Small Business Blog from Atlantic Canada

I have never felt miserable as I have felt over the last few days. Influenza is definitely not something to be inflicted with. Considering serious professional work requiring concentration and creativity acted as a catalyst to worsen my symptoms. So I took this opportunity to (sleep, yes) and also catch up on expanding my horizons. I endeavored to undertake those activities that involved no physical labor, I let my fingers do the walking during the waking moments. As part of my healing process, I also devoured Brad and Debra Schepp’s How to find a job on LinkedIn, … and other social networking sites, along with those bitter pills.

Despite talent shortages businesses are working to weed out candidates with the right credentials, but the wrong personality. Why should a business hire you over the other individual? The answer lies in branding. But first let’s define personal branding. Essentially it is the value that others perceive you possess in your role in an organization. The best part is that like any other product, it is something that you can develop, shape and control.

One of the first things that time and attendance effects is payroll. Payroll is a very sensitive subject and you cannot afford to make mistakes. Moreover, payroll is repetitive – a perfect candidate to target for efficiency gains. However, people have different circumstances and you need to take into account those rules when determining deductions and net pay. Throw in overtime, vacations, training, etc. into the mix and you have all the makings of a resource intensive system if done manually.

Back in April I wrote an article You are intelligent, you cannot think. This post follows a similar vein - think outside the box guys. Don’t bind yourself down. - - Atlantic Canada’s Small Business Management Blog at Halifax, Nova Scotia by IQI Strategic Management Inc

Let’s use a hypothetical case study to show why you may need to rethink your compensation structure.
Assume your body is an organization. Let’s also assume the body parts are individuals. They perform their respective functions needed for the organization to exist. The following is the list of 12 critical employees your organization needs to function [...]

Rivets are one of the minutest parts in the airplane, but each and every one of them is critical to the objective of the plane - flying safely. Check your small business. Are your rivets mission-critical? [...]

Small business consulting services in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is a no-brainer that the recruitment process is expensive. But exactly how expensive is it? Have you ever paused to calculate it?

You spend considerable time and resources to hire people. Why not do it right the first time? What are the top three points you look at when hiring?

We are almost at the annual six month mark. Did you conduct a semi-annual performance feedback this year? Or should the question be, “Do you have a feedback system in place that is fair and objective?”
Typically, I have seen small businesses perform a yearly appraisal for employees wherein the manager or the CEO provides all [...]

Business is a team sport. Or is it? Or at least that’s what I thought until I got a wakeup call. I take up an assignment at an organization with the sole motive of making a profit. However, I always keep in mind the client is the reason my organization is in existence. Isn’t it logical that if my client is making money my organization makes money and I, in turn, will make money? I realize that I can only profit if my organization profits. And I will do whatever it takes to ensure the organization profits. That is my motivation. I am not saying you give up your ambition or your goals for the good of the company. No, I do not preach altruism. But I do encourage symbiosis. You will best serve the company if your profit goals are aligned with those of the company. In today’s fast paced business world, no one can do everything.