3 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Staff Are Underperforming

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | 3 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Staff Are UnderperformingCustomer wait time is one of the most important metrics in the restaurant industry. You could have everything right, but if the service times are too long, this will eventually play against your establishment. How good your kitchen staff are will have an effect on that, but you could also be making mistakes that are hindering workflow and making things more difficult for them. Here are some of the possible reasons why your staff aren’t performing as well as they should.

Your Kitchen Doesn’t Reflect Your Current Needs

If you’ve bought an old establishment and kept some of the equipment as part of the deal, then it might not fit the current demand. For instance, if your cold room is too small for your current needs, not only will it make things difficult when staff are trying to find things, or go in and out, you could end up facing some health violations because you ran out of space and had to cut corners.

If that is the case, we strongly suggest you invest in a bespoke cold room. This will allow you to build one that will take minimal space in the kitchen while still being efficient. You’ll be able to organise the storage in a way that fits your needs the most. Companies like fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk can build all types of cold rooms and walk-in freezers according to your exact specifications. Look for a provider that can build one that will fit the best within your kitchen’s floor plan.

You’re Using Time Wasting Processes

In many cases, you could get things done much faster if you reconsider some of your processes. For instance, if you only have a few burners available, but have a huge convection oven, you could use the convection oven to cook rice by using rice, water, and foil covered metal containers instead. You shouldn’t be afraid of the freezer either. There will be little difference between a frozen soup base or tomato sauce and a fresh one, so consider cooking more in batches and use the freezer when you can without sacrificing quality.

The Floor is Unsafe

If people don’t feel safe in the kitchen, they will not perform as well. They will constantly be afraid of causing an accident or seriously injuring themselves. This is why your kitchen’s layout has to be organised with safety in mind first and foremost.

With an ergonomic design, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of movement your employees have to make. Proper lighting and ventilation are essential as well. No one wants to work in a smelly, smoke filled kitchen. Your employees have to be able to see what they’re doing as well to avoid accidents.

Improving your kitchen’s productivity comes down to a few simple principles. Make sure that you take a look at how your kitchen is designed and look for possible pain points. And don’t be afraid to ask your staff for recommendations either.

7 Reasons Why Waste Recycling is good for Business

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | 7 Reasons Why Waste Recycling is good for Business‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ is a well-known phrase, and doing so can be good for business. Managing waste efficiently means a better working environment, as well as saving money of disposal. Doing so doesn’t require a lot of effort; instead, it just takes the correct help. If you know where to look and what to look for, managing your waste could be a piece of cake. For example, searching for Montgomery county dumpsters for rent could save you a lot of time and money, as there are companies that provide professional services within your budget and with good response times. Here are seven reasons why waste recycling is good for business, and how to get started.

1. Showing that you are a business that cares about the effects it has on the local environment may win you customers, as more people are choosing to work with eco-friendly businesses. Having a business with an ethos that cares about the environment is something that will make it stand out for positive reasons.

2. Waste machinery saves your business money. Buying or hiring a recycling baler, shredder or compactor means you can group recycling materials into single bales, making recycling easier. It also costs less to transport, as more waste can be compacted into neat shapes so it is easier to transport more onto trucks.

3. A clean workplace gives a good brand image to visitors. Showing you have efficient and tidy ways to manage waste shows that you are a business that takes details seriously and help build trustworthiness.

4. Effective waste management may save you money on your business insurance, as it lowers the risk of fire. Lowering costs gives you higher profit margins for your business.

5. Safety onsite is increased through the use of waste machinery. Waste that is baled for recycling is less likely to catch fire, and if a fire does start, bales will burn much more slowly that loose materials. This increases safety for staff in the workplace and helps your business to avoid costly repairs and refurbishments.

6. Some recycling companies will pay money for single materials that are baled. This means that you could turn something that you once had to pay for to remove into another stream of revenue for your business.

7. Depending on the type of waste produced, there may be legal requirements in place for proper disposal. Using waste recycling machinery adds to the effectiveness of waste management, and could help your business to adhere to recycling rules and avoid fines.

How to get started with waste recycling

Using specialized waste management machinery is ideal for businesses that are looking for effective ways of recycling. Shredders cut materials into small pieces, which can then be compacted and baled. Shredders, compactors and balers can be bought new, second-hand, or can be hired, so there are options to suit any budget. There is machinery of different sizes machined to suit any business space, so even the smallest of premises can benefit from effective waste management. Recycling waste using waste machinery soon saves money after the initial investment, and provides a win-win solution to waste removal for your business.

It is important to remember that while recycling is better for the environment than waste going to landfill, it still requires energy to process. As well as recycling, businesses should also be looking at ways to reduce waste overall.

What is a certificate of translation?

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | What is a certificate of translation?Have you ever imagined a currency bill without the signature of the Treasury Secretary? No, right? There is a reason which kept you from thinking that and it is not only because the bills have always had the signature but also it is the thing that makes the dollar an official currency. It is like a stamp from the state telling you that the bills you have were printed officially and are not fake. The same rule applies on almost everything that has to do with the state in one way or another. When you have to submit an application to a government body requesting something, you will need to get it signed or attested by an official.

The rule is not only limited to government offices. Even when you have to apply for admission, you will need to get your documents attested before submitting them. If you want to apply for a job, you will need references. They will contain information about your work ethics by your previous employers and include their stamp or signature. These stamps give validity to a document and act as proof of their originality. Without the attestation or the signature of an official, the documents, even if they are original, will lose their credibility.

When government offices release documents like birth certificate or marriage certificate, they stamp them with their seal or get them signed from an official before handing them over to people. But when people have to submit any document to a government office, they have to get the piece of paper verified themselves. Depending on the type of document, it can be signed by different people. There are papers that you make yourself but have to get attested from someone else. And then there are documents that need to be signed by the person making them.

The requirement of getting a record certified before submitting not only validates the authenticity of the document but also helps you differentiate between a professional and an amateur. For instance, if someone is not experienced but they draft you a document, they won’t be able to sign it lest they be questioned about its validity. All of this can be best understood with an example from the world of translation. It is a very useful creative tool that helps people bridge the gap between different nations. It has different types depending on its usage. Each field of translation has further subtypes like business translation has financial and commercial interpretations.

There are plenty of language agencies out there but finding the right one is not always a piece of cake. There can be an inexperienced interpreter in front of you and you won’t be able to figure it out unless it is too late. There is however, one type of translation that can only be carried out by the most experienced and qualified translators and that is certified translation. When you need it, you will have to find someone with the right experience. You can ask the agency or interpreter relevant questions to make sure they know what they are doing.

One important thing about this type of interpretation is the certificate of translation that has to be signed by the translator attesting to the accuracy of their translation. This signature and the statement by the translator work as proofs of how accurate the translated document is as compared to the original and that’s something that can only be done by a translator with the right qualification because an inexperienced interpreter cannot carry out a translation with complete accuracy. So, whenever you require a certified interpretation, make sure it comes with the certificate of translation.

 

The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business

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Is your business struggling to come up with a new idea or innovation to solve the latest industry challenge? If you’re not too proud to admit defeat and seek inspiration and ideas from elsewhere, you might find that crowdsourcing is a breakthrough concept that can help you to break new ground and potentially disrupt a market.

The concept of crowdsourcing dates back to 2005, when Wired magazine journalists, Mark Robinson and Jeff Howe, coined the phrase. Companies such as Qmarkets have since developed industry-leading crowdsourcing services for corporate clients that give firms a chance to engage and incentivize large groups of people – be it fellow professionals or customers – to tackle unique business challenges. The roots of crowdsourcing can be traced as far back as the early 18th century, when the British government sought help from members of the public to develop the best way to measure a ship’s longitudinal position. A cash sum was offered as an incentive.

Does your business suffer “blindness” to problems relating to your operations and its industry as a whole? If you can’t see the wood for the trees, here are three reasons why crowdsourcing innovation can help take your brand to the next level.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business
 
Get a fresh perspective

When you live and breathe a business 24/7, it’s all too easy to become all-consumed by the day-to-day “grind”. You might have your own vision for how a project should go, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best possible vision for your business. By crowdsourcing a business project among colleagues and even external contractors, it’s possible to get lots of minds and ideas around the table at once that often go unheard.

The saying that “two heads are better than one” has never been truer when it comes to crowdsourcing. It’s a chance to free your colleagues and other professionals from the shackles, giving them complete freedom to think as creatively as they want. In doing so, you’ll also maximize the number of options you have, rather than forging ahead with an idea just because it’s your only idea.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business
 
Retain a firm handle on your overheads

Crowdsourcing is rapidly growing in terms of popularity among business owners because it’s proven to be a cost-effective option for idea generation. In reality, the time it takes to sit colleagues down, brainstorm, validate ideas and put them into action is often hugely underestimated. By seeking external input from the “crowd” it can actually help to lower the overall cost of your innovation project, cutting the time it takes to reach your end goal(s) and only paying for the insight and ideas that you use.

Engage your customers and build trust

Another form of crowdsourcing for growing businesses is to utilize customer feedback. Businesses that are looking to build long-term, trusted relationships with consumers are increasingly inviting valued clients to get involved with the idea generation process, helping them to feel like they are making a difference. Ultimately, these people are the ones you’re targeting your products and services to. They should know the problems your target demographic is experiencing and the best way to solve them. Crowdsourced innovation shouldn’t be viewed as a one-way street though. Ensuring your customers are engaged and rewarded will help to ensure sound, worthwhile knowledge-sharing.

Why You Should Consider Outsourcing for Your Business

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The key to working harder is to work smarter. Your business depends on you being able to do what you do best without being bogged down by the day to day tasks that can take up some time. Running your business automatically means you have a lot on your plate to manage meaning multi-tasking is the name of the game.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Why You Should Consider Outsourcing for Your Business

But when it comes to the task in hand, you want to make sure your time and focus is where it needs to be and you aren’t tied up with tasks that take up too much of your day and pulling your attention elsewhere.

This is where outsourcing comes in. Regardless of if you have a team working with you or not, there are many advantages in hiring a third party to take care of tasks for you so you know you are getting the job done and done well. So what should you be looking at outsourcing?

Employees.

More specifically, the hiring of employees. you need to make sure you have the right people for your company, however, if you don’t have the time or expertise in interviewing and sifting through CVs, you may find outsourcing this task to a reputable company such as Checkr could be beneficial to you and your business.

Social Media

There is no denying that social is a huge marketing tool for almost every business. That being said, it takes up a vast amount of time to promote your business and create content to attract and engage potential customers across many different platforms. Hiring outside of your company means that not only do you not have to train a staff member or create a department to take from this for you, but you benefit from qualified professionals to be able to manage all of the content creation and promotion too.

Technology Services.

It can be expensive to make sure you are up to date with the latest technology services available. Even more expensive to keep a member of staff on-site to deal with any issues. Taking up a managed technology services package from an industry expert is one less thing you have to worry about maintaining for your business. Take advantage of their expertise and knowledge to keep you up and running at all times and not just when something goes wrong.

Administration

Think of replying to emails, following up on leads, enquires to scout for new business. Maybe you need business meetings transcribing or notes inputting into online files. All of this is something you could potentially hire a Virtual Assistant for.

Virtual Assistant work from remote locations and each one has a different set of skills. Once you find someone who can benefit your company you can work out a package that benefits you and your business with this then freeing your time to focus on areas you need to.

These are just a few areas where you can work smarter to help grow your business and meet your growing demands without pulling yourself in too many directions.