Author: Patrick Reichert

What to Do After You’ve Accepted a New Job

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Receiving the offer of a new job can prompt some of the most unalloyed feelings of joy possible. For a moment, at least. But soon, the rush of euphoria and the unabashed kitchen-dancing subsides, and different feelings begin to bubble up. Anticipation. Nervousness. Worry. Going into a new situation can cause stress. Even though your new job represents a great opportunity, it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive. The best cure is to prepare. Get everything set for the first day so you don’t add to your jitters with disorganization and uncertainty. Here are six items to keep in mind… Read more »

Simple Steps to Managing a Team that Doesn’t Get Along

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

The more diverse your workplace, the more you’ll have differing opinions. This can be good because conflict—when resolved positively—can lead to improvements in products, services, communication, and company culture. If you have a team that just doesn’t really get along, you may notice conflicts popping up frequently, and this can add to tension in your workplace. But you can take steps to help manage your team through all conflicts. Five Steps to Resolve Conflicts Between Employees No workplace is perfect and people are bound to disagree. You can help to smooth things over and build peace with the following: Stay… Read more »

Three Non-Traditional Ways to Find New Candidates

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Doing things the same old way leads to the same old results. Also, it represents a good way to get left behind. When you dig yourself into the current standards – never experimenting, never introducing new elements – you doom yourself to eventual obsolescence. You strive hard not to let this happen to your products. Don’t let it happen to your hiring techniques either. And it’s not just a concern for the future. An overreliance on traditional recruitment techniques causes an immediate problem in a time of tight labor markets. Unemployment rates are low. Workers are primed to move, looking… Read more »

Top Shelf Safety Improvements You Can Make Today

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

The way you work helps you avoid injury and illness, as well as feel better overall. In the time it takes you to say “workplace safety” you can improve the way you work—helping yourself and those around you stay healthy and safe. It’s time to hit the “easy button” and make five small changes that add up to big results. Five Ways to Be Safer at Work You can try all of the following easy-peasy safety techniques as soon as today: Lift Items Properly When lifting, never put strain on your back. Instead, bend your knees and stoop down to… Read more »

Can Social Media Hurt Your Chances at a Job?

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Once upon a time, if you did something stupid, you didn’t have to worry too much about it coming back to hurt you later in life. If you had an offensive picture in your yearbook, or published some bizarre political opinions in an obscure school newspaper, those items would likely get buried in a library somewhere, never to surface again. Now, however, the Internet preserves everything. Things you posted years ago can haunt your employment opportunities today. What’s more, with people posting their every thought online, a momentary lapse in judgment can quickly escalate into a career-altering event. A thoughtless… Read more »

How to Set Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Your management style is directly linked to the performance of your employees. And if your style leans more towards “hands-off,” it can be very empowering for your workers—the less you micromanage, the more it builds trust and helps your staff develop their own decision-making skills. When Freedom Works Best For Your Staff If you want to implement a more hands-off management style, it’s important to first assess the capabilities of your workers. Less micromanaging works best for skilled workers who clearly understand their role and what you expect. Within these boundaries, you can allow them the freedom to do their… Read more »

Self-Performance Reviews Could be the Key to Standing Out to Management

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

So… what do YOU think of you? Self-evaluation is important to your career! It shows your boss you’re fully aware of your current skills and the direction your career is taking. It’s a smart, professional way to demonstrate your passion for your work. It also helps your boss track what you’ve been up to, and this is key for raises and promotions. Start With a Log The best way to begin self-performance reviews is by jotting down your accomplishments in a log to help you keep track. Be very specific about what you accomplished and include numbers when you can.… Read more »

Five Ways to Promote Better Work/Life Balance

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Work is important, but life happens! It can be tricky to juggle personal and family responsibilities with a 40-hour work week. Employees who feel too chained to work can end up feeling drained, and this can impact their productivity. Now more than ever, employers are understanding of the need for work/life balance. When your workers can make time for all aspects of their lives, it helps them to feel more enriched and content—and balanced! Five Work/Life Balance Tips You can support employee health and happiness with the following: Teach employees what work/life balance means. If they’re not familiar with the… Read more »

How to Grow Better Workplace Relationships

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Many companies are moving towards collaborative work environments and away from those that are competitive. Why? When employees feel they are working together to reach a common goal, it helps to build teamwork and creativity—and enhances communication and productivity. Instead of competition, which can be exhausting to employees, working together helps your team appreciate everyone’s skills and contributions. This is very empowering! Five Team-Building Tips As you strive to build a more supportive and inclusive work environment, consider the following: Choose activities that appeal to a wide range of interests. Bowling is fun, but not everyone is good at it.… Read more »

Top Tips for Improving Company Morale

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Staff meetings have become a sea of slumped shoulders and dead eyes. Your calls for suggestions and feedback elicit only blank stares and uncomfortable silence. Sick days have spiked. No one volunteers for overtime. It’s become difficult to do any more than the basic office functions. Morale is becoming a problem. It may sometimes seem like the smushy-feely hobby horse of motivational speakers and self-appointed business gurus with a book to sell, but morale can have a very real impact on day-to-day operations. Bad morale leads to higher turnover and lower productivity. In short, it impacts the bottom line. Maybe… Read more »