How to Boost Employee Engagement By Showing Appreciation

How to Boost Employee Engagement By Showing Appreciation If you think that a monthly pay cheque is all that it takes to keep your employees engaged at work, then Im afraid you need a bit of a reality check. It takes an awful lot more than money to motivate staff and if your workforce are becoming disengaged, its time to assess the reasons behind it, before it has  damaging consequences. So what does it really take to keep your employees satisfied and driven in their jobs? Praise and recognition, thats what! Employees want to feel valued and know that they are  appreciated within the business. If their hard work goes unnoticed time after time, it can become incredibly disheartening; not to mention that it can feel like a bit of a waste of time and effort. So if you want to build a  happy and productive workforce, it is essential that you recognise and praise good work from your staff. Cake HR explained some of the key reasons why  employee recognition is essential for building an engaged workforce and a few simple ideas about how you can praise and reward your employees. What is employee appreciation? Employee engagement is the appreciative acknowledgement of a person or a teams efforts, that exceed the expectations of their role, or behaviours that benefit the success of the business. This can be done formally or  informally, as long as the employee feels valued. Does employee appreciation matter? The top reasons that employees leave their job is that they dont feel appreciated. Companies who have a strategic employee recognition program in place report 71%+    higher  engagement  levels among their staff, than companies without a program. Disengaged workers cost the economy $300 billion a year. What are the benefits of employee appreciation? 1) Motivation 60% of best-in-class organisations reported that employee recognition drives individual work performance.  Motivated workers put more time and effort into their work, as they feel they have a purpose and play an important role in the company meeting its goals. 2) Improved  work culture Employee appreciation creates an environment that employees want to work in and make a difference to their business. 4) Employee retention Companies  scoring in the top 20% for employee appreciation have a 31% lower turnover of staff. Well appreciated staff stay at the organisation longer. 5) Better teamwork Employees work better not only when they feel appreciated by their employer, but also from their peers. 6) Improved customer satisfaction Customers are 41% more likely to stay loyal to a company if they experience and good attitude from the staff. How can you show employee appreciation? 1) Instead of employee of the month awards, recognise all staff when they deserve it. David Brown, founder of Datotel replaced gift cards and employee of the month with hand-written notes and direct praise for commendable behaviour. 2) Focus on peer to peer recognition Peer to peer appreciation seems more genuine as colleagues are better acquainted with personal efforts than supervisors. 3) Public praise is more effective than monetary rewards 40% of surveyed felt that increased salaries and bonuses were ineffective in reducing employee turnover. 4) Keep recognition programs simple but frequent Employees not recognised are 3 times more likely to leave in the following year. Frequent recognition motivates staff to achieve their best every day. 5) Be strategic You must take a strategic approach towards your recognition program, so that you have a thorough understanding of what methods will fulfil the needs of your employees. Find out more in the slideshow below! Image: Shutterstock

Transform Appreciation into a Returning Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Transform Appreciation into a Returning Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career On a personal note, I always enjoyed services provided by “Georgette”. She excels in her field, is fun to talk with and always expresses her appreciation for my business. To my surprise, I received an unusually sweet note of appreciation in the mail from her in honor of the holidays. Why am I sharing this story with you? If you have made a commitment to yourself to be in business for the long term, and truly desire a returning and referring clientele, then you will want to make note of the following statement: “There is no way I would ever switch service providers.” There are many people in the same field but few as talented as Georgette. And, none of her competitors that I have encountered have ever expressed appreciation for my business. Providing quality services coupled with the act of expressing appreciation to your clientele for their business is truly a winning combination for establishing a loyal clientele and sound business foundation. This is precisely what encourages repeat business, referrals and testimonials, and will keep you in business for the long term. Take a moment to review your processes. If you have employees, review all processes with them. Be certain they understand “the how” as well as “the why” for working as you do and mirror your work. Consider whether you routinely thank people for business. And do you follow-up to learn what your clients are thinking about their purchases? Should you miss out on this opportunity, you may well lose future business and experience poor word of mouth. But when you do check in, you just might hear of a problem that may be easily fixed. You will save the day and once again you will be a hero in their eyes. All of these practices contribute to building good word of mouth and your personal brand in the best possible light. You will become recognized, similarly to Georgette, as an unusually talented service provider. On social sites encourage your communities to share their new plans for the New Year. It may spread new ideas for everyone. For the ideas that speak to you most, create a separate message area to communicate with the originator to learn more. It is conceivable you may collaborate on one of the projects. Should you have new ideas or projects of your own, share them with your trusted peers. They may have creative ideas for enhancing your initial ones whereby you will be headed toward creating something extra special. Consider meeting for coffee or lunch to further brainstorm co-creation. It’s amazing what transpires when two energetic and enthusiastic individuals come together to develop a bigger picture that will benefit many. By so doing, you will also attract many more prospects and clients to your business dramatically increasing your return on investment. Remaining in business is dependent on sufficient income. The income arrives only when you deliver excellence and personally serve your clientele well. This is the recipe for a continuous Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs as a “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press. Elinor is available for keynotes and consultation.

The Surprising Advantages of Seeing a Chiropractor

The Surprising Advantages of Seeing a Chiropractor A few years ago, I was moving to a new home and doing way more lifting and bending than I was used to.   While I could sense my muscles tiring, I thought it was just me being a bit out of shape.   Id been handling boxes all day, so there was no forethought when I went to pick yet another one.   The pain was immediate and took me to my knees, and the box was not going another inch by any effort that I could muster. Ive always been the kind of person who does a lot of self-care.   I tend to avoid drugs and dont much care for the thought of nasty things like operations and scalpels and stitches.   Not to mention the period of recovery that comes after them.   So, knowing that whatever Id done to my back wasnt going to go away by itself, I thought Id try a chiropractor.   Of course Id heard about them, but had never explored what they might be able to do for me.   With the intense pain I was enduring, there was nothing to lose.    The one I chose was experienced in Active Release Technique (ART), and that proved to be a great benefit.   ART frees compressed nerves, improves oxygen flow, relieves pain, and restores movement.   And thats exactly what I needed. My experience was both pleasant and surprisingly effective.    Here are some of the things I learned that are worth noting for the next time you find yourself having pushed your body a bit too far. What is a Chiropractor? I think a lot of people have a misconception about what a chiropractor is and what they do.   First of all, they are not a massage therapist.   While a chiropractor is not usually a medical doctor (some actually are), they typically have 8 years of higher education before they are licensed.     They treat problems in the musculoskeletal system by evaluating the body’s muscles and tense spots to uncover scar tissue that’s formed from acute trauma or long-term overuse. Thats exactly the case with my injury.    Id pushed myself throughout my life, and all those little twinges added up to the moment when my body said enough. Natural Approach To Healing Chiropractors focus on what Id call natural healing.   While theyll tell you if there is damage that definitely requires surgical repair, they prefer therapeutic exercise and stretching, spinal adjustment, manual soft tissue therapy, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound, diet  and nutritional  counseling, and lifestyle modification. I wont kid you. On my first visit, the treatment was painful.   The doctor explained what was to be done, and that getting things back into proper alignment would likely sting a bit.   It did.   That good news was that almost immediately after my first session I felt relief. Surprising Extras Since Id never been to an chiropractor, I had no idea what to expect.   Beyond the amazingly quick relief, there were multiple things I noticed about my treatments that I found extraordinary in todays world. I felt like a person, not just a numbered patient. Not just the doctor, but all of the staff made me feel like a real person they actually cared about.   It wasnt clinical, it was personal.   While Im sure this varies from chiropractor to chiropractor,   I suspect theres more to it than just me getting lucky. The treatments are intense and focused. My typical physician experience was usually okay, do this, take this, and Ill see you back in a month.    My chiropractic experience was not at all like that.   Three times a week for two weeks, then tapering off.   At the end of three weeks, to my amazement (and joy!) I felt as good as new.   I did continue to visit, less often, to keep tabs on that area Id spent a lifetime abusing. Ive since visited other chiropractors, and would suggest the following: Find a female chiropractor.    All chiropractors receive the same kind of education and training.   But womens bodies differ from mens in ways that having a womans insights can help ensure you get the most out of your visits. Dont view your chiropractor as just a problem fixer, but a source of prevention.   As your body ages, it cant help but to keep it tuned up.   And remember, when it comes to taking care of yourself, the primary responsibility is yours. Take advantage of their willingness to educate.   Chiropractors are not like traditional physicians who typically say do this and send you on your way.    Your chiropractor is more than willing to educate you about the why and how to care for your body.

The Perfect Career Girl Handbag

The Perfect Career Girl Handbag What is the one accessory every successful career girl must have? The perfect shoulder handbag. The  Robert Matthew Natalie Shoulder Tote combines style with functionality, allowing you to carry all of your essentials and simultaneously make a powerful fashion statement. Price: $189.00 Where to Buy: Robert Matthew Exclusive  MS. Career Girl Discount Code:  MSCAREERGIRL30 Details:  Read below Another fabulous fact about this purse is that while it is priced at only $189.00, it actually appears much more expensive than it actually is. (Added bonus  for you career girls, you can use the MSCAREERGIRL30 discount code to get your own!) You can also see some of the technical details of the bag below. RM Gold Tone Tag Hardware Animal Friendly pu Leather Handle Drop 7”; Double Handles Detachable Shoulder Strap; Adjustable 28 52 Luxury Pinstriped Polyester Lining Interior: One Back Zip Pocket, Two Open Pockets, Dual Zip Compartment Closure: Top Zip Magnetic Closure 15 W x 10 H x 5 D Imported A career girl is only as strong as the tools she carriers, and I can tell this one will be durable and long-lasting, making it a smart investment. I like my fashion accessories to hold their value, and Robert Matthew does not disappoint. If you would like more ideas on valuable tools to have in your professional arsenal, read this. Its stylish. Its functional. Its vibrant. Its classic. Its the perfect career girl handbag! MCG Book Pairings: [amazon template=productasin=064624275X]  

5 reasons moving abroad could be great for your career - Debut

5 reasons moving abroad could be great for your career - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. Sarah Wilson discusses why you should consider moving abroad for the sake of your employability.   We all know one. The year abroad students, with their aperol spritzes and enviable language skills and Instagram feeds. We’ve all been sat in the library at some point looking jealously at their lives in a new country and thinking I wish I could do that. So, if you didn’t get the chance to take the plunge during your time at uni, why not afterwards? Taking a job in a foreign country isn’t only a chance to get some new scenery, but it can actually be a great career move, setting you up nicely for any future roles (UK based or not) you might take on. Read on for 5 reasons why you might want to consider it: Language skills Of course, this is the most obvious benefit of moving abroad, whether for a job or not. Picking up a new language whilst living abroad can open a number of doors for you career-wise that may have been closed before; translation and language teaching being just a couple of examples. Learning a new language abroad also makes you more employable both in that country and in the UK. If you decide to return, having a language on your CV looks very impressive to employers, even if those language skills aren’t a job requirement. The perseverance it takes to pick up a language is a highly desirable quality whatever field you end up in. Interpersonal skills Speaking of employability, moving abroad is a huge test of your interpersonal skills. It’s inevitable that you’ll be interacting in your job with people from all kinds of different countries and cultures, and the skills it takes to communicate and cooperate in the workplace with these people set you in great stead for the rest of your working life. Studies have even shown  that those who move abroad gain confidence and a better sense of themselves as a result of the experience, and as everybody knows, confidence plays a huge role in the ability to land yourself that dream job, career or promotion. Preparedness for difficult situations Maybe it’s something small like miscommunicating with a delivery driver and ending up with ten pizzas instead of one. Or maybe it’s big, like a housing contract falling through or winding up lost with nobody who speaks your language around you. Experiencing problems abroad can often be twice as difficult as experiencing them at home due to language and culture barriers, as well as the unfamiliarity of a new place. Your resilience in handling these situations well is something that looks impressive to future employers, as well as giving you some great answers to interview questions like “how do you handle crisis situations?” Perspective Working abroad introduces you to a whole different world of business models and working culture. Maybe you take a siesta period in the afternoon, or perhaps you work crazy hours and only get home at 11pm. Whatever the situation, working abroad will give you a perspective on working life at home, allowing you especially if you’re in your early career to work out what style and culture suits you best. This means more well-informed decisions about what roles you do or don’t decide to take on in the future. Contacts If you’ve lived in the UK for a long time, it’s almost certain you’ve already built up a good network of contacts at home. Those contacts are always going to be there so why not expand your horizons and window of opportunity by building up a network of contacts abroad? This means in the future, you’ll have the option to work in both places rather than just one. If you’ve just graduated or are a recent graduate remember that a graduate scheme isn’t the only route available to you. There’s no time better than now to give moving abroad a go; so pack your bags and we’ll see you at the airport! Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Introverts Essential to the WorkPlace

Introverts Essential to the WorkPlace Introverts: Essential To The Workplace It always comes as a shock when I confide to acquaintances that I am actually an introvert.  People laugh, then stop, stare at me for a long moment, and then say, unbelievingly,Really??! Apparently, I project something completely different in networking and business situations. But this appearance isnt purely accidental. Its been a carefully crafted approach, simply because I realized early on that by being a wallflower introvert,  a whole lot of opportunity was going to pass me by. I think the pivotal moment came during my first office job where I had to attend networking functions for up to six different chambers of commerce. That penciled out to a whole lot of talking to strangers. Suddenly, my shyness took over, and I found myself shrinking back into the furthest corners of the room in order to get out of arms length of contact with strangers. Then, I realized that I couldnt spend my life being like other introverts, and having such a liability was going to hold me back from career opportunities. Fast forward to the other day. I was in the car listening to National Public Radios Talk of the Nation which had a segment called The Quiet Strength of Introverts in the Workplace  which had a guest discussing the need for employers to balance introverts with extroverts within the workplace. My radar went up, and one comment made by the segment guest, Anita Bruzzese, really stuck with me: You cant have a company full of risk-taking extroverts who can talk a good game. Wow! Spot-on. Introverts are not all about being shy (at least not all the time).  People who share this personality trait simply need more time alone to think things through. This often translates to needing space and/or quiet time to process information, but in the end, having this opportunity helps introverts formulate how they can collaborate with others and get the task at hand completed. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced, like so many other introverts, was developing confidence in myself.  After getting a solid footing in my career, it no longer became a question of whether I could actually do the work it then shifted to whether I could actually talk about it in a way that conveyed the confidence that I had in my skills. Just because introverts are quiet doesnt mean that they dont have something to contribute.  Smart bosses and companies realize that it is in their best interests to develop introverts in a way that taps into their natural strengths while building up their confidence levels. As Ms.  Bruzzese mentioned, having 100% alpha dogs at the top of a company doesnt bode well for its future having the balance of introverts in leadership roles can help create a good ratio of calculated risk taking to mitigated risk factors to find that happy medium. So, how did I overcome my own trouble with being introverted? Learned to walk up to strangers, stick out my hand, and say hello.  Learning how to start the conversation is the first step, and from there, youll start to hit your stride. And it is ok to still be an introvert. If you learn to manage it well, you can actually be both an introvert and an extrovert, and enjoy the benefits of each! Image By Sureshbmani (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Resume Writing Companies

Resume Writing CompaniesResume writing companies are everywhere you look these days and there are many of them out there offering services for resume writing. As an applicant for a job position, you want to make sure that you are doing your homework and researching the best resume writing companies in order to get a more qualified and better trained candidate out of the door.You will find that there are many excellent companies that offer their services but not all of them can offer what you need and have the skills you require. They will usually try to charge you a lot of money just for basic resume writing services. These are not reputable resume writing companies. There are many other cheaper and quality service providers out there who can give you the results you want.You will find that some of the professional resume writers can charge thousands of dollars just for basic resume writing services. The companies that you will find are just offering you what they think they can get away with and this may not be what you want. If you are charged a ridiculous amount just for resume writing services, you will never find a company that can provide quality resume writing services for your company.Resume writing companies do offer basic resume writing services, but they will not be able to give you an experienced resume writer that has exceptional resume writing skills. There are many resume writing services out there that you can find that offers a wide range of services for you. The service can include creating a detailed resume that will be perfect for your position and career as well as providing with answers to many questions you may have.Some people won't know what they want on their resume until they start looking through the pages and they may not even find what they want. With professional resume writing services, they can help you find the information that you need on your resume in order to get the job you want. This is one of the best things about utiliz ing these services.Resume writing companies can also provide you with test-writing samples that you can take to an employment agency in order to get a feel for what you will be working with. These are all great services to have when you are applying for a job. It will allow you to see what you will be dealing with before you pay them money.When you choose a company, make sure that they offer you no less than 10 pages of resume writing. This is a minimum as you don't want to be bombarded with resume writing services from companies that just throw out generic resumes that may be very few pages. Instead, find a company that can offer you samples of quality resumes that have been written by other professionals. You will be able to see how the job is being done without having to write your own resume.When you search for resume writing companies online, make sure you look at samples of resumes from different professionals in order to get a better idea of what you are getting. This will he lp you decide which company to work with and help you determine which service you need. Make sure you have a lot of patience and make sure that you find a service that will provide you with what you need at a price that you can afford.