The Thriving Small Business

tips for small business

6 Ways to Show Employee Gratitude This Thanksgiving!

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I don’t know about you, but this time of year really energizes me.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to enjoy great food but also to be thankful for family, friends, and even employees!

Employees go to work with the intention of doing a good job.  

Oftentimes that is hindered by the way employees are managed. Read the Full Article →

Do Your Employees Know How To Answer The Phone?

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At the risk of dating myself, I have to say things have changed.

Back in the day, we were taught the importance of answering the office phone with the customer in mind.

We were held to very high standards for meeting those expectations because of the direct effect a phone call can have on how well a customer’s needs are met. Read the Full Article →

How To Handle And Get Rid Of Bad Online Reviews

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Business owners have the misconception that if you don’t have a robust online presence that internet reviews don’t matter.

Well, think again. A new study shows that 67% of consumers make decisions based on online reviews.

If you think about it, this is probably true for you also. It is for me. Read the Full Article →

10 Primary Functions Of Managing A Small Business

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Most entrepreneurs go into business because of a specific passion, product idea, or marketable skill set, but most entrepreneurs don’t know how to start a small business.

There is a lot of excitement that goes with starting a new business.  The dreams are big, the passion is real, and there is a drive to succeed. Read the Full Article →

Does Your Organization Evaluate Managers?

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Conducting an annual evaluation of employees is an important part of managing performance and how work gets done.   

Employees need to be coached, mentored and managed in an effort to help them achieve work goals and desired results.

However, it is also important to evaluate the people who manage and supervise employees. Read the Full Article →

4 Tips To Keep You Focused On Your Goals

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I don’t know about you, but I am in a constant battle between trying to get the day-to-day tasks accomplished and working on my annual goals!

Anyone who manages a business understands the unique challenges that come with keeping the vision, strategy, and business goals moving forward.

Our day-to-day issues associated with managing people, processes, facilities, equipment, etc. Read the Full Article →

Emotional Intelligence – Do You Possess These Important Competencies?

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We have been programmed since we were little children to care about our Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Because we know that people with high IQs are typically smart – and consequently very successful.

However, we now know that business leaders with strong Emotional Intelligence (EQ) competency also have an advantage in the workplace. Read the Full Article →

8 Components Of An Effective Internship Program

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If your organization does not have an internship program, you might be missing out on some great talent for a low cost.

It is estimated that 20-25% of newly hired employees come from internship programs.

Organizations use internship programs as part of a recruitment strategy that is aimed at achieving business objectives. Read the Full Article →

10 Tips For Soliciting Customer Feedback

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Customer satisfaction is paramount to the success of any business.

For this success, a business must understand who its customers are, what they want, and have systems and processes in place to, not only meet, but exceed their expectations. 

This simple, yet difficult objective is what sets the successful businesses apart from the rest. Read the Full Article →