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Creating a Work-Life Balance in an “Always On” Workplace

Employee Wellness, Flexible Work | Nov 16
work life balance - illustration of person skiing

Working from home can give many benefits to employees, including flexibility and time for their personal life. However, it also brings some drawbacks that you should seek to avoid. You need to think of remote work as a skill. One thing to avoid is the “always on” culture. In this culture, the staff can’t separate work from their personal lives, which can cause stress and, eventually, burnout. That’s why we devised the best ways to improve your work-life balance for an “always-on” workplace. Read on to discover the challenges of working remotely and how to combat them. What Challenges Can Working Remotely Present? 💻 In this blog, we will mainly focus on how remote working makes it hard to “switch off”. However, you should be aware of the multiple challenges you may face working from home. In a survey by Gartner, only 30% of companies said that maintaining their culture was their biggest concern regarding remote workers. Instead, they have other concerns. For example, when working from home, it’s easy to fall into the trap of reduced productivity. This can result from a number of factors. Source: Gartner Here are some other challenges you may face if you work from home: Feeling lonelier because you’re in a more isolated environment. Misunderstandings with colleagues due to communicating digitally rather than in-person. Higher cybersecurity risk at home. Lack of access to the same equipment you use in the office. If you work in a different time zone to the company, it can be challenging to schedule meetings and meet deadlines. Your manager may over communicate with you or micro-manage while you work from home. This may make you feel like you aren’t trusted. How to Create a Work-Life Balance While Working from Home Although there are many problems you can face while working from home, switching off is one of the hardest. When your home becomes your work environment, every part of your house can remind you of work if you let it. To help you combat this, here are some of the best ways to establish a work-life balance when you work from home. Managing Work Stress By Setting Up A Schedule 🥵 You should establish a regular schedule, just like you would if working from an office. A defined timetable can help you maintain a consistent pattern of work and designate non-work hours. It can also help you manage your workload. An alternative to a timetable is a task list with completion times given to each task. If you discover that you frequently work past your scheduled hours, change your schedule to suit your working day better. You won’t have to put in a lot of overtime this way. Keep in Touch with Your Team 📳 Regularly inform your team members of your working hours now that you have a daily routine. Remember to set your status during working hours if you converse using a messaging app. You may also make an online calendar to keep track of the team’s working hours. Doing this is extremely useful when your team members are across many time zones. Another option is to create a balance by having a hybrid working schedule; you work from home some days and at work on others. You can communicate with your team this way if you all work in the same area.  According to a study by Statista, over 68% of employees prefer a hybrid setup. This statistic applies to every age demographic, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. Establish a Work-Only Area at Home 💺 Working from anywhere you like is tempting when you have free reign of the house. You might work from the couch on some days and the kitchen counter on others. Although it could seem like the ideal situation, it can lead to distractions and a poor work-life balance. Adjust the workspace to your needs instead. Set limitations and only allow yourself to work there. Setting boundaries on where and when you conduct business can prevent work from encroaching on your free time. You must also make many considerations when establishing a work-only area at home. Discover Hobbies to Do After Work 🚴 Working remotely occasionally can make it difficult to leave the home office. Therefore, find interests you love to make it simpler. Your days can become monotonous if you don’t have personal time to break up the work week. Consider painting, joining a gym, or simply going outside for fresh air. You could even arrange a weekly game night with family and friends for some social time. A pastime not only helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance, but can also teach you new things about yourself. Also, making time for your hobbies by adding them to your schedule is essential. Don’t just hope that you’ll have enough time for them. Time Your Breaks In an Airtasker survey, the highest percentage of remote employees (37%) said that taking breaks often is the best way to stay productive while working at home. When things at work become difficult, it’s simple to become overburdened and worn out. With this in mind, take breaks throughout the day to safeguard your physical and mental health and work-life balance. Source: Airtasker Although they need not be long, breaks should involve getting up from your desk and moving about. Take a break from your job to grab a new cup of coffee from the kitchen, or stand up and stretch. In either case, taking breaks should help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Practice Mindfulness Techniques at Home 🧘 Sometimes, taking breaks might not be enough to destress you completely, so trying mindfulness techniques is an excellent alternative.  The most popular choice is to meditate, which, in its simplest form, is sitting quietly and clearing your thoughts.  There is no guide to excellent meditation; you just need to clear your mind and avoid distractions. Meditation and mindfulness aren’t for everyone, but they are worth trying because they can help with stress management. Even if

8 Strategies To Improve Employee Retention

8 Strategies to Improve Employee Retention

8 Strategies to Improve Employee Retention Retaining employees is an important issue for organizations worried about the cost of hiring and training new employees. Considering the reasons why skilled employees resign can be beneficial to businesses when considering future hiring processes. Furthermore, business owners can consider key aspects of retention and the changes needed to reduce attrition in the future. You can improve your retention rates with the eight simple employee retention strategies in this guide.  First off, why do you need to implement these strategies? Why Use Employee Retention Strategies? 🤔 Employee turnover happens in any business. It’s natural. The average employee turnover for your business depends on the industry you work in. According to Gallup, the cost of replacing a churned employee can range between 0.5 and 2x the employee’s annual salary. It pays to keep employees in their role, which benefits your business in the long run. Source: Gallup What’s more, a team member leaving is a downer for the rest of your employees. Investing in a thriving workplace culture where employees are happy and stay longer benefits everyone. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep employees in their job if you’re willing to put in some time and effort. Although some employee churn is inevitable, these eight strategies will help you reduce it to only the most necessary resignations. 1. Offer Competitive Salaries 💰 A key reason employees resign is insufficient compensation and benefits. According to Business News Daily, poor salaries and benefits drive employees to seek other opportunities. Rewarding high-performing employees with competitive salaries and other benefits helps to keep them on the payroll. Plus, competitive salaries can increase productivity and engagement. When setting a competitive salary, consider the cost of living in your area. At the very least, you should offer employees a living wage so that they do not feel stressed about paying rent. This way, they can focus on their job and bring their best ideas to work. Next, analyze the salaries set by your competitors. You can reduce high turnover by matching or exceeding the salaries offered by others in your industry. If you’re a small business, focus on the living wage and then provide additional benefits to attract the top talent. 2. Prioritize Career Development and Growth 📈 Employees often cite limited opportunities for growth as another key reason for resignation. Business News Daily reports that 26% of survey respondents would leave a job if there were no career opportunities. Offering personal development programs to improve the skills and training of employees is a valuable investment. By providing opportunities for upskilling or mentoring, employees will boost their capabilities and stick around. Make it clear during the onboarding process that your company offers growth opportunities. Later down the line, encourage employees to apply for management positions later down the line. Saying there are opportunities is one thing, but sticking by your word is another. 94% of employees say they would stay in their role if their role if their company invested in helping them learn. As a result, giving employees a path to improve their skills and grow in their career means they will stick around much longer. Source: LinkedIn 3. Skilled Managers 👩‍💼 Managers play a key role in retention, especially in organizations with several layers of management. If employees think their bosses micro-manage or have poor people skills, they are more likely to resign. Training and mentorship of managers are crucial to employee retention. It takes money to invest in training employees, but it’s worth it. When your managers are competent and helpful, it will boost employees’ confidence in their role. As a result, they can be more productive. Plus, they will lead in your management as head of the company. 4. Broad Benefits 🎟 While salary is an important factor in retention, many employees feel more strongly connected to their employer when given benefits. These include flexible working arrangements, entertainment vouchers, or employee events. Flexible working arrangements, such as remote work, are a key factor in employee happiness. According to Upwork’s “Future Workplace” report, over 40 million Americans will work from home by 2025. Plus, during the Great Resignation, flexible working There are plenty of ways to reward employees. From access to mental health apps like Calm to vouchers as a reward for good work, consider what your employees enjoy. Survey them to see what kind of benefits they would prefer. Showing your employees that you value them is an easy way to reduce turnover rates. While praise is one thing, benefits are a tangible way to express appreciation. 5. Employee Engagement 😊 Employees who are engaged and connected with their colleagues are more likely to stay in their job. Employers should develop engagement initiatives and programs to build a sense of community. Programs could include team building, rewards, or coffee and cake mornings. Welcoming new employees into this friendly environment is a crucial part of retention. All of your team members should feel connected and comfortable at work. This starts with a leadership example, so lead from the front by making your workplace a welcoming environment to be in. 6. Be a Leader, Not a Boss 🧠 Leading a team is about connecting hearts and minds. Paying attention to the happiness and culture of the organization or team is a powerful way to improve retention. When employees feel connected to their team and valued by their manager, they are more likely to be resourceful and efficient. Here are three characteristics of strong leadership which employers can consider utilizing: 1️⃣ Motivation: Motivate your employees to challenge themselves and consistently strive for improvement. 2️⃣ Resilience: Show resilience during difficult times to inspire your employees, solving problems creatively to lead by example. 3️⃣ Open-mindedness: Accept opinions and suggestions from employees to show a strength of character and confidence in your team. 7. Encourage Independence 👏🏻 Empowering employees to lead can significantly improve retention. By rewarding their ideas, solutions, and problem-solving skills, you can show them that you value them. When employees

12 Tips to Boost Employee Happiness in Your Restaurant

12 Tips to Boost Employee Happiness in Your Restaurant

12 Tips to Boost Employee Happiness in Your Restaurant Your employees may be performing well, but are they happy at work? In the fast-paced environment of a restaurant, employee happiness is vital and can largely benefit your business.  By putting measures in place and taking action to boost employee happiness, you’ll experience a better work environment and more motivated staff.👩‍🍳 We’ve compiled 12 tips on improving the happiness of your restaurant staff to help you create a productive and positive workplace! 🍴 Why is employee happiness important? Employee happiness is important in the workplace as happy workers generally feel more motivated and are willing to succeed. Source:  Indeed A positive work environment where employees feel valued and respected will improve happiness and productivity. This can lead to improved work relationships, increased performance and staff loyalty. Ensuring employee well-being is vital, and by following our 12 tips, you’ll find yourself in a much happier workplace. 😊 Let’s take a look at our 12 top tips: 1. Provide Training To boost employee happiness, provide training to ensure everyone feels confident and up to date. No matter how experienced new staff are, providing recurring training is important. This allows employees to voice questions or sharpen their skills in specific areas. Share your restaurant and company culture with them, how to use the different equipment and everything else they need to know. 🧠 Productive training will create a more positive atmosphere amongst all your employees, which is crucial to employee happiness  79% of U.S. workers say company culture is an important job satisfaction factor, and training will ensure everyone feels equally involved, creating mutual respect. You and your staff may also have off-site training to motivate them and enhance satisfaction.  2. Find Room For Growth Employees are usually always keen to learn or have more prominent roles in your business. So, prioritize promoting internally to allow employees to grow with the business.  Offer staff the chance to try other job roles within the company to keep them happy and engaged. Healthy and engaged employees, in concert with a strong workplace culture, are the secret sauce for business success.  For example, a server may want to try cooking to boost and improve their skills, and by offering them a chance to enhance their knowledge in the field, they’ll enjoy a new experience. This will increase job satisfaction and improve employee retention. 3. Celebrate Work Anniversaries💸🗓 Restaurants typically have low retention rates, which can have a negative impact on your business and decrease the motivation of existing staff.  You can employ measures to improve that, like giving a bonus or a rate increase to employees that have stayed for a year or longer. This will increase staff motivation as they’ll feel more appreciated. If you can’t afford a pay increase or bonus, other ways to celebrate their efforts include more time off or a flexible schedule. Not only will this increase staff morale, but they’ll also experience a more positive work-life balance. 4. Reward Good Performance⭐️ One way to motivate employees is by acknowledging them for their excellent performance to ensure they feel appreciated for their hard work. If your employees are rewarded for their efforts, they’ll be more likely to continue to work to a high standard. Reward your staff who are “Employee of the Month,” “Perfect Attendance,” etc., to help boost their morale and motivate them to work better. You don’t need to provide costly incentives because what’s important is that you make them feel that you’re sincere and thankful for them. 5. Give Benefits😇 Show your staff you value them to increase employee morale, motivation and happiness. A way to do this is providing them with benefits. You’ll find that your team will appreciate the benefits you offer, and as a result, loyalty will increase, and their motivation will thrive. Provide health care, paid time off, and more! When you do that, they will know that you care about them and will be more likely to stick around. 6. Make Sure They Have Great Working Conditions👨🏽‍🍳 You should ensure that your restaurant is not only great for your guests but also your staff.  To avoid unhappier counterparts, ensure proper kitchen ventilation to reduce health hazards and keep the environment as efficient as possible. This will also allow your employees to work better and more comfortably, increasing work performance and employee happiness. To ensure your staff are comfortable, provide a place for them to rest when they get tired. 😴  Another way to put your staff’s comfort first is by considering providing them with food so they don’t work on an empty stomach, as this can decrease their work performance.  7. Offer Compliments and Constructive Criticism👏🏽 When an employee does well, or you notice top talent, compliment them and appreciate their hard work. By remaining constructive and motivating, you’ll create a positive work environment, and your staff’s confidence will increase as they receive praise. If an employee makes a mistake or something goes wrong, try to remain as constructive as possible with your criticism. If you notice an issue, offer advice on preventing it from happening again.  Remain as calm as possible to maintain a positive working environment and atmosphere. 8. Create a Policy for Shifts And Overtime📆 Ensure your staff gets the rest they need to keep their morale and energy levels high. This way, they won’t get sick or have regular days off, and it will help them work to a better standard.  By allowing them to take time away from work, they’ll return feeling rejuvenated and able to work to the best of their ability.  Create and implement a policy about fixed shifts and overtime to ensure all staff have equal opportunities to take the rest they need. Provide compensation to employees who work overtime to avoid resentment or low morale. 9. Supply The Tools and Equipment They Need🍽 We know buying modern tools and equipment can be costly, but it’s a necessary investment in a fast-paced work environment like

8 Top Strategies for Social Media Branding Success - MyTommy.com

8 Top Strategies for Social Media Branding Success - MyTommy.com

8 Excellent Strategies For Social Media Branding Almost everyone uses social media nowadays. People use it to communicate, network, and buy or sell products and services. That’s why it’s an excellent idea for your brand to use it too. However, the social media landscape can be confusing for those not well-versed in its branding uses. This article will break down eight strategies that you can use for social media branding and why you need to use social media in your marketing strategy in the first place. Learn more below. Why Do You Need Social Media For Branding? Social media provides a direct and personal way to communicate and build relationships with your clients. By providing relevant and valuable social media posts, you can portray your expertise in the field, build trust, and develop customer relationships.  A social media presence can build awareness of and engagement with your brand. It helps you to stay ahead of trends and developments in your industry and is the perfect space to differentiate yourself from the competition. Which Social Platform Should You Use? There are various social media platforms available, but it doesn’t mean that you have to join all of them. Each has a specific purpose, so you should only use the ones that will benefit your business. Below, the social media platforms you can use are explained. Source – Statista 1. Facebook This social media platform is more personal than others because users typically use it to communicate with their friends and family. However, Facebook is great for advertising and cheaper than other platforms.  It is a great place to develop new business leads through targeted advertising. In fact, according to Statista, 89% of social media marketers use Facebook to generate business. 2. Instagram Instagram relies more heavily on visuals than Facebook does. Social media users on Instagram post pictures, videos, and stories (that are only viewable for 24 hours). You can use this platform to create content that shows off your products and services as well as company events. It is also an effective social media for establishing your branding. Posts can include your brand colors, typeface, and more. Developing consistency in branding is vital to a successful marketing strategy. 3. Twitter Twitter is more famous for promoting special offers and sharing news. But you can also advertise on this platform. Because of the mechanisms of this social media platform, people can easily engage with your posts through likes, retweets, and replies. You can also use direct messaging to speak with customers online, answering key questions. Twitter is an excellent social media channel for showcasing brand voice. This allows you to develop the relationship you want to have with customers. Are you relaxed and laid back? Or are your tweets more formal and business-like? Some brands find Twitter a good place to be more relaxed, often joking with customers and other brands. While it may not be direct marketing, it builds a rapport with your customers and endears the brand to them. Check out the Bugles marketers’ approach below: Image credit: Alidropship 4. LinkedIn As a site with professional intention, LinkedIn allows you to build social media networks with colleagues, peers in the industry, and some prospective clients. It’s well-known for B2B (business-to-business) interactions. Where LinkedIn differs from other platforms is the content you produce, which will have a much different target audience. It’s not a site that should be used for marketing to clients but to others in the industry. Social media content on this platform should be designed to build relationships and supply valuable content to others in your industry. It helps to establish you as an authority in your field. It may even draw in new talent. 5. Pinterest This social media platform allows you to share a visual story about your company. Through the pictures and videos you post on Pinterest, you can show your audience who you are as a company and the products or services you can offer. Pinterest also provides incredibly shareable content. Your posts can be embedded into blog posts around the web, pulling people back into your profile and, by extension, your website once more. 6. YouTube YouTube is a great place for marketing. It can increase your presence on Google and bring much website traffic in. As a video platform, the content you create can be a long or short form and should be as shareable as possible. 7. Blog Blog posting is an older format, but it is still incredibly effective. You can create a blog on your site to build more traffic and prove your authority in your field. You can focus on niche topics within your industry, using popular search queries to drive topics and, in turn, drive traffic to your website. 8. TikTok Source: Statista TikTok is a video-based social media site. It caters to a much younger audience than other platforms and can bring in a new generation of customers. In fact, the 18-24 age group is the largest of TikTok users globally. As of 2023, you can create TikTok videos lasting from 15 seconds to 3 minutes. However, this has changed multiple times since the app’s inception, with most updates lengthening the video times further and further. TikTok has its own set of influencers and tends to be the starting point for many new social media trends. 9. Threads Threads is a new Meta app connected to your Instagram account. It is easy to set up from your Instagram and automatically transfers lots of your followers over there too. Considered a clone of Twitter, Threads currently (July 2023) does not allow marketers to purchase ad space, but this doesn’t mean it can’t be used for marketing.                                  The app allows users to like, repost, and reply to threads from others, but there is currently no direct messaging feature. As the app is in its early days, not much can be

8 Workforce Management Tools Every Boss Needs

8 Workforce Management Tools Every Boss Needs

8 Workforce Management Tools Every Boss Needs If you want your business to be successful, you need to focus on managing your most valuable resource—your workers. A company’s capacity to achieve its full potential and maximize profits relies on high-performing staff.  HR departments are finding it challenging to keep up with the rapid digital change of today’s workforce. It is getting increasingly difficult to manage staffing and scheduling in the modern workplace.  In order to maximize efficiency and employee happiness, firms must invest in workforce management software. This automates typical, everyday HR operations to free up time for the business owner. Workforce management (WFM) is about making the most use of your workforce and assigning the right tasks to the right individuals. From employee scheduling to attendance monitoring to leave management to new hire onboarding, these solutions have capabilities for it all. What is Workforce Management Software (WMS)? 🤔 Human resources and the people who work for them rely on workforce management software to help them get their jobs done. This software can take care of: HR management duties Timesheets Labor-management forecasts Performance management Absent employees Task management Work schedules The best workforce management tools have multiple functions, so you can view all of this in one place. However, each one has slightly different features that can make it more or less suited to your business. Why Use WMS? ❓ In the fast-paced world of small businesses, managing your workforce efficiently is crucial. That’s where workforce management software (WMS) comes in, giving you the tools to streamline your operations and boost productivity. But why should you consider implementing WMS? Control Labor Costs: Keeping labor costs in check is essential for sustainable growth. WMS empowers you to accurately track employee hours. Plus, you can optimize schedules, and identify areas where you can save money, all in real time. 🤑 Enhance Efficiency: Time is money, and WMS helps you make the most of it. With automated processes and intuitive interfaces, tasks like shift planning, time tracking, and payroll become a breeze. By removing manual errors, you can free up valuable time to focus on what really matters—growing your business. Stay Agile in Real Time: In today’s dynamic business environment, flexibility is key. WMS keeps you updated with real-time data on employee attendance, leave requests, and workforce analytics. This enables you to make informed decisions on the fly, ensuring your business stays flexible and responsive to changing needs. By leveraging the power of WMS, businesses can take control of their labor costs, enhance efficiency, and be more flexible. Depending on the industry, companies lose up to $24.2 billion per year in lost productivity due to absences. Addressing these issues is therefore paramount for businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. Source – Statista With effective time management software, companies can reduce the chance of burnout and boost employee morale, leading to reduced costs. Furthermore, it contributes to employee retention with HR management solutions, reducing churn. This, in turn, cuts the costs associated with hiring new team members. Overall, WMS can have some huge benefits for your business. Here are eight of the best tools to consider. 1. Connecteam 🔗 Companies across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, transportation, construction, and healthcare, could use Connecteam’s workforce management system. It improves participation, transparency, and feedback collection. It also provides a wide range of communication options. As a mobile workforce management tool, you can access it from anywhere. While not exclusively a time management software, Connecteam has tons of management features, including: Task management Time clock with GPS Checklists 2. BambooHR 🎋 BambooHR provides small and developing enterprises to manage all areas of the employee lifecycle with a single solution. The mission statement is to “set people free to do great work.” BambooHR makes easy to focus on your employees by allowing you to hire, onboard, prepare compensation, and establish a culture. The features cover every stage of the employee lifecycle. From onboarding to payment, you can do it all in one place. Features: Employee workflows Applicant tracking Payroll tools Performance management tools 3. People HR 🧑‍💼 Applicant tracking, performance management, and other critical HR operations are all managed in one place with People HR. This cloud-based platform aims to help small businesses scale with the same level of HR management as larger businesses. The software helps to manage staff, from mobile workers to in-house employees. As a result, it’s a comprehensive system with tons of features. Features: Workflow software Appraisal tools Absence management Payroll software 4. Tommy 🐶 Want to put your employees first and promote a healthy work-life balance? Tommy is your answer. It focuses on employee well-being by providing tools that promote work-life balance, especially for shift-based employees. Tommy facilities work-life balance by providing a communications app for your team that is aware of your schedule. Tommy knows when you’re working with an inbuilt team scheduler and can customize message notifications around your life. Features: Smart shift scheduling Shift notifications Messaging Workforce analytics Check out Tommy today! 5. Oracle Workforce Management Software 🔮 Oracle links time, labor, and leave management to payroll, financial, and people data in a fully integrated HR solution. As a well-known company, Oracle is a trusted source. Its WMS helps bosses manage time, labor, and absences all in one place. In particular, the absence management software is useful. It provides data analytics to give you a full overview of your workforce. Meanwhile, the software also allows you to track time easily with simple data entry and flexible scheduling. Features: Absence management Time tracking Health and safety reporting 6. Paylocity 💸 As a cloud-based HCM platform, Paylocity helps firms manage their key HR operations. Designed with employees in mind, Paylocity provides human resources and payroll management capabilities. This software is more focused on employee experience, making it a good option if you’re searching for mobile workforce management software. While it also tracks attendance and assists with payroll, the employee experience features are perhaps the best part. Features: Payroll and

How to Hire Restaurant Employees the Smart Way

How to Hire Restaurant Employees the Smart Way

Best Way to Hire Restaurant Employees: 8 Mistakes to Avoid Besides your customers, your staff is the lifeline of your restaurant. So, it’s important to treat your employees well. However, you might be making certain mistakes that will be bad for them. What’s the best way to hire restaurant employees? And better yet, what’s the best way to retain them? In this guide, we’ll talk about the common mistakes restaurant owners make when hiring and handling employees. That way, you can learn how to manage restaurant employees effectively. 1. Unclear Job Description 🗒 Restaurant staff have to do various tasks. You need to post a clear job description that clearly describes the responsibilities and goals of the role. Without it, your employees will become confused about their job. They won’t know how to contribute well to your restaurant, stopping them from being productive. Plus, unclear job descriptions can contribute to high employee turnover. Unhappy staff won’t stick around, so you need to make it clear what they will be doing in their day-to-day. You should also post job openings on multiple channels, including social media, job boards, and more. That way, job seekers will find your business easily. 2. Insufficient Training 🤔 Whether your employees are experienced or not, you need to provide ongoing training. Onboarding training during the hiring process is not enough on its own. Your staff are human beings, and there’s a chance they’ll forget the things taught when they first arrived. Allocate time for training and upskilling, or at least a refresher course. Source: LinkedIn Not only will training help your staff get clarity on their job, but it will also enhance their skill set. It benefits the business as a whole. Also, you should provide regular feedback on your staff’s work. If you let them know they can ask you anything about their job, there won’t be any confusion. 3. Communicating Poorly 🗣 Communication is the key to your restaurant’s success. A restaurant business is like a well-oiled machine with a lot of moving part. Each part needs to know its role in order for the machine to work properly. Hold regular meetings to update your staff on the company’s goals so they can help you achieve them. If they know what goals to work toward, they can implement them in day-to-day restaurant operations. Ask your restaurant team for comments and suggestions, too. They might see aspects of your business you haven’t noticed. When you open the floor to your staff and let your employees know they can talk to you, it will do wonders for your business. 4. Not Promoting Internally 🧑🏻‍🍳 When you need to fill a higher position, make sure you promote internally instead of hiring external candidates. By doing this, your staff will see that they have room for growth and will be loyal to you as well. For example, if you want to hire an executive chef, consider training and promoting the sous chef. You will be surprised to see how many qualified candidates are right under your nose! It will also save you time and money. Job posting in itself can be costly. Training external candidates can be expensive. But, because your staff already know the restaurant like the back of their hand, you can conserve valuable resources. 5. No Staff Appreciation ❤️ If you want to reduce employee turnover, it’s crucial to show your staff that you appreciate them. You can do this my complimenting them when they’re right and correcting them when they’re wrong. You can also consider giving out awards, like employee of the month, attendance rewards, or bonuses for staying in their role for extended periods of time. Alongside individual awards, consider implementing team building exercises and company days out to help your staff gel. 6. Improper Delegation of Tasks 😣 To help reduce the workload of some employees, you need to delegate tasks to those who can handle them properly. Providing them with more responsibilities shows you can trust them, and it will help improve their skills and knowledge. However, you need to ensure that you don’t overload your staff with work because they may have a burnout – and that benefits nobody! 7. No Flexible Schedules 🕜 The restaurant industry is demanding, and some employees work very long hours. Because of this, they don’t have a healthy work-life balance. This can easily lead to burnout. By offering flexible employee schedules and having an overtime policy in place, you can reduce overworking and provide more rest to your employees. Happy employees are productive ones, so keep this in mind when setting a rota. 8. Low Compensation 💰 If possible, provide your staff with market rate or higher salaries. This way, they won’t easily resign when they find another role that pays higher. By doing this, you’ll also save time and money hiring and training replacements. The restaurant industry has a huge turnover rate, with roughly 75% churn. When faced with low wages and long hours, many staff will leave restaurant jobs for something more fulfilling. By making an effort to compensate employees, you will build loyalty and satisfaction. Plus, you’ll build long-lasting relationships with skilled and productive staff. How to Motivate Restaurant Employees 😁 There are plenty of ways to motivate your employees. Try using the following suggestions: Motivating your staff is about fostering a positive company culture that employees want to be a part of. An employee-centric mindset will help you keep employees happy and retain staff. Summing up: Best Way to Hire Restaurant Employees It’s not easy to own a restaurant. But, when you avoid these common mistakes, your business can grow and reach the peak of its success. It’s essential to prioritize your employees and make them feel valued. By offering bonuses, incentives, career paths, and more, you can motivate staff to work hard. Use this guide as a checklist to make sure you’re on the right track. Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll make your staff happy in no

6 Key Ways Small Business Owners Can Master Wellbeing

6 Key Ways Small Business Owners Can Master Wellbeing

6 Ways Small Businesses Can Master Employer Wellbeing Following the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace wellness programs have become increasingly common. Small business owners are under more stress, so they need wellness programs to help them cope and keep their businesses running. The pandemic aside, it’s essential to take care of mental well-being. More than 1 in 5 people will experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, so we need to try and help each other through the difficult moments. In a recent Xero study, small business owners had a lower than average life satisfaction, likely due to the stresses that come alongside managing a business. As an employer, it’s important to take care of your well-being so that your emotional well-being can trickle down to the rest of your company. However, keeping these within budget as a small business can be challenging. Here are six ways you can improve your employer well-being. 1. Mental Health 🧠 True well-being includes both physical and mental health. Prioritizing your mental health through daily activities can make a huge difference. For example, daily meditation offers many mental health benefits. Consider using an app like Calm or Headspace to help you learn meditation techniques. Another technique is to set aside your lunch break properly. Ensuring you get proper breaks throughout the day can work wonders for your mental health. You could even go for a walk on your break, benefitting your physical, emotional, and social well-being (if you go with someone). According to Gallup, poor mental health among employees loses business $340 per day for full-time workers and $170 per day for part-time workers. Now imagine these numbers when it’s the CEO who’s struggling! It’s essential to prioritize your emotional well-being so that you can remain productive and look after your staff. Supporting employee well-being is essential, but it can only happen when you look after yourself, too. 2. Time Management 🕐 Running your own business has many advantages, and one of them is the privilege of time. While having control of your own time is a major benefit, the responsibilities of being a business owner can create uncertainty and stress. It’s essential to prioritize time management. There are apps you can use, including Tommy, to help you see how you’re spending your time at work. Getting organized can significantly improve your productivity, reducing stress by helping you tackle the to-do list. When you allocate time for rest and breaks, too, it encourages mental well-being at work. When you don’t allow time for flexibility and breaks, you’re bound to encounter employee burnout. This applies to business owners, too. Make sure you’re clear on rules for breaks and vacations, encouraging your employees to take them. Lead by example by taking your own breaks every now and then. 3. Healthy Lifestyle 🏃‍♂️ Physical well-being should be another priority, as working out can have long-term benefits lasting into old age. It’s important to get moving, especially if you find yourself spending long hours at your desk! Have you experienced back pain or headaches recently? That could be to do with sitting down at work. Not only can you get rid of aches and pains, but working out can also get those endorphins flowing, increasing worker productivity. 4. Work-Life Balance ⚖️ Work-life balance is crucial, but for some small business owners, it’s difficult to force yourself to switch off. However, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for both yourself and your employees’ health. If you want to improve employee well-being, work-life balance is a great place to start. Consider implementing optional remote working programs if possible, but still providing a way for employees to connect and socialize. Furthermore, make sure you’re paying fair wages to alleviate financial stress. Source: Zippia Employee wellness programs are, therefore, invaluable. As an employer, you can also take part in these programs. 5. Connecting with Colleagues ❤️ A strong support system is valuable for any small business owner. The need for support is higher when you’re struggling. Asking for help might seem hard, but it’s essential if you want to make improvements. Your support system can include family and friends, but it also includes connecting with employees and colleagues. After all, if you know what’s going on with others in your business, you can eliminate the stress of the unknown. Colleagues can also help you tackle feelings of isolation, which are especially important if you work from home. By building connections with those at work, you can boost employee engagement and ensure everyone is happy. Plus, it fosters a fun work environment. As mentioned above, an employee well-being program is a great way to foster a positive working environment. With team-building exercises and other social events, you can also 6. Journalling 📔 Journalling is an invaluable way to alleviate stress and anxiety. By identifying and recording your emotions, you can get it all out and leave it on the page. Have you heard of the Morning Pages technique? It began as a way for artists and writers to boost their creativity but is now commonly used as a well-being technique. How to do morning pages: Get a small notebook or legal pad. Set aside half an hour each day. Write three continuous pages of stream of consciousness. It can include to-do lists, dreams, things you’re worried about, or things you’re grateful for. Leave everything on the page. Write everything, confident that nobody will see it. Don’t read it back, but feel free to note down anything you want to use for work. Recognize there is no right way to do this technique; it’s all about what works best for you. Journalling in this way is a fantastic way to reduce your stress levels by getting everything out. It can be very freeing. Final Thoughts: How to Improve Your Employer Wellbeing Employee mental health is a hot topic in the post-pandemic world. But small business owners also have to take care of their own well-being. It’s essential to take care of

11 Game-Changing Tips to Keep Employee Burnout at Bay

11 Game-Changing Tips to Keep Employee Burnout at Bay

11 Game-Changing Tips to Keep Employee Burnout at Bay Ever found yourself feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and that you just can’t catch up, no matter how hard you try? Then, you’ve experienced burnout, along with 89% of American workers this past year, according to Zippia. It’s a nasty mix of mental, emotional, and physical fatigue – a direct result of extended periods of stress. When our workload feels like a monstrous, relentless wave that keeps coming, burnout can happen. And sadly, if you’ve got burned-out employees at your workplace, that relentless work-wave can be enough to make workers jump ship and leave the company. 🌊⚠️ High levels of workplace stress among your team members are bad for their engagement and productivity and generally leads to an all-round negative workplace culture. But don’t fret! We’ve put together 11 handy tips to share to reduce stress, keep levels of burnout down, and help employees feel relaxed and valued in their work. 1. Prioritize Mental Health 🧠 Just like in physical health, the mental health of all employees is crucial. It will affect their work and their well-being, their personal and professional lives, so everyone should take it more seriously and speak transparently about mental health in the workplace. Yet, we know there is still a stigma attached to discussions around mental health for many people, so it could be better to talk to them as a group rather than individually. Let them know that if our minds aren’t in the right place, our work and personal lives can really take a hit. Consider introducing an anonymous rating system to gauge your team’s emotional state and mental well-being. You could also bring in an expert to chat about mental health if you feel underqualified to speak to these issues. Even though it may be hard to know if a person has a mental health problem, try to observe your teammates and figure out if they need help or encouragement. If someone opens up to you, listen to them and be supportive and empathetic. And remember to keep it confidential because if it ever leaks, the employees may lose trust in you. Employees engaging with their own mental health is often the first step to preventing burnout. 2. Embrace the Art (and the Right!) of Taking Breaks We’re not machines, and even machines need a cool-down period from time to time! 🤖 You could organize a morning meditation or breathing exercise for employees and encourage coffee breaks or brisk walks to split up the day. ☕ If you feel like an employee is too burnt out and needing a breather, recommend that they take a day off to recover. Source: Gitnux 3. Encourage Work-Life Balance Work-life integration is crucial to prevent employees from burning out, and it’s so much more than just a trendy catchphrase. Commitment to work should not intrude on an employee’s personal life too much. Time to relax outside work to do whatever they please and spend time with loved ones keeps their mental health in check. It improves their emotional state and personal relationships.   And here’s the thing – the keyword is balance. 🧘 This is not just about giving people time off. It’s achieving a balance to let people work their best without sacrificing their sanity for it! Happy, emotionally balanced workers make better colleagues! And guess what? Work-life balance is incredibly important to workers, too! Source: Gitnux 4. Adopt a Flexible Schedule One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to work schedules. Allow some wiggle room for your employees to work during their peak productivity hours. If that’s not feasible, at least find a schedule that doesn’t lead your team toward the burnout cliff. And, just like work-life balance, flexibility is something modern workers embrace:  Source: Quickbooks 5. Avoid Overtime ⏰ Having overtime and long work hours is not only physically exhausting; it’s also the likeliest road to burnout. Try to avoid stressful situations where extra hours are needed with effective project management and planning ahead to avoid these periods of high activity. Stretching out that time will be much better in the long run than forcing your team to work long hours. Only allow overtime if it’s essential. Consequential shifts may also cause burnout too, so avoid them if possible. You can track your employee scheduling effectively with Tommy’s smart tools.  These offer an immediate intuitive overview of all worker schedules, giving you quick insights into who may be overworked at any given time. 6. Communicate With Them 📢📢📢 How to help a burned-out employee? Talk to them! Ask them how they are feeling, how they’re handling their workload and schedule, and what you can do to help. This transparency is immensely valuable in the modern workplace.  Therefore, by opening a discussion about burnout in a transparent manner, you’re empowering employees to take action.  Be a safe space for your employees so they can share their comments, opinions, struggles, and grievances. Try to provide valuable actionable advice and tangible solutions that may help them. This could mean time off, a shift in their responsibilities, or new techniques to help with time or stress management. Source:  HBR 7. Promote Fun Activities Teambuilding can be fun, honest! 🍕⚽🎨🧩👊 Building a collaborative team relies upon forging close relationships with colleagues. Allow opportunities for employees to relax and socialize together.  This will help them destress, boost positivity, improve teamwork, and reduce burnout. 📈 There’s also a business case to teambuilding, since it’s generally accepted that effective teambuilding exercises correlate to successful teams. For extra buy-in, don’t impose these activities on them, but ask for suggestions on what they would like to do as a team. If your employees work from home, maybe you can make virtual events and contests so that they can still bond with their workmates in the comfort of their homes. 8. Give Rewards 🏆🥇 People like to be rewarded for the things that they do. Receiving meaningful praise tells your employees that they are valued

9 Easy Tips to Set Your Career Goals

9 Easy Tips to Set Your Career Goals

9 Easy Tips to Set Your Career Goals Are you feeling lost in your career? Perhaps you need to engage in some career goal setting to get yourself on track toward fulfillment. It’s never too late to get to grips with your career path and personal development plan. So, if you feel like you’re stagnating, don’t worry! Setting even small short-term goals can set you on a transformational journey. Take small steps toward new skill sets, a leadership position, or even simply a better work-life balance. In this article, we’ll break down nine easy tips to help you set your professional goals to help boost your career and life journey! Why Do You Need To Set Goals? 🗓️🎯 Setting career goals is a great way to keep yourself on track. When you frame your career in terms of goals, it can help you make better decisions day-to-day. Your goals determine how you will spend your time and how you will act in the workplace. This can help bring about a level of driven productivity that would be otherwise very hard to achieve. Your goals act like signposts helping you with short-term career goals toward a broader purpose. 🪧 Let’s get straight into our tips for setting goals. 1. Visualize Your Success Though perhaps a tad poetic, Shaw’s quote presses home the power of imagination and visualization in the achievement process. 🔮 Before you set goals, analyze what it is that you truly want to achieve in your life. What is your endgame? Your raison d’etre? What does success look like to you? This is an introspective process and can relate to different elements of your work life. A common career goal is to consider salary. Yet, careers aren’t just about money. 💰🤑 Is it about retiring at 50? Do you want to become a thought leader and a go-to expert in your field? Or is your priority about being happy at work and avoiding stress? This will look different to each individual. Here are a few career goal-setting examples for inspiration: I want to be a Department Head in the next five years. I want to be able to drop to a four-day week before I’m 40. I want to earn a promotion in the next two years. I want to own my own company with X employees by 2030. 2. Make SMART Goals 🎯 As you set your specific goals, remember to make them SMART goals. SMART stands for: S-pecific – Concrete steps or goals will motivate you because they are not wishy-washy. They should also relate particularly to your situation. M-easurable – Ensure your goal is measurable, otherwise you won’t be able to determine whether you are successful. A-ttainable – Unachievable goals won’t help you – they’ll only serve to bum you out when you fail to meet them. Instead, choose goals that you can realistically achieve. R-elevant – Your goals must be important to you and your professional life. T-ime-based – Set a time period for your goal to provide clarity and urgency. By setting yourself SMART goals, you’re creating realistic and achievable milestones that will provide the stepping stones toward fulfilling your dreams. One study suggests that of those of us who make new year’s resolutions, a mere 19% keep them over the following two years! The explanation for this is of course complex, but often it can come down to the fact people don’t make their goals SMART. 3. Break Goals Into Steps In goal-setting, small can translate to big success. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, break down your ultimate goal into smaller tasks. This will give you time to organize your thoughts. It will also motivate you to push through and decrease your procrastination in the face of goals that are too big. It’s critical to find the right balance here. Your overarching goal may be long in the distance, but breaking it into small SMART goals is extremely helpful. Those mini SMART steps are a lot less intimidating. Completing those will see you progressing toward the finish line in no time at all. 4. Find A Goal Partner🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Did you know that 84% of Fortune 500 companies have mentorship programs? The top players in the business world understand the value of sharing experience and advice in helping employees to achieve goals. Find a mentor or a goal partner to join you on your journey. Having a goal partner will help you push through with your plans with the added accountability. A mentor can offer experienced advice and encouragement if you are having a tough time. That support network can be vital if you feel overwhelmed or under pressure in your work life. Sharing your goals with them can motivate you when you’re losing hope, and they can return you to the proper path if you’re feeling lost. Having that person to talk things through is always helpful. They will also be your cheerleader whenever you achieve something, celebrating your successes and pushing you forward to the next step. 📣 5. Ask For Feedback 🗣️ You may be biased toward your own skills, so it’s essential to ask for feedback about your work performance. 📈 Take a performance review seriously and use it to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. Ask your project manager or other superior for feedback regularly on your latest work so you can know what’s going well and where to improve. This will help you set goals that will challenge you to excel and refine your work performance. Always frame this as a healthy reflection and something to use going forward as you press for success. With this in mind, take criticism as constructive and don’t allow praise to go to your head. 👑 6. Read Books 📚 Another way to improve is by reading professional development books. Ask your peers or superiors for book suggestions. There are plenty of inspirational books that many people cite as transformative in helping them think about their careers differently. A great career advice

8 Simple Tips To Manage Your Teams Schedule

8 Powerful Team Schedule Management Tips

Do you find it simple to manage your team’s schedule? Do you know your way around a Gantt chart? Do you never miss due dates? The truth is even the best project managers need to monitor and reflect on their team schedule process to maximize efficiency. A key element of project management involves simply ensuring the right employees are in the right place at the right time. Why do project managers need to optimize team schedules? 📈 Project managers must be expert plate spinners to oversee rostering and schedules effectively to complete the projects at hand. The problem with plate spinning is that even the best-laid project plans can go wrong and bring everything crashing down. That’s why you need specialist employee scheduling software alongside your project management software to get a real-time overview of your employee’s commitments. Effective time-tracking software lets you know who is scheduled to work where and when. This accuracy saves time as you can quickly determine the best-placed employees to complete project tasks. Here’s a comprehensive list showcasing the benefits of effective scheduling for a project: Better work-life balance – Effective scheduling allows employees to plan their lives better and in advance. It enables them to manage their personal and professional spheres. Better workload management – Scheduling tasks allows us to break down projects into more manageable chunks. Meeting deadlines – Scheduled tasks can improve efficiency and avoid missing deadlines or losing leads. Progress towards broader goals – Schedule days, weeks, hours, and even months for short-term and long-term goals. Accountability – transparent work schedules ensure everyone understands who is working on what and when. Happier teams –  Flexible and open work schedules should foster collaboration among team members. It also saves time just avoiding the manual creation of your schedules! Take a look at this stat from Shiftboard’s 2023 Hourly Workers Survey: Organizations report employee scheduling software drives 30% faster schedule creation and reduces scheduling errors by 55%. Source: Shiftboard With talk of all these benefits, you’re probably keen to know about our tips for successful team schedule and project management! So, without further ado, let’s dive in! 🏊 1. Identify which work schedules you need to use ⏲️ There are many types of work schedules used by organizations. These depend on the circumstances and needs of your business and the structure of your workforce. The most common examples are: When creating a project schedule, you’ll need to determine which work schedules your employees are on and if you need to make changes to these. Full time The most common arrangement, where employees are required to work for at least 40 hours per week. The total number of hours is usually divided across multiple days. This arrangement is stable, but recording overtime can be difficult. Part-time Part-time employees work fewer hours than full-time employees. However, the hours can vary from 1 hour to 39 hours per week. The hours may also be inconsistent, which offers flexibility to employers and employees. Scheduling in this arrangement is dependent on the importance of the employee’s position. Part-time work is common within the hospitality industry. Flexible Many employees express a preference for a flexible work arrangement. Source: Quickbooks Flexible work policies enable employees to meet work expectations on a schedule that matches their personal commitments. An employer might specify a minimum number of set hours but leave remaining hours as flexible. This empowers employees to fulfill hours as they wish. This setup can work for shift work, where employees can swap shifts with others as needed. Fixed This arrangement is a regular, defined, and predictable number of hours per week following a set start and finish time. Since you clearly define the hours, it is a stable situation for both employer and employee. Rotating This arrangement sets shifts on a schedule where employees may work a day or night shift on a rotating basis. The rotation can occur on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Rotating shift work is common in retail or manufacturing companies that operate more than 10 hours daily and utilize part-time or flexible employees. Rotating shifts allow flexibility but can be physically and mentally tiring transitioning from day to night work and vice versa. 2. Planning is key 🔑 Once you’ve selected the most appropriate work schedule, you need to consider three other elements to help in your planning phase. Demand Customer demand for your products or services may determine the number of employees required for the required output. Demand may change on a daily, weekly, or seasonal basis, impacting your scheduling arrangement. Skills and experience required Consider the skills and experience required to meet the demand and output. Your employees each have particular skill sets, and you need to choose the right combination to fulfill the specific project requirements. Consider the project activities and know your employees well to effectively allocate the best combination of team members for the task. Legislation Legislative requirements for employer and employee relationships exist at local, state, and federal level. These may include break times, time clocks, and hour limits. Scheduling and planning employee hours must adhere to legislation. When considering your planned schedule for your upcoming project, you’ll need to ensure your allocated time to each team member complies with the law. 3. Know your team Each team member plays a crucial role in your business’ success. Knowing your team allows the most effective use of their skills and experience. Further, personality, strengths, weaknesses, and background may assist in planning for specific demands or new products and services. Maintaining a spreadsheet of employee information may help your future planning. Information to include: This information helps with flexible work arrangements, changing demand, launching new products or services, and industry changes. Further, the balance of skills, experience, and relationships on shifts may influence the output and quality of work. Knowing as much information as possible about your team and their work together will significantly impact your decision-making. 4. Write a scheduling policy Create a policy that details

4 Key Tips to Power Up Your Instagram Strategy - MyTommy.com

4 Key Tips to Power Up Your Instagram Strategy - MyTommy.com

4 Tips to Power Up Your Instagram Business Strategy Every month, more than two billion people use Instagram, with nearly 90% of the users following at least one brand.  Therefore, your audience is almost certainly on Instagram. This means your business should have a presence on the platform, too. Instagram has changed from a photo-sharing app to a hotbed of corporate activity in just over ten years.  Insider Intelligence states that the platform generated over $43 billion in ad revenue in 2022. 🤑 Business owners have been given access to utilize Instagram live broadcasts and IG stories and allow users to incorporate program events into their profiles.  The software has been updated regularly with new business tools, features, and suggestions. However, many business owners aren’t sure where to start with Instagram. Here’s where we step in as your hero: 🦸 Here are 4 Awesome Ways to bring your business A-game on autopilot using Instagram. Step 1: Create An Instagram Account Before you can even think about our marketing tips, you need an Instagram business account. Follow these procedures to create a new account or switch from a personal to a business account.   Then, congrats! You’ve set up your own Instagram account. To move to a business account, follow the steps below. Go to your profile>tap Menu in the upper right corner>Tap Settings>Tap Switch to Professional Account>Select a business category and tap Done. Having a business account gives you access to a 360-overview of people engaging with your business on their Instagram feed. Step 2: Develop A Successful Instagram Strategy The best Instagram marketing tip is to take time to develop a strategy. This is true whether you’re a small business owner just starting out or an established enterprise looking to revitalize your social media game. You don’t want to go into this blind. So, here’s your necessary prep: 🏋️ Determine who you want to reach Whose attention are you trying to grab? 🧐 Your Instagram marketing strategies will only be effective if you clearly understand your target audience. We’ve produced a step-by-step guide that explains all the details. This is important because selecting your target market is one of the most crucial components of your marketing plan. Here’s the gist of it: Find out who your current customers are. See who’s following you on your other social media accounts. Find out how your target audience differs from that of your competitors. If you know your audience, you can develop content or Instagram ads that are more likely to resonate with them. Analyze the content your customers share and interact with, and utilize this data to shape your creative approach. For example, you can invite your target audience to create user-generated content (UGC) and use that within your strategy.  Hootsuite puts the popularity of UGC perfectly:  UGC on Instagram is a perfect example of how, once you have determined your audience, you can build brand affinity with them. People love to be a part of a brand community, part of something greater than themselves. Set goals and objectives for yourself 🎯 Your Instagram strategy should define what you hope to accomplish on the platform. First and foremost, understand what your IG goal is all about. The SMART Technique can help you build your goals. Your goals need to be: Each business should have goals that follow the SMART principles for your context. 🧠 It’s essential to understand that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Identify goals that fit your circumstances. Each business should have goals that follow the SMART principles for your context. 🧠 It’s essential to understand that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Identify goals that fit your circumstances. Keep track of the right performance indicators 📈 Once you’ve outlined your goals, it’s easy to determine relevant social media metrics to track. You can usually fit your objectives into three general categories: brand awareness, engagement, and conversion. Each goal category has its own metrics to track if that is your priority. You’ll just need to identify the metrics you want to pay particular attention to. Brand Awareness 👀 – Metrics like follower growth rate, post impressions, and accounts reached.  Engagement 🤝– Metrics such as engagement rate (based on likes and comments) and amplification rate are included in this category (based on shares). Conversion 💸– Indicators such as click-through rate and conversion rate, as well as the bounce rate. Depending on whether your ads are sponsored, you may also need to consider cost per click and cost per thousand impressions. Make a content schedule It’s possible to plan your Instagram posts with a specific purpose if you know your audience and goals. A well-planned social media content calendar ensures that you don’t miss critical occasions and that you have enough time to produce original material. 📅⌛ It’s a good idea to plan your times to post and your various types of content within your content calendar, whether posts, stories, Live, or otherwise.  A well-planned schedule should you mean you regularly supply your audience with various content types. Yet, don’t post every day! And these are the most active brands. The lesson here is to not put pressure on yourself to generate content. Ensure it’s valuable and meaningful first and foremost, and aim for two or three times a week. Step 3: Make Your Instagram Profile MORE Business-friendly You can achieve a lot in a small amount of space with an Instagram business profile. Instagram users may learn more about your business, look around your website, and even make an appointment with this feature. Make A Fantastic Bio Those that took the time to read your bio also took the time to check up on your Instagram page. So, show them why they should follow you by enticing them. Try to concisely showcase your brand voice and values to build a snapshot view of your brand in 150 characters or less. It’s also an opportunity to post an organic clickable link if you have less than 10,000 followers. Choose one of

The Importance of Work-Life Balance

The Importance of Work-Life Balance

The Importance of Work-Life Balance Employee wellbeing is dependent on a healthy work-life balance. If you’re an employer, it’s on you to communicate that work-life balance is important and something you value. You must set up systems and procedures that empower employees to embrace flexibility at work. The bottom line is happy workers are more productive. So, promoting increased employee awareness of a healthy work-life balance makes business sense. (It’s also just generally a nice thing to do to discourage unhealthy relationships with work!) 👍 But, let’s unpack this a bit further. How do we explain the importance of work-life balance? What is the evidence to back this up? How has the rise of remote work affected work-life balance? Let’s dive in! The Importance of Work-Life Balance: What Do the Stats Say? Finding work-life balance means reaching a happy medium between work and your life outside it. The crux of the issue is managing your time. Employees want to work well without compromising family time, hobbies, relaxation, sleep, and everything else that makes up life outside work. 💤🎾👪📺🧘 Yet, it seems Australia has an issue with work-life balance. According to an OECD survey, Australia has a poorer work-life balance than the US, the UK, and many other leading economies. The result of long hours is often counterintuitive. Those who work long hours often feel their workplace performance plummets.  They report reduced productivity and reduced engagement levels. Furthermore, once we get past the consequences for the business, we need to consider the adverse effects of busy work schedules on employee mental health. In a recent survey of Australian workers, some 50% of prime-aged workers feel exhausted. The same survey found about 40% reported feeling less motivated about their work than pre-pandemic. 33% found it more difficult to concentrate at work because of responsibilities outside of work. The Fair Work Act recommends a 38-hour work week for exactly this reason. Anything more than 38 hours, and you start to see detrimental effects on employee mental health. Employees who are confident in their capacity to combine work and life, on the other hand, are less stressed, more relaxed, more productive, and perform at a high level more consistently.  These stats set out the importance of work-life balance effectively, both for the health of your business and your employees. But, it’s not always easy for business leaders to monitor how their workers balance their job commitments with their personal life. The rise of remote work has made this more challenging as managers often have less control over their working environments. What Was the Impact of the Pandemic? The pandemic transformed how we think about work-life balance. It blurred the lines between the worlds of work and home life. Spending time with family or relaxing can now take place in the same environment as your working hours. You can shower, make meals, read a book, make reports, and attend meetings, all in the same place. 🚿📚🧑‍🍳📑💬  While not a new concept, most employees were unfamiliar with these circumstances, having to adapt to the new normal abruptly. Some loved the freedom of more flexible working arrangements. Source: officernd Others, however, hated it, feeling they couldn’t strike the right balance at home. These are the cases of people struggling to get out of their pajamas, missing the social aspects of work, or simply being unable to switch off, depending on various employee personalities.  What Are the Effects of Remote Work on Work-life Balance? One thing you can say about the pandemic; it made a pretty great case study to test the viability of remote work on a broad scale. The research shows that remote-based businesses can be highly profitable. As a result, many companies decided that the benefits of working remotely are sufficient to keep them working remotely indefinitely. Source:  officernd Yet, not all managers feel that way. Some are experimenting with flexibility in the workplace to keep some of the benefits of remote work while offering office space for face-to-face collaboration. This hybrid working model based on flexible scheduling allows employers and employees to negotiate when to work. Many employers look to offer flexibility in the hope this will improve employee engagement. Whichever work model you choose in your workplace, it seems that remote work does not hinder productivity, and it can even increase productivity. But what about its effects on work-life balance? The Fight to Unplug Many managers worried remote work would result in employees working less. It was thought there would be too many distractions and too many temptations to skip work. There was a prevailing belief that, without the keen eye of a manager overseeing things, many employees might practice work avoidance while at home. Instead, it turned out that many remote workers are more likely to wind up working longer hours. This is down to the inability to unplug, switch off, or log out. Working from home has the advantage of reducing travel hours, but many employees end up occupying that time with extra work. Further, many workers settle into a routine of working in spurts, working for a few hours, then taking a break before returning to work. This means workers often work into their evenings and catch up over weekends, too. Work bleeds into leisure as there aren’t clear boundaries. A study suggested Australians worked more when working from home during the pandemic, clocking up 319 hours of unpaid overtime on average over 2021. Each worker racked up 6.13 extra hours each week on top of contracted hours. Source: smartcompany If “out of sight, out of mind” was true while heading home after a day at the office, some stay-at-home workers experience the opposite. When work is always within reach, it might be tough to resist the temptation to put in “just a few more minutes” or to work through the weekend. Furthermore, because their work is always with them, certain organizational cultures have come to require employees to be “on” at all times, especially those that work to

8 Simple Steps for Advisors to Manage Boundaries - MyTommy.com

8 Simple Steps for Advisors to Manage Boundaries - MyTommy.com

Managing boundaries at work is essential for your well-being, stress levels, and job satisfaction 🤗. In the dynamic world of work, lines can often become blurred. That’s why managing boundaries is vital for clients, colleagues, and advisors, as it creates a balance between a professional and personal relationship.🤝 Client expectations can be challenging to deal with. However, by putting boundaries in place, you can set the tone for all your interactions with clients and colleagues. In doing this, advisors can foster a positive client relationship and remain satisfied with the structure in place👍.  Managing boundaries for advisors is sometimes a struggle, but that’s where we come in. Our list of 8 advisor-friendly steps in managing boundaries will help you establish clear ground. Let’s get into it.  Why is managing boundaries necessary?🤔 According to a new study by LendingTree, 57% of quiet quitters said their work-life balance improved after setting professional boundaries.  In the world of work, there are many reasons why managing boundaries is essential. Source: Fair Play Talks By putting limits in place, you can create well-defined expectations and a safe space where everyone knows where they stand. Whether you do remote work or you work in an office, setting physical and emotional boundaries is essential.🤩 Here are some reasons why managing boundaries is crucial: Maintaining professionalism- With clear boundaries in place, you can maintain a professional client-advisor relationship. If the expectations are laid out, there should be clear roles with mutual respect and communication.💬 Avoiding conflict- If your expectations are clear from the start, it’ll help to prevent any confusion or conflict down the line.🗣 Building trust- By setting clearly defined boundaries, clients are more likely to trust you as an advisor. They’ll appreciate your consistency, and as a result, a better relationship should form.🤝 Preventing burnout- Without proper boundaries, advisors may face stress and emotional strain. This can lead to burnout as advisors may feel unable to cope with the amount of extra work or communication triggered by a lack of boundaries.🔥 Promoting effective communication- Boundaries help to establish effective communication because the expectations are clear. This should help avoid anyone stepping over the mark or having unrealistic expectations of response times, the nature of updates, and platforms of communication.👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽 Personal space- If you’re working with people face-to-face, setting physical boundaries can make you feel safer, more comfortable, and more at ease to do your job effectively.🧍 Setting and managing boundaries is essential to an advisor’s well-being, job satisfaction, and customer relationships. Limitations affect both parties involved, helping to smooth out expectations and foster positive, clear communication. Are you ready for some helpful tips? Let’s dive in. 8 Advisor-Friendly Steps in Managing Boundaries Navigating the balance between a trusted advisor and maintaining professional boundaries requires a strategic approach. However, by taking these eight steps, you can set clear boundaries and establish expectations from the get-go.👍 If you’re an advisor and you want to determine and maintain boundaries, we’ve got you covered. Here are our eight advisor-friendly steps in managing boundaries: 1. Create Your Boundaries😁 The best place to start when setting advisor-friendly boundaries is to decide and establish your personal boundaries. Dive into a world of self-discovery and work out what makes you feel comfortable. If you work remotely, setting boundaries is just as important. The authors of Working from Home with Flexible and Permeable Boundaries state, “When employees have difficulties separating work from home, they often carry the stress they experience at work into their private life.” Once you know your expectations and the types of limitations you want in place, you can lay the groundwork for healthy foundations👷‍♂️. Knowing what makes you feel comfortable on a personal level and identifying any sensitive areas will help you create, manage, and maintain boundaries.  Source: LinkedIn 2. Establish Your Role🤔 By using effective communication, you can establish your role for yourself and your clients to ensure everyone knows where they stand. Clearly define what your part is as an advisor and set realistic expectations for both parties. Get rid of any misconceptions about your role and pave the way for the rest of your professional relationships. Make sure your client and colleagues know your position, and this will set the tone for the rest of your communication and dynamic. 💬 3. Establish Communication Guidelines🗣 In the digital world we live in, it’s no secret just how much communication happens on a variety of different platforms. It’s crucial to establish appropriate communication times, channels, and topics. When working from home🏡 , it’s often more difficult to set boundaries and it’s common for communication with colleagues and clients to occur after your working hours. If you do this, you may create a pattern where this is expected. Create set hours and make sure all communication occurs within them. This will help you maintain healthy boundaries and a work-life balance.⏰ Source: Psychology Today Furthermore, you may decide to keep your personal social media account private. By establishing this boundary, you shouldn’t need to worry about clients potentially overstepping the line. Allocate your chosen communication channel and guidelines, and stick to these to maintain the boundaries. 4. Have Open and Honest Discussions with Clients💬 As an advisor, you can be proactive about educating your clients on your boundaries. Enlighten your client about your boundaries and the intricacies of your professional relationship.🤝 You could even explain the limits to them, ensuring they’re fully aware of where you stand. In doing this, your professionalism will shine through, and your clients will appreciate your commitment to boundaries and keeping them informed.😇 Furthermore, some clients may expect tasks to be completed right away. Mutual respect should develop by putting a boundary in place and letting them know the realistic expectations of your responses.  Source: The Hive 5. Regularly Review Your Boundaries🔎 Over time, your comfort levels may shift. This is normal, as boundaries aren’t necessarily static. If you feel a boundary starting to slip, or you notice something new is beginning to make you feel uncomfortable,

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