The Thriving Small Business

tips for small business

Ask These 5 Questions To Improve Employee Performance

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There is a secret that can help improve employee performance. Sometimes you simply need to ask some questions.

When I was young I measured the workday by biding my time until lunch, enjoying my lunch, and then biding my time until I could clock out and go home.

Mornings drug on but afternoons were even worse. Interestingly Read the Full Article →

Advantages and Disadvantages of Performance Appraisals

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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 Reasons To Encourage Employees to Take A Vacation

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Spring has sprung and vacation season is just around the corner.

From the time we are small children we are programmed to look forward to summer vacation.  And for most of us, we carry that into adulthood.

I’m always a little sad when I see an employee who never takes a vacation. Read the Full Article →

6 Tips For Dealing With Anger in the Workplace

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Have you ever been in a meeting when an employee just “lost” it and either went on a tirade or got up and slammed out of the room?

If you ever have encountered an employee who has a burst of anger at work, you understand the impact of those behaviors and the ripple effect it has on the entire organization. Read the Full Article →

4 Steps to Successful Termination Through Progressive Discipline

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Anyone who manages people hopes that employees follow policy, accomplish goals, and get along with co-workers.

Unfortunately, there are times when that does not happen and managers are forced to correct and discipline employees.

This is one of the least favorite responsibilities of a manager – but a necessary part of managing employee performance. Read the Full Article →

25 Interview Questions To Ask A Job Candidate

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Anyone who has ever interviewed a job candidate understands that it can be a daunting task.

Knowing the right questions to ask is critical to identifying the right fit for your organization.

Interviewing is a skill that is developed with practice, and being prepared for the interview is an essential first step. Read the Full Article →

5 Steps To Help You Prepare to Interview a Job Candidate

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Hiring a new employee can be an exciting yet stressful time for a small business owner.

The reason being – no one wants to make the costly mistake of hiring the wrong person.

There are many steps to the hiring process – articulating the need, creating a job description, budgeting for salary, advertising, and reviewing applications to select a handful of candidates to interview. Read the Full Article →

7 Steps Your Small Business Should Take Before Hiring That New Employee

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When a small business is formed, it is often difficult to imagine the time when there is a need to hire employees.

When that day comes, it is essential to understand what needs to be done to hire a new employee.

There are several steps that need to be considered before entering into an employment arrangement. Read the Full Article →

5 Benefits of Training Employees

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Employee training is something that many organizations struggle with.

There are issues with adequate resources for curriculum development, facilitating the training, and the downtime associated with pulling employees out of their job for a period of time to learn new skills.

I worked for a large nonprofit who communicated to employees that they “could not guarantee employment, but could guarantee employability”. Read the Full Article →

Sample New Employee Orientation Checklist

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When employees are new to a job, the organization should do everything it can to make the employee’s transition as smooth as possible. A new employee orientation checklist can help!

Starting a job means that there are many new things to learn, many people to get to know, and lots of new information that needs to be absorbed in a very short period of time. Read the Full Article →

6 Things Managers Can Do to Encourage Work-Life Balance

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

However, the challenges of life can take its toll on even the best employees.

Life happens and it simply takes a lot to juggle the responsibilities of home, family, and a job.  And quite frankly some people are better at keeping the balls in the air than others. Read the Full Article →