Business Education

How to Best Help Your Remote Workers Avoid Burnout

Employee burnout. It’s a real problem, even when team members are working from home. (In fact, the issue can easily be exacerbated because there’s more pressure to perform amidst an atmosphere that’s not necessarily conducive to working and is also filled with distractions.) Just because people are working in a comfortable, familiar environment doesn’t mean they don’t still feel a sense of duty, responsibility, and pride. Ultimately, it’s these emotions which can undermine them and lead to employee burnout. So, read on to learn how to deal with these situations.

Common Signs of Employee Burnout

The most common signs of employee burnout are behaviors like disengagement, absenteeism, and lack of motivation and productivity. During virtual meetings and phone conferences, anyone who is suffering from burnout won’t be as engaged, will skip more and more meetings, and their attitude won’t reflect being motivated and/or productive.

During any time of high unemployment, people are often afraid to take vacation, request work flexibility, or advocate for their work-life balance, mental health, and overall wellness–unless the company culture encourages them to. But with the added emergency-paradigm shift to remote work, which most workers and leaders alike have never experienced before, the challenges of how to communicate and find solutions to promote mental well-being are even more daunting. —Inc.com

But, those aren’t the only signs of employee burnout. There’s also irritability, job dissatisfaction, and lack of achievement. People who are feeling burned out will probably be irritable, express to fellow team members their dissatisfaction, and will also tell others they don’t feel like they are achieving anything of value.

3 Effective Ways to Help Remote Workers Avoid Burnout

Thankfully, there are ways to help remote workers avoid burnout. And, it won’t upend your operation or even cost very much. All you need to do is give them encouragement, let them have a good amount of autonomy, and say “Thank you,” in different ways. Here are some of the best ways to help your remote employees avoid work burnout:

Acknowledge hard work. Just because someone isn’t in the office or on the job in a specific location doesn’t mean they aren’t giving it their all. As mentioned above, it can be very challenging to work from home precisely because it’s not equipped the same way as the workplace, and they must deal with all kinds of distractions. That means you should take the time to acknowledge their hard work.
Focus on results, not hours. Sure, time spent on productivity is important. But, it’s certainly not more important than the end result. Instead of putting emphasis on the hours they spend “on the clock,” put your focus on outcomes — these are a far better measure of their efforts.
Offer welcome and helpful perks. It’s also very helpful to give your employees some tools to reduce stress and access to positive experiences. Things like gym memberships, paid time off, and other perks can work wonders and bring a real strong return on investment.

What other suggestions do you have? Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences to help others. Your unique perspective and input could be of great benefit! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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My Small Business Manager didn’t Manage the Business Well and Now it’s a Total Mess…What Do I Do?

June 23, 2022 No Comments

Some business owners run their company for many years, only to discover that they can’t do everything on their own. Once this inevitable realization materializes, most start to hire others to help them with various aspects of the business. Some even aspire to be largely absentee owners, leaving the day-to-day operations to a professional manager. So, they train someone up, giving them the responsibility of managing the company and then take a more offhand role, sometimes into a completely new venture or, to focus on one particular area. Typically, this goes fairly well, especially when said manager has been well trained. However, it sometimes ends in utter disaster and the manager winds up making a mess of everything. So, what do you do if you’re stuck in the latter nightmare scenario? What Good Managers bring to Small Businesses Before we get into how to fix a bad situation, let’s first look at why business owners hire managers in the first place. Usually, managers are brought on to handle all of the day-to-day activity. This allows the owner to put his or her efforts into expanding the business and even exploring new opportunities. A good manager will bring a nice return on investment, easily paying his or her salary, all while adding to the company’s bottom line. Bad management can impact employees and a company’s overall operations. Incompetent managers exist, and they can have challenges relating to staff members and keeping them motivated. In addition, substandard supervisors may not be able to balance budgets, increase revenues or capably perform other crucial tasks. —Houston Chronicle Small Business A good manager can really be an invaluable asset, being able to oversee employees, carry out projects, order materials and inventory, assign employees to various tasks and projects, and a whole lot more. In the end, the manager is also responsible for the public face of the company, particularly when the owners aren’t on site. Of course, there’s a great deal of trust involved here and unfortunately, that trust is sometimes betrayed. How Business Owners can Fix Mismanaged Companies If your small business has been mismanaged by an incompetent or uncaring manager, you’ve got your work cut out for you. The amount of damage he or she may have done may not be immediately apparent and will materialize over time. But, you can’t just wait to find out, you’ve got to leap into action immediately and do the following after letting him or her go: Talk to the employees. The very first thing you want to do is get a sense of the employees’ perspectives. You’re likely to learn a lot and some of it may take you completely by surprise. But, you’ll probably also get a kind of consensus and that will help you to know precisely what’s most important and how to prioritize what to fix first. Speak with vendors. This may sound a little odd but it’s probably worthwhile. Since vendors interact with the managers routinely, they will have different stories to tell and just like the employees, will probably give you some type of consensus. At the very least, you’ll find out how your former manager interacted with the vendors and if he or she had good or bad business relationships. Consult your customers. If you haven’t really heard any complaints from customers, this would be highly unusual. Although, your former manager may have been great in providing excellent customer service, while still mismanaging the business’ finances and/or mismanaging the team members. Regardless, getting your customers’ input is very important because it will let you know the reputation of your company. Lastly, you’ll have to go through the slow and meticulous process of piecing the operation back together. This might include having to make other personnel changes, establishing new relationships with different vendors, and possibly, having to repair customer relationships. Fortunately, a good business consultant can walk you through this very difficult process step by step. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How to Handle an Employee Demotion Without Creating New Problems

January 12, 2024 No Comments

How to Handle an Employee Demotion Without Creating New Problems Unpleasant situations can arise just about any time within the dynamic landscape of workforce management. For instance, when an employee demotion becomes a necessary course of action. While challenging, handling such transitions with tact and sensitivity is crucial to maintaining a positive workplace culture and ensuring the continued growth of both the employee and the organization. So, we’ll take a look at a few key strategies to navigate employee demotions effectively, mitigate potential issues, and foster a path toward professional development. Understanding the Situation When an employee faces a demotion, it can be a challenging experience for both the individual and the team. Managers must approach the situation with empathy and clear communication. Understanding the reasons behind the demotion and the impact it will have on the employee’s responsibilities is the first step in handling the situation effectively. Communicating Transparently Transparent communication is key when addressing an employee demotion. Managers should clearly explain the reasons for the decision, focusing on specific performance issues or changes in business needs. By providing a detailed understanding of the situation, managers can help the employee see the demotion as a constructive step towards improvement. Supporting the Employee Following the demotion, managers need to offer support to the employee. This may involve providing additional training or resources to help them improve in their new role. By demonstrating a commitment to the employee’s success, managers can help mitigate any negative feelings and foster a positive environment. Maintaining Professionalism Throughout the demotion process, both managers and the employee need to maintain professionalism. Encouraging open dialogue and a respectful attitude can help prevent any new problems from arising. Managers can guide the employee toward a successful transition by focusing on clear expectations and constructive feedback. Fostering a Positive Work Environment After a demotion, it’s crucial to foster a positive work environment where all team members feel supported and valued. Managers should strive to maintain a sense of camaraderie and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and shared goals. By fostering a positive work culture, managers can help prevent potential conflicts or disruptions. Managing the Impact on Team Dynamics A demotion can affect team dynamics and morale. Managers must address any concerns or conflicts that may arise within the team as a result of the demotion. Open discussions and team-building activities help bridge any gaps and restore harmony within the team. Want to Accomplish More? Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while you spend more time with your family doing all the things you started your business to do? We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test. You can call us for your free appointment at 602-435-5474, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Best Ways to Practice Self-Promotion

February 28, 2018 No Comments

Social media is a great way to promote your business. But, it alone certainly isn’t enough. You have to practice self-promotion and do it right to make it really pay off. Sure, you can effectively use social media to increase brand awareness. However, it does lack a personal touch. That’s why you need to get out and represent your company. The problem with this is, most people just don’t know where to start. Others make the mistake of over doing it. Still a few more tepidly practice self-promotion but only with great restraint because they don’t want to give off the wrong impression. Self-Promotion and Selfishness Make no mistake about it, self-promotion is paramount to growing your business. What you need to avoid is confusing it with being selfish. You see, self-promotion isn’t really about being selfish. (Unless you’re totally selling for your own benefit alone.) In other words, you shouldn’t feel guilty about promoting your brand because it has something of value to offer. That’s the whole purpose of being in business — to fulfill a need. Marketing is a lot like fishing—some companies cast a wide net to scoop up whatever they can get, while others use bait and wait it out until the right customer takes a nibble. To be successful, you need a combination of both techniques to not only grab a large number of new customers at once, but to also allow new business to continuously trickle in through referrals, word of mouth, and general curiosity. —Forbes.com So, don’t make the big mistake of thinking it’s all about you. Keep in mind that your customers get something valuable in return. And, both of you benefit from each transaction. This means that it’s a win-win scenario. You just have to see it for what it truly is and not fall prey to thinking it’s wrong to make a profit. Only when you don’t deliver on your promises is it unethical (and probably illegal). Best Ways to Practice Self-Promotion Now, let’s get to the most effective ways to practice self-promotion. You should know how to behave because your actions will definitely speak louder than words. Here are some helpful tips for how to practice self-promotion: Practice awareness. You can’t network in a vacuum. If you’re promoting your business, there is more than one person in the room. Keep this fact in mind. You need to read the other person or group and interact accordingly. If you fly blind, you’ll inevitably hit a wall. Always be gracious. Remember that polite manners go a long way. But just because someone gives you an opening to talk about your business doesn’t mean they are asking for a shameless sales pitch. Keep it short, succinct, and kind. Offer something interesting. Sometimes, it’s very tempting to rattle off numbers. Or, go into details. But remember it’s important that what you share is interesting. Otherwise, you’re not only boring the other person, you’re undermining your own efforts. Never be dishonest. Of course, you should always be honest about what you have done and can deliver. Don’t embellish or exaggerate because it will come back to bite you. Besides, if you mislead someone, the relationship begins with a lie. And, that’s never good for business. How do you promote your business? What self-promotion tactics work best for you? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.