The post Improving The Customer Experience – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2023 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
We are in the age of demand for consistent, exceptional service. Organizations that develop a culture of extraordinary customer service experiences and happy relationship retention will be the winners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected customer service in several ways. Due to business closures, reduced operations, and personnel shortages, customers have experienced frustration and dissatisfaction with the service they receive. Long wait times, delayed email responses, unreturned phone calls, rude interactions, lack of empathy, and limited managers or support staff availability have all contributed to declining customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the shift to hybrid/remote work has made it challenging for businesses to offer the same personalized service they once provided. In many companies, customer service has mutated into high on-edge emotional customer engagements with low levels of mindfulness or accountability, and this has profoundly impacted the potential for quality customer service for all. It may take some time for businesses struggling with the customer experience to fully recover and begin delivering consistent extraordinary service at all levels.
"Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable." ~ Zig Ziglar
Improving the customer experience is vital for any business that wants to continuously succeed, retain and grow healthy customer relationships today. There are many ways to reach this goal, but combining the following methods would be a good starting point:
Start with a ‘Want to Win’ Attitude
When it comes to quality customer service, having the right attitude is crucial. As a customer, I appreciate being greeted with a friendly smile and a willingness to help. It makes me feel valued and important. So, as someone providing customer service, it’s important to remember that your attitude can make or break a customer’s experience. Always strive to be helpful, patient, and understanding. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and think about how you would want to be treated. With a ‘Want to Win’ Attitude, you can positively impact someone’s day and leave a lasting extraordinary customer experience impression.
Train and Refrain
It is important to ensure that all employees are trained to provide extraordinary customer service experiences. This includes refraining from negative customer service habits such as speaking rudely or dismissively to customers, ignoring their concerns, not using effective listening skills, or failing to follow up on issues in a timely manner. Your business can build strong customer relationships and improve customer outcomes and bottom line by prioritizing excellent customer service and providing ongoing training and support.
Assess and Refresh
It’s always a good idea to assess and refresh your current customer service practices to ensure that you’re meeting and exceeding your customers’ needs and providing the best possible experience. Start by collecting feedback from your customers through surveys, social media, and other channels to get a sense of what they think of your current practices. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and develop a plan for addressing them.
Ensure your customer service team is equipped with the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. This might include providing additional training or coaching, updating your knowledge base, or investing in new customer service software. By regularly assessing and refreshing your customer service practices, you can ensure that you and your team members provide the best possible experience for your customers and build strong, long-lasting relationships with them.
Reach the Point of Extraordinary
I recently visited a Chick-fil-A restaurant and was blown away by their exceptional customer service. The employees were friendly and welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure I had a great experience. They even checked on me multiple times during my meal to ensure everything was satisfactory. This level of customer service is truly remarkable and sets Chick-fil-A apart from other fast-food chains. I will definitely be returning to Chick-fil-A in the future and highly recommend it to others.
Any business can do a few key things to reach the point of extraordinary customer service. First and foremost, treating your customers with respect and empathy is important. This means listening carefully to their concerns and doing everything you can to address them promptly and effectively. Additionally, it’s essential to go above and beyond to provide quality products and services. This can mean offering additional support, providing personalized recommendations, or simply going the extra two miles to ensure each customer is delighted with their experience. By prioritizing the needs and desires of your customers, you can create an extraordinary customer service experience that will keep them coming back time and time again.
Sustain What Matters Most to Everyone
When it comes to the customer experience, meeting the needs and expectations of customers is vital. External and internal customers want to feel valued and respected, and addressing their concerns promptly and efficiently is always beneficial. Providing personalized solutions and surpassing their expectations can also make a significant impact.
To sustain what matters most to everyone, ongoingly invest in employee customer service training and development. Encourage and empower employees at all levels, to work daily to maintain a positive company customer service reputation. Each team member must learn to care a whole lot about – consistent – quality customer service. Use a customer-centric approach that prioritizes empathy, communication, effective listening, mindfulness, professionalism, and accountability throughout the organization.
Reminder: We are in the age of demand for consistent, exceptional service. Organizations that develop a culture of extraordinary customer service experiences and happy relationship retention will be the winners.
Are you currently working on any particular initiatives to enhance the customer experience? Put your team and organization’s customer service culture on a path to cultivating enduring winning relationships with highly-satisfied external and internal customers. If your team, department, or organization needs guidance, recommendations, or professional development training, do not hesitate to contact me. I am always here to assist in any way I can.
– End –
Hi! Was this blog post helpful or inspiring to you? What effective strategies are you and your team using to improve the customer experience at your place of work? Please feel free to share your feedback or input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
with Ty Howard. Click here
No canned pitch. No harsh sell. Just good substantive conversation and a new connection.
Establish a coaching and consulting relationship with Ty to successfully transform individuals into extraordinary customer service advocates and champions.
The post Improving The Customer Experience – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post Diversity and Inclusion Quotes by Ty Howard appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2021 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
1) The feeling of belonging should never be encouraged or supported by false-positive beliefs when only the welcomed majority feels that way. ~ Ty Howard
2) A work environment that welcomes, teaches, promotes, and streamlines Diversity and Inclusion – for all – evolves daily to emit the beauty of a changing, more unified multicultural world. ~ Ty Howard
3) Beneficial diversity and inclusion efforts will never be welcome or sustainable when an organization and its leaders pretend, for the most part, we are wonderful people who like and accept all differences of others, so problems of exclusion or inequity do not exist. ~ Ty Howard
4) Diversity and Inclusion create the opportunity and culture for everyone to be treated equally. ~ Ty Howard
5) The roots and positive energy of diversity strengthen and grow beautifully – each day – as the aware, accepting, welcoming, kind, and inspired hearts of extraordinary people work to cultivate and encourage it to blossom more and more — to change the world. ~ Ty Howard
6) A work environment that welcomes, teaches, promotes, and streamlines Diversity and Inclusion – for all – with honesty and applied consistent cultivating actions show that we may not be perfect in all areas of inclusive education. Yet, we all work daily to improve the quality of our connection, relationships, communication, access, opportunity, unity, belonging, support, and community. ~ Ty Howard
7) When leadership chooses to wear blinders and engage only the parts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that appeal to them, the potential strengths and success of streamlined DEI will never reach the true beauty of an invited and welcomed multicultural work environment. ~ Ty Howard
8) Inclusive Education should never threaten, discourage, or trigger you. Inclusive Education should engage, inspire, and enrich you. ~ Ty Howard
9) When done right, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts should bring people, cultures, and differences closer together than further apart. ~ Ty Howard
10) Learn Differences, Know Differences, Invite Differences, Welcome Differences, Promote Differences, Celebrate Differences, and Cultivate Differences. Continuous Create Equitable Access and Opportunity for Inspired and Empowered Differences. ~ Ty Howard
11) When it comes to the application of increased Diversity and Inclusion, many organizations today are good with the status quo:
• Continuous cycles of data collecting.
• Endless meetings that achieve nothing afterward.
• Delivering constant disingenuous DEI positive-talk lip service.
• Denying DEI issues exist.
• Operating with close-mindedness.
• Checking the boxes.
These pointless actions and behaviors yield no sustainable improvement or change for the better regarding diversity, equity, or inclusion. ~ Ty Howard
12) Let’s have a heart-to-heart conversation about diversity, equity, inclusion, culture, or social justice. Let’s do it without arguing, insensitivity, emotional aggression, or judgment. Instead, let’s do it with our ears, eyes, hearts, and an agreed-upon objective that we’re having a healthy conversation to increase one another’s understanding of cultures, differences, and individual perspectives on DEI. ~ Ty Howard
13) Respect, Accept and Appreciate people for who they are; their cultures, uniqueness, and differences. Not for what you think they should be or for what some source tells you and labels them all to be. Welcome, Learn, Embrace, Practice, and Promote Healthy Equity and Inclusive Habits Daily. Be the Extraordinary Future. Change the World. True Diversity and Inclusion Today! ~ Ty Howard
14) Do not acknowledge and celebrate me or my culture with a smug nonchalant mindset. Invite and welcome me – genuinely without bias on all levels – to where it seamlessly feels like we truly belong for me and others like me. ~ Ty Howard
15) Twelve innate needs drive us: attention, communication, education, opportunity, survival, love, acceptance, connection, belonging, advancement, safety, and healthy relationships. ~ Ty Howard
16) We all want to belong to something larger and more uplifting and supportive than our selfish selves. ~ Ty Howard
Hi! Was this blog post helpful or inspiring to you? Please feel free to share your feedback or input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized consultant on organizational development and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
➠ Hire Ty Howard as your Diversity and Inclusion Consultant The Untie the Knots® Consulting Expertise.
➠ Hire Ty Howard as your Diversity and Inclusion Coach DEI Coach Ty Howard.
➠ Review Ty Howard’s engaging keynote and training sessions on the topic of Diversity and Inclusion.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post Diversity and Inclusion Quotes by Ty Howard appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post Cultural Sensitivity & Awareness Quotes by Ty Howard appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2021 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
1) Increasing workplace cultural sensitivity is never a quick fix; you must maintain a culture that widens the mind and spirit to willingly transform to a higher standard of engagement. ~ Ty Howard
2) INSPIRATION happens when we become culturally sensitive teachers to assist the creation and expansion of a beautiful world filled with acceptance and differences. ~ Ty Howard
3) To help change our world for the better — be excited to share your own stories and experiences in the name of building cross-cultural sensitivity and understanding wherever you go. ~ Ty Howard
4) Open-minded employees of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems can ultimately create a fluent workplace culture that permeates cultural competence, sensitivity, and acceptance for all. ~ Ty Howard
5) Leaders who believe in and teach racial sensitivity and cultural competence each day — fearlessly rise above ‘the noise’ and ‘the resistance’ to create higher levels of respect and acceptance so we all can live in a better way. ~ Ty Howard
6) Increasing one’s cultural sensitivity is never a quick fix; you must maintain a mindset that widens the mind and spirit to willingly transform to a higher standard of respectful living. ~ Ty Howard
7) We can only eradicate toxic behaviors like hate, misperceived fear, and systemic racism aimed at minority ethnic groups – as more and more of us continue – to willingly come together to gain deeper insight into the cultures of others. This open-minded action is an essential step toward developing cultural sensitivity and awareness on a global level. ~ Ty Howard
8) Show me a business today that is passionately aware and committed to the increased importance of promoting cultural sensitivity and awareness through all aspects of their work. You will show me a caring and supportive company that enjoys accepting and valuing human beings for the beauty of their cultures, strengths, and differences. ~ Ty Howard
9) Be the compassionate reason citizens of our increasingly globalized planet are able to understand, accept, respect, value, appreciate, and celebrate one another. Do it for the evolution of humanity. ~ Ty Howard
10) Being culturally sensitive is not a weakness; it’s your acceptance and appreciation for the cultures, differences, experiences, stories, and transformation flowing through humanity. ~ Ty Howard
Hi! Was this blog post helpful or inspiring to you? Please feel free to share your feedback or input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized consultant on organizational development and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
➠ Read the In the News article and interview post of Ty Howard on the topic of One-on-One Sensitivity Training.
➠ Read Ty Howard’s timely article on the topic of How to Have Culturally Sensitive Conversations.
➠ Review Ty Howard’s engaging keynote and training sessions on the topic of Cultural Sensitivity.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post Cultural Sensitivity & Awareness Quotes by Ty Howard appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life Book Process Model appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>
Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
Hi! Was this blog post helpful or inspiring to you? Please feel free to share your feedback or input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life Book Process Model appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life Process Model Card appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>
Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
Hi! Was this blog post helpful and insightful to you? Please feel free to share your feedback or input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life Process Model Card appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post How to Have Culturally Sensitive Conversations – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
In the wake of the current protests, civil unrest, systemic racism, repeated injustice against African Americans, and the COVID-19 pandemic — now, more than ever, we all must learn and embrace effective ways to have culturally sensitive conversations.
Effective communication is essential in any culture, relationship, business, job, learning environment, or community. Equally important is the need to embrace and grow our understanding, awareness, and cultural competence daily.
For most people, to think about or have a conversation with another person about a culture outside of their own causes anxiety or deep feelings of being uncomfortable and uncertain on how to start and have a smooth – non-threatening – culturally sensitive conversation.
Are you unsure about what steps to take to have a culturally sensitive conversation with anyone? Do not worry. You are not alone. Start by talking openly, honestly, and caringly. And know that it is completely okay to be UNCOMFORTABLE.
Let’s All Get — UNCOMFORTABLE! Let’s learn, practice, and teach the following steps and strategies daily for having successful culturally sensitive conversations:
Unleash a growth mindset that welcomes diversity and inclusion on all levels.
Never allow your toxic emotions, thoughts or triggers to emerge during the conversation.
Communicate clearly and concisely with good, genuine, and accepting intentions.
Organize your thoughts, be mindful, and speak with attentive care.
Maintain a calm and kind vocal tone.
Feel the conversation while respecting, understanding, and accepting differences.
Omit all sarcasm, judgment, assumptions, or microaggressions.
React and respond with empathy, sensitivity, mindfulness, and productive engagement.
Tell, teach, and educate others – in positive ways – about your or another person’s culture.
Acknowledge your discomfort and transparently communicate it to the other person.
Be committed and willing to learn outside of your culture, perspective, experiences, and comfort zone.
Listen with your whole body, and if you do not know or understand — appropriately ask.
Encourage healthy dialogue, sharing, and feedback throughout the conversation.
Open, download, and print your free copy of Ty Howard’s nicely done one-page poster of the above strategies to practice when having a culturally sensitive conversation – Click Here.
If your organization or leadership team needs help fostering a healthy diverse and inclusive culture, consider bringing in a proven organizational and professional development consultant like me for in-house training and leadership development and coaching.
For detailed information on Ty Howard’s virtual Diversity and Inclusion training programs and keynote presentations – Click Here.
Hi! Is it difficult or easy for you to have a culturally sensitive conversation with someone different from your own culture? If no, what’s one effective strategy you use when having a culturally sensitive conversation? Please feel free to share your experience and input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post How to Have Culturally Sensitive Conversations – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post 6 Ways to Grow and Sustain Team SPIRIT – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
Do you see it? Can you hear it? When was the last time you honestly felt, trusted or believed it?
What I am referring to is today’s elusive — sustained Team Spirit!
Team Spirit, according to Dictionary.com, means the feelings of camaraderie among the members of a group, enabling them to cooperate and work well together.
There are many teams today that cannot both claim sustained Team Spirit and unanimously prove "Our Team Spirit has never been stronger." Is your current Team one of them?
If you are currently the leader of a Team struggling with low, dysfunctional or no Team Spirit daily, here are six practical strategies to help your Team to improve, grow, and capture sustained Team Spirit:
Speak continuously to your Team members with confidence.
– Your Team’s vision, purpose, and goals have to be heard from a cohesive group of positive and supportive voices that care about, support, and lean on one another for the continuous growth and success of the Team.
Permeate accountability and positive attitudes through each Team member daily.
– True Team Spirit can only build and flow when each Team member takes unwavering ownership of their accountability and positive attitude daily.
Inclusion: The right choice for all—all of the time.
– Acceptance, equality, diversity, awareness, emotional intelligence, opportunity, advancement, flexibility, and resilience are the inclusion of stepping stones for extraordinary Team Spirit.
Respectful relationships are a must and they’re golden.
– Engage and respect each Team member with good intentions and valued appreciation. Make it your daily Team Spirit success habit to give respect and kind engagement to all Team members on stressful, tough, okay, good, or fantastic days.
Inspire the uninspired, disgruntled or disengaged Team member sooner versus later.
– If you are the leader of an ‘uninspired’ and ‘unmotivated’ Team, take it to heart, and step up right now to engage your Team through honesty, appreciation, inspiration, and with caring open to ears hear their unsaid concerns and suggestions for improvement in Team Spirit. Do not respond with corny attempts at team building or dated activities to inspire people. Carefully listen to each of your Team members with good intentions and allow them to influence your spirit on what to do going forward to turn things around. A genuinely inspired Team member will do their part for the Team when they clearly see, feel, experience, and know that every Team member has one another’s back on any given day.
Teach and develop honesty, ethics, sensitivity, happiness, and trust through continuous valued-added training.
– Actively providing professional development ensures that knowledge and skills increase, stay fresh, and up to date in the minds, hearts, and performance of your Team members. In turn, preparing and empowering each Team player to strive for and capture AWESOME Team Spirit status each day.
Bonus Fact: When all Team members fully accept and trust one another without reluctance or the stress of feeling left out or left hanging, that’s when your Team’s Spirit will be on the right path of sustained Team Spirit.
Happy Team Spirit Greetings! What is one strategy you use to increase the Team Spirit of your Team? Please feel free to share your strategy by commenting below. Help our readers to learn and grow more on this topic. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post 6 Ways to Grow and Sustain Team SPIRIT – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post 7 Ways to Support and Motivate Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
As coronavirus cases continue to surge, so have the number of companies telling their employees to work from home, with 46% of American businesses putting into practice remote-work (work from home) policies as of mid-February. If not completely shut down, several companies are now operating with either a hand-full of people or with a large percentage of their people wearing personal protective equipment inside and outside the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every work environment.
Whether you are a manager looking for ways to keep your newly remote-work team motivated and engaged, or an administrator struggling to keep the employees who come into work each day safe and motivated, here are seven practical ways to support and motivate your staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1) Make Safety a Priority
In today’s highly cautious climate, it’s hard for people to work with confidence if they do not feel safe. Employers have to be responsible for ensuring that not only are their work environments in compliance with state and federal guidelines but also communicate and streamline the value for employee safety, health, and protection.
If your company is still operating on-site, this means having more than enough hand sanitizer, soap, gloves, and masks for all staff to use, along with adhering to and practicing social distancing at all times. For businesses operating both in-person and remotely, your company’s health and safety policies should be updated and followed daily, highlighting any policy changes for employees affected by COVID-19.
2) Model Calm and Kindness
Stress, worry, panic, and emotions are at an all-time high right now. Regardless of how you may feel as a manager at this time, your employees need someone to look to for transparency, facts, and reassurance. Do not allow yourself to become paralyzed by uncertainty or panic.
A motivating leader will remain calm, communicate a clear and updated plan of action for moving forward, engage with kindness and caring support, and will honestly acknowledge changes to business daily.
3) Be Flexible and Willing to Reorient Activities
Hear me clearly as I state this, Loosen up and be flexible. During these challenging times, when working from home, your employees will also have to do household chores or help their children with remote-schooling, and you must understand that this is now also a part of their new normal. Allowing your employees some flexibility to focus on their chores or family at home is not a bad idea, whereas it will help them get back to work with a free mind. Therefore, it would be wise of you to be flexible with your employees to help strengthen their commitment towards the organization.
Another strategy is to be willing to reorient activities as many remote work teams are discovering, not all tasks are easily done at a desk in an office transition smoothly to a makeshift desk, countertop, or couch at home. It can be disheartening to staff to attempt to do work they’ve always done effortlessly in an environment that actively works against them. For this reason, be mindful to temporarily reorient the workload, assign tasks that can be done out of order, or with an extended deadline. Take the opportunity to have workers go through their workload list, read and clean their email boxes, along with other spring cleaning tasks. Doing this two to three times a week will help your employees to feel and be productive as well as position the company to start on the right foot when restrictions lift.
4) Be Secure
It is not only humans who get viruses, but computers and company networks do too. If you do not have proper protection for your company’s networks, it will be threatened by your remote-workers working from home accessing your systems via their own devices, or using unencrypted memory sticks. Many staff groups and businesses are now also utilizing free online video conferencing platforms like Zoom Meetings, Cisco Webex Meetings, Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, CyberLink U Meeting, Bluejeans, Google Meet, and Lifesize to name a few.
Have your IT department to set up protocols and secure practices immediately, and you should communicate your company’s ‘secure policies’ a few times each week to make sure every member of your remote-work team is aware of how important it is to protect the company’s network systems.
5) Be Flexible and Willing to Reorient Activities
For many remote workers, working from home makes them more productive, but others will be easily distracted (or eager to just lounge and do work later; the procrastinator). Deal with this by checking their wellbeing daily and setting clear and realistic deadlines for tasks/projects while monitoring productivity and outcomes.
Whether your staff is working inside your work environment or from home, encourage everyone to be coronavirus-aware and safe. Also, be mindful that working from home can feel isolating and lonely. Use collaborative tools such as Zoom, Webex Meetings, Microsoft Teams, or Skype for Business to bring workers together virtually, and conduct genuine wellbeing check-in chat sessions. To streamline the communication of formal and important information – you could use video or audio conferencing, emails, intranet postings, and newsletters.
6) Implement Fun and Inspiring Moments
Even in stressful, high tension, on edge, and uncertain times, there should always be room for creative fun and moments filled with nothing but inspiration and gratitude.
As a manager and supportive soul — now is the time for you to build a supportive and robust communication regime with your teams, cheer them up with instant appreciation, and create a positive virtual community for all of your employees. You can also host online team building activities and breaks for sharing inspirational moments. Be flexible and open to learning new ways to get work done. Try not to be overly demanding or inclined to micro-manage every minute of your staff members’ workday.
7) Invest in Development
Lastly, invest in professional and business development. Finding and providing professional development opportunities for staff reminds them that you genuinely see value in helping to increase their knowledge and skills for the continued growth and success of the team. Virtual professional development sessions like webinars (a seminar conducted over the internet) will give them the tools and increased motivation to work with purpose, passion, and confidence.
The same rings true with business development. Have open discussions with staff regarding ‘What’s next?’ after the pandemic, and acknowledge and create a list of ideas and solutions. Apply this strategy with the other strategies outlined in this article, and you will see support and motivation grow daily with your team. With everyone checking-in, staying engaged, and leaning on one another, you all can emerge from COVID-19 as a more safe, durable, ready, and successful company.
Fact: We do not know how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last or ‘What’s next?’ for our businesses or industries, but one thing is for sure: In adjusting and working our way through this tumultuous time, we are discovering practical ways to carry on while learning valuable lessons about how to work effectively from home or more safely inside the workplace. Stay safe. Be blessed. Keep moving positively and productively forward each day.
Hello! What is one way you support and motivate your staff during the COVID-19 pandemic? Please feel free to share your strategy by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post 7 Ways to Support and Motivate Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post 12 Inspiring Reasons Women Are AWESOME – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
A woman is the beautiful creation of God, a daughter, and a blessing. She can also be a wonderful sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, guardian, mentor, coach, or shero. She gives birth, bears pain, stands strong, is the best companion in the world, and certainly, she is AWESOME. She is a woman, a character of beauty, a symbol of livelihood and enduring faith, a sign of pure compassion and love.
In Honor of Celebrating Women’s History 365, below are 12 Inspiring Reasons Women are AWESOME.
Reason 1. Women are a Blessing
"A miracle is really the only way to describe motherhood and giving birth. It’s unbelievable how God has made us women and babies to endure and be able to do so much. A miracle, indeed. Such an incredible blessing."
~ Jennie Finch
From the womb to the earth, she brings life to the world in the form of love, joy, and peace. How AWESOME and a Blessing is that?!
Reason 2. Women are Great Leaders
"Women are Leaders everywhere you look from the CEO who runs a fortunate 500 company to a housewife or single mother who raises her kids and heads her household." ~ Nancy Pelosi
She is born to lead no matter if it’s a home or a large company, she can deal with anything and succeed as a leader on all levels.
Reason 3. Women Have a Higher Pain, Grit, and Resilience Threshold
"The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’ll ever believe at first glance."
~ Jodi Picoult
She may experience trials and tribulations or growth and success; she will never quit because she has within her the innate brilliance, grit, and resilience of an AWESOME woman.
Reason 4. She Speaks for All Women
"Each time a woman stands up for herself; she stands up for all women." ~ Maya Angelou
Empowered women inspire and empower other women. When she speaks, others join her to encourage and uplift their voices. History is forever changed and evolved by many examples of empowered women who decided to boldly stand up and speak out for the good and advancement of women.
Reason 5. She is The Sign of Beauty
"A woman’s beauty is a treasure beyond price." ~ Dai Sijie
She is beautiful, like a flower, yet gentle and durable in heart so she can grow and thrive in society.
Reason 6. She is Very Intelligent and an Assertive Problem Solver
"Use your knowledge, and your heart, to stand up for those who can’t stand, speak for those who can’t speak, be a beacon of light for those whose lives have become dark." ~ Julie Andrews
When it comes to education, she embraces it and excels at high levels. When it comes to emotional intelligence, she uses it, and peak performs with finesse. And when it comes to problem-solving, she makes decision-making and advice-giving seem effortless.
The number of Americans who think women are as intelligent as men have grown by a huge 146%. Americans now view women as equally intelligent — if not more so — than men, according to new research in the journal American Psychologist.
Reason 7. She Not Afraid to Show Her Vulnerable and Sensitive Side
"There will never be another woman who owns the look, the personality, and the experience that you do. Those ingredients make up the recipe that defines who you are, and it’s your gift from the Lord – own it."
~ Candace Cameron
Because she is naturally passionate about everything, she is not afraid to show her vulnerable and sensitive side when taking on all that life presents to her. She can express her feelings towards someone without any fear of what other people may think of her when making that expression. That is the power that comes from her vulnerability and sensitivity, and only the unwise think it is a disadvantage!
Reason 8. Women are the Builders
"Women are the Real Architects of society." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
She gives birth, raises children, creates a safe home, sustains a family, and builds communities. She helps to create, pave, and lead the way in education, careers, and business. She is not just a builder of her individuality and household but deals tactically with society directly.
Reason 9. Women are Love and Compassion All Wrapped into One
"Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." ~ Lucille Ball
Whether she is loving herself first or showing love and compassion to her children, significant other, people in general, or to the work she does for a living, she naturally expresses love and compassion towards everyone, to include the tiniest of things. Her love and compassion wrapped into one is certainly another great reason to Celebrate the AWESOMENESS of Women.
Reason 10. She’s an Unstoppable All-Star When It Comes to Business
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." ~ Coco Chanel
For a woman, the growing period of business can be tough, full of obstacles, and added nonsense. She often has to pass many difficult stages and male-driven foolishness. Yet, she will show up again tomorrow at work to make and close sales, to inspire and lead very successful work teams, to negotiate and resolve challenges, and to be the confident voice, direction and face of a large, medium or small business. None of the hurdles, restrictions, or ups and downs in her path can stop her when it comes to being an All-Star and success in business. The challenges mentioned above fuel her purpose-driven intentions and tenacity to keep going, growing, and becoming stronger for other women to see her unstoppable actions as an example to follow!
Reason 11. She Innately Knows How to Create a Home Filled with Comfort, Healing, Faith, and Love
"It’s not the absence of fear; it’s overcoming it. Sometimes you’ve got to blast through and have faith."
~ Emma Watson
Women have the AWESOME skills of multitasking. As a woman, she can think and do many things at once to create and keep her home filled with comfort, healing, faith, and love. While cooking, she can hold a baby on her side, answer a phone call, and check the homework of another child. Also, at the same time, wash the clothes her husband is going to wear to work tomorrow. She can be sick and remain a resilient and faith-filled mother and wife. She truly knows the essence and value of the words stated by Kay Arthur, "Faith is not faith until it is tested!"
Reason 12. Women are Praiseworthy Nurturers and Fearless Lioness
"People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together." ~ Michelle Obama
She can be seen as too wild and blunt at times, but rebelling against what society expects of her for the sake of following her heart and deeply rooted beliefs is her nature. When it comes to keeping herself purpose-driven and empowered, she can do anything as she fiercely takes on all challenges. Her instincts and power make her the praiseworthy nurturer and fearless lioness that you do not want to mess with if your intentions are not good.
There you have it; 12 Inspiring Reasons Women are AWESOME. The attributes above make a brilliant and wonderful woman profile. Here’s to Celebrating Women’s History today and every day — Happy Women’s History 365!
Inspiring Greetings! Is there a reason you’d like to share on how or why Women are AWESOME? Please feel free to share your input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post 12 Inspiring Reasons Women Are AWESOME – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>The post Six Sentences That Can Improve Your Attitude at Work by Ty Howard – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>Copyright © 2020 by Ty Howard. All rights reserved.
The experts call it the most important word – and factor – as far as the results we get from life are concerned. The word is attitude. It is our attitude towards life, and the things we choose to pursue or do that will determine how high we soar or how hard we fall. For example, a person with a poor attitude towards their job is not going to be a peak performer or exceptional employee as long as he or she maintains a negative attitude towards work.
If we take on the attitude that we are not going to perform at our best or everything inside the workplace is a negative experience, then that’s what we’re going to produce as our outcome. A culture filled with attitudes of failure, and we lose before we start.
Here are six sentences that any employee with a negative attitude can use to change their attitude at work to a positive one:
I am grateful for employment because it helps my family and me.
You often hear that being grateful makes a difference. Well, guess what? It does. Your attitude makes a significant difference in your outlook, effort, and quality of work. If you start thinking more gratefully, you will see and start appreciating what you have around. To help you to adopt an attitude of gratitude for work, start with these two steps. Step 1: Create a list of the positive things having steady employment brings to your family and you. Step 2: When you are in a negative situation, spin your mindset and that situation around. Think of the situation and find one thing to be grateful for in the moment.
A positive attitude delivers to me welcomed rewards.
Sometimes when things get really busy or not that positive, we can get sucked into the vacuum of negativity. Sometimes a simple reward can bring your spirits up and lift you out of that dark place. If you have a deadline to meet, no matter what and meeting the deadline seems quite challenging, do yourself a favor and reward yourself. For instance, if you want a new pair of shoes, make your end goal that if you finish this task correctly ahead of time and with a positive attitude, you are going to get yourself a new pair of shoes.
I can meet and overcome my life challenges when I create and have balance in my life.
Make time and room in life for other things besides work; for families, friends, and hobbies. If you want positivity in your life and you’re constantly in a negative mood, you need to create a better balance between work and other good things in your life. Give yourself a bit of time to do the things you enjoy outside of work. It is vital to connect inwardly to your heart’s desires.
I am capable and confident in my abilities to connect with my co-workers – in positive ways – so that we can achieve set company goals together.
Start making friends with your co-workers, team members. Connect with them daily. It’s through that connection that you will begin to see the correlation with positivity and successful teamwork. Do not be the employee who only thinks about coming into work and leaving without connecting with those around you.
I am in charge of changing my thinking.
You may think that you do not have any control over your work environment and that it is a very negative place. But that’s wrong. You have control over your environment and thoughts. In your cubicle, desk, office, plant workspace, or even an area around you and your team, you can try posting up some inspirational quotes. You can also bring and put out some flowers. If this is what it takes to help you create a positive work environment as well as change your thinking, then say, YES and start spreading positive thoughts and love. You have the power to change a negative environment and your thinking, too. You just have to choose to do it.
My smiles and kindness make a big difference.
Smiling can put you and others you interact with, in a good mood. If you’re stressed over something, try to fake it until the emotion/feeling becomes permanent. Just put a smile on your face and repeatedly engage and speak kindly to others. Also, when you’re walking down the hallway, smile at and greet others with positive words. Do not be so engrossed in negative thoughts or gossip while at work. Take a moment and put a smile on your face and kindness in your actions.
In each sentence above, there is empowerment and the inspiration to help you untie the knots of negative thinking. Once you change your thoughts and get those knots out of your communication and behavior, you will begin to see yourself and the world around you from a much more positive and productive position. Begin to use and apply these sentences for 60 days, without disruption or distraction, and come back to this website and article page to let me know what differences you experience.
Attitude is everything! Every thought, emotion, word, and engagement you bring to and use inside your workplace counts.
Positive Thinking Greetings! Is there anything positive you’d like to contribute to this article to help our readers? Please feel free to share your input by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!
Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots®” Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.
Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings
The post Six Sentences That Can Improve Your Attitude at Work by Ty Howard – [ Article ] appeared first on Ty Howard's Untie the Knots® Blog.
]]>