Business Tips

Across the world and right here in the United States, many companies are beginning to understand the benefits of valuing employee happiness as much as the bottom line. More businesses are creating work environments that focus not only on getting the job done but also on taking care of the physical and emotional needs of employees.

A people-first strategy will often lead to an increased return on investment. A happier employee means more productivity, and more productivity means increased revenues. Check out this quick five-minute read to see how you can make your company a people company today.

– Daniel Seitz, Jones PR

The ever-growing number of media platforms mean endless ways to reach audiences. The message, however, still must be personal, according to Sarah Evans, founder of Sevans Strategy and opening keynote at the recent Public Relations Society of America’s statewide conference in Tampa.

Evans shared tips for businesses on reaching and engaging with audiences:

– Engagement with micro-influencers (1,000 to 5,000 followers) on social platforms is four times higher than celebrity influencers. Relationships with micro-influencers can pay off for brands.

– Consumers love YouTube “how-to” videos, meaning businesses should create video tutorials to reach a wide audience.

– Katherine Snow Smith, The Tampa Bay 100

PRSA has some great advice:

• Stretch: Stand up and take a walk to get your blood flowing and increase energy.

• Don’t multitask: Direct your attention to a single task at hand to increase efficiency and accuracy.

• Meditate: Meditating daily can make you feel more mindful or present within your day. The app Insight Timer leads you through a meditation that’s based on the amount of time you have to practice.

• Set timers: Work in a 25-minute increment with a five-minute break. This enables you to see exactly how efficiently you are working and where you are wasting time.

– Tess Rowland, The New Orleans 100

Most people think change is hard. In business, whether it’s a process change or cultural shift, managers are frustrated with the speed and success of change within organizations.

There are two kinds of change you can lead: reactive change and sustainable change. Reactive change means people change because they feel like they should, have a short-term incentive or are avoiding pain or consequences. As soon as the stimulus or threat is removed, they return to their regular habits or patterns. Sustainable change happens when people have a desire to develop the habits and patterns necessary to make the change.

– Randy Hall, 4th Gear Consulting

The sting of rejection doesn’t hurt any less in the professional world than it does in your personal life. Being rejected at work can feel like a breakup. Maybe you were passed over for a promotion or had one of your ideas shot down by a manager.

Many people tend to take rejection as criticism. Try being objective in your thinking rather than taking it personally. A rejection of your idea or proposal is not a rejection of you. Understanding why the rejection happened can help settle your mindset, so seek feedback and try viewing the situation from other perspectives.

– Haley Pegg, New Orleans Chamber

Don’t be so formal, write conversationally, find your voice – you’ve probably heard it all before.

Written content today isn’t necessarily about good grammar and following the style manual you were trained on in high school (author’s note: AP style is correct now and always). But what does it mean to write conversationally? Real conversations are verbal – full of tics, “ums” and “errs.” They don’t look good on the page.

Instead, think about how you interact with others on a daily basis. Are you sarcastic, excitedly educational, friendly? Inject your personality into your writing. You might start writing conversationally without noticing.

– Dan Stefano, The Pittsburgh 100

Everything slows down as the summer months approach. People take vacations, offices close early in the day and everyone moves at a more leisurely pace … but that doesn’t mean your business has to suffer.

Engaging customers on social media is a great way to get their attention during summer. Have an Instagram giveaway, do a poll on Facebook or anything that will help you connect with people remotely.

Another idea is to have a limited-time promotion. You don’t need to cut prices in the summertime like so believed; a BOGO deal will attract even more attention and boost sales.

– Haley Pegg, The New Orleans 100

Do you run from speaking in public? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Fear of public speaking is extremely common, but if you heed the following five tips, you will be able to orate like a pro:

1. Prepare an outline.

2. Practice in front of friends or family.

3. Focus on the material, not the audience.

4. Use strategic pauses to organize your thoughts.

5. Tell a story or use humor if applicable to gauge your audience’s attention.

Follow these easy tips, forget your nerves and the next time you speak in public you will feel confident and comfortable.

– Daniel Seitz, Jones PR

Have you sat at your computer or a blank sheet of paper for hours on end trying to begin your next story? Perhaps you need to implement writing exercises to get your thoughts and brain warmed up.

Writing with constrained forces helps you solve writing problems in new ways. Here are three examples of constrained writing:

1. Alliteration – each word in a sentence or phrase must begin with the same letter.

2. Haiku – a poetic form of writing using three lines, with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5.

3. Lipogram – writing that excludes a certain letter in the alphabet.

– Kristen Fine, Jones PR

Developing the perfect pre-work routine can help maximize your daily productivity. Start this week by implementing the following routines:

1. Wake up early: Join the ranks of top executives from Apple, Twitter and Starbucks by getting an early start to your day.

2. Get prepared early: Before logging off for the day, jot down the top three things you need to accomplish for the next day. This allows you to have a clear understanding of priorities for the day.

3. Knock out the hard stuff first: Always tackle your hardest task first to get it out of the way.

– Ashley Ross, Jones PR

Saying sorry has become a habit these days, but over-apologizing at work can undermine your confidence and credibility. Here are fixes for three common scenarios:

– Sorry I’m late. Swap your apology with, “Thanks for your patience,” if you’re running late.

– Sorry, but I disagree. Don’t apologize for having an opinion. Instead try, “Hearing everyone’s thoughts has been helpful. Here’s mine … ”

– Sorry for (insert thing you have nothing to do with). Chances are you’re not the brains behind the lack of parking in your company’s lot, so why apologize to your office guest? Focus only on what you can control.

– Beth Meccariello, The Tampa Bay 100

Financial knowledge is no joke. No matter who you are, what you do or where you’re trying to get, The Establishment OK is here to help you build a better understanding of money.

Whether you are looking to make sense of credit scores and mortgages, investments and 401(k)s, savings or planning strategies, we want to partner with you.

Swap the hard sell for some down-to-earth advice. Trade the stuffy sit-downs for true-blue connections. Yes, even grab a drink during class with other people that get it.

Because it’s time to get real about money.

– MassMutual Oklahoma

I’m a naturally curious person, which can lead to wasted time going down internet “rabbit holes,” where one topic connects to information on a dozen or more fascinating subjects that I can’t help but be interested in. Sound familiar?

To better manage my productivity, I’m going to try something that entrepreneur Caterina Fake practices. She keeps a “when next online” notebook next to her computer and jots down the subjects, names and websites she comes across while working on a project online.

Rather than getting sidetracked from her current project, she consults her notes next time she has free time.

– Stephanie Spell, The SWFL 100

If you think that going green at work is difficult, think again.

Simple ways you can help the planet:

– Designate an on-site recycling center, or ask that employees be responsible for their own recycling at their desks.

– Ask whoever is last to leave to turn off lights and change the thermostat to a reasonable temperature.

– Reduce printing. If you must print a document, cut it in fours after being used instead of buying sticky notes.

– Use a large screen for meetings instead of printing documents.

If you’re up for a bigger challenge, use refillable pens to reduce plastic waste.

– Destynee Bush, The Tampa Bay 100

Do you get inundated with emails and often miss or completely lose important communications? Start cleaning up your emails today.

1. Create folders by client or by project. Put emails that you have responded to but might need to refer back to in a labeled folder.

2. Cut down your inbox to 0 messages each day. Delete, archive or put emails in an appropriate labeled folder. Doing this will ensure that you do not miss any emails and that your inbox won’t get clogged.

By keeping a clean inbox, your ability to find things and respond to clients will flourish.

– Katie Armes, The SWFL 100

There are many mistakes to be made when designing, but here are a few that may be less obvious.

One common mistake is designing for yourself. It’s easy to default to what you like, but most often you’re designing for a client and audience, requiring sensibility for their appeal over your own personal taste.

Another is not including or adequately emphasizing visuals, rather than just text, to grab attention and convey the message.

Finally, it’s easy to overthink when designing, leading to self-censorship of creative ideas and adding clutter that distracts from the message. Remember to keep it simple.

– Gilles Weingart, Jones PR

If you want people to engage and talk with you, ask better questions. We all know that the answer to “How was your day?” will typically be “fine.” Ask a more open question.

“What was the best part of your day?” Weird? You bet! But no one will answer it with “fine.” Want a simple way to improve conversations? Take “why” out of your vocabulary.

“Why” asks another to explain themselves to you. Open questions that begin with “what” or “how” are more likely to elicit more thoughtful answers. Those we work with (and those we love) deserve better questions.

– Barry Goldberg, Vistage International

It started with passion. Then the idea. Now you even have the whole business plan with all the details addressed. What you likely do not have is the money. A business pitch competition could possibly be just the thing to get your startup truly started.

Made popular by the television program “Shark Tank,” business pitching for funds has taken off. There are a surprising number of pitch competitions with funding and exposure opportunities.

Maybe one of these is right for you:

• Huggies MomInspired Grant Program

• MIT $100,000 Entrepreneurial Challenge

• HATCH Pitch

Check out businessgrants.org for more information.

– Deneen Bloom, The North Carolina 100

Procrastination: we’ve all dealt with it at some point. But did you know it goes deeper than just putting off a task? In our minds, each task falls into one of four categories: expectancy, value, time or impulsivity. Or in layman’s terms, we don’t care, we’re not getting the wanted results, our time is too valuable, or we’re just downright impulsive.

Okay, great. But how do we combat procrastination?

• If you’re a morning person, work in the morning (or vice versa).

• Break large tasks into smaller ones.

• Focus on and complete one project at a time.

• Minimize distractions and multitasking.

– Erin O’Brien, The Atlanta 100

Most of us spend lots of time with our co-workers. What could you do differently to be a better one? Sources from human resource blogs to Reader’s Digest offer tips on how to be a better co-worker.

A few favorites:

– Recognize people’s contributions. Everyone likes compliments.

– Get to know each other.

– Be on time for meetings; it shows respect for other people’s time.

– Don’t jump to conclusions. When an issue arises, take the time to gather all of the information and avoid jumping to a negative, blaming conclusion.

– Pitch in. A great co-worker is a team player.

– Deneen Bloom, The North Carolina 100

Challenge: Your client needs fresh ideas – a WOW. This request is tailor-made for brainstorming. Consultant Todd Henry advises session leaders define the situation in advance instead of “fast-twitch thinkers” throwing out a million ideas while “slow- twitch thinkers” quietly deliberate.

Once in the meeting, reiterate the situation to ensure everyone is on the same page, which encourages best ideas. In brainstorming, all suggestions are valid; thus, require 100% participation to get both fast and slow twitchers involved.

Identify the direction, and then define action steps, including discovery, accountability and deadlines. This approach takes brainstorming from bustle to strategy.

– Betsie Gambel, The New Orleans 100

Cyber security threats are out there every day for businesses, regardless of their size. That’s why business owners should lead by example and teach employees how to protect confidential information, like company finances.

Here are four best practices that our business customers have found helpful:

1. Conduct privacy trainings that address the potential dangers from email attachments and Internet downloads, for example.

2. Ensure that all anti-virus and anti-malware software is regularly updated.

3. Keep computers and files locked away when employees aren’t at their desks.

4. Host shredding events where employees can dispose of sensitive work documents.

– Ron Ciganek, Valley National Bank

Three must-have necessities for today’s working mom:

1. Smartphone: To check emails and review documents on the go, plus have something to entertain a child with.

2. Snack: Good rule of thumb, always have one for you, the child and the spouse (they often are forgotten).

3. Small notepad and pen: At some point in time, you’re bound to be away from your desk, taking a call from your phone. Have a notepad and pen at hand.

Bonus: Snap a photo of your notes so they’re with you. Don’t be afraid to document your little one’s artistic talents, too.

– Taylor Ketchum, Jones PR

How many times have you clicked or read an email just to get that unread number to zero? You just wasted a microdecision on opening an email, reading it, and not doing anything with it.

The OHIO method means “Only Handle It Once” – a time-saving hack to help manage being overwhelmed by email.

If you can tell by the subject line you won’t be able to address an email immediately, don’t open it. If you aren’t able to provide a thoughtful response, or it’s a task that you need to do later, postpone opening the email until you’re ready.

– Marcey Rader

Sharon Hill worked at IBM when a company-sponsored meeting on etiquette gave her a business idea. Hill started hosting seminars internally at IBM and outside the company.

She now owns Sharon Hill International, a boutique etiquette and diversity training company in North Carolina, and is etiquette-certified by the American Business Etiquette Trainers Association.

“In American business, simple things, such as proper etiquette and good manners, make a big difference. From your entrance to your handshake and business card exchange, your interpersonal behavior can either propel you toward success or cause doors to firmly close behind you,” Hill said.

– Linda McKnight, The North Carolina 100

Spring is in the air and that means it’s time to freshen up your office surroundings. Clutter-busting tips include:

1. Digitize – Get rid of paper and save your documents to the cloud.

2. Sanitize – According to the Radicati Group, approximately 270 billion emails are sent every day. That’s 72 emails for each of the world’s 3.7 billion email users. Use apps that help you filter and clean out your inbox like SaneBox or Airmail.

3. Unsubscribe to emails you no longer read or need.

4. Eliminate Unnecessary Meetings – if a quick call is an effective substitute schedule it.

– Tara Frier, The Boston 100

Video is by far the fastest growing marketing tactic in use today. So, what do you need to know to create an impactful corporate video?

1. Define your audience: Not everyone will like your product, so you need to communicate your unique value to a specific interested audience.

2. Show me, don’t tell me: Don’t just explain your product or service (snore), show people using and benefiting from it.

3. Keep it short and punchy: If your video drags on for more than 1.5 minutes with laborsome dialogue, your potential clients will lose interest in what you’re showing them.

– Ed Rowell, The Dubai 100

Is it getting harder to focus at work? Computer notifications, phone alerts and our growing habit of responding in real time to any communication makes concentrating nearly impossible.

How can you cope?

• Focus time – schedule it daily. Don’t respond to emails, let your calls go to voicemail and shut your door.

• No more “got a minute?” meetings – managers should schedule office hours to process questions, approve work.

• Recharge! – consider a short, non-desk-side lunch. End the day with a personal system shut-down to be all-in next morning at the office.

Finally, model good behavior. Productivity will improve!

– Margrette Mondillo, The Boston 100