Mandate Calls For Equal Treatment of Teleworkers

February 3rd, 2012

As the federal government is encountering daily pressure to push their agencies toward teleworking, the issue of equal treatment of employees is being called into question as implementation processes begin. How can you possibly treat a teleworker the same way you do someone who works in the office? In response, the Merit Systems Protection Board issued a teleworking mandate several months ago that will hold federal agencies more accountable.

This mandate comes after the board conducted extensive research to determine the added benefits of teleworking; benefits that pretty much everyone in the workplace on demand world already knows: it improves work-life balance, increases job satisfaction, reduces real estate costs, and attracts and retains top talent for the industry.

The GSA (General Services Administration) has taken initiative with this mandate by being the first agency to institute the following goals: “Make every GSA employee, with few exceptions, eligible for telework; explicitly define some of the ways in which we work, such as hot desking, the workspace sharing arrangements known as hoteling and desk sharing; and most important, empower our entire workforce to be mobile for the 21st century.” (source )

This is a great first step and has encouraged other agencies to follow suit. Despite this new trend however, supervisors still express concern over employee productivity and accessibility. They worry that without micromanagement, employee output will decrease.

Pro-telework arguments say that with proper office space and equipment, employees will have the same output and be fully engaged IF managers have the same expectations for their teleworkers as they do their nonteleworkers.

A survey of 20,000 federal employee teleworkers revealed that 82% felt their lives had improved since becoming mobile – they can boast a healthy work-life balance and are capable of working through emergencies. From a recruitement standpoint, supervisors admit that telework enables them to attract better candidates and retain employees.

Having a successful telework integration plan requires trust and being open to how the work culture in America is changing. This mandate has hopefully pushed forward the concept of equal treatment to all agency employees – and that includes giving similar assignments and having the same standard of expectations.What do you think? Have you noticed a difference in treatment for teleworkers since this mandate was issued? Let us know your thoughts below!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 9:45 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

How To Create A Business Card That Stands Out

February 3rd, 2012

Just as businesses have evolved from the standard office job to workplace on demand solutions, so have business cards changed right along with it. The days where you would get away with your name, phone and fax number on plain white cardstock are long gone. Creativity is now a highly valued attribute, which means having a card that catches someone’s eye is just as important as doing business well.

The business card is your lasting impression when you make those face-to-face connections with colleagues and potential clients. You need to put enough thought and creativity into your design that people will remember you long after you’ve exited the building.

Here are some suggestions to help you create a compelling business card:

  • Make it nice. According to ZoeTennesen, creative services manager and art director for Dallas-based PR firm HCK2 Partners, “You wouldn’t go to a meeting at a Fortune 500 company in shorts and flip flops. Make your business card ‘dresses appropriately’ for the kind of customers you want to attract.” This means paying attention to every detail – even paper thickness, which should be at least 120 pound or higher.
  • Avoid clip art. This is the number one way to invalidate your company. Clip art tells clients that you are inexperienced and have no marketing savvy. Plus, it just looks cheap and usually confuses people because most of the time the the clip art you choose is not relevant to your company.
  • Use a QR code. I’m sure you’ve seen these around – they are matrix barcodes that are readable by smartphones, and link customers to specific information about your business (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). You can use Google to search for a free QR code creation site if you decide to pursue this option. QR codes provide an opportunity for your company to use very clever marketing gimmicks. One Atlanta-based business owner’s QR code takes customers to a landing page on his website that says, “We’ve met before, haven’t we?” If you’re interested, try BarcodeNews for a free QR code generator. Just make sure you test out the code several times before handing out your cards.
  • Go simple. There’s a lot of information to include about your business. But really, the two MOST important items are just your phone number and email address. Do you really need the Twitter handle, Skype ID, and LinkedIn account cluttering up your card? It’s best to include only the most pertinent information and introduce the other stuff once a relationship has been established. An oversaturated card will just confuse people and jumble your message.
  • Splurge! Everyone knows Vistaprint and the great deals they have on business cards. But to stand out, you’ve got to spend a bit of money. Maybe you need to contract out some creative help, but you’ve got to create a card that will appeal to the kind of customers you want to attract. If this requires outsourcing some help, just go ahead and do it.

Creating your business card should be a fun process. It’s your chance to think outside of the box and stretch your creative muscles. You can include fun things like foil stamping, embossing and die cutting to add elements that stand out. Click on this link to see examples of how people have really pushed the standard when it comes to business cards.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 5:25 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

How To Be A Great Leader

January 27th, 2012

Here’s the truth – you can only take your small business from good to great if the foundation is solid. And you get a solid foundation by having talented employees lay the groundwork. So, how does a leader attract great employees? By being great first. Here’s how to accomplish that:

  • It starts with you. You can’t command the ship if you yourself are unsure of the course and your capabilities. Take a hard look at your strengths and weaknesses. Nurture your strengths, and accept your weaknesses for what they are. Look for employees who are strong where you are weak. This is a more efficient tactic than attempting to be the best at every task.
  • Flip the management hierarchy. I’ve had jobs where superiors refer to me as their “assistant”, and I’ve had jobs where superiors refer to me as their “colleague”. I consistently went over and above for the ones who saw me as their equal. When employees know they are valued, their loyalty will never waver.
  • Hire the best. Good managers say that one of the best things you can do is hire people smarter than you. It will make your work environment more productive and more pleasant because talent thrives amidst talent. Hire people who challenge each other and challenge you.
  • Use positive reinforcement. Motivation is what gives your employees a purpose for coming to work. Start off their day by providing a clear vision for the business, adequate resources for manifesting this vision, and rewards for treating others with respect.

Being a great leader doesn’t require a master’s degree or decades of experience. It’s really as simple as breaking it down into the core principles of holding yourself accountable and fostering an atmosphere of respect and creative talent. Who has seen these suggestions work for your business? Is there anything you would add to the list? Leave a comment below!

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 1:55 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Should You Debrief After Projects?

January 27th, 2012

When you finish a project, do you tend to wrap up the session quickly and move on to the next, or do you take time with your team to evaluate your performance? Seasoned entrepreneurs know that taking the time to assess the results of previous projects will show them how to improve their process and bring the following benefits:

  • Help find a better way to do things
  • Help identify mistakes
  • Help the process become more efficient

When you have a thorough debrief with your team, you will learn what works and be able to develop a list of best practices. This streamlines the process so that when similar projects come down the pipeline, you will have a reference guide to accelerate completion.

Some questions to discuss with your project team:

  1. What worked?
  2. What didn’t work?
  3. What big risks did we take, and were they worth it?
  4. What would we do differently?

Post project, it’s a good idea to set an informal meeting with your team to collaborate. Designate one person to write down all suggestions and thoughts so that you have a clear template to follow.

What can your team do to improve?
Even if you nailed a project, still commit to building a list of action items that will take your next project from good to exceptional. Can you go further with customer service? Are you able to throw in a few extra perks at no extra charge? See what everyone has to contribute when it comes to making your company stand out.

Make a checklist.
After the project is complete, build an action items list that you can use for similar projects in the future. Action items are an important part of this process since it eliminates the errors of remembering something incorrectly. Going by a list facilitates consistency with your projects.
(If you haven’t read Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto you should pick up a copy – will help you tremendously with how to put a list together.)

Communicate results effectively.
There are three different types of communication: auditory, visual and kinesthetic.
Auditory learners need to hear the results of the project and future best practices spoken out loud. It’s a good idea to have the auditory learners repeat ideas back to you. Visual learners grasp concepts through diagrams, lists and charts, so use a meeting room with a white board that will allow them to draw out their ideas. Kinesthetic learners process through touch, so be sure to have hard copies of documents and templates available. Addressing each style of learning will ensure that everyone is clear about the results of the debrief.

This project debrief process is your opportunity to grow, learn and expand. How many small business owners actually take the time to do this? What results have you found? Share your comments – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 1:37 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Five Business Trends for 2012

January 20th, 2012

Many small business owners were happy to say goodbye to 2011. Unpredictable economic markets, housing crises and decreased consumer spending left a bad taste in every entrepreneur’s mouth. The promise of a new year always brings hope and expectation, but also anxiety-riddled uncertainty since no one really knows if 2012 will be a better year for businesses.

The best action forward is always to be prepared. Below are five trends that have been predicted for small business owners in 2012. Preparing yourself and your business to accommodate these trends will mean that these setbacks won’t take you by surprise, and will give you the necessary tools to overcome them.

Five trends to watch for:

  • A slump in sales during winter – this is always a recurring trend. 40% of consumers claim they overspent in December. Not surprising. Expect low profits through February as consumers try to make up for the deficits of the holidays. Maybe take the time to brainstorm and come up with unusual ways to increase your sales.
  • Shifting markets – the small business market will fluctuate and move in unpredictable patterns. You can remain stable through networking. Stay plugged into your community and listen to their changing interests in order to continue thriving.
  • An increase in prices – the top consumer items predicted to rise include: airfare, digital cameras, computers and groceries.
  • Mergers – last year, the US mergers and acquisitions mark hit $821 billion, which is the highest it’s been since 2007. This could be your year to grow through acquisition too, or perhaps even sell.
  • Election year will cause instability – an election year tends to cause anything happening on Capitol Hill to stall. Politicians looking to maintain high approval ratings could mean slower movement for any decisions relating to small business or government contractor laws. Expect to spend a lot of time waiting.

What trends do you foresee taking place in 2012? Share your comments below!

This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 2:37 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Why You Need To Hire Positive Employees For Your Business

January 20th, 2012

Hiring employees is an inevitable part of being a business owner. As your company grows, additional people will be required to stay on top of workflow. However, the people you choose to hire can have a positive or negative impact on your business. The desire to bring in the best starts with you – being at your best.

The law of attraction states that like attracts like. It is worth your time to pause and take an introspective look at your work life. What characteristics do your vendors, colleagues and clients posses? Are you surrounded by hard working, trustworthy, optimistic folks? Or do you tend to complain because you find people unreliable and difficult to work with? Your answer is a direct reflection of the image you are projecting.

The ability to work well with others directly influences your business success. As an entrepreneur, you are accustomed to doing a variety of tasks very well. And usually without asking for help. But it takes strength of character to realize that at some point you cannot continue alone. And hiring the right fit for your company will require more than just a cursory glance at a skill set.

How do you attract the right people into your business? By becoming the person that YOU would want to do business with.

Start by addressing these three points:

  • Core Values: What are they? Be clear and identify them. The more specific you can be, the better chance you have of exhibiting those characteristics and finding the right people who fit in line with your ideals.
  • Life Priorities: What do you consider most important in work behavior? Examine your list. Do your work and/or family life actually reflect those priorities?
  • Contribution: What is your unique contribution that you give through your business? Are you doing something that manifests a contribution every day? Will your colleague help you work towards that contribution?

By starting to perceive your business in a more positive light, you will begin to attract like-minded people into your life who are able to help take your business in a positive direction.

Who has feedback on how hiring a positive employee strengthened your business? We’d love to hear your comments below!

This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 1:44 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Social Media For Small Business in 2012

January 13th, 2012

Social media should be a fundamental part of your small business by now. 2011 showed us how imperative it is to integrate a communicative platform within your company that provides a medium for clients and potential customers to reach out and have a way to interact with your business. Last year also proved how necessary it is to be a supplier of worthwhile and quality information, which develops you into an industry expert and, in turn, cultivates trust with your followers.

Social media is predicted to shift drastically in 2012. The negative side of this is that many entrepreneurs and home-based business owners will still continue to abuse social media. Instead of viewing it as an asset, they will push their brand or product on their followers, which will only hurt their business. The best way to approach social media is how you would a spouse: you encourage a positive reaction through gentle persuasion. By going slowly, you will build more solid followers.

There is a saturation of information on the social media market right now due to almost everyone jumping on the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon. Ensuring that you share quality and meaningful information will indicate how people perceive you and could determine the life or death of your business. Moving away from Twitter and Facebook, this year is also time to take a look at Google+. Social media experts are predicting it’s going to be bigger than Twitter, since it facilitates more dialogue-driven relationships.

That being said, there is still talk that Google+ is too hard to implement. Administration can be difficult, as it requires an individual account, and currently there is no option to add more than one administrator.

What are your thoughts on social media, and especially Google +? How many of you have started to implement this feature into your business? What results have you found?

This entry was posted on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 2:18 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Working From Home

January 13th, 2012

Metro Offices caters to many entrepreneurs and government contractors who have home-based businesses. While the freedom of a home office allows you to work from your bed, teleworking also presents challenges that can be hard to overcome. Avoid throwing your self-discipline out the window by sticking hard and fast to the following suggestions:

  • Get out of your pajamas. It may seem like an insignificant factor, but lounging around all day in your yoga pants and no shower can make you feel like you don’t really need to be serious about getting any work done. Routine is your best friend. Set your alarm, shower, get dressed, put on some makeup (if applicable), and sit down to work. Set a schedule and stick with it.
  • Schedule face-to-face time. Working from home has the ability to atrophy your social life and social skills. You may forget how to form complete sentences or the way sunlight feels on your face. Head to the gym on your lunch break or schedule a shared office space with Metro Offices. Something that will get you out of the house and interacting with people on a regular basis.
  • Identify motivation problems. Anything can distract you while at home: chores, kids, broken water heaters…but sometimes you need to step back and ask yourself if the reason you are avoiding work is really due to that leaky faucet or just a lack of stimulating projects. Being in an office forces you to get your work done regardless, but no one is looking over your shoulder while you sit on your couch. Sometimes all it requires is a few days of resolve to get back into your groove, or a change of scenery by working from a coffee shop.

What suggestions do you have for keeping a rigid schedule and getting your work done? Leave us a comment below!

 

 

This entry was posted on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 2:00 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Five Reasons to Live and Work in Ballston

January 6th, 2012

Ballston is the place to live and work if you are a young urban single. It has a bustling nightlife and close proximity to DC that make it ideal for the demographic that has a generous disposable income without the responsibility of a family – the young professional 20’s and 30’s group.

Five Reasons to Live in Ballston:

  • Convenience: Ballston is only 6 miles from Washington DC, and you can easily get there via the Ballston Metro. No sitting in traffic! From Ballston you can also hop onto I-66 which will take you straight to Northern Virginia.
  • Prime Market: Within Ballston lie varied sectors of companies, from government agencies and contractors to science and technology organizations. A short list of top employers in Ballston include: The National Science Foundation, Nature Conservancy, CACI, SAIC, and Accenture.
  • Mobile Workforce Solutions: Ballston provides on demand workplaces that attract government contractors and home based entrepreneurs alike. Metro Offices provide options like FlexDesks, Day Office, shared office and meeting spaces, free WIFI, admin support, free gourmet coffee and an in-house wine bar.
  • Amenities: Ballston offers the Ballston Common Mall, a slew of restaurants and bars that stay open late, the Kettler Capitals Iceplex where you can catch a Washington Capitals practice, and plenty of outdoor green space. A cool bit of info: the Wilson Boulevard-Clarendon Boulevard corridor in Ballston was named on of the top 10 Great Streets in the U.S.
  • Urban life: Ballston has created a unique atmosphere of urban city life, where you can walk easily to bars, restaurants and shopping that cater to the young urban professional. But just a few blocks away are quaint, tree-lined streets that give the sense of a neighborhood feel.

Feel free to contact Metro Offices for a tour – we’d be happy to show you what Ballston has to offer!

 

This entry was posted on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 5:18 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

From Failure to Success – What Mistake Has Led to Business Growth?

January 6th, 2012

Has your business made a monumental mistake that just happened to turn into an unexpected success?

In no case is this situation more evident than when 3M invented the Post-it. At first, they didn’t know what to do with the slightly adhesive substance they had created, until the little yellow squares of paper seemed to be the perfect fit. Post-its then ended up becoming one of the best products 3M ever created.

A new book, Brilliant Mistakes: Finding Success on the Far Side of Failure by Paul J.H. Shoemaker, spotlights this topic and is hosting a nice little contest to parallel the theories in the book.

Here are the details:

  • Describe your business mistake in 300 words or less
  • What led to the mistake?
  • How did it happen?
  • What did you learn?
  • Did it change your company?

You are eligible to win two round-trip tickets on Southwest, a Wharton Executive Education course (the publisher), a copy of the book, business-conference tickets to the Wharton Mack Center for Technological Innovation and other extras.

The contest closes on February 1 so get your entries ready soon and submit them here.

Leave us a comment below with a short summary of your business mistakes that have led to unexpected successes!

This entry was posted on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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