Motivating Employees

An unknown author once said, “If you expect your employees to go the extra mile for your customers, you must prove that you are willing to go the extra mile for them.” Remember, your employees are customers, too; if you don’t take care of them, they will find others who can. Losing a star staff member can mean lowered productivity and efficiency, issues that are bound to affect your company. They can even jeopardize your sustainability and survival.

Certainly, managing human resources is a continuing challenge for business owners. Employees are the backbone and most integral part of every organization. Keeping your staff engaged goes beyond financial compensation. It’s a matter of creating “win-win” strategies. That is, adjusting your management practices to boost employees’ motivation, resulting in improved productivity and profitability.

Having the “3 Rs” in place will help you motivate employees and tap into their potential, which will strengthen their connection with your business, eventually coming to regard it almost as their own.

Reach Out

Just like in marriage, constant communication leads to a lasting relationship. A simple smile and greeting cost you nothing but can mean a lot to your employees. Since they typically want job security and stability, try to be as transparent as possible, and update them on the company’s financial standing and any happenings that could impact their job.

Another way to reach out is to schedule a regular one-on-one session, asking your staff how they’re doing, asking about their needs or concerns, and even addressing any personal matters that they may want to share with you. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, shared that he would always congratulate his staff on their life events, such as welcoming a new baby, celebrating a birthday, a child recently graduating, etc. When your workers feel that you’re aware of what’s going on with them and that you know what they value, they will surely stay with you. Maintaining an open-door policy can be a highly effective feedback mechanism as well, but obviously it needs to be within reasonable bounds. As the boss and leader, your words should have the power to motivate your people and inspire them to be at their best.

Recognize

Everyone likes to feel valued. Your team will appreciate being recognized for their abilities, beyond simply being paid for their work. Keep employees motivated by challenging them and strategically expanding their duties. You can cross-train them or increase their responsibilities (once again, within reason). The key is to head off the possibility of them growing complacent or bored without burning them out.

Another method of non-monetary recognition is to empower your employees the authority to self-manage and make decisions. Give them the opportunity to utilize their skills and expand their horizons. People are motivated when they work with less supervision. Manage your workforce but avoid micromanaging them. Provide room for them to share their thoughts and views on how they could improve their jobs, and the company as a whole. Recognize their suggestions and contributions, such as posting their names on an internal bulletin board or sending them commendation letters and congratulatory notes or emails. Whenever possible, broadcast their achievements to the rest of the team. They will be motivated to continue perform at a high level, and their recognition will inspire others to do the same.

Always acknowledge the value of teamwork. Develop steering committees to work on various organizational initiatives and projects. This can foster co-operation and help drive productivity, as well as create a more positive work environment.

Reward

Your employees will welcome your support and encouragement when it comes to developing and expanding their skills. You can  set them up in training programs that might otherwise be costly to them as individuals, but for you the ROI will prove to be positive for your business. You should also examine your compensation package and consider ramping it up. There are cost-effective ways to do so, such as:

  • Casual Friday or Jeans Day
  • Participation in sport activities such as a charity run (which can also double as an advertisement)
  • Allow telecommuting or working at home, which will help the company save on energy, supplies, and even office space
  • Involve your staff in relevant professional associations, depending on their expertise
  • Health insurance extended to family members

 

Motivated employees are a valuable asset in an organization. Motivation is a matter of coming up with innovative ways to spur your staff on and encourage them to work to their strengths. Designing attractive incentive programs without breaking the bank while still managing to solidify your workforce and potentially improve profits. Be sure to celebrate wins, and remember that the ability to develop a unique corporate culture is in your hands.

 

M. Beltran | DBPC Blog

Motivation is the Secret to Budgeting

Budgeting is never fun! It can be difficult to stick to a budget because most people don’t enjoy sacrificing the things they love like a dinner with friends or a relaxing spa day. You must remember that it is all for a greater good.

 

The trick is to stay motivated even when the temptation is strongest. Here are some easy, useful tips for staying motivated and for staying on budget!

Motivation is the Secret to Budgeting

Always shop with a list

Even if you’re only buying a pair of shoes or a sprig of rosemary, jot it down and head to the store, paper in hand. A list is a reminder of why you’re in the store in the first place and it keeps you focused. It makes you aware of the money you are going to spend and removes surprises.

A list is a plan and most people can stick to a plan.

There’s an app for that!

Your smartphone is a monthly expense but you can also use it as a tool to help you stay on budget. While there are a lot of budget app, two of the more popular ones are Mint and You Need a Budget (YNAB). Both allow users to create a budget with a few taps of your finger.

Treat receipts as gold and log every expense

Make a habit of keeping your receipts but don’t just throw them in a shoebox and hide them in the back of your closet. Create a filing system to stay organized and then transfer the information to a spreadsheet so you can filter and sort. This will allow you to see what you are spending your money on and make sure you aren’t exceeding your monthly budget per expense.

Create an inexpensive reward system

Your monthly sacrifices should be met with a reward. The reward can be free and as simple as a relaxing bath or baking some delicious brownies. If you insist on buying a reward, which is understandable, then set a $20 limit. Oh, and make sure you keep the receipt from your reward. You don’t want to break your good habits!

 

Motivation is the difference maker

Budgets work best when paired with a goal and that goal should be based on what motivates you. Keep that goal at the forefront of your mind and don’t stray. Do you want to be a homeowner? Does an annual trip to Cancun excite you? Do you want to upgrade your vehicle? Budgets are designed to help you spend less than you make. That extra money is for you to enjoy if your essentials are paid.

 

Be motivated, be headstrong and pay attention to the small details. A detailed budget will ensure that your finances are clear and manageable. You deserve to know where your hard-earned money is going every month and you don’t deserve the stress that comes with recklessly living without a budget.

 

 

Rob Shapiro | DBPC Blog

3 Things You Need to Succeed

Each one of us wishes to be great and successful. But often times due to society’s expectations, we stopped dreaming and just wished to make ends meet. That seed of greatness is still in you waiting to return. Successful people are mostly average individuals who made the average to extraordinary. Have you ever wondered what Bill Gates has that makes him so successful? How about the director/producer, and multi-billionaire T.V. personality, Oprah Winfrey? Or how about the young man by the name of Usain Bolt with humble beginnings who trained diligently to become the fastest man in the world? It is not chance or luck that they are where they are right now. They have these three things that made them rise to the top:

  1. Grit

Grit is the driver of success. It is the incessant desire to keep going especially when the going gets tough. It tests the strength of your character. It starts with a vision of what you want to achieve and makes you work harder than anyone else to achieve it. This is how you become bold by doing what everybody dares not to do. The “Buts” and the “ifs” are not a part of your vocabulary. You simply just do it. Thomas Edison tested a thousand prototypes, wasting a lot of money just to find that one perfect bulb that we use on a daily basis. Imagine if he quit on the third attempt. What a dark world we would live in.

  1. Mindset

To be successful, you need to have the right mindset.  You are in your current situation in life right now because of how you think. If you are not close to achieving your dreams maybe you need to tweak how you see things and how you do things. Be more organized or read more books on personal development. Self-help books on Amazon emphasize the power of the mind. Napoleon Hill popularized this concept in his book Think and Grow Rich. He explains that the mind is powerful enough to make anything a reality. Two important words by Hill: to conceive and believe. To conceive is the ability to visualize to the point that you are almost feeling it on the tips of your fingers, and believing that someday it will be yours. These ideas brewing in your mind need to be put into action. The impact of positive thinking is necessary for success and this shift in paradigm is discussed by Bob Proctor in his famous YouTube videos, that can be your path to success.

  1. Discipline

Once you’ve decided to be a better version of yourself, you need the discipline to continue on that path. Jim Rohn said that success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. And he believed that the key to a better future, is you. Have you ever heard of an athlete waking up at noon? Or have you heard about the diet programs required to stay in shape for competitions? All those sacrifices and time spent to develop oneself are the keys to success. Discipline is your fuel to success. For me, this is the most painful of all the three. We are all creatures of habit. To break free from it is difficult. How much more can you tolerate? Dealing with change or regret?

You have what it takes to be a champion. You have the heart of a winner. Your life has a purpose. Keep dreaming. Success depends on you.

 

 

M. Diaz | DBPC Blog

Job Rejection: Causes and Prevention

Have you ever experienced job rejection at some point in your life?  If so, don’t be discouraged.  You’re not alone.  Almost all had gone through the process.  It is commonly encountered, yet it can be avoided.  Though causing much disappointment, the reasons behind job rejection are oftentimes beyond your control.  Among these could be: the cancellation of the advertised position due to recession or cost-cutting; the hiring of a more qualified person; and, the hiring of somebody based on “who-he-knows” contrary to the “what-he-knows” process.

On the flipside, there are also reasons that are within your control.  Below are the common ones with corresponding tips on how to prevent it:

Resumes and Cover Letters

Lengthy, irrelevant resumes – Limit your resume to 2 pages as recruiters only spend 6 seconds when screening.  Ensure that it contains all the essential elements like the keywords indicated in the job posting plus any of your specific achievements that relate to the position being applied for.  It should be error-free, no discrepancies like employment gaps, and with simple but effective format.

Irrelevant cover letters – Customize the cover letter for every job position that you apply for.  Ensure to attach your resume when you send it via email.

Incomplete applications – Read the job ad properly and make sure that you comply with what the employer requires, i.e., video resumes, work samples.

Interviews

Being late – Always come early for an interview.  Arriving late will give the employer an impression of your carelessness and unreliability.  Inform the employer ahead if you cannot be punctual on the day of the interview.

Being unprepared – Conduct a research about the company and the position being applied for before the interview.  Nonetheless, do not forget to mention what you can bring to the table as the company wants to know how they will benefit from you.

Lack of technical knowledge or giving short and non-substantive answers – Respond in more detail to technical questions.  Showcase your core competencies by elaborating your answers.  Do it in a clear, concise, and engaging manner and give specific examples of competencies by using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) technique.

Inability to relate – You should relate your skills to the position being interviewed for or in addressing the company needs.

Lack of enthusiasm – Be energetic; show your interest and excitement about the job and the company.

Asking the wrong questions – Never ask about vacation and other related questions as this will reflect what’s on your mind.

Dressing improperly – Dress professionally and neatly as this reflects the type of personality that you have.  Cover body prints or remove piercings, if any.

If you are not successful in getting any job position, don’t despair.  Never ever make the mistake of perceiving rejection as a sign of failure.  Rather, view it as a test to your patience and resilience.  Rationalize by thinking that the firm which rejected you is the wrong company and that you deserve a better one.  Yet, be cognizant of the stiff competition given the large population of job searchers composed of the unemployed like you, the yearly addition of fresh graduates, and those from recent company layoffs.

Make it always a habit to analyze what went through your job application process.  Learn from each experience.  Identify your mistakes, make improvements and move on.  There are plenty of opportunities out there.  Widen your network.  Connect and make yourself visible.  Build your core strengths, be more competitive, focus on other opportunities, and continue to present yourself to the best you can.  Don’t give up!  Sooner than you expect, a better opportunity would come along.

 

  • M. L. Galvez-Ver

 

  • DBPC Blog

Socializing With Colleagues After Work

People in an office environment typically spend 8 hours a day, five days a week with their co-workers, often longer than the time they spend with family members. Whether we like it or not, our co-workers can become a kind of surrogate family. It is natural to bond with your colleagues, but as with most relationships, this has its ups and downs. Hanging out with co-workers beyond the cubicle can easily translate into better team dynamics and a more collaborative work setting. After-work fraternizing can be fun, but even with all the pros of doing this, there are cons that must be considered as well. These tips can help you decide how personal your relationship with your co-workers should be.

 

Everyone needs positive relationships in their day to day life, whether it’s at work or home. Work relationships are important on many levels, from encouraging teamwork to landing promotions or simply making the work day more pleasant. While all of you may be battling deadlines individually, together you create a constant support system that helps greatly when things becomes stressful. The main objective of seeing co-workers after work, is to gain insight into each other’s personalities and build better teams to improve work performances. Avoid letting these sessions turn into gossip whenever possible.

 

Most companies have an annual holiday party or activity. This is the perfect time to indulge in some healthy office fun. Stepping out of the staid office environment and having the opportunity to relax and socialize with the people around you on a daily basis, can be very liberating. But don’t let your guard down, it is imperative to maintain a level of professionalism in order to uphold your reputation. Be mindful of your alcohol intake, as it tends to loosen inhibitions more quickly than one might think. Having an excessive amount to drink around bosses, clients and your fellow colleagues can lead to negative consequences and regrettable behavior. This can include discussing controversial subjects in front of a supervisor or talking about an employee in an unfavorable light.

 

Part of being a professional also involves conducting yourself appropriately inside and outside of the office. You shouldn’t swear too much. Avoid controversial jokes. A good rule to follow is not to do or say anything that you wouldn’t at the office. Socializing with co-workers has its own set of rules and practices that are far different from hanging out with friends and family, since you still have to work together every day.  It is imperative to understand even if you’re not at work your social life will still impact how you’re seen at the office.

L. Paul | DBPC Blog

How to Overcome the Glass Ceiling

If you ask someone in the workforce what job satisfaction means to them, you’ll often hear it defined by a variety of factors, including culture, pay, vacation time and room for growth; in this instance, we will be focusing on the latter.  Nobody wants to feel like they aren’t able to move up in an organization.  It makes you feel unappreciated and can quickly result you in becoming disgruntled and disengaged.  What many don’t understand is that advancement has to do with a lot more than just being good at your job and that opportunities often exist but you have to proactively seek them out.  Today, we outline some of the best ways for you to seize the opportunities available in your company.

Define your own expertise

The type of work you take on, and the way in which you present yourself will decide how others see you and your role.  Take some time to reflect on areas where you have the most passion/knowledge for and learn to see yourself as a professional with respect to that particular expertise.  If you grow to see yourself as a marketing expert, for example, and constantly describe yourself and take on work in that capacity, then others will grow to view you in that light as well.

Don’t allow yourself to flounder in a role where you are merely performing up to standard.  Find ways to acquire work or assignments that allow you to take full advantage of your greatest strengths and really allow you to showcase your unique value as an employee.

Seek high profile projects that allow management to notice your strengths

A good work ethic is a useful characteristic to have, but it do much for your career if it isn’t directed towards something that the company is paying attention to.  Talk to management and co-workers about important projects coming up, and express your interest in contributing; however, to build the necessary trust between you and the company, you will first need to…

Study your workplace culture

Not all success can be attributed to the quality of your work or the depth of your expertise.  Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of whether people like working with you or not.  Keep an eye on common informal practices and expectations outside of your regular duties.

Network within the company

Very rarely do we accomplish anything completely on our own.  At some point, we all need someone to help open a door for us to walk through, and with that in mind, it is important to cultivate a list of allies at your workplace.  These are individuals who will go to bat for you when it counts and who will vouch for your ability to perform and support your desire to be given more important tasks.  They can also be people to whom you can express a desire to take on new roles.  Your allies will inevitably be a diverse set, running the gamut from co-workers to superiors.

Acquire additional training

Working on more important assignments may require you to learn new skills or expand your current knowledge set.  Take time to acquire new certifications that are relevant to your desired role and inquire about training programs offered by the company.

Landing your dream role or moving into a desirable management/executive position is all about being active.  Promotion tends not to happen if you wait around passively for someone to recognize your hard work.  By actively seeking out ways to make yourself visible to the higher-ups, you create opportunities for your career to keep growing and evolving.

 

Lance | DBPC Blog

Workplace Distractions

No one likes distractions at work or in their personal lives. There are many different types of workplace distractions that can occur, and several reliable solutions for dealing with them.

Minimize interruptions from technology and personal concerns
Limit your technology usage to the essentials, as anything else is basically excess noise and can easily become a distraction. Resist the urge to check your social media or look at your financial accounts. Checking e-mail constantly can also be a large waste of time, as it can distract you from completing your actual work. Instead, try to only check it periodically and focus on completing your present task. Avoid personal calls while you are at work, and in general, avoid mixing with play with work. Keep your personal life away from your workplace as much as it is possible, so that you are not constantly distracted. It can be easy to get sidetracked by online blogs, and news as well, but try to limit your time spent on these things. When doing research, do not surf endlessly to find more information or data. Instead, move on to other task.

Organize your desk, drawer and files on your computer
It is both irritating and frustrating when you can’t find your own things. Say you want to write a memo, or important document on your company letterhead, for example, and you are not able to find your letterheads, this slows down your workday and adds annoyance that can bring down your mood. To make it easier to keep track of things, separate new work into an incoming work tray and keep only those tasks which you are working on for that day. Keep your pencils, pens, calculators and other office supplies in easy to access locations, and make sure your all devices work properly in advance, so that there are no disruptions to your routine once it is underway.

Evaluate the office environment
Do not wait too long to inform your superiors, if you find it difficult to focus because of loud workplace radios, people talking too loud or coworker’s phones constantly going off. If possible, move your noisy devices to far-off corner of your office or disable sounds on said devices. The design of your office workstation also plays important role. The chair should be easily adjustable and desk should provide good ergonomics for a desktop or laptop. The surroundings also contribute to being distracted. Things like cleanliness, wall coloring, furniture and furniture can disrupt or inspire depending on how they are set up.

Breaks and workplace temperature
It is important to have right temperature in the office. An environment that is too cold or too hot can make you tired or irritated. It affects your efficiency as well as the quality of your work. Also, sitting in one place at the office can cause your body to ache. To avoid this, try to get up from your chair and try to move around a little for a minute every hour. Eye strain is also an issue during long work hours. To address this issue, try to look away from the screen and look at something in the distance to remove the strain and re-focus your eyes. In addition, try to take your lunch or break on time as it gives you much needed relief and energy in the middle of the day.

Different opinions
Everyone has their own style and talent and will have different opinion on how work should be done. Those opinions can sometimes be bothersome, but try not to lose your patience, and understand when your methods are the best for getting the job done. On the other hand, be ready to adopt if you find any better work style and try to improve and learn more. But keep in mind that you cannot make everybody happy.

Avoid excess meetings
Meetings in the office are not useful all the times. Try to lightly encourage your superiors to evaluate whether a meeting is necessary before holding one or whether it is relevant that you attend each and every one.

Manage your time and space
If you don’t schedule your time properly, additional work can quickly overwhelm you, causing you to become confused and stressed out. If you need a quiet place for your work, ask for a quiet place or talk to your coworker about giving you some quiet time to finish your task.

There are plenty of distractions at the office, but there can be just as many ways to resolve it!

 

U. Lakhia | DBPC Blog

Why Job Enrichment Matters

Known as an employee motivation strategy developed by psychologist Frederick Herzwig, job enrichment has been utilized by employers all over the world. It taps into people’s natural desire to succeed by helping them take advantage of their workflow. Its main focus is creating jobs with meaningful tasks, a range of diverse challenges and consistent feedback and communication between workers and supervisors. While it isn’t suitable for every businesses or every role, it can be a huge boon if used properly with the right people. Below, we outline some of the reasons why you might want to adopt a job enrichment process for your next role and why job enrichment matters.

Reduce boredom and increase engagement
Let’s face it, no matter how interesting it might be initially, performing the same duties day in and day out gets tiresome. Job enrichment allows a single role to take on extra dimensions and become less rote and mind numbing. Engaging work has a tendency to keep people interested, and a more focused workplace is always a plus.

Personal growth
Having a wider variety of responsibilities naturally requires the employee to expand their skill set. This is not only beneficial for the company, but for the individual as well, since it will give them real-world experience performing all sorts of tasks that they might not otherwise have been exposed to. These skills can be key to helping them advance their careers in the future. They will also feel more valued by a company that invests effort into developing in this way. This is especially true when they are offered constant feedback, so that they are constantly aware of what their strengths and weaknesses are. By allowing them to monitor their own progress, they will naturally take a greater interest in where their development is headed.

Increased autonomy
Micro management is bad for business, and job enrichment is a great way to allow workers to slowly develop their role into a more autonomous one. Employees function better when they’re given real responsibility and the freedom to overcome challenges in their own way. Likewise, companies can breathe easier knowing that their employees can handle multiple facets of the business without constant supervision. This enables them to focus their attention on the bigger picture rather than having to supervise every little action.
Be careful not to confuse job enrichment with increased workload. The idea is to attach more depth to a role by allowing the individual to develop on their own. That doesn’t necessarily mean just piling on extra things for someone to do. Also, keep in mind, there is no “one size fits all” with job enrichment. Some jobs and employees just aren’t built for it. There has to be a real desire to stretch the boundaries of a role on the part of both employer and employee for it work. It should never been forced on anyone – especially if the role is already particularly demanding. As long as you keep this in mind, job enrichment can do wonders for both the company and your next hire.

 

L. Wang | DBPC Blog