Business Education

Feel Overly Distracted? You’re Not Alone and Here’s Why

You’re busy. No, you’re super busy. People might even say super-duper busy. As usual, there’s more to do than hours in the day. And, your schedule isn’t slowing down. You’ve got to do X before Y and then onto Z. But, you can’t seem to shake the notion you’re not actually get anything done. It’s not due to a lack of effort. However, it can easily be explained simply by distractions.

Top Focus Problems People Suffer From

Now, there are several things you can quit doing to be more successful. But, even the most self-disciplined individual isn’t immune from distractions. After all, distractions are everywhere you turn. No matter where you are or what you’re doing. And, it’s not just technology. Sure, smartphones, social media, and more are all culprits. What’s more, you’re not alone if you feel distracted. In fact, the average person’s mind wanders when doing a task between 15 and 20 percent of the time. That statistic, according to Canadian researcher Jonathan Schooler.

We created the labor-saving devices that catalyzed the unplanned explosion within which we live today. But as enlightened managers everywhere are learning, we can learn to manage what we created. When we learn how to take back controls that we’ve given away, we can get better at managing our attention and not surrendering it to every distraction. —Fast Company

Therefore, if a wandering mind is so prominent, what can be done about it? That’s a good question. And, the answer lies in identifying precisely the cause. You know you’re not a scobberlotcher, an idle person who just sits at a desk, twiddling your thumbs. But, you’re certainly not immune to distractions. Distractions break down focus. If you want to improve your productivity, you’ve got to key in on the cause. Here are the top focus problems people suffer from:

Lack of sleep. We all know what it’s like to work through a drowsy day. It’s uncomfortable at the very least. So, don’t let sleep deprivation be an obstacle. Get into a routine that helps you to get a good night sleep. Unplug from technology about an hour before you go to bed. And, be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
No priorities. Okay, you have an end goal but along the way, there are many, many different tasks. Without prioritizing them, you’re creating a stressful, chaotic situation. And, it will typically result in a lack of focus precisely because there’s little to no prioritization. Give everything a priority and reap the rewards.
Stress. Speaking of stress, when you try to multitask, you’re inviting undue stress. Think about it this way, if you’re trying to do more than one thing at a time, would that cause you to feel more stress? Sure it would. So, put your focus on one thing at a time.
Lifestyle. Stress is just one factor; lifestyle is another legitimate cause. You can lose focus because you’re not eating a healthy diet. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and more all make focus easier. Plus, you’ll feel better when you have a healthy lifestyle.

How do you maintain your focus? What methods do you use to keep on task? Have you found different ways to deal with distractions? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Want to Make Your Business More Successful? Start by Helping Others

September 21, 2017 No Comments

There are a number of things you can stop doing to benefit your business. But, there are also plenty of things you should do to be more successful. Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma clearly show there’s always a need to help your fellow citizens. Although Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma are now gone, their impact remains. And, that presents a great opportunity for you personally, as well as your company. The Numbers Prove Helping Others is Good for Business It doesn’t have to be a natural disaster, either. You can help others in several different ways. For instance, taking a new entrepreneur under your wing is just one. Volunteering your time to speak to others who are starting up or creating a new venture is another. Even donating your time to a local charitable organization is a way to grow personally and help your business in the process. Plus, statistics show this is the case. Mentored businesses increase their revenue by 83 percent, compared to 16 percent for non-mentored counterparts. Moreover, 83 percent of mentored businesses survived, compared to 74 percent of non-mentored companies. When you decided to become an entrepreneur, what reasons motivated that decision? For some people it is the opportunity to make a lot of money, the freedom to live by their own convictions, or to live a certain lifestyle. While these are great personal goals, too much focus on these things can lead you down the wrong path. —Inc.com The thing is, you need real face time with real people. Put technology aside and showcase your own strengths. If you have a skill set that’s not particularly useful for your company, put it to work elsewhere. And, do so with an open heart. Because if you approach it purely as a business opportunity, people will take notice. Why Helping Others is Good for Business When you go into business for yourself, it’s not all about you. While you might start a company to be more independent, you’re still serving the needs of others. And, that’s a good thing because it does offer some real advantages. Here are a few great reasons why helping others is good for business: You make more meaningful connections. When you help others out, you immediately tell people it’s not all about you. That means you are more genuine and therefore, someone who is interested in others. Such unselfish behavior inherently means you’ll make more meaningful connections. You have greater appeal to quality clients. It’s true that when you help other people, you’ll gain better personal qualities. Those are apparent to others and that’s a wonderful stepping stone to find quality customers. You provide real benefit to the community. Not only do you feel personally rewarded for helping others, you also provide benefit to the community around you. So, people within the community will definitely take notice and that’s another advantage. You inspire others to get involved and improve. Giving your time sets an example others will follow. Which makes you a leader and that’s a great attribute. You’ll be regarded as a leader and someone who gives back to the community at-large. How do you help others? What have you done to serve other people that’s benefited your business? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

How to Patch-Up a Sour Business Relationship for the New Year

January 6, 2022 No Comments

Just about any type of relationship can go bad at practically any time. Business relationships are no exception to this sad phenomenon. Even Dave Ramsey says often, “The only ship that won’t sail is a partnership.” Statistics certainly prove this point true. But, it’s not just professional partnerships. Small business owners enter into many working relationships and any one of them can go bad. So, if you experienced this type of situation, there are ways to get back to doing business together, though both of you will need to make a commitment to make it work. Alternatives, Options, and Change If the relationship is irreconcilable, or it’s just not possible to do business again (because of an extraordinary circumstance like death, retirement, or the person has gone out of business), you’ll have to rely on other options, which can mean going with an alternative. But, before you jump right into another relationship, it’s usually best to try and work things out first. The common thread among all damaged relationships is the trust between both parties has been broken. Trust is the underrated lubricant for success in business, and rebuilding that trust is the first step in repairing any business relationship.–Inc.com After all, if you had a working relationship with this individual before, you both benefited from it and it makes sense to continue so neither one of you is forced to start from scratch again. However, if this isn’t feasible or even possible, make a list of alternative options and write down each one’s pros and cons. Make some preliminary contact and explore working together. You could even give one or more a trial run in order to determine how well it does or doesn’t work. How to Patch-Up a Sour Business Relationship Now, if there is a possibility that the relationship can be reconciled, there’s no real good reason not to try. Although, it will take quite a bit of commitment from both parties in order to have a viable future. Here is some effective advice for how to mend a broken business relationship: Start with introspection. Humans are keen on shifting blame away from themselves. People not only dislike making mistakes, but they also do not like being in the wrong. So, it’s up to you to take a good look at yourself first and be willing to accept any blame you deserve. Be humble but honest in your approach. Next, try to reconnect on a casual basis. If you have mutual interests, that’s a good place to start to reconnect. If necessary, take a gradual, measured approach and go slow. When the time is right, you can have a more candid discussion about what transpired but, don’t be blameful. Agree to leave the past behind for the sake of the future. Both of you will have to keep this promise in order to have any chance of working together again. Make it a point to put sensitive topics or events off-limits and focus on your future working relationship instead. Keep an open line of communication flowing. Once you agree to work together again, don’t let the same things get in the way. Stay in regular contact so that everyone’s expectations and needs are known. This will be a great way to help the relationship flourish and be beneficial to both parties. What other advice would you give entrepreneurs about patching up a sour business relationship? Please share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Tips for Creating an Effective Employee Social Media Policy

May 31, 2017 No Comments

Social media is part of our day-to-day lives. Even individuals who don’t have active social media profiles are still impacted by these various digital networks, in one way or another. And, the matter is all-the-more complicated when business practices are brought into the mix. The fact of the matter is, social media marketing is a must in this day and age. But, social media can easily steal time, money, and even reputation from your company. Tips for Creating an Effective Employee Social Media Policy Let’s face it, we all have unprofessional habits; and, some social media habits can be the worst among them. But, you need this medium to reach new customers and build a relationship with others. It’s also an invaluable tool for customer relations, as well as customer trust. Social media can effectively define a brand. The problem is, that image can easily be a negative one. Just one false move or faux pas is all it takes to unleash unwanted fallout. Facebook’s users spend an aggregate of 10.5 billion minutes per day on the platform (excluding mobile). And engagement — based on the number of monthly users who visit the site daily — is even higher today. Assuming that users spend about the same amount of time today, that means people all over the world have spent a collective 55 million years on Facebook since the beginning of 2009. Twenty minutes a day is a lot of time — well more than a year over the course of the average life span. If users spent just that time working for minimum wage instead of liking and poking each other, each would pull in about $880 a year. That’s almost $900 billion in aggregate hypothetical labor year. —NBC News So, like other things in life, this requires balance. You want productivity to remain high and efficient. But, you also do not want to limit freedom in the workplace. This creates a conundrum, although it doesn’t have to be paralyzing. To get the most out of social media for marketing and to keep employees content with the workplace, you need a policy. The good news is it doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, being specific reduces confusion about what is and what isn’t acceptable. Here are some helpful tips for creating an effective employee social media policy for your business: Don’t step on their protected legal rights. Did you know there are federal laws which protect your employees relating to social media? The National Labor Relation Act states that companies are prohibited from interfering with employees posting or holding conversations through social media in regard to wages and working conditions. Clearly state which behaviors are not acceptable. Although there are some limits to what you as a business can and can’t do, it’s good to know certain behaviors do not have legal protections. So, you can prohibit use of defamatory, abusive, offensive, demeaning content, and the like. (This also includes personal complaints.) Require all employees include a profile disclaimer. You’ve probably seen the phrase, “Tweets are my own.” This disclaimer is necessary, particularly for team members who do not have express permission to speak for you company. A disclaimer also helps to reduce confusion between official company word and personal opinion. Learn your state’s laws before creating a social media policy. There are not only federal laws about social media, but your state likely has laws as well. Take the time to learn what your state’s laws are in relation to social media for your own protection. Be prepared to periodically (re)educate and enforce the rules. No social media policy is effective if it isn’t clearly understood and readily accessible. You need to periodically go over your policy and be ready to enforce it, when necessary. How do you use social media in your business? Do you allow employees to use social media for promoting your company? What do you think are the most effective ways to leverage social media through your employees? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]