William Dennis

If you’re a business that employs a staff with a variety of skill levels, backgrounds, education, and life experiences, you may not be aware of certain employees who could be vastly underutilized. By tapping into the potential of underutilized employees you can bring a variety of benefits to your business that you may have been missing out on.

By allowing your employees to live up to their potential, they’ll feel more satisfied, too, and more likely to stay with you and not hop to another company. Here, e-Training Manuals explains more about tapping into your team’s skill sets.

Identifying Your Under-Utilized Employees

Review performance evaluations to gain insight into which of your employees may be underutilized. If you have an employee who consistently receives average or below-average performance notes, it may not mean they aren’t good employees; it may just mean you have them in the wrong position.

Get feedback from team members. Your team is probably the best resource for being aware of who on their team may be underutilized. An underutilized employee is probably not enthusiastic about their work, which is normal and expected if their talents and skills are not being utilized.

Using a Skill Assessment

The first thing you’ll want to determine is what skills and knowledge you’re assessing. You may already have an idea of a department or position you may want to assess them for based on the information you got from the performance review.

Decide what kind of skills assessment you want to administer. You can read an article about skills assessment that you can customize to your needs, which may work for you.
Or e-training Manuals have an eBook on How to conduct a Training Needs Analysis

Then develop an action plan. Once you’ve provided feedback to your employee about the results of their assessment, discuss where to go from there and work together on a way forward. You may want to provide additional training or new opportunities to take on different tasks. Work with their skills and their interests within the company.

Giving Helpful Feedback

When you’re giving feedback, it’s important to be specific. This is especially true if you’ve recently moved your employee to a new department or position within the team.

Make sure you schedule the meetings for feedback as soon as possible. It can cause anxiety and stress in your employee if they have to wait too long to learn if they’re living up to expectations in their new role.

Focus on strengths but be sincere. Your feedback should be genuine and authentic, or it won’t be received as being honest. If they have achieved excellence, then focus on that first to ease any tension and soften the blow later if you’ll be discussing other areas that need improvement.

Create Training Materials

It is important that your business have manuals and training materials to help both new and established employees. As your team members want to take on new roles, they will need to know what is expected of them and what resources are available to them. You can produce these documents in-house or work with e-Training Manuals to produce a thorough manual for your team.

Mentorship

When offering mentorships, it’s important to take time to pair the right mentor with mentees. And make sure the mentor has the required expertise in that field, too, and that they have the right resources.

Provide resources to the mentee, too, for individual study. In your website training materials, use infographics to make points easier to understand and retain. infographics can easily display complex information in a visual format that is easy to comprehend. You can make eye-catching ones yourself with an infographic tool that you can customize with images, icons, fonts, and graphics.

Establish clear goals and expectations for both the mentor and mentee. Schedule regular check-ins, specific skills to develop, and desired outcomes.

Help Your Team be Their Best

By using these tips, you can help unlock the potential of your underutilized employees, making them feel better about their job and themselves. This means they will be less likely to leave for another position. And you win by having an employee doing their best for your business.

If you’re running a small business, you’re far from alone. There are over 2.5 million actively trading businesses in Australia as of June 2022, with small businesses accounting for 97.5% of all businesses. Unfortunately, the survival rate for small businesses can be low, with only half surviving their first five years. Effective business management is critical to the longevity of your operation. To help you not only survive but thrive in the competitive world of business, we’ve put together a quick guide packed with small business best practices.

Business Planning and Growth

Whether you’re just starting your small business or looking to scale, these tips can help you stay organized, focused, and prepared for whatever challenges come your way.

• Define clear business goals and objectives, especially when initially launching your business.
• Invest in management training tools, such as e-Training Manuals, to develop the skills you need to lead your team and make informed decisions.
• Keep a close eye on your finances, monitoring your cash flow carefully as it changes over time.

Marketing and Branding

Good marketing and branding practices are crucial for small businesses to reach their target audience and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

• Define your target audience. Research their needs, interests, and demographics to tailor your marketing efforts to their preferences.
• Optimize your website’s content and structure to improve its search engine ranking and attract more visitors. Look for available and affordable Perth SEO services.
• Create a professional website, establish a social media presence, and use online marketing tools to reach your target audience.

Human Resources and Company Culture

Your small business relies on your employees to help you succeed. This is why it’s important to foster a positive company culture and offer employee benefits.

• Offer your employees benefits such as health insurance, wellness programs, and flexible work arrangements.
• Build a strong company culture and focus on creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome.
• Provide your employees with opportunities for growth and advancement, such as access to educational resources or mentoring programs.

Managing a small business effectively requires a combination of strategic planning, marketing, and human resources. From optimizing your website’s content and structure to offering employee benefits to keep your talent happy, implementing the best practices outlined in this guide will set your small business up for success!

Are you ready to advance your management skills? Check out e-Training Manuals for a range of helpful e-books on a variety of topics, from improving customer service to writing job descriptions.

According to research, career advancement is the number one reason for a job-based relocation across the United States. Additionally, while individuals between the ages of 18-34 years constitute the majority of relocations, those in the older category are open to relocating if the correct opportunity presents itself. If you too are planning to follow this path, this article by e-Training Manuals will provide you with an in-depth guide for handling all your relocation-related needs.

Choose a Great Location

If you are being transferred within a company, you may be given a choice between a few cities or directly assigned a location. However, if you’re relocating independently, you have a plethora of options to choose from. When shortlisting locations, look for the following features:

• A thriving job market in the field of your expertise.
• Friendly payroll tax laws that result in low tax for employers.
• Excellent public transport system allowing you to live on the outskirts of cities and reap benefits of lower housing prices.

Shortlist Housing Options

As you will be moving to a new location, it’s a good idea to start by renting a place to live. Renting allows you the flexibility of changing homes if needed while keeping your monthly costs in check. There are various resources online which can help you find the best rentals. Not only do many of these sites have an exhaustive list of options, but provide you with real-time insights related to housing prices and local attractions. Additionally, through their 3D viewing technology, you can virtually tour properties, saving yourself from the hassle of visiting them in person.

While renting is good for the short term, you should start planning to buy a home in the near future. Opt to hire experienced realtors who can help you find a home that meets all your expectations while easily fitting in your budget. There are plenty of homes on the market, but one you may find is a house being sold “as is.” If so, understand that the seller may be asking for less than market value, but certain risks are involved because there is no requirement for the homeowner to make repairs to the property as a condition for selling. This means you may be out quite a bit financially if major repairs are in order.

Calculate Your Costs

In addition to your rent, consider how much it will cost to live in your new location. Common costs to research include:

• Groceries
• Transportation
• Restaurants
• Entertainment

Moreover, you’ll need to decide whether or not to hire movers. If you are moving to a nearby state, have a car, and choose to carry minimum belongings, moving independently can save you hundreds of dollars. But, you will need to buy necessities such as furniture, linens, cutlery, and more post-move. Conversely, for those choosing to move most of their belongings across long distances, hiring movers will be a wise choice. Even though you will incur a cost, it’ll tremendously reduce your moving time and make the process easier.

Fund Your Move

If you are being relocated to a different company office, prior to accepting the offer, negotiate how your employer will help in the process. This could include reimbursement for moving costs, assistance in finding a home, an increase in salary to cover higher costs of living, or other forms of assistance depending on company policies. In addition, selling your home will provide a major influx of cash for your disposal. As reported by Time, work closely with a realtor who can get you the best price for your home.

Furthermore, start focusing on saving as much as you can to cover the expenses you expect to incur in the future. One of the best ways to manage finances is securing a job before you move. This allows you to create reliable budgets, have an expected flow of income, and cover relocation costs without making a large dent in savings.

Be Active in Assimilating

Post-move, NetWorkWise suggests focusing on socializing as much as possible. This can include spending time beyond work with colleagues, attending networking events, visiting local attractions, etc. While each individual takes their own time for adjusting to new surroundings, these activities will help you meet new people, form friendships and create a support group who you can reach out to in times of need.

Now that you know what it takes to make a relocation successful, it’s time to start planning your move and getting ready for the next chapter in your professional endeavours.

When you need an eBook that’s easy to read with concise yet clear explanations, experienced expert guidance, and simple “how-to” step-by-step information that shows you how to train staff, e-Training Manuals is your go-to source. Contact us today for more info

Starting a business is a dream for many. But if you’ve had money troubles in the past, owning your own company may not feel like it’s in your future. Thankfully, with willpower, perseverance, and a few good decisions from now on, you may be sitting on your own board sooner than you think. e-Training Manuals shares the most impactful and money-conscious ways you can elevate your new endeavour from idea to enterprise.

Take out a business loan.

It may not be easy to take out a loan, but there are plenty of programs available even for those without perfect credit. Your first step is to figure out how much money you need. To come up with the right number, you have to write a business plan, which outlines the details of your up-and-coming company. You’ll also want to think about the type of loan that works best for you.

Understand the basics.

If you’re starting a business, you obviously know how to provide the product or service that you intend to sell. However, you’ll also need to brush up on a few business basics. A great place to start is by doing some reading and research. e-Training Manuals offers a wide variety of business ebooks to help small business owners brush up on essential skills–from customer service to sales to management.

Another area to focus on is understanding payroll. What is payroll? It goes well beyond simply paying your employees or yourself. You also have to understand the different types of taxes and how to report them. It’s a complicated process, but using an organized payroll service can help. Your software can help you keep up with everything from salary and wages (including overtime pay and benefits) to less-pleasant situations, such as wage garnishment. You must have a working knowledge of these and other business basics, such as labour and discrimination laws.

Advertise the right way.

There are many different ways to market your business. While much of your traffic will come from your online marketing efforts, billboard advertising is still a viable way to make an impression on your potential customers. Often dubbed the “original search engine,” billboards are on 24/7 and can be targeted to very specific locations. If you want to captivate the attention of employees at a major corporation, for example, a few strategically placed billboards on major highways to and from this location will get the attention of your preferred demographic.

Save money where you can.

Starting a business costs money — and lots of it. But there are plenty of ways that you can cut your overhead in the early days. Buying used office equipment is one example. According to Arnold Office Furniture, you can buy electronics, appliances, and even decor at a discount if you don’t mind something that’s preloved. Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon are all great resources for these and other used items. Furthermore, with many businesses closing because of lingering pandemic restrictions, you may be able to find a liquidation sale where you can buy in person and in bulk for less. Another area you can save money is by outsourcing certain tasks, such as web design and business analytics, to a freelancer instead of hiring a full-time employee. While you might pay more by the hour, you utilize freelance services only when you need them and aren’t paying for idle time.

Starting a business when you have money trouble in the past is scary. Will you be a success? Can you live off of your savings until you turn a profit? The only way to find out the answers to these and other questions is to hop on board the entrepreneurship train. If you’re not sure where to start, grab the calculator. Know how much money you need, and then look for affordable ways to promote your business and save on overhead. A few smart sacrifices now are a small price to pay for a lifetime of taking control of your own paycheck.

Many of us have enjoyed working from home during the COVID lock-downs but have wondered how to avoid going back to the office forever.

Jill decided that there must be a way to make it happen. Her skills were valuable to so many businesses; so Jill approached a few companies to act as a consultant on a fee for service basis.
The take-up was amazing. Most businesses loved the idea of having her skills at a lower cost. In no time, Jill had taken on several clients, while still consulting with clients in between working at home for her original employer.

Relishing the benefits like time with her children, being able to work without distractions from chatty co-workers. Life improved, no time wasted commuting, improved bank balance, her husband even helped with some of the administration duties.

As the months ticked by, juggling the various aspects started to take its toll. Jill decided to quit her job to concentrate on being a consultant full-time. Once done Jill was able to take on even more clients however, without her regular salary her bank balance started to get a bit shaky. But every time she tried to increase fees she met stiff resistance. So with new clients, she set out the terms of engagement in writing. Jill was a great consultant, but sadly new to setting terms of trade, soon she was falling foul of errors and omissions in the terms she set. Worse, Jill had set fees too low in her terms of engagement, finding herself locked into working extra unpaid hours. It looked like Jill would have to try negotiating to get her old job back, even though she knew that would involve a pay cut.

Then a friend recommended she read “Become a successful Consultant” published by e-training manuals. It was a revelation. Jill could see how she had failed to plan. The shortcomings of her terms of engagement become apparent and so easily fixed. The chapter on setting fees alone saved Jill more than the cost of this eBook.

Read More about how to Become a Successful Consultant

There’s no getting around it: career setbacks are hard. Whether you were demoted, missed a promotion, or got laid off, it can be a disappointing (or devastating) experience. However, as difficult as it is to start over, a career setback can also be a door that leads to something better. For instance, by starting your own business, you can take control of your destiny, do something you love every day, work from home, and/or enjoy many of the other benefits that come with it.

With that said, getting a business off the ground and realizing long-term success is a lot of work. But if you plan and strategize well from the beginning, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Consider these tips if you’re thinking about starting a business after suffering a career setback:

Check Your Hobbies

The first thing to consider is if you have any hobbies that you would like to turn into a business. For this route to be worth taking, two primary elements are needed:

1. You must have a passion for the hobby.
2. You must be able to make money from it.

Whether it’s a hobby that you just do every other weekend or something you’re doing as a side gig to pad your income, you need to be passionate about it because that passion will carry you through the good times and bad. And some hobbies should stay just that—your hobby. If you can’t develop a business plan where you can make a living doing it, you will need to consider taking another route.

Check Your Side Hustles

If you have a side gig that you’ve been doing for some time, can you expand it? Similar to a hobby, turning your side hustle into a full-time business will require passion and a strategy for profit. The advantage here is that you already have experience in the craft and maybe even a small network of clients or customers. Nonetheless, converting a part-time job into a full-time is no simple task, so be ready to brainstorm and work tirelessly to build it. One way to find more work is to take advantage of online freelance staffing boards. These job boards have a large pool of individuals and businesses looking to hire freelancers in many different fields, including writing, web development, logo design, and IT.

Carve Out a Workspace

No matter what kind of business you start, you will need an adequate workspace. In most cases, setting up at home makes the most sense, at least in the early stages. Find a location in your home that will allow you to work productively, whether it’s in the garage, basement, spare bedroom, or hallway closet.

Along with outfitting the space with all the furnishings you need, make sure you have every piece of equipment necessary to fulfil your daily duties, whether it’s an office chair, desk, computer, set of headphones, or shop bench or anything else. And if you plan on working online and/or using tech, be sure to prioritize online safety, cybersecurity, and identity theft protection.

Decide Now to Learn and Adapt Later On

Finally, understand that you probably won’t get to the top of your field overnight. To be successful in any industry, at least long-term, requires you to work relentlessly at your craft. Before you even launch your business, make a promise to yourself that you will always look for ways to learn about your line of work and how you can be better. And since industries are changing each year, commit now to being adaptable down the road. To upgrade your business skills and increase your chances of success, check out some helpful business manuals from e-Training Manuals.

Starting a business, if you’re willing to work for it, you really can be the master of your destiny by turning your career setback into a business opportunity. Think of any hobbies or side gigs that you could make into a business, and create a workspace that facilitates productivity. Lastly, remain eager to learn and adapt to your journey.