Office and Homeworking Archives - Page 7 of 10

18Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 Things to Remember When Choosing Your Save the Dates

Newly engaged couples have only so long to revel in their happiness before they're inundated with an array of wedding planning decisions. Who should they invite? Where should they go? What type of ceremony do they want to have? Should they have a theme? Luckily, a lot of these decisions are really fun, including choosing the save-the-date cards. If you're about to choose your save the dates, take a look at these five things to keep in mind:1. Order Early, Send Early Most wedding planners recommend couples send save the dates to their guests, since the cards give friends and family members a little more time to make plans and save money if necessary. For that reason, save the dates should be sent pretty early - the general rule of thumb…

17Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Preventing Employee Burnout

Office and Homeworking

Employee burnout is a workplace problem that every business owner encounters. Perhaps you notice a staff member isn't as enthusiastic as he or she once was, or perhaps he or she starts showing up late and taking unexpected sick days. When this occurs, you may think the employee has just suddenly become lazy. In reality, perhaps you are asking too much of this person, or they are feeling under appreciated. Here are some tips for preventing workplace burnout in your company:Have an Intervention Unlike the television show, this intervention should be a very calm affair. When you notice that an employee seems to be exhibiting signs of burnout, take the initiative to address the issue right away. Have a one-on-one meeting in your office during which you discuss any issues he…

17Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Make Your Employee One-on-Ones a Success

Office and Homeworking

As a boss, one of your main jobs is keeping employees engaged in the company and motivated to continue doing great work. And while employees love perks like work-from-home Fridays or free goodies (everybody loves personalized notepads), one essential way to keep them engaged is to simply treat each person as an individual who plays an integral role in the running of your business. That's why it's a good idea to hold regular one-on-one meetings with your employees - you can check in, provide feedback on their work and allow them to raise any questions or concerns they may have. Here are some tips for making these one-on-ones successful:Be Prepared As with any business meeting, it's essential to come prepared - even if you have 12 one-on-ones in a single day, take…

15Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

4 tips to make your company more sustainable

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

As a small-business owner, you are at the helm of many important decisions. You choose what your logo looks like, the style of your company's address labels, what your office hours are and even where you work. These decisions are all important, but what about your business's environmental footprint? If you care about protecting natural resources and preventing climate change, here are some tips for making your business more sustainable:Recycle Many office products are available in new and recycled form. Most items that are made out of paper, such as custom business cards and Post-It notes, can be made on recycled paper. Choose these options when ordering office supplies. It's also important to recycle anything you can, from appliances like your printer or old toaster to items from your break room…

09Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Schedule Organization Tips You Need to Know

Office and Homeworking

You wake up in the morning and head into the office where you have dozens of emails waiting in your inbox. You have several projects going on, but with a handful of meetings scattered throughout the day, you don't know when you'll find time to get to any of them. So, what do you do? One of the most difficult parts about running a small business is that there are always any number of important things on your plate, but it's hard to fit all of them in without making some sacrifices. That's why it's so crucial to organize your schedule purposefully and meticulously - taking some time to organize could mean finding a way to fit everything in. Here are a few effective schedule organization tips to keep in mind:There's…

08Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Office etiquette: A death in the family

Office and Homeworking

When someone loses a loved one it is a delicate time. Some people choose to come to the office and others work from home, where they may be more comfortable handling their grief. It can be tricky learning how to navigate the death of a loved one in the workplace. How should you act around a grieving person? What should you say? Here are some helpful things to keep in mind when faced with the death of a co-worker's loved one:Work can be helpful Many people find that returning to work after the death of someone they care about is really helpful. Death often makes individuals feel helpless and vulnerable, and coming back to the workplace may be a welcome reprieve from these emotions. They have tasks to complete and know…

05Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Inexpensive Ways to Improve Your Company Culture

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

With companies like Facebook and Google giving employees free massages, complimentary food and other amazing perks, "company culture" has become a bit of a buzzword. Fostering a good company culture provides a lot of benefits, including better employee productivity (in between those free massages) and a lower turnover rate, according to Gallup's 2013 State of the American Workforce report. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve your own office culture without investing a lot of money. Take a look at these ideas:Have Fun on Holidays and Special Occasions Many companies set up winter holiday parties for their employees, but take that to the next level by inviting everyone to celebrate some of the smaller holidays together. Halloween? Time for a costume contest. Fourth of July? Everybody loves a good potluck. Loosen Up Another…

02Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Keys to Setting Up a Home Office

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

In order to maintain a work-life balance when starting a home-based company, it's important to create a business-only zone - somewhere you can be both productive and creative for hours at a time. Your home office should be free of distractions during your working hours, but it should also be a place you can close off at the end of the day when it's time to be with family or friends. If you're planning on opening a startup out of your house, take a look at these keys to setting up your home office:Keep it Professional One of the common fears people have about starting a business out of their home is that it can give the wrong impression to clients. You don't want someone important to walk into a…

01Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Checkout these apps for entrepreneurs

Business Banking, Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

Being an entrepreneur takes determination and drive. Besides a desk littered with business cards, you probably have a mind full of ideas and a smattering of to-do lists. There are many other business-minded people facing similar tasks as you, such as learning how to market themselves, working with delivery services for their goods, and even setting up payment plans for their staff members. There are tools to make these processes easier, such as mobile apps. Simply install these free or low-cost applications on your smartphone or tablet and you will find managing your business has been made a little simpler:EchoSign Entrepreneur recommends using this application if your business frequently works with contracts. Instead of having a fax machine or scanner taking up space in your office, turn to EchoSign to electronically…

29May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Need a Productivity Boost? Rethink Your Mornings

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

We've all had those mornings when we wake up sluggishly, do the bare minimum to get ready and head over to the office as quickly as possible - perhaps because we're worried about the work we have to do. But just as organizing the business cards, Post-it Notes and other office supplies in your desk can help increase productivity, taking the time to structure your morning routine can have a similar effect. In fact, some highly successful entrepreneurs including Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson are known for waking up early and spending their mornings being productive. Here are a few things you may want to do before heading to work each day:Keep Your Phone Out of Sight Productivity can only go downhill when you start spreading yourself thin and losing…

Category: Office and Homeworking