6 Ways You Can Market Yourself Effectively

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Market Yourself|6 Ways You Can Market Yourself EffectivelyA lot of marketing advice discusses ideas based on your business including how to maximize sales or get the most out of your employees. This advice is crucial, of course, especially for entrepreneurs who are always looking for more out of their professional endeavors. However, this big picture is not always where you should direct your focus. As much as improving your company is important, you’ve got to remember how essential marketing yourself is, too.

Marketing yourself will vastly improve your chances of finding the best business opportunities, which will help you grow your company in ways that everyday marketing can never live up to. If this sounds appealing, but you aren’t sure where to start, consider these ideas.

Know Your Worth

Finding your self-worth is one of the most challenging things, no matter how confident or successful you are. But, you will not be able to market yourself effectively if you do not understand what you can offer people in a professional and personal setting.

This is the first step you need to take when looking at ways to market yourself. If you know what you can offer by understanding what you are best at, you will be able to set yourself apart from others. Through this, you can push yourself ahead of the competition and make you the most appealing individual around.

Get to Know People

Networking is always a vital element of business success, and this is why getting to know people is more beneficial than you might believe. The problem here is that some people are not as outgoing as others, which could affect your chances of meeting the right people.

So what can you do? Swallowing any nervousness and acting as you belong in any scenario is useful, but it can be exhausting to keep up. Besides this, look for influential people who are similar to you, as this can make you feel more comfortable in their company.

Remember the Details

Marketing yourself is not always about how you speak or feel about yourself. You also need to consider the details. These details can apply to anything physical, whether your attire or holographic business cards rather than traditional but ultimately drab alternatives.

As you want to stand out in any situation, especially in competitive industries, these details could be the difference between winning promotions, new jobs, or increasing your influence. They will prove that you can match your substance with some style, and although you need substance over everything else, it’s always worth trying to impress others, as long as you don’t try too hard.

Trust Your Knowledge

Imposter syndrome can affect anybody. It’s easy to feel like you don’t belong and that you’ll be found out one day. But, you need to understand that you are much more capable than you give yourself credit for, and you can use this understanding to establish yourself as someone worth hiring.

While you needn’t spend all your time making bold but baseless claims about things you don’t know anything about, you can still trust what you know. If you want to be even more certain, make sure you prepare for interviews or casual meetings, as this will boost your confidence even further.

Put Your All Into Everything

If you want to build your reputation, you need to make sure you are someone who puts their all into everything, no matter how small a project might be. While it might feel like you’re doing too much, it demonstrates exceptional work ethic, and this will make people take notice.

It’s never a good look to merely go through the motions, especially if you want to increase your standing in the industry, and the harder you work now, the easier it will all be later.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to finding success, and there are many aspects of consistency you need to remember. High-quality work is one area, but you should also remember that consistency across social media is an important tool for marketing yourself.

This means making the most of the platforms available to you. Use the same picture across your professional profiles so that people recognize you and develop a brand voice that ensures your audience knows who is talking.

Your Time

Marketing yourself is one of the most effective methods to increase your chances of finding new opportunities. Whether you want to grow your company or look for a new position in another industry, you will discover significant success by establishing what makes you a valuable asset to any company.

6 Ways to Stay Motivated and Productive on the Night Shift

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals | 6 Ways to Stay Motivated and Productive on the Night ShiftMany Americans are snug in their beds once the clock strikes the witching hour. This, of course, doesn’t apply to employees who are required to work at night. Some remote workers, security guards, health care professionals and call center agents of companies that offer 24/7 customer support have to work the graveyard shift.

A lot of people wince at the idea of working at night. After all, staying energetic when the city is dark and quiet is difficult to do. If your job or employer requires you to work on a graveyard schedule, don’t fret. You can take steps to make your nights on the job relatively enjoyable.

Here are a few strategies to stay positive, energized throughout the graveyard shift and maintain optimal performance at the workplace:

1. Stay Hydrated, But Moderate Your Caffeine Intake

Coffee is the best friend of night shift workers. The caffeine in this popular beverage can help you stay alert during your shift.

Just make sure that you don’t drink too much coffee. Too much caffeine in your body could prevent you from getting some shuteye once your shift is over. So make sure you drink your coffee at the start of your shift.

If you’re looking for other options, consider drinking fresh juice (or sugar-free, fruit-flavored sparkling water if you’re not a fan of sugary beverages). Staying hydrated will help keep you awake and reduce the risk of dehydration.

2. Commit to a Solid Routine

If you see yourself working the graveyard shift for quite some time, you’ll need to create and stick to a nighttime routine. Switching between nights and days will only make things hard for you and prevent you from being productive.

Here’s an example: let’s say you wake up at seven in the evening to prep for your graveyard shift. Then, you go to sleep on or before 11 a.m. During your days off, follow that routine. Avoid the additional stress of altering your sleeping patterns on weekends.

3. Make Friends with People at Work

As the saying goes, best friends make the difficult times easier and the good times better. If you’re going to work a long, graveyard shift, you’ll want to spend it with people who can make you happy and motivate you to succeed. Great work friends offer an outlet for healthy social interaction. What’s more, connecting with friends helps relieve work-related stress and makes going to work fun.

4. Get Quality Sleep

Staying productive at work is next to impossible when you lack sleep. If you’re having trouble obtaining quality rest time after your shift, try out these suggestions:

  • Minimize the Noise – Although nights are generally peaceful, you can’t say the same during the day. If you live in a busy neighborhood, you’ll likely be distracted by children playing outside, construction work and honking car horns. If these noises are driving you crazy, use a sound machine to minimize or drown out the unpleasant sounds. Alternatively, wear earplugs or wireless comfortable headphones with a noise-canceling feature.
  • Set the Ideal Sleeping Temperature – The temp usually dips at night, making you crave for your favorite blanket. The opposite, however, can happen during the day. You can prevent waking up in a messy sweat by regulating the temperature in your bedroom. Your goal is to replicate nighttime conditions, so that you can sleep soundly and comfortably.
  • Implement Light Control – Sleeping is difficult when you have bright, morning sunshine entering your windows. Regulate the amount of light in your room by installing blinds or curtains that effectively block the sun. If you’re on the budget, put on a sleeping eye mask.

5. Adhere to a Healthy Diet

Fueling your body with the right food can keep you energized and motivated throughout a long graveyard shift. Unhealthy sweet snacks, such as donuts and cookies, won’t do much to get you through the night.

Although sugary treats provide an energy spike, they’re temporary. You’re likely to experience a serious sugar crash hours after eating. This could sap your motivation and make you feel miserable for the rest of the night.

Instead, munch down on small, healthy snacks throughout the night. Foods, such as nuts, raw veggies and fresh fruit, can provide your brain with the nutrients and energy it needs to keep you going.

6. Work Out Regularly

Staying active outside of your work shift helps prevent fatigue at work and keeps you physically and mentally fit. Before your shift, do some light exercises and stretching to get your blood pumping and prepare your mind for work. Also, make sure to work out regularly on weekends.

These suggestions will help you stay pumped and energized during the graveyard shift. Although working at night is hard, it does come with a few benefits, such as higher pay and a shorter commute time.

Ways to get an Affordable Mobile Contract

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Mobile Contract|Ways to get an Affordable Mobile ContractNowadays, smartphones are considered a necessity. The advent of the internet and advancement in technology has made it possible and necessary for people to stay connected with their loved ones no matter their location. Just a single click, and you can reach your family members and friends from anywhere in the world.

You are more likely to enjoy owning a smartphone if you have the right sim-only/pay as you go plan. After all, there is no point in using a 4 G or 5G smartphone if you have a costly data connection that might hold you from using it. Sure there are many phone plans in the market, but not all of them are affordable or suitable. If you have been looking for the right phone plan that will allow you to save money, here are different ways to find the best at the most affordable phone plans.

Track your mobile text, minutes, and data needs

It is tempting just to choose the cheapest deal you can find because you think you can save some money. But thanks to various penalty charges, it is often not the case with most phone contracts. The moment you use more than your allocated amount of texts, minutes, or data, the chances are that you will face steep fees for anything you’re likely to use over the allowance.

This is why you should track the amount of texts, data, and minutes you use each month and choose a mobile plan that fits your requirement. Keep in mind that you should not go for a contract that offers more than you need. Many phone contracts nowadays come with unlimited amounts of data, calls, and texts. But not all mobile plants do. So knowing your mobile usage will help you choose a mobile plan that best suits your needs.

Determine the amount of data you need on your phone contract.

Generally, your data allowance is the first to exceed because the charges are extortionate, and it is incredibly easy to use more data without realizing it. So, it is important to use specific settings on your phone to determine which apps use more data. Make sure you use these apps only when appropriate.

It is also possible to set some apps to work only when your device is connected to Wi-Fi. This will save you a lot of data. Apps like Netflix and Spotify can easily drain your data allowance quickly, which is why you should use your phone settings wisely and set these apps to only work once you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network.

As for how much data you should sign up for, many average users find 5GB sufficient. But if you intend to watch TV on your smartphone or start streaming content, you should go for an unlimited deal or a mobile contract that offers 10 GB or more per month.

Get affordable mobile phone insurance.

When you own an expensive smartphone, it is important to acquire an insurance cover in case of an accident. Most phone insurance providers will sell you what is commonly known as a comprehensive insurance package for a few pounds monthly. However, when it comes to the crunch, some companies try to find different excuses to avoid paying it. So, it is essential to carefully read the insurance contract paperwork before you sign up for a phone insurance policy.

Find mobile phone contracts with cashback offers or discounts.

Increasingly, most mobile contract websites have begun offering cashback deals with most of their contracts. Most of these deals are legit, but the chances of getting your cashback will depend on the specific mobile contract on offer. “Cashback by redemption” and other similar deals are the ones to watch out for because this means you will have to send in your monthly statements to claim your cashback successfully.

It is easier for many users to choose “instant cashback” as a lump sum by checking various cashback websites. To know more about whether or not your mobile contract provider offers cashback plans, contact them to learn more.

Wrap up

Different carriers provide different packages to serve everyone’s interests and needs. That means choosing the right and the most affordable mobile plan allows you to minimize your monthly bills and probably increase your savings. Even though the long list of mobile plans or mobile contracts means you have many choices, it can be challenging to find the right mobile plan if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

That said, it is important to understand the amount of mobile texts, minutes, and data you need per month, choose the right mobile phone insurance, and find the right phone contracts with a cashback plan. Be sure to analyse each mobile plan carefully and only choose what’s best for you.

Successful Negotiation: 5 Effective Techniques for Better Negotiation

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Techniques for Negotiation |Successful Negotiation: 5 Effective Techniques for Better NegotiationAs one of the most crucial components of modern business, negotiation occurs every day in a variety of forms, and the outcome of these negotiations can significantly impact your bottom line. Successful negotiations serve as the foundation for profitable interactions and allow you to cultivate valuable long-term business relationships. While every negotiation is different and features unique circumstances, there are certain techniques you can employ during any negotiation to enhance your position and increase the likelihood of reaching the best outcome for both parties.

Consider the five techniques below to discover how you can improve the negotiation skill set of your team, then contact Shapiro Negotiations to schedule training with our expert negotiators. When your employees participate in our strategic, interactive program, you can be sure they are prepared to secure the optimal results in the toughest of negotiations.

Encourage Conversation

In any kind of negotiation, your negotiating partner needs to know you value their perspective and take their priorities seriously. Encouraging conversation by asking open-ended questions allows you to gain valuable information and guide the negotiation process to a favorable conclusion. Display a commitment to reaching a win-win outcome from the very beginning of the negotiation and take time to resolve any remaining doubts so the agreement may be entered into with trust and confidence. Remain professional, polite, and friendly throughout the discussion and maintain open body language to signal your receptiveness.

Listen Actively

To enhance active listening skills, Shapiro Negotiations teaches “The 3 Cs” – connect, consider, and confirm. Connect with your negotiating partner by making eye contact and using their name frequently throughout the discussion. Consider your response carefully, pausing to reflect after the other party finishes speaking before formulating an appropriate response or counterargument. Confirm the goals for the discussion and the progress you have made in reaching them. By following this approach, you can learn what the other party feels is most important in the negotiation, as well as the limitations they face and the areas they may be willing to compromise.

Demonstrate Value

To negotiate effectively, you must retain an accurate idea of your product’s value and be capable of proving this value to your negotiating partner. Demonstrate your company’s expertise in the industry and highlight your record of proven results by sharing hard data concerning outcomes of past successful deals. Suggest potential clients explore reviews and testimonials to hear first-hand accounts of your company’s character, values, and dedication to delivering the highest quality products. If the product in question is only available from your company or in especially high demand, the value of your product is even higher, giving you more leverage in the negotiation.

Explore Alternatives

Negotiations rarely end after the first meeting, often involving extensive back-and-forth between both parties to adjust the terms of the deal until they feel they have achieved a win-win outcome. This requires thinking beyond the details of the initial proposal and exploring creative alternatives so you can reach a fair, acceptable agreement. You can discuss a variety of options, including requesting or proposing concessions, “expanding the pie” by widening your offer or providing compensation to make up for sacrifices made by the other party.

Know When to Walk Away

Recognize when the other party’s demands have become unreasonable or if the terms they suggest create an unprofitable outcome for your business and make the decision to walk away from the negotiating table. Before the negotiation begins, you should be aware of your limits and gather market data to support your assertion that an offer or price is not fair or reasonable. A potential client that does not value your offering or insists on drastic contract amendments will probably continue to be difficult to work with after the deal concludes, so sometimes the wisest course of action is to get out before the stakes become too high.

Learn More Negotiation Techniques with Our Training Program

Informed by science and strengthened by experience, the negotiation training program offered by Shapiro Negotiations has helped businesses improve their negotiating skills for more than twenty years. With training sessions customized for your business objectives, we can instruct your team on how to effectively utilize a wide range of techniques so they can conduct successful negotiations for years to come. Boasting an impressive 300% return on investment, our team has helped more than 250,000 people in all kinds of industries enhance their negotiating abilities and achieve the best possible outcomes in any future business deals.

If you would like to learn more about how we can prepare your business for a lucrative future, contact us today online, call (410) 662-4764, or email sni@shapironegotiations.com.

4 Time Management Tips for Professionals

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Tips for Professionals|4 Time Management Tips for ProfessionalsAre you the type of person who feels like they need more hours in the day? Have you heard the saying: work smarter, not harder? What can you do to ream more time out of your day?

Instead of working yourself well over your allotted time, you need to learn the value of your time and plan appropriately. Structuring your day, and often relinquishing control over your duties can help maximize your time.

You should know your limits. When there’s a leak in your bathroom, you would call a plumber, right? At work, you might expect a professional like a customs brokerage or an attorney to take care of difficult tasks so you can focus on your work. If you adhere to this order in your daily life, you can create some beneficial habits.

Plan Early

First things first: get yourself a monthly planner! A monthly planner will help you to plan out your entire week in advance. If you have never sat down and planned out your whole week, you will want to start small.

If you are a working professional, the chances are that you are using a service company scheduling software and it’s keeping you busy. You might have meetings planned, personal appointments, or critical deadlines to meet. Any plans in motion are the place where you need to start. As soon as a new plan pops up during your work, you need to immediately write them down.

Research has shown that writing something by hand solidifies the information into your memory up to 30% faster.

Plan for Work-Life Balance

You might feel like every minute of your day is planned out to the minute. In that case, you want to set some time aside at the end of the day for some rest and relaxation. Otherwise, a massive burnout is approaching.

Set aside an hour at the end of the day where you’ll do only what you want to do and not what you need to do. If that means writing down any niggling ideas you have for work the next day, this could be beneficial for your stress level. It is always better to have your stressors written out—then it is like a promise to yourself to complete and cross off the task.

Don’t Let Your Day Control You

When you are feeling overwhelmed, grab your planner. Separate your day into 10-to-30-minute chunks. Compile a list of your high priority tasks, like deadlines or meetings, and categorize them into these chunks.

It could help if you try to do some more manageable tasks first to get your mind into a workflow, but doing this won’t let those more difficult tasks fall to the back of your mind.

Learn to Be Present

With the rise of social media, we have distractions at genuinely every point of the day. If you work in a fast-paced work environment, you might continuously be inundated with work emails or phone calls. This could seriously distract you from some of your more important work tasks.

Our loss of interest and distractions are the most pressing reasons for time management struggles. It is important to ground yourself in between these high-stress moments and keep yourself on track. One great way to do this is to set a timer or an alarm to stay aware of your time and keep your mind on the present moment. You might even want to consider pausing your notifications when you’re working on more pressing tasks!