Supporting The Working Parents Amongst Your Employees

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Working Parents|Supporting The Working Parents Amongst Your EmployeesIn the modern era, many of your employees are going to be parents. Nearly half of the current workforce have children under the age of 18, and juggling both work and family responsibilities can be incredibly difficult.

And this problem has only gotten harder to control during the pandemic; people have had to work at home, and while that means they get more time with their kids, it also has the knock on effect of making their work harder to keep up with.

However, instead of rallying against this, it’s a good idea to work with it. Your employees are never going to stop being parents, and supporting this is a great way to boost your employee morale as well as your business growth as a whole. Here are some good ways to do so.

Be Flexible with Working Structure

A flexible working structure is one of the main things you need here. Flexibility is something business owners already promote, and stretching it a little further to accommodate the parents in your workforce is a great way to show your support for the working market at large.

For example, if someone needs to attend to childcare between the hours of 8 and 10 am, let them join onto work calls or get started on projects after these hours. Alternatively, if someone needs to be available to pick up their children in the afternoon, schedule their shifts earlier.

Create a Culture of Honesty

Working parents have a lot to deal with. As such, working from home can get complicated and messy, and knowing they’re expected to be on the clock the entire time their children are also awake can mount a lot more stress on their shoulders.

Knowing this, it’s a good idea to allow your employees to be honest about their days, and what they need to do during it, to help alleviate this sense of anxiety. Let them be upfront about childcare needs and how this might interrupt their work responsibilities without fear of being reprimanded.

Allow Employees to Bring Their Kids to Work

If you’re able to return to the office for a few days per week, why not allow your employees to bring their kids with them if need be? If they cannot afford outside childcare, or have no relatives available, turning a corner of your business into a small daycare could work wonders for the flexible element of your company.

What can you do to accommodate these on-site needs? Invest in some preschool furniture and set it up in a spare room somewhere in your company. Allow parents to bring in a few toys or books of their own, and then if need be, parents will be able to keep their kids nearby if no other arrangements are available.

Supporting the working parents on your staff body doesn’t have to be hard to do. Be flexible, allow for outside needs inside of this, and even allow employees to bring children with them.

Hobbies That You Can Engage in Using Technology

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Hobbies and Technology|Hobbies That You Can Engage in Using TechnologyTechnology, as you know can be used for so many different things, and one is to engage in hobbies that you enjoy. There are multiple hobbies out there for you to choose from such as learning a language or knitting, for instance. What technology can do is either make hobbies easier to do or connect you with people who share in the same passion. With that being said, if you want to engage in hobbies using the tech you have available to you, it may be easier to do than you think. Here are a couple of hobbies that you can engage in using technology.

Reading e-books

In 2017 alone, apparently, there were at least 266 million e-books sold. If you’re an avid reader or trying to cultivate the habit of reading, then e-books are a great place to start. You can read them on the go and they can be downloaded on a Kindle, tablet, or your smartphone. Some of the most popular e-books at the moment include What You Did by Claire McGowan and A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean. You can find books across a range of different genres and it’s an easier way to read for many.

Barbequing

Having a BBQ is something that many Australians enjoy, especially within the summer months. Thankfully, technology, especially the internet, can help make this a lot easier to engage with. With various subscription and delivery services that you can get online, you’ll be able to get all your BBQ meat delivered straight to you. Plus, through pennjerseypropane.net, you’ll also be able to use technology to get all the propane gas you need to cook your food delivered right to your door.

Consuming Art

If you’re the creative type and like any kind of art whatsoever, then technology is your friend. You can find online art galleries if you want to see contemporary pieces from upcoming as well as more established artists. You also have hubs for photographers if you’re interested in viewing some of their latest works. Not only can you consume art, but you can also create and share some of your own which is exciting too.

DIY

All of the DIY gurus out there should know that technology can help make your lie far easier. Instead of having to figure it out on your own, you can use self-help articles and DIY videos to do the job. In addition to this, there are also multiple forums where you can find a community of people to help with your projects and the likes. Some great websites to help with DIY are Lifehacker, DIY Network, and Instructables.

Creative

For those that are into arts and crafts, music, and other creative pursuits, technology can help boost your creativity. You have platforms such as Soundcloud or Pinterest, which can be used to showcase your work and meet other creatives. You can also make virtual connections which could eventually turn into partnerships or lifelong friendships, which is quite exciting.

As mentioned above, technology can be a great tool to encourage just about any hobby that you have. It’s about getting creative and using the resources technology makes available to your advantage.

The Mini Career Changing Guide You Never Knew You Needed

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Career Change|The Mini Career Changing Guide You Never Knew You NeededThere may be a whirlwind of reasons why you’re considering a career change. Maybe you’re beginning to feel less fulfilled in the work that you do, you’ve grown tired of not being challenged, or maybe the industry you’re working in isn’t what it was cracked up to be. Whatever reason that you may have for wanting to change careers, it’s important to know that it’s all completely valid. So this mini-guide is to help you out with changing careers.

Why exactly are you wanting to change careers?

There are many reasons why you might want to make a career change. Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to think about it thoroughly as this is going to help you think of ways to get out of your old career and into a new one. Since there are many considerations to make before deciding whether or not it is the right time to switch careers, here’s what you should ask yourself.

  • What is your current work situation?
  • Do you have the financial stability to support yourself through this transition period?
  • Is your current job in danger of being eliminated due to automation?
  • Will your current skills still be relevant for any other careers you’d like to get into?

Think about the skills you’ll need in your target industry

Is there a specific industry you’d like to get into? What about a certain role? In both of these cases, you’ll have to think about the skills. In order to have a successful career in the industry that you are targeting, you need to have a set of skills that will help you get there.

So what skills do you have that can be easily transferable? What skill sets do you have that could be in demand in the industry you’re wanting to get into? You should also try to figure out what relevant experience you have in your current job and industry versus what’s relevant in the target industry. For instance, if you’re wanting to get into the healthcare field, do you know about the terminology or the equipment they use like the Philips Lumify? These all need to be taken into account.

What are your goals for getting into a new career?

Many people have a goal of getting into a new career. They might have been laid off, or they may just want to explore new opportunities.

The first goal is figuring out what exactly you’re wanting to do. This might seem like a simple task, but it can be difficult because there are so many different careers out there. You will need to identify the type of work that you enjoy and the skills that you have so far developed. But it’s also important to consider whether your degree, certifications, or any training that you’ve had in the past is transferable or not.

While skills and years of experience are important, there are some employers that also expect the same standards for education as well. It may help to try and network, read some articles, or even do other methods of research such as watching YouTube for getting an idea of what you’d like.

Important pointers for changing careers

Since changing careers may be easier for some than others, it’s helpful to have some additional pointers that you may have never thought about. These can help you out while you’re going through the process of applying for new jobs.

  • Start networking immediately with people in the industry you’re interested in going into
  • Understand that you may need to tailor your resume to fit the role and the industry you’re hoping to get into
  • Do you have a skill that’s highly in demand such as speaking a second language?
  • Attend trade shows and other networking events for getting your name out there
  • If you haven’t already, you should start a portfolio or even set up a blog to let recruiters know about your knowledge

These are just a few tips that could potentially help you out.

How To Make a Decision on How To Invest Your Money

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | How To Make a Decision on How To Invest Your MoneyDo you want to grow your personal wealth? If so, your money is not going to help you if it sits under a mattress. You need to figure out how to invest your money appropriately. On the other hand, it can be difficult to figure out what to do with your money. If you put it in the stock market, there is a chance that your investments could go down; however, there is also a chance they could go up. If you want to maximize your investment potential, you may want to take a look at what private equity firms do, such as those led by Jim Bernhard. How can you figure out how to properly invest your money?

Consider Your Investment Horizon

When you invest your money, you need to think about your investment horizon. What this means is you need to think about how much time you have until you need that money back. For example, if you need that money next week to purchase groceries, you may not want to put it in the stock market because you do not know what the market is going to do in the next seven days. On the other hand, if you do not need that money for 30 years, then you have a long time for the market to ebb and flow. Think about your investment horizon before you invest your money.

Think About Your Risk Tolerance

Next, you need to consider your risk tolerance. How much risk are you willing to take on? Are you someone who is going to compulsively check the market every day because you are afraid your investments may drop by 0.5 percent? Or, are you someone who is comfortable riding the waves as they go up and down? It is difficult to put a price tag on your overall peace of mind; however, you do need to think about your risk tolerance. If putting your money in a risky investment is going to massively increase your stress level, then you may want to put your money somewhere else. Everyone has their limits when it comes to financial risk, and you need to find yours before you invest your money.

Diversification Is Key<

You should also consider diversifying your investment options. You do not want to put all of your money in a single stock because if that one stock drops, you have lost it all. Instead, you should try to diversify your money across multiple sectors. There are plenty of industries out there, and you may want to spread your money out across all of them. Furthermore, you should consider diversifying your assets across stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. They all have different levels of average returns, but they also have different levels of risk as well. Make sure you diversify your assets so you hedge your risk accordingly. This is a core investment principle.

Learn How To Invest Your Money Properly

If you want to retire one day, you need to figure out how to build your portfolio properly. On the other hand, it can be a significant challenge to put your money in the stock market. There are so many options available, and you might have a difficult time figuring out what to do. Remember that you need to think about your investment horizon. You should also consider your risk tolerance. Finally, never put all of your eggs in one basket. Always diversify your assets. If you have questions about how to invest your money, you may want to talk to a professional financial advisor.

How to Fix Workplace Headaches

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Workplace Headaches|How to Fix Workplace HeadachesThe working life can be different for a lot of people. For some, it is the best part of their life. They wake up excited for the working day and enthusiastic about having a good day. This is what the ideal working life would be for most people. However, that isn’t always the way it happens. There are plenty of people who don’t exactly get the same enjoyment out of their job.

You could still love your job, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to stress you out from time to time. There are plenty of headaches that come with being a professional. However, that is just part of life. If this is something that you are really struggling with in the workplace, you might need to take some action. If you are unsure of what to do, consider some of the following points of advice.

Have Good People Management Skills

A huge part of being a professional in nearly every industry is working with other people. Of course, there are plenty of people who don’t have the ability to communicate and work well with others. If this is something that you struggle with, then you might need to work on those skills. By giving a little bit of attention to this part of your skillset, you could massively reduce how stressful your day is. If you are in a role that sees you as a leader, then you should focus on improving your people management skills. Being able to be clear and concise with your instructions to your employees will see the workplace run a lot smoother. The fewer issues that persist in the workplace, the fewer headaches you will endure.

Get Experts to Help

Many people often pride themselves on being well-rounded workers. Which is something to be appreciated. However, there are a lot of people who do not seem to understand when there is a need for an expert. Although you might have a general understanding of a situation, it doesn’t mean that you should attend to it. A good example of this is when it comes to the tech side of a business. If you aren’t an expert in IT, then you shouldn’t try and act like one. It will save you a lot of headaches if you just hire someone who knows what they are doing. Mazteck IT services can help you out in regards to this. By leaving it to the experts, not only will the IT side of your business run much smoother, but you will also be less stressed.

Be Organised

It might seem simple, but so many workers don’t value the importance of being organized. Sometimes all it can take is sitting down for 10 minutes at the start of the week to massively reduce stress. Seeing what tasks have to be done, making a timetable, and being structured with your day could all make your life far more easier. A little bit of effort in this area can massively reduce your headache.