POSTS TAGGED : management

Shifting Methods: 4 Ways to Take the Stress Out of Shift Planning

A well-staffed shift does not happen by coincidence, it’s engineered through smart shifting methods and efficient planning. Shift planning should be something that adds value to the function of your business, rather than slowing it down. If shift planning is taking you or your management away from crucial work and opportunities for improvement, here are some tried and tested shifting methods that will ensure productive days and reduced administration requirements.

Two managers planning work schedule

1. Retire the paper pushing

The familiar paper timesheet and roster have faded away in recent years, and what a miracle that is. These paper solutions have made way for more reliable shift planning tools.…

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5 Top Service Provider Tricks for Optimizing Workforces in the Field

Running a service company is about staying focused. Each job has limited money-making potential, so it’s vital to do them all as efficiently as possible. These five tips make it easier to sustain profitability starting with the workforce in the field.

Tips to maximise a service-based workforce

1. Get Smarter About Metric Tracking

Maintaining a cost-effective workforce in the field can be difficult. Some business leaders baulk when asked to make tough cash flow decisions about which projects are important, while others do this by instinct. For instance, experienced managers might have a “gut feel” for what’s a good use of company time but the data may show otherwise.…

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The 3-Dimensional Roles of Exceptional CEOs

Being a successful small business owner is about delivering results consistently through your products/services to those you serve. It demands a high level of coordination and execution of several key activities.

Exceptional CEO

These activities cannot be handled successfully by only one person over a long period of time without creating an operational structure/system. Being small is no excuse for wanting to be a one-man army. Someday soon, you will no longer be able to do all the things you so easily do now as a result of age, so what will become of your business then?

By then, you’ll suddenly realize that all your I-can-do-it-all-by-myself attitude as a self-employed entrepreneur is counterproductive.…

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Delegation Skills – The Difference Between a Good Manager and a Great One

Of all the skills you’ll use as a manager, delegation is one of the most valuable. It’s also one of the most underused and underdeveloped management skills. Just 30 percent of managers claim to be able to delegate effectively – and of those 30 percent, only one-third have earned the praise of their subordinates regarding their delegation skills.

Delegating works

A Bachelor of Arts in Management can help you get your foot in the door career-wise, but if you aspire to be a truly great manager, polish your delegation skills while you study for your degree. Strong delegation skills help you make the most of your team’s resources.…

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How To Start Succession Planning

You’ve invested so much in building your business – time, money, effort and talent. Whatever type of transition you’re considering – whether it’s retirement, selling to a third party or handing the business down to a family member – succession planning is an important piece of the puzzle that can set your business up for success – or failure – in the future.

The first step is looking at your business and – based on your objectives – determining that you need to start succession planning. There’s a lot of elements to think about – your personal goals, the status of the business and how children or other family members will come into play, to name a few.…

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5 Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy

5 Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy

True and successful team management involves more than just the time and effort you invest once you step into your office or workplace. Naturally, you need to keep your employees as happy and comfortable as possible. Most employees would rather choose a great work environment with high employee morale than a bigger paycheck. Let’s take a look at some ways you can do that.

Allow Them Free Will

Don’t give employees the illusion that their work and decisions are linear. Offer them a chance to influence a decision or two. A good example would be to provide an opportunity for them to choose their incentives and rewards for a job well done.…

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The Mantra You Should Abide By To Make The Most Of Your CRM System

There are certain aspects of business that we all agree on and must abide by. There are the formal, law-abiding practices we must all follow strictly to ensure we keep our noses clean and avoid run-ins with the taxman.

And then there are the more tried and tested routes to market such as creating and maintaining a USP, differentiating yourself in the industry and ensuring your employees are kept satisfied in a productive and motivating environment.

The Mantra You Should Abide By To Make The Most Of Your CRM System

Present day priorities such as creating a loyal customer base via social media and getting your website to rank no.1 on Google came later – when people had new visions on how to promote themselves.…

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Some Digital Signage Solutions That Can Streamline Company Communications

“I didn’t get the memo.” This is one statement that you often hear from employees – a possible excuse for not dressing up in formal corporate attire on a supposedly casual dress day, or not being able to attend a meeting, or not preparing a report or document that needs to be submitted ASAP.

In traditional company practices, memos are either tacked onto corkboards on one corner of the room or slipped into each employee’s desk – two tactics which, quite honestly, does not guarantee that every individual will be able to receive an important message or pass on an urgent announcement.…

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8 Tips For Establishing The Most Productive Office Environment

8 Tips For Establishing The Most Productive Office Environment

The environment we work in has a considerable impact on both our level of wellbeing and our productivity. The design and layout of our office or, workspace, can have an effect on our work productivity, frame of mind, mood, interaction with our colleagues, and even has an influence on how much time we spend distracted from our work.

With the above in mind here are 8 practical tips to follow to establish a productive office environment;

Go Open Plan

Many businesses will use individual offices or cubicles for their employees to work from. Historically the thinking was that each employee needed their own private area to work from.…

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Getting More Finance Administration Tasks Done in Less Time

If your small or medium-sized business has only one finance manager or at least a smaller group of finance managers, chances are, handling every record of your company’s day-to-day expenses (on top of all their other duties) might get overwhelming from time to time, especially during earnings reports season.

Getting More Finance Administration Tasks Done in Less Time

Human error is frowned upon, but especially when it comes to handling company finances. So how can you best deliver in a fast-paced, demanding environment without overburdening your employees?

Here’s a rundown on how a cloud-based finance administration software can actually be of help to these common tasks:

  • Managing your accounts payables

Relationships with suppliers and vendors should, like customer relations, be a priority.…

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