leadership

RUNNING A BUSINESS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:00:50 +0100

Running a Business

Software That Helps Your Business Grow

4 Fundamentals for Project Plans

There is little doubt that things get done more quickly and efficiently when you work from a written project plan.

Does Your Business Need an Import License?

An import license is a formal document allowing a person or group to bring in goods from outside its own…

6 Building Blocks for a Better Business

Creating a successful business that will thrive requires planning, analysis and upkeep.

Keep Your Finances Under Control

What’s your business doing to ensure internal financial control?

How Building a Top Team Benefits Business

Continued pursuit of excellence at the employee level supports healthy business operation. Are you doing enough to train top employees?

Job Bid: Break Down Contract Costs for Clients

Bids need to be concise and answer all the questions necessary for businesses to make an assessment.

MANAGING EMPLOYEES

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:54:57 +0100

Managing Employees

Help Employees Conquer Core Competencies

Filling an Open Position

Recruitment, assessment and selection are the three key steps for hiring employees. Of these, recruitment and selection are typically the…

Managers: Do Your Job Better

Leadership skills enable you to manage your employees and run your company confidently and effectively, while also being humble enough…

3 Tips to a Successful Interview

It’s easy to screen out applicants ill-suited for a position, but what’s the best way find candidates worth interviewing?

Employee Mentoring

Managers committed to the success of their team take the time to frequently coach and mentor employees.

5 Leadership Practices That Make a Difference

Proven leadership practices that will grow your business: Why haven’t you adopted them?

5 Ways to Increase Morale at Work

You’ve overestimated your employees’ job satisfaction. It’s time to do something about it.

STARTING A BUSINESS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:45:43 +0100

Starting a Business

It's Legit: Online Startups That Make Money

Do You Know Your Profit Margin?

If you're running a small business, you need to know how much you are earning versus how much your business…

Tax Break: Deduct Your Home Office

If you work at home, either full or part-time, chances are you can claim a home office deduction on your…

Want Funding? Draft a Business Plan

Small business opportunities are attractive at times. However, you must be careful to always look before you jump into an…

5 Factors a Company Needs to Compete

Scrimping on opportunities for training and professional development could be costing you more than you realize.

Close the Deal & Craft the Contract

The deal’s not sealed until you have a signed, written contract.

Find Funding for Your Startup: 4 Tips

Here are some tips to help you get funding for a business startup!

BE YOUR OWN BOSS! TIPS FOR STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:35:17 +0100

Be Your Own Boss! Tips for Starting a Small Business.

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By TORY JOHNSON
Workplace Contributor

Jan. 3, 2011

If we learned one thing from the job market last year it's that nobody's coming to take care of our careers. We can't wait for a big bailout, a massive economic turnaround or some miracle to grow our paychecks. We're each responsible for taking charge and making things happen for ourselves.

Among the workplace highlights of 2010: small businesses experienced the fastest growth in the private sector.

One of my big goals this year is to help more people launch and grow their own ventures. In fact, I'm so passionate about this that after investing more than 11 years focused almost exclusively on helping people get hired through Women For Hire, I've recently expanded my company by starting a whole new division called Spark & Hustle to guide even more people to entrepreneurial success.

It's enabling me to retrace my roots (I started in the corner of my bedroom, researching and cold-calling prospects with my dial-up connection and an AOL e-mail address) and share what works and what doesn't to hopefully enable others to avoid my mistakes and experience similar successes.

Click HERE to see tips for creating your own business plan.

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Good Riddance: Unemployed Bid Adieu to 2010 Watch Video

Avoid Ever Getting a 'Real' Job Watch Video

How to Build Your Own Business Watch Video

First step: Be sure you truly want to be a small business owner. This isn't something you should pursue because nothing better has come along. It's not something to seek because of financial desperation. It's incredibly hard work with inevitable obstacles along the way, which means you have to really want it if you expect to be successful. Starting a business must be your primary plan, not your fall back.

Next, figure out the small business idea that you're most excited about making happen. Don't attempt to reinvent the wheel. There's no need to create the next Google or Zip Car; tried and true businesses are perfectly acceptable. When I started Women For Hire, career fairs were (and still are) a dime a dozen. I put my own spin on them and created a very successful business.

Take a look around and you'll see the same thing: People buy cupcakes, we all get haircuts, everyone likes some kind of jewelry. Walk any mall or Main Street and you'll see multiple coffee shops, banks and clothing stores. Competitors can co-exist quite successfully as long as the product or service is sold effectively and delivered with excellence.

Skip the lengthy business plan. Forget the conventional wisdom that you must write a detailed business plan. It's impossible to predict how much money you'll be making three months from now, let alone three years from now, so don't waste your time guessing.

Similarly, if you wait until every I is dotted and every T is crossed, you'll be stuck in planning mode forever. Create a one-pager that addresses exactly what's needed to get going right now. Click HERE for a basic 10-question outline to guide you. A Babson College study backs this up. It found that similar ventures launched with formal business plans did not outperform those that launched without them.

Pinpoint your customer base. Determine exactly who your customers are. Don't say "all women" or "anyone who wears jewelry." Be specific: I'm going to provide bookkeeping services for restaurants. I'm going to create social media campaigns for self-published authors. The more you can pinpoint your targeted client, the more focused your marketing efforts will be to reach them. You'll be able to ask for the right referrals and you'll know who and what to search for on the Internet.

The majority of your time must be devoted to sales. Getting clients is the most important aspect of your business. Instead of looking for a bank loan, an investor, a grant or some kind of infusion of cash from a stranger, put all of your effort into getting clients and customers. It's the best source of capital -- and it's the one that is absolutely within your total control.

Keep costs down -- way down. If you're starting a business that needs a ton of cash that you don't have, find another business idea. Until you start bringing in sales, you must keep costs down. Think creatively: it would be great to rent a fancy commercial kitchen to bake those cupcakes, but use an inexpensive (or free) church or community kitchen in off-hours instead.

I worked with a woman to launch a series of art classes for kids, but she didn't have money for supplies. The solution: she required parents to purchase the supplies and pay for the courses upfront. Within a couple of weeks, she was in business, generating a profit.

Good Riddance: Unemployed Bid Adieu to 2010 Watch Video

Avoid Ever Getting a 'Real' Job Watch Video

How to Build Your Own Business Watch Video

Forget hiring a fulltime staff; ask friends for help, train interns and use hourly talent. Barter for key services. Put off incidental expenses until you're making money.

Price for profit. Your pricing shouldn't just cover your costs; it must also generate a profit for you. Don't undervalue your time and talent. Work the numbers from the top down: What are you looking to make annually? How does that break down monthly and weekly? How many products must you sell or how many clients will you need to bring in to meet those numbers? What are all of the costs associated with delivering that product or service?

None of this requires fancy charts or advanced accounting skills. Figure out the numbers so you know what's realistic. (Hint: avoid businesses that rely on gigantic volume or low margins. Those won't generate a profit for a first-timer.)

Get moving now. And perhaps most importantly for everyone trying to do something new this year, keep this top of mind: dreaming is good, but doing is great. Start exactly where you are. Make smart decisions and take action every day. When you start hustling, you'll see great results.

Tory Johnson is the workplace contributor on "Good Morning America." Connect with her at Facebook.com/Tory or Twitter.com/ToryJohnson or www.womenforhire.com.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A MEAN BOSS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:12:39 +0100

How to Deal With a Mean Boss

The best way to deal with a mean boss? Focus on doing your job extremely well. CNN offers that advice for employees struggling to cope with mean, hyper-critical bosses. Some bosses will never change their personalities or their way of interacting with people, so its best to focus more on becoming a great employee than fretting about your boss's personality. Some bosses are chronic critics who find flaws in everything. Bending over backwards to end the criticism and meanness often leads to more frustration for the employee.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Study your boss to learn more about the boss's personality. Watch how he interacts with others. Some mean bosses are mean to just about everyone---and the boss is also likely hyper critical of himself. Spending time learning your boss's personality may help you understand that you are not the problem---and you may even develop some compassion for your boss. At a minimum, understanding your boss's personality and how he treats himself and the rest of the staff will allow you to compartmentalize the boss' meanness as you go about your daily tasks.
- 2
  
  Stand up to your boss. No, this doesn't mean engaging in shouting matches. Let the boss act like a jerk, if he must, while you maintain a strong degree of professionalism. MSNBC recommends that you should "carry yourself with best posture and wear attire that imparts your professional stature, abilities and success." You should also challenge your boss when you know you are right or have an important point to raise. A mean boss may recognize employees who are easily intimidated---and that can lead to more meanness. Show your boss you're no pushover by coming the work prepared to do a great job each day---and challenging the boss when appropriate.
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- 3
  
  Show your boss that your work ethic is as strong as hers. Consider working the same hours that your boss does---late hours, weekends---whatever it takes. Not everyone can do that, especially working parents. However even the toughest, meanest bosses may develop respect for their hardest workers.
- 4
  
  Find another job if you have done everything possible to do a great job and bond with your boss---but it just isn't happening. Seek a transfer to another department in the company or leave for an entirely new opportunity.

HOW TO BEA GREAT LEADER

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:05:12 +0100

How to Be a Great Leader

Great leaders should be compassionate, good listeners and motivators. Be a great leader with tips from an administrative trainer in this free video on business management and leadership skills.

HOW TO BECOME THE BOSS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:59:58 +0100

How to Become the Boss

Become the Boss

While climbing the organizational ladder, many employees share the same sentiment: they know more than their boss does. If you're one of these employees, you may have arrived at the point where you feel things would be better off if you were the boss. But, how do you get there? Employ diligence and strategy to become the boss.

Instructions

- 1
  
  Know the business you're in. Be very familiar with daily operations and benchmarks, industry leaders, common challenges and what differentiation your company has in the market. Read trade journals and online news posts regarding your field. Join conversations in the work place with administrators whose knowledge you can gain from.
- 2
  
  Act like a boss to become a boss. Show initiative and a desire to learn and grow, but never show up your boss, try to make him look bad, or make him feel that his job may be challenged. As the saying goes, dress not for the job you have, but for the job you want.
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- 3
  
  Be curious and proactive. Seek out the opinions of employees - what they do and do not enjoy about the company, what their concerns are, and how things could be better.
- 4
  
  Volunteer to take on more responsibility when the opportunity arises. This can lead to involvement with new people in your company, and additional exposure to more people, including managers, means more people who will witness your work ethic and management style - benefits that could very well lead to your next move up the ladder.
- 5
  
  Work independently as much as possible, to gain more rigorous experience and recognition for the work you've done. Your ability to do this will be reliant upon your supervisor's management style, and how short your leash is. Even if your boss is a micro manager, you may be able to work more independently simply by expressing an interest in growing professionally.
- 6
  
  Always be a team player. Whether you're a peer or a supervisor to someone, being on the same playing field and working well with others will gain you respect - even when you become the boss.

How to Handle Your Unbearable Boss

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:56:17 +0100

How to Handle Your Unbearable Boss

Handle Your Unbearable Boss

How to handle your unbearable boss

Instructions

- 1
  
  Many of us have a struggle making it through work daily. This is not due to the fact that we do not like our jobs this is due to the fact that our bosses make it unbearable. But why let them make our lives miserable and let them win the battle.
- 2
  
  The best thing to do is go in and do your job and ignore them. Do not let them get to you. Take walks away from them make reasons to get out. This is a little harder for others but even go to the bathroom stay there for 10 minutes and take time to cool off. Remember that you do not have to take your problems at work home with you.
- 3
  
  If they are claiming you are doing something wrong try doing something different try there suggestions even if they are not right and if they do not work and they see that they are not working and you have an idea that will then suggest it at this point. Be open minded and be willing to be patient because if you lose your cool it only makes it worse.

TIPS AND WARNINGS IN BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:52:41 +0100

Tips & Warnings

Think "get rich slow." Most businesses take an average of three to five years to start drawing a salary, let alone profit.
Keep your home and business financial accounts separate.
Take a job for a few months in the field you are considering to make sure you enjoy the work before you take the plunge.
Never pay money for a work at home or self employment package.
Avoid borrowing money from friends and relatives, it could damage the relationship.
Do not invest in businesses that skyrocket overnight, as they tend to fall just as quickly.
If you are currently employed, do not share with supervisors or coworkers that you are considering this idea.
If someone says this is an opportunity you cannot miss, you probably do need to miss it as this is a high pressure sales pitch.

HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN BOSS

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:48:48 +0100

How to Become Your Own Boss

Many of us dream about having our own business and being in charge of ourselves and our own time and energy. This is a great dream, but with so many choices, options and not to mention time and money on the line, how do you turn this dream into a financial reality? Read here for some guidance and tips to get you started on the road to becoming your own boss.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Take stock in your marketable skills, interests and talents. Narrow it down to one or two choices, preferably the one that can generate cash right away. Take time to research the business, especially to find out if the market is already saturated in that area. This is especially true for cosmetics and vitamin sales people.
- 2
  
  Look at what cash you can invest in the business and what other financial resources you can access. If you need to borrow money from a bank, you will need a business plan. It is a good idea to come up with a business plan anyway. This is a road map of how you will turn your ideas into a financial success. Take into account how long it will take to earn back your investment and if it is worth the financial risk. Tried and true ideas work better than fly by night inventions and poorly planned product and service ideas.
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- 3
  
  Research the tax implications of your decision to become self-employed. Gain the advice of tax professionals, attorneys and financial planners to find out if this is in your best interest. You will also want to know what type of, if any, corporation you will form.
- 4
  
  If it is a service you will offer, decide if you will need employees and what your other costs and overhead will be. Try not to rent space if at all possible when you first start out. Consider offering the services on site in businesses and homes. Do not forget to figure in travel costs and map out an area you will serve. If you can work out of a home office, do that at first. Use your existing cell phone, Internet access or LAN line.
- 5
  
  Look into inexpensive labor. If you have a shop, consider hiring family and friends to watch the shop when you are not able to. This same principle applies to the busier times. And, take a minimum amount of inventory to start. You can always take orders, as products are shipped relatively quickly in most cases.
- 6
  
  Advertising does not have to be a major investment. If you are in a present business, consider telling your current clients that you will be forging out on your own. Spread the word through referral bonuses and word-of-mouth. Hand out business cards wherever you go. Have a welcoming party, open house or luncheon to let the neighbors know you are in the area. Hang signs out wherever you can. Run specials, especially for those who sign up for services longer term or make larger purchases. Look into help from the resource links provided below.