Category: Leadership

Leadership by Reginald Chan focuses on thought leadership, ways to become a leader and helping one to become a leader. This is a leader in the making group.

  • Why Are Staff Uniforms Important in Business?

    Why Are Staff Uniforms Important in Business?

    If you are wondering if staff uniforms are vital in business, the answer to that will be a yes. There are several benefits why staff uniforms are important in business. 

    You may not know it just yet, but it does make a difference. Whether you believe it or not, it is strengthening the unity of the business and its structure as well. Here are 10 reasons why staff uniforms are important in business.

    10 Reasons Why Staff Uniforms Are Essential To A Business

    1. It Saves The Staff Some Time

    Everyone knows the hassle of running through their clothes during the morning. It is hard to find suitable clothes to wear especially if you did not prepare them a week or a day before. 

    This is the first reason why staff uniforms are essential to a business. If the staff has their own uniforms, they would not need to worry about having anything to wear or running late for work because they had a hard time finding clothes for work.

    2. It Promotes Team Spirit

    Staff uniforms promote a sense of team spirit between the employees working for a business. It makes individuals less intimidating to talk tobecause you are all wearing the same kinds of uniforms. Also, there are no confusions going around because you know that the person you are talking to is an employee or you know it is a client. 

    There would be no more hard times in terms of identifying others, as a staff uniform would say that you all belong to the same team. 

    It is essential to create a sense of unity inside your workplace. If you want to distinguish your employees from one another and promote team spirit at the same time, see how NHS Fleece is popular amongst nurses and how it is great to identify their job role, name, and etc.  That is especially critical with the responsibilities they handle. 

    3. It Provides Staff Protection

    The company uniform provides staff protection, and that is a fact. It has the capacity to protect the staff from any accidents or injuries that they encounter which makes staff uniforms very reliable. They customize the uniforms according to their business needs.

    4. It Publicizes The Business

    Wherever the staff goes on their way to work, it publicizes the business as strangers around the street would be able to see what the brand logo is. 

    It is possible that they would be curious about where these staff that is wearing the same kinds of uniform are working from and what products or services they offer. So, it publicizes the business efficiently. Though, in this aspect, employees must have good morals because staff uniforms carry the business’ reputation. 

    Staff should be screened properly and they should be trained on how to act professionally inside the workplace and outside the workplace.

    5. It Boosts Customer Trust

    Staff uniforms boost customer trust because the customers will feel that the people they are talking to look professional and trustworthy. It gives a sense of credibility which the business needs for their reputation. 

    People are most likely to trust and leave the matters in the professionals’ hands to sort things out if they look like they are up to it. More reasons why a business should have the time to train and develop their staff so that they will appeal more to the customers.

    6. It Makes Staffs Look More Engaging 

    Similar to point number five, staff uniforms make the employees look more engaging. This means that customers found that those who have their uniforms on are more approachable and easy to talk to. 

    This means that they will be bold enough to go ask the staff about any queries they have. And it is the staff’s responsibility to guide their customers to their needs and to satisfy their demands. In order for a business to succeed, the staff should make a good impression to gain new customers.

    7. It Creates Brand Awareness

    For the people around your neighborhood, or on the roads that you passed by, staff that wears their uniforms create brand awareness for those who see them. It is a kind of a walking advertisement. 

    Anyone who sees them would become familiar with the company’s logo, and sooner or later, they will know where it belongs to. It will help the business gain more exposure which is essential for the face of the company.

    8. It Boosts Workplace Safety

    Company uniforms with unique designs or colors help to easily distinguish who staff belongs in which work areas or on which job sites. So, you do not have to worry whether someone suspicious is trying to set some trouble (issues like theft) on your business. They will be easily distinguished on the CCTV cameras in no time. 

    Or even more, it is a greater need for bigger companies that have a lot of people already. A bigger company has different departments, and it will be proven useful especially if the company has certain matters on which they need to work together. 

    With that, other working staff would easily know who to approach because they know what uniform their department has and what the other department’s uniform is.

    9. It Improves Customer Relationships

    If you think of it this way, customers will be able to efficiently find the employees they are looking for to assist with their needs. When a guest is at an unfamiliar store, they may be having some difficulties finding the item they are looking for. 

    Even in fast-food restaurants, a guest will be able to approach the right person if they need help in bringing the food to their table- for example. With a staff uniform, a guest will be able to identify who to talk to and they will be able to have their needs tended to immediately.

    10. It Helps Employees To Be In The Right Mood

    Uniforms bring a psychological effect. When people are wearing them, then they already know it is time for work. It means that they have to focus and concentrate on their loads and there is no time to play anymore. 

    If you let them wear what they use during the relaxing weekends, chances would be they would be more likely to feel off during work. So, uniforms are essential to help employees to be in the right mood.

    Uniforms would alter the fate of your business. It can also help set the mood by letting employees see the colors of the uniform, as that would energize them to work hard. Definitely, it is a make or break.

    Now, you already know why staff uniforms are important in business. Work uniforms can be utilized to benefit your business and employees alike. It will improve your company image in no time, so get those quality uniforms suitable for your business and equip your staff with it.

  • 4 Things a Life Coach Can Easily Help You With

    4 Things a Life Coach Can Easily Help You With

    In life, having a sense of direction means everything. This is why looking for ways to make us better is necessary. It is common to see people achieving their life goals by laying down the right strategies. A life coach can offer you help in all this. He or she can guide you in ways to make your life better.

    Such professionals are awarded licensing from the government to serve the public. This means you can trust them with your matters. These days, numerous such life coaching solutions are available. It is for you to settle for the one which suits you right. With the best expert, you will benefit in several ways. Below are some of the main four.

    Provides Direction and Clarity

    Before a life coach proceeds to serve you, he or she takes time to understand you better. The knowledge of who you are and where you are heading acts as the basis of the assistance. They engage you in a lengthy conversation while trying to know you better. You will occasionally get questions on different aspects.

    They find it effortless to clarify certain difficult things facing you as a person. This helps you live a life full of purpose and hence impactful to everyone. Some aid in bringing out the hidden abilities or talents which you have. It makes the coaching sessions even more impactful.

    Aids in Goal Setting

    Coming up with goals is not always that easy. This happens mostly when you are planning on something big such as investment. People tend to proceed with caution as there are many risks involved. It is beneficial to look for life coaching experts as they can walk you through the process. They highlight the basic principles behind every successful goal.

    It is common to find people setting the bar too high. This is beneficial as it challenges them to be the better version of themselves. Even so, there is a limit to the setting of the goals. These professionals will make you understand how you can make the goals realistic. The experts at https://www.coaching-online.org/ inform on what life coaching is all about. Competent solutions make you appreciate your idea of engaging them. They also ought to be confidential with the handling of your personal information.

    Makes you Accountable

    It is normal to find goals not being achieved. This may be through a lack of prioritization abilities. It can come from the loss of motivation and being distracted. No matter the reason, a life coach will make you bring your life on the right track. They build confidence in you that you can still succeed despite the set-back.

    Such experts make it clear that you are the one responsible for making your dream come true. They only do their part in offering guidance, then you pick from there and chase your goals. Most of them change your perception of the duties you have in making this happen. It is prudent to keep in touch with a life coach often. He or she does proper monitoring of the progress you are making.

    Knowing yourself and planning on the achievement of the goals is something people do on their own. However, with the input of a life coach, the process ends up being faster. If you identify one potential counselor, stick to him or her as the continuous attachment proves to be more fruitful.

    They Provide Neutral Feedback and Support

    It is essential to surround yourself with the right people while on a journey to accomplish something. This keeps your fire burning always. The only thing is that some close people such as friends and family may be hesitant to challenge us on certain issues. This is not the case with a life coach as he or she is always ready to give opinions in favor or against something.

    They take time to study the whole journey before giving you feedback. It makes the message not only descriptive but also informative. They formulate the view in such a way that you will get both encouragement and challenge on improving. Most of them are excellent cheerleaders whereby they will celebrate every single accomplishment you make.

    During the different meetings, a life coach will allow you to open up on different things which bring you worries or uncertainty. Such knowledge makes them know what areas require more input. This is where they introduce better strategies in reaching your goals.

    As a person, making your dreams come true brings a feeling of self-accomplishment. Strive to achieve your set goals. Working closely with a life coach can bring a lot of benefits. This is why going for the best means a lot.

  • 7 Tips For Delivering Excellent Customer Service

    7 Tips For Delivering Excellent Customer Service

    The relevance of a business is in its ability to attract and retain customers. Research shows that about 70% of customers are likely to spend more on a company with effective customer service.  Another survey conducted also shows that nearly 97% of people tell others about excellent customer services that they have experienced and that 24% of customers will return to a business after two or more years due to excellent customer service experience. 

    This shows that customers play an instrumental role in promoting your business, so it is crucial to invest in treating your customers well. These seven tips are guaranteed to help you stay on top of the game concerning customer service.

    Build your staff

    You shouldn’t reserve customer service for the customer service department, but for every staff. Clients value a business whose team is dedicated to attending to their needs, irrespective of the department that they are in. You need to organise training sessions for your workers where they learn customer service skills. There are many skills your staff must learn to be excellent at serving your clients. They include persuasive speaking, adaptability, self-control, patience, responsibility, positive language, communication, and attentiveness. You can also teach them the principles of commitment and diligence.

    Respect for your customers

    People respond positively when they are respected. So it would help if you accorded your customers respect at all times and in all situations. It is not unusual for people to talk in an upset manner when they have grievances about your products or services. It is up to you to calm them down, apologize for the troubles, and resolve them accordingly. You can only do that by patiently listening to them and then responding respectfully. Gestures like attentively listening to your clients and giving them as much time as they need to express themselves sends a signal to them that you respect them. Other gestures include going the extra mile to ensure that they are catered for, calling them by their name, and thanking them each time they patronise you. 

    Make the most of your website

    Your website is the first place that people check for information about your business and seek help on certain issues. For this reason, you should be active on your website, especially in the customer service section. Make your website easy to access and organised so that people know where to go when they need something. You can also get testimonials from your existing customers to encourage new ones. Are you looking to add live chat to your website? Then invest in it because it is an effective way of direct communication between your clients and you, without delay or stress. 

    Feedback is essential 

    Customer feedback refers to the information that customers give about your products and services and their experiences with them. It also involves customer opinions on how well your business is doing and what can improve. Encouraging customer feedback puts you in a good position with your clients because it makes them feel important and appreciated. They feel happy because they know that you think about them and that their opinions are valuable. They will be pleased to continue their business with you. 

    You can personalize your feedback extraction process by calling them directly to find out what they think about your products and services and their suggestions on how you can improve. You can also use platforms like email, SMS surveys, live chats, electronic surveys, FAQ feedback, on-site feedback, social media accounts, and the likes. 

    Be empathetic

    Empathy is the capacity to understand a person’s point of view or feelings. In customer service, it is the ability to put yourself in the clients’ shoes, understand their grievances, and show support, even when you cannot solve the problem. You deal with people every day, and they are bound to raise issues. People often put their complaints forward because they require you to understand how painful it is for them. 

    You should show them that you care about their feelings and that you are truly sorry for the inconvenience that came from patronizing you. Respond to their grievances, letting them know that you understand how they feel. Then apologize to them and rectify the issue if possible. It will help if you are kind with your words and your tone is sympathetic.  Empathy will make your customers stick with you and motivate them to keep patronizing you. 

    Treat your staff right

    A happy employee is a dedicated and diligent one. Employees are more willing to treat your customers right when they are happy working for you. They are also delighted when you recognize them as members of your team and not just employees. Treating them as members of your team helps them view your business as their own and encourages them to put in the effort to promote your business. 

    Be respectful to your workers, recognize their efforts, and acknowledge their initiative. Whenever they hit their target, acknowledge and reward them. Also, welcome their opinions on how to make the business better and act accordingly. Also, reward their efforts with bonuses and other incentives apart from their salaries. These gestures tell your workers that you appreciate and value them, and their happiness will translate to how they care for your customers. 

    Effective time management

    Time management is essential for effective customer service. Your clients also have other commitments and are probably working on a schedule. Therefore, you must be time conscious when attending to them. Be swift to pick their calls and attend to their emails promptly. This tells your clients that you are serious about your business and that you also value their time. 

    Customer service is more than attending to customer issues; it takes the time to understand your customers and do all that it takes to keep them satisfied. It requires dedication to the service of your customers while maintaining the integrity of your business. Investing in customer service will keep your customers loyal to you. 

  • Why Communication and Planning Are Vital During Crises

    Why Communication and Planning Are Vital During Crises

    In a business’s history, there are a couple of crises which it has encountered. Some of them end permanently while some keep recurring. The management must counteract the negative impact emanating from crises in all ways. The emergence of pandemics such as COVID-19 shook many companies. Proper communication and planning are the way out. They make it possible for the whole team to head in the same direction in dealing with the situation.

    Investing in your company’s crisis management department is paramount. There are three major phases when it comes to the management of the crisis. These are the pre-crisis, during a crisis, and post-crisis stages. There are signature actions in each phase for efficiency. The application of communication and planning is advantageous to a company. Below are the primary benefits.

    Duty of Care

    Any company’s management team has the legal and ethical duty of keeping everyone informed on what is happening. During a crisis, this carries more weight. It makes them know the situation they are in clearly. Therefore, it brings a spirit of more caution and the need for safety in every area. Many employees will avoid being harmed by the prevailing situation.

    Apart from this, giving them specific details gives a picture of you being mindful of them. The feeling of being cared for boosts their esteem and work morale. It creates a deeper bond with you as a manager. This goes beyond even when the crisis is over.

    Avoiding Misinformation

    As time passes, the technology is resulting in the discovery of more devices. Unlike the past years where there were no social media platforms, these days there are more interactions across the globe. Failure to provide the clients with proper information on what is happening creates some curiosity. If this thirst for information is not quenched, it makes them turn to social media. There, they will find a lot of misguidance.

    A late communication may, therefore, not be effective since they may have made a poor decision based on what they heard. This is why competent managers organize emergency meetings as soon as something major hits the industry. It gives an opportunity of giving guidance. The sharing also allows you to know the minds of the employees concerning the crisis. You will know which issues to advise otherwise due to misinformation from other sources.

    Fosters the Internal Preparedness of the Business

    Communication within the organization aids in keeping all staff in the same loop during any crisis. There tend to be many layoffs globally when major situations emerge. This creates uncertainty about the future of the workers and the company. Being at constant sharing with workers clears the air on everything. There are basic tips to follow in achieving efficient crisis communication at workplaces.

    Begin by preparing your workers in all ways. The occurrence of the crisis is uncertain. Make the workers know this and additionally, guide them on which procedures to follow when it happens. Despite the difference in how people react to problems, the clear guideline will streamline the response into one for all. Identifying the crisis management team and training it. Develop a crisis communication plan as well.

    In the relation to communication training, focus on special management training and planning. The two make your company robust when hard times come. In Crisis Management, planning gives an assurance of how you will brace yourself for what can emerge as a crisis. It helps in safeguarding the reputation of the firm and ensures its continuity to operate. A manager can make the right decisions on what to do.

    Helps in the Recovery

    After the crisis emerges and a business acts accordingly, this makes the performance level stabilize. The recovery phase needs a lot of information for better results. Through efficiency in communication, the issues to do with new opportunities will emerge. This is where a firm can try a different line of products to close a certain gap in the field.

    The closing of many businesses in a pandemic makes shopping hard. With proper planning and communication, you may start an online platform for e-commerce. From it, customers can make their purchases online and you make deliveries to their doorsteps. This translates to more sales despite the hard economic times.

     Promotes Idea Generation

    With communication being essential for a company to steer through the crisis, it needs a lot of meetings at times. Good decision-making is the root of successful communication. A company will tend to bring all the stakeholders to the same table for discussions. Everyone gets the opportunity to share insight on what can be done. This results in a boost in idea generation. The creativity in most of the ideas will help in the survival of the business.

    Some of the thoughts will also act as the basis for future investments. The company will, therefore, make much progress when the business environment returns to normality. The sharing generally builds a lot of togetherness and harmony among employees and the management. This is because everyone feels his or her idea is listened to and positive for the greater good.

    Shifts Focus to More Technology

    During a crisis, there is a lot of back and forth. This comes from the passing of different messages. Different strategies have to be set to handle specific elements in your overall plan. Schedules for meetings need to be perfectly allocated. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things necessary for achieving control over the hard times.

    There is software that can make you have an easy time handling some of the issues. The tools can be set to give reminders to everyone on meeting times and specific duties. This improves interactions and sharing. The use of computer programs to solve such issues showcases what you can do in normal business operations. It, therefore, acts as a turn-around time for you to embrace technology in most of your daily activities. Through using software, the benefits such as time-saving will come your way.

    During any pandemic, businesses are shaken to the roots. The only way to get through this is by setting firm foundations on the right strategies. Using communication and planning is vital in the management of a crisis. It should be done following the right procedures. Numerous merits will come from the proper planning and sharing of information as a business.

  • Do You Run Your Own Business? Here’s How You Can Conquer The Global Market

    Do You Run Your Own Business? Here’s How You Can Conquer The Global Market

    There are hundreds of guides online that help you launch your own business; however, there appears to be little guidance available for what happens further down the line when you begin to expand your company. Perhaps this is due to the fact that in building your business from the ground up, you’ll have gathered a lot of knowledge and understanding of what it takes to run a company – but that doesn’t mean a little support will go amiss. 

    There are various things you can do to take your online business to the next level. Whether that means focussing on developing your website and social media presence or beginning to sell your products internationally, the latter can provide you with numerous opportunities to grow and develop while simultaneously increasing your earning potential. However, there are various steps you need to take before you offer your products online. 

    Do your research. 

    As with any business venture, it is important that you know everything there is to know about the market in which you intend to sell your products. While you may have this covered for your home base, you should also ensure that you do the appropriate market research in the countries you wish to expand into as well. For example, your product may perform better in some countries than it would in others – perhaps due to harsh competition with other brands or the simple fact that there isn’t space in this market for your products. 

    Doing your research ahead of time allows you to hit the ground running.

    Make your website accessible. 

    In order to reach a wider audience, you need to make sure that customers can easily access your website no matter where they may be in the world. This means that your website should: 

    Make smart marketing decisions.

    The next step towards selling your products to an international audience is ensuring they hear about them in the first place. This means that you will likely need to refine your marketing strategy. Take a look at how your competitors market themselves internationally or what advertisements work better in what countries. Pay attention to your analytics, and make changes to your marketing scheme wherever possible. You can market yourself through: 

    • Paid promotional posts
    • A successful blog
    • A strong social media presence 
    • A compatible website 
    • Traditional print/video advertising 

    Send over the products.

    Once you have completed the above steps, you are ready to start selling your products online. However, you also need to ensure that your customers can quickly get their hands on your products. You need to ensure that you meet all legal requirements for product shipping (in both the country of origin and the product’s final destination) and arrange for the appropriate shipping. However, shipping can be costly and timely to organise unless you work with the right company. For more information, or get a UPS shipping quote for your SMB, get in touch with UniShippers today.

  • Reasons Why You Need an Account Team for Your Business

    Reasons Why You Need an Account Team for Your Business

    Accounting has a lot to do with a company’s success. At the management level, the accounting department needs to be well-resourced. With a robust accounting team, different financial transactions and cash flows are worked on well. There are various types of accountants available in the job market. Having an accounting team exhibiting this diversity is resourceful.

    Hiring some of the finest accountants for your business is imperative. These professionals besides handling the finance accounts they do also bookkeeping. The tracking of income and expenditure becomes easy. There is proper communication of the economic information concerning the business. Below is a clear guide on why every firm should invest in their accounting department.

    Promotes Statutory Compliance

    As you work hard in perfecting your operations, focus on the regulations prevailing in your field. Different states have distinctive rules and regulations on business matters. An accounting team helps your firms’ management be aware of the set of rules. It saves your business from losses that come from noncompliance.

    The accountants accurately address the issue of the tax obligations of your business. Filing returns in time is something they handle. They oversee the pension funds with the keenness it deserves. A business, therefore, makes smooth payments to retirees. They may advise on why certain investments are not recommendable depending on the government’s business policies.

    Aid in Budget Creation and Future Investments

    Knowing where you are heading as a business is significant. The sense of direction needs to be based on issues such as the financial position. Accountants develop clear financial records which aid in this. The comprehensive financial income statement gives information on financial position. This is concerning a certain financial year.

    Progressive preparation of such documents provides the management with an image of what the future is like. Combining financial data with accurate accounting processes does wonder. As a manager, you build much confidence in a coming project.

    Handles Evaluation of a Business’ Performance

    Find online accountancy recruitment firms as they can offer a competent accounting team.  First, check out their website and see how the profiles look like. Skillful accountants are superb in evaluations. Any business should be conscious of any slight change in performance. A boost or decline is shown by the financial records. Accurate analysis methods give the true image of your strengths and weaknesses. Aim towards boosting the strong points and eliminate drawbacks

    They use different criteria or tools in doing the assessment. For your internal business, there are multiple individual evaluations on each department. All elements are later combined to give the resultant business performance. This gives a sense of direction on which policies to be adopted or dropped for better results.

    Assist in Filing of the Financial Statements

    In a certain financial period, a business has the duty of visiting the Registrar of Companies for filing financial statements. Entities that are listed need to do this with stock exchanges. Private and public firms that pay direct and indirect taxes follow the same procedures. Accountants are at the center of these operations.

    Such professionals still safeguard your tax reports as confidentiality is key. Some do this by use of well-protected accounts in databases. Hiring accountants with a clear track record of work is key. They keep your mind as a manager at peace knowing that no tampering of the accounts will occur.

    Reviewing of Financial Records and Transactions

    In small to medium firms, accountants have the duties of making transactions to records and books. This is because the volume of work is minimal. However, with more transactions in major companies, employees are the ones who do the recording. After, the financial accounting team will take over and do reviewing.

    This ensures high accuracy in the accounts. Besides, it positively impacts the account posting work. Accountants need to constantly check the correlation of the records or books with the actual operating results of the business. Any disparity makes it easy to realize a problem somewhere. With proper tracking, the process will narrow down to the issue.

    Annual audits normally take place and companies need to do the necessary preparations. The financial accounts team does the proper organization of all books and reports before the process. A good audit report positively impacts your reputation.

    The input of accountancy in a company cannot be underestimated. Major managerial steps like investment need proper guidance from an active accounts team. Pouring enough financial resources in this department will see it work even better. This includes having optimal number of staff in it. As a manager, hire the finest accountants for your company as this translates to efficiency. Motivate the taskforce and emphasis on incorporation of modern technology in your accounting matters.