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Tidbits that may be helpful for your team in 2020

Research shows that starting over has positive results. This is the reason why we come up with New Year’s resolutions – the key is following through.

In business, reviewing our achievements and failures is often an on-going process, but with the new year, we are more likely to slow down and reflect on our success. The following four tidbits maybe helpful:

1.         Setting goals: Research shows that documenting our goals makes it more likely that we’ll follow through with them. Periodic check-ins can ensure we’re on the right path and allow us to adjust as we go.

2.         Refreshing your jobs descriptions: Use the new year as an excuse to start fresh by reviewing employee’s responsibilities and workload. This can help determine who may be ready for a promotion and also shows which positions may be redundant or no longer needed.

3.         Continue cross training: It’s always important to have a back-up for every position. If an employee is out for an extended period or if they leave the company altogether, you’ll need other employees ready to step in and take over.

4.         Schedule performance evaluations: Plan scheduled meetings that will allow you to give employees feedback on their performance (typically every quarter or twice a year). Keeping an open dialogue can provide much needed feedback on what is working and what is not and can save may employee relationships concerning something you may not be aware of.

Hope the above has given you some food for thought and helpful hints. If you need anything feel free to give me a call.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

NOT Hocus Pocus Pt.1

It’s not magic…it’s the difference between doing things right and doing the right things. The former is about efficiency the latter is about effectiveness. The secret, of course, is to be mindful of both. It is easy to be busy but you must first FOCUS on doing the right things — those things that matter most to the success of your company.

In short, effective leaders must drive the focus of the organization. Leaders must channel the time, talent, energy, and resources of the organization on tackling key priorities and goals. To help you manage the attention and concentration of both you and your team, consider focusing them on six key areas, and we’ll cover three this week. They are:

1) Focus on satisfying your customers
You are in business to attract, delight and retain customers in a profitable manner – period. The real value of your business is tied directly to your highly satisfied and loyal customers. Without customers, you do not have a business. Your focus should be on your customers and solving their needs and wants.

Regularly visit with the top 20% of your customers and keeping them satisfied. Find out what is on their minds. Aside from creating and executing a vision for your business, there is no better use of your time and talents.

2) Focus on getting results
You and your team need to focus on achieving specific results for your company. Establish the climate whereby activity is not confused with accomplishment. Where thinking and planning are admired. Where actual results are valued more than busyness. One of the most important jobs you have is to establish a goal-oriented environment with a solid expectation of performance.

3) Focus on continuous improvement
If your company is not improving, it is declining. If you aren’t getting better, your competitors may well be getting ahead of you. Therefore, establish a climate where continuous improvement and innovation thrive.

If your company is not failing occasionally, either your goals are too low or your rate of innovation is too slow. Failure is an incredible gift if properly viewed and used. Learn what not to do, readjust and move forward. Remember “Good enough never is”.

As a suggestion, once a week facilitate a one-hour business improvement workshop. Release the brainpower of you and your team. Brainstorm at least one good idea each week of something to try. Focus on implementing ideas that increase revenues, cut costs, improve operations or morale, or improve customer satisfaction. For that idea, assign a champion, due date, and key action steps to take. Good ideas not fully implemented are worthless.

Part Two can be found here.

Insider Tips from Gary Hartman, local Growth Coach

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

Creating an Effective Cell Phone Policy for Your Workplace

Determining when it is acceptable for your employees to use their personal cell phones in the workplace, and when it is not, requires a careful balancing act.

On the one hand, employers do not pay employees to converse with friends and family. On the other hand, a cell phone policy generally should not be so restrictive as to prohibit all uses of a personal cell phone. Employees may need to check in on their children, for example, or may need to attend to important personal matters during business hours, such as doctors or pharmacists.

Employers should take the time to communicate their expectations regarding appropriate employee conduct to all employees. Workplace policies should be expressed as clearly and unambiguously as possible, should not discriminate against any employee or group of employees, and should be applied consistently and fairly to all.

Here are some policies that might help create consistent and fair policies for your workplace.
1. Employees should make personal cell phone calls during break or lunch times to the maximum extent possible.
2. Frequent or lengthy phone calls are not acceptable as they may adversely affect the employee’s productivity and disturb others.
3. Employees should be encouraged to use common sense when making or receiving personal cell phone calls at work. For example, employees should speak quietly and reserve personal or intimate details for non-work hours.
4. Personal cell phone use, even when permitted, must never include language that is obscene, discriminatory, offensive, prejudicial or defamatory in any way (such as jokes, slurs and/or inappropriate remarks regarding a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, color, age or disability).
5. Personal cell phones generally should not be used for business-related purposes unless a business-provided phone is not available.
6. Employees should turn off ringers or change ringers to “mute” or “vibrate” during training, conferences and the like; when meeting with clients or serving customers; and if an employee shares a workspace with others.
7. The use of cameras on cell phones during work time is prohibited to protect the privacy of the employer as well as of fellow employees.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

Five Benefits of Hiring Temp Personnel

5 Benefits of Hiring Temporary Workers

A boost of manpower at your company has many benefits, but this influx of staff also comes with its own set of challenges. So why you should consider hiring temporary workers in the first place? Whether you’re stocking up on staff for the summer tourist season, or bringing on extra talent for a special project, short-term hires can help your company in a number of ways. Here’s a look at the top five benefits of temporary hiring.

It provides flexibility in an unstable economy

Smaller companies have to be able to adapt their team during busy or low periods, but hiring and firing permanent staff can be time-consuming and detrimental to morale. “Being able to bring on more workers or scale back the workforce to respond to the ebbs and flows of demand is highly desirable to business owners,” says Liberty Staffing. Temporary staff can also provide a quick fix for sudden turnover, long-term leaves, and special projects.

It gives your company access to new skills

The cliché of the temp tends toward lower-level admin roles, but the reality is that temporary staff can bring new skills and perspectives to their role that can, in turn, improve efficiency or streamline production. If a new project or product requires skills outside of your team’s area of expertise, a temporary employee can provide that new talent to keep things moving.

It saves you money

While the exact logistics of temporary hires differ from company to company, the process is usually far more cost effective than making a permanent hire. Hourly rates can sometimes be implemented rather than a salary, and with reduced – or at least short-term – availability to benefits and other company perks.

It can lead to meaningful hires

Finding employees that are the right fit for your workplace is always a challenge. Temporary employees, on the other hand, can provide employers with the chance to evaluate workers over a longer period of time without committing to a permanent offer. It can also alleviate some of the urgency associated with filling an opening in your permanent staff – having a short-term employee in place during your recruitment process ensures you take your time finding the right hire.

It can boost morale

The addition of short-term employees can also help the overall workplace mood.   “When your employees are forced to work double shifts, to work nights and weekends, and to take on extra roles and responsibilities because you’re shorthanded, morale can quickly decrease,” says Liberty Staffing. “Your employees can get stressed, become exhausted, and burn out.” Offering extra help during your company’s busiest periods (or when personnel turnover leaves your under-staffed) ensures your core team stays happy and productive.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

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