Posts Tagged ‘HR’
The Best Consultants Money Can’t Buy
Friday, May 9th, 2008
No no…I’m not referring to Paris and Nicole. Sorry for the bait and switch.
As savvy as those two are at marketing (themselves) I’m referring instead to good old fashioned business students.
We all know how the internship program works. Companies offer students an opportunity to gain "valuable experience" and some times even compensation in exchange for a semester of what can be boiled down to as free labor. The students will file, fax, answer phones and fetch coffee in the hopes that their time has been spent earning them a good recommendation and bonus points on their resume.
But now entrepreneurs are looking for a more mutually beneficial relationship between their businesses and students. And this simple twist on the old standard seems to really be taking off.
A recent New York Times article highlights a few of these examples including a parachute company that requested students compile a semesters worth of recommendations for updating their website and a gourmet foods start up that had the students compose their business plan. The students garnered real life experience as well as some other perks (the parachute company offered the students a free sky diving trip!).
Business students as contractors can offer a world of insight in the form of consultations and for the low low price of real world business experience, many jump at the chance to participate.
It’s certainly something to think about. For more information about the benefits of student contractors check out Hiring Cheap Help - How Student Contractors Can Benefit Your Business
Tags: contractors, cost cutting, hiring, Hiring and Human Resources, HR, internships, Rebecca Button, small business, startups, students
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Boss skills
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
According to a survey conducted by Yahoo!HotJobs here are the top 10 qualities employees consider necessary for being a good boss:
(in order of importance)
1. Communication/listening skills.
2. Effective leadership skills.
3. Trust in their employees to do their job well.
4. Flexibility and understanding.
5. Intelligence.
6. Teamwork skills and even temperament (tie).
7. Interest in employee development.
8. Ability to share credit.
9. Successful in finding and retaining new talent.
10. Presentation skills.
So if you are looking to cut down on employee turnover consider these things for yourself as a boss and also as qualities to look for when you are hiring for potential managers. Happy workers = happy business.
Tags: being a boss, Hiring and Human Resources, HR, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, Rebecca Button
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Creating a Successful Company Team Environment
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Many business experts believe that a team-based organizational structure is the most effective design for accomplishing overall objectives. If managed properly, a team environment allows each employee to contribute to the company’s success while working alongside fellow teammates to generate these results.
However, not all employee teams are successful. If members don’t fully understand the team’s importance, or are not recognized for their efforts, then motivation and devotion will be lacking, leading to the inevitable collapse of the team and its objectives. In order for a team to be successful, it’s important that certain basic guidelines are followed.
Team importance - Before employees can feel enthusiastic about their role as team members, they first need to understand the importance of the team and the power of teamwork. Employees should understand how working as a team allows for different skills, thought processes and creative thinking to come together to work towards a specific goal. Employees should feel excitement and motivation about working alongside others and making a significant contribution to the company as a whole. They need to understand the importance of their role and how valuable they are as an employee to the success of the organization. Without this groundwork, employees may not feel committed to the project or even feel that the team’s role is meaningful.
Objectives - Employees should be clear as to the objectives of not only the team, but of the organization as well. Employees need to understand how the contribution of the team fits in with the overall mission of the company. Even the roles of each team member should be understood by everyone on the team, so they know how team members fit in, what their skills are and how they will contribute to the team’s goals.
Authority - In order for a team to be successful, the members need to feel that they have enough control and decision-making power to achieve their goals. If employees feel that they are being micromanaged by having to get approval over even the smallest of decisions, you can bet motivation and commitment will be almost nonexistent. Employees need to feel that they were chosen for this team because they are important, intelligent and valued. Team members need to have some authority over certain decisions, timelines and budgets, or at least have the opportunity to make recommendations to management.
Communication - Obviously for a team to meet its goals, its members need to be able to communicate clearly, honestly and effectively, without being critical of each other’s ideas. Having even one team member who is negative and harsh with comments can hurt the productivity of the entire team. Teammates need to understand how to brainstorm and communicate effectively with others, even if they don’t agree with the ideas that are put forward.
Recognition - It’s human nature; people like to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts, especially when goals and deadlines are met. If your company doesn’t have a rewards program in place already, one should be created in order for team members to feel that their hard work is appreciated. Rewards should be given to everyone on the team, as it was the combined efforts of the team that allowed the goals to be reached.
Having a team-based company can increase employee productivity, loyalty and motivation. However, for a company new to the horizontal structure, it would be wise for the owners or managers to attend at least one seminar about team building. They can then bring their knowledge to the company and set up an effective design of company teams.
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, company morale, Hiring and Human Resources, HR, human resources, management, tips
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Company Wikis taking off
Friday, February 15th, 2008
I don’t know about you, but whether when I have a question about a person, a process, a product, a band, etc. my first stop on my road to discovery is usually Wikipedia, one of the most popular online information resources. And for the first time in history, the editors are the readers!
But the point of this post is not to sing the praises of Wikipedia, rather sing the praises of the concept of the Wiki. Did you know that small businesses are using Wikis to better organize and present information? Did you know that you could be doing the same thing?
More and more businesses are doing this because they claim it is far easier and more effective in communicating information throughout the company. Employees can create, manage and edit pages and keep each other informed and updated. Many companies use wikis strictly for internal use, but more are opening them up to customers as well.
Tags: E-Commerce and E-Business, HR, human resources, Marketing Your Business, Rebecca Button, Wiki, wikis
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Management resource
Friday, January 18th, 2008
Okay, so you’ve got your idea, your business plan, your funding, your location and you’ve hired some employees–but wait! You’ve never managed anyone before! Where do you even start!?!
Well if you’ve got enough savvy to start your own business, it’s likely that management will come somewhat naturally to you. But no matter how well versed you are (or think you are) in dealing with people, there are undoubtedly going to be unforeseen issues that arise that you will not be prepared to handle.
Since this will likely be the case, I recommend you book mark a website called
ManageSmarter . This website has it all. Articles, advice, tips, suggestions, etc. And it covers topics such as keeping your employees motivated, how to rev up your sales team, how to train your employees and also industry guides, expos and events, blogs and much more.
Hopefully it’ll end up being a useful tool in your "toolbox!"
Tags: advice, Growing Your Business, hiring and hr, Hiring and Human Resources, HR, industry guides, ManageSmarter, News & Articles, Rebecca Button, Small Business Resources, Starting a Business, tips
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Benefits of Outsourcing for Small Businesses
Monday, January 7th, 2008
This is a great article in the New York Times highlighting how outsourcing can be beneficial for small businesses.
"Outsourcing — the practice of using outside firms to handle work normally performed within a company — is a familiar concept to many entrepreneurs. Small companies routinely outsource their payroll processing, accounting, distribution, and many other important functions — often because they have no other choice. Many large companies turn to outsourcing to cut costs. In response, entire industries have evolved to serve companies’ outsourcing needs.
But not many businesses thoroughly understand the benefits of outsourcing. It’s true that outsourcing can save money, but that’s not the only (or even the most important) reason to do it…"
Click here to read the rest of the article.
For further reading, check out our article Outsourcing: Domestic Verses International
Tags: domestic outsourcing, Hiring and Human Resources, HR, international outsourcing, outsourcing, Rebecca Button, small business
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