Month: May 2020

During this time of uncertainty, your home is your sanctuary – and it may also be where you run your business. Whether you’re at home or your office, what steps can you take to create a more peaceful, stress-free environment?

1. Create a space to relax. We’re not talking about an employee lounge, but a calm area where you or your employees can go to decompress. Play soft music, add a comfy chair or sofa and keep the lights dim. If you’re working from home, your dedicated “relaxation” room can be your bedroom or a spare room where you can go to get away from your chaotic day.
2. Keep your office space organized. How do you feel when you look at your desk? Are there piles of paper, or do you have everything filed? There is nothing more stress-inducing than clutter. Go through your stacks of documents – file what you need and throw out the rest. Use only the supplies you need each day (pens, pencils, paper and more) and then store the rest in a drawer or cabinet that’s easy to access.
3. Add a personal touch. You spend a large amount of your day working, so consider adding personal touches to soften up to your workplace. Maybe it’s as simple as placing a family photo on your desk or mounting inspiring artwork on the wall. These little touches will make you feel more comfortable and help you to stay focused.
4. Enhance your space with greenery. Think about how you feel when you take a walk in the park. You probably return to wherever you started in a better mood. So why not bring the outside into your office? Add plants or flowers to your office space and see how they can help add energy and bring peace to your workday.
5. Add some color. Something as easy as changing the wall color in your workspace can give you more energy and a happier outlook each day. Choose neutral tones for a calming effect and earth tones to promote warmth or help you feel more grounded. And you don’t need to paint your entire office – just start with an accent wall and see how you feel.
6. Lighten up your space. If you can avoid using fluorescent lighting, do it. If possible, open up the windows and let in the sunshine. Change out your light bulbs to provide more ambient lighting. These subtle changes will do wonders for your mood.
7. Keep a schedule. Whether you’re working from home or at your office, you need to stick to a daily plan the best you can. That way, you can organize your tasks based on your priorities for the day (and the week). You’ll also understand your limitations to help you determine what you can and cannot do each day.

Everyone needs a little more tranquility in life these days. By following these tips, you can take back your professional life and work environment. You’ll find more peace, experience less stress and be motivated to complete the things you need to do each day.

 

 

Everybody’s social. Whether it’s your grandma or the biggest celebrity, social media connects us all. So, when it comes to marketing, social media is a must-have. But how do you make your business voice stand out?

Figuring out your promos may take time. The good news is figuring out what not to do is a little easier.

Don’t be inconsistent.
Staying consistent with voice, style and, of course, handles, across all platforms is a big step in the right direction. No matter where you’re posting, give your followers a streamlined style.,

Don’t waste time on what doesn’t work.
Research your target audience. Where do they hang out? If they spend most of their time on Facebook, don’t invest in a heavy Twitter presence. Go where they are, and speak their language.

Don’t get too fancy.
Social media is really all about connecting customers with your product. It’s easy to make it too complicated or commercial. Social media works best when companies keep it simple and listen to customers when it comes to creating content.

More and more Americans are managing their businesses remotely – whether from home or while traveling. And more recently, it’s been the way many companies have stayed relevant during mandated stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders.

If you’ve just started managing your business remotely, or you’re ready to take the plunge on a more consistent basis, consider these five critical tips for ultimate success.

Tip #1: Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Communication is an essential element of managing your business remotely – and you can never do too much of it. The more you communicate with your employees and customers, the more successful you’ll be. Set up a communication platform all employees can use, such as Zoom or Skype for video calls, or Trello or Microsoft Teams for project management. Be consistent using these platforms and provide training to employees who may need a little extra assistance.

But having the right communication tools available is just the first step. If you have employees, you need to keep the lines of communication open. Encourage questions and provide answers where you can. Talk often by having regular staff meetings and one-on-one sessions with those you manage.

If you don’t have employees, stay connected with regular status update meetings with your clients – or you can set up a project management tool to help your clients see progress, ask questions and chat with you. Whatever works best for you and your clients is what you should implement – but you need to do something to encourage regular and consistent dialog.

Tip #2: Create a comfortable work environment.

Are you working at your kitchen table, or do you have a dedicated space for a home office? Do you prefer to work at the local café where things are a little livelier?  Whatever you decide, it needs to be a place where you can focus and limit distractions during your workday. Consider some of the following as you find just the right location:

• How good is the Wi-Fi?
• Are there distractions (including snacks and food)?
• Is the location private, where you can discuss personal matters with clients or employees?
• How noisy is your intended office area?
• You may have to experiment a little to see what works best for you. If you do encounter distractions while working, switch things up – maybe hide your snacks or shut the office door for a while.

Tip #3: Stick to a schedule.

One of the most significant benefits of working remotely is the ability to create your own hours – and you don’t have to commute. However, you must create and maintain a schedule every day. Use time management tools to help you prioritize, and build in breaks and exercise to your daily plan. When you consistently work during certain hours, employees and clients will start to learn when you’re available, which will help you balance your home and work life.

Additionally, set clear expectations every day, with fixed deadlines for tasks. Follow up regularly with your team to create accountability. That way, you’re motivating yourself to stay focused on your priorities as well as others.

Tip #4: Have a reliable back-up plan.

Things are going to happen when you’re working from home. For example, what will you do if the power goes out? Because a reliable internet connection is essential to working remotely, figure out how you’ll adjust now so you’re prepared for the unexpected. Maybe you can work at your local public library or a coffee shop near your home. You should also invest in a Wi-Fi hotspot to use wherever you may roam – this can be a particularly great option when you’re on the road.

Tip #5: Maintain a strong online and mobile presence.

No matter the type of business you run remotely, you need a robust online presence, so potential customers know who you are and what your company can do for them. Keep your website updated and relevant and be an active social media user. Share your latest promotions via email, or build business through webinars. And most importantly, don’t stop working on leads because you’re working remotely. If you can’t meet face-to-face with a potential client, set up a Zoom call to walk him or her through your product offerings. With so many online and mobile tools, you may be able to do more in your day because you’re now taking away the travel time.

Following these tips will help you successfully manage your business remotely. But, as with most things in life, experience is the best teacher. The more you practice, the better off you’ll be. Remember, you don’t have to plan every single step ahead of time – just set up some guidelines and get to work.