Tag: Soft Skills

It’s time we take a look at the changing world around us.

Corporations are coming face to face with being in need of running their businesses differently. If you do not make the transformations needed, you will face difficult financial times.

It is best for you to understand that technology and the internet have opened doors for people that have never been opened before. These developments already have impacted your company and will continue to do so.

In order to be successful doing business in the future, you will need to make certain your staff is properly trained. Not only that they are trained but how you train your staff needs to be addressed. Corporate learning will take on a more important role. It is vital that your team have the training needed to keep up with the changes.

Focus on Building a Complete Learning Experience

Using the internet to your advantage will help you to build a complete learning experience for your team. It is important that you focus on creating a learning environment. Here are some things you should do to make this happen.

• Face to face learning– there is always a place for sit down learning time. Whether this is in the form of a speaker or one on one meetings, you should have an occasional face to face learning opportunities.
• Videos– many people are putting together educational and motivational videos that will teach your staff concepts you want them to have. These forms of learning will give your team the flexibility they need to schedule a time to watch the videos.
• Online courses– people that are just hitting the job market from college are accustomed to online courses. There is a convenience in this type of education as well as familiarity.
• Reliable blogs– there is a wealth of free reading material out there that you can point your employees to. Just be sure you are giving them websites that are written by those that are authorities in the field.
• Job rotations– to really understand a company and grow in skills, some companies are focusing on job rotations. They bring in untrained individuals and then train them from the ground up. After 6-8 months of working in one area, they are moved to another area of the company to learn that end of things. This makes for well-rounded employees. Not only that, it keeps them feeling fresh in the job.

The many different ways you can teach your staff will continue to grow. If you want to stay relevant to the workforce as well as your customers, you will need to focus on training your staff. #

We would love to hear your comments. Please comment below or 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 Professional.

 

Written for us by our associate Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sales teams face a variety of daily challenges.

However, one that really deters their goals to beat their quotas is the sheer volume of systems that they have to use.  In order to be successful, you’ll need to analyze data and set priorities based on what you learn.

When sales teams have to visit multiple sources to obtain this necessary info, their task becomes quite daunting. It takes time while sales and closing ratios slow down. Therefore, sales integration is essential in order to enhance sales cycles and improve closing.

Sales Integration Makes Things Simpler

Companies with long sales cycles and numerous decision makers need help with simplifying their processes. Customization of products and services tends to warrant sales integration which helps companies increase their win rates and save time.

If you integrate your company’s pricing and value systems with customer service management, price and quote (CPQ) and marketing automation, then you’ll find greater success is on the horizon.

There are a number of sales integration options and approaches that can be taken. Consider these three to help scale complex selling strategies:

 1. Automation

Your company can accelerate sales cycles by automating the proposal and quote process in real time. In fact, you can integrate your CPQ and ordering systems quite simply. Companies are training their sales teams to use mobile apps in order to increase their sales.

The apps help the teams to provide quotes, respond quickly, and handle price questions. The more integration of CPQ, the faster the quotes are provided. These companies claim the proposal cycle is reduced from over 15 hours to 30 minutes.

2. Accuracy

Companies were able to increase the accuracy of quotes because the most current pricing and services were available due to integration. You will get the benefit of only focusing on the most profitable products for your business. Companies see a major reduction in order sales cycles because there are fewer inaccurate quotes.

3. Higher Win Rates

Integration allows your company to increase their win rates. Customers get more accurate quotes and in a timely fashion. Your sales teams are more efficient and able to focus on new business while keeping their current customers pleased.

Integration is essential in order to fine tune your systems and drive up sales. Your customers and sales teams will appreciate this new strategy. Results will pour in immediately after implementation and you’ll spend more time on what matters rather than spinning your wheels on things that take away from sales. #

We would love to hear your comments. Please comment below or 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 Professional.

 

Written for us by our associate Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

A brand new hire joining your team is quite the accomplishment. After countless hours of recruiting, you’ve made it to their start date. It’s time to roll out the red carpet a bit and make them feel welcome.

Don’t miss this important aspect of training your new hire because you want them to stick around, work hard and believe in your company as a whole.

Try to do these 10 things to make their first week exceptional:

1.     Think coffee

Coffee is an easy and cheap way to give someone a treat. Go to a local coffee shop and spend some time getting to know them and break the ice a bit.

2.     Welcome Email

Make your team and new hire feel comfortable and informed by sending out a welcome email to introduce the new staff member. Be sure to include the newbie’s email and phone extension, encouraging others to reach out and say hello.

3.     In Person Intros

Introduce your new hire to management and people they will work directly with that first week. This will alleviate fear and get those relationships started quickly.

4.     Socialize

Organize a social event the first week so that your new hire gets to feel a part of the team early. Plus, this gives other employees a break from the mundane and the chance to do something fun together.

5.     Tour the Facility

Save time for your new employee and give them a tour of your building so they know where the restroom, break room and social spaces are located.

6.     Business Cards

Try to order their business cards and personal stationary in advance. This extra special touch will be seen as thoughtful and will be appreciated.

7.     Business Update

Your team should give a synopsis on their projects and the overall market situation for your business. The new hire will then be able to jump in and have a solid overview about current conditions.

8.     Clear Expectations

Give your new hire a clear list of expectations. They want to know the hours they should work, when to go to lunch and who to call if they are sick. Clarity will help a new employee understand what and how you want things done.

9.     Daily, Weekly, Monthly Goals

The first week of employment should be a time where you explain the daily, weekly and monthly goals to your new team member. Think of it like a roadmap in order to help them succeed in their role.

10. Recap Meeting

After the first week, meet with your new employee on how it all went. Invite them to do a little Q & A session with you so that they are comfortable and on the right track.

Make your new hire’s first week awesome! You’ve hired well so the next step is to train them right and get them adjusted to their role quickly, which benefits everyone. #

We would love to hear your comments. Please comment below or 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 Professional.

 

Written for us by our associate Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Emotional Intelligence

CEOs typically put in countless hours to prepare for this important company role. They tend to learn how to be a leader during their stay in middle management. Often, these managers make mistakes such as being overbearing, micromanaging, and forgetting to invest in people on occasion.

Over time, they learned what they did well and what they could have done better. They figured out how to read people, support their team, detect signs of rebellion, and what motivates their staff.  While these were all helpful aspects of learning how to manage others, it did not completely prepare them to be a CEO.

The Power Struggle

Newfound power can cause issues both for a team and a new CEO.  For one, a CEO may not realize how blind they can be with staff relationships. There are two necessary emotional competencies to have in order for them to handle power and their team effectively.

CEOs need:

1) Self-awareness

2) Empathy

Power is known to corrupt even the wisest individual. Also, people treat you differently when you are in a powerful position. CEOs must take time for their own self-analysis. Are you leading your team empathetically and in a way that will motivate them to succeed? If not, then you may deal with scenarios where you and your team could be blinded by your power.

Questions to Consider

Future CEOs can be prepared to handle power at work.  They must focus on their own professional and personal growth in order to be a great leader. In other words, you have to understand and know yourself through and through.

Consider the following:

• How do you feel about power? Do you respond to authority respectfully?
• Do you feel like you are harsh with people when they don’t meet your expectations?
• How do you feel when you fall short? What about when other people do?
• Is there something more important than power?
• Do you turn inward or lash out at others when you make a mistake?
• How essential is workplace happiness?

A prospective CEO’s answers will show what they really hold valuable in life and will determine how they handle power with their team.

Over the last several decades, leaders began to accept that emotional intelligence is necessary to succeed. CEOs have the responsibility of others in their hands. They are able to help and shape their team’s careers and invest in their livelihoods. The role is powerful and can be used to benefit both a company and its employees. #

We would love to hear your comments. Please comment below or 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 Professional.

 

Written for us by our associate Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

As more and more young people are coming into the market, the larger the soft skills gap becomes. There is no way to avoid hiring individuals that lack these skills. Instead of limiting your hiring radius, build soft skill training into the culture of your business.

Determine What Soft Skills Are Most Important

There are some soft skills that you will want to be especially honed in your employees. Identify what these skills are and work with employees on these areas. When you know what needs to be focused on, it will help you to implement training programs that will increase your team member’s soft skills.

Help Team Members Understand The Importance

People will get behind ideas and processes that they understand and believe in. Explain to your staff that these soft skills are not only important to the business, but will be beneficial to the individual. When your employees understand that you are teaching them skills that will carry them through their careers, they will be more vested in learning.

Get Active Participation From Employees

In an age where you can get online and Google how to do just about everything, the younger generation is used to self-learning. Get them involved with coming up with valuable training programs and speakers that will teach what they are in need of.

It is important that you allow them to bring some of their own creativity to the process. This simple idea alone will help to bridge the soft skills gap.

Give Opportunity For Hands On Experiences

Part of the learning process is to give people hands on training experiences. Pair your untrained employees up with those that are more skilled in these areas. Allow them to shadow the stronger staff members to see exactly how to use the soft skills they have been learning.

Once the team member has walked alongside a mentor, they need to be given the chance to do it on their own. At first, they need to be shadowed by the more knowledgeable staff member. When they are ready, they can be turned loose to use their new skills.

Reward Model Behaviors in The Company

When employees are found modeling the behaviors that support the company culture, they should be rewarded. With the right incentives, others will follow suit. With a reward system, you will encourage compliance amongst the rest of the staff.

Be prepared to implement soft skills training for your team members. This is a great way to build a greater unity in the company. The more your staff learns together, the more unified they will become.

We would love to hear your comments. Please comment below or 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 Professional.

 

Written for us by our associate Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.