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How To Maintain Productivity Without Compromising Your Cybersecurity

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Cybersecurity|How To Maintain Productivity Without Compromising Your CybersecurityWhether you are a small local business running a simple website, an ecommerce project with a steadily increasing turnover, or a growing international brand – any business can find itself the target of cyber criminals. It is naturally the case, then, that businesses need to invest properly in their cybersecurity, and put it at the forefront of their strategic decisions.

However, there is a potentially conflicting interest with cybersecurity – and that is productivity. It is often believed by business owners that they can’t improve one without compromising the other. For example, putting in place multi-factor authentication on log-ins certainly makes a company more secure, but it is also likely to be less time efficient and create scenarios where genuine log-in attempts fail and have to be resolved.

For those companies that have chosen to invest in their cybersecurity, it is important to establish ways that productivity can be maintained, and even improved, without making this investment a wasted effort and financial decision.

Here, we take a look at how your business can achieve higher levels of productivity without compromising your cybersecurity.

Invest in the right security technologies

The first thing to note is that the type of cybersecurity technologies you invest in can play a big role in how it affects your business productivity. For example, some cybersecurity strategies place a focus on reacting to attacks – and while this is an important facet of security, it can also affect productivity tremendously.

It can be a much better idea to invest in technologies such as managed detection and response. This is software that operates in the background as data is ‘collected from across your networks, endpoints, and cloud environments, analyzed using the latest machine learning and behavioral detection engines, then enriched with the latest threat intelligence’.

From this data the software understands what is normal, and can therefore recognise and react to abnormal behavior. This can then be investigated. This is far more effective than waiting for an attack to happen and then having to uproot the businesses in order to find and deal with the problem.

Find compromises

There can be a real temptation to maintain productivity and even improve on it by taking a lax approach to cybersecurity policies. This concept here is that reducing the strenuousness of cybersecurity provides employees with more space to breathe. There can be logic here, but it is important to ensure that you are relaxing measures in the right areas.

It is important to consult with your business’ cybersecurity specialists as well as those who manage data and data security across the organization. Working with these members of staff can allow you to establish where your company is potentially vulnerable and find ways to ensure that any changes you make do not negatively affect you from this perspective.

Be aware of insider threats

Many businesses assume that insider threats necessarily come from malicious actors – for example, disgruntled former employees. However, this is not always the case. In fact the vast majority of cybercrime that involves an ‘insider’ element actually relates to mistakes that have been made by employees.

The key thing to note here is that if employees do not understand why they need to follow a particular cybersecurity policy, or if they feel that it stops them from doing their job effectively, they may simply disregard it. It is essential, then, that businesses ensure that cybersecurity policies are adhered to and training is provided to help employees understand why they have to take it seriously.

Employees often want to find the most time effective ways to carry out a task in order to strive for higher productivity levels. But this comes at too high a cost if the company as a whole is put at risk of a data breach.

There does not need to be an inherent contradiction between productivity and cybersecurity. In fact, as both are becoming vital to businesses, leaders of organizations need to find a way to ensure that both are prioritized. The most important step is to ensure that staff understand the importance of cybersecurity and the procedures that have to be put in place. This allows them to establish ways to be more productive in spite of cybersecurity measures.

Kitting Out Your Home Office: Desks

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Home office|Kitting Out Your Home Office: DesksA lot of jobs today require some form of administration. As a result, employees must work at a desk to complete their tasks, whether this is at home or in the office. However, sitting at a desk for long periods of time is not necessarily good for you. It can lead to muscle pain and joint stiffness. As a way to combat this, standing desks were invented. The question is, are they better, and how do you decide which one is right for you? Let’s explore your options.

Sitting Desks

Sitting desks need no explanation because they tend to be the standard, meaning that most people are familiar with them. Traditional desks may be more comfortable because they offer users the opportunity to recline and work from a sitting position. As mentioned, they are also the standard, which means that they don’t get used to most people working at desks from a young age. They also tend to be more accessible and inclusive because almost anyone can use a sitting desk regardless of their level of mobility.

They do come with their cons, though. Sitting down at a desk for long periods can be terrible for your posture and your spine health. Some people believe that sitting for too long breeds feelings of fatigue and lethargy. Being sedent for long periods can also have a profound effect on your health too. This may be remedied by doing a few exercises at your desk throughout your day.

Standing Desks

A standing desk is pretty straightforward for those who don’t know; it is a higher-up desk that allows you to work while standing up. Other desks take this idea further; you can also find treadmill desks that allow you to work out while getting your work done effectively. However, this won’t work for most people who need a steady hand and concentration when working.

There are some alleged benefits to standing desks. First and foremost, they are said to keep you fitter, because you burn more calories by working standing up than you would by sitting all day. Next, standing up for longer periods is also said to be better for your cardiovascular system because it encourages the blood to flow. A school of thought also maintains that working from a standing desk aids productivity because of increased blood flow to the vital organs. Finally, working at a standing desk is said to be better for your muscles and joints because they are less likely to get stiff than if you were sitting at a desk all day.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t also downsides to standing desks. Standing all day can be hard on the body. Standing allows more movement throughout the day, but standing still can be tough on the legs and feet. Limited movement in any position can lead to muscle pain or joint aches. It is also said that a standing desk is difficult to get used to. This is because sitting at a desk to work is the default position that most people are used to.

How Do I Choose?

In all honesty, the answer depends entirely on you and your preference. There are pros and cons to both. If you are struggling to choose between the two, there is actually a compromise. You could opt for an adjustable desk. These types of desks, like the standing desks available from Branch, allow you to use them as both a sitting and a standing desk, meaning that you get the best of both worlds. You can try out each method to find which one works for you.

Once you have a desk, you also need to think about what type of chair you will use. A lot of people go for fashion over function, choosing a chair that matches their décor. This is not the best practice. Most people will be sitting in their chairs for at least a few hours of their day. This is more than enough time to damage your spine, joints, and muscles if you have chosen the wrong chair. You need to consider your needs and look for an ergonomic chair that is designed to support the body. It can make a huge difference. If you want to get an adjustable desk, then you also need a chair that is easily relocated, or in other words, a wheelie chair. Keep this in mind when weighing up your options.

The Bottom Line

There are benefits to both standing and sitting desks, which is why an adjustable desk makes the most sense for those who want to explore their options. If your concern is your health, then there are also a number of things that you can do to improve your fitness while working. A lot of people think that working in an office job is synonymous with being lazy, but it doesn’t have to be.

Strategies To Increase Employee Productivity

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Increase employee productivity|Strategies To Increase Employee ProductivityAre you looking to increase employee productivity? This is something that every manager wants to achieve, but it is not easy, and you will also notice that productivity levels rise and fall constantly. When you are able to increase productivity and know-how to get employees out of a productivity rut, you will be able to improve individual, team, and business performances. In addition to this, keeping productivity levels high will create a positive, hardworking culture that every company will benefit from. There are a number of effective strategies to try to increase employee productivity levels – this article will outline a few of the best strategies.

Determine Problem Areas

The best place to start is with the problem areas and the reasons why productivity levels fall. Sometimes, these reasons might be obvious, such as a workload that is too high, but you will also need to communicate with staff and encourage them to come forward with the problems that they are having in their roles. Addressing these issues can unlock productivity, make work easier for your team and take the entire business forward.

Involve Staff In Decision Making

Leading on from this, it is also worthwhile involving staff in the decision-making process. This is because employees bring different viewpoints to the table and often have the best ideas for improving processes because they are the ones carrying out the tasks each day. Not only this but involving staff in decision-making is smart because it will help them to feel valued and lift morale – this is key for maintaining high levels of productivity.

Give Positive Feedback

As a manager, you should be giving regular and genuine positive feedback to your staff and not waiting for performance reviews to do this. Even a “good job” or “thanks for your hard work” can make a huge difference to morale while also helping to create a stronger bond between staff and management. Positive feedback will make staff feel seen and valued and help them to know that they are on the right track. Giving construction criticism is also important and helpful for addressing small issues before they become big problems – just be sure to give construction criticism with tact and always do it in private.

Get To Know Your Staff

Managers should also take the time to get to know their staff on an individual level. This allows you to build positive relationships, which are key for morale and performance, but also so that you can determine the best ways to get the most out of them. Everyone is different, and a good manager will know how to motivate each individual team member as well as know what their strengths and weaknesses are so that you can match the task to skill.

Use Staff Training

Following on from this, you should also use staff training as a way to improve the capabilities of each individual staff member. You should learn the career goals for each team member and then help them achieve this within your business, which you can do through staff training and role variation. Additionally, if staff have areas that are holding them back, then you should offer staff training so that they can turn these areas into strengths.

Offer Career Development

You should also offer the chance for people to progress with their careers within your business. Most people are ambitious and have plans to climb the ladder and earn more money, so it is important that they are able to do this within your business. This will encourage them to knuckle down, work hard and develop so that they will be able to rise through the ranks. This is a win-win situation because employees get to advance their careers, it will help to boost productivity, and you are able to promote from within.

Outsource HR

Many businesses find that outsourcing HR is an effective way to increase employee productivity. When you use HR services for small businesses, it will free up time and energy to focus their energy on key aspects of their role. In addition to this, it also means that they will be working for a business that is well-run and they will be well looked after. A business that has an HR department being handled by experts will have a workforce that feels supported, and issues that could impact productivity will be handled swiftly.

Use Goals & Incentives

Using goals and incentives is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to productivity and motivation. You should set individual team members and departments short, medium, and long-term goals. These should be goals that are challenging yet achievable so that you can celebrate when these goals are achieved and to create positive momentum, which is so important when it comes to maintaining high levels of productivity.

Create A Positive Workplace Atmosphere

Finally, it is important to create a positive workplace atmosphere, and this all comes from the top. Management can create a positive workplace atmosphere with a comfortable, practical, and open-plan office space, encouraging conversations amongst staff and with collaborative projects. Additionally, team building and social events can help to create the right kind of atmosphere. When you are able to cultivate a positive workplace atmosphere, it means that people will come into work feeling positive each day and enjoy working alongside their colleagues. This will always be helpful in terms of boosting productivity as well as making work more enjoyable for everyone at the organization.

These are a few of the best and most effective strategies to try if you want to improve employee productivity in your business. In order for a business to succeed over the long term, you need to keep your staff productivity levels high, but this is not always easy. Productivity levels tend to rise and fall, so as a manager, you want to know how to keep levels high for as long as possible and how to manage any dips that occur.

Advice For Manufacturing Leaders To Improve Performance

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Improve Performance|Advice For Manufacturing Leaders To Improve PerformanceAs a manufacturing business leader, it is vital that you know how to manage your team to improve business performance. This is an industry quite unlike any other, which is why some manufacturing leaders struggle to get the most out of their team and hit their targets. In this line of work, you need to know how to manage bottlenecks, keep staff motivated and ensure that the daily operation is running as smoothly as possible. With this in mind, this post will outline a few pieces of advice that should help you to become a better manufacturing leader and hopefully help you to take your business to new heights.

Analyze Each Process

First, you should sit down with team members to discuss each process in the daily operation. You should discuss if there are any issues or bottlenecks that are occurring and find ways to overcome these issues. Even a small change to a seemingly small process can make a big difference to the overall efficiency of the operation. Be sure to ask staff for their feedback and ideas – often, they have the best solutions as they are the ones carrying out the work each day. You will also find that this is helpful in terms of making your staff feel valued.

Use Ongoing Staff Training

You should also be providing ongoing staff training so that your team are continuously improving and able to excel in their role. Staff training will help to improve individual performances, which collectively will take the business to new heights. Additionally, learn what the career goals are of each of your team members and then find ways to help them achieve this under your wing. This should help to keep your team happy and motivated, which will be key for high-performance levels and retaining your top performers.

Prioritize Health & Safety

Manufacturing can be a hazardous industry, and it is vital that you provide a safe work environment for your team. This is so that you can prevent any accidents or injuries from occurring, but also so that your team can feel safe in their job. There are a few ways to prioritize health and safety, including:

  • Risk assessment
  • Removing/mitigating hazards
  • Health and safety training
  • First-aid training
  • PPE
  • Signage

Keep Morale High

One of the toughest aspects of leadership is keeping morale high within your team. Morale levels will naturally rise and fall, but you need to know how to manage each team member as what works well for one person may not work for another. A few of the best ways that you can keep morale high include:

  • Positive feedback
  • Career development
  • Flexible working
  • Team building and social events
  • Relaxed workplace atmosphere

Use Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Often, manufacturing leaders do not know if they are finding success and making money until the profit and loss statement is delivered by which point it is too late. As a leader, it is much more useful if you can gauge performance in real-time to see if you are on track and if there are any changes that need to happen. This is possible with the use of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), which is a tool that shows real-time data relating to manufacturing profitability. This data includes if your assets are available and running properly, if you are hitting production targets and if quality standards are being met. OOE from specialists like https://www.hertzler.com/overall-equipment-effectiveness/ ensures that you are always on track and will help to improve financial performance.

Automate As Much As You Can

Automation is a word that can cause some anxiety, especially in manufacturing. Automation does not have to lead to job losses, though, as automation and staff can co-exist on the workflow, and this is particularly evident in manufacturing with the rise of cobots. You should look to automate as much of the daily operation as you can, as this will speed processes up and reduce errors. In addition to this, you will find that automation will free up time and mental energy for your team to focus on the more important aspects of their job while lightening their load.

If you are a manufacturing leader that is looking to improve performance, then these are a few of the key areas to focus on. It can be tough as a manufacturing leader, and it is not always clear how you can improve performance and be a good leader, but these areas should help you to boost the business and be the best leader possible for your team.

Internet-Free Marketing Methods To Help Spread The Word About Your Brand

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Internet-free marketing|Internet-Free Marketing Methods To Help Spread The Word About Your BrandA quick search into the world of modern marketing will likely present you with a whole host of different web-based options to help you advertise your brand, but your methods should not be exclusively internet focused if you want to reach a wide and varied audience. Advertising online allows you to reach out to a fairly limited audience of teenagers and young adults, as potential customers at retirement age or older may not even have ready access to the internet inside their home! So, it’s never been more important for you to spread your efforts across the board, utilizing internet-free advertising techniques that can boost your business like never before. If you’re interested in learning more about the best traditional marketing methods, then read on.

Leafleting

One of the most effective options that you can pursue to advertise your brand without the need for the internet is leafleting. Leafleting can be an excellent way to spread the word about your business in a specific area, so this is ideal for local brands that need loyal customers from nearby to sustain them. You can use a professional commercial printing service to create an eye-catching and informative leaflet that describes your business’s ethos as well as your unique selling points. It’s a good idea to include an encouraging feature that inspires them to visit your business after reading their leaflet, such as a discount voucher that they can cut out and use in-store.

Television Advertising

Another brilliant option that you should consider if you want to market your brand successfully without the web is television advertising. Millions of people watch television nationwide every single day, and you could utilize this opportunity to plug your products and services to the masses! A television ad can be as short as 10-15 seconds, so you need to be able to pack as much into this limited period as you can. Creating and using a catchy jingle (a snappy commercial tune or 1-2 line song) will be of real benefit, as it can help your television advert stick in the viewer’s mind and encourage them to remember and recognize your ad and brand respectively.

Billboards

Last but by no means least, billboards are another great way to market your brand without the need for a WiFi connection. When placed in the right locations, billboards can be some of the most effective methods of promoting your business in your chosen area. Good locations include roadsides that often experience heavy traffic, slow speed limit roads and city center buildings. Your billboards will be seen by the masses if you choose places that attract lots of people, so it’s always an effective pathway to explore.

It’s never been easier to spread the word about your brand, products and services without the need for the internet when you can utilize some of the brilliant ideas that have been carefully described above. There’s truly no time like the present to get started, so what are you waiting for?