Archive by category ‘Business Management’
The Power of a Handwritten Note
A week after Thanksgiving, I decided that it was time to do a little holiday decorating. This required me to move boxes out of the storage room to get at my decorations. In this process, I noticed a medium size storage box and my curiosity got the best of me. Upon opening this box, I immediately became absorbed by its contents. It was filled with treasures that stirred my memory and left me feeling tremendously nostalgic. As I sifted through special letters, cards and photos, I came across a handwritten note from a boss that I had over twenty years ago. The note was filled with words that expressed his gratitude, respect and admiration. His words once again inspired me and warmed my heart. I tucked this note back into the box for safe keeping.
With cell phones, email and texting, a handwritten note seems to be a lost art in business. While I love all our new technology, a handwritten note can be a powerful tool that can leave a lasting impression. To help make writing that note easier, I now keep a stack of note cards and stamps close at hand. This is a good reminder for me to write a note to a special customer, vendor, or employee for their excellent service, dedication, or for going above and beyond.
6 Ways to Improve Your “Too Busy Mindset”
The Holiday season is upon us and peace is often the last thing we feel during this time of year. Our schedules are already busy enough, so adding in the stress of holiday activities just adds to our overwhelming feeling of being “too busy”. Business owners and professionals constantly tell me that there is not enough time in a day. I concur with this and definitely have times when I feel just “too busy”. However, it’s at this time that I remind myself that this is a mindset. Without changing this mindset, the excuse “I am too busy” can spread like a disease in both my professional and personal life. Instead, I work at changing my thoughts and habits in order to help me accomplish more.
Preparing Interview Questions
In the fall of each year, our firm spends time recruiting for staff accountants and interns on college campuses and at the A & A Student Conference sponsored by the MNSociety of CPA’s. In doing this, we conduct first and second interviews with various candidates. It’s important to prepare for the interviews, I prepare by:
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Developing effective interview questions to help me determine if the candidate will be able to perform the job.
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Reviewing details of the job requirements, the skill competencies and the behavior qualities that are needed in the position.
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Structuring interview questions and putting them into an interview guide that is issued for each candidate seeking employment for the same position. The guide allows me to compare candidates in fair and nondiscriminatory fashion.
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Brushing up on inappropriate or illegal interview questions. It’s easy to get caught up in small talk and ask something of a candidate that really shouldn’t be asked. I try to stay alert to where the conversation may lead, even if the candidate brings up a topic; I look for ways to steer the discussion in another direction.
Promoting Wellness in the Workplace
As the temperature drops and the weather gets colder, I am starting to hear sneezing and coughing around the office. This made me think about scheduling our on-site flu shots. This will be our fifth year having flu shots on-site for employees and their families; it has been a successful benefit with no cost to our organization.
In addition, we have instituted a wellness initiative throughout our firm that has proven to be quite successful. In June, we were presented with the Gold Wellness by Design Worksite award. To my partners and my surprise, by having our wellness program in place, we were able to lower our health care premiums for 2011!
Work Hard, Play Hard
Whenever I mention the word “fun” to a group of business owners, they tend to roll their eyes and think work it just work, it’s not suppose to be fun. The new generation of workers will challenge this idea in a big way.
Did you know that laughter actually creates a bond that brings others together? Imagine a place where employees enjoy one another and share a laugh or two. It may be hard to do but employees who enjoy their time at work will excel. In fact, a fun workplace is not only more productive but it attracts people, profits and customers who like to work with happy people.
