E-Tip #393: 5 Secrets To Be Successful In Business

Successful business professionals share common work principles - principles that help place them in the top 5% of their industry. Understanding these common work principles can and will boost your success no matter what field you are in.


5 Secrets Every Business Professional Needs To Know:

Tip #1: Focus On Service - Customer service is critically important to successful business professionals. They respond to clients, whether they are external or internal, in a timely manner and exceed their expectations. In addition, they perform follow-up customer satisfaction surveys to make sure that their customer service is exceptional.


Tip #2: Build Strong Relationships (Internal And External) - Building strong business relationships in and out of your organization is the strength of any successful professional. Developing meaningful and long-lasting relationships will help retain existing clients - clients that become valuable referral sources.


Tip #3: Always Look Ahead - The business landscape has changed dramatically in the past 5 years. Recognizing how an industry is changing and growing keeps the successful business professional ahead of the game. Although you want to embrace technology to streamline your processes, do not forget the personal touch when doing things. Remember, people do business with people.


Tip #4: Take Advantage Of Today's Technology - The successful business professional knows how to apply the latest technology in order to increase efficiency and productivity. This can include smart phone for instant e-mail responses, call forwarding features on your phone, having the newest laptop computer and the use of the latest software programs - technology to help people stay connected, so professionals can work faster and smarter.


Tip #5: Make More "Oh, By The Way" Calls - Sending out a letter or a one-off e-mail to a client, past client or prospect just does not cut it anymore, for people are doing more work with fewer resources.  If you want to become more successful in sales, it is important to follow-up with an "Oh, by the way" call.  What is an "Oh, by the way" call?  It is a follow-up call that opens up with saying, "Oh, by the way, did you get my letter on x, y and z?" This is a great way to get the person talking about things from their end and to possibly generate a sales opportunity.


Executive Summary: Follow these 5 tips and you will also be at the top of your field. Remember, good customer service, whether it is exceeding expectations, promptly responding to clients or a personal touch to communications, can take you straight to the top of your industry. Also, be aware of the changes in your industry and make use of the latest technologies in order to increase efficiency and productive. Lastly, do not forget to make the "Oh, by the way" calls after a marketing campaign has been sent out.

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E-Tip #392: 6 Tips To Consider Before Leaving Your Job

At some point in your career, you will be faced with resigning from a position.  And no matter what the reason, there are certain steps most of us should take to ensure a smooth departure.

Once You Have Decided To Leave A Position, What Are The Best Steps To Take?


To help you make a professional exit from an organization, we have listed below 6 tips anyone can use when it comes time to resign:


Tip 1. Reflect On Why You Want To Leave: Although it might give you immediate satisfaction to tell someone you are quitting right on the spot, it is, for the most part, not in your best interest.  However, should you get this urge, ask yourself the following questions: "If I quit, what are my options? Do I have enough money to cover my expenses for the next 6 to 12 months? If I do tell my manager that I am quitting, will he/she give me a good reference?  What about unemployment; am I eligible?"


Tip 2.  Look Into Your Future:  Before resigning, consider where you are in your life.  Do you have any commissions, bonuses or other financial windfalls due to you?  Do you have a large expense due or repairs that would require dipping into your savings?


Tip 3. What Happens If You Don't Give Two Weeks Notice:  When departing a company, are you going to be available to help train your replacement?  If you decide not to give two weeks notice, will this show negatively on you?  Nonetheless, it is best to give two weeks notice in most situations, as it gives everyone time to absorb the situation and reflect on what has or has not happened. Who knows, things might change due once you and your manager had a few days to reflect on the situation.


Tip 4. Read Your Employment Agreement:  For those that have an agreement, you need to read it before resigning.  If not, it could cause you some legal issues.  Specifically, what does it say when you decide to resign?  Is there a non-compete agreement?  Are you required to do X, Y or Z once you give notice?  Are you entitled to a separation package that outlines X amount of money or stock options? How are commissions paid-out should you decide to quit? Typically, sales personnel are let go on the spot and no commissions are paid on future sales.  Bottom line: Know these answers before leaving.


Tip 5.  Remain In Control Of Your Emotions: If you are leaving because of an issue with your manager, coworker(s) or any outside influences don't put it in writing; save this for your exit interview. When handing in your letter of resignation, it is best done in person or over the phone (versus through a text or e-mail).  Although you might despise your manager, avoid any name calling or accusations for the obvious reasons.


Tip 6.  Determine Who Handles Your Departure:  Once you have handed over your
your letter of resignation (or before for that matter), you need to immediately go to your HR department to ensure they know that you just resigned. In addition, you also want to know how your last paycheck, health insurance, 401(k), life insurance, disability insurance, etc. are handled.  After getting this information, do two things: First, summarize everything the company will do and how things are handled moving forward, and two, send a confirming e-mail from your personal e-mail address that outlines everything agreed in this meeting.


Executive Summary:  When resigning, keep things short, simple, and to the point - it is never in your best interest to leave on a negative note.  In addition, you are not obligated to tell anyone where you are going or why you decided to leave; however, if your employer wants to know, agree to an exit interview.  Remember, how you handle saying "I quit," will reflect on who you are as a person both today and tomorrow.  But most importantly, talk with a HR professional at your organization to ensure you are taking the best steps for you.

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E-Tip #391: 3 Tips On Why You Need To Look Into The Future

Organizations not only need to be looking forward, but they also need to look at ways that separate them from their competition. Sure, great products and/or services may win awards in your industry, but if your customers and prospects do not know about it, you are going to have a tough time getting sales. Secondly, it is important to start thinking about succession planning - whether it is product development, sales management or operations, good leaders are created over time. And a good succession plan will pay huge dividends back to your business.


3 Quick Tips About Looking Into The Future That Everyone Needs To Read :


Quick Tip #1: The Best Products Won't Always Win - In today's complex and competitive business world, having the best product(s) and/or services just isn't enough. Here are the 5 reasons why someone will not buy from you:

1. They have a relationship with one of your competitors.
2. They do not have the money.
3. They do not realize or remember that you are an option.
4. Your sales staff did a poor job in building your business case, so they do not think your product or service offers the best value.
5. You really are not the best value.

Point being: You have to send your customers and prospects with case-building information -- information that educates them on the value of your organization.  When looking forward in your organization, you need to consider what sets you apart from your competitors.


Quick Tip #2: Look Into The Future - It is critical to not only meet the present needs of your customers, but to also look to future trends in the marketplace in order to also meet their future needs. Looking at your own future in the organization is important as well. It does not matter what position you have in your organization; you cannot move forward if you are always looking back. Sure, you need to learn from your mistakes, but you need to have the vision and the tenacity to take yourself to the next level.


Quick Tip #3: Succession Planning: It's More Important Than You Think - The key to any business' success is their efficiencies, productivity and commitment to excellence from its employees - and their productivity is directly related to who is mentoring, managing or supervising them. That being said, you will find the rewards plentiful, both for you and your employees, if you invest in some sort of succession training throughout the year; training that transfers skills from one level to the next.


Executive Summary: Take some time this coming week to reflect on the future of you and your organization by writing down specific goals to help make you a better leader, manager and decision maker now and in the future.

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E-Tip #390: 3 Quick Tips ALL Leaders Should Consider

No matter what type of leader you are, you will not only be judged by your performance, but you are also judged by the people you hire, the way you dress and how up-front and honest you are with your employees.

Sure, it is great to be able to motivate others to follow you, but you will have a better chance of getting them to follow and earning their respect if you are leading by example - examples that can truly make people produce at levels they thought they could never attain.

Here Are 3 Quick Tips For You To Consider:



Quick Tip #1: Your Appearance Does Matter (A Lot) - The reality is: Your appearance does matter. The clothes and shoes you wear, the company you keep and the car you drive all contribute to first impressions, and someone's overall impression is critical. People care about how you look, and they make a judgment about whether or not they should buy, hire or promote you.


Quick Tip #2: Get Your People Involved With Solutions - When a problem or opportunity comes up, your team will be better prepared if they have had the opportunity to participate in discussions about problem solving on the front end. Yes, "management" still has to make the decision, but people will embrace the solution if they have had the opportunity to make suggestions by sharing their opinions - even if they do not agree with management's final decision.


Quick Tip #3: Show Your Team The Light - Yes, mushrooms do extremely well when kept in the dark and fed horse manure; however, employees, clients and vendors function better when they are kept in the loop and given straight answers - even if the answers are the ones they do not want to hear. Sure, you do not want to divulge a strategic alliance or merger, but most things you work on are pretty well-known throughout the rank and file. With that said, you might as well set the record straight by giving them a heads-up on what is going on rather than having them speculate through the grapevine or rumor mill about what is happening.


Executive Summary: Take the time this week and reflect on what people think of you, including the way you dress, your problem solving techniques and your communication skills. These are all part of how people perceive you - people who you interact with each day and people who are key to your success and the organization's success.

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E-Tip #389: 5 Quick Tips for Achieving Success in Business

It has been proven that many people in the U.S. workforce view workaholics as the most successful people in business today. Many feel that hard work will bring great rewards, promotion and recognition; however, the key to a successful LIFE is balancing your work and personal life, so you do not get burnt-out or have so much stress that it affects your health. You never hear people say, "Gee, I wish I spent more time at work."


To help you achieve a successful career AND personal life, we listed below 5 tips for you to follow:


Tip #1: Strive For Greatness NOT Perfection - One thing most successful workers have in common is their pursuit for greatness, BUT NOT perfection. The drive to be perfect can wear you out and not deliver any more results than greatness will give - so do not be afraid to do  excellent work on a consistent basis: Reserve unconditional perfection for those really special projects.


Tip #2: Talk-Up Your Personal Successes At The Office - Face the fact, competition is great; however, no one wants to see you succeed more than yourself. Trust me; it pays to be your own cheerleader, so make sure your boss knows about your achievements, the extra time you spend on a project and the results you bring to the organization - especially during review time. If you want to remind people of what you do, keep track of your successes throughout the year.

At the same time, be careful not to overdo it - it could come across as bragging. And if other people were involved, make sure you give them credit, too. This is a great way to build positive relationships with the other team members that you recognized, and it shows you are willing to share the glory.


Tip #3: Working The Right Hours Will Get You Noticed - If you find yourself working late, coming in early or working on a weekend, make sure you pass by your manager's office and say "hello." By doing so, you will earn kudos for showing your dedication and, more importantly, have an opportunity to spend valuable one-on-one time with your superior(s).


Tip #4: Your E-mail's Time/Date Stamp - It Is More Important Than You Think - When you e-mail your manager after hours, the e-mail demonstrates your commitment and the extra time you spent on a project(s). With that being said, there can also be a negative side to these e-mails. Sending messages at 10:00 p.m. on a Saturday night or at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning could indicate that you are not able to manage your time well - conversely, there is something to be said for getting the job done early. You can sometimes make a better impression when you finish your work during normal business hours.


Tip #5: Be The "Go-To" Person When Crunch-Time Rolls Around (And It Will) - You do not have to work 18 hours a day at 7 days a week, but make sure your boss knows that you are someone who is willing to go the extra mile when something needs to be completed.


Executive Summary: Following these 5 tips will generate success without all the negative side effects associated with being a workaholic. Remember, greatness can achieve the same results as perfection, without the added stress. Also, you are your number one supporter, so cheer yourself on. Without doing it in a conceited way, make your accomplished public knowledge so that they are recognized by your superiors. Also, when working extra hours, make an effort to have your dedication recognized. However, be aware that the extra hours and time spend on a project can be interpreted two opposite ways-as either poor time management or going the extra mile.

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E-Tip #388: 5 Quick Tips to Help Stop Procrastinating

Fact: It is human nature to procrastinate on certain projects that are difficult to complete; however, the initial step of getting a project started is often the most difficult part of the process. To help overcome your procrastination, we put together 5 quick tips to help you get the job done.


5 Quick Tips To Help You Stop Procrastinating:



Tip #1: Get Yourself Organized - Organize your thoughts, create the necessary steps or files to start, and complete your project. This will also help you put each step in order - a process that will facilitate the completion of the project.


Tip #2: Set Up A Timetable - Create a timetable and post it in your office, so you can see what you have to get accomplished by a particular time. This will also serve as constant reminder of your goals. Reviewing your timetable at a meeting with others or on a regular basis by yourself will also help you focus on hitting certain benchmarks as well as flush out potential bottlenecks.


Tip #3: Overcome Your Fear Of Starting - Realize you were given a certain project, because someone knew you could handle it. To help reduce and/or eliminate any fears, think about how you accomplished other difficult projects.


Tip #4: Give Yourself A Reward - Tell yourself that you will take a coffee break or have a snack when you get a few areas of the project completed. This will keep you motivated, and do not forget to get in that extra workout, too - it is a great way to relieve stress.


Tip #5: Just Do It - Think about the finished project and how good you will feel when it is completed. This can give you the motivation to get started.


Executive Summary: Staying focused on these 5 tips will help you complete a difficult project. Planning out the process will help you stay organized and keep you on track. It will also help overcome the most difficult part of the process - getting started. While working on a project, it is important to think about the rewards and sense of accomplishment you will have when the job is completed.

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E-Tip #387: 5 Tips for Becoming A Better Listener

Becoming a better listener is a skill that most people need to develop, and "good listening" adds to both our social and professional lives. Not only that, it helps us understand the duties we need to perform in order to be successful. According to many experts, "good listeners" display a blueprint of distinctive behaviors that can be easily practiced and mastered.


5 Tips For Becoming A Better Listener:



Tip #1: Stay Focused - It is easy to get distracted by activities going on around you. Try to have meetings in places that will have minimal external distractions. Pay close attention to what others are saying, and take notes if possible. It often times helps, before going into a meeting, to have an outline as a way to keep things on track.


Tip #2: Interpret Both Words, Emotions And Gestures - The words people use are just one part of what they are saying. You can capture the whole message by also paying attention to the emotions behind the words and the gestures connected to the words.


Tip #3: Do Not Interrupt - Your interruptions can decrease effective communication on everyone's end. The other person does not feel heard, because we are focusing on what we have to say when we interrupt. Be considerate and let the other person finish their message before responding.


Tip #4: Resist Filtering And Close-Mindedness - Be open-minded to new ideas. Do not judge what someone says based on your personal values. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view. It is an effective listening skill to not only hear what the other person is saying, but also to try and understand their perspective. It can help us stayed tuned into what the other person is saying.


Tip #5: Summarize The Message - To confirm and to be sure you heard the message correctly, offer a quick summary back to the person. This reflective listening skill helps us to stay actively engaged with them. Again, take notes when possible.


Executive Summary: Eye contact, attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, holding off on interruptions, stepping into the other person's shoes and summarizing what has been said are all good techniques for active listening. Good listening skills can go a long way in your business life. Compare your listening skills to the tips listed above, and determine how you can better implement them in your next conversation.

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E-Tip #386: 5 Tips for Establishing Sales Credibility

Establishing your sales credibility from the beginning of the sales process is an important component in the sales process. Sure, you can discuss how your product or service will benefit a potential buyer, but there is a lot more that needs to be done in order to make the sale successful. Below are 5 tips for establishing better sales credibility with a client, prospect or referral source.


Tip #1: Ask Questions and Listen Attentively To Their Answer - When you are asking a question during the sales process, look the person in the eye when they answer it. Stay focused and do not get distracted by art on the wall, people walking by or the view out of the window. The buyer may negatively perceive your distraction and think that you do not have their best interest in mind. While speaking with the potential buyer, it is important to listen to their company's needs and wants.


Tips #2: Focus On The Benefits - Focus on the advantages your organization can offer and on how they will directly benefit their company. Be as specific as possible, and tie the benefits back to the company's needs and wants. Steer away from the temptation to talk about features with no benefits.


Tip #3: Tell Success Stories - Give results on how other clients have benefited from your work. Use visual aids like charts when possible and even testimonial letters. You may even want to call a current client while at the prospect's office in order to give them some immediate feedback on your company's record of accomplishments.


Tip #4: Relate Success Back To Their Organization - Suggest to the potential buyer that similar benefits can also be achieved within their organization if they take advantage of your offer. Show them what the ROI will be on the project by using a model with financial data they supply to you.


Tip #5: Ask For The Sale - Asking for the sale can be difficult for some sales people; but when you do, it is a great time to discover and overcome any objections the buyer may have. Keep your questions open-ended to avoid a "no" response. Be prepared to motivate the buyer by offering something to overcome an objection (discounted price, addition services, etc.). Know when to back-off the sales pressure, so you do not lose your credibility.


Executive Summary: Remember, your sales credibility can make or break a sale. It is important to keep your focus on your target audience by keeping your presentation tailored to the needs of their company, highlighting how your business can benefit them and establishing trust. Also, do not be afraid to brag about your company's accomplishments, but be sure to have an outside source, like a current client, validate your claims. Finally, ask for the sale, and address/solve any barriers or objections that the buyer may have. View yourself the way others see you when you make your presentations. Ask yourself, "Would I buy from me?" Hopefully, your answer is an astounding "yes."

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