Tag: Securing Your Success

Want Employees Back in the Office? What Leaders Are (Still!) Getting Wrong About This Ask | Entrepreneur

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For all the reports of loneliness and isolation experienced during the pandemic, it’s no secret that a significant portion of the workforce became habituated to working from home. Many found the increased time autonomy, the lack of commute and the flexibility refreshing, if not freeing.

Well, the party’s over.

Last year, people began returning to the office en masse. According to Build Remote, in 2022 approximately 34% — twice that of the previous year — of all Fortune 100 companies requested their employees return to the office. For those still working at home, the news gets worse; Resume Builder reports that 90% of companies plan to be back at the office by the end of 2024.

This presents its own set of problems. For business leaders, one of these is the question of how to ask employees to come back. But armed with the knowledge of what others have done right (or drastically wrong), it would behoove them to think about how they approach communications on this.

As a business leader who supports other business leaders with how they communicate with stakeholders, I’ve seen firsthand how taking a compassionate approach to communicating policy changes can further the employer-employee bond, energize a workforce and take the edge off challenging conversations. Yes, including the RTO ask.

Here are some tips to get it right.

Related: 3 Mistakes You May Not Realize You’re Making When Bringing Employees Back to the Office

Dig deep

It sounds simple, but before asking their employees to return to the office, leaders should ask themselves: Why do I really want this?

Is it because returning to a work environment is what everyone else is doing? Or because it seems like the correct course to take? Or is it even due to control issues? If your motivations are rooted in a scarcity rather than an abundance mindset or impulsive feelings, it’s worth taking a second look and ensuring they aren’t informing strategy that could do more damage in the long term.

One of many dangers of not thinking through your own motivations is coming across as unclear and out of touch. In a virtual town hall recorded in April, Clearlink CEO James Clarke awkwardly praised an employee for selling the family dog after hearing about the company’s RTO policy and questioned whether single mothers or primary caregivers could really work full-time jobs.

This was a textbook example of somebody who was making an ask from a lens of control and operational scarcity, who was not clear on the data, and who was throwing out confusing and alienating concepts to justify the return to work. Not only was this ineffective, but his communication blunder led to widespread negative coverage for his organization and his leadership.

Look to the data

While personal reflection is a good starting point, one of the benefits of no longer being in the immediate post-pandemic period is that leaders now have access to some telling numbers around barriers and motivations for returning to a physical workplace.

According to a 2022 Microsoft Work Trend Index, the main attraction of coming back is the social aspect: 85% of employees say they would be motivated to go into the office to rebuild team bonds, while 84% indicated they would return to work for the chance to socialize with coworkers.

This is gold for business leaders. CEOs and company heads who emphasize human connection and collaboration in the workplace are more likely to receive buy-in. No matter how comfortable and convenient your employees’ home offices might be, they may still miss the water-cooler chitchat about the latest hit streaming show and the sense of mission that comes from being around like-minded people. Simply put: Framing an office come-back of any duration as an aspirational opportunity for collaboration and connectedness vs. a punitive measure rooted in control is a great place to start.

Related: We Know Return to Office Mandates Backfire — So Why Are Tech Giants Like Amazon, IBM and Zoom Reinstating This Outdated Policy?

Use humility and empathy as a North Star

Words like empathy and humility get thrown around a lot, but they do matter here. If you want people to show up for you, show up for them.

Put yourself in your employees’ shoes. What kind of challenges do they face? Arm yourself with the information before you make that choice and that call. If you have a people team or access to HR data, leverage those things to get more insight into what is keeping employees at home and what would incentivize them to come back. Figure out their barriers to entry. Do they need childcare options? A less costly commute?

Also keep in mind that the blending of home and work life during the pandemic fundamentally may have changed things for people, particularly for caregivers. Acknowledging and accounting for the added stress that a return to the office may bring reassures them that the reality of their experience isn’t being erased by the renewed physical barrier between home and work.

Commit to being present, too

Finally, business leaders have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. I’ve heard many stories of CEOs asking employees to come back, while rarely coming in themselves. Not a good look.

Obviously, as a leader with travel and business obligations, you’re not going to be able to be in the office 24/7 — and you wouldn’t have been before this situation, either. But it is important that, especially in those early days of asking people to come back in, you are intentional about being present, making your face known (and seen) and demonstrating that enthusiasm that you’re asking others to bring.

Related: 3 Simple Ways to Motivate a Remote Workforce

That means everything from welcoming people back personally to showing your face around the office to, when possible, attending town halls and meetings in person. And it means continuing to ensure that whatever policy you have instituted is still working. Keeping those lines of communication open and responding to changes as they come up are ways that leaders can continue to show that this is a journey for them, too.

Growing pains — or in this case, returning pains — are inevitable after a paradigm-shifting event like the pandemic. But by being clear and intentional in your communications, embracing empathy and leveraging data, your RTO ask might actually energize and inspire your workers.

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Caroline Carter-Smith

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December 6, 2023
5 Telltale Signs These Outdated Strategies Are Killing Your Business (and How to Get With the Times) | Entrepreneur
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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
As a CMO in the MarTech space, I am constantly getting outreach about new services and technologies from salespeople. While some might find it a bother — and repeated, non-reciprocated emails are — I do find value in some of the messages. Here’s why: I’m willing to guess that many people in executive go-to-market roles rely in part on email pitches and LinkedIn posts from salespeople to stay abreast of new services and features that are coming on the market every day.

In today’s dynamic business environment, adaptation is not just a choice, but an imperative for success — particularly for marketing and sales strategies. With the constant evolution of technology shaping how businesses operate and interact with customers, it’s important to advance your own business processes and technologies to yield these benefits and stay relevant.

Looking ahead, it is predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will assist in a staggering 95% of customer interactions by 2025. This statistic reflects the undeniable influence of innovation we’re experiencing. Simultaneously, studies show that 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a superior customer experience. Yet, surprisingly, 17% of organizations still report using spreadsheets to manage their customer interactions rather than a customer relationship management system (CRM).

If change is the only constant, clinging to obsolete methods is a recipe for disaster. A majority of businesses state that their primary challenge involves catering to changing customer behaviors and expectations, so companies must adapt their strategies to effectively engage their target audience in meaningful ways.

In my role as a CMO at a CRM, I often see robust, profitable businesses operating with an outdated CRM and it is staggering to me. Fostering strong relationships with prospects and customers directly impacts a company’s bottom line and is an experience facilitated most often through CRMs — with 91% of companies with 11 employees or more reportedly managing relationships via CRMs. But, of that large portion of businesses, 79% of businesses report being dissatisfied with their current CRM software. Add to the mix stale marketing and sales strategies and it’s no wonder that many companies struggle to fully capitalize on the benefits of these systems, leaving significant room for improvement in both CRM utilization and the overall effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts. So how, then, does a company determine if it’s lagging behind? It’s time to find out.

Related: 6 Outdated Marketing Tactics You Need to Leave in the Past (Where They Belong)

5 signs it’s time for a refresh

Not only does outdated technology consume additional time, but it can also worsen administrative inefficiencies, leading to the dissemination of inaccurate information. This threat carries substantial risks for customer perception and, ultimately, customer satisfaction. Several telltale signs that it’s time for a refresh include:
- New hires question the tech stack: Bringing in new talent, whether through growth or backfill, gives you a glimpse into the technology being used in other companies and can help avoid the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. If your new hires are asking for apps or questioning why your team is not using a certain technology, listen to them and use their feedback to question the status quo.
- Decreased productivity and poor sales performance: Outdated systems often come with cumbersome processes that impede a team’s productivity. If your team is spending excessive time on administrative tasks rather than valuable customer interactions or prospect engagements, it may be time to update your strategies and/or tech stack.
- Low-quality customer experiences: If you notice a persistent drop in your customer satisfaction ratings or feedback, it’s an indication that current strategies, and possibly tools, are not meeting customer expectations. Many modern tools offer various ways to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.
- Lack of integrations: The most efficient MarTech solutions are those that seamlessly integrate with other tools, streamlining your workflows and increasing efficiency while supporting your business’s capability to grow, scale and change. For example, if your CRM doesn’t integrate well with other tools, it’s undoubtedly a sign of an outdated system.
- Reliance on manual data entry: Relying on manual data entry in your sales processes not only heightens the potential for errors but also diminishes overall efficiency. If your existing system heavily depends on manual data input, rather than automation and calculated fields, it may be prudent to contemplate an upgrade.
Related: Hit ‘Refresh’ on That Stale Sales Cycle and Never Miss Your Numbers Again

Revamping your strategies

Rather than hastily adopting quick fixes, success hinges on a purposeful, methodical approach to change. Here’s a concise roadmap to help navigate this process:
- Self-assessment and benchmarking: Start with a comprehensive assessment of your current tech stack, strategies, and processes, benchmarking your performance against industry standards. Analyze customer feedback for insights into areas needing improvement. And, additionally, scrutinize any sales drop-offs for valuable insights beyond customer feedback. Once you’ve pinpointed the key issues that require attention, you can develop a clear and actionable plan to achieve the desired results.
- Understanding emerging technologies and trends: Research the latest emerging technologies and industry trends, including taking a look at your competitors’ advancements, to assess market positioning. This information can help you make informed decisions about which tools and strategies you need to adopt or incorporate into revising the technology that supports your playbook.
- Identifying the right technology for your business: Not all technologies (or CRMs) will be suitable for your specific needs. Take time to identify the solutions that align with your business goals and customer expectations while addressing pain points within your organization’s strategy. This means keeping a strong focus on understanding your customers’ needs and finding ways to consistently exceed their expectations with the support of innovative technology.
- Training and implementation: Investing in proper training for a sales or marketing team is critical to realizing the full potential of chosen tools. Remember to stay vigilant in regularly evaluating the performance, capabilities and strategies your company uses, particularly when it comes to the effectiveness of systems in play, to engage your target audience and provide value.
Related: Invest in These 5 Technologies to Redefine Your Marketing Efforts

Leveraging technology for success

Data-driven insights and customer relationships are the driving force behind success today, making it essential for companies to stay updated with marketing, sales and technology trends.

Outdated strategies put companies at risk of losing valuable connections and can prevent them from unlocking crucial growth opportunities. Acting on these telltale signs of outdated marketing and sales strategies could mark the difference between stagnation and advancement.

Companies not only need to recognize the signs of lagging behind, but also act swiftly, capitalizing on the versatility and dynamics of today’s plethora of tech options. Refreshing and leveling up technology solutions is no longer a luxury; it’s a business imperative that demands urgent attention.
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Chip House

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October 24, 2023
Data Breaches Cost $1 Million More When Remote Work Is Involved — Here Are 4 Steps to Protect Your Business. | Entrepreneur

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Remote work is a double-edged sword: It provides your employees with the comforts of staying at home, but it also creates additional security risks as they are more likely to use unprotected devices and connect to unsecured public networks.

At least 20% of businesses went through a data breach caused by remote workers. As reported by IBM, the average data breach cost is $1 million higher in companies where remote work is common. It also takes 58 days longer for such organizations to discover and contain data breaches.

Related: Entrepreneurs Beware: Remote Work Can be Fertile Ground for Cybercriminals

Step 1: Categorize your company’s data

Your business holds vast data, from client credit card details to employee IDs. For effective security, categorize your information. We classify ours into three: critical, restricted and confidential data.

Critical data is what, if leaked, would seriously damage the company’s reputation, making a return to normal operations almost impossible. It includes user credentials, card security codes, client order history and customer behavior data. I would also add source code for software companies.

Restricted data, if leaked, could seriously threaten our business. It would undermine the company’s reputation, but it’d be possible to continue operating in a limited way. Such data contains emails, locations, device info, app usage insights and many other kinds of data from our customers.

The last category, confidential data, includes the organization’s trade secrets. Such leaks would harm the company’s operations but would have a smaller impact on its reputation. It comprises the team members’ data, company policies and procedures, recruitment process details, source code, financial statements and more.

Step 2: Calculate the cost of a breach and create policies

We all hate bureaucracy— I know that. Yet for a business to work, its members must follow certain rules (i.e. policies). To create a good cybersecurity policy for remote workers, you need accurate data. I recommend calculating the cost of potential data breaches using real money.

Be sure to take into account all types of losses. A company’s data breach results in direct expenses like investigation and compensation, indirect costs from recovery efforts and lost revenue and opportunity costs due to reputational damage and lost potential business.

After calculating the costs of a data breach, design policies. Standard procedures usually include policies on how you label and share data, what security controls you must have and what training your workers must attend.

Related: How Do You Manage Cybersecurity With Employees Across the Globe? Here’s Your Answer.

Step 3: Reduce the risks of remote work

First, ensure the security of your computers. Make it so your remote workers access corporate resources from corporate devices only. Have your helpdesk specialists configure all devices according to your information security standards. They’ll need special administration tools for the task like JAMF.

Second, monitor the state of your corporate devices. Handle the installation of patches, security updates and the latest versions of OS and software. Use special monitoring tools like JAMF and encourage employees to keep their working stations up-to-date. Last, install an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) or Antivirus (AV) agent to track malicious activities on your corporate computers. An example of such a system would be CrowdStrike.

Third, control the access to corporate resources. Remote workers should only have access to resources necessary for their work. Make it so they can interact with them only with the corporate VPN turned on. I recommend also enabling IPS or IDS on the VPN to look out for network anomalies.

Don’t forget about multi-factor authentication. It’ll add one more layer of security to your company’s data and decrease the chance of unauthorized access, and you can use ready-made MFA solutions.

Step 4: Encourage your remote workers to be responsible

Truth bomb: The actions above aren’t enough to protect your business from security risks. About 60% of attacks succeed because average employees make mistakes. It’s your duty to help your employees understand the importance of cybersecurity.

First, encourage them to use special apps that track whether their device is safe. They can be in the form of a security checklist, which dynamically checks various system indexes and is easy to understand.

Second, motivate workers to keep the corporate VPN turned on. You can also make their lives a lot easier by making the VPN connect automatically when the system starts up. If you don’t have a business VPN, use a regular one from a trusted provider.

Last, don’t forget about training. Encourage your workers to learn, but make it exciting. Monotonous video lectures won’t do — add gamification and interactivity. Your company’s security rests with your team; build a strong human firewall by instilling best practices and fostering vigilant behaviors.

Related: How Safe Is Your Data While Working Remotely?

Bonus step: What to do with your freelancers

The problem with freelancers is that you can neither make them work on your corporate laptops nor install special security software on their devices. You can, however, manage their access to your company’s resources.

Limit their access to essential company resources, using the least privilege principle. If feasible, avoid access altogether and establish secure data-sharing protocols. Always clarify collaboration terms in contracts and NDAs detailing data access and usage. Emphasize that violations may lead to legal consequences.

Safeguarding your company in a remote work era is entirely achievable. Begin by discerning the types of data you possess and understanding the potential costs of breaches, tailoring security measures in response. Prioritize the integrity of your corporate devices and manage access to resources. Talk to your remote workers and implement the use of robust security tools like VPNs.

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Mykola Srebniuk

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October 20, 2023
11 Effective Marketing Strategies to Help Streamline Your Startup | Entrepreneur

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Starting a new business is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities and challenges. As a new business owner or startup entrepreneur, wearing multiple hats is often the norm. Among these, the role of marketing is paramount, as it lays the foundation for brand recognition, customer engagement and business growth.

Let’s explore some practical solutions for managing both the owner and marketing roles, including when to use contractors, and highlight the best websites to streamline marketing tasks.

Related: 9 Marketing Strategies for Startups to Boost Growth and Visibility

1. Understand your target audience

Effective marketing begins with a deep understanding of your target audience. Define your ideal customer by considering demographics, preferences and pain points.

Conduct thorough market research to identify trends, gaps and potential competitors. Creating detailed buyer personas helps you tailor your marketing efforts to resonate with the right audience and craft messages that address their specific needs.

2. Create a solid brand identity

A strong brand identity sets your business apart from the competition. Start by developing a unique value proposition that highlights what makes your products or services special.

Design plays a pivotal role in brand identity, so invest in a memorable logo and visuals that align with your brand’s personality. Consistency is key — maintain a uniform brand voice and message across all communication channels.

3. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan

A well-structured marketing plan is your roadmap to success. Set clear goals and objectives that align with your business’s overall vision. Decide on the most effective marketing channels based on your target audience and industry.

Allocate your budget wisely, considering both online and offline strategies. Remember that flexibility is essential — be prepared to adapt your plan as your business evolves.

Related: How to Create a Successful Marketing Plan: 5 Steps

4. Leverage digital marketing

In today’s digital age, online presence is non-negotiable. A business website serves as your virtual storefront. Ensure it’s user-friendly, informative and optimized for search engines. Implement SEO techniques to improve your website’s visibility on search engine results pages.

Engage your audience through content marketing, such as with blogs, videos and infographics that offer value and showcase your expertise. Social media platforms are invaluable tools for connecting with your audience and promoting your content.

5. Analyze when to outsource vs. when to use in-house marketing

As a startup owner, it’s tempting to handle all aspects of your business, including marketing. However, there comes a point when outsourcing becomes advantageous. Contractors or agencies bring specialized skills and insights to the table, saving you time and potentially yielding better results.

Assess your strengths and weaknesses to determine which tasks are best outsourced. This allows you to focus on core business activities while experts manage your marketing efforts.

6. Try cost-effective marketing tools and resources

Numerous online tools and platforms can simplify your marketing tasks. Canva and Adobe Spark offer user-friendly interfaces for creating graphics and visuals without the need for design expertise.

Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact facilitate personalized communication with your audience. Analytics tools such as Google Analytics help you monitor website traffic and track marketing performance, guiding data-driven decisions.

Related: 9 Low-Budget Marketing Strategies Every Startup Can Afford

7. Navigate social media platforms

The choice of social media platforms depends on your target audience and the nature of your business. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn offer diverse opportunities to connect with potential customers.

Develop a social media content calendar to maintain a consistent posting schedule. Engagement is key — respond promptly to comments, messages and feedback, fostering a loyal online community.

8. Craft compelling content

High-quality content is the heart of effective marketing. Content that educates, entertains or solves problems resonates with your audience. Develop engaging blog posts, informative videos and visually appealing infographics.

Incorporate storytelling to create an emotional connection with your audience. Sharing your business’s journey, challenges and triumphs humanizes your brand and fosters authenticity.

9. Measure and adapt

In the fast-paced realm of startup marketing, metrics, and data serve as the compass that not only charts your course but also ensures you stay the course. Establishing relevant key performance indicators (KPIs), whether they’re focused on enhancing brand awareness, driving sales or fostering customer loyalty, is akin to plotting coordinates on a map toward success.

The process doesn’t end there; it’s an ongoing expedition of interpretation and action. By immersing yourself in the wealth of data at your disposal, you unveil patterns and trends that illuminate the path forward.

Regularly analyze the data to gain insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. Adapt your strategies based on these findings. Remember, marketing is a dynamic process that requires continuous optimization.

10. Build great customer relationships

Exceptional customer service is a cornerstone of successful startups. Delivering a positive experience builds trust and encourages customer loyalty. Actively seek feedback and suggestions from customers to improve your offerings.

Implement loyalty programs and rewards to show appreciation for their support. Word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers can significantly impact your business’s growth.

11. Scale up your marketing efforts — when you’re ready

As your startup gains traction, consider expanding your marketing efforts. Explore new marketing channels and strategies that align with your growth goals.

Hiring an in-house marketing team provides dedicated expertise, allowing you to handle more complex campaigns. However, ensure that you maintain a balance between marketing and other operational aspects to ensure sustainable growth.

Related: 7 Ways To Scale Your Startup or Business

Wrapping up

Marketing your startup demands creativity, dedication and adaptability. By understanding your audience, building a strong brand identity and leveraging digital tools, you can effectively reach and engage potential customers.

Consider outsourcing certain tasks to professionals, and make use of cost-effective resources available online. Through social media, compelling content and data-driven insights, you can craft meaningful connections and measure your progress.

By prioritizing exceptional customer relationships and scaling your efforts strategically, your startup can achieve sustainable growth in a competitive business landscape. Embrace the journey of startup marketing with enthusiasm and an open mind, always ready to evolve with the changing needs of your business.

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Mark W Lamplugh Jr

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September 11, 2023
Follow This Wealth Builder’s Playbook to Success | Entrepreneur
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I was recently speaking at a mastermind for Mawer Capital. It was a two-day event, and even though I spoke on day one, I stuck around so I could learn from the other speakers.

On day two, Brian Dalsamo, founder of Matrix Success Networks, took the stage. Two thoughts came to mind after his presentation.

The first was, “Man, I’m so glad I don’t have to go after him.” Seriously, the guy just crushed it. He delivered incredibly valuable information in a short period of time and provided tactic-level responses to the questions raised by the audience. No fluff or trite responses.

My next thought was, “I gotta interview this guy so I can share his knowledge with my audience.”

Brian is the founder of Matrix Success Networks, an organization that serves individuals and businesses who wish to accelerate their wealth-building and performance. And if you only do one thing after reading this article, you have to head to his website and complete his free wheel of life exercise.

It’s an interactive chart used to map out exactly where you’re at in all facets of life at the present moment so that you have a blueprint to achieve the highest level of fulfillment. I suggest blocking off at least 30 minutes so you can get the full impact.

And, of course, check out the latest episode of the Launch Your Business podcast so you can listen in on the full interview. You can see a few of my key takeaways below.

To change the world, change your entire outlook

Brian noted that the people who create huge shifts aren’t looking for outward inspiration – often, they’re creating the reality they’d like to see, regardless of what is in front of them.

“They’re using their imagination – this sounds maybe rudimentary – but they’re not looking at the environment, they’re not looking at the current anything to cause their thinking. They’re thinking to cause new results.”

This reminds me of a quote by George Bernard Shaw: “Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people.”

So, if you want to change the world and your future, it’s time to be unreasonable.

There’s a distinction between wealth and money

If you stop random people on the street and ask them what they want, chances are a lot of the answers are going to boil down to, “I want to be rich.”

But Brian said that the reality is that most people don’t actually want a billion dollars and all the responsibilities that come along with that.

“What they really want, what we’ve come down to is between $10 and $20 million liquid invested properly, so they can do what they want, with who they want, when they want, and where they want,” Brian explained that it’s about freedom to shape your life – which is still impossible if your making millions, but are tied to the office for 80 hours a week. “That’s not freedom. That’s just a lot of money coming in.”

You should also focus on the emotion that accompanies what you’d like. How will it feel to be rich?
- Limitless
- Empowered
- Free from worry
Then, find opportunities to feel that way now so you won’t get caught up in the “I’ll be happy when” trap.

For example, I currently live in an apartment in Brooklyn. I eventually want to move to a house with a large backyard (the location is still being determined), and I’ll feel more expansive once I have that huge yard for my family.

So, how can I feel that way now? We can head to the park! Sure, it’s not quite the same, but we can still experience the same emotions that will take place in our future home.

One habit to boost your performance: Create a life script

A life script is a document where you speak about your future life as if it’s the present day. You do this across all the sectors of your life – physical, wealth, emotional, spiritual, relationships. You get specific about what this future life entails, how it feels, and what you’re grateful for – and then you record yourself reading it aloud and listen to this recording at the beginning of your day.

Brian compared it to method acting.

“You see whatever they’re acting. And what’d they do to get there? They read a script over and over and over and over again. See, real actors at a high level, [like Robin Williams] can go from comedy to horror —they’re not acting. They literally become the character for a period of time. For us, we use that same technique to script out your life, and your words, and your sound as if it’s already done. And you listen to it every morning.”

You’re both the author and main character in your life script, so put in the time and effort to create an epic story.

Next steps

Ready to learn more from Brian?

Head to the Matrix Success website and be sure to complete your wheel of life exercise.

Check out his YouTube channel, where you’ll discover ways to shift your mindset, elevate to a higher level of awareness, and attract greater abundance in your life.

And, of course, listen to our interview on the Launch Your Business podcast.
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August 30, 2023
3 Leadership Lessons For Effectively Managing Remote Teams | Entrepreneur

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Even as bankers urge companies, especially publicly traded, to return to their sprawling office complexes because commercial loan delinquency rates are the highest since the pandemic began, remote work is now firmly embedded in work culture. While financial puppeteers pull market strings on the ground, there’s no question that workers and leaders are facing off into a new world of work.

My PR agency, celebrating 15 years in business this year, has always been remote. Much of this was out of necessity, but it was also born from my own experiences of efficiency as a remote worker in 2008. For context, in 2008, there was no Zoom and Skype was janky at best, creepy and weird at worst; there was no Slack or Teams. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention, and over the years, I learned a few things about managing a team remotely.

Today, I consider these systems and processes one of our greatest strengths because our talent pool is limitless and our team and clients are happier. But these systems haven’t been without trial and error, and I’ve learned productivity and outcomes are the essential success ingredients of remote-first environments.

Related: How to Build a Thriving Organizational Culture in a Remote Workplace

1. Hire for emotional intelligence

In my experience, emotional intelligence is the number one attribute determining whether someone can work effectively remotely.

Studies show remote workers work longer and harder; a recent study that tracked 60,000 Microsoft workers showed the average worker saved 72 minutes in daily commuting but spent an extra half-hour each day working, an additional two hours a week.

Because of extra time spent at work, a more significant challenge is ensuring remote workers don’t burn out. As a leader, make the extra effort to ask people how they are because you won’t be running into them in the hallway — 15-minute touch bases without a string of action items are an excellent way to connect and keep emotionally intelligent people emotionally engaged.

It isn’t all that difficult to quantify emotional intelligence — emotionally intelligent employees are empathetic, self-directed, know how to express their needs, are curious, and are receptive to feedback. Emotionally intelligent people also know how and when they work best.

Progress, rather than perfection, drives emotionally intelligent people, so the next tip is critical to success in remote work culture.

Remote work culture requires mutual respect. Leaders should also be emotionally intelligent, seeking to be empathetic and solution-oriented rather than enforcers. Leaders should over-communicate their agendas and availabilities as an example rather than a requirement; emotionally intelligent team members will pick up on the signal.

Related: Emotional and Social Intelligence Matter for Today’s Hybrid Workforce. Do You Know Why?

2. Set clear goals and objectives

When I hear stories of managers finding out employees have been using screen trackers to make it look like they are working, I know they haven’t hired for emotional intelligence and I know they haven’t set clear goals and objectives.

Modern leaders need to rethink how we evaluate team members.

According to a Stanford University study, remote workers are 13% more productive. Why waste this productivity by insisting on hour tracking? Even in an office environment, no one sits at their desk 10 hours a day and works productively.

So rather than think of output in terms of hours worked, think about output in terms of contributions. What exactly should an employee be delivering? What KPIs should an employee be tracking for themselves? What is the contribution expected from their role? Suddenly, leaders have a clear view of their most valuable team members, and team members know what’s expected of them.

Related: How to Keep Remote Workers Productive and Happy

3. Use technology, but wisely

It takes 15-20 minutes to get into the flow state, which means every time we’re interrupted, we take that long to get back up to the productivity level we were at just before the interruption. We have all gotten used to the many productivity benefits of technology, but not all technology benefits productivity.

Notifications are the enemy of focus. Set up a hierarchy of communication. For example, non-urgent or outer office communication can usually happen via email. Slack and/or Teams, practically required for remote culture, are excellent for quick questions or urgent matters. But it’s essential to encourage these channels as professional communication channels, not water coolers. Having a communication channel that dings and pings with GIFs and meme threads all day isn’t productive. It’s not that there isn’t any room for fun; it’s that in a remote environment, providing focus is more critical than providing release. After all, unlike traditional office environments, a team member can take a walk around the block or cuddle with their pet for 10 minutes to blow off steam; they don’t need an intra-office chat for that. Normalize ways to blow off steam rather than having a Slack channel that pings and dings all day with minor grievances.

I’ve found that project management software is a lot more work for our teams than it saves. Some exceptions exist, but I think most teams can work effectively without a third-party platform. Excel and Google Sheets can send an email when documents are updated. Use it.

Scheduling meetings has never been more accessible, but that also means it’s more complicated than ever to have control of your calendar. Enabling company-wide “meeting-free” times (Fridays are a good day for this) is an excellent use of calendaring tools and allows everyone some guaranteed productivity time. Also, it’s great that we have so many ways to communicate, but if there are more than three messages or emails on a topic, it’s time to schedule a call. Sending emails back and forth has diminishing returns when it could be as easily solved with a 10-minute call.

Remote work is here to stay; it’s important for modern companies to find their place in this new professional order. Protecting balance, contributions and focus are the pillars of success for both leaders and their teams.

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Tara Coomans

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August 29, 2023
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Bringing Employees Back to the Office | Entrepreneur

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Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

With the return to office in full swing, listening to employee needs and well-being is more important than ever for business leaders. It is difficult to recognize failures when they are happening, but their impact is often unmistakable after the fact.

As we navigate this uncharted territory, as leaders it is critical that we all constantly evaluate our approach to leadership, consider fresh perspectives and adapt. First and foremost is identifying missteps early.

If any of the below points feel familiar to you, it is likely time to reevaluate your approach.

Related: Returning to The Office Without a Strategy Is The Biggest Mistake You Can Make. Follow These 4 Steps for a Perfect Transition.

1. Not gathering employee feedback in the right ways

A smooth return to the office requires a mix of the right strategies, support and technology to help avoid major pitfalls. It also requires a certain amount of self-reflection. One way to do this is to consider what we should carry with us from remote and hybrid settings and what we should leave behind.

Consistent, reliable feedback from your team is essential for this self-reflection. But posing questions point-blank won’t cover it. While some individuals may feel comfortable speaking up in company-wide meetings, this won’t work for everyone. In fact, according to a 2022 survey, more than 71% of participants noted wanting anonymous ways to engage at work.

It is important to have a tech stack in place that promotes anonymous feedback so you can ensure honesty and frankness. Platforms that provide anonymous voting, polls and Q&As can give a voice to those who are hesitant to raise their hand, leveling the playing field. If you don’t make an active effort to support a culture of inclusivity around employee feedback, it will be impossible to meet the needs of your team.

2. Not providing a flexible enough return-to-office policy

The constant change throughout hybrid work has led to unclear expectations, even for something as basic as how and when to show up. Against this backdrop, a mid-pandemic study found that 86% of employees felt people at their company were not heard fairly or their needs were not being met. In structuring return-to-office policies, leaders have a chance to change that.

We cannot expect employees to be back in the office, effective tomorrow, working a full five days a week in-person and resuming the “old normal.” Times have changed and leaders must realize this. For many, this would cause unnecessary stress and anxiety in their work lives. And for those providing care for children, older family members or otherwise needed at home, those demands aren’t just unfair — they’re nearly impossible.

In these situations, leaders must craft company policies from the bottom up. Top-down management is a thing of the past. Anyone still working with a vertical hierarchy is going to struggle to put in place an effective return-to-office policy that works for everyone in the office and conjures up the excitement to once again be with colleagues. If you want to know what your employees need, ask them.

This moment calls for employers to be conscious of their teams’ lives outside of work. Personal life should not be jeopardized by work. It’s up to leaders to ease this transition and support a maintained balance.

Related: How Flexible Work Will Give Your Business the Biggest Advantage

3. Underutilization of employees and teams

Satisfied employees stay put. They are not always on the lookout for their next opportunity, even in moments of change that could otherwise contribute to turnover. But when people feel underutilized — as 25% of employees currently do — they are more likely to put their two weeks in during periods of change and uncertainty like the return to office.

Underutilization is often a result of inattentiveness to individual employee fulfillment. The secret to getting the most out of your team is providing them with opportunities that truly excite them. This is not a one-size-fits-all answer, as for some employees it means better schedule flexibility, while for others it could be more accessibility to senior leadership or opportunities for growth. It’s imperative that leaders align with their employees individually.

Righting these wrongs

A company is only as successful as its employees are happy — and upheavals like a return to office risk adding to employee dissatisfaction. You can ease that transition by getting back to basics. Start by optimizing the feedback process, show empathy and flexibility during a period of change and allow your team to focus on the work that makes them happiest.

It’s all about opening the right kind of dialogue and ensuring inclusivity and understanding in the conversation. After all, the first step to fixing any leadership mistakes is acknowledging that you’ve even made them.

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Johnny Warström

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August 28, 2023
How This Coach Helps His Clients Become 7-Figure Earners | Entrepreneur

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Have you ever struggled to express how you help people and why they should buy from you? If so, you’re going to enjoy listening to the next episode of the Launch Your Business podcast featuring Seth Czerepak.

Seth is the head marketing coach at Mawer Capital, a mastermind for new entrepreneurs serious about growth or experienced six and seven-figure business owners wanting to go to the next level — faster.

He’s described as the world’s premier expert on sales funnel copywriting and my head coach at Mawer Capital. I meet with him every Monday to review my sales emails, website copy and the creative work I develop on behalf of my clients. He’s not just good with words though, you can easily see a measurable impact from his work. The number of leads generated from my 1:1 coaching page tripled after Seth made several changes.

He’s incredible, but our calls almost always get sidetracked by me asking questions about how he discovered one technique or another. It’s hard to describe how his brain works or how impressed I am with the output. So, I decided to bring him on my podcast so you can hear from him yourself.

You can check out a few of my top takeaways below.

Expanding your market is the key way to grow

Seth compares expanding your business to a plant growing in a pot. After a certain amount of growth, the roots are expanding and you need to move to an entirely different, bigger container to allow the plant to keep growing.

“You have to get outside of your warm network,” Seth said. “Being able to convert complete strangers (a cold audience), using paid ads to your customers is the way that you break out of that “small pot” of marketing only to the people in your warm network and having access to almost a limitless sea of prospects.

And that, in my opinion, is the only way that you can grow to seven figures unless you just become a viral sensation overnight, which is a lot of time a game of luck.”

How to make your message relevant

When you’re reaching out to a cold audience, it’s critical to grab their attention with relevant information. “Your message has to be relevant to the conversation going on in their head every day, surrounding the problem that you’re going to help them solve,” Seth said. “So if you were to follow your prospect throughout their entire day like you’re filming a documentary, think about the times during their day when they run into the problem that you’re going to help them solve. And what does that experience look like? What are they saying to themselves? What’s [their] internal dialogue like?”

Seth used the example of selling cream for plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel). You don’t start your ad with, “Do you have plantar fasciitis?” You start with, “What is that pinching pain in your heel? It started small, but now it’s so bad you can’t walk.” Because you’ve started with their situation — not jargon — you can move forward with introducing your solution.

Don’t bury the lead

“The most common mistake I see people make is a lot of the time: Their best headline is usually about three-quarters of the way down the page,” Seth said. “There’s too much throat clearing, too much preparation before they actually get to the point.

And a lot of times you can chop off the top of a sales page, find the buried lead, move that up to the headlining and increase your conversions right away.”

Another common error is not understanding your audience. You need to be so inside their head, that you’ll know whether you should be selling to their pain or pleasure points. The sooner you can address that internal dialogue and sell what’s most relevant to them, the better.

Next steps

Seth has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs become six-figure earners and dozens more break the seven-figure-a-year mark.

His signature copywriting framework, “The Antifragile Sales System,” has been endorsed by direct response marketing legend, Dan S. Kennedy, and is the topic of his upcoming book, “The Antifragile Sales System,” which will be coming out in January 2024.

Connect with Seth on social media to get more of his content and updates about upcoming books, podcasts, and products. And if you’d like to work with him 1:1, just like I do, consider joining the Mawer Capital mastermind group.

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Terry Rice

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July 25, 2023