Category: Exit Map

Should schools reward skills or talent?

Talent is something you’re born with.

Skill is something you earn.

Skill comes from commitment and practice and self-discipline. The skill of earning skills is a lifelong advantage.

Without a doubt, encouraging kids to leverage their talents is a skill. And yet…

Who gets to be the center of the kids’ volleyball team–the tall kid or the one who practices the most diligently and brings the most teamwork to the game?

Who gets an ‘A’ in math–the one who can breeze through the tests or the student who asks intelligent questions and challenges the assumptions?

Who gets into a fancy college…

You get the idea.

Leaders talk about developing real skills and encouraging people to develop into their full potential, but too often, we take the short-term path of betting on raw talent instead. And of course, what looks like raw talent might not be. It could simply be our confusion about first impressions compared to the power of commitment, enrollment and persistence.

Reprinted with guidelines permission from Seth Gordin’s Blog – https://www.sethgodin.com

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Top Reason Your Employees Quit

High turnover rates can be stressful and financially draining on businesses. With record-low unemployment levels, it can be difficult to replace the talent that leaves your business. Not to forget, 76% of employees are actively looking for another job or open to one. It’s important to understand why your employees may be quitting.

Why They Leave and How To Keep Them

First and foremost, take time to understand why employees typically leave. This will help you better understand what you as a company can do better to make sure employees stick around. Here are some common reasons employees leave and ways to convince them to stay:

Managers are Demanding and Mean

Don’t allow managers and supervisors to create their own work environment that makes life miserable for those who work under them.

Start by hiring and focusing on those with a positive attitude and outlook. Attitude is difficult to change so get rid of people who aren’t positive and contribute to a toxic environment.

Bored With Tasks

Often times, the most talented working are inspired and motivated by challenge. If your top talent is bored, give them some of the biggest challenges to solve and reward them with promotions and recognition. This will help keep top talent motivated, focused and invested.

Reached a Point of Burn Out

Even the top talent, who is motivated by challenge, can get too burnt out. If you’re noticing that your employees burn out quickly or are too stressed out, focus more on a positive work/life balance. This will not only decrease the number of burnouts but it can also increase productivity as your employees don’t feel as though they’re just going through the motions.

Not Paid Enough

This is obviously one of the most common reasons why employees leave their current employer. Negotiating the lowest possible wage a candidate will accept is not a successful negotiation. Paying your employees what their worth will go a long way in building trust, instilling loyalty and building a positive working environment.

Focusing on your workplace culture is one of the best ways to make sure employees are happy with their place of work. Focus on hiring people who bring a positive attitude to work day-in-day-out.

Challenge your employees who need a challenge, praise your employees who deserve praise and promote a healthy work/life balance. Building a healthy work environment not only encourages those who work in it to stay but it also increased productivity.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Less Talent Means Employers Are Casting a Wider Net

Rapid growth is causing problems for the tech industry. They are having a difficult time finding experienced and trained employees. There are an estimated 700,000 job openings unfilled in the tech industry. Last year job postings for AI job positions increased by a whopping 159%. This increase is causing employers to be more creative in their search for qualified workers.

What Kind of Jobs Are They Trying to Fill?

Tech employers are looking for employees trained in data mining, analytics. They also need people skilled in robotics and automation engineering and AI. Very few people are trained and educated in the United States to fill these positions.

Where Are Employees Trained to Fill These Roles?

India and Brazil are the largest two areas with highly trained people willing to go to another country for a job. About 2/3rds of these foreign job seekers are willing to move. The top 3 countries they want to go to are the United States, Canada, and Germany.

Limitations to Finding Qualified People

Bringing employees into the United States is not an easy thing to do. Employers in the United States are looking to the H-1B visa program to find qualified people worldwide. The H-1B visa program limits H-1B visas to 85,000 annually. It is a cumbersome process requiring the submission of many forms by employers. The annual cap limitation forces smaller companies to compete for this labor pool.  Smaller companies have to compete with companies like Apple and Microsoft. Also, the approval rate for the H-1B visas has dropped to 75%. This makes it more difficult to get approval for people interested in coming here. Currently half of the people with H-1B visas are from India.

Efforts to Find Qualified People

Employers are trying to find people interested in coming to the United States. Many companies are looking into alternative training sources. Tech boot camps and certification programs are two of these possibilities. Offering relocation packages and supporting family members is another. Some employers are trying to help with the paperwork for people trying to move here.

To ease the employee shortage other American companies are moving tech teams to foreign countries. Distance and cultural issues are not always easy to overcome. Yet it’s another alternative companies are considering to find educated and qualified employees.

Companies may need to consider investing and developing training programs to meet their future needs for these high tech employees.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

5 Ways to Increase Productivity and Boost Motivation

If your workplace has fallen flat then it might be time to recenter your employee’s focus and increase their motivation. There are some ways you can boost your employee’s drive-by changing just a few things in the workplace.

Here are 5 great ideas to get you started.

1. Make the Workplace Fun

If you ask the workforce what makes them happier and more likely to stay with a certain company, the #1 answer is always a fun workplace. Bringing fun into the workplace can also:

• Reduce stress
• Increase overall job satisfaction
• Increase motivation
• Improve productivity
• Increase employee performance

Think about some ways that you can bring some fun into your workplace. If you don’t already, encourage your employees to hang out in social settings to build camaraderie.

2. Bring Music Into the Workplace

Music has been known to change our emotions and how we view and perceive life. It has the power to calm us in times of stress or make us happy in times of sadness. If you bring music into the workplace, you can give your employees a mental boost.

The one thing to keep in mind is that instrumental music has been shown to be more effective at increasing focus and attention than music with lyrics.

3. Encourage Exercising

Employees who exercise regularly are 25% more focused, driven, and efficient than those who don’t. They are also 40% more motivated in the workplace. It’s vital to encourage your employees to exercise. If you have space, it would be worth the investment to convert an area to an office gym. If you don’t have space, you can encourage exercise by increasing employee incentives to workout or by providing gym memberships.

4. Encourage Learning

Learning a new skill or concept can greatly improve your employee’s drive and motivation. It can also improve productivity. Analyze your employees’ job performance and existing skill set to see what concepts you can bring in to encourage innovation. You can provide incentives for mastering new skills or even provide funding to further their education.

5. Make Time for Meditation

Many people already set aside time every day for personal meditation. We are now seeing the benefits of bringing this practice into the workplace. In fact, setting aside just 10 minutes every day can reduce workplace stress, enhance workplace relationships and help to resolve conflicts, and enhance mental and emotional health. Set up time early in the workday for your employees to meditate.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Risks Associated With AI

Much is said about algorithms in artificial intelligence discriminating against different groups of people. Whether this is intentional or unintentional it poses serious problems that can ruin a company’s reputation permanently. This can also overlook many potential options unconsciously denying a business of a preferable choice.

Preventing Discrimination and Encouraging Fairness

Amazon was using an AI tool that was later found to discriminate against women and therefore had to do away with it. Apple’s new credit card is being accused of discriminating against sexist lending models. Transparency among AI models is necessary and will help to solve some of these issues and gain the trust of the public.

Security Risk With AI Transparency

With AI comes convenience and at the same time, with AI transparency, comes an open door to hackers. AI transparency means opening up and sharing the methods by which they create their algorithms. Disclosure can not only open explanations to hacking but it can also open employers up to even more regulation.

Companies also become more susceptible to lawsuits which are not the goal of transparency. Transparency is for the protection of all and not to create more government regulation but to create accountability and fairness. Here lies the AI transparency paradox, creating an open and honest forum is good and necessary but this open forum creates complex problems for companies.

Releasing the fine details about an AI’s algorithms only increases liability and risk, but then again all data carries its risk. As AI is accepted more and more and becomes mainstream the more downfalls, bugs, viruses, etc will be discovered.

AI Has a Long Way to go in Development

There is still a lot to learn concerning artificial intelligence and how we can simultaneously be fair and protect our programming, our rights, and our safety. The more information is released about an algorithm the more harm that a malicious hacker can cause. This is not to say that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater.

It is necessary for people to understand that with transparency, comes risk. As AI is progressing so is AI security, an entire network dedicated to catching and exposing risk before they cause harm.

Lastly, another form of protection is to employ lawyers as often as possible when dealing with AI. Lawyers create a legally privileged space, allowing companies to thoroughly decipher and look for vulnerabilities in their AI models without the worry of more liabilities and unwarranted trouble.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Be Genuine at Work

We’ve all had bad days that have affected our work and attitude in the office. During these days, it feels impossible to do the everyday tasks your job asks of you. Positivity in the workplace has a direct impact on pervasive sectors of the workforce such as customer service and sales. How can you have a more positive outlook on the day even if it’s been a tough start to the day?

Surface Acting and Deep Acting

We’re all guilty of going from yelling and cursing in a road rage-induced furry then five-minutes later giving a fake smile to your co-workers when you walk into the office. This is called surface acting. This is when you feel one emotion and attempt to express another.

Meanwhile, deep active involves changing how you feel internally with the hope that your emotions will actually change. Instead of diving into said road-rage induced furry, reappraise what’s good about your day and what you enjoy about your work. This will help you put on a genuine smile.

Research has shown that those who practice deep acting over surface acting reaped greater benefits than those who practice surface acting. Part of this has to do with the fact that you interact with your coworkers every day, so surface acting would require a lot of acting.

Why Is Smiling Important?

Why do we try to act happy and positive around our co-workers? Is it something that actually has a positive impact on our work? We do seem to operate under the impression that our positive outlook will have a positive impact on our careers.

Those who practice deep acting say they were trying to be positive because they like their coworkers and value the relationships they have with them. Those who practice a mixture of the two say they were trying to be positive to avoid looking back or trying to get ahead at work. Studies have found that those who practice deep acting had colleagues who were more willing to offer help and support.

Based on research, it’s clear that positivity in the workplace does have an impact on our work lives. Those who practice deep acting rather than surface acting are more likely to actually feel better about themselves and their work. Try to remember what’s good about your life, your job, and your workplace next time you’re having a bad day.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How Your Company Can Communicate During The Coronavirus Outbreak

COVID-19 has forced businesses and organizations around the world into dealing with unprecedented circumstances. While there may be no tried and true roadmap available to help guide companies through these trying times, there are a few basics companies should continue to practice. Proper planning, communication, and transparency can help you make sure your business sees the other side of this pandemic.

Create a COVID-19 Task Force

First and foremost, you should be assessing how your company is being affected by COVID-19. Form a team from different functions of your company to assess your needs and risks. This team should include representatives from the key functions of your business including supply chain, human resources, communications, sales, legal, and more.

Determine who in the task force will make decisions and who will have ultimate authority. Make certain that it is understood throughout the company that employees should only listen to the task force for company updates regarding the virus. Agree internally about what will be communicated before making any announcements to avoid confusion.

Communicate

The most important part of this pandemic for your company will be how your company communicates not only with the customers but with the employees as well. Review the needs of your audience and determine who needs what information and who needs it first.

Your communication plan should be centered around the measures you’re taking to ensure your employees and customers are safe during this pandemic. Regularly pass on information and news to your employees. Don’t let them find out information about the company second-hand. Be sure they are in the know at all times to avoid confusion and a spread of misinformation.

Media Inquiries

This pandemic should change the way your company moves in regards to media inquiries. Consider pushing back any announcements you had planned for the foreseeable future. Journalists, news outlets, and media consumers are focused on COVID-19.

It’s recommended that companies only release statements informing the public on any policy changes during the pandemic. Do not release any information on how the business is being affected by the pandemic.

During these uncertain times, it can be easy to lose yourself in panic when thinking about the future of your company. However, with proper planning and communication, your company can make it out of this pandemic.

Stay Safe!

Want to learn more? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

5 self-care habits of successful people

Self-care is vital for busy people who focus more on their business and others than themselves. Burnout is a real thing and by practicing these five habits of successful people you will gain more peace, energy, and success. Self-care is definitely a practice but if you are willing to set new habits we know it will pay off.

1. Journal To Reflect 

Creating a gratitude journal is known to create positive changes in the brain that help you to see life completely different. If you want to maintain your level of success along with your happiness start your day off by asking yourself these questions:

• What three things am I grateful for?
• What three things would make today great?
• Additionally, before bed ask yourself:
• What three things happened today that made it great?
• How could I have made today better?

Practicing daily helps you to stay connected to your purpose.

2. Diversify Your Activities 

Hobbies are an extremely important part of any lifestyle but in order to keep things fun and exciting it’s necessary to diversify your activities. Picking up a new hobby or learning something new is challenging at first but it opens up a whole new world of opportunity and experience.

If you typically love to enjoy a good book at home try joining a book club and meet new people.

3. Put Down The Electronics and Turn Up the Outdoors

We love our devices but sometimes we put a little too much time into scrolling and watching television that we forget about what our bodies crave. This isn’t a bashing segment on social media or phone addictions but it is a plea to go outside and spend time soaking in all the beautiful fresh air.

4. Feed Your Mind, Body, and Spirit

It’s pretty typical for successful people to feed their minds but don’t forget the body and spirit need to be fed as well. Make sure you are getting 30 minutes of exercise a day even if it is just a 30-minute walk.

Taking a walk will allow you to get that much-needed nature time and feed your body at the same time. If you are a religious person make time for attending your place of worship or embrace things that calm your mind and bring more inner stillness.

5. Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Sleep

And last but not least, make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sleep allows your body to renew cells and is attributed to clear thinking and better health. Most people need 6 to 8 hours a night.

Stay successful!

Want to learn more? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Create a Community From Your Customers

The world is changing at a faster pace than ever and the business world is changing with it. The days of having a one-way conversation with your potential customers via advertisements and marketing are over. Building a community with your customers, opening up avenues for two-way conversations and direct interactions, will help grow your company.

1. Trust Your Customers

One of the most important aspects of any community is trust. Building a community with your customers involves progressive acts of collaboration, which need trust to survive. A common trend among companies struggling to keep up is an unwillingness to build a creative dialogue with their customer base.

At the end of the day, your customers are the ones you keep you afloat. Listen to their requests, consider their ideas, ask them what they want to see and what products they would be interested in. Companies such as LEGO have seen huge resurgences due in large part to collaborations with customers.

2. Focus on the Who

When building a community, it’s not about the ‘what’, it’s about the ‘who’. Jumping to the ‘what’ without building a community of people who are invested is going to create a community where no one shows up. Focus on who the community is going to be geared to and build the community to accommodate them.

Community-building is the process of trusting and collaborating with people who are going to bring energy to your brand. Supporting these people is going to help foster a positive and active community.

3. Treat The Community As a Long-Term Investment

Building a community is only the first step in setting up a successful collaborative environment. You should treat your community the same way you would treat any other long-term investment. Too often, companies build their community, then start shifting attention and effort to something else.

A continued focus on your community is going to instill an ongoing flow of collaboration between you and your customers. More importantly, it’s going to promote the continued growth of your environment. Showing your community that you’re invested in them is going to build the trust we mentioned earlier.

In today’s business world, it’s crucial to build a healthy community with your customers. Focusing on your community is going to promote a healthy two-way dialogue between you and your customers. The most successful companies in the world use communities to help grow their business.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.