We fall within the category of SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises). How can we work strategically, analyze customer and consumer behavior, and have smart marketing plans when we have very limited resources due to our size?

There are two elements attached to results: knowledge and application. If it’s knowledge you seek and you can’t afford interesting interactive workshops, then welcome to the Age of Information. With help from the Internet you can find plenty of resources that will educate you about different management topics. The challenge in this step is to know where the right resources are. Publishing words online doesn’t make them automatically reliable. If you want to evaluate the seriousness of a certain magazine article look for reviews about the writer you’re interested in on sources other than the magazine. Is s/he trying to indirectly sell you something? Do they have the expertise in the area they’re writing about? What makes them such experts? Remember, doing something for a long time doesn’t always lead to ‘expertise’.

If you have the knowledge but lack the experience on how to apply it or if you can’t afford to hire the right talents full time to help you implement it, then think of project base hiring even if the talent is not in your market and can only work online from United Someplace, as long as you can agree on deliverables and deadlines, it can work. Other options are to work with consultants who are suitable for the kind of service you’re after and cater to companies of your size. If your business is too big for them they might not be able to deliver. If it’s too small, you might not receive the right level of attention. Most of all, keep your plans short, clear in their focus, easy to understand and shared with everyone responsible for a part of them. Complicated documents and presentations are not impressive, they’re disruptive…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: meet the franchisors
• two cents: ethical business?
• two cents: mr. stock market, may I come in now?

I recently had a job interview and the manager expressed a certain level of discomfort towards my Facebook page entries and pictures. Should we now start worrying about our Facebook communication when it comes to getting hired? Isn’t finding a job already difficult enough?

Getting a job is difficult and finding the right job should be even more difficult. Smart and successful companies don’t hire employees based on education and CVs, they look for a corporate culture fit and a match in personalities and behavior. So you can see why they might go to great lengths just to be sure that a candidate is genuine. And availability of published information makes it tempting to use it as a quick reference check or a tool to gage true personality traits away for the staged interview act that many employees have learned how to master with time.

As what you do offline matters, what you do online reflects on you too. The fact that it’s online doesn’t mean it’s invisible. Divide your Facebook contacts into lists to control who can see what content you publish. You might want to create an acquaintance and co-worker list and keep it viewable by the public but keep close friends and family lists private. This way you control who sees what news and pictures you publish. Having said that, don’t keep your public page vague and so carefully articulated to an extent where your character is not visible anymore. Be yourself but know what you’re saying and who you are saying it to…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: you’ve got ephoto!
• two cents: saving private Facebook
• two cents: how do I email thee?
  let me count the ways

The nature of my work revolves around project-base contracts that each lasts for about 2 to 3 years. Now that I’m in my 50s and with this great recession I’m not finding any new opportunities. Can I still get a job in these circumstances?

In business, you can either cater to an existing demand or create one to show how your product or service is the answer for such a need. The same goes for this stage of your career. If there aren’t many companies with positions at a senior level, which is normal worldwide with or without a recession, then think of creating a need for your expertise. Hold a half-day workshop to share some insights related to your industry with ‘prospective employers’ to indirectly demonstrate how valuable your experience can be to their business. Alternatively, you can start your own consultancy and charge on an hourly or daily need basis rather than on a monthly retainer. If still nothing works, dig deeper into your hidden desires and see what second career you always wished you were involved with but never got around to. It’s never too late to start again…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: no country for old bankers
• two cents: heroes for hire
• two cents: 5 tips for a memorable CV

Many of our competitors brag about the different awards they won in the last few years. The application and qualification processes are time consuming. Is it really worth it? Do customers actually care about companies who have won awards?

Breaking News: The security guard in your apartment building won the “Super Security Guard of the Year” Award. Sweet, but it’s not something that will make you decide to stay if you were not satisfied with the property management standard of service. However, let’s take a look at your security guard for a moment. Knowing about the award, he became familiar with the rules and started to improve his performance, appearance and efficiency so he’s ready for the committee’s review. The security guard’s real benefit was the journey he was on to up his game. Even if he didn’t win the award he gained a better performance.

If participating in awards will help your business improve internally, then by all means, select the one that will have the most significant impact on your processes and go for it. Keep in mind that improving your working standard to comply with the award’s terms and conditions is the ultimate reward because it will reflect positively on your employees, customers’ experience, and in return, boost your returns. Simply, it’s about the journey, not the destination. So, winning the award should always be looked at as the icing on the cake; but without the cake the icing is just not as tasty…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: promo in wonderland
• two cents: new franchise.
  location ‘unknown’
• two cents: one size fits none

co-founder of Apple, Inc. Steve Jobs

Yesterday, on October 5th, 2011, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., passed away after a long struggle with Pancreatic cancer. Almost in every century we are blessed with one or a few minds that single handedly push us forward faster than we imagined possible. Steve Jobs was among such giants. Without him, your daily work whether you’re using a Mac or PC just simply wouldn’t be the same, your mobile communication whether you’re using an iPhone or anything else wouldn’t be the same, and your inspirations that came from creative entertainment tools whether you’re using Apple TV and iTunes or not wouldn’t be the same. For years, I’ve been enjoying and benefiting personally and professionally from his achievements, and for that I’m grateful.             Steve Jobs, thank you.read what others have read

• what’s the iPad good for?
• two cents: how do I email thee?
  let me count the ways
• two cents: 5 tips for a memorable CV

Employees get trained all the time, but their performance hardly changes. Is there a point of spending all that money or should we just look at corporate training as a reward and some time off?

Changing behavior is one of the greatest challenges for mankind. We’re designed to follow patterns. There are moments or experiences that can be life transforming for some. Yet, others may go through similar situations without being affected at all. The military (watch the Royal Marines Commandos classic ‘99.99% need not apply’ advert) trains people for years on how to endure pain, face their fears and be willing to die for their country and fellow soldiers at the drop of a hat. Can you imagine the military achieving such results with a five-day training workshop?

Training should be looked at as a reward only for those who care about learning, but the idea of travel and extra cash must never be used as incentives. Think of training workshops as opportunities managers put in employees’ ways with the hope that a change for the better can be inspired and materialized. The question you need to ask yourself is: What can you do at work to help your recently-trained employees turn that inspiration to reality? Without creating an environment that support new thoughts and initiatives and without embracing mistakes as learning opportunities employees won’t be encouraged to overcome this difficult task of changing their behavior or way of thinking.

Knowing why you’re sending an employee to training, clearly identifying the expectations for their behavior after this opportunity, and creating a facilitating environment can improve your Return On Training Investment. How can you be a great facilitator at work? Welcome mistakes that result from genuine attempts to change things; this is what science is about, a series of experimentations and trials. Provide constant encouragements for efforts, guidance and coaching. Above all, be selective. Hands-on interactive workshops are much better than one-way seminars and lectures. If all fails, send your employees to the military…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: training happens
• two cents: do as I say, but I won’t
• two cents: war at work

I’ve been trying to see the CEO for a few weeks and all my efforts have been in vain. She’s too busy with many issues and although I have this feeling that she wants to give me time, she still didn’t. The topic I want to discuss can save the company money and avoid a major lawsuit from continuing. What can I do to get my CEO’s attention?

Have you ever visited a Turkish bazaar? Many of these shops sell traditional items that may seem similar to the hesitant and somewhat delirious traveler. So, they do every single trick in the Bazaar Sales Sultan’s Guidebook to get their attention. While some shout from a distance or establish eye contact and give a welcoming smile, others secretly give the travel guides a commission to bring the entire flock to their shops; and that’s how they stay inside their stores looking calm.

You need to ask yourself: What can I do to get my boss’ attention among the raised arms and loud voices coming from other employees from all departments? While you might think that you don’t need to since your subject is important enough, the sad part is that the high demand for management’s time requires effort close to how companies attract consumers using advertising, PR and teasers. In your case, instead of sending an email asking for a meeting, a.k.a. more babbling and waste of time, try a subject line like: “A solution to the lawsuit. Let’s talk.”

For other company’s interest related topics that are not as sensitive yet important, try to have fun with your approach. Place an A3 poster in their private parking spot or elevator (not one that visitors can see) with a catchy headline asking the CEO for some time, walk them down to their car and chat, or send them half an important message with their assistant and mention that the other half can only be expressed verbally. Are the ideas too weird for you? Maybe. Will they get you a private time with the big chief and make you stand out? Definitely…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: he said some important stuff, I think
• two cents: how to fire
  [an employee, that is]
• two cents: born to email