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Archive for June, 2008

Been Busy Hiring?

Jun 30

Posted by admin in Employee Relations | No Comments

5 Ways to Keep the People You Have Hired and Get Them Up to Speed Quickly

It has been a busy time for recruiting. Have you and your company recruited strategically? Or did you just go for the ‘warm body’ to fill a position.

Strategic recruiting means you will get new hires up to speed quicker and increase the likelihood that new hires will stick around longer then you can say ‘pay period”.
An organization I have worked with provides HVAC services to developers in Portland. Last year they held a management retreat strictly focused on strategic hiring. In the retreat they listed the characteristics of a perfect employee for their company. Then they listed the common traits that long term, high performing employees had in common. They quickly discovered that their ideal demographic was men in their late 20′s or early 30 who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Wait a sec, you might be asking what does hunting or fishing have to do with recruiting? Well if you are creative you will quickly put two and two together and know that hiring around lifestyle is a very smart thing to do. So guess where the HVAC Company went to recruit? Yup, the local hunting and fishing games show and they recruited six ‘perfect profile’ employees into the company.

The HVAC Company described above did the first step in keeping the people they recruited and getting them up to speed quickly.

Step One: Have a strategy before recruiting; take the time to identify theperfect fit, what their interests are, where to find them and how your company fits into their lifestyle. One reason the HVAC Company had men interested in hunting and fishing is because the company owner was an avid outdoorsmen and he would take his entire team on hunting and fishing excursions as reward and as incentive.

Step Two: If it’s too late and you didn’t hire strategically it is never too late to have a training and retention strategy. Find out what their lifestyle interests are, how can you tailor reward and incentive around the lifestyles of your employees?
In a survey conducted by Right Management 2006 showed that 68% surveyed stated
bad hires and promotions lead to lower morale, 66% said it led to lower productivity, 54% said it causes loss of customers and 51% said bad hires/promotions increased training costs.

Step three:Provide the training. Many baby boomer leaders expect new hires to have common sense or to just know what needs to be done. Stephen Covey says; fail to plan-plan to fail. We need to set up our new hires for success by providing them with the training to do the job at the highest level. Among surveyed CIO’s in order to retain employees: 63% are providing additional training opportunities and 47% are providing flexible work schedules (Robert Half Technology Survey of 1400 CIO’s)

Step four: Cross-train. Bringnew hiresup to super speed by having them cross train with cross-functional departments. Employees that have a deeper understanding of the overall company operations tend to buy in faster to the culture, the goals and their role in the company success. Set up a simple process of buddy system information sessions for example pairing an operations role with a sales role and let them see a day in the life of each other’s department. It is eye opening and builds team at the same time.

Step Five: Create outlets for fun. I know when I bring this one up people balk especially us Canadians. What do you mean fun? It’s called work for a reason, is a typical baby boomer response to the ‘fun’ word. In my research even tired and burned out baby boomers are looking for a little levity along with their Generation X and Y counterparts.

Survey results from,” Fun Work Environment Survey,” Sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management
Companies who have ‘fun’ plans in the workplace:

79% companies had reductions in turnover
72% companies had decreases in absenteeism
72% companies saw reductions in employee conflicts

95% indicated an increase in the ability to attract new employees
95% of the respondents reported increases in employee enthusiasm as a result of the fun.
94% experienced an increase in group cohesiveness
93% had increased communications among employees and employee satisfaction
92% saw an increase in employee creativity

If you have made it through the first 90 days of a new hire and you have training and retention plan in place then you are in good shape. If your hiring strategy is hit and miss and your training strategy is sink or swim and your retention strategy is that they should just be happy to get a paycheck you could find yourself on the hiring/re-hiring treadmill indefinitely. By the way the HVAC Company in Portland has a 95% retention rate in a very complex industry with a steep learning curve.

Cheryl Cran, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is the author of “50 Ways to Lead & Love It” and the January 2008 release by Career Press titled, “The Control Freak Revolution”. Check out Cheryl’s site www.cherylcran.com to find out more.

Cheryl is the President of Synthesis at Work Inc. and an internationally renowned keynote speaker. She provides practical tools and creative strategies for individuals to take their current level of success and boldly grow it to the next level.The companies that Cheryl works with are top performing organizations with a strong focus on becoming a workplace of choice. The leaders of these organizations recognize the value of investing in the growth of employees… http://www.cherylcran.com

Teenagers and Weight Training (part 2)

Jun 27

Posted by admin in Training | No Comments

Carrying on from part 1, I would insist on weight training exercises being light to medium , that means no heavy low squats or dead lifts and avoid any spine bending exercise. Start off with fun type exercises without putting them through any ordeal, and never make them train against their will. Try out free standing excercises, flexibility work and teamwork skills through sporting activities.

A lifting belt should always be worn and must be encouraged for recommended exercises such as light barbell squats to parallel and presses behind the neck. Make sure that the bar is padded and dont bounce the barbell on the spinal column at the back of the neck. And most important of all is the presence of a spotter while bench pressing, as deaths have occured due to bars dropping onto lifters necks. Bench presses should never be performed alone.

The majority of dumbbell exercises are no problem at all, but always make sure the collars are secure. Lying triceps stretches for the arms and standing lateral raises for shoulders. While performing sit ups for abs, stick to the crunches version, keeping the knees bent and aim for fitness by encouraging high repetitions. Sometimes forgotten at this age is hygiene, so train in clean clothes and footware which will help to avoid infections such as atheletes foot.

WEIGHT TRAINING THE OVER 14′s The safest and recommended age range to begin with weights is over 14 years old. Virtually any excercise can be carried out except over heavy dead lifts or barbell rowing, which can be painful on the lower back and heavy squats which can lead to knees problems as well as hip problems later in life.

Now is the time to increase exercise routines and muscular development will soon be visible. Normal warm up exercises should always be observed to avoid any back or muscle injury. Pay attention to style combined with a full range of movements, and encourage participation in sporting activities such as gymnastics or martial arts. A trainer must be vigilant at all times and he is fully responsible for any teenagers health and safety.

THE UNDER 14s ROUTINE Begin by warming up with running on the spot, twists, knee bends and arm swings and then start with the 1st exercise. Ex 1: Press behind neck with barbell. 8 to 10 times, twice. Ex 2: Half squats to bench top with barbell. 1 set of 12 reps for the legs and lungs. Always use Squat stands and Teenagers must always train witha spotter. Ex 3: Pullovers with centrally loaded dumbbell 1 x 12 using a light weight, which helps chest expansion and always use after squats while still out of breath.

Ex 4: Barbell bench presses 1 x 10 reps, have a spotter close by, don’t bounce the weights off the chest and use good style and full range. Ex 5: Barbell curls for the biceps, the way to big arms, 1 x 10 reps, don’t cheat or swing the weight up. Ex 6: Crunches for the abdominals, start off with one set of maximum reps, try to work up to at least 30 reps, then you can add more sets, great to get to grips with that all important six pack. Finally Ex 7: Calf raises, 2 x 12 reps, Hold a dumbbell in one hand and with toes on a block raise and lower the calf via full range.

ROUTINE FOR THE OVER 14s As always warm up first Ex 1: INTERCHANGE dumbbells overhead presses 3 x 8 for the shoulders and arms. Ex 2: Full squats, this time concentrate on going right down full range, but don’t bounce at the knees. Make sure a spotter is standing close by and use squat racks. Ex 3: Pullovers, use swing bell or centrally loaded dumbbell, the weight is not so important, light to medium is sufficient, the main goal being to encourage chest expansion Ex 4: Wide grip bench presses 3 x 10 for pectorals, triceps and shoulders. Ex 5: Dumbbell flyes, lying, after the bench presses, further pump the pecs with dumbbell flyes.3 x 12

Ex 6: One arm dumbbell rowing 3 x 8 for lats, arms and shoulders, use reasonably heavy weights as this is quite a safe exercise. Ex 7: Lying triceps stretches 3 x 8 for the back and major bulk muscles of the upper arms Ex 8: Crunches 2 sets of maximum reps EX 9: Alternate dumbbell curls for biceps 2 x 10 and then pumps the lower legs. Ex 10: Calf raises, use machine or dumbbell or barbell across the neck for increased resistance, calves on a block to get maximum stretch, always a must in calf training.

Don’t force the poundage’s, just be satisfied with slow, but sure progress. Optimum health habits and a good diet should be encouraged. Young bodybuilders must have sufficient rest and relaxation throughout these important years of mental and physical growth. Try to encourage the habit of eating nourishing foods, plenty of proteins, vegetables and fresh fruit. When youngsters are not actually training, encourage them to become involved in a wide range of other hobbies and pursuits.

Author: Mick Hart… a genuine bodybuilding and anabolic
steroids expert Safe
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Account Receivable Funding Is Important To Your Businesses Success

Jun 25

Posted by admin in Financing | No Comments

Account receivable funding is an often overlooked form of capital for many businesses. It has so many benefits, so it is certainly something you don’t want to overlook when you are putting together the financing plan for your business. All businesses can benefit in some way from account receivable funding.

In a nutshell this process provides your business with quick access to capital that can help solve any cash flow issues that businesses tend to encounter from time to time. Your business would sell invoices or account receivables to a “factor” which would pay you for the discounted invoices. You don’t get the full amount of the invoice, but you do get around 90% of it. It is worth it for your business because you don’t have to wait for customers to pay, and you can also extend payment terms to potential customers to increase business. The increased repayment flexibility will make more customers buy from you.

Often times a business has to go further into debt to meet regular payment deadlines such as payroll, utility expenses, and inventory expenses. With account receivable funding a business can get almost instant access to capital once a sale is made, so they can make these deadlines and improve efficiency. Also, going further into debt requires higher interest payments, so this form of financing also helps your business avoid expensive interest payments.

This form of financing is perfect for a small to medium sized business that is getting started. Obtaining regular debt financing like a small business loan can be difficult without access to collateral which most startups simply don’t have access to. Also, with debt financing you run into the previously mentioned interest problem. Another positive factor for younger businesses is that your business doesn’t need established business credit to get approved. The creditworthiness of the client is all that is important because the factor wants to make sure the client will pay the invoice before they buy it from you.

If you are an entrepreneur you also have to love account receivable funding because it doesn’t force you to give up ownership percentage or any control of your company like other forms of investment capital can. Investors will want partial ownership and control as part of their investment.

It is important for your business to consider this source of capital because it will always be available as long as you are making sales and have invoices to factor or sell.

BusinessFinance.com can help your business with account receivable funding. They also have over 4,000 sources for capital in their business capital search engine which can be searched for free.