The Thriving Small Business

tips for small business

Emotional Intelligence – Do You Possess These Important Competencies?

by

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

by

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

by

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 →

How Well Does Your Organization Evaluate Its Training?

by

For those of us who have been around for more than a minute, understand how technology has infiltrated the work environment.

Gone are the days of filling out a (manual) timecard, typing a memo or filling out a paper expense report. Technologies are used for all of these tasks that once required a pen, paper, and typewriter. Read the Full Article →

7 Advantages of Hiring Freelancers

by

The unemployment rate is at historic lows which is great news for the economy – but not such great news for small business owners who need help.

Low unemployment creates hiring challenges for all organizations, but particularly for small businesses. 

Lots of small businesses (mine included) now use temporary employees to help bridge the gap. Read the Full Article →

6 Ways to Boost Morale at Work

by

Businesses can’t run effectively if their employees aren’t motivated to work.

Employees who are unhappy and have low morale have decreased job performance and satisfaction, which can negatively affect your company.

Conversely, employees who are enthusiastic and excited to show up to work every day can greatly impact how your company performs, in a positive way. Read the Full Article →

11 Tips For Successful Change Initiatives

by

Why is change so hard? Particularly if we know that most of the time a significant change improves things. Right?

Well, not always, but if done the right way, change can bring about significant improvements!

Organizations reorganize internal structures and processes for a few reasons.

A change might be: to better align the organization with changing conditions, new business demands, or perhaps because of a crisis that impacts the organization. Read the Full Article →

Example Customer Service Standards

by

Most know that successful organizations have great customer service.

And we all know that it is our employees who take care of those consumers who pay the bills.

I find it interesting when I intereact with an organizqtion and employees are curt, uninformed or simply rude.

I seem to scratch my head and think, “how can you possibly have a profitable business with employees who chase customers away?”

Every organization should have a basic expectation for employees to provide good customer service. Read the Full Article →

Vendor Selection Criteria – 8 Things to Consider

by

Successful organizations understand the importance of investing in the business. However, taking that step to spend money isn’t always an easy decision.

As a result, you have held off on making that vital business investment long enough. It’s now time to upgrade your phone system, redesign your website, or replace the carpet in your office. Read the Full Article →

7 Steps to Writing a Vision, Mission and Values Statement

by

I was recently asked why a business needs a mission, vision, and values statement.

My response was that a vision, mission, and values statement is a tool to help an organization accomplish what it has set out to do and helps provide a framework for strategy, focus and decision making.

A Vision statement describes the ideal future state of the organization. Read the Full Article →