Articles — The Thriving Small Business

Why are Firing Decisions so Difficult?

July 25, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

We all make countless decisions every day. Some decisions can be made quickly and with ease, however others are difficult to make – particularly when it comes to firing employees.

Often, the mere difficulty of the decision can sometimes prolong the inevitable.

We often procrastinate because making decisions about employees can be very uncomfortable. Read the Full Article →

7 Steps to Ensure Your Employees Don’t Have A #MeToo Story

July 18, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

This last year we have been inundated with allegations of inappropriate behavior at work.

Sadly, since April 2017, 219 celebrities, CEOs and politicians have been accused of sexual misconduct.

You read some of this stuff and you are amazed at what allegidly is going on.

A new reports claims that a shocking 38 percent of women said they experienced sexual harassment at the workplace. Read the Full Article →

Ask These 10 Questions To Determine If Your Organization is Guilty of Age Discrimination

July 11, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

With the boomers coming of age there is a shift in the work place. Many boomers are working longer to pad their retirement savings – assuming they can remain in the work force.

Unfortunately, many boomers who make late career job changes encounter the barrier of age discrimination.

The Social Security Act was signed into law in 1935. Read the Full Article →

10 Steps to Help Employees Get More Done

July 5, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

I’m convinced that most employees go to work with the intention of doing a good job.

However, there are times when we simply get in their way of doing just that.

The approach to overseeing employees should be strategic in how the day-to-day tasks are managed in order to support the long term plan or goals for the organization. Read the Full Article →

4 Keys to a Great Customer Service Experience

June 27, 2018 by Patricia Lotich 1 Comment

Successful organizations understand that consumers pay the bills and great customer service is the key to business success.

According to a Zendesk Customer Service Survey, 81% of customers reported that they shared a bad service experience with family and friends and 59% of consumers who had a bad service experience stopped buying from that company. Read the Full Article →

6 Reasons Change Initiatives Fail

June 19, 2018 by Patricia Lotich 2 Comments

The economy is booming, unemployment is low yet businesses need to stay competitive by constantly improving internal processes.

This means organizations need to look at their business practices and consistently evaluate how they do what they do.

Organizations that incorporate change into their day-to-day operations are more likely to be successful than organizations that merely “react” to problems. Read the Full Article →

8 Points To Include In Your Social Media Policy

June 13, 2018 by Patricia Lotich 1 Comment

As employers we strive to create work environments that inspire, encourage and motivate employees – because we know that is how to maximize employee productivity.

We also understand that we will sometimes fall short and there will be that occasional disgruntled employee who makes a sport of spreading negativity about the organization. Read the Full Article →

Advantages and Disadvantages of Performance Appraisals

June 6, 2018 by Patricia Lotich 13 Comments

Employees, as well as managers, often question why organizations do employee performance appraisals.

Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a performance appraisal could argue why they perceive it to be ineffective and a complete waste of time.

Employees often feel unjustly assessed and managers often go through a forced annual process to comply with job expectations. Read the Full Article →

6 Tips For Finding Talent With Low Unemployment Rates

May 23, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

The unemployment rate edged down to 3.9% in April, making it the lowest we have seen in years.

This is good news for the millions of people who fought to regain employment after the economic downturn ten years ago but bad news for employers.

Most businesses are now struggling to find qualified job candidates who posses the skills and training for open positions and are dealing with the reality of too many open jobs with not enough qualified workers. Read the Full Article →

3 Tips to Improve Workforce Productivity

May 16, 2018 by Patricia Lotich Leave a Comment

Running a successful business can be fulfilling, rewarding – yet exhausting.

You’re chasing sales goals, trying to keep clients happy and always keeping your eye on the bottom line.

If one person slacks in doing his or her job it can implicate profit, infuriate your customers or limit business growth.

So how do you ensure productivity is always at its peak? Read the Full Article →