Everybody has had a ‘bad manager’ at some point and the effects of poor management are well understood. It can be demoralizing, and demotivating and create a workplace that nobody wants to be in. It is why, when it is your turn to step up to the plate and take on the coveted role of manager you want to do it differently. You want to earn the respect of your peers and subordinates to foster a happy and healthy working environment. For some management comes naturally for others, a few pointers in the right direction can help make all of the difference. So whether you are looking to climb the ranks to CEO of the biggest international tech company or being the boss of your own local rain gutters and drainage start-up, here are some great tips to be a manager worthy of respect.
Always be honest
You are taught to be honest from an early age so why should the world of business be any different. Keeping secrets from employees will leave them feeling undervalued, uninvolved, and uneasy about the workplace. As much as you can you should always endeavor to be open and honest with your team. Address concerns and queries they have as frankly and openly as possible. This is the best way to create a relationship built on trust and respect.
Easy on the micromanaging
A really great boss can relinquish control. You have a team with a job to do and the best thing you can do is to let them do their jobs. Trying to take over and micromanage their work will result in their irritation, frustration, and feeling demoralized and demotivated once again. The more responsibility and accountability you can give your employees the more they will thrive and engage in their working environment, which will pay dividends for both you and them.
Always say ‘thank you’
Many studies have proven that staff will respond well to and thrive off of appreciation for their work. Recognizing the work undertaken by staff and the efforts they make in their role will go a long way. Rewards and recognition come in many forms and of course, all employees would like a financial incentive or reward however there are plenty of times where a simple ‘thank you’ and ‘job well done; will suffice.
Give feedback
While you may roll your eyes at a performance review they actually serve a great purpose. Employees enjoy the opportunity to have candid discussions with management regarding their performance and future within the company. Your employees will want to know about the progress they make and when they are doing well, or not as the case may be, so do not shy away from handing out feedback and offering up regular performance reviews.
Accept feedback
Feedback is a two-street and there will be times when your team is invited to or will choose to offer up feedback on your role as manager. A good manager will listen to this feedback, take it onboard, and enact any changes or improvements should they be required.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-jonathan-borba-3285203-1.jpg8001200StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2022-07-05 20:00:222022-07-05 15:38:25How To Earn Respect As A Manager
If you want to make a success of your business, you need to know when a good business opportunity is staring you in the face. It might sound obvious and easy, but it certainly isn’t. First of all, spotting new opportunities is easier said than done. And on top of that, you might not know an opportunity is in front of you until you’ve tried it out and seen what happens. Read on to learn more about what you can do to uncover the best new business opportunities.
Listen Closely to Your Customers
If you want to know which direction your business should go in next, it obviously makes the most sense to listen to your customers. They can tell you a lot about where you need to go and what you need to do in order to appeal to their needs. These are the people who are going to be buying from you or paying for your services, so ask them what they want from you.
Research Trends
It can be a good idea to keep an eye on trends that are relevant to the industry in which your business currently operates. That way, you can make the most of these trends, but avoid going all-in on them. Trends are often short-term and they’re not something to base your entire business model around because that’s just risky and unwise.
Think About Problems That Need to be Solved
Finding problems that your customers have and then coming up with creative ways to solve them is a great way to find new opportunities. Where there’s a problem, there’s the potential for a lucrative solution. Everyone makes purchases based on problems they have, even at the most fundamental level. So it’s definitely something you should spend some time considering.
Start Networking More
Networking is a good way to have conversations and build connections with important and influential people. This can lead to opportunities developing if you have the right conversation or make the right impression. If you don’t know how to network, this guide by Monty Cerf on how to get back into it after the pandemic might be just what you’re looking for. Once you get into the swing of it, it’s easy.
Carry Out a Cost-Benefit Analysis When You Get an Idea
Finally, you should carry out a cost-benefit analysis whenever you come up with an idea that you feel might be beneficial to you and your business. It makes sense to look at what you could achieve by following this idea and where the costs might be of focusing on that thing at the expense of other potential ideas and opportunities.
As an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ll always need to be on the lookout for new ideas and new business opportunities that you might be able to take advantage of. But what matters most is making sure that you’re able to identify the right opportunities, and the tips above will help make that possible.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/business-gaee0df139_1280.jpg9601280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2022-07-05 19:00:072022-07-05 15:27:47How to Uncover New Business Opportunities
Many people would love to start their own business but don’t have the time or money to do so. Fortunately, there are many business ideas you can start from home for very little money. The following blog will discuss some of the best business ideas that you can start from the comfort of your own home.
1) Freelance Writing
If you have a knack for writing, you can start your own freelance writing business. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can sign up for different websites that allow you to find clients who need writers. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
Many people are looking for content writers. You could start by writing articles for other businesses or bloggers. This is a great way to get started because it allows you to get some experience under your belt. Once you have a few clients, you can start charging more money for your services.
2) Web Design
If you have a creative mind, you can start your own web design business. You don’t need to have any formal training to do this. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good portfolio, you can charge more for your services.
Many businesses need a website. You can start by designing simple websites for small businesses. Once you have some experience, you can start working on larger projects. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for web designers.
3) HVAC Technician
If you have experience working with HVAC systems and you have the relevant hvac technician training, you can start your own business as an HVAC technician. You will need to get some formal training before you start your own business. However, once you are certified, you can start your own business and work from home.
Many businesses require HVAC technicians. You can start by working for a local company. Once you have built up a good reputation, you can start your own business. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for HVAC technicians.
4) House Cleaning
If you enjoy cleaning, you can start your own house cleaning business. You don’t need any formal training to do this. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
Many people are looking for house cleaners. You could start by working for a local company. Once you have some experience, you can start your own business. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for house cleaners.
In conclusion, there are many business ideas you can start from home for very little money. You just need to have a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050304.jpg8001200StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2022-07-05 18:00:122022-07-05 15:18:18Business Ideas You Can Start From Home
After the last couple of years, running a business might have all seemed like survival, but as some things at least return to normal, your thoughts might turn to more long-term plans. With so many things to do at once, it might seem an impossible task to even get started, but to make things easier, here are some of the main things you should consider looking at.
#1 You Are Going to Need to Invest in PPSR
PPSR, otherwise known as the Personal Property Securities Register, is an essential part of running a business. The Personal Property Securities Register is a powerful tool that can help you get the compensation that you deserve if people who haven’t paid you to go out of business.
It means that you can repossess what you lost, or at least the value of what you lost. This is important to get right, and you might need some templates to make sure that it is perfect for use. This might mean that you are going to want to look at templates for Personal Property Securities Register used in Australia to make sure you don’t lose out
#2 You Are Going to Need to Invest in Cybersecurity
Investing in Cybersecurity is important to ensure the longevity of your business. It can help you work in a more secure environment and help your employees trust you. You would be wise to start by investing in anti-virus software and a decent firewall. It should also be beneficial to invest in end-user education to help yourself and your employees work safely on the internet and are wary of threats.
#3 You Should Be Investing in Training Your Employees
Not only does this help employee morale, but it also allows your business to get better results. This is because mistakes are less likely to be made, and communication becomes more fluent with the overall result that the pace of work not only becomes faster but also more accurate. You will be pleasantly surprised with the transformation that the correct training will cause within your business, as it starts to overcome issues more consistently and intelligently, as well as use fewer resources and perform better, even under pressure.
#4 You Should Be Looking into Getting High-Quality Website Management
This can help you tremendously when it comes to keeping the customers that you have attracted to your site. It can help you make sure that your website is up to spec and isn’t taking forever to load, being slowed down further by bugs, and just not looking good, causing your potential customers to click away.
You should also be looking into tools like Chatbots and using SEO to help your site become more findable online and enjoyable for your customers when they get there.
#5 You Should Be Investing in Your Social Media Output
This can help you when it comes to reaching specific audiences and helping your ‘brand’ increase in popularity. It can be a great tool as people all over the world could be potentially exposed to your business so that you have a chance of bringing in a customer anytime, meaning that you are always actively marketing. Although this might not bring the same long-term results as SEO, it will give you a more immediate audience.
#6 You Should Be Ensuring That Your Finances Are in Order
This isn’t just getting your business a PPSR. This is also building up your business’s credit score and making sure that you are as debt-free as possible. This is important as it can prevent you from getting the help that you need when you need it, as lenders might turn you down, which in turn might be the end of the line for your business.
#7 Digitalization Can Help You with Efficiency
Digitalization can be great for building efficiency throughout your business and it can be an effective way to modernize. It can also help you cut down on the single-use products which are detrimental to your business’s finances, and instead invest in other areas. For instance, moving storage to the cloud would be significant as you are going to need the digital space to expand your business and help it grow.
#8 You Are Going to Need to Think About Packaging
This can help your business appeal to more customers and then make them want to come back for more. It has been said that the packaging is more important than the product, and you also need to remember to make switches to more eco-friendly materials and also keep your packaging practical and reflective of your business. You will find that it is easier to keep your customers if they have a great ‘unboxing’ experience.
To Wrap Things Up
It’s never too soon to plan, especially if some of those measures will mean your business does have a future. By getting the back-up you need, both financially and digitally, as well as cutting down on overheads and boosting the knowledge in your workforce, you’ll find that moving forward doesn’t have to be as hard as you first thought.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/office-g898fd8e0f_1280.jpg8501280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2022-07-05 17:00:392022-07-05 15:08:17What Can You Do to Benefit Your Business in the Long Run?
Guiding an engineering business to strategic success is not easy. The engineering industry is both highly fractured and immensely busy. Here is a very brief guide to some of the strategic elements that need to be kept in mind when planning out the long-term growth of an engineering business.
Have a Coherent Strategic Vision
It is extremely rare for an engineering company (or any company for that matter) to succeed strategically if it does not have a coherent and achievable long-term vision and well-defined ethos. From the very genesis of an engineering business’ life, it should be guided by the vision defined by its founders. These strategic visions should be directly related to the space within the market that the business wishes to occupy and should guide the long-term onboarding of staff and the development of processes. The vision should be displayed in a strategic vision statement.
Pay Attention to Service Standards and Efficiency
Engineering businesses are not only concerned with the creation of a product or delivery of a 2D service. Their relationships with consumers, customers, and other businesses need to be ongoing if they are to see any kind of success. Service standards and efficiency need to be an absolute priority. Companies like Servicegeeni.com help engineering businesses to offer efficient and effective ongoing relationships. Looking after the people connected through purchase, rental or stake holding in products, in the long run, can provide the opportunity for repeat custom and a good corporate reputation.
Know Your Metrics of Success
Engineering business owners need to be able to develop criteria and metrics that enable them to measure success. These are typically known as KPIs
– Key Performance Indicators. Without the development and quantization of Key Performance Indicators, it can be hard for a business to tell what areas of strategy are proving successful.
Good Key Performance Indicators can provide generally objective evidence for the success or failure of a strategic element. Typical KPIs in the engineering industry include profit to cost measurements, profit to personnel measurements, service outcomes, and a whole host of other indicators. Getting your strategic KPIs in order is essential if you want your business to grow.
Process Driven Onboarding is a Must
Running an engineering business successfully is eventually going to involve hiring some extra help. Don’t just hire randomly – use a process-driven onboarding strategy to find the best solutions. Although process-driven onboarding has received some flak in recent years, it still dominates the hiring strategies of most successful engineering businesses. This is because engineering firms are environments in which specific skill quotas need to be met to facilitate growth. Process-driven onboarding involves the following of a specific process when looking for and interviewing new hires.
Carefully identifying the skill gaps that need filling and looking for personnel that fill those gaps will help a business to grow as efficiently as possible without taking people on that do not have specific things to bring to the table. Don’t just you’re your business aimlessly, grow it intelligently.
https://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/architect-g602b174ef_1280.jpg7701280StrategyDrivenhttps://www.strategydriven.com/wp-content/uploads/SDELogo5-300x70-300x70.pngStrategyDriven2022-07-05 16:00:312022-07-05 14:57:06A Guide to Engineering Business Success
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Business Programs
How To Earn Respect As A Manager
/in Management & Leadership/by StrategyDrivenAlways be honest
You are taught to be honest from an early age so why should the world of business be any different. Keeping secrets from employees will leave them feeling undervalued, uninvolved, and uneasy about the workplace. As much as you can you should always endeavor to be open and honest with your team. Address concerns and queries they have as frankly and openly as possible. This is the best way to create a relationship built on trust and respect.
Easy on the micromanaging
A really great boss can relinquish control. You have a team with a job to do and the best thing you can do is to let them do their jobs. Trying to take over and micromanage their work will result in their irritation, frustration, and feeling demoralized and demotivated once again. The more responsibility and accountability you can give your employees the more they will thrive and engage in their working environment, which will pay dividends for both you and them.
Always say ‘thank you’
Many studies have proven that staff will respond well to and thrive off of appreciation for their work. Recognizing the work undertaken by staff and the efforts they make in their role will go a long way. Rewards and recognition come in many forms and of course, all employees would like a financial incentive or reward however there are plenty of times where a simple ‘thank you’ and ‘job well done; will suffice.
Give feedback
While you may roll your eyes at a performance review they actually serve a great purpose. Employees enjoy the opportunity to have candid discussions with management regarding their performance and future within the company. Your employees will want to know about the progress they make and when they are doing well, or not as the case may be, so do not shy away from handing out feedback and offering up regular performance reviews.
Accept feedback
Feedback is a two-street and there will be times when your team is invited to or will choose to offer up feedback on your role as manager. A good manager will listen to this feedback, take it onboard, and enact any changes or improvements should they be required.
How to Uncover New Business Opportunities
/in Strategic Analysis/by StrategyDrivenListen Closely to Your Customers
If you want to know which direction your business should go in next, it obviously makes the most sense to listen to your customers. They can tell you a lot about where you need to go and what you need to do in order to appeal to their needs. These are the people who are going to be buying from you or paying for your services, so ask them what they want from you.
Research Trends
It can be a good idea to keep an eye on trends that are relevant to the industry in which your business currently operates. That way, you can make the most of these trends, but avoid going all-in on them. Trends are often short-term and they’re not something to base your entire business model around because that’s just risky and unwise.
Think About Problems That Need to be Solved
Finding problems that your customers have and then coming up with creative ways to solve them is a great way to find new opportunities. Where there’s a problem, there’s the potential for a lucrative solution. Everyone makes purchases based on problems they have, even at the most fundamental level. So it’s definitely something you should spend some time considering.
Start Networking More
Networking is a good way to have conversations and build connections with important and influential people. This can lead to opportunities developing if you have the right conversation or make the right impression. If you don’t know how to network, this guide by Monty Cerf on how to get back into it after the pandemic might be just what you’re looking for. Once you get into the swing of it, it’s easy.
Carry Out a Cost-Benefit Analysis When You Get an Idea
Finally, you should carry out a cost-benefit analysis whenever you come up with an idea that you feel might be beneficial to you and your business. It makes sense to look at what you could achieve by following this idea and where the costs might be of focusing on that thing at the expense of other potential ideas and opportunities.
As an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ll always need to be on the lookout for new ideas and new business opportunities that you might be able to take advantage of. But what matters most is making sure that you’re able to identify the right opportunities, and the tips above will help make that possible.
Business Ideas You Can Start From Home
/in Starting Your Business/by StrategyDriven1) Freelance Writing
If you have a knack for writing, you can start your own freelance writing business. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can sign up for different websites that allow you to find clients who need writers. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
Many people are looking for content writers. You could start by writing articles for other businesses or bloggers. This is a great way to get started because it allows you to get some experience under your belt. Once you have a few clients, you can start charging more money for your services.
2) Web Design
If you have a creative mind, you can start your own web design business. You don’t need to have any formal training to do this. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good portfolio, you can charge more for your services.
Many businesses need a website. You can start by designing simple websites for small businesses. Once you have some experience, you can start working on larger projects. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for web designers.
3) HVAC Technician
If you have experience working with HVAC systems and you have the relevant hvac technician training, you can start your own business as an HVAC technician. You will need to get some formal training before you start your own business. However, once you are certified, you can start your own business and work from home.
Many businesses require HVAC technicians. You can start by working for a local company. Once you have built up a good reputation, you can start your own business. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for HVAC technicians.
4) House Cleaning
If you enjoy cleaning, you can start your own house cleaning business. You don’t need any formal training to do this. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
Many people are looking for house cleaners. You could start by working for a local company. Once you have some experience, you can start your own business. This is a great way to make money from home because there is always a demand for house cleaners.
In conclusion, there are many business ideas you can start from home for very little money. You just need to have a computer and an internet connection. You can find clients by signing up for different freelance websites. Once you build up a good reputation, you can charge more for your services.
What Can You Do to Benefit Your Business in the Long Run?
/in Entrepreneurship/by StrategyDriven#1 You Are Going to Need to Invest in PPSR
PPSR, otherwise known as the Personal Property Securities Register, is an essential part of running a business. The Personal Property Securities Register is a powerful tool that can help you get the compensation that you deserve if people who haven’t paid you to go out of business.
It means that you can repossess what you lost, or at least the value of what you lost. This is important to get right, and you might need some templates to make sure that it is perfect for use. This might mean that you are going to want to look at templates for Personal Property Securities Register used in Australia to make sure you don’t lose out
#2 You Are Going to Need to Invest in Cybersecurity
Investing in Cybersecurity is important to ensure the longevity of your business. It can help you work in a more secure environment and help your employees trust you. You would be wise to start by investing in anti-virus software and a decent firewall. It should also be beneficial to invest in end-user education to help yourself and your employees work safely on the internet and are wary of threats.
#3 You Should Be Investing in Training Your Employees
Not only does this help employee morale, but it also allows your business to get better results. This is because mistakes are less likely to be made, and communication becomes more fluent with the overall result that the pace of work not only becomes faster but also more accurate. You will be pleasantly surprised with the transformation that the correct training will cause within your business, as it starts to overcome issues more consistently and intelligently, as well as use fewer resources and perform better, even under pressure.
#4 You Should Be Looking into Getting High-Quality Website Management
This can help you tremendously when it comes to keeping the customers that you have attracted to your site. It can help you make sure that your website is up to spec and isn’t taking forever to load, being slowed down further by bugs, and just not looking good, causing your potential customers to click away.
You should also be looking into tools like Chatbots and using SEO to help your site become more findable online and enjoyable for your customers when they get there.
#5 You Should Be Investing in Your Social Media Output
This can help you when it comes to reaching specific audiences and helping your ‘brand’ increase in popularity. It can be a great tool as people all over the world could be potentially exposed to your business so that you have a chance of bringing in a customer anytime, meaning that you are always actively marketing. Although this might not bring the same long-term results as SEO, it will give you a more immediate audience.
#6 You Should Be Ensuring That Your Finances Are in Order
This isn’t just getting your business a PPSR. This is also building up your business’s credit score and making sure that you are as debt-free as possible. This is important as it can prevent you from getting the help that you need when you need it, as lenders might turn you down, which in turn might be the end of the line for your business.
#7 Digitalization Can Help You with Efficiency
Digitalization can be great for building efficiency throughout your business and it can be an effective way to modernize. It can also help you cut down on the single-use products which are detrimental to your business’s finances, and instead invest in other areas. For instance, moving storage to the cloud would be significant as you are going to need the digital space to expand your business and help it grow.
#8 You Are Going to Need to Think About Packaging
This can help your business appeal to more customers and then make them want to come back for more. It has been said that the packaging is more important than the product, and you also need to remember to make switches to more eco-friendly materials and also keep your packaging practical and reflective of your business. You will find that it is easier to keep your customers if they have a great ‘unboxing’ experience.
To Wrap Things Up
It’s never too soon to plan, especially if some of those measures will mean your business does have a future. By getting the back-up you need, both financially and digitally, as well as cutting down on overheads and boosting the knowledge in your workforce, you’ll find that moving forward doesn’t have to be as hard as you first thought.
A Guide to Engineering Business Success
/in Entrepreneurship/by StrategyDrivenHave a Coherent Strategic Vision
It is extremely rare for an engineering company (or any company for that matter) to succeed strategically if it does not have a coherent and achievable long-term vision and well-defined ethos. From the very genesis of an engineering business’ life, it should be guided by the vision defined by its founders. These strategic visions should be directly related to the space within the market that the business wishes to occupy and should guide the long-term onboarding of staff and the development of processes. The vision should be displayed in a strategic vision statement.
Pay Attention to Service Standards and Efficiency
Engineering businesses are not only concerned with the creation of a product or delivery of a 2D service. Their relationships with consumers, customers, and other businesses need to be ongoing if they are to see any kind of success. Service standards and efficiency need to be an absolute priority. Companies like Servicegeeni.com help engineering businesses to offer efficient and effective ongoing relationships. Looking after the people connected through purchase, rental or stake holding in products, in the long run, can provide the opportunity for repeat custom and a good corporate reputation.
Know Your Metrics of Success
Engineering business owners need to be able to develop criteria and metrics that enable them to measure success. These are typically known as KPIs
– Key Performance Indicators. Without the development and quantization of Key Performance Indicators, it can be hard for a business to tell what areas of strategy are proving successful.
Good Key Performance Indicators can provide generally objective evidence for the success or failure of a strategic element. Typical KPIs in the engineering industry include profit to cost measurements, profit to personnel measurements, service outcomes, and a whole host of other indicators. Getting your strategic KPIs in order is essential if you want your business to grow.
Process Driven Onboarding is a Must
Running an engineering business successfully is eventually going to involve hiring some extra help. Don’t just hire randomly – use a process-driven onboarding strategy to find the best solutions. Although process-driven onboarding has received some flak in recent years, it still dominates the hiring strategies of most successful engineering businesses. This is because engineering firms are environments in which specific skill quotas need to be met to facilitate growth. Process-driven onboarding involves the following of a specific process when looking for and interviewing new hires.
Carefully identifying the skill gaps that need filling and looking for personnel that fill those gaps will help a business to grow as efficiently as possible without taking people on that do not have specific things to bring to the table. Don’t just you’re your business aimlessly, grow it intelligently.