Importance Of Organizational Skills In Business

Why is this skill important?

One form of good management that at times is forgotten is the importance of organizational skills. A business has many different levels and layers. To succeed in the workplace, you need to know how each level functions and you need to know the proper forms to communicate with every employee in the workplace. Being organized in a business environment are necessary for multi-tasking and for a business to run efficiently and successfully. Employers want to hire people who can give results on a day to day basis even when unexpected problems or complications arise. Workers with organizational skills can setup their schedule, boost production, and formulate tasks that must be achieved opposed to those that can be deferred, substituted, or terminated.

This skill also…

  • Give the employee a sense of protection and individuality
  • Allows employees the ability to complete tasks faster
  • Allows Employees to have more fun at the workplace
  • Lead to a more peaceful and collected work environment

Want The Definition?

Organizational skills are skills that can be structured through thoughts and tasks. When you have this type of skill you can complete a task more thoroughly and quickly. When your employer gives you a task to complete with a deadline, you will be able to do this with no problem.

Inner and outer organizational skills

Organizational skills are more than just keeping your work area clean and organized. Employees with good organizational skills can keep cool when pressure mounts. Projects are usually centered around a fixed timeline, and having the ability to organize a task into smaller jobs and objectives can be an efficient and effective way to accomplish them. In addition, employers look for employees who can arrange and assign these smaller tasks to themselves and other employees to be able to remain on task and on schedule while preserving work and life balance.

Along with communication skills, and computer skills, organizational skills are also one of the most flexible skills a worker can possess.

Organizational skills may include the following:

  • Effective communication is necessary to come to a mutual understanding between employee and employer of the tasks that are to be performed. Organization communication can help a business flow efficiently and effectively.
  • Delegating tasks make an employee feel like they are contributing to the business and it also makes them feel good. This will allow for a comfortable work-friendly environment.
  • Administration skills will help employees focus on tasks at hand. Being a manager or administrator, you are aware that you are responsible for teaching your employees the importance or organization skills for business growth and success.

How to Become a Master of Your Work

I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that you either are, or you want to be, good at what you do. I’m going to take that even further and assume that you either are, or want to be, great at what you do.

But are you committed to becoming an absolute master? Possibly one of the greatest of all time? And, if so, how do you get there?

My brother-in-law Steve has a Ph.D. in musicology. He’s one of the world’s foremost Beethoven scholars. [An aside: There’s nothing quite like touring Beethoven’s birth house in Bonn, Germany in the company of one of the world’s foremost Beethoven scholars! Someday I’ll have to return the favor and take Steve to Liverpool.] In addition, he also wrote the definitive biography of French composer Erik Satie. So, when I asked him who he thought was the greatest composer of all time, I was a little surprised when he answered, without hesitation, “Bach, of course!”

Johann Sebastian Bach is, arguably (very arguably), the greatest composer of all time. He was inarguably a complete master of his art. Which brings me to an article I was just reading about Bach which talks about how diligently he studied everything that had come before. The article sums it up beautifully this way:

“Bach became an absolute master of his art by never ceasing to be a student of it.”

(By the way, art historians would probably say the same about Picasso.)

You become a master of your art/craft/occupation/calling by never ceasing to be a student of it.
And, because you’re a leader, you need to be a continuous student of two disciplines:

Your industry.
Leadership itself.

If you want to be a master leader in the widget industry (the one that they’ll be writing articles about 267 years after your death), you need to be a voracious student of both widgets and leadership. Which means you subscribe to Widgets Monthly as well as Harvard Business Review. You read Widget Design in the 1800s as well as Maxwell, Cialdini, and Bill George.

The point is that what came before matters. Bach knew it. Picasso knew it. And you should know it too. Yes, you need to stay on top of current trends. But only by studying what came before can you put the present into context. And it’s from within that context that you can see the patterns (if you look for them) that can help you predict the future.

Bach made musical breakthroughs because he was a student of music. Picasso made artistic breakthroughs because he was a student of art.

And, as a leader in your field, you will make breakthroughs-and become a master-only when you become a student of both leadership and your field.

4-Line Phone System? More Like String Telephone

Communication plays a pivotal role in every business, as the ability to communicate effectively can hugely impact your dealings for better or for worse. With this in mind, you want to ensure that you’ve chosen the best route for your company to converse with colleagues and clients. Many businesses turn to 4-line phone systems to optimize and streamline their communications, but is this really the best option out there? After all, we are living in the age of technology – surely there must be a phone system that doesn’t have the limitations of analog lines.

There is, of course, the VoIP technology that you see sweeping the communications industry. But is it really better than your tried and true multi-line phones? Here we’ll go over some of the basics of 4-line phone systems, as well as pros and cons of a VoIP system, so you can see how the two measure up.

What is a 4-Line Phone System?

A 4-line phone system uses 4 traditional landlines, each wired to the office handsets. This allows users to answer multiple calls at once and forward them to personalized extensions or voicemails. 4-line systems also give you other functions that every office needs to thrive: call waiting, caller ID, and conference calling. These are all great functions, but unfortunately, even these assets leave something to be desired.

Much like the old-school string telephones you used to make with your friends, landlines use wires to transfer sound from one point to the next. This system works fairly well… but in an age where most everything is switching over to digital, there are definite drawbacks. Think about your string telephone, and the limitations that it possessed: your cup “receiver” had to be attached to your friend’s cup via the string, you could only be a certain distance away, etc. Then think back to your trusty walkie-talkies that you and your friends could use blocks away, through walls, completely unattached from each other. Though this isn’t a perfect analogy, it illustrates in a micro-cosmic way the contrast between landlines and VoIP.

Let’s zone in on what this looks like in reality. Though 4-line systems can support multiple callers at once and even be routed to personalized extensions or voicemails, there can only be a maximum of four lines in use at one time. For companies that do much of their business over the phone, this can be a frustrating drawback. Clients become irate at the fact that they’re never able to reach a real person when they need to, and employees bemoan the fact that they can’t call out when all lines are in use. This doesn’t even mention the much higher costs associated with installing and maintaining landlines.

The Pros and Cons of VoIP

Now that some of the drawbacks of 4-line systems have been clearly illustrated, it’s time to examine VoIP a little more closely.

There are plenty of advantages to VoIP, and some of them have already been touched on. For instance, the flexibility offered by VoIP is simply unmatched in the communications world. Not only can you support far more calls at once, but you can make these calls from anywhere. Your personal smartphone can become an extension of your office phone, as calls route directly to whatever device you select. And you don’t even have to use a phone – a computer with a headset will work just fine for VoIP. All you really need is an internet connection and a device to connect, and you’re ready to make or take calls of any kind: voice, video, or conference.

A VoIP system also has the advantage of being much cheaper to install and operate. From the service itself to the hardware and installation, most businesses save anywhere from 50 to 75% on their communications costs by ditching traditional landlines in favor of a VoIP setup.

No system is perfect, however. VoIP’s main drawback is that the quality of your phone calls will only be as good as your internet connection. A cable broadband internet setup will support over a hundred high quality calls at once, whereas an average DSL connection can only serve six. This means that in order to have a high-functioning VoIP system, you need to ensure your internet connection is fast and consistent.

Additionally, while traditional landlines still function during a power outage, VoIP phones cannot. This leaves you at a serious disadvantage if you lose power during a storm. And, as with all internet technology, VoIP is susceptible to viruses and hacking. Most VoIP providers have advanced security measures to prevent breaches, but it is still a risk of the VoIP setup.

Making the Switch

Overall, the versatility and cost benefits of VoIP give it a huge advantage over the outdated landline setups that are quickly falling by the wayside. With VoIP you can save yourself thousands of dollars a year in communication costs and funnel those savings into other areas of your business. And by making the switch to VoIP, you gain the ability to call from anywhere and never miss out on a call due to busy lines, giving you a much-needed edge in a highly competitive market.

5 New Technologies for Small Business Owners

Small businesses are sometimes the slowest to adapt to emerging trends. Yet, enterprises that are quick to take advantage of new technologies are often the most successful. Here are 5 new technologies that will change the way we do business:

1. Mobile Payments

Credit card machines are omnipresent, but mobile transactions are the payment models of the future. A litany of mobile-based payment solutions has already flooded the market. A few taps of a smart-phone screen is all it takes to make a payment, reverse a transaction, or receive an automated invoice. Experts predict that mobile transactions will be worth more than $250 billion this year. Many businesses are already making a massive push towards the adoption of this user-friendly technology.

2. Wireless Conferencing

Meetings are where strategies are discussed, progress is evaluated, and partnerships are forged. Meeting rooms with clunky video equipment, wires, and connectors splayed across the table are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Solutions such as Google’s Chromecast and Apple’s Airplay may be familiar to some business owners. Wireless conferencing technology makes connecting, collaborating, and sharing faster and easier and saves time and money. Newer technology is going beyond simply sharing presentations and allowing team members to interact in real-time with holographic tele-presence.

3. Embedded Communication

In the future, apps, websites, and ATMs are set to feature embedded communication capabilities. This technology allows customers to chat with service representatives instantly in real-time. An increasing number of consumers are accessing the Internet solely through their mobile devices, and the ability to connect with a customer service rep at the click of a button holds tremendous potential. Amazon has launched Mayday on its Kindle devices. Bank of America features Teller Assist on ATM machines to allow customers to video chat with a teller if there are any issues.

4. Share Economy

Airbnb and Uber are household names now. These brands define what is known as a share economy where consumers choose to borrow or share goods and services instead of purchasing them. Small businesses can take advantage of a number of opportunities offered by these models and benefit from the economies of scale. This type of collaborative consumption is a great way to boost and accelerate business plans.

5. Driverless Motor Vehicles

When ride-sharing giant Uber acquired a startup called Otto, it made headline news. Otto is a startup company developing driverless trucks. The commercial transportation industry is the backbone of many businesses, big and small. There are continuing concerns about the safety of autonomous trucks. However, the economies of scale offered by driverless vehicles are massive and could change the way we do business.

Can your business benefit from any of these emerging technologies? Experts believe small business owners who take advantage of new technologies and are proactive in adopting them will be the most successful in the years to come.

Types Of Card Payment Machines For Businesses

Since there are lots of options at your disposal, choosing the best card payment machine for your business can be a bit time consuming and confusing. If you are having similar experience, we suggest that you use our tips. In order to make your selection easier, you should first understand the various types of machines. By comparing different machines, you can determine the type of card terminal that will be the best for your business. Read on.

Things to consider

First of all, you should consider the products you deal in. Secondly, you should consider the location of your sale points. Thirdly, you should take into account how your customers are going to pay you. Will they pay you in person or through the Internet? Once you have taken into account these things, you should consider the types of card machines. Given below is a description of different types of machines.

Countertop Card Machines

As far as popularity goes, countertop machines are on top of the list. As a matter of fact, these machines work from a fixed point like a reception desk or a shop counter. So, you can’t move them from one place to another. As a matter of fact, these machines can work well through dial-up or your DSL connection. Moreover, you can use them with a tiny footprint without any problem. Another great thing is that they can be installed on any countertop. Usually, this type of machines are used by high street shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and newsagents. So, if you run any of these businesses, you should opt for this machine.

Mobile Card Machines

Another great alternative is mobile card machines. The beauty of these machines is that they feature a SIM card just like a regular mobile phone, which makes them an ideal choice for businesses that are mostly on the go like market traders, delivery services, plumbers, electricians, takeaways and photographers, just to name a few.

If you want to use this type of machine, make sure you have a phone signal. Latest machines are compatible with a smartphone app along with a quality Bluetooth chip as well as a PIN keypad.

Portable Card Machines

If you are not always at the same place, we suggest that you give a go to a portable card machine. The great thing about these machines is that they can be taken to the users for making payment. But the catch is that these machines will work within a specific radius.

Portable card machines are popular in situations where the customer is not always in the same spot, so the card machine can conveniently be taken to them for payment. The portable card machine will operate within a certain radius of its base unit, which connects to your phone line or internet connection like a countertop card machine.

So, if you have been looking for the best card payment machine for your business needs, we suggest that you check out these three types and go for the right one.

How To Deal With A 3D Printing Company Near Me

The rapid advancements in technology and phenomenal growth in tech innovations have fueled the growth of new processes. Every business venture today looks for the best processes, innovative technologies, and sound technicalities that lead to successful projects. The same principles are applicable for printing services too. Since the remarkable progress in technology leads to advanced operations, you will surely want to associate with leading service providers.

Dealing with the service providers

It’s not just enough to choose a printer. You should know the art of dealing with these professionals as that will help you keep track of the complete project. Most of the individuals ask who can introduce me to the best 3D printing company near me, but fail to do proper research. It’s imperative to find the best companies and check out their services. That’s not all; once you get in touch with the leading service providers, you should know how to deal with them.

Knowing the tips

Dealing with the chosen service provider is of paramount significance. Get targeted information on their services, service efficiency, deliveries, and quality. If you are wondering about which is the leading 3D printing company near me, build associations with the pioneers in the professional world. From three-dimensional wax prints to rapid prototyping, they will have a diverse range of services for clients. Check out these tips, and they will help you deal with the leading printers.

1. Get knowledgeable about their services

Check the services provided by your chosen service providers. Depending on the diverse needs of your project, you might require distinctive techniques and processes. The pioneering companies will offer exclusive services like wax prints, rapid prototyping, large models, FDM prints.

2. Know their efficiency

How efficient are your service providers? You should develop crystal clear ideas of this particular fact first. Customers will have the opportunity to choose their designs and get them translated into the appropriate medium. Determine your requirements first, and then you can plan the process.

3. Discussing the costs

Costs and project prices are the most crucial parts of the project. Make sure you develop crystal clear ideas of these factors as they will help you keep confusions at bay. Most importantly, complete transparency is a must-have in such projects. Discussion on costs and prices will help you take the deal forward.

4. Checking delivery modules

You will surely have deadlines for your project, and it’s imperative to meet them. Keep this aspect in mind whenever you plan to deal with your chosen service providers. The top companies will render useful support and work according to your convenience.

Planning in advance

Don’t wait for the last moment. Plan your project before it’s too late. A well-designed and well-defined project will fetch you huge returns. All you need to do is develop awareness about the nuances and build associations with the right people. With in-depth knowledge and market experience, they will come forward with professional support for numerous clients across sectors.

How To Teach 3D Scanning And Printing Better Than Anyone Else

If you are launching a spectacular product in the market, creating effective prototypes and prints will be a significant part of the entire project. The appearance and design of a product play a remarkable role in attracting buyers. It’s right here that most of the product designers want to translate their ideas into reality and give a unique shape to their thoughts. Three-dimensional prints and scanned documents are what you need in such projects. With modern processes taking over the traditional technologies, there’s no denying the significance of three-dimensional prints and prototypes.

The perfect guide

Creating printed and scanned documents using the three-dimensional technology is a crucial thing to do. You will need to keep various factors in mind which will lead to the successful execution of the entire project. Or you can take the easiest route by assigning the 3D scanning and printing project to a highly efficient service provider! The top companies will work better than anyone else thus delivering exceptional designs.

Understanding the technology

Before embarking on the project, you should develop complete ideas of the crucial technologies. What is the meaning of creating three-dimensional prints? In a nutshell, what does the project involve and include? The act of translating designs from three-dimensional models to the physical base is what you call three-dimensional printing. If you are planning to leverage this technology and achieve a highly successful 3D scanning and printing project, make sure you develop associations with the pioneers in the market.

1. Importance of training

It’s highly imperative to get the desired training before working on the project. You should know the nuances and details involved in the entire project as that will lead to fruitful results. When you are planning to work on these designs, here are some of the tips you can follow:

2. Creating unique designs

Always keep in mind that nothing works like a unique and innovative design. If your product has a stunning design, your target audience will feel connected to it positively. Most importantly, innovative designs reflect the beauty and usefulness of a product. Consumers will know their importance and utility.

3. Knowing your audience

Make sure you know the tastes and preferences of your target audience. Since your product is meant for a group of users, you will surely want them to experience optimum convenience while using it. Product designs are a great way of captivating the attention of target consumers. If you know what your audience prefers, it becomes easy to create 3D scans and prints.

4. Refer to professionals

Seeking professional suggestions is the best thing to do when it comes to working on designs. Seasoned designers will help you identify the latest trends and also assist in the prototyping process. Always listen to what professionals say before you take a decision.

Parting thoughts

With these tips in mind, you will surely have the opportunity to work on three-dimensional prints and create scanned documents. Follow this guide whenever there’s a project on cards.

How To Choose An Online 3D Printing Bureau Service For Business

Businesses need to print important documents at regular intervals. These documents have to be in the printed format, as you will present them to your clients, customers, and partners. With fast-paced advancements in technology, 3-dimensional prints have become highly popular in the market, and every business venture is opting for these styles. However, the presence of innumerable companies makes it difficult for you to select the best service providers.

Choosing the pioneers

Opting for the right print partners is no less than a prime requisite. You will need to find out their offerings, range of print technologies, and final delivery process. Getting in touch with the best 3D printing bureau Service will be of paramount significance in this regard. That will give you the opportunity to meet your professional needs within stipulated deadlines. Most importantly, you will receive professional quality prints which will help you earn more clients than before.

Tips to follow

When it comes to selecting a reputed, recognized, and professional print company, you will have to take various factors into consideration. From selecting the organization to developing clear ideas of their profiles, quite a few factors are important in the process. Always try to build associations with the leading 3D printing bureau Service, as they follow a diverse range of print modes and techniques for clients. Their prime emphasis is always on maximizing client satisfaction, which is highly crucial for any organization. Here are some tips that will help you carry on with the search process.

1. Check past work

See, check, and review the past work of your chosen company. The leading service providers will be more than happy to show their works and past projects to you. Check those works and see whether they can fulfill your requirements.

2. Rely on referrals

When it comes to choosing a print service provider, your friends, colleagues, and associates can give you an idea of the top companies. Make sure you talk to them and ask them about which company to choose. That will give you the chance to associate with leaders and pioneering companies in the respective field. Referrals are the best resources for you, as they can help you identify the most efficient professionals in this arena.

3. Shop around

While looking for the top companies, make sure you search all the probable avenues. Do a bit of research and find out which company can offer professional support. Make sure you check their offerings and costs too.

4. Crack the best deals

Some of the leading companies might come up with lucrative deals. These deals will ensure huge price benefits for you. All you need to do is find these offers and crack the top deals in the market. While doing so, you will also get introduced to the companies offering them, and that will give you an idea of their efficiency and expertise.

Keep the suggestions in mind

These suggestions will make sure you get in touch with the leading companies and three-dimensional print bureaus. They will help you achieve unsurpassed success and profits.

4 Smart-Driven CRM Trends to Look for Growth of Small Businesses

Keeping pace with the technology advancements is greatly important for businesses both small and big. Likewise, updating your marketing and customer interaction activities as per the latest CRM trends is extremely important for businesses, especially small firms. It is crucial for small businesses to keep note of the evolving technologies which, will help them drive existing customers to make repeat purchases and attract new customers.

On a comprehensive note, it will help small firms to expand their customer connect and boost sales. Considering the same, here we would like to discuss some of the key CRM trends of 2017 that can add more feasibility to your marketing activities.

Improved Predictive Analytic

An efficient CRM software helps companies to find out the number of interested customers, their preferred time of interaction and preferred mode of communication. However, with the latest improvements, predictive analytic will now offer greater insight of the ideal customer sales and engagement approach to small businesses by digging out existing customer details.

Increasing Necessity of Mobile App Adoption

Over the recent years, both midsized and small firms have started deploying the streamlined marketing tools. However, this year, mobile app adoption with CRM integration will grow for assisting the customer service representatives. It will help sales employees to capture relevant notes, receive notifications and contact via email or call from the mobile devices by using a mobile app. Mobile apps were just an option earlier, however, now, they have become a vital part of managing customer relationships effectively.

Improved Integration

Often it becomes hard to integrate a CRM solution with all the key elements of a business. While considering this fact, this year, CRM integration and connectivity are going to increase and small firms can include newer products and services into the software. Powerful solutions include the right set of integrations including; workflows, customer sales, social media and product tracking thereby, offering a holistic solution for empowering the team members with a holistic and current view during customer communication.

Importance of Social Networking to Grow

It is obvious that your customer service team has their own work timing and specific days off. However, the customers always expect to get faster responses online, especially through social media platforms. Moreover, if they fail to connect with your conventional communication channels, they can follow your company on social media and get latest news about its product launches and work culture. Promoting your business via social media channels will allow you to offer 24/7 accessibility to customers, thereby answering their queries promptly.

All these Customer Relationship Management trends in 2017 will help businesses to grow and strengthen their customer relationships. Thus, while summarizing it, CRM for small business will ultimately help in increasing customer reach, customer satisfaction and sales.

5 Steps to Retire From Your Business With Confidence

As a business owner, you’ve poured your time and energy into making your company successful. But how much thought have you given to what will happen when you relinquish this role? Sooner or later, you will step down and hand the reins to someone else. Even if you intend to work for many more years, having a well-defined path can help you develop peace of mind as you enter the next phase of life. Looking ahead allows you to anticipate future opportunities and challenges, as well as give you time to create financial contingency plans that improve your prospects down the road. Here are five ways to constructively think ahead.

1. Decide what the future looks like – for you and your business

What would you like the next chapter of your life to be? Whether it’s starting another business, dedicating time to volunteer or visiting countries on your bucket list, your goals and dreams will be in better reach if you take the time to articulate them.

Next, think about what you desire for your business when you leave the helm. If you want your company to continue after you’re gone, then it’s important to groom future leaders. A succession plan can help you avoid potential gaps in the chain of command and make your company more attractive to prospective buyers. Even if you choose to shut the doors, you’ll want to think about how to best wrap things up with vendors, customers and clients.

2. Assess your retirement savings

After you’ve identified the goals and dreams for you and your business, focus on planning the details of your retirement. You know from being your own boss that you need to have a strategy when you want to achieve specific goals. First and foremost, it’s important to have separate retirement savings as you plan a future that’s independent of the business. Pouring every dollar that you make back into your business is not a retirement plan. Even the best intentions can be thwarted if something unexpected happens.

When you have a retirement savings account in place, commit to making regular contributions. Start as early as you can and consider increasing your contribution as you get closer to retirement age. Enlist the help of a financial advisor to ensure your retirement plan is robust enough to finance your transition and maximize your retirement.

3. Calculate your retirement expenses

Knowing that your savings are enough to cover the lifestyle you want in retirement may help you step away from the business with more confidence. Project what you expect to spend, including any anticipated housing, healthcare, taxes and lifestyle expenses. If you are still years away from retirement, use your best estimate and tweak your projections as you approach your golden years. Compare your expenses to your savings to get a sense for your financial readiness.

4. Consider what income you may receive from selling or passing the reins

This is where you figure out how to optimize a key piece of your nest egg. Do you cash out in a lump sum or negotiate a sale over time? If you’ve built a business that hasn’t reached its full potential, you may be reluctant to sell and forego future profits. You might consider bringing in new leadership to manage day-to-day operations while retaining your ownership stake. If you don’t think you’ll be able to sell your business (which is sometimes the case for sole proprietors who themselves represent much of their business’s value), identify business assets that can be liquidated to generate cash on your way out.

5. Prepare for the non-financial aspects of retirement

Expect to feel some emotions over the transition. Stepping away from your business can be tough, especially if you put considerable time, effort and money into creating and growing the business. Know that it will take time for you to settle into your new life in retirement, and that’s okay. Having a plan will likely help you feel more confident about your new direction.