Multi-tasking or Single-tasking?

Multi-tasking or Single-tasking?

“The scarcity of time is the reason we have to concentrate on one thing at a time.”

~ Matt Perman, Author

In the busy business world, it seems that everyone is multi-tasking to get as much done in one day as possible. But, does it really work? Over time, if you don’t give a specific task all your attention, the outcome often suffers. Research has shown that about 40% of productivity is reduced when we try to get multiple things done at one time. Of course, multitasking increases the margin for error dramatically. In a world where multitasking has become the norm, instead relearn to single-task to increase productivity while reducing daily stress.

            One of the most important things to remember during our daily lives is to live in the moment. Most of us spend every minute looking at the next project we need to tackle. When we constantly look ahead and never focus on the tasks at hand we often forget to enjoy the journey and the little things that make life worth living.

            We all have so many thoughts whirling around in our minds each day we sometimes overlook truly significant reflection. We often overload our senses and tend to stress over the accumulation of smaller, less important things and forget more important life goals. Simple changes such as practicing the old habit of writing things down can be very helpful. This simple exercise helps to reinforce a realistic view of your schedule and helps our memories focus on the immediate rather than the eventual.    

            Once you have written things down, schedule time for each task and work to simply check each item off your list. Make sure you have fully completed one task before moving on to the next. This type of progress can be very fulfilling as opposed to having 5 tasks partially completed.

Overloading yourself is never a good idea. It can lead to forgetting more important tasks and cause stress related problems. In your busy life, learn to single-task to take control of your time. You will find there is always enough time to do it right the first time.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Madness

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Madness

This time of year, when the calendar rolls over into December life turns stressful for most everyone. With the rush of holiday party planning, present buying and spending time with family and friends, most businesses are trying to keep up with the demand from clients and customers while meeting end of year quotas and vacation time requests from employees. As a business owner, learning to maintain balance while actually enjoying yourself during the holiday madness is indeed an art form.

Before the holiday season kicks in, don’t forget to plan ahead to maximize productivity as much as possible. Think back on what challenges you had last year. What caused last year’s holiday season to become more demanding? What kept your customers happy? Trying to squeeze in as much as possible with only a few weeks till Christmas can take a drastic toll on your company and your health. Schedule and plan ahead before too many interruptions and events happen to get in the way of a productive and happy holiday season for your company.

Staying positive while having fun in the office will keep stress levels low and may actually increase productivity. As an example, Instead of looking at all the 5 o’clock deadlines, turn on the holiday music to boost spirits and morale and get those tasks completed.

With 2016 coming to a close and the holidays right around the corner, learn to manage your time and spirit and stay positive during this season of busy celebrations.

All of us at Vistage join in wishing you a happy Holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!!!

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Employee Think Tank

Employee Think Tank

“If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different, be just.”

~ Anita Roddick, Businesswoman

In the ever-changing face of the workplace, the power of diverse thinking that can be expressed in employee think thanks may positively impact many types of businesses. Implementing an employee think tank creates a system where all ideas are welcome and considered as part of an organized system of meetings and may help foster a better more cohesive work place. Providing ideas can be part of every employees’ job and receiving ideas should be every manager’s job.

Starting with the implementation of small ideas instead of with big, aggressive and dramatic ideas will get more positive attention since these ideas may be carried out immediately. Small ideas are the steppingstones to bigger ideas and, taken together, small ideas can grow into a large competitive advantage for your brand. Create a structure of rounding up ideas through meetings and regular discussion groups, growing those ideas are the next step. No matter how small, ask every employee to share ideas and discuss which ideas should be refined and delegate responsibilities for them.

To make employees feel part of the team and valuable to the daily operation, recognize the results of ideas and solutions that work. Giving public recognition in a newsletter or on the office bulletin board provides a level of satisfaction that can be combined with small rewards of recognition such as gift cards or other tokens of merit.  

With an open mind and a good system of exchanging ideas and recognizing results, your business will grow, your employees will be happier and a better bottom line may result.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

The Changing Face of Insurance

The Changing face of Insurance

Our first Question from Vistage Chair, Jaynie Smith:

What are companies doing today about health insurance as rates climb?  Are you covering employee only?  Family?  How much are you passing along to the employee?

There appears to be no question that at the beginning of the New Year, health insurance rates will increase. In 2016 premiums increased an average of 7 percent and the predictions for 2017 are that premiums could increase as much as 50 percent. Like many decisions made by companies, both large and small, the pros and cons of every decision should be researched and the repercussions should be considered before a final procedure is implemented.

Here are many advantages of offering high level health benefits to employees even though the majority of the financial burden usually falls on the employer. The following are a few key items to consider.  

~ To retain the most qualified and effective employees companies must stay at least competitive if not superior to other employers who offer similar benefit packages.

~ The company may be allowed significant tax deductions through a tax credit making the out of pocket costs far less for both the employee and corporation. This should be researched and shared with those affected.

~ Group purchasing power may significantly reduce costs overall for premiums.

~ A healthy workforce is more productive and has less absenteeism due to illness. Insurance coverage offers preventative care that without insurance many people avoid.

The downside to offering high level health benefits are more than just the effect on the bottom line.

~ Particularly with smaller companies with less resources other programs or benefits will need to be cut in order to afford more insurance expenses.

~ The employer and employee relationship may suffer as a result of passing on some costs to the employees who may be seen as unsympathetic to the plight of the worker while the reality is the employer and employee have to be realistic about future increases.   

~ Ongoing insurance changes have become an ongoing expense and burden to employers as the administrative costs are high in order to stay current and provide the best coverage for the employees.

~ There is a risk of liability as the employer becomes in charge of selecting the insurance company type and coverages offered. Most employers hire consultants and employ staff to seek out the best advice however this information can be challenged by disgruntled employees and others who feel they may have not had the best coverage offered in a changing world.

The Affordable Care Act is an option that can be taken. The employee can decline the company health coverage if the ACA is better. The choice is up to the employee. If a company does not have specific qualified healthcare, the employees can purchase the ACA. The company must provide coverage if they have over 50 employees. If the company has healthcare they must offer it to the employees who can decline it if the ACA is less expensive. If you make under a certain income, the ACA coverage is subsidized by the government. If not, you pay whatever the cost is. If an individual does not have coverage they can be fined.

Uncertainty is uncomfortable for all involved and financial planning is near to impossible without accurate predictions. Companies should be looking at ways to offer different levels of family and individual coverages and to provide information to employees from outside experts on what best to choose to save money and be cost effective for all involved. It’s incumbent on all of us to take personal responsibility to know what plans are available for ourselves personally and for our employees and what the right fit is. Communication as always is key with your employees, understanding the costs of insurance will need to be shared in some way so that options are on the table.

 The big question we are all facing is, “How can we afford all these new expenses.” One benefit of the ACA has been that many people who were not able to have any health insurance prior now have coverage however; the cost may soon become prohibitive for many more. If new plans come to offer the benefits of the ACA along with lower premiums of course there may be good news on the horizon.

We have no verified data on costs at this point however it appears that now is the time to actively seek input from industry experts to help balance the costs to all parties involved and to balance the financial burdens. Utilizing your employees as a source of input, is one way to get a positive conversation going about their needs and the company’s best interests. 

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Volunteering as a Corporate Team

Volunteering as a Corporate Team

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

~ Winston Churchhill

With the holiday season just around the corner, encouraging your employees to take part in a corporate volunteer program can be very beneficial to the office environment, the positive atmosphere among colleagues and to your brand. While donating items or funds to a local charity might be the easier route, helping your company standout in the community while engaging employee interactions has benefits that can add value to the lives of all involved.

Any business or organization can benefit from highlighting a positive reputation in the community’s eye. A well promoted and successful volunteer program allows a company to demonstrate commitment to helping the people in the local community while spreading brand awareness and gaining trust and recognition.

 Larger events like sponsored marathons supporting a well-known cause can even give your company added recognition by being featured on the local news. Always remember to also utilize social media to market your brand through pictures and twitter hashtags.

Working together in the community increases employee interaction by implementing team building exercises outside of the office which can be positive, fun and a fulfilling way to help others. For larger businesses and organizations with employees in different departments, corporate volunteering programs help to foster new relationship while learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Find out more about our Vistage Florida team as we volunteer at Feeding Northeast Florida during the month of November!

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

I Don’t Have Time

I Don’t Have Time

“Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.”

~ Napoleon Hill

The number one excuse we hear in the work force is “I don’t have time”. You can read and research about time management but in the end time management is subjective, based on inner experience rather than fact. Learn to remove any self-limitation about “not having time” to start, improve or promote your business or organization. Remember we all get 24 hours.

Throughout the day we are all pushed and pulled in many different directions that can throw us off course. Creating a diary including all your thoughts and ideas during the day can help you track where you are spending most of your productive hours and where you may need to decrease time wasting activates. Record start and stop times for important meetings or appointment to help you stay on top of your to do list. Do 1^st things first and 2^nd things never.

Another important tip is to stop, think and plan before going into an important phone call or meeting to allow yourself to decide your intention. This will help to reduce the time spent on this activity while increasing the overall objective. Make sure to record whether the goal was achieved and if not, decide how could you improve the outcome for next time.

The most important thing to understand while working towards better time management skills is; it can feel impossible to get everything done in a day. Eliminate the mindset of “I don’t have time”. Overcoming that one obstacle may help you realize all the ways to improve your productivity.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Enthusiasm is Contagious

Enthusiasm is Contagious

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

~ George Bernard Shaw, Playwright

Throughout the normal work day, we interact with a great deal of people, but how effective are our communication skills? It takes honest communication with customers to build good relationships that will help make your brand standout. Within a few seconds of hearing your phone voice, customers and clients can pick up on your level of truthfulness and warmth that’s either welcoming or off-putting. Train yourself and your employees to maintain a positive attitude and improve your communication with customers.

A key factor in demonstrating a passion for communication with customers is to put a face with the name. Most of us email customers regularly which can create a very effective method of communication, but is always impersonal. A simple and easy way to make customers feel more comfortable is to add your professional social media accounts in your email signature. In this way customers can access the links and see images of you and get a better feel of who they are communicating with.

With the internet and social media so popular, being recognizable to customers has never been more important. Of course, it’s increasingly important to be careful of what you post and utilize appropriate images in all cases.

We have all had bad customer service experiences, but taking the time and patience to put a name with a face and creating an interest level with your clients can make a very positive difference in your company.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Teamwork Counts

Teamwork Counts 

“The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.”
~ Margaret Carty, American Politician

Although working together can sometimes be challenging, effective teamwork is a necessary factor in your business or organization. Whether you’re running a small business with a few employees or, a multi-million dollar organization, teamwork allows the ideas and strengths of all employees to blend together creating future business successes.

Instead of individuals working in isolation, employee teamwork can provide different perspectives on projects or assignments at a much more productive rate and create a positive atmosphere of cooperation and excitement. We have all had one of those days where our heads just aren’t in the game and the time is ticking on an approaching deadline, with teamwork fellow coworkers can lend a helping hand to get things done efficiently and on time. 

While figuring out a way to incorporate teamwork into your work environment, always remember that it requires the spirit of creativity. Encourage those working with you to think outside of the box and be as creative as possible. The more creative a job-related task can be, the more likely your co-workers will come up with more effective ways of getting tasks completed. 

We all hopefully work with the same goals in mind: to expand ourselves professionally and forward the goals and brand of the company we work for. Adding teamwork to our work environment creates a more enjoyable and productive business environment.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Smarter CEOs Plan

Smarter CEOs Plan

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”

~Jim Rohn, American Businessman

In order to achieve the vision you see for your company, specific goals targeted for present and future growth are necessary to continue further success. Whether you’re planning to expand your company, increase revenues, or just make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be, setting goals should be the very first step for business owners.

Finding the time to work on business goals is not always easy but, remembering what makes your business successful and what you want the future to become can make all the difference.

Start with your long-term goal plans, which are meant to take several years to accomplish. These types of goals should reflect the essence of your business motto or mission statement and should focus on what makes your business unique in your industry. Example of long-term goals include; higher customer satisfaction ratings, giving back to the community by donation or volunteering and recruiting new employees who share your vision.

Once long-term goals have been set, create short-term goals or objectives to specifically target how you will accomplish your long-term goals. Short-term goals should be the pathway to long-term growth. Have a ready plan for what needs to be done by who and when.

Bring your future goals to present day attention by focusing on the creation of both long-term and short-term goals to enrich the quality of your brand. 

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Our Never Ending Business Culture

Our Never Ending Business Culture

“Culture is simply a shared way of doing something with a passion.”

~ Brian Chesky, CEO, Airbnb

When we think of a typical business culture within an organization, we usually think of the 9-5 schedule with daily phone calls, email correspondence and occasional meetings but, what happens when our business culture needs improvements? With technology and our fast paced lifestyle, it’s no wonder business leaders look at culture as both the cause and the cure.

We can see a positive culture as the preface or introduction to your business or organization, it gives other businesses and customers the feel or character that makes your business prominent in that industry. A clear and enriching business culture should have trusted employees who take pride in their work while giving praise and encouragement to fellow co-workers.

The most critical factor in understanding your unique business culture is to recognize that cultures evolve and grow as you do significant work as a leader. A business culture isn’t something you can track and fix on the spot, cultural change happens after you’ve introduced new ideas or processes into your work place like, redesigning an outdated business program or recruiting employees that care deeply about solving daily goals.

Your workplace and its business culture are more important to future accomplishments than ever before. Learn how to create a positive and inspiring business culture to conquer the corporate world.

Kelly D. Scott

Chairman/CEO

Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results