Money Isn’t Enough: 6 Incentives to Motivate Your Employees
Money is important, but it’s not everything
Make no mistake: Employees want competitive compensation for their work. In fact, money is the top reason employees quit. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 63 percent of respondents cited low pay as a significant or contributing reason for quitting their job.
Money is important, but it’s not everything
Make no mistake: Employees want competitive compensation for their work. In fact, money is the top reason employees quit. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 63 percent of respondents cited low pay as a significant or contributing reason for quitting their job.
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1. Implement flexible work policies.
While small business owners can’t always compete with the salaries large corporations offer, implementing flexible work policies can attract top talent. They’re a low-cost way to make your compensation package stand out and show employees you respect their needs and priorities.
Flexible work policies are extremely varied and customizable. The most obvious example is remote or hybrid arrangements where employees can work in the most comfortable environment for them. Remote and hybrid work arrangements help employees avoid commuting, manage child care needs, balance personal obligations and much more. Additionally, you can offer a four-day workweek, flexible start and end times, and other options.
Employees value flexible workplace options because they reduce stress and help prevent burnout. Consider offering work flexibility to motivate, reward and engage your team.
While small business owners can’t always compete with the salaries large corporations offer, implementing flexible work policies can attract top talent. They’re a low-cost way to make your compensation package stand out and show employees you respect their needs and priorities.
Flexible work policies are extremely varied and customizable. The most obvious example is remote or hybrid arrangements where employees can work in the most comfortable environment for them. Remote and hybrid work arrangements help employees avoid commuting, manage child care needs, balance personal obligations and much more. Additionally, you can offer a four-day workweek, flexible start and end times, and other options.
Employees value flexible workplace options because they reduce stress and help prevent burnout. Consider offering work flexibility to motivate, reward and engage your team.
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2. Hold company social events.
Show your employees you appreciate them by throwing events that boost camaraderie and teamwork. For example, buy lunch for your employees, and give them a chance to enjoy a stress-free meal and socialize with co-workers. Holidays and birthdays could prompt bigger celebrations.
Aside from in-office gatherings, consider organizing off-site team-building events. Take your employees to a restaurant, go bowling or organize a happy hour. Adding fun events to the workweek can help employees feel refreshed and refocused when they return to work.
Show your employees you appreciate them by throwing events that boost camaraderie and teamwork. For example, buy lunch for your employees, and give them a chance to enjoy a stress-free meal and socialize with co-workers. Holidays and birthdays could prompt bigger celebrations.
Aside from in-office gatherings, consider organizing off-site team-building events. Take your employees to a restaurant, go bowling or organize a happy hour. Adding fun events to the workweek can help employees feel refreshed and refocused when they return to work.
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3. Encourage trusted relationships.
True leaders focus on employee relationships. Communicating with employees respectfully and clearly fosters an environment of trust. A trusted team feels empowered to make decisions and act in the company’s best interest.
Leaders who set an example for their workers create an environment where team members feel comfortable and grow. According to a survey by the Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society and the Edelman Trust Institute, people who felt trusted at work reported the following:
74 percent less stress
106 percent more energy at work
50 percent higher productivity
13 percent fewer sick days
76 percent more engagement
29 percent more satisfaction with their lives
40 percent less burnout
To encourage trust and open communication, follow these best practices:
Be present when interacting with employees. Your team wants to know you’re present and engaged. Ensure you genuinely listen to them, their concerns and their needs.
True leaders focus on employee relationships. Communicating with employees respectfully and clearly fosters an environment of trust. A trusted team feels empowered to make decisions and act in the company’s best interest.
Leaders who set an example for their workers create an environment where team members feel comfortable and grow. According to a survey by the Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society and the Edelman Trust Institute, people who felt trusted at work reported the following:
74 percent less stress
106 percent more energy at work
50 percent higher productivity
13 percent fewer sick days
76 percent more engagement
29 percent more satisfaction with their lives
40 percent less burnout
To encourage trust and open communication, follow these best practices:
Be present when interacting with employees. Your team wants to know you’re present and engaged. Ensure you genuinely listen to them, their concerns and their needs.
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4. Help employees find meaning and purpose.
To genuinely motivate employees, give them meaningful work, not repetitive tasks. Employees don’t want to feel replaceable, so give them purposeful assignments that showcase their skills and talents.
Consider encouraging professional development by providing online classes to bolster your employees’ career skills and personal interests. When you see your employee relationships as mutually beneficial investments, everyone wins.
To genuinely motivate employees, give them meaningful work, not repetitive tasks. Employees don’t want to feel replaceable, so give them purposeful assignments that showcase their skills and talents.
Consider encouraging professional development by providing online classes to bolster your employees’ career skills and personal interests. When you see your employee relationships as mutually beneficial investments, everyone wins.
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5. Create challenging work.
In addition to being meaningful, work should be challenging. Employees won’t grow if they aren’t given a chance to tackle challenging tasks. Spending time on nuanced, stimulating assignments will help them feel valued and improve their self-esteem. Be there to support them amid mistakes and hiccups and get them back on track.
Challenging work benefits everyone. Employees get an opportunity to grow, solve problems and feel empowered. Leaders get a chance to tackle more significant issues while guiding their team’s career growth.
In addition to being meaningful, work should be challenging. Employees won’t grow if they aren’t given a chance to tackle challenging tasks. Spending time on nuanced, stimulating assignments will help them feel valued and improve their self-esteem. Be there to support them amid mistakes and hiccups and get them back on track.
Challenging work benefits everyone. Employees get an opportunity to grow, solve problems and feel empowered. Leaders get a chance to tackle more significant issues while guiding their team’s career growth.
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6. Give employees authority.
Micromanaging employees usually backfires. Instead, empower them to make decisions to help them feel in control of their position and breed confidence and professional growth.
Nurture a safe and secure environment to foster a team that’s open-minded and willing to take risks. Your employees will look beyond their job descriptions and become more invested in the organization as a whole.
Gradually empower employees with more authority. Introduce them to other aspects of the business, and allow them to make more decisions. Assess their leadership potential, and use their talents and skills to improve the organization. When leaders provide a trusted team with the proper resources and support, they create a nurturing environment that promotes continual growth.
Micromanaging employees usually backfires. Instead, empower them to make decisions to help them feel in control of their position and breed confidence and professional growth.
Nurture a safe and secure environment to foster a team that’s open-minded and willing to take risks. Your employees will look beyond their job descriptions and become more invested in the organization as a whole.
Gradually empower employees with more authority. Introduce them to other aspects of the business, and allow them to make more decisions. Assess their leadership potential, and use their talents and skills to improve the organization. When leaders provide a trusted team with the proper resources and support, they create a nurturing environment that promotes continual growth.
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PRICELESS TIPS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH
1. You can say “No” without explanation. You are here to live your life and do what is important to you that is not cr!me nor evil.
2. Do not allow yourself to indulge in things that are not good for you. Make conscious choices to avoid doing things that make feel guilt.
3. Regularly check your actions with your self-image. Assess whether you are clinging to an idealistic image or being real and honest. If things are not genuine, please let go.
4. Be clear about your priorities. Clear priorities help you to make better decisions because they reduce your cognitive load by focusing your attention on one thing at a time.
5. Have clear boundaries. Healthy boundaries define the appropriate and acceptable behaviour in your relationship with others; the behaviour that keeps both parties safe. Setting healthy boundaries is crucial for self-care and positive relationships.
6. Be ready to sacrifice temporary gratification for your dream. This is d£stroying a lot of the young generation. When you seek immediate gratification, you train your brain to expect immediate pleasure and reward. As a result, you will lack the motivation to pursue long-term goals or participate in activities that require effort to achieve your goals.
7. Let others’ opinions stop bothering you. Make a conscious effort to form your own opinion. But that does not mean that you should overlook feedback and constructive criticism.
8. Understand your value and stop defining yourself with others' praise or criticism. It is dangerous to let others define your sense of worth. It is risky to listen to how someone else judges your work. Feedback is good but avoid destructive ones.
9. Stop craving attention. Attention-seeking behaviour may stem from jealousy, low self-esteem, loneliness, or as a result of a personality disorder. Focus more on yourself instead of trying to impress everyone.
10. Be comfortable with being disliked by some people. Whether you like it or not, it is impossible to be liked by everyone. When you are comfortable not being liked by everyone, it allows you to be true to yourself and prepares you for greater success.
11. Be fine with being misunderstood. Being okay with being misunderstood allows your creativity to flow and lets you flourish in other relationships. It will help you to communicate more assertively.
1. You can say “No” without explanation. You are here to live your life and do what is important to you that is not cr!me nor evil.
2. Do not allow yourself to indulge in things that are not good for you. Make conscious choices to avoid doing things that make feel guilt.
3. Regularly check your actions with your self-image. Assess whether you are clinging to an idealistic image or being real and honest. If things are not genuine, please let go.
4. Be clear about your priorities. Clear priorities help you to make better decisions because they reduce your cognitive load by focusing your attention on one thing at a time.
5. Have clear boundaries. Healthy boundaries define the appropriate and acceptable behaviour in your relationship with others; the behaviour that keeps both parties safe. Setting healthy boundaries is crucial for self-care and positive relationships.
6. Be ready to sacrifice temporary gratification for your dream. This is d£stroying a lot of the young generation. When you seek immediate gratification, you train your brain to expect immediate pleasure and reward. As a result, you will lack the motivation to pursue long-term goals or participate in activities that require effort to achieve your goals.
7. Let others’ opinions stop bothering you. Make a conscious effort to form your own opinion. But that does not mean that you should overlook feedback and constructive criticism.
8. Understand your value and stop defining yourself with others' praise or criticism. It is dangerous to let others define your sense of worth. It is risky to listen to how someone else judges your work. Feedback is good but avoid destructive ones.
9. Stop craving attention. Attention-seeking behaviour may stem from jealousy, low self-esteem, loneliness, or as a result of a personality disorder. Focus more on yourself instead of trying to impress everyone.
10. Be comfortable with being disliked by some people. Whether you like it or not, it is impossible to be liked by everyone. When you are comfortable not being liked by everyone, it allows you to be true to yourself and prepares you for greater success.
11. Be fine with being misunderstood. Being okay with being misunderstood allows your creativity to flow and lets you flourish in other relationships. It will help you to communicate more assertively.
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Changing Careers? 6 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out
When you’re writing a resume for job consideration in a new field, you’ll want to highlight your skills and downplay your lack of experience.
“The purpose of a resume is to convince the hiring manager that you are the best candidate for the job,” said Shweta Khare, career expert and founder of CareerBright.
“It might not be an easy thing to convey convincingly if you are changing careers, but with some effort, you can stand out.”
Here are six tips for generating a resume that stands out.
When you’re writing a resume for job consideration in a new field, you’ll want to highlight your skills and downplay your lack of experience.
“The purpose of a resume is to convince the hiring manager that you are the best candidate for the job,” said Shweta Khare, career expert and founder of CareerBright.
“It might not be an easy thing to convey convincingly if you are changing careers, but with some effort, you can stand out.”
Here are six tips for generating a resume that stands out.
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1. Use a suitable format that matches your new job.
Before submitting your resume to a prospective employer, read as many sample resumes as possible to get a good idea of the accepted norm for the content and style of a resume in the field you are aiming to enter.
“This is a time when you want to conform to the standards,” explained Richie Frieman, author of Reply All … And Other Ways to Tank Your Career.
“A law firm is expecting something much more conservative than a graphic design or architecture firm.”
Frieman advises matching the prospective employer’s tone visually and through your word choices. “If your industry allows you to be creative or unique, make sure you take advantage of it.
The opposite is true as well: An accounting firm will most likely not appreciate an artistic-looking resume.”
Before submitting your resume to a prospective employer, read as many sample resumes as possible to get a good idea of the accepted norm for the content and style of a resume in the field you are aiming to enter.
“This is a time when you want to conform to the standards,” explained Richie Frieman, author of Reply All … And Other Ways to Tank Your Career.
“A law firm is expecting something much more conservative than a graphic design or architecture firm.”
Frieman advises matching the prospective employer’s tone visually and through your word choices. “If your industry allows you to be creative or unique, make sure you take advantage of it.
The opposite is true as well: An accounting firm will most likely not appreciate an artistic-looking resume.”
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2. Identify your transferable skills.
Your resume should reflect all the skills you’ve accrued in your past work experience and demonstrate how you can apply them to the new role.
For example, if you are a seasoned teacher looking to get into account management, emphasize your communication, organization and time-management skills.
“Find where your skills in your current career are relevant to your new career and highlight them,” advised John Crossman, founder of Crossman Career Builders.
Don’t get hung up on skills unique to the new field. Remember, you have valuable skills and experience to bring to the table. Ensure your resume clearly shows how you can use your existing skills to be effective in the new position.
Your resume should reflect all the skills you’ve accrued in your past work experience and demonstrate how you can apply them to the new role.
For example, if you are a seasoned teacher looking to get into account management, emphasize your communication, organization and time-management skills.
“Find where your skills in your current career are relevant to your new career and highlight them,” advised John Crossman, founder of Crossman Career Builders.
Don’t get hung up on skills unique to the new field. Remember, you have valuable skills and experience to bring to the table. Ensure your resume clearly shows how you can use your existing skills to be effective in the new position.
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3. Volunteer or freelance to gain relevant experience.
If you’re set on amassing relevant experience in your new field before applying, volunteering and doing freelance work are excellent ways to gain experience, build a network and pad your resume.
Freelancing is becoming more popular and accessible across industries than ever. “Many hiring managers feel that volunteer work makes job candidates more attractive,” Khare said. “If you have volunteered or done freelance work, it counts as work experience.”
Furthermore, freelancing or volunteering helps you build a network, which can prove invaluable as you embark on a new career path. People in your network can provide guidance and may even have contacts to help you with your job search.
If you’re set on amassing relevant experience in your new field before applying, volunteering and doing freelance work are excellent ways to gain experience, build a network and pad your resume.
Freelancing is becoming more popular and accessible across industries than ever. “Many hiring managers feel that volunteer work makes job candidates more attractive,” Khare said. “If you have volunteered or done freelance work, it counts as work experience.”
Furthermore, freelancing or volunteering helps you build a network, which can prove invaluable as you embark on a new career path. People in your network can provide guidance and may even have contacts to help you with your job search.
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4. Quantify your achievements to show actionable changes.
Regardless of the fields you worked in previously, when hiring employees, employers want to see quantifiable achievements to know you can make a positive change in any situation.
Your resume should tell them about problems you solved in past positions – and how you solved them – even if they aren’t related to your new industry.
“You need to [present] quantifiable data for the hiring manager to analyze,” said Charley Polachi, managing partner of recruiting firm Polachi & Company Inc. “What was the state of the company when you went in, and what is the state today? Hopefully, it’s up, and if it is, what did you do there to improve it?”
Quantifying your achievements can be challenging, particularly if your past roles didn’t require you to work with numbers. Still, it can be done in a way that meaningfully measures your experience.
Regardless of the fields you worked in previously, when hiring employees, employers want to see quantifiable achievements to know you can make a positive change in any situation.
Your resume should tell them about problems you solved in past positions – and how you solved them – even if they aren’t related to your new industry.
“You need to [present] quantifiable data for the hiring manager to analyze,” said Charley Polachi, managing partner of recruiting firm Polachi & Company Inc. “What was the state of the company when you went in, and what is the state today? Hopefully, it’s up, and if it is, what did you do there to improve it?”
Quantifying your achievements can be challenging, particularly if your past roles didn’t require you to work with numbers. Still, it can be done in a way that meaningfully measures your experience.
5. Scrutinize resumes of people who work in the position.
Utilize LinkedIn to better understand what’s required or expected from someone applying for the position you’re seeking. Should you have a certain degree? Specific training? Unique skills?
LinkedIn can help you find individuals who work in the same job or a position similar to the one you’re seeking. Note their experience and skills, and use this information as a guide when presenting yourself on paper.
If you come across someone you have a connection with, like someone in your alumni network or someone with whom you share a mutual contact, politely reach out and see if they would be willing to chat with you about their experience in the field. Make sure you mention how you found them and why you’re reaching out.
Utilize LinkedIn to better understand what’s required or expected from someone applying for the position you’re seeking. Should you have a certain degree? Specific training? Unique skills?
LinkedIn can help you find individuals who work in the same job or a position similar to the one you’re seeking. Note their experience and skills, and use this information as a guide when presenting yourself on paper.
If you come across someone you have a connection with, like someone in your alumni network or someone with whom you share a mutual contact, politely reach out and see if they would be willing to chat with you about their experience in the field. Make sure you mention how you found them and why you’re reaching out.
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6. Ensure you have a strong online presence.
In the age of digital job searches, your online presence is like an extension of your resume. Because of the proliferation of social media screenings, ensure all your social profiles are professional and up to date.
If you don’t have a social media presence, create a LinkedIn profile to give hiring managers a more in-depth picture of your professional background.
You can also use your LinkedIn account to further establish yourself in your new industry by sharing articles and connecting with relevant voices in the field.
Tierra Smith contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
In the age of digital job searches, your online presence is like an extension of your resume. Because of the proliferation of social media screenings, ensure all your social profiles are professional and up to date.
If you don’t have a social media presence, create a LinkedIn profile to give hiring managers a more in-depth picture of your professional background.
You can also use your LinkedIn account to further establish yourself in your new industry by sharing articles and connecting with relevant voices in the field.
Tierra Smith contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
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26 great small business ideas
This list of 26 great business ideas will help you get started on your entrepreneurial journey. Note that many of the ideas below only require you to have a credit card processing partner to get started, so you can keep upfront expenses relatively low.
Read on for some inspiration into the many types of businesses that could launch you to success.
This list of 26 great business ideas will help you get started on your entrepreneurial journey. Note that many of the ideas below only require you to have a credit card processing partner to get started, so you can keep upfront expenses relatively low.
Read on for some inspiration into the many types of businesses that could launch you to success.
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1. Online reselling
If you’re interested in clothing and sales, you might consider starting an online reseller business. Although it takes time, dedication and an eye for fashion, you can start your business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time resale business. You could start by using online store websites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothing and items, then expand to your own resale website.
Consider shopping estate sales and flea markets for hidden finds at a low cost and then listing them for a profit online. You may be able to collect a substantial inventory of items that are in good shape for very little overhead if you’re diligent enough and search the right places.
If you’re interested in clothing and sales, you might consider starting an online reseller business. Although it takes time, dedication and an eye for fashion, you can start your business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time resale business. You could start by using online store websites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothing and items, then expand to your own resale website.
Consider shopping estate sales and flea markets for hidden finds at a low cost and then listing them for a profit online. You may be able to collect a substantial inventory of items that are in good shape for very little overhead if you’re diligent enough and search the right places.
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2. Pet sitting
About 70% of U.S. families have a pet. When these families go away for extended periods, your pet-sitting small business can give them peace of mind. As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house. As part of the job, you’ll need to feed them, give them water, play with them, and (with dogs) walk them as needed. To help keep clients satisfied, you’ll need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.
If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting may be an especially apt small business idea. Almost all pet owners will be glad to let you work on your laptop while you spend time at their home with their pets, meaning that you can run two income streams simultaneously
About 70% of U.S. families have a pet. When these families go away for extended periods, your pet-sitting small business can give them peace of mind. As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house. As part of the job, you’ll need to feed them, give them water, play with them, and (with dogs) walk them as needed. To help keep clients satisfied, you’ll need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.
If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting may be an especially apt small business idea. Almost all pet owners will be glad to let you work on your laptop while you spend time at their home with their pets, meaning that you can run two income streams simultaneously
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3. T-shirt printing
If you have a sense of fashion (or humor), you might enjoy launching a T-shirt printing business. You can also license someone else’s designs and screenprint them onto a blank tee. Either way, if you have space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary tools to get started.
If you have a sense of fashion (or humor), you might enjoy launching a T-shirt printing business. You can also license someone else’s designs and screenprint them onto a blank tee. Either way, if you have space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary tools to get started.
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