Comfort. It’s a wonderful feeling. When we’re comfortable, we feel secure, often content, and better still, in control. But, control is an illusion. Just like the security of a job or a long-established business. That is, until something goes seriously awry. Then, it becomes quite clear security is not forever. Comfort most definitely falls into the same category, but sometimes, for different reasons. So, if you’ve become comfortable in your role, chances are excellent you’re doing it wrong. Here’s why. Comfort Usually Leads to Complacency Isn’t it strange how the mind works? When someone thinks of “comfort,” he or she gets an entirely different feeling than when thinking about “complacency.” Sure, they are two different things. And, this becomes all-too apparent when compared with one another. Unfortunately, it’s at this juncture that reality sets in hard. Making a concerted effort to challenge yourself will inspire you and help prepare your business for the future. As a result, you will be able to lead your company with the confidence that you’re making good decisions — because you are. —Entrepreneur.com Someone who is comfortable is generally complacent. He or she typically doesn’t have any nagging concerns. It’s basically the manifestation of complacency. A point at which one’s guard is so far down, it might as well not exist. This state of mind is a precarious one because it can easily lead to bad outcomes. So, it’s best to be on one’s toes and that’s possible by stepping out of your comfort zone. 4 Big Benefits of Stepping Outside Your Professional Comfort Zone You’ve probably heard this philosophy before — getting out of your comfort zone will be to your advantage. Moreover, it will do so in more than one way. For instance, it will, at the very least, help you to break away from the ordinary. It breaks up routines. So, let’s start with the most obvious benefit. Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you to get away from routines (in other words, a disruption or end to the monotony). If you step outside your comfort zone, you can better reassess your schedule and inject a little (and much-needed) variety. It gives you more creative chances. Breaking away from your comfort zone also gives you the opportunity to indulge in creativity. That can be beneficial in a number of ways. For example, the ability to think unconventionally and entertain solutions to difficult and/or stubborn problems. It helps you effectively deal with stress. Another big advantage to stepping outside your comfort zone is that it helps teach you to more effectively deal with stressful situations. This lessens panic in uncertain times and that’s a very important trait to learn. It provides opportunities to build confidence. Last but certainly not least, you’ll feel more confident when you successfully step away from your comfort zone. This, especially if you return to a normal routine thereafter. In a short period of time, you can again step away to build even more confidence. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a brief moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! (You may never know who you’ll help out.) Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

So, you offered a superstar an employment opportunity and that person ultimately turned the offer down – much to your surprise. Now, you’re wondering why this happened. And, more importantly, how you can prevent the same from happening all over again. After all, repeating the whole process over and over will probably just produce the same disappointing results. With this in mind, it’s best to know the most plausible reasons top job candidates turn down employment offers. Top Reasons Job Candidates Turn Down Work Offers Let’s start with the most obvious: the compensation isn’t competitive. When was the last time you actually took the time to look at the latest compensation rates for your open positions? If you haven’t done this in quite some time, it’s definitely time to do so now. Another top reason is the benefits aren’t enticing enough – they simply aren’t adequate. Have you ever felt really good about a candidate? You thought it was a perfect match and couldn’t wait to have them on your team. You made your absolute best offer … only to have them turn it down. This may have led you to settle for your second, third, or even fourth choice candidate. You might find yourself wondering, what makes someone go through the trouble of applying, interviewing, etc., only to say no once the job is offered? What is it those job seekers want? —CareerPlug Again, if the benefits you’re offering aren’t in line with others in your industry, that’s a red flag. You need to give your benefits package a reexamination right away. Of course, another top reason is the interview process didn’t go well. You need to deconstruct how you vet candidates and make the necessary changes. Also, be sure to reassess who does the interviewing – maybe there’s a change needed there, too. Other Common Factors that Cause Job Candidates to Decline Offers Obviously, if the culprits aren’t compensation, benefits, or the interview process, the explanation must lie elsewhere. So, here are some more possibilities as to why you were turned down: The position really isn’t a good fit. It could be the candidate thought he or she was going for one position and it turned out to be something different. Or, that your company culture isn’t a good fit with his or her personality. Be sure you’re accurately describing the position and it isn’t in any way misleading. Too many negative online reviews. You might care deeply about online reviews. Or, might be a bit ambivalent about online reviews. Regardless of your disposition, it could very well have a detrimental impact on a potential hire. It’s obviously not enough to check your company’s reviews but to respond professionally. There’s a poor work-life balance. If you’re the type of employer who demands people give their all and are always available, you’re asking way too much. What’s more, anyone who has a home life won’t find it appealing to work for your company. Sure, there will be some candidates who like and thrive in these types of environments, but probably a lot fewer than those who place great importance on a sound work-life balance. What other reasons would you say would contribute to a job candidate turning an employment offer down? Please take a moment to 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.

An unpredictable schedule is a chaotic one. And, it can confuse and/or frustrate anyone who experiences such uncertainty. After all, it’s better to know what’s coming and have a heads-up, in order to be prepared. But, that’s not always the case and it can wreak havoc psychologically and emotionally. Eventually, an unpredictable schedule can lead to total burnout. So, read on to learn some of the best ways to cope and take control of an otherwise unpredictable schedule. Chaos is Counterproductive Some entrepreneurs claim they really like uncertainty and the surprises associated with “going with the flow.” At least, they may say this to others, but when it comes down to it, aren’t very keen on unpredictable schedules. They’d much rather have their days planned out in order to maximize their productivity and budget their time wisely. These things can’t really be accomplished when schedules fluctuate too much. It’s just not feasible to effectively plan and execute when every little thing is completely on-the-fly. Workers at the top and bottom of the economic spectrum feel the loss of control dearly, and technology is often the culprit. Whether it’s a buzzing smartphone or software that tracks our whereabouts, the more hard to predict our schedules become, the less real flexibility many of us have. —Harvard Business Review Although this may work in a micro sense, like during the course of an ordinary day that’s gone a bit awry, or during free time, such as vacation, a truly unpredictable schedule is tumultuous. And this breeds confusion, anxiety, as well as a sense of being out of control. Those simply aren’t good emotions to experience while running a business, so it’s necessary to make adjustments in order to produce a more predictable schedule. Effective Ways to Deal with an Unpredictable Schedule The business owners who succeed not only have a vision, but an actionable plan to follow. Of course, it’s not possible to plan out every scenario. But, it is advantageous to take as much control as you can. Fortunately, there are effective strategies for dealing with an unpredictable schedule: Structure your non-work day. The very first thing you need to do is begin structuring your non-work time. While this might seem strange, it helps you to build a healthy habit and there’s no better place to start than your non-working days, which are often free-for-all situations. If you can put even a loose schedule to your non-working days, you can most certainly do that in the office or out on the road. Establish work-related boundaries. One of the most difficult things for any entrepreneur to do is establish boundaries between their free time and their work time. Business owners, by their very nature, are concerned about their companies well-being and take every opportunity to ensure that it’s running properly. But, this all too frequently leaves to work intruding into free time, which can severely detract from personal relationships, particularly when it comes to spouses and children. So, set boundaries for your work and personal times in order to maintain a healthy balance. Allow for work flexibility and continuity. If your schedule changes quite substantially from day to day, that’s okay too. Instead of scheduling and entire day from one appointment or task to another, set aside blocks of time and prioritize accordingly. This way, you’ll be able to accomplish what you most need to, when you are able, instead of trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Reward yourself when you accomplish goals. As always, it’s a good idea to reward yourself when you accomplish a goal, be it big or small. Part of the process can be redefining or redesigning your schedule to be more predictable and therefore, allow you to be more productive. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a few minutes to share your own thoughts and feelings so that others can benefit from your experiences and perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.