HOW TO WORK YOUR PLAN

In the last two weeks, we have considered what to do when a colleague, employee or team member is just not ‘carrying their weight’ at work. They miss deadlines or fail to do what they need to do. If they are working with others, their failure to produce often creates problems for others on the team. Know anyone like that? Typically not a matter of laziness or incompetence, the problem is often either that person’s failure to plan or their failure to work the plan consistently. Continue reading →

HOW TO ‘PLAN YOUR WORK’

Last week we explored the impact that poor planning and pitiable perseverance by one employee or colleague can have on a team’s overall productivity.  Like cogs in the machinery, while it may not seem that one faulty cog can do much harm, it actually can hinder the entire machinery and shut down production.  Continue reading →

PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN

Have you ever seen a sign posted on an office cubicle that reads:

“Your lack of planning is not my emergency.” 

At most workplaces, projects usually require the involvement of several people or a full team.  Everyone knows that teamwork is important.  This is not a novel concept.  But what happens when one member of the team is not pulling his/her weight?  What happens if one person’s ability to perform is directly, negatively impacted by another person’s lack of performance?  The consequences can be serious.  One employee’s failure to perform can delay a project, incur significant added costs and/or create an atmosphere of mistrust within the team… all of which hurt the company. Continue reading →

MANAGING REMOTE EMPLOYEES

Over the past two weeks, we examined the question of whether it makes sense for companies to have remote employees.  For those that do… which is a great many companies today – we then looked at the kinds of technology tools that make it easier for those remote employees to be successful.  However, it is not enough to simply equip remote employees with the right technology.  Those tools must be leveraged to generate communication, rapport and teamwork between office staff and remote employees.  Managers of remote employees should use technology strategies to help build rapport and foster virtual community.  Here are some examples: Continue reading →

THE TOOLS FOR REMOTE STAFFING SUCCESS

Last week, we examined the question of whether it is a good idea for companies to have remote employees… that is, employees who work part or all of their time from a location other than the company office.  Typically, these remote employees work from home.  We examined the benefits to the employee including the hundreds if not thousands of hours saved not commuting to work, and the money saved not driving to and working in an office including parking, tolls, gasoline, car repairs, dry cleaning and meals.  We also looked at the benefits to the employer including a much bigger pool of talent from which to hire.  Remote employees also tend to be more productive because they can work during their hours of peak productivity and briefly do other things to recharge their mental battery more quickly.  They also have fewer distractions (office chit-chat) and can avoid office politics which certainly play a part in reducing in-office productivity.  Another benefit is the cost savings generated for businesses that need less office space. Continue reading →

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE STAFF WORK REMOTELY?

A growing number of companies – large and small – are now faced with the decision of whether to allow staff to work from remote locations. National companies like Madison, with a sales force located throughout the U.S., have had employees working from remote locations for years.  However, it is no longer just limited to salespeople. Technology has made it possible for companies to hire staff to perform a myriad of jobs – not just sales – from remote locations. Typically, those remote employees work from home part or most of the time.   Continue reading →

PART 3 – POST-SHOW FOLLOW UP

Your company’s sales team just returned from exhibiting at a big trade show.  It was a great show.  Everyone prepared for the show.  The company’s booth got noticed.  There was plenty of attendees walking the exhibit hall.  But now the staff is tired and their feet hurt.  It’s tempting, after so much preparation for the show and hours standing on the trade show floor, to get back to the office and collapse.  After all, while everyone was away, emails piled up and desks are overflowing with mail and work.  But there is a huge collection of business cards awaiting follow-up…. and the real value of a trade show — why it’s worth the money — comes when the staff takes the time to follow-up on show leads. Continue reading →

PART 2 – SHOW ATTENDANCE

In today’s economy, making the decision to exhibit at trade shows is not easy.  Companies question whether the leads from trade shows this year will result in actual additional business.  ROI is always a concern when it comes to trade shows, but more so during a recession.  For some companies, trade shows do not generate new business.  For others, they do.  Why?  Some companies prepare better.  As we discussed last week, the key to trade show ROI – especially during tough times – is to choose carefully which shows to attend and then thoroughly prepare for the show.  Savvy companies are choosing to exhibit at key industry shows where they can capture greater market share and leverage the downturn to achieve better show positioning.  Then they spend time preparing for the show to increase their odds of a good outcome. Continue reading →

PART 1 – SHOW SELECTION AND PREPARATION

Economic downturns hit trade shows hard.  After 9/11, for example, trade shows struggled to make a comeback.  With the current recession, trade shows are again struggling with attendance and booth sales.  Many businesses dial down their participation in industry conferences when times are tough.  Companies deem it hard to justify trade show attendance or participation while cutting staff, slashing hours and benefits, and re-examining every expense.  Continue reading →

Have you ever listened to a voice-mail message only to be left wondering who called and what they wanted?  Not because your phone was acting erratically, but because the message simply was unclear.  Or have you ever gone to hear a speech or a presentation only to find that you could not understand what the speaker was saying?  Perhaps worst of all, have you ever interviewed someone for a job and had to ask the person to repeat what they said because you could not understand what he said?  Continue reading →