Business Education

There’s No Synergy and Little Camaraderie between My Tenured Staff and New Hires… What Do I Do?

So, you had a wonderful staff and everything was going really well. Then, the whole world fell into chaos due to the pandemic. But, you managed to work your way through and even brought on additional personnel. It was a reasonable and logistical decision. Now, you’re caught in a quagmire because your tenured employees aren’t syncing with your new hires. What can you do before it becomes too big a problem? Simple, take immediate action, size up differences, be impartial, formulate an action plan, and then keep an eye out.

Every Solution Breeds New Problems

It sure seems that when you find a way to fix an issue, it only creates another problem. Although it’s a well-known cliche, it’s certainly something that practically every business has experienced. When you brought aboard fresh talent, you probably pictured them working side by side with your existing staff. Instead, you’ve got a kind of civil war unfolding in your place of business.

…it is important to intervene early. In extreme examples, the conflict might be due to one employee who is creating a problem, but most often it is a matter of having two personalities that don’t mesh well together. The sooner a solution is reached, the sooner both employees will be happy to be able to move on—and the sooner their coworkers will be relieved to feel the easing of tensions in the office. —The Balance Careers

Obviously, you can’t let this go on and need to address it as quickly as possible. If you don’t, it will only worsen over time and divisions will grow deeper among your combative team members. They might even go so far as to quit abruptly in a moment of anger and leave you to deal with the very untimely fallout. Instead of letting this situation grow out of control, you need to intervene and take rational, measured action. Otherwise, you might also become emotionally overcharged and that will only lead to a lot more trouble.

How to Deal with Employees Who Don’t Work Well Together

There is always a potential for personalities to clash. It’s the opposite problem of having employees who get along too well, to the point they isolate themselves from the rest of the staff and that too becomes an issue. Because people are inherently social, they really like to get along. But, there are individuals who feel an innate need to do their own thing and this also can present a number of problems. If you have a tenured staff that isn’t meshing with new hires, here are a few bits of advice about how to deal with these circumstances:

Identify the problem(s). We’ll start with the most obvious step to take. And that is, to identify the root issues of what’s causing so much chaos. You might find there are very petty differences here that have managed to quickly balloon out of proportion. If so, that’s actually good news because it’s a much easier fix. However, if you discover it’s a very wide and deep rift, you’ll have your work cut out for you.
Understand basic personalities. It’s not just enough to understand what’s going on at the most basic level, it’s imperative that you also know precisely what types of personalities are involved. If you don’t have a firm grip on these elements, there’s really nothing that you can do to end the feud. If necessary, take a little time to get to know your new people better so that you can approach this with confidence.
Don’t show favoritism to anyone. If there’s one thing that will sabotage all of your healing attempts, it’s showing favoritism. Usually, this trait appears on behalf of the people you know best and is biased against the new people in the business. Even if it’s the other way around, favoritism is a poison pill. Be objective and think things through before you take any significant action.
Present some real, workable solutions. Obviously, as the leader of the business, you’ll be the one who needs to come up with one or more solutions or a set of compromises. Regardless of what these are, don’t apply them unilaterally. Instead, speak to people individually in order to get a sense of what they think is most fair, then bring everyone together as a group to talk it out.
Monitor the situation objectively thereafter. Lastly, don’t pull yourself away from the situation too quickly. Instead, watch what unfolds over the next few days to several weeks and be ready to make changes if necessary. You could discover that it’s just not workable and have to make changes to your staff or even put people in different roles. Hopefully, they will begin to work well together and develop strong professional relationships.

What other suggestions do you have for dealing with team members who don’t necessarily get along? Please take a moment or two to express your thoughts and experiences; you might just help someone else out in a big way! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Here’s the Real Reason MoviePass is Failing So Spectacularly (Hint_ It’s Not what You Think)

September 13, 2018 No Comments

MoviePass is failing in-part because it didn’t fully understand the business on which it tried to build its own empire. A slew of news interviews with theater operators points this fact out. They say the service just doesn’t understand how the cinema business works. But, perhaps more importantly, what’s caused things to go so badly in such a short time is it was always too good to be true. In other words, the company overpromised. That’s really why the startup is quickly sputtering out-of-control. And, it’s what gets far too many fledgling companies in big time trouble. Eager to please and deliver jaw-dropping results, they promise the moon and hardly leave earth’s atmosphere. Biggest Overpromising Pitfalls Undoubtedly, critics say it’s time to face reality and close up shop. Irate subscribers and suing shareholders might disagree. (The former wants out, while the latter wants its investment money back.) But, it’s now apparent the movie-selling service just can’t operate as it has. And, for good reason. When you overpromise, you put undue pressure on yourself. Not to mention, you artificially raise expectations to unreachable heights. How many times has a salesperson promised to increase your company’s exposure by 50%, double your client list, and quadruple your profit margin? In this age of instantaneous satisfaction (thanks, technology!), many entrepreneurs and corporate leaders are so eager to appease stakeholders and worried about the bottom line that they seize amorphous opportunities and are disappointed with the results. —Forbes.com There’s more downsides to overpromising. You’re not only letting down one customer, you’re also sending a message that you just aren’t competent or capable of delivering. Then, there’s also the fact that you create resentment among your employees — toward you and each other. 3 Effective Ways to Avoid Overpromising So, how do you avoid the trap of overpromising. After all, you want to sell your business as the solution. Here are a few helpful suggestions for how to avoid overpromising: Learn your customer’s expectations first. Before you begin making promises about what you can do for someone, be sure to ask about their expectations. There’s no good reason to offer lofty solutions or goals when you don’t know what’s really needed. Be completely open, honest, and transparent. As you’re talking with your customer (and with your own team), it’s very important to always be honest. One of the fastest ways to invite disaster is to keep secrets. It’s just counterproductive to hold back because it will eventually come back to bite you. Keep all communications flowing between everyone involved. Communication either solves or prevents a whole lot of misunderstandings. It’s not enough to just be honest but also, to make yourself accessible. When everyone communicates, everyone is on the same page. And, that’s an invaluable element since it paves the way to success when all parties are on-board and totally in-the-know. What other ways do you avoid overpromising? Or, what other advice would you give? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

What Is Influencer Marketing and How Can It Help Small Businesses on Small Budgets

March 1, 2024 No Comments

What Is Influencer Marketing and How Can It Help Small Businesses on Small Budgets? Influencer marketing has become an essential part of the marketing landscape in recent years. It’s a powerful marketing approach that allows businesses to reach their target audience in a uniquely authentic way. So, read on and we’ll take a few moments to explore what influencer marketing is and how it can help small businesses on small budgets. What Is Influencer Marketing? Influencer marketing is a form of marketing where brands partner with influential individuals to promote their products or services. Most of the time, these influencers have a significant following on social media platforms and can help businesses reach their target audience more effectively. However, influencers aren’t just found among such individuals – they are also everyday people. Influencer marketing can take many forms, from sponsored posts to product reviews and giveaways. The key to successful influencer marketing is to find the right influencers for your brand and to build a relationship with them. In other words, someone who is a respected member of your community and someone who others trust. So, just about anyone with a good reputation who is also outgoing. For instance, volunteer coaches for kids’ sports leagues, parishioners in a church, individuals who perform residential services, and so on. You likely know one or two, perhaps three or more people who fit this description. They’re well-liked, trustworthy, and have a good rapport with others. How Can Influencer Marketing Help Small Businesses on Small Budgets? Influencer marketing may sound super-expensive, but it can also be an affordable and effective way for small businesses to reach their target audience. You just have to know what you’re looking for and how to go about it smartly. So, here are some ways that influencer marketing can help small businesses on small budgets: Reach a targeted audience. By partnering with influencers who have a following in your niche, you can reach a highly targeted audience. This can be more effective than traditional advertising methods, which can be expensive and may not reach your target audience. Build brand awareness. Influencer marketing can help you build brand awareness by getting your products or services in front of a new audience. This can be especially helpful for small businesses that are just starting out and need to build a following. Boost credibility. When an influencer promotes your product or service, it can help to boost your credibility. This is because their followers trust their recommendations and are more likely to try your product or service if they see that the influencer has endorsed it. Cost-effective. Influencer marketing can be a cost-effective way to reach your target audience. Many influencers are willing to work with small businesses on small budgets, and the return on investment can be significant. Overall, influencer marketing is a powerful tool that can help small businesses on small budgets reach their target audience, build brand awareness, and boost credibility. By partnering with the right influencers and building a relationship with them, small businesses can see significant returns on their investment. 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.

The Landlord is Seriously Raising My Business Space Rent – What are My Options?

July 13, 2022 No Comments

Commercial tenants can expect their rent to go up every year. In fact, it’s a bit unusual for the rate not to increase at the end of a lease. But sometimes, unscrupulous landlords will take advantage of their tenants’ naivete and exercise a somewhat obscure clause that allows them to up the rental rate substantially. So much, that it can increase by a relatively high percentage, thus making it virtually unaffordable. Fortunately, there are some options commercial tenants have in these situations. Business Owners, Know Your Lease Although it may seem completely obvious or self-evident, don’t just skim over any commercial lease. If necessary, pay an attorney to look it over and explain it to you on a very elementary basis. Or, go over it carefully yourself and if you don’t understand something, be sure to research it on your own – do not just take the landlord’s word for what it truly means. There’s no standard agreement for commercial leases. In fact, negotiating the terms of commercial leases is usually expected. Depending on the state of the commercial real estate market, a business may be able to obtain significant concessions from a landlord. A property owner with a largely vacant business park, for example, will most likely make allowances. On the other hand, the business renting the space will have less control over the terms of a lease in a hot rental market or when renting a premium space. —FindLaw Small Business We’re not going to get into commercial lease types, because there are many kinds. But, it is quite common for leases to contain various expenses besides just renting pure square feet, including common area maintenance and repairs, and other expenses. However, it certainly isn’t unheard of that tenants get stuck with even more expenses related to their business rentals. So, again, be sure to understand the lease before you sign on the dotted line in order to avoid any confusion or surprises in the future. What To Do When Your Business Rent goes Up Unexpectedly If the commercial space you’re leasing for your business goes up dramatically, you do have some options available, though they may not always be the best. Here are a few things you can do if the landlord raises the rental rate on your commercial space: Do your research first. Start by getting a firm grasp on your state’s commercial rental laws. This won’t necessarily be a fun task, but a very necessary one. If you understand how these laws work, you may find something in your favor. At the very least, you’ll have more knowledge about how the landlord-tenant laws work in your state and will be wiser to make better decisions in the future. Survey the local market. The next thing you should do is to start looking at other commercial spaces immediately. You just may find some deals out there that would allow you to either lower your current rental rate or be competitive. Because of the pandemic disruption, many commercial landlords are desperate for tenants, since so many businesses have adopted work-from-home and hybrid models. Try to renegotiate your current lease. Another option is to try to renegotiate the lease on the property you are currently occupying. You can use your newfound knowledge of the law and of the local market opportunities to your advantage. This is especially helpful if you really want to avoid the hassles of moving your operation elsewhere, and the landlord is willing to be reasonable. How else would you deal with a sudden commercial rent increase? Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.