It is vacation season and I am ready. I've got my backyard in shape so that daily I can take a mini vacation watching the birds and feeding my koi. And my plans are set for the annual family trek "Up North."
Most businesses will have employees going on vacation or just taking time off between July 1st and Labor day weekend. Dealing with vacation on a regular basis requires everyone in your firm to think about more than jumping in the car and heading out to the woods.
Here are some vacation tips so that employees will return from vacation relaxed and rejuvenated and those holding down the fort will not feel burdened.
1. Have a policy on vacation which will include how to request, time frame for request and how much is available.
2. Create a vacation planner - A calendar that all have access to is best.
3. Prior to vacations, rearrange work so that no one returns to "too much" work.
4. Encourage vacation coordination between your employees.
5. Do ask for destination contact information for emergencies and only use it for that! Even with cell phones, sometimes people go places without coverage.
6. Schedule time after the vacation to "see the pictures".
7. Announce job or corporate changes after the vacation season, not before.
The purpose of a vacation is to de-stress, relax and get rejuvenated. Helping your employees achieve that will help your company achieve its annual goals with less stress.
Don't' forget to plan your own vacation and try to have a few days where you unplug!
Copyright 2011 Linda Lucas Fayerweather
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Showing posts with label Employees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Employees. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Holiday Season - Ready, Set, Go
Even though the traditional holiday season starts this week with Thanksgiving, the stores are ready and the commercials on TV have already started.
As a business owner, one of my important business holiday jobs is to refine my business plan for 2011. Even though I regularly update my plan during the year (I analyze it monthly, tweak it quarterly), I like to start the new year with a fresh plan. So November and December are the months that I identify what worked; what didn't work; and what can I finish by year end. In these economically challenging times, here are some end of the year tips to get your plan in order and make the most of this holiday season:
1. Review expenses including inventory and supply levels. If your business is retail and holiday sensitive, make sure you have the right inventory levels so that you finish the year with "just enough".
2. Monitor your Receivables. During the holiday season, other businesses can be distracted by their own vacations, staffing and holiday parties. Don't let them think you can wait for your cash so they can have a more lavish holiday.
3. Remember Your Staff has holiday plans, too. Proactive planning and scheduling for all will make the work load better for everyone.
4. Manage Cash. Cash is king and during the holiday season even if your business is NOT typically affected by the holidays, banks are. Having an emergency fund will always bode well during the holidays and throughout the year.
5. Holiday giving. Know your employees and give what they will value. In economic hard times, scaled back parties have been the norm. Tips are available at Biz Know How - Parties. Whatever you give, be clear if it is tied to merit or a thank you for just being an employee. There is a big difference.
6. Say Thanks. If you don't like to do holiday cards, saying thanks to your customers, vendors and others that have made a difference in your business could be just that - a thank you. Thank you notes are never out of season or out of fashion.
And don't forget to get that plan for 2011 in order before it happens!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!
Saying Thanks to your Staff
Unexpected recognition for a job well done is very, very validating for your people. Whilst you are busy, you are also developing habits that, well, just creep up on you. This means that you do things; behave in a certain way - and now is the time to redress that. If you find there are some of your people you have instant, deep rapport with, it's just human nature to hang out with them more. Respect them and treat them well. Yet you could be missing a trick. And a trick that takes but a little focus to make the most of, this is about specifically targeting those who you don't have an instant relationship.
Make time for those you avoid and engage both in conversation as well as 'catching them doing something right and thanking them. Spending time with these folks might, to start at least, not be your favorite way to spend your time - but you may be surprised. You will also up the stakes in motivating a bunch of people who you've missed out on in the past. So, today, make a very special effort to say 'Thank you' to people you wouldn't normally. It will make a difference, both to them, you and your business.
Copyright 2005-6 Martin Haworth
http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com/
Even though the traditional holiday season starts this week with Thanksgiving, the stores are ready and the commercials on TV have already started.
As a business owner, one of my important business holiday jobs is to refine my business plan for 2011. Even though I regularly update my plan during the year (I analyze it monthly, tweak it quarterly), I like to start the new year with a fresh plan. So November and December are the months that I identify what worked; what didn't work; and what can I finish by year end. In these economically challenging times, here are some end of the year tips to get your plan in order and make the most of this holiday season:
1. Review expenses including inventory and supply levels. If your business is retail and holiday sensitive, make sure you have the right inventory levels so that you finish the year with "just enough".
2. Monitor your Receivables. During the holiday season, other businesses can be distracted by their own vacations, staffing and holiday parties. Don't let them think you can wait for your cash so they can have a more lavish holiday.
3. Remember Your Staff has holiday plans, too. Proactive planning and scheduling for all will make the work load better for everyone.
4. Manage Cash. Cash is king and during the holiday season even if your business is NOT typically affected by the holidays, banks are. Having an emergency fund will always bode well during the holidays and throughout the year.
5. Holiday giving. Know your employees and give what they will value. In economic hard times, scaled back parties have been the norm. Tips are available at Biz Know How - Parties. Whatever you give, be clear if it is tied to merit or a thank you for just being an employee. There is a big difference.
6. Say Thanks. If you don't like to do holiday cards, saying thanks to your customers, vendors and others that have made a difference in your business could be just that - a thank you. Thank you notes are never out of season or out of fashion.
And don't forget to get that plan for 2011 in order before it happens!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!
Saying Thanks to your Staff
Unexpected recognition for a job well done is very, very validating for your people. Whilst you are busy, you are also developing habits that, well, just creep up on you. This means that you do things; behave in a certain way - and now is the time to redress that. If you find there are some of your people you have instant, deep rapport with, it's just human nature to hang out with them more. Respect them and treat them well. Yet you could be missing a trick. And a trick that takes but a little focus to make the most of, this is about specifically targeting those who you don't have an instant relationship.
Make time for those you avoid and engage both in conversation as well as 'catching them doing something right and thanking them. Spending time with these folks might, to start at least, not be your favorite way to spend your time - but you may be surprised. You will also up the stakes in motivating a bunch of people who you've missed out on in the past. So, today, make a very special effort to say 'Thank you' to people you wouldn't normally. It will make a difference, both to them, you and your business.
Copyright 2005-6 Martin Haworth
http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com/
Monday, November 23, 2009
Rewarding Employees & Yellow Pages
“Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” --Napoleon Hill
Your authors are:
Linda Fayerweather of Changing Lanes LLC
Rebecca Booth of Imagine That
Pat Altvater of Transformations Institute
Paula Frazier of BNI of West Virginia
====================================
Rewarding and Thanking your Employees
====================================
Work above the agreed desired outcomes of individual performance is a choice each employee makes. When employees know what is expected of them (job descriptions help with desired performance outcomes that are time sensitive) combined with regular reviews, the choice they make beyond the expected achievement needs to be recognized. This recognition needs to match what the employee values. If the employee values family time, then a reward that would honor that time will be remembered longer.
A small business owner I work with asked at the team meeting if "any" employee would have time to do an especially dirty job that had been neglected by the recently fired cleaning crew. The self-selected employee did a tremendous job and was paid his regular wage, PLUS in the pay envelop, were 4 movie coupon tickets. Each time the employee goes to the movie, he tells the owner about it and thanks her! The employee feels recognized, respected and remembers the reward beyond the paycheck. The owner got a job well done and an employee that is ready for the next challenge.
Employees that feel appreciated and recognized will reward you with good work.
Copyright 2009 Linda Fayerweather
What's working in your Business?
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
====================================
‘Tis the Season
===================================
I wish I could tell you that Halloween is done for 2009; but I can’t. ‘Tis the season for Yellow Pages advertising contracts. Many of you may be nervous about the economy and you may be unsettled about your marketing initiatives for the remainder of the year. There is hope! My first suggestion is to look back at where you got your new clients. Chances are it’s not out of the Yellow Pages. For most businesses, I have seen Yellow Pages advertising drive price shoppers to the phone versus people with money to spend. So take a long hard look at how you spend your marketing budget and where those new clients are coming from. If the majority is coming from Yellow Pages, good for you. If not, then downsize, downsize, downsize that ad! Be careful, reps for Yellow Pages are notorious for not letting you walk away from a “deal”, so they’ll be quite aggressive in convincing you to stay. But check out these facts:
* Hotels have stopped stocking their rooms with Yellow Pages, because their guests are connected to the internet with their phones.
* There are more Yellow Pages books in the marketplace that people with telephones
* More people are using the internet to find phone numbers than ever before
* People are concerned about our landfills being junked up with Yellow Pages, so they’re not even picking them up any more.
Less is more. Especially when it comes to advertising in the Yellow Pages. You have my permission to not think twice about slashing that budget like Freddie Krueger would slash his next unwitting victim. BOO!
Aside from Coach Linda Fayerweather – many yellow pages contracts must be cancelled with a certified letter!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
Links of Interest
Bob Nelson wrote "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" available at:
More on SWOT analysis at http://tinyurl.com/SWOTcl
Have a profitable week.
Linda Fayerweather, Editor
Changing Lanes LLC
Your authors are:
Linda Fayerweather of Changing Lanes LLC
Rebecca Booth of Imagine That
Pat Altvater of Transformations Institute
Paula Frazier of BNI of West Virginia
====================================
Rewarding and Thanking your Employees
====================================
Work above the agreed desired outcomes of individual performance is a choice each employee makes. When employees know what is expected of them (job descriptions help with desired performance outcomes that are time sensitive) combined with regular reviews, the choice they make beyond the expected achievement needs to be recognized. This recognition needs to match what the employee values. If the employee values family time, then a reward that would honor that time will be remembered longer.
A small business owner I work with asked at the team meeting if "any" employee would have time to do an especially dirty job that had been neglected by the recently fired cleaning crew. The self-selected employee did a tremendous job and was paid his regular wage, PLUS in the pay envelop, were 4 movie coupon tickets. Each time the employee goes to the movie, he tells the owner about it and thanks her! The employee feels recognized, respected and remembers the reward beyond the paycheck. The owner got a job well done and an employee that is ready for the next challenge.
Employees that feel appreciated and recognized will reward you with good work.
Copyright 2009 Linda Fayerweather
What's working in your Business?
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
====================================
‘Tis the Season
===================================
I wish I could tell you that Halloween is done for 2009; but I can’t. ‘Tis the season for Yellow Pages advertising contracts. Many of you may be nervous about the economy and you may be unsettled about your marketing initiatives for the remainder of the year. There is hope! My first suggestion is to look back at where you got your new clients. Chances are it’s not out of the Yellow Pages. For most businesses, I have seen Yellow Pages advertising drive price shoppers to the phone versus people with money to spend. So take a long hard look at how you spend your marketing budget and where those new clients are coming from. If the majority is coming from Yellow Pages, good for you. If not, then downsize, downsize, downsize that ad! Be careful, reps for Yellow Pages are notorious for not letting you walk away from a “deal”, so they’ll be quite aggressive in convincing you to stay. But check out these facts:
* Hotels have stopped stocking their rooms with Yellow Pages, because their guests are connected to the internet with their phones.
* There are more Yellow Pages books in the marketplace that people with telephones
* More people are using the internet to find phone numbers than ever before
* People are concerned about our landfills being junked up with Yellow Pages, so they’re not even picking them up any more.
Less is more. Especially when it comes to advertising in the Yellow Pages. You have my permission to not think twice about slashing that budget like Freddie Krueger would slash his next unwitting victim. BOO!
Aside from Coach Linda Fayerweather – many yellow pages contracts must be cancelled with a certified letter!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
Links of Interest
Bob Nelson wrote "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" available at:
More on SWOT analysis at http://tinyurl.com/SWOTcl
Have a profitable week.
Linda Fayerweather, Editor
Changing Lanes LLC
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