The Right Body Language and Attitude Integral to Success

Strategy Plan One

April 6, 2012 

Reading Body Language

As an entrepreneur, business owner or professional, body language and attitude become critically important in face-to-face meetings.  It can be the difference between success and failure.  In reading body language, physical cues and tones in speech  can signal a leader, partner or customer a certain way and trigger a response accordingly.

It is best to create and to exude a positive image and body language, which will in most case, trigger more positive responses than negative ones.  On the flip side, you can imagine what type of response you will get from a partner or customer reading body language that is unfriendly, appears uninterested, full of inappropriate gestures, and is all around negative.

Body language will tell people, for example, if you are interested, alert, attentive, happy, relaxed, angry, aggressive or bored.  Body language is one of the non-verbal signals that you will give off to create or not create a great impression.  Body language from some reports accounts for ~ 90% of all communications between parties, and hence the importance when reading body language of individuals.

Reading Body Language – Body Language Signs

First impressions are everything.  A leader, investor or partner will observe your initial behaviours, immediately reading body language you exude.

It may not matter who you are, but how you behave in a professional manner in an initial meeting.  A leader or investor may be looking to meet with you to determine what type of person you are, how professional you are, and how you fit in to meet common objectives and goals.

Carefully observe and be cognizant of how you are in a meeting.  Closed body stances such as cross arms or postures pointing away from clients are problematic and show behavior hinging on avoidance, non-acceptance and non-openness.  Appropriate upright body stances towards the participant help in saying you are interested in the person, topic, goal, and that you are genuine and there to assist or join in.  If you are slouched over, leaning to one side or using the advantages of ergonomic chairs to lean way back, chances are you are giving the wrong signal in that you are not interested, you are not serious, or that you are not listening and engaged in conversation.

Reading Body Language – Eye Contact

Eye contact with the in-house audience is critically important in making a connection with the people there.  Good eye contact will inform the audience, leaders, and partners that you are genuinely interested.  Great eye contact strengthens the communication and connection between two people, and creates a richer communication experience.  If you don’t maintain frequent eye contact, parties may be receiving a signal that you are not interested.  It is also distracting when speakers or listeners’ eyes and body wander all over the place.

Reading Body Language – Hand Gestures

Watch and ensure appropriate hand gestures are made by you.  Hand waving and arm flaying motions may set a negative cues, whereas slight hand movements emphasizing points may be appropriate.  Another blog could be written on appropriate hand and body gestures applicable to in business environments where the culture is different that North America.  Be sure you seek advice about conduct in face-to-face meetings in other countries.   Selfgrowth.com has some additional great tips on body language.

Reading Body Language – Attitude

Go in with a positive attitude, even though is some circumstances you may not agree or want to be there.   As mentioned staying positive will rub off on others and you will most likely receive a positive response.  In some cases, you may even experience a constructive, negative response which may be as good as a positive response.  Coming in with a negative attitude will spell immediate failure in negotiations, handling difficult challenges, or in building relationships.

In some cases, you need to be a good actor, for the good of the company and your fellow colleagues.  You may need to exude the positive, as your actions may impact many others in the organization…remember that.

Reading Body Language – Tips for Body Language, Attitude and Presence 

• Be prepared and be professional for first impressions
• Look and act interested
• Engage in conversation
• Be polite, be courteous
• Showcase your best and what you have to offer as a person and professional
• Dress appropriately for the occasion
• Facial expressions – anything neutral to slight smiles signals the positive
• Keep an upright stature, whether sitting or standing
• Do not slouch, lean, rock, swing in chairs
• Provide slight body and hand gestures; aggressive motions – negative
• Use slight gestures to emphasis points
• Watch you tone in speech and watch language
• Ensure you use the right body signals, language for the right cultural environment

In the global, highly competitive world, you as an aggressive entrepreneur need to make positive immediate impacts with customers, partners and other successful business owners.   Similar to business planning processes, plan in your head how you will act and behave in face-to-face meeting to successfully negotiate and win over people.

Strategy Plan One

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Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Baseball and Social Media Facts and Stats [infographic]

Strategy Plan One

April 5, 2012 

Just like any other industry, social media is deeply integrated into professional sport marketing.  With billions of social media users, sport is frequently mentioned, liked and followed across Facebook and Twitter.  Social media is a marketing strategy must for messaging business product and services to a mass audience.

Produced by Banyan Branch, this infographic illustrates facts and statistics of Major League Baseball on social media sites.

Some interesting social media facts and stats (as of March 28, 2012) :

• Yankees are the most popular team on social media (5.3 Million Likes; 550,000 Follows)
• American League edges out National in Facebook discussions (53% and 47% respectively)
• Nick Swisher – Most Followers (1.48 Million Followers)
• C.J. Wilson – Individual Player All Star Tweeter (12,917 Tweets)
• Giants – Team All Star Tweeter (18,000 Tweets)

Source:  Banyan Branch

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Positive Work-Life Balance in Your Business Organization

Strategy Plan One

April 4, 2012 

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is the process of establishing an equilibrium between work and every other aspect of life.

 

In a satisfying environment, one strives to seek that balance between the activities that are classified as doing work and those activities we deem essential to running the family and household, those recreational and down-time activities we need to recharge and enjoy life.

A great work-life balance must start with you first, if you want to be a successful balanced entrepreneur.  You will also need to ensure your staff are happy and healthy in a productive environment by way of a strong, implemented work-life balance in your organization.

Work-Life Balance – In your Business

To maximize your business’ performance, you and your team need to stay healthy and happy.  Work-life balance is one of those key things an employer can do outside of compensation, to provide more benefits to staff.  Without work-life balance features, employees will need to take off significant amounts of time for family responsibilities and other.  You as a business owner know that in some cases, staff may call in sick when family duties are calling them.  This has a significant impact on operations and performance of the organization. Business finances take a hit if leaves are compensated for, or if you have to insert replacement staff.

Work-Life Balance – Flexible Scheduling

If your business environment is one of flexibility to allow for flexible scheduling, encourage and promote flexible work arrangements.  This works well in industries where core functions are not considered essential services.

Industries such as medical care or education, flexible arrangement may be difficult but not impossible.  Having flexible scheduling allows staff members to take care of family responsibilities without impacting the business or the career path.

Work-life Balance features you could offer to employees:

• Combining or revising classifications of leave (i.e.: vacation leave or medical leave)
• Paid leave for educational or capacity building activities
• Work at home arrangements
• Work on the road schedules
• Daycare programs at work
• Concentrated scheduling
• Allow for health, wellness and fitness programs and time for it at work
• Bring kids to work environment if you have teams of working parents in your business
• In stressful and pressured work environments ensure you build in corporate activities to give everyone that stress break, such as non-work activities

Work-Life Balance Statistics

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) completed a study (Sept 2010) of the work-life balance dynamic in US businesses.  Here are some of the statistics:

• 89% of respondents stated work-life balance was an issue; 54% stated it was serious
• 57% of those surveyed claimed that employers are not effectively addressing work-life balance and not doing enough
• 38% said work-life balance has worsened in these tough economic times

 

However, with businesses that incorporate great work-life balance features, employees cite they are more happy and productive and the performance of those organizations show marked improvements.

Some of the Many Work-Life Balance Benefits for Employers and Employees:

1. Physically and mentally healthier and happier employees
2. Less absenteeism
3. Job satisfaction level for employees increases
4. Sick leave and medical claims decrease
5. Improved corporate culture
6. Improved performance of staff and units
7. Talent management improvements in employee retention
8. Can be included in the promotion of “best places to work”
9. Improved enjoyment of life
10. Improved and stronger family and business relationships 

Encourage leaders within your organization to come forward and develop teams and meetings to address work-life balance issues at your business.  As an effective leader and entrepreneur, encourage team members to provide feedback on how to make the work environment better.  Listen and learn when employees speak on employee satisfaction in the workplace.  Survey employees frequently and engage in conversation with them about work-life balance.

Work-life balance at work is a very effective way to improve your organization across individuals and business units.  Allow your professional teams to help others be successful with results-based, work-life best practices.

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Mommy Blogger Domination [Infographic]

Strategy Plan One

March 29, 2012 

The big business world of Mommy Blogging is illustrated brilliantly in this infographic below, courtesy of infographicsarchive.com.

Mommy blogger huge numbers:

• 4.2 Million Mommy bloggers and growing  
• 33% of bloggers are Moms
• Social Media – 79% of Moms are active on social media
• Over 81 Million women active in social media on a weekly basis
• US Moms spend $2.1 Trillion per year

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Lessons Learned … From Your Own Employees

Strategy Plan One

March 26, 2012 

 

Employees Have the Ground, Intelligence Wise

Your business has been successful and booming for a long period of time, and you as the leader / entrepreneur, have been busy in your management duties.

You may be far removed from the ground level operations, not having to grind it out on the floor or crank out code, or deal directly with customers.  However, you are not that removed from your employees who have the greatest wealth of knowledge of the operational level.

Much can be learned from employees who know what is and isn’t working at the operational level, who know what the customer’s actions, thoughts and feedback are, and what other employees are saying behind the management lines.

Engaging and Interacting Frequently with Employees

As a manager, leader, and entrepreneur, engage and interact well and frequently with your employees.  Make it well known that you are openly interested daily about what is taking place on the floor.  It should be a part of your daily routine, either through inspecting your place of retail or office space.  The employees will feel more at ease when the management team is readily and physically available for open discussions.

Grab Intelligence from Employees

Setting the stage with frequent engagement and interactions will assist in your employees openly providing you with a wealth of information to improve operations and/or improve client and customer relationships.  These professionals in your organization may provide valuable recommendations and will look to you as the leader to implement some solutions from issues they encounter.

Make employees feel valued that they can share information and that you, as a tuned-in entrepreneur, are listening and willing to embrace recommendations for approval.

Encourage Continuous Improvements From Employees

To stay on the cutting edge and at the top of your industry, you will need your employees to think and act innovatively.  The best practices and solutions do originate from team actions, and so would innovative practices.

Empower your employees to develop ground-breaking practices that would set the units, team, and business far ahead of the competitors.  Create an environment that is rewarding and promotes recognition for achievements.  Depending on your budgets, you can develop incentive programs for high achievers and for employees that bring innovative solutions to the table.  You may be surprised at the untapped intelligence from all of your professional staff.

Strategy Plan One

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Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

Strategies to Handle Difficult Employees in Your Business

Strategy Plan One

March 25, 2012 

Difficult Employees

Every organization has difficult employees that are not necessarily the happiest bunch.

Whether is it a personality issue, organizational or environmental issue, it is par for the course to have variance in people’s behaviour, moods, or job satisfaction.

You could have the most successful, corporate culturally rich environment, with great working conditions and compensation and you can still have disgruntled staff.  No fear, there are some human resource tactics to adequately handle some difficult employees who may throw a temporary wrench into your organization.

Identify the Issues with the Difficult Employees

When you as a leader become aware of issues in the organization and with specific staff members, ensure that you approach the employees to better understand the scenario and to isolate the specific issues.  Ensure that in a confidential setting the employee has the opportunity to openly express the situation with you or your human resource specialist.  Encourage open communication in your corporate culture.  Be an active listener first before diving into any actions.

Solutions in Handling Difficult Employees

Take note of the issues the employee has expressed freely, and then ask for some potential solutions from their side.  Employee feedback is extremely important.  You may find that part of the operation or the way things are done in the organization is causing not only this employee but others grief.  Employees provide you with the needed intelligence at ground level.  This intelligence may not be something that you are privy to.

In asking for valued feedback, you make a disgruntled employee feel valued and part of the solution.  In normal circumstances, this should build higher morale with this disgruntled employee, and broadly across the organization.

If the scenario involves more than one employee or third parties, then you may have to engage with multiple parties, seeking solutions from diverse array of people.  Customers, suppliers, and contractors can sometimes be the cause of issues in your organization and with your staff.

Human Resource Resolution Mechanisms for Difficult Employees

With strong human resource policies and procedures your organization will be well equipped to handle difficult employees.  Whenever possible, your human resource specialist can be used to intervene in difficult circumstances to provide the direct assistance to not only you as the leader, but also to the employee.

Your human resource specialist may also act as a mediator between management and the employee in cases where there are challenges between staff and management.  The difficult employees may be more open to discussing the challenges as they may feel that the human resource specialist is one step removed from management.  The specialist can also provide the direct lines and information on the company’s human resource policies and on any labor acts or regulations.

Implement Solutions to Resolve Challenges with Difficult Employees

Once you nail down some workable solutions, be ready as a responsible leader to implement some best practices or solutions.  Implementation in any action plan is critically important to resolving those initial challenges identified.  Have a plan of action to implement those recommendations that were developed from feedback from the difficult employees and the advice from your human resource specialist.

As a last resort to difficult employees who do not change their behavior, or do continuous harm to other employees or the organization, dismissal of the employees may be the last action to resolve.  You should however, make every attempt to resolve before this last option.  Ensure that if you do go down the path of termination, that you abide by your polices, and any acts or regulations.

Following up with Difficult Employees

After implementation, follow up with staff and units on progress.  Is it working?  Did it resolve the problems?  If not, you may have to tweak your approach with a revised action plan to implement.

If your implemented actions have resolved the issues, then you may be on your way to achieving greater job satisfaction with all staff, which will greatly impact the performance in your organization.

Summary of Some Tips in Handling Difficult Staff:

• Encourage open communication on any topic with employees
• Empower employees to make suggestions and recommendations for solutions
• Make employees feel that they are a part of the solution
• Be empathetic, be a good listener
• Show strong leadership and implement solutions
• Track the results of the solutions
• Follow up with staff and measure results
• Be prepared and embrace a continuous improvement process to create a better environment for your valued staff

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Successful Conferences and Working Group Meetings

Strategy Plan One

March 23, 2012 

Conferences and Working Groups

Physical, face to face meetings at conferences and for working groups may be the best opportunity to build capacity and relationship with teams, while fitting in some essential training for your organization.  If designed well, individuals and businesses will achieve maximum value from attending and participating in these events.

While you, as an entrepreneur or business leader, may have goals for your business in hosting this conference, be aware of the needs and how this conference appears to participants to make sure the conference is a success and not a bust.

Successful conferences are ones that are rich in an experience, with a variety of topics, speakers and activities.  You will note how successful a conference will be by how well the participants are engaged and participate in sessions.  Attendance is also a key indicator on how well conferences and working group meetings are going.  If the topics are lively and can relate to participants, members will actively participate and add value to the experience.

If your purpose in hosting and having the conference is one of a mandatory purpose (i.e. safety training), you can add in experiences that allow participants to be active participants.

Here are some helpful tips to conferences and meetings for working groups:

• Develop the objectives
• Develop the budget
• Engage input from a wide variety of stakeholders
• Involve staff in the development of sections and topics of the conference
• Encourage staff to take the lead
• Develop a working group to develop the agenda and to work out the logistics
• Develop an agenda that has short bursts of presentations, both educational and interactive
• Share drafts of the agenda in advance to obtain valued feedback
• Revise agenda as needed
• Ensure agenda and all printed materials are developed and ready in advance

PowerPoint & Media at Conferences and Meetings for Working Groups

1. Variety of media is a key factor
2. Use these in a limited fashion to illustrate points, graphics, charts
3. Use points only and never fill up a screen with more than 50 words as no one can read that much on the screen
4. Make the participant focus in on you as the speaker as that is the richest experience
5. Break up slide with interactive activities at the table
6. Look at the size of the audience and ensure all participants can see the slides & media; be cognizant of the audience’s perspective

Speaking at Conferences & Meetings for Working Groups

• Speakers & presenters need to be prepared in advance and should know you’re their subject inside and out
• Speakers need to present clearly and directly with the audience
• Ensure presenters have microphones and that the audience can hear them
• Wireless microphones give the speakers the ability to get closer to the audience, to walk around and have the audience focus in on the presenter
• Ensure audio visual equipment is adequate and that technical staff are on standby for fixes

Venue Specifics for Conferences & Meetings for Working Groups

1. Choose a venue that is centrally located & not difficult to travel to
2. Choose a venue that is the right fit, right size and room for participants
3. Ensure that the room is capable for all of your Audio Visual needs
4. If the conference or meeting for working groups is longer than a day ensure that information on accommodation packages are readily available and could be added into the conference package
5. Design and layout of tables is important – “U” shape or table format is good for members to interact and engage in face to face discussions

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Successful Recruitment Options to Acquire Professionals

Strategy Plan One

March 19, 2012 

 

Human Resources

In today’s competitive, global marketplace it has become increasingly difficult to find the best people for your business.

 

In competitive growth industries employees have the advantage with many options for employment and self-employment.  Entrepreneurs need to stay on top with solid human resource hiring policies, procedures and practices.

 

Similar to any other project, as an entrepreneur or human resource specialist you need to identify your human resource issues through analysis of the current environment.  You will need to establish goals, develop methods to acquire professionals and a budget, and implement human resources procedures through strong project management.  One of the key parts of your strategy is finding the right source or recruitment method to acquire talented professionals.

 

Here are some sources, methods and helpful tips to help you find and secure professionals for your business

 

Recruitment Methods – Social Media

Bubbling to the surface in the modern era is Social Recruiting through social media as a method to get the message out on employment opportunities.  With almost 1 Billion Facebook users, over 300 Million Twitter users, millions connected in LinkedIn, etc, it is applicable to send out these opportunities on business pages within each social media platform.  Targeted ads on social media sites work too.  Most social media methods are free to use or at relatively low, controlled cost if advertising.

 

Recruitment Methods – Word of Mouth

If you are in a busy, social networking environment, you may have the ability to promote opportunities across your network.  You have most likely gained trust in your network contacts, and those contacts could vouch for professionals they suggest.  This would accomplish at least one level of reference checks for you.

 

Recruitment Methods – Intranet or Internal Posting in the Workplace

If you organization is large enough, Intranet (internal web network) or internal postings through email broadcasts may work to your advantage.   This may result in individuals moving across units or sections, but would be a method to provide developmental opportunities for staff.  Internal development helps retain staff and to build capacity within the organization.

 

Recruitment Methods – External Posting and Advertising

Many large job placement companies exist on the internet such as Careerbuilder.com Monster, etc.  With millions of daily users across these platforms, an external ad will catch the attention of an astute professional that seeks opportunities through a variety of platforms.

 

Recruitment Methods – Traditional Methods of Advertising Jobs

Traditional forms of advertising fall under this category, such as posting in newspapers, periodicals, and magazines.   Recruitment firms are still a good option if you want to outsource your human resource recruitment processes.

 

Obviously you will need to review any option with caution, to ensure you achieve maximum benefits through your human resource recruitment method and budget.

 

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Business Life Cycle and the Current Economic Climate

Strategy Plan One

March 17, 2012 

Business Life Cycle

In the normal context of the business life cycle, a business, product, service or idea will progress through development, growth, peak and decline phases.

This cycle normally repeats over and over again as businesses usually adapt and change with the environment, close to the peak or into the decline phases.  The resulting graph of a fairly healthy, adjusted business looks like waves increasing in height from left to right on the graph.

Current Business & Economic Climate

In addition to the phases of the normal business life cycle, other factors such as economic or global issues can alter the business life cycle.  In the current economic climate over the past couple of years, those business cycles have either peaked or declined earlier than projected.  In a recessionary period, many business cycles may be on the declining side, but as economies pull out a recession, cycles hit a low stabilization period and another growth period begins.  Many businesses in 2012 are coming off the declining phase, reaching a low and are starting on the growth incline again.  Some stock graphs sometimes mimic the business cycles of many corporations.

Business Cycle – Development Phase

This phase is the stomping ground for new product and business development.  It is the research and development phase behind ventures, with heavy emphasis on planning, testing and piloting projects.  In a repeating cycle this is a period of stabilization (as indicated by the trough on the graph), as companies have adjusted from declining phases and have stabilized operations and finances from a potential loss period.

Business Cycle – Growth Phase

Following the development or stabilization period, companies and businesses enter a growth period, where new revenues grow from new products & services, or improvements made in operations.  The growth, inclined phase indicated on the graph could be a result of efficiencies made in operations, to make businesses more competitive.

Business Cycle – Peak Phase

As products, services, ideas, and business reach maturity, they hit a peak phase where no further growth occurs.  Peak phase may indicate no further revenue can be generated from products, or that the business has reached its maximum market penetration, or that the business may have reached maximum consumer interest.  If you are keeping accurate, timely track of your finances and analyzing your trends, this would indicate that you may have to start making adjustments in business.

Business Cycle – Decline Phase

Many economists and business professionals have stated that the current global economic circumstances may have caused companies to enter the decline phase faster than projected.  In the normal business cycle, if adjustments to business are not made, companies, products and ideas usually enter a deep decline period.  The current economic climate may have accelerated that, but many statistics are indicating that the economies are turning around.

Business Cycles Repeat and Return to the Positive

As noted in the cycle, declining phases cause reactionary measures to once again achieve a period of stability.  Following stable periods comes growth phases and the business cycle repeats on and on.

Business Tips for the Business Cycle

• Be aware of where your company, product, service or idea is within the business life cycle
• Keep track of your finances and operations and watch for trends as these trends are your indicators.
• Be pro-active rather than reactive; being pro-active to trends may help you recover easier and faster from declining phases
• Be cognizant of the business and economic climates locally, nationally and on a global basis

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Age Statistics and Breakdown on Social Media Sites (Infographic)

Strategy Plan One

March 17, 2012 

Social Media Statistics

Different social media sites are used by different age groups for differing purposes.  Whether you use social media sites for business or other social means, you may find after reviewing stats and infographics such as this, you may want to alter or focus attention on sites that cater to certain age groups.

Courtesy of Pingdom.com and data from Google Ad Planner, here is an interesting age distribution breakdown of users on different social media sites.

Social Media Statistics – Infographic

 

From the above graphic, you can see that younger users dominate sites such as Bebo and MySpace and Xanga.  The more mature age groups, possible more engaged in using social media for career or business purposes, are the majority users on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, LinkedIn, and Classmates.

Targeting and the messaging around your products and services, or for other social means, is critically important.  Knowing statistics around age demographics on social media sites will help shape your marketing strategy and assist you to get the right message to the right target market.

 

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One