Enhance Your Communication Skills with Constructive Feedback

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Communication Skills|Enhance Your Communication Skills with Constructive FeedbackIt isn’t easy for people to be honest with us, even when we ask them to be. In addition, those that we ask may not have the professional expertise to offer us the insights we need to work through difficult challenges.

Early on in my career, I was consulting for a major film and music studio in Los Angeles when a woman approached me to say, “Dr. Ron, I really love what you are teaching us, but would you like some feedback?” I’d learned from spiritual teacher Ram Dass that he always read letters and evaluations he got from his talks and teachings and what he paid attention to most intently was the negative feedback. He not only read and reread the more hostile and critical feedback forms, but, when he could, he’d either call or write the person to better understand the feedback and where it was coming from. Some of those letters turned into long exchanges until he felt that he’d truly processed what the critics were telling him.

I knew that this woman who approached me might offer some helpful insights, so even if it bruised my ego a little to be criticized, I said, “Fire away.”

She told me that she loved what I was teaching, then added, “but you’re teaching in the voice of an upper-crust white male.” I was taken aback, but recognized that this woman had done me a favor in pointing out my bias. I took a deep breath and said, “Tell me more.”

She gave me at least five examples where I had offered case examples about work that were all about men — and white men at that. In my family, we had six sisters and four brothers, but it was obvious to me that I’d adopted some of my dad’s strongly embedded views that came from spending his career in a corporate world dominated by white men. My dad always discussed men when he told his work-related stories. Rarely, if ever, had he brought up any stories about women. I hadn’t thought about how his limited experience working with women at his office back in an era when there were fewer women in the workplace might have influenced the types of anecdotes he shared.

I thanked the woman for sharing her perspective and promised I would change up my teaching stories. As a result of her feedback, I now think and teach with diversity in the foreground.

Fortunately, this woman’s criticism came from an open heart so it was easy to not take offense. If you’re asked to give feedback to someone in your life or at work, I find these four techniques keeps the conversation positive and productive:

1. Give your full attention. When anyone tells you about or shows you their project, give them your undivided attention. Don’t scroll on your phone, don’t multitask, and don’t interrupt except to ask for clarification. Set the foundation for them to be honest and vulnerable.

2. Respond with positivity. If you think it’s an awful idea, you can say something like, “It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought and work into this project so far.” Go ahead and compliment them for their efforts rather than the outcome.

3. Ask questions from a place of genuine curiosity. Use questions such as, “I don’t think I’ve heard that before. How did you come up with that idea?” and “What about this plan appeals to you the most?” Understanding where they’re coming from and what their aspirations are can help you to better encourage them and give them constructive feedback. You can share what you’ve done in similar situations and what the outcome was. In this way, you’re making yourself vulnerable and making them feel more comfortable with any criticism you offer because you’re showing that, at times, you’ve been unsure or made wrong turns.

4. Offer feedback diplomatically. Finally, you can suggest something you think they might work on, but wait to see how they respond before you give them more feedback. Don’t overwhelm people with criticism and advice. You can ask whether they’d like more feedback or if they would rather work with their project some more first. In both my Art of Leadership and Core Creativity workshops, I’ll often ask: Would you like my feedback as mild, medium, or severe — like the hottest salsa?
Also, when asking for feedback on your project or idea, make sure to solicit it from a diverse group of people. You may benefit from asking someone with expertise in a particular area, someone who is good with alerting you to your emotions, someone with a different temperament, or someone who is very intuitive.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Ronald A. AlexanderRonald A. Alexander, PhD, is the author of the new book, Core Creativity: The Mindful Way to Unlock Your Creative Self (Rowman & Littlefield, June 21, 2022), upon which this article is based. He is a creativity and executive leadership coach, as well as a licensed mind-body psychotherapist. He’s the executive director of the OpenMind® Training Program that offers personal and professional training programs in mindfulness-based therapies, transformational leadership and meditation. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss, and Change (2008). Learn more at www.CoreCreativity.com.

How To Be More Productive Working From Home

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Working from Home|How To Be More Productive Working From HomeOne of the only good things that came out of the pandemic was that it gave us the ability to work from home. Companies that in the past thought the job couldn’t be done remotely, soon found out that in fact that was a great idea and helped many employees become more productive. The increased freedom and flexibility helped to enhance the work ethic of many. If you work from home, it can be great, but some people wonder if they’re working as productively as they could be. Chances are there is some room for improvement. Here we have put together some top tips to show you how to be more productive working from home.

Work closely with colleagues

Working from home can be pretty isolating which can lead to a drop in productivity. To avoid this, speak to your colleagues email and instant messaging, aswell as on the phone or meet them for a coffee. By utilising SME cloud computing it’s easier than ever to collaborate and work as a group. Virtual tools from cloud-based services enable you to speak to colleagues and your employers in a seamless and effective way. Being away from the office can mean it’s easy to not speak with those you work with but by utilising tools like SME cloud computing and other messaging services, you can collaborate effectively and efficiently.


Have a dedicated working space

One of the most important things you need to do when you are working from home is to have a dedicated workspace for you to be able to sit and concentrate at. This could be a desk in your bedroom, a study, or an outhouse in your garden. No matter where it is, you want it to be free of distractions (such as from other members of your household) and somewhere you can start and finish your work without having to worry about being disrupted. Some people choose a place such as their dining table but this isn’t a specific workspace and as such might mean you need to keep moving throughout the day or have to pack up midway through an important project.

Give yourself rest breaks throughout the day

While it might seem productive to work throughout the day, you need to give yourself breaks to reset and recuperate. Take some time to have a walk, even if it is just around the block to clear your head and give your eyes some time away from your screen. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference just ten minutes can make.

These are just a few of the top ways that you can be more productive working from home. Whether you work in a hybrid manner so spend some time in the office and some time at yours, or the whole time working from home, these are sure to help you. What are some of the top things you do to increase your productivity when you are working from home? Let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!

Tips To Boost Productivity In Your Food Manufacturing Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Boost Productivity|Tips To Boost Productivity In Your Food Manufacturing BusinessPrioritizing efficiency is crucial for building a sustainable food business. Aside from the many challenges facing global food manufacturers, the market has grown very competitive and flooded with many products leaving fewer opportunities for growth and success. According to recent data, there are over 197,000 food businesses in the US alone, and improving your efficiency and productivity will be crucial. Below are a few ways to do this.

1. Set specific production targets

Setting clear production targets is a simple method to improve efficiency and productivity. A precise, measurable target motivates employees more than a vague instruction to produce “as much as possible.” Setting production targets is a simple process that requires analyzing previous production levels. This isn’t only great for motivating your staff but useful for achieving higher efficiency. Having set your production targets, you can prioritize the activities to help you swiftly and efficiently attain those goals.

2. Provide proper training

Human mistake is frequently the weakest link in food manufacturing operations. Mistakes are still common in the most technologically advanced businesses if the staff doesn’t have adequate training. Unfortunately, this can gradually reduce total productivity and efficiency. Invest in proper training to ensure employees have the knowledge and abilities to optimize their performance. Otherwise, issues such as food contamination would be a common occurrence. You can avoid those issues by providing your staff with good training on all processes used during food manufacture.


3. Embrace tech and automation

Technology has tremendously influenced several industries, including the food industry. As a result, you must leverage cutting-edge tools to automate some monotonous processes. Technology can also assist in limiting the possibility of human mistakes. For instance, employing climate and temperature control systems can be useful for preventing contamination and possible damage to food products. To improve handling and prevent product loss, tools such as the temperature monitor can come in handy. However, while technology may increase your business’s productivity and efficiency, you must examine the costs of implementing these solutions. This requires extensive market research to choose the technology that provides the most value.

4. Tighten your quality control systems

Quality control should be high on your priority list as a food manufacturer. It is critical because even one poor review from a customer can produce an unfavorable opinion of your brand among the general public. After spending months and even years building your brand, a bad product review is the last thing you want. Aside from such incidents, it would be best to strengthen quality control procedures to avoid unwanted criticisms. You can use food inspection procedures, technologies, and procedures that require stringent vetting to ensure products are closely monitored before they leave your facility.

You’re likely to face challenges in every business, and food manufacturing is no different. Using the techniques above may aid in increasing your food production efficiency and productivity. Making the best use of your resources and equipment can allow you to manufacture more in less time and boost your revenue.

How to Make Money from an Empty Home

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Make money from an empty home|How to Make Money from an Empty HomeThe property market is in a terrible state right now because of economic factors. But there are still some viable ways you can make money from an empty home between waiting for tenants.

Consider Selling It in Its Current Condition

An empty property, residential or commercial, will lose you money. And you still have to pay your mortgage whether it’s engaged or not. Therefore, consulting with Altona conveyancers might be worth considering before biting the bullet and selling a property, rather than holding on to it and potentially facing greater losses. Property law firms can help you with the conveyancing side of things. And your real estate agent can take care of other formalities and advise you moving forward.

Use the Land for Parking

If your home is in a great spot and has its own land, you can create profit by renting out the land around it for parking. This can be done for offices or services in your area. Still, even neighbors might be prepared to pay to park close to their own homes. In some places, parking is hard to find, so if you have the land, parking can be a profitable business. But you will need parking enforcement agencies that may be able to help you out when people park without paying.

Make Money from an Empty Home with Storage

A property that is for sale has something you would never think of. It includes space. And space is a valuable item that can bring in a significant amount of money. Most folks have too many belongings and are constantly searching for places to put them. You can give a friend or family member the sole use of your home to store their things. Or you could put in safe lockers and turn rooms into secure units. Of course, there will be a cost for things like security cameras.

Rent it Out as a Vacation Home

Depending on how it looks, it could take more than a year for a house to sell. You can, of course, get help attempting to sell it or wait for a tenant if you want to rent it out. Property management services know how to set up homes for rent, find tenants, and keep track of rent. But there are a lot of people looking for places to stay near attractions, national parks, and beaches. With sites like Homestay, you can make money in the vacation rental market.

Use Your Property for Good Causes

If your house is safe and well-kept, you can consider letting various support groups or charities use it for good causes. This is a great way to prevent losing a lot of money on a property while you wait for a bid or a new tenant. You could, for example, give your property to a charity that helps people who are being abused leave their relationships. Or, it can be used as a place for Foster children and wards of the state to stay in between finding a permanent placement.

Summary

You will lose money when a home is empty. But you can make money from an empty home in various ways. These include selling “as is,” renting parking spaces, and assisting local charities.

Agile Project Management: How to Guide for Businesses

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StrategyDriven Project Management Article |Agile Project Management|Agile Project Management: How to Guide for BusinessesFinding new business strategies that complement operations is essential in the modern competitive world of commerce. There are innovative practices coming to light all the time that benefit business owners and encourage employees into more productive outputs, and agile project management is the recent one gaining traction. The benefits are clear, but how can this strategy be successfully intertwined with pre-existing established activities and trajectories? Read on to find out more.

Key Features of Agile Project Management

The core principles of agile project management focus on the workers taking control over projects and staying on track with responsive data from customers. The main takeaway is that agile projects are kept in sync with demand, workflow, and all innovation as a method of effective optimization above all else.

  • Devolution of management responsibility
  • Specific and precise software
  • Focusing on customers
  • Consistent responsiveness

Methodologies for Business Leaders

So, how is this strategy implemented and what does it look like within the wider business? There are five clear features to consider for effective agile project management.

Project Plans

The plan is the main event. What do you want to achieve? That’s the answer as to what the plan should be.


Making Strategy Maps

Iterations are the key concept, but definitive steps are relevant. There has to be a bigger plan and greater objective to work towards otherwise the iterations are essentially defunct. Strategy maps are a big part of establishing key goals and outputs. Each part is laid out with a goal and performance related affirmations.

Sprint Releasing and Planning

Sprints are a key part of this model. Sprints focus on continuous iterations amongst a team. These have a specific, short timeframe of expected completion. The purpose is to break down large tasks into manageable pieces and therefore increase productivity and performance in bite-size components. Releasing a sprint is wrapping up a part of the wider project and planning is mapping out what that looks like from start to finish.

Daily Meetings and Updates

A daily meeting may feel demotivational in certain contexts. For this, however, it is highly beneficial. Updates are needed to move things in the right direction and avoid missteps along the route. Bringing the whole team together before the workday activity commences allows for an opportunity to deliver core updates, and assess ongoing issues in a constructive solution-focussed arena.

Constant Reviews

There is a call for constant reviews to ensure all areas of the project management are on track. By doing this, outputs and customer data can be properly observed within the correct frame. This means better outcomes overall, and impactful actions as opposed to ones that fall short in the B2C funnels. Unlike general daily meetings, constant reviews are a more focused component of agile project management. They involve data analysis and output detailing in a more structured and specific way.

Agile project management has a lot of good parts to it. It does require overarching management structures despite the delegation of control. Someone needs to oversee the work being done to ensure collaboration is performing effectively against other models. Without this insight, this method lacks execution. With it, it is extremely effective in a range of areas.