2SBD New Site - Home-Based Firms

Five Steps to Fix a Toxic Team

dmazzella@is-incorp.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:58:48 +0000

In the world of business it’s safe to say all work is done in teams. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you most of the teams they’ve been on are average or mediocre, or good but not great.

And sadly, many can tell you in dreaded detail about the toxic teams they’ve been on where gossip, sabotage, and finger-pointing were the norm.

Does this sound anything like the team you’re currently on? Are you the leader of one of these teams? If so, you know how these teams can suck the life out of you and it’s time to turn things around.

Abby Curnow-Chavez is a partner at The Trispective Group together with others in her company wanted to understand what separates the best teams from the toxic ones. They studied thousands of teams, analyzed the data, and looked for patterns.

According the Curnow-Chavez they named the worst of the worst “Saboteur Teams.” They were so named because, on them, someone is always working against at least one of their teammates.

Here are Curnow-Chavez’s telltale signs a team is a Saboteur Team:

    Members of the team are constantly complaining about each other
    Team members spend as much time watching their back as doing the work
    People make plays behind the scenes, undermining and sabotaging one another
    Suspicion and mistrust pervade every interaction; it seems like there are a lot of personal agendas
     People avoid working together and seem to dread team meetings
    Teammates would be perfectly happy to see others on the team fail; they criticize and point out the faults and failures of fellow team members

Adds Curnow-Chavez “Saboteur Teams destroy value at every turn and they are miserable experiences for everyone on them.”

She adds:

    Morale suffers and good people quit
    Strong candidates don’t join the team because of its bad reputation
    Critical problems don’t get addressed because no one feels safe bringing up the tough issues
    Decisions are made covertly or seem highly political
    There’s little to no risk-taking or innovation

If one happens to lead a Saboteur Team, it’s up to that person to turn it around. The good news is, improving ar team is doable and it’s definitely worth it.

The main challenge as the leader is to change the dynamic by enforcing a no-tolerance policy on destructive behavior, rebuilding trust, setting clear standards and defining a shared purpose. Here are Curnow-Chavez’s five steps to get your team out of this highly dysfunctional place:

Own it: If you don’t take full ownership for fixing your team, it won’t get better! Think about what you did to allow for this dynamic and what you didn’t do to address it. This could be an excellent time to get 360 feedback to understand others’ perceptions of your effectiveness as team leader. Talk openly with your team about your role (good and bad) and set a new standard for how you expect the team to work together.
Study the facts and seek out the truth: Use data and feedback to figure out what is really happening on the team. Get others’ perspectives. Ask questions, listen, stay curious, and be open to feedback. Be willing to seek the truth, even if it’s hard to hear. Team leaders tend to have the perspective of some, but not all, team members and may have a biased view of what’s really going on. Stay neutral and listen without judgement to fully understand why your team is struggling.
Set new standards of behavior and make tough decision: As the team leader, it’s critical that a new standard for performance and behavior is set. Set a high bar and apply it to ALL team members. You can’t have different standards for different team members. Too often the negative behaviors of certain individuals are overlooked or ignored for various reasons. This doesn’t help, it hinders. Make sure the team understands the repercussions of their actions and be willing to follow-through. Frequently point out examples where team members are, and are not, living up to the new standards. Remember, you get what you tolerate!
Get the team on board: The team needs to meet regularly, and as the team leader, you need to keep everyone committed to the new rules of the road. If you need to, find a strong facilitator to help. That person could be a professional facilitator, an internal HR business partner, or a trusted colleague who has skills and is viewed as being neutral. Involve the team in discussing its challenges and suggesting ways to improve. Don’t forget to celebrate the team’s progress and successes, even the small ones.
Don’t give up: Turning around a Saboteur Team may be the hardest work you will do as a team leader. It takes time, courage, and commitment. Keep your vision in front of the team and give team members regular feedback and coaching. Look for and publicize quick wins and reward the right behavior. For many team leaders it’s tough to do this, but remove team members who aren’t willing or able to change. It only takes one saboteur for the whole team to become toxic – make the tough decisions when you need to. No leader has every regretted getting rid of an underperformer or a saboteur.

If you’re the leader of a toxic and dysfunctional team, you’re likely suffering from the experience. And, it’s likely your business results are suffering too. Facing the truth about your team, setting a new standard, requiring the team to building strong and healthy relationships, and developing new habits takes energy and courage. However, once you begin the process of turning around your team, you are likely to see improvements immediately. Be intentional in your efforts – and persistent - and you’ll reap the rewards.

Abby Curnow-Chavez is a partner at The Trispective Group and the co-author with Audrey Epstein, Linda Adams and Rebecca Teasdale of The Loyalist Team: How Trust, Candor, and Authenticity Create Great Organizations. For more information, please visit, www.trispectivegroup.com.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

New Ways Of Insuring Small Business SEO Success

dmazzella@is-incorp.com — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 22:02:14 +0000

The old days of SEO “hacks” are finished.

Bedros Keuilian who head swww.fitbodybootcamp.com argues small business owners need to start thinking about SEO differently. Now more than ever, “friendly” is the operative word in “SEO friendly.”

Here are what Keuilian’s believes are his foolproof techniques he uses in his own businesses to stay on top of SEO.

Make Your Website Interactive: Google tracks how much time the average user spends on your site. The longer they stay, the better your SEO. Make your site clickable and scrollable so they’ll have a reason to stick around.
A great way to make your website scrollable is to put a high-quality video above the fold. It grabs people’s attention and lets them scroll down if they want more info. The video should be an engaging introduction to your business, about 1-2 minutes long. Audio is optional.
Include Keywords Throughout the Site: The traditional advice here is to research keywords in your industry with high SEO and use those as often as possible in your site copy. That’s certainly a good practice to implement.
Before you do that, though, take the time to think about your vision for your business: who is your business for, and what is the one thing you will offer them that nobody else can. Write down what you come up with as a brand message, a core values list, or whatever makes the most sense to you. Share that with your whole team and make sure EVERYONE understands it and agrees.
From then on, you’ll find that your keywords appear organically in everything you and your team writes.
Build Community Across Platforms: This is a smart thing to do for any kind of digital marketing, but it’s especially important for your site’s SEO. If you haven’t already, start creating social media pages for your business. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram are some of the most important ones. Pick whichever one is most comfortable for you, start there, then expand out to the others.
On each of those platforms, make sure you link back to your site, both in your profile description and in the content you post.
Generate Online Reviews:Google loves it when reputable sites link to your site, so make sure you include online reviews as part of your marketing strategy. Look for review sites in your industry and send them a sample of your product. Invite them to come review your business. Be helpful.
Put Out Great Content: Content marketing won’t work for you if you don’t fully commit to it. Invest in your own skills or hire quality talent to create content that people genuinely want to read and watch, not just content that fills space on a page.

Bedros Keuilian heads www.fitbodybootcamp.com and is a leading consultant for online marketing, business systems and development. His blogs, products, books, and live events help tens of thousands of business owners around the world build more robust and profitable systems.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

Five Ways To Deal With Small Business Setbacks

dmazzella@is-incorp.com — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:45:23 +0000

Setbacks. Every small business owner and entrepreneur encounters them at some point as they build their startup.

What separates successful businesses from those less likely to succeed is their ability to overcome adversity, learn from their mistakes and come back better than ever.

Donald Cyprian, Founder of Instant Christ™, the first-ever Christian and faith-based social media platform, offers 5 ways to deal with startup setbacks:

1. When dealing with a Setback, Take a Step Back– When a situation arises that negatively impacts us it is natural to want to wallow. That is why the road to recovering from a setback, starts with taking a step back. Take some time to deal with stress, clear your mind and prepare yourself for more challenges. Setbacks WILL happen but it is your attitude that will propel you forward.

2. Back to the Drawing Board- Now is the time to ask yourself the tough questions like, “Do I have the right people? The right practices?” Often times setbacks help to expose the holes in our business. Plug them up. You can do this by re-evaluating and prioritizing your business objectives.

3. Actively Seek New Business- When business is going well it is easy to let recruiting new accounts and clients fall to the wayside. However, you should always chase new business. If you only have a handful of clients and one goes elsewhere, the financial impact can be detrimental. Actively seeking new business helps to ensure that even if you experience the loss of a key client, you will still have a source of revenue

4. Money Matters- Make sure that you have a financial plan in place. When setbacks strike, they normally hit your business right in the wallet. That is why you need to have a solid understanding of your finances, what you’re spending your money on and how much you would need to keep your business functioning properly should a setback occur. Put together an emergency fund, money that you’ll be able to use to help you get through financially tight times and pay for unexpected business expenses.

5. Utilize Your Network- Family, friends, and industry contacts are all part of your network. When setbacks occur don’t hesitate to reach out to them. You will be pleasantly surprised at the outpouring of help you receive, whether help comes in the form of moral support, advice or an introduction to new clients.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

Holiday Time Can Be Used Creatively

dmazzella@is-incorp.com — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 16:45:46 +0000

Great inventors typically don’t just have one or two terrific ideas — they are always thinking of new and better products. If inventing is in your blood, chances are new ideas occur to you during your daily life as well. But the holidays aren’t an ordinary time, and the change in routine can be a major distraction — or an inspiration.

Nicole Lininger Director of Corporate Communications at InventHelp®,Here are some tips to help you make sure your holiday season is filled with new ideas:

Look to holiday activities for inspiration: Some of the most useful inventions were discovered by people who looked at familiar old tasks in a brand-new way. The pie crust shield, multi-event kitchen timer, turkey deep fryer and digital thermometer are just a few inventions that were inspired by annual holiday feasts. As you take on seasonal tasks, keep in mind that if you think there has to be a better way to get something done.
Maintain your curiosity and keep asking questions: Curiosity about how things work is essential to the process of invention, and the holiday season offers many new opportunities to observe processes and use products you don’t encounter the rest of the year. Tina Su of Think Simple Now advises readers to ask if there are other ways of taking on a task or achieving desired results. These are methods many inventors use to connect the dots between their interests and new ideas.
Don’t get too comfortable: It’s a natural human impulse to seek comfort, especially around the holidays, but as Kim Kaupe, cofounder of ZinePak, says, “If you don’t feel uncomfortable a few times a week, you are doing something wrong.” A small amount of discomfort can lead to big new ideas, not only for inventions but for positive life changes. Leave your comfort zone behind regularly to keep your mind sharp. That will ensure you are ready to take on new topics and maintain curiosity.
Leverage the power of your group: The expression “great minds think alike” might be true in some cases, but for the purposes of invention, tapping into the power of minds that think differently can be incredibly illuminating. The holidays offer a perfect opportunity to discuss new ideas with the people you encounter frequently as well as friends, relatives and business contacts you may not interact with on a regular basis. Different perspectives can lead to breakthroughs.
Focus on the small picture: Big thinking is closely associated with the process of invention, but sometimes it helps to take a step back and focus on the smaller things. Cheezburger CEO Ben Huh once noted on Entrepreneur.com that innovative companies are built with small, calculated steps. The holiday season can be an excellent time to scale down your focus and use your time, budget and resources in a limited fashion to free your imagination and connect the dots between ideas.

Adds Liniger, many people find the holiday season a welcome distraction from business as usual. That’s as it should be; the holidays are an ideal time to focus on friends and family. But the change in routine can actually work to the advantage of inventors, who use new situations to develop fresh concepts. Make innovation a habit that you practice all year long — even while enjoying all the holiday season has to offer — and you may find yourself with plenty of new ideas to explore in the coming year.

Nicole Lininger – InventHelp’s authority on all things innovative is also Director of Corporate Communications.at InventHelp®, a Leading Inventor Service Company.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

Keeping Things Simple Can Lead To Greater Profits

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:46:47 +0000

Some small businesses are run very simply.

Donavan Janus launched his company, 17hats based on keeping management tools simple.

Here is his six steps to simplifying management while still keeping close tabs on the business.

Flash the Cash:Accrual or Cash? If your business is coming in under $5 million in annual sales and inventory isn’t necessary to account for, there is really no need to use accrual methods of bookkeeping. The IRS advises sole proprietors to instead adopt the simpler cash method of accounting. Not sure? It can always be changed later, check it with the IRS here.
Keep it Clean:Looking for an ultra simple way to stash company documents? Try a dedicated yearly storage box. Drop in records, receipts, statements, tax return labels, and more to easily reference by year. Keep the box stashed on or under a desk so organization is never far.
Pay and Keep Tabs:Tracking expenses is a necessary evil; no fun to do, but those with attention to detail can be rewarded. Many don’t realize the write off potential beyond meals and entertainment, but the IRS offers credits for health care, home office, driving, and even child care. With 17hats, all transactions are organized and categorized in one place, making these credits a snap to identify.
Save Now, Win Later:Some of us are impulse shoppers, but it’s important to avoid it when it comes to certain expenses. Don’t be tempted by office or equipment upgrades when you’re rolling in dough. Setting aside a budget at the beginning of the year for necessary (and surprise) expenses alike will save you a headache in the long run.
Habit Forming:When crunched for time, it’s tempting to fall into the bad habit of using 1099s from client as a means of record keeping. Beware, this isn’t bookkeeping at all, and can only complicate matters in a number of ways. Instead, try our automated bookkeeping suite at 17hats to simplify record keeping and get back your time.
Make a Date:Bookkeeping is neither fun nor sexy, but making time for it is essential. Set a weekly calendar reminder to spend 15 minutes on Monday morning with a cup of coffee and 17hats, poring over the previous week’s records. In a few minutes it will be possible to be organized and ready for the week ahead.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

5 Tips For Starting A Small Business From Scratch

admin — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 23:55:39 +0000

It takes an idea, commitment and a good bit of courage for an aspiring business owner to start a business.

It also takes time, money and a little bit of luck to really make it work. But, even if an entrepreneur is starting a business solo, he or she doesn’t need to feel alone.

New business owners can learn from others who’ve been through it before and use their experience to help make their own path easier.

Hunter Hoffmann, Head of US Communications, http://www.hiscox.comHiscoxHere are some tips to help aspiring small business owners get started, keep going and create the business of their dreams:

Dream big: It’s okay to think big – small business owners should play to their strengths and try to build the business that they’ve always wanted. Bethany Lyons, co-founder of Lyons Den Yoga, in Hiscox’s new docuseries, Courageous Leaders, advises that looking at the cost of not pursuing one’s dream is a really great way to get incentive to get up and make things happen. For Bethany, a good job with good money wasn’t enough because she just wasn’t fulfilled and her life seemed stagnant. That’s when she decided to be proactive and become her own CEO.
Small business owners don’t need to go all in right away -Using some of their savings to fund a new business is the easiest way to get a new venture off the ground, but if they don’t have any money put away, that’s no help. But, new business owners can get going and keep the risk low by keeping their day job while business ramps up. Many successful entrepreneurs started their business while holding on to their day job for an extra six months, a year or longer. A new business owner’s growth will probably be slower, but they’ll also cut down their anxiety. Burning the candle at both ends can be tiring, so they’ll need the energy to pull this off and a work schedule for their side job to keep on track. But, they’ll have the space to grow their business smartly until they can finally quit their job and focus on their business full time.
A dollar saved: New small business owners don’t need to act like the people on Extreme Couponing, but it doesn’t hurt to find ways to cut costs wherever they can. This may mean cutting corners around the house, too. Bethany Lyons put her apartment up as a line of credit when she decided to start her own yoga studio. Start by making smaller sacrifices like skipping the coffee shop and getting a caffeine fix at home. Don’t shell out rent for an office space when working from home is sufficient, and although a fancy new “business” computer might be tempting, an old laptop will probably work just fine for now. When it means a small business owner can afford their own salary next month, the sacrifice will be worth it.
Get a helping hand:Entrepreneurs should talk to everyone they know until they get a positive response or a referral to someone who can actually help them. Almost all of the successful, wealthy entrepreneurs started in the same place– they had an idea and needed the capital to make it a reality. Angel investors have the potential to turbo charge a new business’s growth if the person behind it can make them believe in their visions. This doesn’t mean they’ll just throw money at any crazy idea – they get pitched all day and only choose a few select companies to invest in. Small business owners must make sure their elevator pitch is tight and be ready to answer all the hard questions investors are definitely going to throw their way before putting down any money.
Build an army of supporters:Crowdfunding is becoming increasingly popular and a great way for entrepreneurs to fund their dream. However, 92 percent of small business owners polled in the 2014 DNA of an Entrepreneurstudy did not consider it as an option. Using reward incentives on sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter is a great way to entice pools of potential investors to get financial help. All that’s needed is a compelling argument to go with a quirky or innovative idea and an entrepreneur can begin to crowdfund their small business idea. But, success is definitely not guaranteed – anybody using these fundraising sites should have a back-up plan in case they don’t reach their fundraising goals.

Even if new business owners work their hardest and follow all of the advice they can, nothing is ever going to go perfectly. Some failure is inevitable on the road to success and instead of getting discouraged, they should endeavor to learn from their missteps to help build and grow the business. After all, courage is taking action that one believes is right or necessary in spite of the risk. Hopefully, these tips help minimize risk for new and aspiring small business owners as they start out.

Hunter Hoffmann is Head of US Communications at Hiscox Small Business Insuranceand is responsible for media relations, social media, internal communications, content marketing and executive messaging.

Section:

Home-Based Firms

Childhood Jam Making Leads To Home-Based Business

dmazzella@is-incorp.com — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 15:45:19 +0000

Childhood jam maker turned her hobby into a successful organic, non-GMO food business from her home.

California native Marilyn Johnson is the founder of Spread the Love Jams & Jellies, an in demand fruit spread company.

The jams are made in a home kitchen and the flavors range from classic strawberry and blackberry to exotic flavors such as cranberry habanero, apricot pineapple, pear ginger, pomegranate, and tayberry.

Made with only three ingredients, Spread the Love Jams & Jellies products are organic and non-GMO. All of the fruits used in the product are purchased from organic farmers or harvested by Marilyn.

The owner adds, “My goal is to spread love, not toxins.”

Marilyn has been crafting jams since she was a child.

She and her mom would make jams with wild blackberries from their California farm.

Johnson believes the Love Jams & Jellies transfers this feeling of nostalgia and her products are a perfect way for the owner to combine her love of cooking, crafting, and jam.

To maintain this feeling, a great deal of time and care goes into Marilyn’s jam making process.

Johnson will drive 30 miles to the farm

Once she is home with a truck full of fresh fruits, she cleans everything herself,

“I am currently a one woman show.” Marilyn adds.

Once the fruits are cleaned, she cooks them and sterilizes the jars and lids in the meantime. Once everything is jarred and cooled, she delivers the products to her customers who commonly refer to her as, “The jam lady.”

Marilyn says Spread the Love Jams & Jellies is different for one knows where the jams are coming from and can put a face to the product.

This notion transfers through the feedback she receives from her customers.

Customers go beyond the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and use the jams in everything from thumbprint cookies, glazes for fish tacos, meringue cups, scones, and even for turkey or ham glazes on holidays.

Marilyn’s customers have found many uses for her jams and the hottest selling flavor is the cranberry habanero as the blackberry jams’ nostalgic properties stay true to Marilyn’s heart-- serving as her favorite.

For more information visit www.spreadthelovejelly.com

Section:

Home-Based Firms

Cloud Solutions Offer Benefits To Small Business Enterprises

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:26:59 +0000

The major advantage cloud solutions have is the ability to simplify complex security processes and to be deployed outside the company’s IT environment.

According to Dariel Leboeuf, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing for TraceSecurity, “in general, small businesses can expect many benefits from cloud solutions."

Leboeuf cites these major benefits.