After you step over the fake vomit and avoid hand-buzzer guy, consider how you can simplify things for you and your people.
By Gregory Pings, manager, Content Marketing for Xerox
Today is the day when — in addition to booting up and syncing up — you must check for strategically-placed whoopee cushions, secure the tops of salt shakers, and take good, hard looks at the day’s headlines. (After all, whistling carrots and left-handed Whoppers could happen!)
Yes, life is complex. So, clear your workstation of the rubber dog poop, and take a little time to consider how you can simplify work life for you and your employees, courtesy of RealBusiness.com.
1) Plan and analyze less, do more. Small business guru Gene Marks says you don’t have to be a master of the universe. Grow your business at a pace that is comfortable for you.(Want to be a Small Business Owner? Gene Marks on What You Need to Know)
2) Avoid the “sunk cost trap.” Know when to cut your losses, instead of doubling down on a failed course of action. (Why Great Leaders Fail: Analyzing the 1996 Mount Everest Tragedy)
3) Put pen to paper – literally. A handwritten letter goes a long way among colleagues and clients. Four tips from etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley, aka Mister Manners. (The Power of the Handwritten Note: When to Dust Off the Pen and Paper)
4) An ounce of prevention. Successful preventative care for their employees can lead to a staggering amount of money saved. (The Book CEOs are Banking on to Make Employees Healthier (and Save them Money))
5) In social media, start small and conservatively. Social media expert Jay Baer says every company should consider how technology can help them connect with customers. (Mastering Social Media for Businesses: Q&A with Jay Baer)
6) Be flexible and remember your employees. Childcare benefits have become key factors in attracting and retaining employees who are parents. (Childcare Perks Keep Employees in the Workforce)
7) To see the future, remember the past. Consider how digital processes can simplify your processes and amplify the presence of your brick-and-mortar business. (Is Merging Digital and Analogue the Key to Success? Q&A with Anders Sorman-Nilsson)
8) Be a farmer, not a hunter. At your next conference, focus on making connections, not closing deals. (How to Work a Conference: Tips from a Networking Pro)
9) Have a compelling story. Instead of asking your customer which items they want to order, help them understand how they will benefit from your product or service. (What You Can Learn About Sales From Top-Selling Girl Scouts)
10) Use crowdsourcing to see what’s ahead. Here are 4 apps to help you spend less time in traffic, and more quality time at work or at home. (4 Apps That Can Cut Your Commute Time)
Bonus Simplification Tip!
Register for virtual simple@work, and get access to a selection of insightful presentations from the live event we sponsored earlier in March. simple@work was attended by more than 800 leaders from around the world who came together to learn how to simplify their business processes.
Our virtual event allows you to view these presentations at a time and place that is convenient for you. We include video presentations from:
- Sir Ken Robinson, TED presenter and internationally acclaimed expert on creativity and innovation.
- Social media guru Jay Baer.
- Futurist and author Anders Sorman-Nilsson.
- Ursula Burns, Xerox chairman and chief executive officer.
Plus, view several key industry or functional group sessions hosted by experts from around the world.
Information about other Xerox virtual events is available at www.xerox.com/events.
