A Quick Guide To Kanban

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Kanban|A Quick Guide To KanbanKanban is a popular workflow management framework, that will allow you to more effectively manage and improve the services that you offer. This method follows four simple principles.

Visualize Workflow

To improve your services with Kanban, you need to start by mapping out your current process. This will show you where you can start to make improvements.

Limit Work In Progress

Kanban aims to move work efficiently, with minimal waste and lag. This means you will have to limit the amount of work to keep things to a manageable level. This helps you to avoid bottlenecks and other delays.

Focus On Flow

Once you have the first two Kanban principles in place in your business, your workflow can flow a lot more freely. This makes everything easier. Once you’ve got the first two ticked off, you can concentrate on anything that interrupts the flow of work, so you can find some more places to improve your processes.

Continuous Improvement

Kanban involves ongoing work and improvement, the project is never truly finished. To get it right, you will need to constantly monitor and analyse your work and processes so you can continue to find ways to improve. Customer demand, resources, and the market are all always changing, so if you’re going to keep up, you need to keep on working on improving.

To learn about Kanban and see how it might be able to work for your business, whether you work in manufacturing, professional services, or just about anything else, check out the infographic below.


Infographic designed by: Kanban Principles

What To Expect From A Customized Executive Coaching Program?

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Executive Coaching |What To Expect From A Customized Executive Coaching Program?The number one goal of an executive coach is to prepare you for the challenges of today and tomorrow in leading roles. A good coach will train you to reach your goals and enhance your performance to face the obstacles in your path. Your coach will act as a sounding board, advisor, manager, strategist, and guide.

Moreover, a coach will also help you gain self-awareness and help you discover greater potential. To know more about customized coaching programs that you can opt for, visit moovone.eu/en/.

Activities to uncover capabilities and increase horizons

Executive coaching programs help you build confidence and enhance your performance to work better towards your goal. They achieve this by a combination of activities.

Some of the activities that will make you grow as a leader and are the high points of a customized learning program are:

  1. One-to-one meetings improve your apprehension and communication skills. They challenge your capacities to widen your limits.
  2. Learning assignments will help you gather knowledge that will assist you in getting through the challenges in your career area in the future.
  3. Assessments and feedback should test your skills and will tell you your strengths and weaknesses. These provide you the room for improvement.
  4. Developmental activities and progress reviews will enhance your confidence levels and thus make you a better leader.
    Executive coach meetings to create engagement

Although the training periods last somewhere between 3 to 12 months, typically, you only meet your coach once or twice a month. These meetings can be face-to-face or virtual, depending on what works best.

What are the roles of your manager?

The main role of your manager is to provide support and feedback throughout the training period. They share valuable data for assessment and evaluation of your growth during the months of training.

What are the steps of an executive coaching program?

An executive coaching program transforms not only your employees but your whole organization, one step at a time.

Understanding and identifying the main challenges in the existing system is their first step. They also target the teams that need support to help you grow as an organization.

  1. Designing and implementing the best curriculum to reach your goals.
  2. Communication followed by rolling out projects in sync with client success partners.
  3. Supporting and following up with your employees to track their growth in real-time.
  4. Analyzing the need of the hour and improvising to create more impactful programs through standard and custom KPIs.

Transforming to improve the performance of the team

Moovone helps you unleash the potential of the team to reach greater goals. They provide executive coaching to support the transformation of your company. A wide diversity of coaching frameworks are at work to help you meet the challenges.

Whether you need long or short courses, diverse coaching programs, or individual training, they can provide relevant support to amplify your growth in the future. Customized executive coaching combines learning and training to offer a unique approach towards developmental skills. This helps you grow as a manager and uncover human potential.

Tips for Managing Temperature-Sensitive Goods During Shipping

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Temperature-Sensitive Goods|Tips for Managing Temperature-Sensitive Goods During ShippingEven large, insulated trucks are susceptible to temperature change and weather conditions that can impact the freight inside. Without additional temperature controls within the truck, products can spoil or be damaged by temperature variations.

Even if the temperature is fine at the loading and unloading point, a lot can happen in between. Depending on the route the truck travels, you may see significant variations in outside temperatures. Trips through desert climates can cause temperatures to rise quickly and items to thaw. Mountainous regions, or shipping during the winter, can cause items to freeze.

Overcoming Temperature Variations in Shipping

Shippers typically overcome temperature issues by using reefer trucks that have built-in technology to maintain specific temperature ranges within the truck. Refrigerated LTL trucks often include real-time monitoring and tracking, so operators can monitor internal temperatures and make adjustments if the temperature rises or lowers beyond acceptable measures.

However, many shippers want an independent assessment of temperatures beyond relying on the driver’s word that the temperature stayed within acceptable ranges. Shippers overcome this by attaching a temperature indicator to the freight so that they can be alerted to exposure to unacceptable temperature conditions at any time during transit.

These inexpensive monitors can be attached to freight or inside packing to indicate whether any temperature variation was brief, moderate, or prolonged.

Managing Containers

Making sure you have the right type of container for your goods will make a significant difference.

  • Wood is used most commonly for freight that is not impacted by force, such as poultry, seafood, and other meats. Wooden boxes can accommodate dry ice while allowing pressure to escape the packaging. Dry ice can rupture if pressure is not released.
  • Plastic boxes are good at eliminating moisture from penetrating the container and are stackable. Plastic works well for produce.
  • Cardboard can be used in some circumstances. More affordable and easy to stack, items needing temperature control are often sealed or wrapped and refrigerant gel packs are used to maintain temps. For this, many merchants often seek the help of international freight forwarders. It fastens up the process making it easier for you to settle for a reliable deal. If you wish to seek more details about it, feel free to click here and know about it all.
  • Styrofoam boxes act as an insulator to help maintain temperatures as well.

Using the Right Insulation

Inside your container, it’s also important to use the right kind of insulation to keep your temperatures at the right level. If you’re not using Styrofoam or a container that comes with a built-in liner, you will typically want to find a thermal liner, filler, or pad to put inside the container.

Once you have insulation in place, you may also need to add additional filler, such as bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent movement and keep your shipment secure while in transit to reduce potential damage.

Protect From Freeze Services

Some temperature-controlled shipments need additional protection to avoid freezing. Commodities, including chemicals, paint, glue, wine and alcohol, liquids, and some perishable foods need to be transported above freezing temperatures.

Most LTL carriers offer Protect from Freeze services, which include sheltering or segregating freight from outside temperatures and employing heated trailers or shelters to keep cargo from freezing.

Other products need to be kept frozen, within tight tolerances. Managing what logistics companies call the “cold chain” can be just as challenging as keeping items from freezing.

Loading and Unloading

Another area shippers run into trouble with maintaining temperatures is during the loading and unloading of goods. For example, temperatures might have been maintained during transit, but the long wait at the freight dock with the doors open can quickly compromise temperatures during unloading.

Drivers should keep trucks parked and the door closed until the loading dock is open and freight can be unpacked immediately. The same goes for loading. While stored in refrigerated containers in the warehouse, if items are sitting in the sun on the loading dock or in an open truck for too long, temps can rise quickly.

This is another reason many shippers have started using their temperature indicators. The built-in systems in the truck would show everything was fine during the transportation phase, but nobody is monitoring the temperatures specifically during the loading and unloading process.

Importance of Monitoring Temperatures

Besides wanting to protect the integrity of your goods and make sure they do not spoil during transit, maintaining temperatures may be important for regulatory compliance and to avoid recalls.

Essentia Health is the subject of a class-action suit after 50,000 patients received vaccinations that may have lost effectiveness due to improper storage temperatures. Having proof of temperature control throughout the entire shipping and storage process from start to finish could be vital information in case of legal action.

Common Business Laws And How A Business Lawyer Can Help

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Law|Common Business Laws And How A Business Lawyer Can HelpEvery business needs two professionals right from the very start. One is an accountant, for apparent reasons. And the other one is a business lawyer.

Now, you need an accountant for bookkeeping and filing taxes. But why an attorney?

Simply put, a business attorney handles no single task. Indeed, a business attorney will be responsible for providing advice at every step, from zoning compliance to hiring, recruiting, and even finalizing a deal.

Besides, a business attorney will also represent your business in case of any litigation or lawsuits.

In short, a business attorney is more like an advisor for your business, regardless of its size.

Are you still confused?

Read more about the standard laws that your attorney would help you navigate through.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual properties are exclusive entities that belong to a business or an individual. For instance, a trade name or trademark, a logo, or a patented product design, are all intellectual properties.

For businesses, these properties are crucial to mark their brand identity in the market.

And therefore, it is essential to protect these identities against theft or infringement.

To your surprise, there are numerous disputes about intellectual properties. And most of them involve litigation.

Now, a reasonable attorney would assist you in starting the lawsuit. They would also be helping you gather all the evidence and investigation needed against the party in breach.

In short, they’ll protect your business and brand identity. And would also help recover monetary or other losses.

Breach of Contract

There are usually several types of contracts that your business may be involved in. For example, there could be a vendor agreement or an employment contract, to name the least.

Typically, contracts are signed off to maintain a binding agreement between two parties. And they are crucial for protecting your business in a variety of situations.

To be precise, a contract would also entail specific dos and don’ts for both parties involved in the agreement. And any breach of the contract by any party can easily trigger a dispute.

Besides, several laws govern business contracts. So, having an attorney who understands business law and can help you stay clear of contractual disputes can help your business stay ahead of troubles. And not to mention, they would also help with the litigation process against the party at fault for breaching the contract.

Moreover, the lawyer would also play defence if the other party files a lawsuit for breach of contract.

So, it’s a two-way street, and your business will surely be on the safer side in both cases.

Mediation Outside the Courts

It is noteworthy that not all business or corporate litigations end with a courtroom trial. Instead, to your surprise, most business disputes are usually settled outside the court.

Now, you may think that there are not many legalities involved if the dispute is settled outside the court.

Allow us to correct you here.

Even in out-of-court settlements, the other party can breach the mutual agreement. And it may further escalate the issue into other disputes.

Having an experienced business attorney can prevent further escalation and also help with the mediation process.

Your business attorney would help with the agreement’s drafting and negotiate the compensations to be paid or received.

In short, a business attorney will also help your business stay healthy if any dispute does not reach the courts.

Disputes with Employees

As a business owner, you may use different contracts or establish a code of conduct for your employees. For example, you may oblige your employees to maintain an NDA to protect the company’s crucial data and information.

Likewise, you may also use a minimum work term contract with your employee.

And as such, there may arise situations when the contract may need to be terminated early. For instance, if an employee needs to quit the job for any valid reason.

In such situations, it would be beneficial for your business to establish a rule book—the dos and don’ts of terminating contracts before the term ends.

And that’s precisely what your business attorney would help you with.

Wait, did we mention NDAs? Any breach of an NDA would also implicate legal action against the employee. And you may very well need to file a litigation procedure against the employee.

Disputes with employees may arise because of other reasons too. For example, workplace discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination are also common reasons for disputes with employees.

Disputes between Partners

If you own a business in partnership with someone, then skipping on a business lawyer is not an option.

Consider this; partnership firms usually operate on shared ideas and profits for both partners. Likewise, both partners also share the workload and responsibilities.

And to your notice, all these shared profits and roles are documented.

Partners can quickly end up in disputes concerning any change in operations or standard procedures. It may even be because of differences in perception.

But, there’s one thing for sure: the business would bear the loss amidst all the internal disputes.

And you wouldn’t want that.

So, involving a business lawyer who can intervene and settle disputes can be an easy way out. And perhaps, it would also protect your business from potential losses.

Consumer Disputes

Another possible legal trouble for your business could be product liability lawsuits.

Suppose a customer or a consumer is injured while using your products. In that case, your business is at risk of losing its reputation. And not to forget the monetary expenses paid in compensation to the injured.

Nonetheless, consumer disputes are pretty standard, especially when you are a manufacturer or deal in products and not services.

A business lawyer would investigate and establish your defence’s facts to protect against both- monetary losses and reputation damage.

Or, the least they can do is cut the compensations that your business would need to pay if found guilty.

The Takeaway

A business lawyer may need to work on more than one aspect of your business. Depending upon the situation and the case at hand, they may also need to perform several tasks.

However, in all their goodness, they will only be assisting and protecting your business to clear through the legal troubles and disputes.

How to Become a Better Manager

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Become a Better Manager|How to Become a Better ManagerOne of the most important aspects of business is management, yet this can be one of the most tricky and stressful responsibilities for entrepreneurs. Leadership isn’t a trait that comes naturally to everyone, and it may need to be worked on to succeed if you’re going to be undertaking a managerial role. However, failing to show good management traits can have a profound impact on the productivity of the workforce, leading to poor results and lower profits. In this guide, we’re going to look at some of the key ways you can become a better manager and improve your company’s performance:

Motivate your team

One of the most important traits that any leader should have is the ability to motivate their team. Keeping your employees driven and on task is key to your business’s future success. Failing to motivate your employees could lead to tasks being left incomplete and efficiency levels significantly reduced. It can be difficult to know exactly what needs to be done to motivate your team as every individual is different, however, many aspects should be considered. Firstly, allow your employees to voice their opinions freely without judgment. This gives them an insight into the fact that they have a sense of power within the workplace, as opposed to being micromanaged and shut down when they wish to express their concerns.

Secondly, allow your employees to take on additional responsibilities should they wish to. You may not realize it, but if your employees have been working on the same tasks day in and day out, they may be bored to tears and on the lookout for new opportunities. With this in mind, consider how and where they may be able to utilize their skills in other aspects of the business.

Thirdly, being generous with employee benefits is sure to make your employees feel appreciated and are rewarded for their efforts. Due to the high demands for skilled workers in a variety of sectors, it is easy for your employees to job hop when offered a new opportunity elsewhere, so always ensure you’re offering your workforce the very best benefits to retain your very best talent.

Create a positive work environment

A miserable workplace can make going to work a chore for employees so your responsibility as a manager is to create a more positive environment to keep your staff happy and less stressed. Employees can become completely dispirited if there is friction or negativity in the air. Therefore, whenever you notice any drama or issues occurring, it would be in your best interests to resolve them as soon as possible.

As a manager, you should ensure that you are checking in with your employees frequently to address any problems or concerns they may have. You could introduce an ‘open door’ policy through which employees have the freedom to knock on your office door and have a chat whenever they require. These steps for putting your employees’ happiness as a priority will not only improve productivity on a day-to-day basis but could also improve your bottom line.

Give and receive feedback

Many professionals want to get the best out of their employees, but fail to communicate their thoughts concerning their performance, simply out of concern of causing upset or damaging their professional relationship. However, ignoring the fact that things are going wrong and declining the chance to inform your employees can be a detrimental mistake. All employees need regular feedback to understand what they are doing well and where there is room for improvement and should give them a sense of direction on where to focus their efforts during the working day.

When giving feedback, ensure your comments are direct and are backed up with solid evidence. In doing so, your employees will understand exactly how to improve and in which areas they have surpassed expectations.

In addition to providing feedback, it would also be a good idea to allow your employees to have their say on your position as the manager. In doing so, it can help you gain a clearer understanding of how your team perceive you, as well as which management strategies need to be adapted to suit their needs.

Demonstrate effective leadership

It goes without saying that any good manager should have the ability to lead their team by offering support and advice where they see fit. Motivating your workforce to achieve is one thing, but if you aren’t providing any sense of direction, your team will be unaware of how to make use of their time.

Your main role should be overseeing your team’s duties using your leadership qualities without accidentally micromanaging. Employees feel more in control and confident when they have a manager nearby to turn to for assistance. Leadership skills don’t come naturally to every individual, so you may need to learn the basics of what it takes to be a good leader. You can boost your leadership skills by enrolling on a business masters course at Saint Bonaventure University.

Get to know your team on a personal level

How well do you really know your team? Many managers make the mistake of hiring their employees without really getting to know their staff on a more personal level. Whether you have hundreds of employees or just a handful in your organization, you must show interest and aim to understand them both in the workplace and when it comes to their personal needs.

While socializing has been proven difficult over the past 12 months as a result of COVID-19, it has become the norm to have a face-to-face meeting with new employees working remotely, even if it’s simply over Zoom. In doing so, it proves that you’re keen to get to know them much more closely as opposed to a simple email or phone call.

Although you have to remain professional as the manager, there’s nothing wrong with aiming to become friends with your staff; providing everyone is treated in the same manner so that you cannot be reprimanded for showing favoritism.

Be consistent with strategies

In order for your team to constantly perform and deliver, there needs to be the element of consistency from you, by following a certain amount of set processes. Employees take direction from your instructions to ensure tasks are completed by the deadlines, so everyone within the workforce should take this stance when it comes to guidelines.
Be appreciative of their efforts

When you’re trying to become a better manager, you need to pay more attention to how you treat your employees. While your job is to ensure that everyone is on task, you should never take your team’s efforts for granted. When managing a large group, it’s common for individual efforts to go unnoticed – especially if they are more subdued and unconfident individual.

Failing to recognize your employees’ achievements can be a major disaster long-term. Not only will they put their foot on the brake when it comes to efficiency, but they may also look for job roles elsewhere if they believe they’re not valued.

Don’t be afraid of new approaches and techniques

The way businesses are being run is changing by the day, therefore, managers must always stay in the loop when it comes to new trends and working styles. Some managers tend to take the cautious route in fear that the risk will flop; after all, if this were to happen, they will be the ones suffering the consequences. Yet, failing to carry out new approaches means that your business will stay stuck as opposed to progressing.

Taking controlled risks is the only way your business can reach its full potential and is how some of the biggest brand names in the world have got to their position today. Don’t overlook the ideas of your staff when it comes to your business’ development. They are the ones ultimately working on the front line and have a clear understanding of how things are going and what should be done better. Listening to your employees and taking a leap of faith with their ideas may not only work in your favor but is also a proven factor in employee retention.

Being the manager of a business is no easy task. Unless you have been a manager previously, it can take time to adjust to the responsibility of the position and be one of most difficult professional roles you will ever experience. Nevertheless, once you notice that your efforts are delivering impressive results, it will certainly give you that feel-good factor and perhaps strive to do even better. If you have never managed a team before, knowing how to conduct yourself and the policies to introduce to your team can be a challenge, yet it is simply a learning curve that will develop and improve over time. Hopefully this blog has given you some helpful hints to take on board as a new manager and give your team the very best chance of success.