can’t rely on voice mail to cover you. In fact, he says: “Research shows that 70% of callers will not leave a message if they are directed to voice mail. Most will only try once, and then go elsewhere, never to return.”

If the shocking fact that you could be losing 7 out of 10 potential customers isn’t scary enough, then consider that it is estimated that the average cost of losing a customer in this way is £1200. Over the course of a lifetime, this could potentially add up to millions!

The smart way to handle the situation is to outsource your communications, which will ensure a consistent customer service experience all day, every day. There are many obvious advantages to doing so, but the two most important ones are:

Your customers never feel they are unimportant or disrespected. They can always speak with a real live person who represents your business and will handle their call in a professional manner.
You get your time back. Instead of wasting time on non-productive activities, you can dedicate yourself fully to activities that earn revenue directly. You also can have more of your own time… no more missing your child’s birthday party or having to say no to social invitations.

As a professional entrepreneur, you simply must realise that customer service is the real foundation of everything you do, and unless you get it right, your competitors can easily gain an advantage over you.

Good service helps build loyalty and besides that, it’s something you can be proud of. When a business sincerely strives to deliver great value and service, it becomes an elite and noble venture that people will respect. The contrast between this and a business that only cares about taking money from customers is so dramatic that it really does usually mean the difference between success and failure.

Are You Really Safe?

Over the past several years, the internet and online marketing have become an increasingly critical part of the survival of not only individuals, but businesses as well. Technology has made it easier for them to connect with their customers, making their relationships more intimate and allowing for a buildup of trust and loyalty. However, there are countless risks associated with the internet and “smarter” technology.

The finer tech brings us a world of good, but it can also be used for evil. We’ve all heard of cases where things go horribly awry – computer viruses make their rounds through whole communities, someone’s credit is ruined by identity theft, etc. These threats are just as serious for businesses as they are for civilians. So, how do you know if you’re really safe?

In truth, security is an arms race; as new technology surfaces, so do ways of manipulating it. You are never truly safe, but neither are the people trying to harm you.

Luckily, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself from the clutches of would-be hackers.

Computer Security

The first is computer security. Workplace PCs are not immune to viruses or malware simply because they are corporate hardware. Just like any home console, a workplace computer needs to have a multifaceted protection system, including firewalls, antivirus, and network intrusion detection. In fact, the person using the workplace PC should be even more vigilant about unsafe internet practices because the equipment is company-owned.

Workers should not open suspicious links in their personal or work emails or download games or pornography onto public devices. These are prime sources of mal and spyware.

Employees should keep their personal and company information away from internet strangers in order to prevent breaches of trust or potentially dangerous activity. Many stalkers operate over the internet, and a large percentage of violent crime, such as rape and murder, involve the web.

If your business has a website with old or insecure code, it is an easy target for hackers. Once inside, they can easily access personal and confidential information and use it to their advantage. It is helpful to limit and monitor access to the network, including flash drives, CDs, and other components of data storage, as these can be used to steal information.

A solid security policy should also make things easier. In addition to avoiding strange links, spam, and downloads, passwords should be kept confidential and should be changed often.

Antivirus

In terms of security equipment, antivirus, antiphishing and antispam software are critical. There are a multitude of these available either for purchase or download (though caution is necessary if you are taking the ‘free download’ option). Several companies offer packages for internet security, including Sophos, Norton, Trend Micro, and others. Some of these even monitor the safety of the sites that appear in your search browser before you even click on them.

Encryption

Extra steps to take include full disk data encryption, which will secure any information on a computer’s hard drive, and biometric fingerprint recognition, which keeps a log of different users’ fingerprints. Similar to a Kronos machine, which allows users to punch in and out of the work place by reading their fingerprints, biometric recognition software on a computer allows access to certain individuals alone, and locks out all others, often erasing all sensitive data when a thief tries to sign in. This technology is now available on certain laptops.

Up to Date

The third and final step to take is to keep your operating systems up to date. Oftentimes, systems like Windows will become aware of security issues within their frameworks and provide their customers with updates to better protect them. If an operating system becomes outdated or is no longer supported by the more cutting-edge security software, it is recommended you upgrade to a better system.

With your business you need to make sure that you stay on top of the latest technology to keep you and your business safe. Digital security, unlike physical security, is something that you need to constantly be working on and keep on top of. With physical security all you need is one company like Pro-Vigil in order to keep on top of things, whereas with digital security you need to be constantly questioning what the best new services are.

Ultimately, it comes down to prudence and a little luck.

Happy surfing!

References:

http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Computer-security-for-small-businesses-Essential-Guide

http://guides.wsj.com/small-business/technology/how-to-keep-your-business-information-secure/

About the Author:

Lee Ying has over 10 years experience in the tech and security industry. He currently writes for various websites, if you would like to contact him you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lee-ying/9a/18b/238. Follow me on Twitter @LeeYing101