The economy is in a recession. Interest rates are going up. Inflation is rising. There’s a labor shortage. (And, materials are still not readily available.) The list can go on and on and on. What’s even worse, is there are business owners actually do go on and on. They complain about this, that, and the other thing. Some even take it to the next level and complain about things that haven’t even happened yet. Then, although somewhat rare, there are entrepreneurs out there who go so far as to put their gripes and grievances on social media. This doesn’t paint a very positive picture and of course, it does absolutely nothing to correct what is perceived to be or is wrong. In reality, it does far more harm than it does through catharsis. So, if you’re guilty of this extremely unattractive behavior it’s time to stop, and here’s why. The Internet is Forever All right, very few business owners actually do complain over the internet but where it’s mostly found is social media. Regardless of the digital property, the internet is forever, meaning that once it is out there, it’s usually not possible to take it back. Even if you’re able to delete it, you’ve already left a negative impression. We sometimes deny that we’re complaining. Instead, we say that we’re just “being honest,” “venting” or “blowing off steam.” But don’t kid yourself: Whenever you insert negative feelings into a conversation without some sort of resolution, you’re complaining. It’s tempting because there is a lot about entrepreneurship to complain about —Entrepreneur.com Then, there’s something else to keep in mind. Business owners don’t need to be the ones writing complaints about this or that on the web. Dissatisfied customers will do that instead (and probably with good reason). In other words, if you complain to your customers or in front of them, there’s a good chance they’ll share that experience and that isn’t good for your business’s public reputation. Instead of Complaining, Do the Following Everyone is guilty and capable of letting their complaints be known. But for business owners, this is a very bad choice with no real upside. Whether you’re complaining about a problematic customer, an inhospitable vendor, or your bank charging petty nickel and dime fees, you’re still doing it with negative emotion. Sure, people will understand your frustration, but customers really don’t want to hear about it or even care. So, what should you do when something bothers you and you’re dealing with a customer at that time? Well, the first suggestion is to ignore or resist your instinct to interject complaints and bite your tongue. If you’re able to put it off for a little while, you’ll be able to vent to the right people in an appropriate setting. Should your personality be one that says it’s best to be honest with everyone and use that excuse as a justification, think twice before you start blurting out complaints. Ask yourself what would you think if you were the customer hearing this? Merely putting yourself in your customers’ shoes ought to be enough to dissuade you from griping. At the very least, it will give you pause to adjust your attitude. It’s also helpful to remember that complaining doesn’t solve anything. Yes, it does allow you to get something that’s bothering you off your chest, but that’s not usually worth the ultimate cost. Remember that it is not an attractive or trustworthy trait and you’ll do yourself a huge favor. What other advice would you give business owners who have a bad habit of complaining to customers? Please share your own thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Entrepreneurs wear many, many hats. It is not at all unusual for a small business owner to perform several different roles. But, this Jack of all trades, master of none can’t go on in perpetuity. The longer it lasts, the less chance there is that the business can scale up. In order to grow a company, it’s necessary to have help and many business owners reach a point where it is unavoidable. So, they make a few hires but still continue to perform various functions until they realize that a new position will free them up to pursue their main goals. Hiring should Equal Growth It’s very common for small business owners to be nervous about their first hires. However, they eventually get past this and the team settles into a comfortable routine. This can easily result in a false sense of security and it’s not at all unusual for the owner to slip right back into or continue bad habits. If a heavy workload causes your employees to feel overwhelmed and frustrated, it may be time to add new positions to your department. Hiring an additional staff member or two can help you split tasks between employees more equitably and give employees the time they need to devote to their work. —Houston Chronicle Sure, someone has to perform those functions and the owner typically feels it is his or her responsibility. But, there comes a time when it’s clear that handing off at least some of those tasks to someone else would be very beneficial. What generally holds a business owner back is not having a clearly defined position, as they did with previous hires. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to create a new employee position. How to Create a New Employee Position for a Small Business When it becomes obvious that you’re taking on too much, be it administrative tasks or something else, it’s time to seriously consider hiring someone to do that work for you. Here are some steps you can take in order to create a new employee position: Estimate its ROI. Before you start posting job openings, take some time to work out the most likely return on investment. Ask yourself if one or more of your current employees can assume these responsibilities. If not, then it is more likely you need to create a brand new position. Just work out a realistic scenario on how much this will add to expenses and what size return of investment you’ll get for this potential hire. Determine if it’s part or full time. Next, you’ll need to determine whether this is a part-time or full-time position. Go over your schedule and create a ballpark figure of how much time you spend on these tasks. This will give you a pretty good idea of the number of hours you’ll give over to a new employee. Plus, it will tell you how much time you gain back doing more important things. Compile a list of applicable skills. Now, you’ll need to create a list of applicable skills that a new employee would need to possess. This will also tell you if these responsibilities are truly interrelated or if they are a mixed bag. What’s more, it will point you in a more specific direction and help you to hone in on the right personality. Advertise the new position and interview potential candidates. Last but certainly not least, it’s time to fill the new position you’ve created. Write a job description that defines the role and your company’s expectations, then advertise it in trade publications, and on social media. What other suggestions do you have for an entrepreneur who is considering creating a new team member role? Please share your experiences and thoughts so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

The Great Resignation continues to unfold. At least, that’s what’s it’s been dubbed in the press to describe the phenomenon of a mass departure, largely regarded as due to the global pandemic shutdowns which caused a huge number of workers to rethink their career paths. So, an unprecedented amount of employees are leaving their current (or previous) positions, seeking out other opportunities. Couple this with the impending New Year and it makes for a particularly precarious employment environment. That means it’s quite possible, you’ll find yourself facing the same situation. Fortunately, there are preventative steps you can take to keep your best employee on board. Biggest Mistakes to Avoid Obviously, this will stir a number of negative feelings. You’ll likely feel angry, betrayed, baffled, and perhaps sad. These negative emotions cause people to act out in rash, impulsive ways. So, be sure to keep your emotions in check, which is to say in perspective, proportionate to the reality of the situation. If necessary, take a few minutes to step away from everything and allow yourself time to relax and clear your mind. When your right-hand person or a rising rock star in your business tells you they’re about to leave, it can be an emotional experience, says Rich Reinecke, co-managing partner of business consulting firm Fahrenheit Advisors. ‘It can be very emotional, initially. Sometimes you’re angry. Sometimes you’re scared,’ he says. But what you do next can have serious repercussions for your business. —Fast Company.com If you don’t act in a rational manner, proportionate to the circumstances, you will come unglued and that’s not helpful to anyone. Instead, keep your composure and act in your own best interest so you don’t hurt your chances of keeping your best employee from leaving. After all, he or she made this decision based on a number of factors and there’s probably a good reason why he or she came to this conclusion. 3 Effective Employee Retention Strategies If your best employee tells you that he or she is leaving next year, you obviously don’t have much time to change his or her mind. However, that doesn’t mean their exit is inevitable. You might be able to get him or her to stay. Here are a few effective employee retention strategies you can use: Have a meaningful conversation. Although money usually plays a significant role, more compensation isn’t always the driving force. There are instances when employees make completely lateral moves from one company to another and pay isn’t a factor. Of course, you’ll probably assume he or she will be paid more, but don’t convince yourself that’s the only reason. Take some time to have a one-on-one conversation and listen carefully to what he or she has to say. You might just find out there are other reasons for their decision to go and you can address those issues one by one. Show your sincere appreciation. Perhaps your right hand is choosing to leave because they feel they have hit a ceiling and are stuck. This is a very common rationalization people use in order to convince themselves to leave their current positions. After you’ve spoken with him or her, be sure to take immediate action to show your appreciation. This can include but isn’t limited to: giving them more say about what’s going on, promoting the individual, or offering a few more persuasive perks. Increase his or her financial incentive. obviously, money talks. And, if the main reason he or she is considering leaving, simply offer to match their new compensation package. If this strategy isn’t feasible right now, you can always do things like extra paid time off, or incremental, scheduled pay raises, or even offering more benefits. What other methods would you suggest using to keep a key employee from leaving? Please share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.