Are you finding that your team’s productivity levels are low lately? You may be in a rut when deadlines are constantly being pushed and submitted products aren’t up to quality standards.  Low productivity on your staff could lead to negative impacts that could cause your business to gain a negative reputation. It’s helpful to boost your team’s work efficiency not only for your client relationships but also to improve your staff turnover and team morale.  To improve your staff’s productivity levels so they can help move your business forward, consider these useful strategies: Offer Effective Training When onboarding, offer detailed manuals or instructions so...

Do you feel you can’t catch a break when it comes to hiring?  You may be left questioning why staff can’t seem to commit to working for your business over extended times. While it’s often a personal experience when people are hired and need to determine if the job is really suited for them, consistent turnover may indicate some flaws in your onboarding process or workplace environment.  To learn how you can reduce staff turnover so you can have a consistent, strong team with the talent and skills you need, try these tips: Start at the Recruiting Process When you post a job opening...

Due to the pandemic conditions, tensions are high, and it seems like a while until everyone can take a full sigh of relief.  For your staff, this pandemic can take a toll on their mental health as they adjust to new systems and wait for the waves to subside. Their anxieties may be multiplied since this is also regular cold and flu season. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your team’s spirits up and help them find some serenity in the middle of COVID and flu season. Communication Your staff will feel more valued if you are transparent with them as you endure...

Your portfolio is your ticket to securing that new job. With samples of your past work, your future employers can see the proof behind what your resume and cover letters say. Your portfolio demonstrates past achievements in your field. Nowadays, everything is online, including portfolios. Rather than printed documents in a folder, your online portfolio is a web address.  Here are some tips to help you create a robust and unique portfolio that will catch the eyes of hiring managers. Helpful in Any Industry An online portfolio is your website where you can introduce yourself and share past samples of work that you’d bring...

If you are passionate about landing a new job, certain habits and behaviors will help you stand out from other job candidates. These habits are valued by employers and will make you a strong asset to any team. They also help you maintain focus, can increase creativity, and improve productivity and performance.  While there are a plethora of habits you can develop to increase your success, here are five workplace-centered options to help you land your dream job. 1. Time Management How you manage your time is critical in the workplace. Poor time management skills will affect your performance levels, cause you to...

Job burnout can happen to anyone and at any time. It is a type of job-related stress that makes you physically and mentally exhausted. It reduces your motivation and makes it challenging to give 100% to each of your job-related tasks.  When you begin to feel burned out, what should you do? What steps can prevent you from making decisions that you may later regret? Here are five ideas. 1. Determine What is Causing You to Feel Job Burnout Feeling burned out can happen for a number of reasons. A few common causes include:  Unclear or too high of job expectations from management...

The workplace can quickly become a stressful and tense environment. Certain situations, projects, and tasks can cause you to easily lose your cool or build unnecessary tension between employees. As a supervisor or leader, what can you do to address this conflict? How can you preserve relationships and ensure that contention is handled professionally?  Fortunately, you don’t have to be a professional mediator to handle these difficult situations. Here are several steps to help you address contention in the workplace.  Address the Conflict Right Away Do not try to avoid the situation. This will only let the conflict, tension, and negative feelings continue...

There may be times in your career where you are asked to do something you don’t have the time to complete, you don’t know how to do, or you may not feel comfortable working on it. Rather than agree, it may be in your best interest to decline and politely say no.  However, saying no at work can be difficult, especially when you say this two-letter word to your boss or another executive. So, how can you say no at work, guilt-free — without it affecting your career? Explain Why Rather than saying no and ending the conversation, explain to your manager why...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that during the 2019 to 2020 United States flu season, there were 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses. There were also 410,000 to 740,000 individuals hospitalized due to the illness. Unfortunately, close contact with individuals outside of your home — such as in the workplace — is a major spreader of the flu. Luckily, there are many things you can do to stay safe and to keep your body healthy.  Here are five wellness tips to keep you healthy at work during flu season. 1. Wash Your Hands Often One of the best things...

Depression costs businesses in the United States more than $44 billion each year. Poor mental health can affect your employees’ engagement levels, productivity, team-building, performance, and so much more. While a great salary is a perk that many employees search for, if you truly want to attract and retain talent, offering mental health benefits is key. This will not only benefit all of your employees but the entire company as well.  There are a variety of mental health benefits your company may consider offering its employees.  A few of these benefits include: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based...