Hiring remote contractors or employees, like anything else, has its pros and cons. It’s a difficult decision, particularly if you haven’t done it before. When you need more hands on deck, you might wonder if it’s really necessary to bring in a full-time person into the workplace. With all it entails, it’s a big leap, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. So, what about hiring someone to work remotely? What are the pros and cons of hiring remote employees? Let’s take a quick look. Remote Staff Cons Hiring remotely can mean having to make a few adjustments, including time differences. You might find a great fit in a candidate who lives in another time zone. Sometimes, even an hour or two can make a huge difference. Hiring remote employees can be an efficient and cost-effective way to solve problems for small businesses. For many business owners, knowing the benefits of remote hires can open up a variety of benefits, from cost savings to efficiency. —On Deck.com Another possible stumbling stone is communications. Yes, today’s technology makes it far more easy to communicate over just about any distance. But, it still has it limitations, no question at all. Then, there’s the challenge of training. This might well prove the most difficult obstacle to hiring a remote employee or contractor. Remote Employee Pros Of course, there are some very good reasons to hire a remote staff member. Here are a few benefits to hiring a remote worker: Reduced cost. This can’t be understated. When you hire remotely — especially for a contract position — you’ll get the benefit of saving money on labor. A remote contractor can save money in the form of health care and other benefits. Plus, remote contractors might accept a little less in the way of compensation for their own convenience of not having to commute. Skill-set access. Sometimes, it’s just too costly to hunt down the right person with a needed skill-set in your location. (That person might not even be available or live in your area.) In situations like these, needing a particular set of skills, a remote employee could be a great fit. Time advantages. What works one way can work another. Someone who lives in a time zone that’s a couple or few hours ahead of you can serve as a big benefit to getting a head start. He or she can produce what’s needed and do so before you even get into the office. Less office drama. One thing most people don’t think about when it comes to the benefits of hiring remotely is that it doesn’t add to any office politics. Someone who isn’t physically on-site won’t feed into the gossip, which is another advantage. What other points would you add to these? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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.