Successful Blog

What is Workplace Personalization?

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By Kayla Matthews

If you traveled back in time and picked up an office worker from the 1950s, they wouldn’t recognize the modern office space as somewhere that you’re supposed to work. The cookie-cutter cube farm is a thing of the past, in favor of open spaces, natural lighting, and workplace personalization. What is workplace personalization and what are the benefits of personalizing your workspace?

What is Workplace Personalization?

If you’re not familiar with the concept, what is workplace personalization?  This is one question that if you ask 100 different people, you’ll receive 100 different answers, but most of them agree on one point — that personalization is all about comfort.  That can mean different things to different people.

Some might be more comfortable in a private office with a set of noise-canceling headphones while others might be at their most productive in an open-floorplan office where conversations mingle with business discussions.

To us, workplace personalization means making your workspace your own, so it’s a place where you want to spend all your time.  The average worker spends upwards of 90,000 hours working throughout their lifetime.  What sounds more appealing — spending 90,000 hours in a stark office space or spending that time in an office that you’ve customized to make it your own?

Benefits of Workplace Personalization

What are the benefits of workplace personalization? It can vary from office to office, but in general, workplace personalization can:

  • Encourage Productivity — People thrive in different environments. For some that noisy open-floorplan office is ideal, while for others it’s detrimental to their productivity. With that in mind, employees can bring noise-canceling headphones or even take steps to diminish noise in the office so they can be as productive as possible without interfering with others.
  • Improve Communication — It can be tricky to stay on task while you’ve got people walking past your desk or talking to you all day long.  Allowing employees to personalize their work space gives them the tools to communicate more effectively, whether that means putting a sign up that says “E-mail Only” or restricting communication to specific times during their scheduled workday.
  • Creates a Staff-Led Office Culture — Workplace personalization helps to foster a relationship between employees and employers that makes the employees feel special, creating an office culture that’s led by the employees rather than by management.
  • Keeps Costs Down — In some situations, personalization means bringing in your own tech and equipment from home, as long as it works with workplace security. This can be an incredible benefit for small businesses and startups that might be looking for a way to cut costs since they won’t need to provide expensive equipment.
  • Makes People Want to Come to Work — Finally, while it isn’t the only thing you can do as an employer to make people want to come to work, it definitely helps.

How to Personalize Your Workspace

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas to help you personalize your workspace so you’re comfortable in the office.

  1. Make it feel like you. Add knick-knacks to your desk, hang pictures on the walls, whatever it takes to personalize your space and make it feel like part of you.  What you bring might depend on how secure your space is and how well you trust your coworkers, but you get the idea.
  2. Make it work for you. If you can’t stand being interrupted during your day or ambient conversations bother you, soundproof your office or invest in some noise-canceling headphones and hang a sign on your door telling people to email or message you.
  3. Encourage others to do the same. If your employer is encouraging people to personalize their space, they might be hesitant to be the first to jump on that train.  Blaze the trail and others will follow.

Looking Forward

Office personalization is a new and emerging trend but it is one that will likely gain more popularity in the future.  However you look at it, those cube-farms that were so popular during previous generations are a thing of the past. We won’t be seeing them again anytime soon.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash

How Entrepreneurs Can Build a Stronger Personal Brand

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By Michael

While your company’s brand is key to its success, building a strong, personal brand around yourself is just as vital.

Since the modern consumer trusts people more than corporations, personal branding is more important than ever. Many people believe organizations and companies speak and act with only profits in mind.

When employees share content, it receives 8 times more engagement than the content shared by the brand’s social media accounts. Considering that we are bombarded by advertisements everywhere, this may not be so surprising.

Personal branding allows you to build an identity within your industry and gain a reputation that will benefit your business.

To establish a personal brand, you need to find a recognizable voice of your own, a signature image, and a standard that your customers, readers, and fans will recognize—just as with traditional branding.

Assess What You Already Have

Which of your skills do people need? What do people already know you for? What do you want to be known for?

Begin by evaluating what you have already done. For instance, if you have published some content, see which posts have performed the best. If you haven’t written anything yet, think about what people ask you about the most.

Your specialty doesn’t have to be the same as that of your business, but it should encapsulate something you want people to associate your business with.

For instance, Richard Branson, a master of personal branding, is famous for being adventurous. Because of this, many see Virgin as an exciting, risk-taking brand.

Keep in mind that quite a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs are devoted to personal branding. If you want to stand out, it’s best to develop a personal brand within a specific niche.

Choosing a general field like “human resources” or “marketing” isn’t enough, as they are far too competitive. So, for instance, if you are a marketer, you could focus on a very specific niche such as print marketing for small businesses, where the competition is lower.

You’ll have a better chance of proving your expertise with a niche focus. Even though your target audience will be smaller, it will be much more relevant.

Build Up Your Online Presence

Sophomoric Facebook activities, unprofessional Twitter feeds, and incomplete LinkedIn profiles are a strict no-no. One survey found that 70% of employers screen social media profiles of candidates.

As a self-employed entrepreneur, you don’t have to worry about HR checking out your Insta feed, but you do have to consider what impression you’re leaving on your customers and clients. Think of them as your employers.

Social media is the engine of personal branding, so one must treat it with respect.

Your audience will want to know more about you as a person. Social media gives you a chance to present yourself as a relatable individual, but still a professional.

LinkedIn has proved to be an excellent platform for personal branding, thanks to its organic reach. It’s a great place to share problem-solving strategies and personal success stories.

Short, 200 to 400-word posts with captivating headlines and interesting openers will grab people’s attention. By regularly posting content, you can increase your brand awareness.

You can search Medium and similar content-sharing platforms to check what topics are hot at the moment. Then, you can use those topics to jump-off your next video or blog post. You can stay relevant by offering your personal take on a current topic.

Get Others to Promote You

While social media is your greatest ally, you must exercise restraint while using it. You don’t want your audience to see you as a self-promoter. Jeffrey Pfeffer, a Stanford Business School professor, wrote about how self-promoting behavior can turn people off in his book “Power.”

Too much self-promotion will damage your reputation. Pfeffer suggests asking others to help you develop your personal brand.

For instance, if you are an SEO specialist who has helped a buddy with their business site, ask them to give you a LinkedIn recommendation or to share a story on how you helped them rank better.

Make a Business Plan

Treat your brand like a company asset. You need a 3-month plan with concrete steps that lead to your goals. Be as specific as you can. For instance, you can aim to have your first guest post published within the next 3-months or to create 2 pieces of content every month.

Just like with any other type of plan, accountability is key. You can find an accountability buddy who will help you stay on track.

Building a personal brand takes time. You’ll have to publish quite a few blog posts before you become a keynote speaker at a conference.

But, if you put enough time and effort into personal branding, you can expect a great ROI. You owe it to your business to start.

 

Author Bio:

Michael has been working in marketing for almost a decade and has worked with a huge range of clients, which has made him knowledgeable on many different subjects. He has recently rediscovered a passion for writing and hopes to make it a daily habit. You can read more of Michael’s work at Qeedle.

 

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Are You Growing Your Business for Better Things?

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Business person hand, keyboard

Being a business owner means a lot of different things to different people.

With that in mind, you may get to a point where you decide you have had enough of the business world. You may well want to go in a different direction.

So, what are you growing your business for?

Preparing to Sell One Day is Important

Even though your goal as an owner is to make your brand the best it can be, there will likely come a time where you will sell.

In looking at selling one day, you want to be sure your business is in position to proceed with a quick and easy sale.

For you to sell your business one day, look at the following to make sure you can check these items off your list:

  1. What your business is worth – Above all else, make sure you know what your business is worth. That is before considering pulling the trigger on selling. The last thing you want to do is get taken for a ride. Given you have worked hard to grow your business over time; don’t let someone else enjoy the profits. If you sell and do not get the real value of your business, you have wasted some time and dollars.
  2. What your industry is doing – It is also important that you know what your industry is up to. This means is it doing quite well or struggling right now. Go online and do some research to get the pulse of your industry. That research will include seeing if many companies in your line of work are up for sale. You also want to see how many are being acquired. If you are in the software industry, you can go online and see how many software company acquisitions have taken place in recent times. This will give you a better gauge to how your industry is doing. A lot of sales can mean people are looking to buy what you have to offer. Too few sales may lead you to hold off selling until a little further down the road. Either way, be on top of what your industry is doing.
  3. What it means to employees – Unless you work on your own, you have people under you. As a result, selling your business at some point can have a profound impact on these individuals. As such, you want to consider what may happen to them. One buying your brand may decide to incorporate some or all your employees into the new business. When this happens, you will probably feel better about things. If the prospective buyer will not do so, it may give you pause to sell right now. While you have to do what is in your best interests, caring about the people who’ve given you so much of their time is key too.

If growing a business for better things down the road sounds like you, do your best to position for success.

Remember, you got into business in the first place to make a profit and be your own boss.

With that in mind, keep growing until it is time for something different.

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes on business topics online.

A Guide for Starting a Private Foundation or Philanthropic Business

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By Kayla Matthews

Today’s consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of their spending habits and keep close tabs on where their money is actually going.

This has led many companies to reconsider their philanthropic efforts and begin supporting charitable causes. And, if you’re one of these businesses looking to boost both your revenue and your giving, investing in a private foundation or philanthropic businesses may be the move.

The Benefits

There are a number of advantages to becoming a philanthropic business or starting your own private foundation. One such advantage is an improved reputation. The public will likely notice the goodwill your company generates and will form a favorable opinion of your brand. This may lead to increased sales and even create a new market, especially in impoverished communities or those without prior knowledge of your products or services.

Moreover, if you donate to a local cause or organization, you’re taking company profits and reinvesting them into the same community that invested in you.

Another benefit of becoming a charitable business is your efforts will likely attract top talent. Younger workers are looking for more than just a paycheck — they want to make a difference. So, naturally, they wish to work for a business that values charitable giving. In fact, 79% of employees want to work for a company that contributes to society. And 55% would choose to work at a socially responsible company, even if it meant a lower salary.

Are You Ready?

So, if you want to attract both customers and employees by giving back to the community, it’s time to seriously consider whether you’re ready to start your own private foundation. Of course, one of the most important things to think about is the amount of money you can dedicate to such efforts. If you’re going to create an in-house volunteer team or commit to donating to a certain charity, there is no minimum cost requirement. However, you must still determine how much you can afford to allocate to philanthropy efforts.

And, in regard to starting a private foundation, traditional guidelines suggest a $1 million to $2 million investment. However, this amount may differ depending on your company’s size and monetary situation. And your initial investment will likely not amount to this large sum. Rather, your business and fellow donors will donate to work toward this goal over time.

It is important to note, though, there is a payout requirement for private foundations. This requires non-operating foundations to distribute 5% of their fair market value of investment assets to charitable efforts each year.

Starting Your Own

Once you’ve decided how much money you can afford to invest in philanthropic efforts, it’s time to begin putting your plan into action. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when creating a charitable giving initiative.

Decide on a Foundation Type

One of the first steps to becoming a philanthropic business is deciding what kind of giving you’ll be taking part in. There are a few options to choose from — partner with a non-profit, start a private operating foundation or a private non-operating foundation. These are three very common avenues your business may choose to take.

Partnering with a non-profit may be the simplest since you’re simply joining a cause instead of creating your own. However, this still entails a fair amount of time, planning and organization. For example, you’ll want to dedicate time to find an ideal nonprofit with which to partner, recruit and manage volunteers, — and willing employees — define volunteer roles, develop an orientation program and actually go volunteer.

Similar to a nonprofit partnership is a private non-operating foundation, which grants money to charitable organizations. And, as previously mentioned, regulations require these foundations to pay out a certain amount of money each year in grants. A private operating foundation, on the other hand, distributes funds to its own charitable programs. This type of foundation must either spend at least 85% of its income, or its minimum investment return, on direct charitable expenditure — excluding grants.

Know the Tax Requirements

The IRS requires all private foundations to submit an annual 990PF tax return since your business won’t be considered a public charity. However, you’ll still be tax-exempt as long as you donate the minimum required amount according to your foundation type.

In order to receive your tax-exempt status, you’ll need to file the correct paperwork and fill out Form 1023 which will inquire as to your foundation’s financial information, grant-making guidelines and other details. Additionally, the IRS may have questions about your application, so be well-organized and prepared to thoroughly answer any inquiries.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Featured Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Avoid Having Money Shortfalls with Your Business

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One of the worst fears a business owner will have is if his or her company is in the red for an extended period of time. Being so can lead to even going out of business for some companies.

That said are you at a point where you need to put some serious time and effort into getting your finances in order? If so, where best to begin this process?

So, now may well be the time for you to focus on company money matters.

Check Out Business Lenders

In your efforts to get back on track with company finances, a good start is the Internet.

You can go online and research business loan lenders.

In turning to such lenders, you are able to often avoid roadblocks that other types of loans can present.

Of most importance, you want to be sure you have all your paperwork ready to go. If you fail in this aspect, it can make it more difficult and even impossible to get the funding you need.

By making sure you have your documentation in order, you are one step closer to getting what you need.

Speaking of lenders, how do you know which one is best suited to help you?

It is wise to do some online research on the different providers out there. As you compare them, you should gain knowledge into which one has your best interests and options in mind.

Along with doing Internet research, also talk to other business owners you are on good terms with. Getting their feedback from when they sought similar loans and who they turned to can help you out.

At the end of the day, you know that a healthy financial outlook can mean good things for your business.

In getting to a healthier place, don’t be afraid to reach out for some financial help along the way.

Do You Need to Promote More?

One of the reasons you may be having money shortfalls is due to not enough consumers knowing about you.

If this does seem to be an issue, you should spend more time and effort on business promotions.

As an example, how much money and time do you put towards advertising and marketing? Given you are not as well-known as Coke or Amazon and others, it may be not enough consumers know what you have to offer.

One of the ways to make a dent in the brand recognition issue is to put more emphasis on promotions.

Among the ways to go about this if not already doing so:

  • Traditional email marketing
  • Billboards
  • Social Media
  • Sponsoring local groups and organizations
  • Customer testimonials

No matter what it takes to get your business in front of consumers’ eyes and ears, be sure to do it. If you fail at this, you could end up out of business before you know it.

When money shortfalls are an issue for your business, where will you start to get ahead of the situation?

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics online.

Do Your Employees Have All the Tools to Sell?

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No matter what your brand has to offer the public, it is key your employees have all the needed tools to sell.

Sure, if you run a one-person operation, then worrying what employees have is rather moot.

That said many business owners do have employees under them. As a result, it is important that they know what their workers need to be successful with consumers.

So, do your employees have all the tools to sell?

What Might You Be Lacking?

In looking at what your workers may need to make selling to the public easier, consider the following:

  1. Technology – They may have need for sales commission software. That is to best track results when working to sell. So, be sure your employees have the necessary tools. Speaking of such software, does your company have it now? If not, it would be well worth your time to look to add it to your office. The right software makes it much easier to track who is doing what when it comes to sales. Keep in mind that happy and organized employees tend to be better ones. As such, knowing the software you offer them is tracking all it should will make things run smoother. Also be sure if you have employees traveling for you that they have access to the right tech items. This makes it easier for them to not only stay in touch with you and clients they meet, but also record what they do for you.
  2. Experience – There is only one way for employees to get experience selling to the public and that is doing it. That said be sure to train your employees the right way from day one. Bad selling techniques can doom an employee early on within your company. He or she has a much better chance of succeeding (as does your business) when they have been trained right. Do not assume when they come to you with sales experience that the experience they have meshes with you.
  3. Marketing and Advertising – It makes it easier for your employees to sell when folks know you. As a result, are you doing all you can to promote your brand through smart marketing and advertising? That will go a long way in making it easier for your workers to form a bond with consumers. When a consumer knows about your brand, he or she can be easier to approach. That is of course unless they take issue with your brand in the first place.
  4. Confidence – Finally, do you instill confidence in your team? Sure, work can get tough at times. You might even raise your voice a time or two. That said providing support to your employees means more than resources. Show them you support them as both workers and people. Such support can go a long way in increasing the chances of a sale.

As you review what your employees have to make sales, anything you need to do different?

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics online.