I find my first days after a long weekend or vacation aren’t particularly productive. How can I break through the inertia?
There’s likely a ton of stuff waiting for you to do but set yourself a small goal for the first day, then make a list of a few more short, doable goals. Momentum will build from that task, and before long you’ll be your old Energizer bunny self. Just ask yourself: “Why is it ‘too hard’ to do this for just 15 minutes?” It isn’t, and you’ll find that you quickly enjoy the feeling of completion. Other tips to prod yourself into action:
- Make a public commitment to getting something done. Public scrutiny is a powerful motivator.
- If it’s a big project you keep delaying, accept that it’s going to take time and praise yourself for incremental progress.
- Be quick to reward yourself. A bit of relaxation differs from laziness; it’s a reward for a finished task.
Do barter exchanges have much potential for an ECP?
They’re never going to become a major part of your business, but if you have older inventory that you’re going to take a markdown on or overcapacity to provide certain services, they have potential. “Often you’ll receive trade credit for the full wholesale value,” says Don Mardak, Chairman of the Board of International Monetary Systems, Ltd. one of the country’s leading barter organizations. “You can then use those trade credits to purchase the services or products you need to run your business, or even to finance a vacation or get your teeth whitened,” Mardak says, adding that some of his clients do as much as 10% of their business annually through trades. In addition, there are benefits from being introduced to potential new customers. Note that barter exchanges typically charge a one-time membership fee and be mindful that the IRS views barter and cash as the same, so keep a record of your trades.
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What’s the best sort of employee feedback?
Actionable and immediate. Don’t wait until annual review time. Don’t even wait until your next one-on-one meeting. Whenever possible, deliver feedback within a day of whatever event you’re commenting on so it’s fresh in everyone’s minds. And don’t stress about formalities.
A quick word in the hallway or ping via chat is perfectly fine. (Unless we’re talking about critical feedback on a loaded issue.) Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor, argues you need only two elements to provide effective feedback: show that you care personally and challenge the other person directly.
Don’t sugarcoat a critique but deliver it with compassion.
What can I do to attractive younger workers? We’re in a college town and need sales associates who are closer in age to our customers.
Amid a tight labor market, young workers have made it clear it’s not just about the money. You’ve no doubt seen headlines about Chipotle offering to pay college tuition fees or box stores promising generous signing bonuses but still struggling to hire new employees. To succeed in attracting young workers you need to cover the basics, which has become a long list in 2023:
- Promise competitive pay and benefits.
- Be clear about job responsibilities.
- Offer flexible schedules.
- Highlight opportunities for growth.
- Tout your environmental and social consciousness.
- Emphasize the social aspect of the job.
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On top of that you need to be adept at social media to not only promote job openings but showcase your company culture — meaning providing visible evidence of an environment that’s supportive, inclusive, and fun. One way to support this is take your staff out in public a few times a year: go to a ball game, sing karaoke together, dine at a restaurant and get it on video and posted. Let people see you out treating your staff and having a good time as a team.
But you’re not done yet — did we mention this was a tight labor market?
Start an employee referral plan, participate in local internship programs, provide career information on your website and always be looking, whether it’s when you’re in other retail environments or just through a willingness to talk to job-seekers, position currently open or not. Final thing: Recognize and take care of your current young employees. Word spreads.