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Tejas Vemparala

Business Operations Insider and Senior Writer
Introduction
About Me

Tejas Vemparala is an operations coordinator and analyst who specializes in recruiting and hiring candidates for open positions in small businesses in New York City. In his role, he actively seeks out top talent to support local entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses.

At Business News Daily, Tejas covers a range of career and workplace topics, including navigating your career path, employee turnover, goal tracking, management theories and business ideas.

Tejas understands the challenges small business owners face firsthand as a former food truck owner and operator, where he focused on providing fast casual Indian cuisine to communities throughout the five boroughs. Tejas holds a dual-degree in economics and marketing and imbues his advice to small businesses with his extensive expertise in these areas.

Experience
Data and Operations Coordinator at Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
March 2022 - Present
Writer at Business News Daily
March 2022 - Present
Education
NYU Stern School of Business
B.S.
Economics and Marketing
Tejas's Activity
5 Ways to Become a Better Mentor - thumbnail
article
5 Ways to Become a Better Mentor
This guide offers advice to improve your mentorship, as well as describes the benefits of being a mentor.
Updated October 23, 2023
10 Business Ideas for Entrepreneurial Grads - thumbnail
article
10 Business Ideas for Entrepreneurial Grads
Entrepreneurial college graduates may find inspiration in these business ideas.
Updated October 24, 2023
Solving the Mystery of Millennial and Gen Z Job Hoppers - thumbnail
article
Solving the Mystery of Millennial and Gen Z Job Hoppers
To cut costs, businesses sometimes stop investing in younger employees' needs. Millennials and Gen Z want to get the maximum value for their work.
Updated October 24, 2023
8 Strange Businesses You Didn’t Know Existed - thumbnail
article
8 Strange Businesses You Didn’t Know Existed
Most businesses are frightfully normal, but humans have unusual habits and desires. Learn about 8 strange businesses that carved a niche for themselves.
Updated January 17, 2024
The ‘Art of the Pivot’: 9 Tips to Successfully Shift Your Business Strategy - thumbnail
article
The ‘Art of the Pivot’: 9 Tips to Successfully Shift Your Business Strategy
Executing alternate strategies to achieve your business goals are what startup entrepreneurs call “the art of the pivot.” Here’s how to pivot your business.
Updated October 23, 2023
Management Theories Every Small Business Owner Should Know - thumbnail
article
Management Theories Every Small Business Owner Should Know
As a business grows, understanding the type of manager you want to be is crucial. Learn about management theories and how to implement a management style.
Updated November 10, 2023
Business Software Guide: What SMBs Need - thumbnail
article
Business Software Guide: What SMBs Need
This guide lists and describes various business software solutions that may benefit small businesses.
Updated October 23, 2023
26 Great Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs - thumbnail
article
26 Great Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs
This list of great business ideas offers inspiration to entrepreneurs looking for their next big business idea.
Updated August 09, 2024
Track Your Goals With These 10 Free Tools - thumbnail
article
Track Your Goals With These 10 Free Tools
Digital and analog tools can track your progress toward achieving your goals. Learn 10 tools to measure progress and milestones and boost productivity.
Updated May 17, 2024
What to Do When Your Best Employee Quits - thumbnail
article
What to Do When Your Best Employee Quits
When an outstanding worker quits, it can impact the entire organization. Here are the steps your business should take to keep productivity high.
Updated January 03, 2024
Navigating Your Career Path: How to Map It Out - thumbnail
article
Navigating Your Career Path: How to Map It Out
Finding your profession is not always a linear path. It helps to create a map for your career and then be flexible until you reach your final destination.
Updated October 24, 2023
6 Proven Ways to Get a Promotion - thumbnail
article
6 Proven Ways to Get a Promotion
Ready to move up in your company? Do these six things if you want a promotion.
Updated October 24, 2023
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What makes a good mentor?

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Some important traits in a good mentor include patience and listening skills. The most effective mentors take in what’s happening, assess the path the mentee is on and then guide the person onto the right track. Mentoring is as much about counseling as it is transferring knowledge and leadership skills. That takes practice, and the mentor has to be willing to let the mentee make mistakes and try guiding them again.

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You also should develop mentor relationships with those you think would make a good match. Here are five ways to become a good mentor:

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1. Communicate and listen

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Your mentee should ultimately oversee their own career path. You help them achieve whatever it is they want to achieve. Don’t inject too much of your own desires or opinions into their plan. Ask them about their aspirations as well as their expectations of you. For example, are they looking for support, guidance or insight?

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Make sure to target your approach. For instance, maybe you want to help someone who’s experiencing a similar situation as you did, or perhaps you want to give someone opportunities they don’t have access to.

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“Define what … your mentee should get out of a mentoring relationship with you and why you want to mentor,” said Sarah Deane, founder of EffectUX. “This will enable you to set expectations, agree on the goals of the relationship and maintain healthy boundaries that respect the relationship.”

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If you and the mentee share your hopes and desires for the relationship, you’ll be able to establish a mutually valuable dynamic. Mentoring is not a one-sided conversation; it is an open discussion that encourages thoughts, questions and concerns.

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This must also happen without judgment. If your mentee feels too insecure to ask a question, you need to find a way to earn their trust and build their confidence. Communication is 99% of a quality mentor-mentee relationship. If the two of you can’t clearly share ideas, thoughts, opinions and feedback, then it defeats the purpose of the relationship. A mentee needs to be able to confide in the mentor. Without this trust and effective communication, the relationship will not succeed.

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“It is important to understand a mentee’s challenges, goals, desires and feelings so that you can best support them, engage with them and encourage them,” Deane said.

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2. Offer constructive criticism

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While you don’t want to judge or offend your mentee, you shouldn’t filter your feedback to avoid hurting them, either. There is a way to deliver criticism without breaking their confidence. Sharing your experience is a great way to send a message without criticizing them directly. For example, tell them about a mistake you made and how you learned from it. If the mentee is savvy, they will see the comparison and the subtle message: “Don’t do what I did, and here’s why.” The point is to educate, not tear down the person.

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Nuttall said you should be diplomatic and tactful when addressing your concerns. Instead of noting only the mentee’s mistakes or shortcomings, point out something positive, and then offer guidance to improve their work.

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“Whoever you are mentoring isn’t going to get everything right on the first attempt, so you need to be able to [provide] feedback constructively but effectively to ensure that they improve and progress,” Nuttall said.

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If your employee becomes sensitive or defensive, be as supportive as possible. Again, draw from your own experiences to explain a time you had a slip-up, or simply redirect their attention to the progress and achievements they’ve made thus far. Self-deprecating humor is powerful in disarming a defensive mentee and getting them to listen again.

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3. Practice empathy

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It’s important to relate to your mentees and understand their perspective and feelings. If they’re having a bad day, you should pick up on their energy and work to help them through it.

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“Empathy is a vital character trait of a good mentor,” Nuttall said. “You should be able to understand how your protege is feeling and how to best approach guiding them.”

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You might think empathy cannot be taught, but with practice, you can achieve higher levels. This requires effort: listening more;  being curious about others; appreciating those who are different from you; illuminating any innate judgments; and educating yourself to break false stigmas and ignorant notions.

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For instance, you can’t expect everyone to progress at the same rate you did. You have different strengths, interests, backgrounds and experiences; be careful not to project immediate expectations onto your mentee. A common mistake mentors in very technical fields make is assuming a rising-star mentee in the same field will perform, think and act the same way as the mentor did. What might have been the challenge to pass for your generation may not be necessary or applicable now. Don’t judge a mentee because they didn’t go through the same meat grinder you did to get a promotion.

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Times change, and so do organizations. If you can put aside your own feelings about how hard things may have been for you, you can speak far more clearly to someone who was able to avoid that challenge and still rise to the same role and expectations.

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“This can sometimes be easier said than done, which is why patience is also an essential virtue of an effective mentor. Not everyone is going to grasp everything as quickly as you did, and not everyone is going to find your working method to be the most effective method for them,” Nuttall said.

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If your process isn’t helping, change it. Adapt as you go, and include your mentee in decisions.

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4. Let your mentee make decisions

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Because you “know better,” it might be tempting to take the wheel while your mentee rides shotgun. This is not how your relationship should operate. Your job as the mentor is to help a mentee learn their role, not do it for them.

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One of the most important skills the mentee needs to develop, with your guidance, is the ability to think on the spot with competing demands and high pressure. Some call it creativity; others call it common sense. Whatever you call it, your mentee has to be able to solve problems on the fly. Your role as a mentor is to help them develop those skills.

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Think of yourself as a driving instructor: You’re sitting in the passenger’s side, allowing your mentee full control of the journey. However, you’re still there to offer advice and directions or to pull the emergency brake if needed.

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“Add an element of autonomy to your structure once you have established a good relationship and trust level with the person you are mentoring,” Nuttall said. “Give them some responsibility, and allow them to make their own decisions in certain aspects of the job. This will encourage them to think for themselves and improve their confidence, showing you have faith in them.”

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If you believe in your mentees, and you make that clear to them by allowing them control, they will have much more faith in both you and themselves.

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5. Work on becoming a positive role model

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Your mentee can learn a lot simply by observing and learning from your words and actions. They can pick up on how you behave and interact with others or a certain task at hand. If you’re stuck on a project, your mentee can watch to see how you react to any obstacles that may come your way. If you’re negatively influenced by this task and it shows in your behavior, you may end up pushing the mentee away or allowing them to see a side they start to believe is acceptable.

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To set your mentee on the right path, show them multiple ways of handling difficult situations and talk them through your process. Let them know that they have a choice to how they react to bad news or a failed project. This can be talking to their supervisor when they made a mistake or learning how to regroup when they’ve failed a task. With your experience, they can recognize the reactions that will hinder them or help them throughout any difficult time.

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Being a positive role model is equally true when you’re dealing with a good situation, or one that favors you. It’s important to demonstrate the positive situation with wisdom and forward thinking, showing how you’d like to receive more of these experiences and what actions you can take to make that a reality. [Related: How to Find a Mentor]

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You can also show humility in positive situations, meaning that you don’t let success make you forget about the overall picture. This can be the downfall of many mentors, when they push for success over learning experiences. A mentee can see this happening and allow themselves to go down a path filled with half-earned successes. If you too have been down this path, explain to your mentee how you learned from it and what you would do differently. Sharing your learning experience is a sign of both a good mentor and positive role model.

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However, it’s important to allow your mentee to make their own mistakes, even as they  learn valuable lessons from observing and learning from your own experiences.

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Mentorship improves morale, productivity, and recruitment

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Building mentorship opportunities into the normal workflow doesn’t just help employees get up to speed and do a better job at work — it also makes them feel valued, strengthens relationships amongst team members, and bolsters retention rates. Moreover, even after team members move on, mentorship programs increase the likelihood that they refer their own mentees (some of whom may be talented interns preparing to enter the job market) to your company, improving your recruitment efforts and establishing your brand as a great place to work. Overall, the time invested in establishing a mentorship program in your company will pay dividends in many ways.

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While many college students are working toward getting a job in their field of study, plenty of others are interested in forging their own path and becoming an entrepreneur. While college is often billed as a place to gain knowledge that will impress future employers, it can also be fertile ground for the next generation of entrepreneurs to build the skills and connections they need for success.

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Of course, launching a successful business starts with a good business idea. These 10 low-cost business ideas are great inspiration for ambitious young entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business after getting their diploma.

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10 business ideas for college graduates

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According to a survey conducted by Intelligent, 17 percent of college students already run their own business, while another 16 percent definitely plan to join the ranks of entrepreneurs after graduation. An additional 27 percent are considering becoming the founder of their own small business, signaling that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well among the youth of today. For these scholars, finding the right idea to turn their passion into a business is often the first challenge to overcome.

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1. Clothing company

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Did you dream of working in the fashion world but couldn’t find more than a few low-level opportunities in the field? If you have a great eye for design, you can strike out on your own and start an independent clothing company. Knowing how to sew or silk-screen will help you get off the ground, but you’ll eventually need to find a good manufacturer to reach the next stage of growth. As with any business, having high-quality products, along with great marketing skills, is the key to success.

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2. Content creation

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Thanks to social media and the 24-hour news cycle, creative individuals like writers and graphic designers can use their talents to produce high-quality, shareable content for businesses and media outlets. A growing gig economy of freelance and contract workers makes it easier than ever to start a career as a professional freelance content creator. This can also be a great way to build up your skills should you choose to seek a full-time job later on. To help yourself stand out, make sure you have an idea of your brand, how you want to market yourself and how you want your skills to be used.

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3. Electronic repair

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In today’s tech-obsessed world, most people use smartphones, tablets and laptops daily. With this constant usage, there’s a good chance that at least one of those devices is going to crash or break at some point. If you’re a techie who can fix these issues with relative ease, you can offer to repair people’s electronics for cheaper than what the big retailers charge. Start by marketing your services to students at your alma mater who don’t want to wait for the campus IT department to fix their hard drives.

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4. Event entertainment

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If you spent your undergrad years tinkering with sound-mixing software and staffing the DJ booth at your college radio station, starting an event entertainment company could be the right path for you. With only your music collection and your laptop, you can get people out on the dance floor at weddings and birthday parties, or simply provide background music at more casual events. DJ equipment is a big investment, but plenty of companies offer daily rentals of speakers, subwoofers and other accessories that you can use until you save up enough to buy your own.

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5. Fitness instruction

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Were you constantly hitting the gym after class? Turn your passion for fitness into a lucrative job by becoming a fitness instructor or personal trainer. You’ll have to put in a small amount of time and money to get certified, but organizations like the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America offer online certification programs that you can complete at your own pace. Once you’re a certified trainer, you can look for openings at local gyms or work one-on-one with clients at their homes. You can also find numerous programs for certification to teach fitness classes such as yoga or Zumba.

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6. Graphic design

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Are you a whiz with software tools like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop? Many small businesses are clamoring for affordable access to professional branding, such as logos, banners and signs. If you’re about to leave college with a toolbox full of graphic design skills, consider launching a freelance design business that caters to other entrepreneurs. Once you establish a network of contacts and a reputation for quality designs, you can leverage past work into new jobs and possibly even set yourself up with a full-time job right out of college.

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7. Handmade crafts

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Do you have a knack for knitting, making jewelry or creating other small crafts? If you can produce a lot of items quickly, you can open up an online storefront and sell your creations to the public. Startup costs are extremely low if you purchase your materials in bulk from a craft supplier, and if you can turn orders around quickly, you’ll make a profit in no time. You could even turn your store into a full-time gig. Websites such as Etsy, Bonanza and ArtFire are great places to sell your work, and a supplementary Instagram account can help drive traffic to your online store.

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8. Social media consultation

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Want to put that marketing or communications degree to good use? Consider starting a social media consulting firm. Small businesses often have to take care of their own social media marketing. With so many other responsibilities, though, the company’s owners may be too busy to come up with great strategies for each of the growing number of social channels businesses are expected to utilize. As a consultant, you can help businesses determine the best tactics, posting schedules and content for your clients’ target audiences. As their follower counts grow, so will your business.

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9. Teaching a skill you’ve mastered

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Are you an expert in photography? Playing the guitar? A specific programming language? Consider starting a freelance business teaching your skill to others. This is a great way to utilize (and monetize) your passion. If you have a knack for teaching, you can grow your business to incorporate multiple teachers and skill subsets. Start by making sure you have a way to show expertise in your field (such as a website with your photos or audio clips, or an Instagram feed with other examples of your work), and get the word out through as many channels as possible.

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10. Partnering with man’s best friend

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People love their pets and would do most anything for them. That means there’s a rich market for all types of pet care, such as grooming, walking, sitting and training. If you have skills in or passion for any of these areas, you can start up a business in no time. Pet sitting and walking requires little to no professional knowledge or equipment, while grooming and training will be more time- and cost-intensive. Head to your local dog park or grooming center to find clients and identify customer needs.

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Tips for starting a business after college

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In addition to the above ideas, the following tips are helpful for new entrepreneurs hoping to get started on the right foot.

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1. Know your industry.

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Whatever you do, make sure it’s something you’re familiar with. Your experience and skill set should apply to the business you’re trying to launch. While you can definitely learn along the way and don’t necessarily need to be an expert to start, it gives you a big advantage when trying to break into a space you’ve studied.

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“Recent college graduates should focus on a particular niche,” said Matthew Ross, co-owner and CEO of The Slumber Yard. “Don’t worry about capturing the entire market early on. You can always expand operations later.”

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2. Write a detailed business plan.

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Creating a business plan serves several important purposes. First, creating a thorough draft explaining your business model helps you challenge yourself and refine your ideas to make sure they’re as bulletproof as possible. Second, business plans include financial projections, marketing strategies and competitive analyses, helping you establish a firmer understanding of the market you’ll be entering. Finally, business plans are important for securing funding, either through a business loan or by pitching investors.

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3. Stay connected with your alma mater.

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As a recent college graduate, you’ll have access to resources and experts at your school if you make the effort to stay connected. Consider joining an alumni network or staying in touch with your favorite professors and fellow students. Attend on campus events like job fairs and consider sponsoring some to help boost your brand.

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Universities and colleges love to celebrate their alumni and help them achieve success, so don’t feel like just because you graduated, your school has nothing left to offer. You may find great mentors, skilled employees and promising business partners by staying involved in your alma mater’s broader community.

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College grads can attain business success

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Although there is a lot of pressure on outgoing students to line up interviews and land a job, entrepreneurial grads can be successful too. By leveraging the skills and network developed during college, recent grads can create a strong business plan and connect with valuable partners to give them a leg up in launching and scaling their business. Of course, it all starts with a great business idea and a passion for what you do.

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Nicole Fallon, Adam C. Uzialko, and Tejas Vemparala also contributed to this article.

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Millennials don’t seem to like staying in one place for too long. They get a bad rap for lack of concentration, skipping songs on playlists, switching between apps and browser tabs, and juggling multiple mobile devices.

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Gen Z’s notoriously short attention span seems to have transferred to the workplace, where it’s not uncommon for 20-somethings to have worked for three or four different employers in the last few years. However, job-hopping may be about selective attention rather than an attention-span problem. Younger workers want to explore careers and find workplaces with fair compensation that give them the highest possible return on their job investments.

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We’ll look at the reasons behind millennial job-hopping to give employers insights into keeping this mercurial workforce.

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Why do millennials change jobs so often?

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There are several perspectives on why millennials change jobs so often.

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1. Millennial workers want to explore careers and industries.

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Baby boomers and Generation X members have been celebrated for spending entire careers at the same company. However, younger workers may not share this desire for workplace longevity –  and neither approach is wrong. “For millennials, it is more a matter of career exploration than climbing the traditional ladder,” said Emily He, former SVP of human capital management at Oracle. “Research suggests that today’s college graduates will have a dozen or more jobs by the time they hit their 30s.”

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Job-hopping is no longer frowned upon as it was in past generations. It’s become socially acceptable to experience various careers and industries to figure out what matters and match a position to someone’s passions and skills. “In an uncertain job environment, it has become [socially] and culturally OK that they explore,” He explained. “The expectations have changed. Your 20s are used as the time where you actually figure out what you want to do, so the constant job-hopping to explore multiple industries is expected.”

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2. Millennials want to feel part of something bigger.

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If millennial job-hopping is normal and healthy, do employers have to accept high turnover rates among younger workers? Not necessarily.

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Tom Turner, founding partner of digital forensics company DSi, thinks Gen Y workers will stick around if the culture is right. “Millennial employees want to feel like they are part of something bigger than just their job,” Turner said. “They want an understanding of how their position plays into the company’s success.”

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3. The modern management culture has shifted.

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Additionally, today’s management culture has shifted to become more employee-focused. Employees have more choices and don’t feel as beholden to an employer. They prioritize a positive work-life balance. Employers, in turn, are finding creative ways to keep employees happy.

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“The culture of management has also changed,” Turner explained. “In the past, employers expected employees to feel appreciative of having a job, but now employers need to feel appreciative of having their employees. Because of this, a culture of performance where everyone understands the expectations and is held accountable for performing to them is key.”

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How often do millennials job-hop?

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According to Zippia, on average, a millennial will stay at their job for 2.75 years. And according to a Gallup report on the millennial generation, 21% of millennials surveyed report changing jobs within the past year – more than three times the rate of other generations. This millennial turnover is costly; Gallup estimates it costs $30.5 billion yearly.

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The Gallup data also revealed that half of millennials in the workplace don’t “strongly agree” that they’ll be with their current employer in a year, and 60% are open to a new job opportunity, compared to 45% of non-millennials.

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Additionally, millennials frequently juggle multiple jobs, including side hustles and freelancing, making their job experience even more scattered.

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How the pandemic affected millennial job-hopping

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The COVID-19 pandemic spurred additional millennial job-hopping, as well as job shifts among workers of all generations. According to a 2021 IBM report on employee post-pandemic expectations, most employees of all generations felt their employers did a poor job of supporting employees during the pandemic. Because of this, many millennials – who represent over a third of the American workforce – sought alternate employment.

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Despite medical benefits being a significant draw in staying employed, one out of every five employees across all generations voluntarily changed employers in 2020. With 139 million employees in 2020, that means 27.8 million employees voluntarily changed employers in that period of time.

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Does Gen Z job-hop like millennials?

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Gen Zers in the workplace tend to explore multiple positions, careers, and industries. Being unattached to organizations or institutions gives them the flexibility to determine their schedule and earn more money across multiple jobs (hustles) than being locked into one position that returns less in salary over time.

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Most of Gen Z didn’t have long to establish roots in any industry or career before the COVID-19 pandemic; most were less than three to five years post-secondary graduation. Still, the IBM report revealed that Gen Z accounted for 33% of job hoppers in 2020, or about 9.2 million Gen Z folks.

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Gen Zers don’t plan to set down many post-pandemic career roots, either. According to a 2022 Lever Great Resignation report, 65% of Gen Zers say they’ll leave their jobs by the end of the year, and more than 13% are more than twice as likely as other generations to leave their jobs in the next month.

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Switching jobs is no longer a red flag for good managers, who understand that having a traditional mindset of employer-employee relationships is not fruitful for getting the best out of a younger employee. As the workforce evolves from the assembly line type of specific task completion into an asynchronous group-think type of communal project completion, it is essential to evolve away from being a boss and into a true leader and coach.

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What industries see the most frequent employee turnover?

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Employee turnover is more prevalent in industries requiring extremely long hours, less pay, or no employee buy-in to the final product – all factors that can lead to workplace burnout. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals in the motion picture and sound recording industries last, on average,1.4 years. Professionals who work in food preparation and serving-related occupations spend an average of only 1.6 years on the job.

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Employees likely know it’ll be a short stint when they go into jobs where they’ll be overworked and underpaid. However, more traditional industries also see high turnover rates. According to LinkedIn data, professional services, tech and media, accommodation, and retail industries also see above-average turnover.

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What can employers do to keep millennial employees?

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Addressing younger workers’ priorities can go a long way toward retaining them. Turner advised that showing your employees you value and trust them with tangible policies and benefits will aid in millennial employee retention. Offering flexible schedules, health insurance, more vacation time, and a great employee benefits package may also keep Gen Y around for a few years longer than average.

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Additionally, encouraging professional development may keep younger workers around awhile. The Lever report showed that Gen Zers are the most likely generation to stick around if employers offer upskilling opportunities, and 43% of millennials ask for role changes to increase their interest in – and commitment to – a company.

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Workforce relationships are changing

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People and goals change. Even if someone is in a “perfect” career-making job, they may yearn for something different and new challenges. Workforce relationships may be shifting to a model that appreciates accomplishments instead of prioritizing longevity.

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“Companies need to change the focus [of millennial hires] from ‘How long can I keep you?’ to ‘How much can we accomplish together?'” He said. “In a sea of adaptability and independent aspirations, empowering millennials to expand their connections past their own company can lead to a deeper, trust-filled employer-employee relationship, and millennials may think twice before jumping ship to another organization.”

\n

Nicole Fallon contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2783","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/8755-strange-businesses.html","displayModified":"2024-01-17T18:33:54Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"8755-strange-businesses.html","id":"2783","ID":2783,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-08-11T07:00:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Business as (un)usual: These unusual businesses have capitalized on very niche markets, such as cuddle sessions or rotting bouquet deliveries.","subtitle":"Business as (un)usual: These unusual businesses have capitalized on very niche markets, such as cuddle sessions or rotting bouquet deliveries.","title":"8 Strange Businesses You Didn’t Know Existed","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Start Your Business","slug":"start-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Business Ideas","slug":"business-ideas"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Most businesses are frightfully normal, but humans have unusual habits and desires. Learn about 8 strange businesses that carved a niche for themselves."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04073557/getty.png","caption":"","alt":""},"content":"

When most entrepreneurs start a business, they pursue frightfully normal business ideas. After all, what sells better than goods and services everyone needs? But humans express a broad range of habits and desires, and that allows some strange businesses to flourish and carve out unique marketplace niches.

\n

We’ll highlight eight companies that forgo mass appeal for shock value, intrigue or just plain weirdness, and we’ll touch on ways to market an eccentric business.

\n\n\n

8 eccentric businesses that may surprise you

\n\n\n

Unusual niches don’t necessarily make for bad business ideas. They’re business plans you may not have seen coming or didn’t realize had a peculiar demographic waiting for them. Here are eight peculiar businesses filling needs you never knew existed.

\n

1. Dogue restaurant for dogs

\n

You might have heard of cat cafes or dog-friendly restaurants, but have you ever heard of a restaurant just for dogs? San Francisco’s Dogue offers a $75 tasting menu exclusively for canines, including homemade “pawtisserie” and “dogguccinos.”

\n

Dogue was founded by Rahmi Massarweh, a chef who initially sought to create healthy dishes for his beloved pets. Beyond the novelty of stopping by with your faithful companion for a bowl of organic beef chuck steak, Dogue is dedicated to spreading the word about pet nutrition and its effects on a dog’s health. You can purchase Dogue food to go or have a meal plan custom-made for your dog’s dietary needs.

\n

Visit the Dogue website to learn more about this unique business.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

2. Edible shoes

\n

Apparently, edible shoes are a thing. While most companies that make edible shoes are also in the business of producing more conventional fare, edible shoes are a large enough market that a quick Google search reveals dozens of results. Most of these toe-tapping treats are made of chocolate, which begs the question, “What happens when they start to melt?”

\n

3. Potato Parcel

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Samwise Gamgee of Lord of the Rings fame forgot that in addition to boiling, mashing, and stewing potatoes, you can also write on them and send them via mail.

\n

Potato Parcel writes custom messages on potatoes and delivers them to the recipient of your choice. Nothing says love like a potato you can’t eat because it’s been written on. Visit the Potato Parcel website to learn more.

\n

4. Hire Goats

\n

Have you moved to the suburbs? Forget about a pricey lawn mower and hire a goat! Hire Goats takes the meaning of natural and eco-friendly products to a new level by letting you rent a goat to clip your grass. Talk about a sustainable business model! There are several locations across the country where you can rent a goat (or many) for your lawn care.

\n

The company boasts that goats are commonly used for brush eradication, restoring biodiversity, and maintaining farmland and pastures. You will have a new GOAT (greatest of all time) for lawn care, and yes, they bleat. Visit the Hire Goats website for more details and pricing information.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

5. Cuddle Party

\n

We all need a hug sometimes. Thankfully, cuddle parties exist. Cuddle Party does more than just hold you; the service also teaches you how to create boundaries and connections.

\n

After opening with a welcome circle and learning some basic skills, the floor opens to freestyle cuddling. Cuddle Party’s services are available in various places in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. Visit the Cuddle Party website to find out more.

\n

6. Virtual Dating Assistants

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If you’re fed up with the dating scene, outsource some of the work. Virtual Dating Assistants (VIDA) Select creates online dating profiles for you, has conversations with potential dates, and plans and organizes dates on your behalf. All you need to do is show up for the date at the designated time and place and have a good time. Visit the VIDA Select website for more information.

\n

7. Dirty Rotten Flowers

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Bad breakup? Good sense of humor? Does spite drive your decision-making? Dirty Rotten Flowers is for you. This business sends bouquets of dead, rotting flowers to your not-loved ones.

\n

Just keep in mind that because you’re not sending fresh, live flowers, the recipient doesn’t get the opportunity to love something and then watch it die and feel guilty because they kill everything they touch; however, sending a rotten bouquet will send a clearer message.

\n

8. Neuticles

\n

Bob Barker spoke wise words when he encouraged everyone to spay and neuter their pets. But are your pets really the same after they get snipped? If this is something you’re worried about, you can buy artificial testicular implants for your furry friends from Neuticles.

\n

The company claims that its implants will boost your pet’s self-esteem – because, obviously, your pets are very concerned about their sudden lack of body parts and don’t want their animal friends to know they’ve been under the knife. Visit the Neuticles website for more information.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

How to market a strange business

\n

Marketing a strange business is like any other small business marketing strategy, except you have a very narrow scope. You’ll need to connect to your target audience and ensure you’re solving its problems and pain points. You’re likely a part of your target audience and understand how your product or service fills a void.

\n

Conduct customer surveys to ask your target audience the following questions:

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    \n
  • Where do they go to find solutions?
  • \n
  • How much do they pay for their less-than-perfect solution?
  • \n
  • How long does it take them to get what they need to solve their unique problem?
  • \n
\n

Market your unusual business via social media to reach more potential customers. Consider creating a pricing strategy with a larger premium than average – after all, you have a niche product for a niche audience, and low prices can scare off customers.

\n

The best part of launching a strange product or service is that your audience will spread the word via word-of-mouth marketing to others facing the same issues your strange product or service solves.

\n

A market for creativity

\n

Unique business ideas appeal to niche markets eager to solve a problem. Your strange business idea isn’t strange to your audience – it’s likely a welcome solution that will build customer loyalty if it solves specific issues.

\n

There will always be a market for strange businesses because humans are unique and creative, forever seeking products and services that speak to us.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"4077","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/5696-pivot-business-strategy-shift.html","displayModified":"2023-10-23T18:51:19Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"5696-pivot-business-strategy-shift.html","id":"4077","ID":4077,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2013-12-28T19:16:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"When startups are not progressing well, decision-makers face a critical dilemma: stay the course or recognize that a change in direction is necessary.","subtitle":"When startups are not progressing well, decision-makers face a critical dilemma: stay the course or recognize that a change in direction is necessary.","title":"The ‘Art of the Pivot’: 9 Tips to Successfully Shift Your Business Strategy","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Lead Your Team","slug":"lead-your-team"},"sub":{"name":"Strategy","slug":"strategy"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Executing alternate strategies to achieve your business goals are what startup entrepreneurs call “the art of the pivot.” Here’s how to pivot your business."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04082839/1554241922.jpeg","caption":"In a startup setting, changing directions to achieve your business goals is sometimes necessary for survival. / Credit: Arrows image via Shutterstock ","alt":""},"content":"

When business growth slows, leaders face a critical dilemma: stay the course and see if their current strategy just needs a little more time or recognize that a change in direction is necessary for the business’s survival. Continually shifting strategy is a clear sign of panic, but knowing when to definitively change your strategy is what startup leaders call “the art of the pivot.”

\n

“The art of the pivot is all about changing course in pursuit of the same original business goal,” entrepreneur James Reinhart told BusinessNewsDaily. “Pivots aren’t about moving from one business model to the next; they are about evolving the service delivery model, or the monetization or growth strategy.”

\n\n\n

What is a pivot?

\n\n\n

A common word among startups and small businesses, a pivot means to turn sharply without changing position so as to not give up any currently held advantages. When a business pivots, it could mean that they are changing something about their core products and services. Alternatively, it could mean that they are changing their branding strategy or their approach to recruiting and hiring. A pivot is usually a fundamental change by the business in some key function of its operations, and it might be done for a variety of reasons.

\n

When to pivot in business?

\n

You should pivot to better meet customer demand, shift your target audience to boost sales, or to accommodate major changes in your industry.

\n

Plenty of good examples of pivoting could be found during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many businesses had to rethink their operations to survive. For example, the food and service industry pivoted to prioritize curbside pick-up and outdoor dining while their dining rooms remained closed. Similarly, events businesses shifted to virtual parties and conferences to keep revenue coming in while in-person congregation wasn’t possible.

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Everyone knows that there will be startup challenges when launching and growing a small business. But it is when the challenge is threatening the long-term financial viability of the business that you should consider a pivot. Sometimes the market doesn’t respond the way you anticipate, and having flexibility to evolve with the times is a major key to success for all businesses. The most profitable and longest-running businesses have ensured their success by evolving with changes in their target audience and their products.

\n

As CEO of apparel-resale website thredUP, Reinhart has mastered the business pivot. Since co-founding the company in 2009, he has seen thredUP through two major strategy changes to become the million-member fashion e-commerce site it is today. The only way Reinhart was able to guide the startup through these changes was to continually evaluate internal and external factors affecting his business, and remain flexible enough to adapt to them.

\n

“To build a lasting business that delivers value to customers, you must have equal parts confidence and paranoia,” he said. “Most good ideas aren’t obvious, so be confident, and push the boundaries of the experience you’re delivering. But businesses have to be willing to constantly disrupt themselves to remain relevant. Be paranoid, and don’t tune out the world around you.”

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9 tips to pivot your business

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Is it time for your business to make a strategy shift? Reinhart offered these nine tips to help you make the decision and smoothly execute your pivot:

\n
    \n
  1. Understand your business’s strengths and weaknesses: You should have no problem listing the things your company does well, the things your company does poorly and the things that keep you up at night. Without this level of awareness and introspection, you won’t get the chance to evolve.
  2. \n
  3. Spark a wide internal dialogue: Innovation can come from any level. Encourage everyone in your company to look for external threats and opportunities by starting an internal and ongoing dialogue. Adopting a culture of problem-solving in your organization early can drive the mentality of habitual change toward success. Consider conducting employee surveys to gather feedback about what your workforce sees from their perspective, and schedule company leadership meetings to plot a new course together.
  4. \n
  5. Identify important threats and opportunities: Spend time in the depths of your user data, examine your conversion funnel, talk to customers in person, and track and analyze every move of your competitors. Try not to get distracted by the small stuff, and figure out which threats or opportunities are actually worth action.
  6. \n
  7. Evaluate pivot options: Once you’ve pinpointed a significant threat or opportunity that warrants a pivot, it’s time to start thinking about strategies. There’s likely more than one strategy to address the threat or opportunity you’ve identified, so list your options, and think through each scenario.
  8. \n
  9. Map out implications: Don’t make a decision without mapping out the implications before committing to a pivot in your startup. A core pivot will touch every aspect of your business. Map out what the redefinition looks like across process, profits, costs, brand, team structure, culture and more. A best practice when making company-wide changes is to talk to each department head personally and find out what he or she may want to know before putting your final vision into motion.
  10. \n
  11. Sell the pivot to your team: Successful pivots don’t happen without the full support of your team and investors. If you work with an incubator or accelerator, make sure that they understand why you are making that decision. Show data to help highlight that decision and how it will help them get a better return on their investment instead of staying par for the course.  It’s important to explain the “whys” and not just the “whats.” Get everyone on board to share your vision.
  12. \n
  13. Sell it to your customers: Entrepreneurs often feel connected and a sense of gratitude to early adopters. Telling a supportive community that you’re planning to drastically change something they love is really, really hard. Be sensitive, but remember that you’re building for the next million customers, and you simply can’t please everyone. Be sure to openly communicate with them and provide feedback opportunities – such as customer surveys – for early adopters and power users, as they are the ones who use your products and services regularly. They might even have suggestions that you and your team haven’t thought of!
  14. \n
  15. Have a plan and execute it: Have an extensive plan in place with tasks, stakeholders, deadlines, clear customer communication, and short- and long-term goals. Ensure that everyone is aware of how the pivot impacts them and their role in the transition.
  16. \n
  17. Stay agile: Remember that the need to evaluate threats and opportunities is ongoing. You must be willing to constantly disrupt from within when external circumstances change. Stay aware of competitors and market conditions, and you’ll have no trouble redirecting again when the time comes.
  18. \n
\n\n\n \n\n\n

When your business is stagnating, consider pivoting

\n

Sometimes pivoting can be critical to keeping a business on track, and failing to do so when the time is right is a common startup mistake. However, pivoting for the sake of pivoting won’t help your startup become financially viable either, so understanding timing and circumstance is critical. When considering a pivot, have a plan and execute, and remember to get feedback from all stakeholders to track the success of your new plan as it proceeds.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"3031","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/10626-management-theories-for-smbs.html","displayModified":"2023-11-10T19:33:52Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"10626-management-theories-for-smbs.html","id":"3031","ID":3031,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-03-12T21:25:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Become a better leader to inspire your team and help your business grow.","subtitle":"Become a better leader to inspire your team and help your business grow.","title":"Management Theories Every Small Business Owner Should Know","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Lead Your Team","slug":"lead-your-team"},"sub":{"name":"Personal Growth","slug":"personal-growth"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"As a business grows, understanding the type of manager you want to be is crucial. Learn about management theories and how to implement a management style."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04073513/Leadership-manager-meeting-explaining-HR_fizkes.png","caption":"fizkes / Getty Images","alt":"Manager leading a team meeting"},"content":"

Business growth is a byproduct of success that necessitates hiring the best employees to handle operations so business owners can focus on the big picture. Hiring is a leap of faith — business owners must trust their teams to take over multiple functions and make decisions that benefit the company.

\n

Becoming a boss is easy, but being a true leader requires emotional intelligence, a strategic approach and the ability to handle multiple personality types while getting everyone onboard with the business’ mission.

\n

Fortunately, entrepreneurs and small business owners can benefit from learning about established management theories. These theories can help them define their leadership approach and inspire them to effectively guide and grow their organizations. We’ll outline six prominent management theories and share tips for putting them into practice.

\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Management theories business owners should understand

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Managers don’t have to choose one management theory and stick to it. Instead, leaders can determine which theories best fit their organization and select components from each philosophy. You can create a toolkit of effective management strategies and work management systems for you and your staff.

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Here’s an overview of six theorists and their groundbreaking work. You may find inspiration for your leadership style and ways to structure your organization.

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1. Frederick Taylor’s scientific management system

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Frederick W. Taylor (1856-1915) was among the first to study worker productivity and how best to optimize it. Taylor, who had a background in mechanical engineering, conducted controlled experiments that led him to develop four principles of scientific management, known as “Taylorism.” These principles recommend using the scientific method to determine the most efficient way to perform a task in the workplace instead of relying on workers’ judgment or personal discretion.

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Taylor promoted standardization and specialization by suggesting that workplace tasks be broken down into a sequence of smaller steps. He concluded that managers should assign workers to a job that best matches their ability, train them thoroughly and supervise them to ensure they work efficiently.

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However, Taylor’s focus on achieving workplace efficiency ignored the individual’s humanity in favor of finding the optimal way to complete any given task. In its purest form, Taylor’s theory isn’t practiced much today. However, it highlighted workplace efficiency, the value of training programs and procedures and the need for cooperation between workers and managers.

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2. Henri Fayol’s principles of administrative management

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Henri Fayol (1841-1925), a French mining engineer and executive, is considered one of the most influential contributors to modern management theory. Unlike Taylor, who improved productivity by analyzing workers’ actions, Fayol took a top-down approach.

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Fayol examined an organization through the lens of the managers and the situations they might encounter. He believed management has six paramount functions:

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    \n
  • Forecast
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  • Plan
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  • Organize
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  • Command
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  • Coordinate
  • \n
  • Control
  • \n
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Fayol developed 14 principles of administration that outline how managers should organize and interact with employees.

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His comprehensive principles, which have become foundational guidelines in many of today’s workplaces, cover topics ranging from the importance of maintaining an orderly and clean facility to the value of promoting employee initiative and successful teamwork.

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3. Max Weber’s bureaucratic management theory

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Max Weber (1864-1920) was a German sociologist who developed the bureaucratic management theory, which focuses on structuring organizations in a hierarchical fashion with clear rules of governance.

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Weber’s principles for creating an ideal bureaucratic system include:

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    \n
  • Clear division of labor
  • \n
  • Hierarchical chain of command
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  • Separation between an owner’s personal and organizational assets
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  • Meticulous record-keeping and documentation
  • \n
  • Strict and consistent adherence and enforcement of regulations and rules
  • \n
  • The selection and promotion of employees based on qualifications, not personal relationships or personalities
  • \n
\n

Although Weber recognized that bureaucracy threatened individual freedoms, he still saw it as the most efficient and rational way of establishing organizations. Today, the bureaucracy management approach is often perceived as impersonal and overwhelmed by red tape. However, it played a crucial role in universalizing the establishment of standards and procedures, which are at the core of most modern organizations.

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4. Elton Mayo’s human relations theory

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Elton Mayo (1880-1949) was an Australian-born psychologist and Harvard Business School industrial researcher who helped lay the foundation for the human relations movement. Mayo conducted experiments aimed at improving productivity among dissatisfied employees at the Hawthorne plant in Chicago in the 1920s.

\n

He changed working conditions, including temperature, lighting, break times and workday length. He observed that, regardless of the change, there was always an increase in productivity. This led Mayo and his team to conclude that the performance boosts weren’t due to environmental changes. Instead, they resulted from the researchers paying attention to the workers — the workers felt valued as part of a unified group collaborating on the study.

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Mayo’s work led to the recognition of the importance of psychological and social factors in creating productive organizations. This gave rise to the human relations theory, which concluded that money isn’t employees’ biggest motivation. They’re more likely to be motivated by being part of a group and personal attention than money or even working conditions. This people-oriented management approach requires managers to acknowledge the complexity of human nature and the value of social ties in the workplace.

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Although some have questioned the validity of the Hawthorne experiments in recent years, Mayo’s contributions to management theory are the underpinning of today’s focus on group dynamics and team-building efforts to strengthen company cultures.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

5. Douglas McGregor’s X and Y theories

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Douglas McGregor (1906-1964) was an American social psychologist who introduced his X and Y theories in his 1960 book, The Human Side of Enterprise. He concluded that there are two fundamentally different management styles guided by managers’ perceptions of their team members’ motivations:

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    \n
  • Theory X: Theory X is authoritarian in nature and is used by managers who assume that employees are apathetic or dislike their work.
  • \n
  • Theory Y: Theory Y is a participative management style used by managers who believe that workers are self-motivated, responsible and committed to taking ownership of their work.
  • \n
\n

While Theory X leads to micromanaging, Theory Y gives rise to a more collaborative and decentralized workplace. McGregor favored Theory Y, which smaller businesses and startups tend to adopt. With Theory Y, employees at all levels are part of the decision-making process and creativity is encouraged.

\n

Large organizations or those with many staff members may rely more on Theory X to keep everyone focused on meeting organizational goals.

\n

6. Peter Drucker’s ‘knowledge worker’ management theory

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Peter Drucker (1909-2005) was an Austrian-American management consultant whose initial writings on politics and society earned him access to the internal workings of one of the largest companies in the world, General Motors.

\n

After attending every board meeting, interviewing employees and analyzing production and decision-making processes, he published the 1946 book, Concept of the Corporation, which popularized multidivisional structure in tandem with the concept of decentralization and simplification.

\n

In Peter Drucker’s theory of management, an employee is an asset — not a liability — whose skills must be managed. Skills management is an ongoing process that highlights workers’ skill gaps. Management helps train or provide outside learning so employees can complete necessary tasks.

\n

This management theory became very popular in the latter half of the 20th century as companies began focusing on Drucker’s idea of balancing community and business needs by evaluating various requirements and goals.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Implementing a management theory

\n

Knowing various management theories is valuable. However, implementing a management theory is a trial-and-error process that requires patience and flexibility. Before implementing a management theory, consider the following best practices:

\n
    \n
  • Consider who you’re managing: Your approach will differ depending on who — and where — you’re managing. Managing a millennial workforce may require a more hands-off style. However, a more established workforce in a rank-and-file production assembly line will need scientific methods to determine optimal results for large-scale production.
  • \n
  • Set and measure key performance indicators: Set and measure key performance indicators to determine whether your management methods are working. Implementation success requires metrics and holding yourself accountable. If your management methods aren’t effective, introduce changes.
  • \n
  • Discuss a plan with your leadership team: Your leadership team will provide insight and clarity as you decide on your approach and key performance indicators (KPIs). They can help you discover new tools for implementing your desired management methods. Asking for advice and guidance is crucial in the initial stages of implementing a management theory.
  • \n
  • Conduct employee surveys over time: Your employees are the ultimate judge of your management theory’s effectiveness. Their input is valuable. Develop and conduct employee surveys regularly to gauge how your management practices are working. Be flexible enough to pivot if they’re not receptive to specific elements.
  • \n
\n

Understand the difference between theory and practice

\n

Several management theories stand the test of time because they’re effective and insightful in the right scenario. Understanding various management theories is crucial for business leaders who want to get the most from their workforce.

\n

While understanding a theory is one thing, implementing it requires trial and error. Listening to your employees is crucial as you navigate management theories and leadership styles. Your employees’ happiness, engagement and productivity are ultimately the most essential elements of your business’ success.

\n

Paula Fernandes contributed to the reporting and writing of this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"4461","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/330-small-business-software-needs-guide.html","displayModified":"2023-10-23T18:53:20Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"330-small-business-software-needs-guide.html","id":"4461","ID":4461,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2010-10-26T14:16:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Small businesses can benefit from a wide range of software solutions. Which ones does your business need?","subtitle":"Small businesses can benefit from a wide range of software solutions. Which ones does your business need?","title":"Business Software Guide: What SMBs Need","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"This guide lists and describes various business software solutions that may benefit small businesses."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04083248/1554243942.jpeg","caption":"Jacob Lund/Shutterstock","alt":""},"content":"

There’s so much business software out there today that it can be hard to know exactly what you need for your small business. Of course, you’ll want access to tools that make it easier to track your finances, reach your target customers and manage your staff, but how can you know which programs you need and which software is just an unnecessary expense?

\n

Every business has different software needs, but understanding what platforms are out there, what they can do and how much you should expect to pay can help you make the right decisions. This guide breaks down some of the most important types of software solutions for small businesses, explains what they do and offers some options for small businesses at various stages.

\n\n\n

Small business software solutions to consider

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These common small business software solutions can make things easier on you and your team. While you may not need every one, each offers beneficial tools and features that can reduce the time and resources it takes to complete necessary tasks. Mix and match these software platforms as needed to suit your business’s needs and free up your team to focus on the tasks that really matter.

\n

Accounting software

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Accounting software enables small business owners to easily track revenue and expenses in a way that is not possible with spreadsheets. The best accounting software integrates with other key business programs, like payroll software, to automatically pull in data from other systems. This helps small business owners avoid double data entry, which wastes time and increases the likelihood of manual errors.

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Most accounting software platforms also include detailed reports and at-a-glance dashboards that make it easy to understand the business’s financial health without requiring you to repeatedly crunch numbers. Whether you want to monitor profitability or cash flow, the leading accounting software platforms can pull up all your data with just a few clicks.

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What’s out there? You can’t discuss accounting software without including Intuit QuickBooks, one of the leading choices for small businesses. Check out our QuickBooks accounting software review to learn more about this well-known platform. There are other great options out there, though. Consider our Oracle NetSuite review for a powerful and comprehensive system, or our Zoho Books review if you’re a small business that just needs user-friendly software that can get the job done.

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What will it cost? Depending on how advanced the system is, you can expect to pay between $5 and $60 per month for a typical accounting software platform. Generally, accounting software offers various pricing tiers to businesses depending on the features they need and/or how many users are expected to access the software. Some vendors also charge installation fees or maintenance fees, so be careful about hidden costs when you’re choosing accounting software.

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Email marketing software

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Email marketing is an effective way to reach your target audience, whether you’re delivering special discounts and promotions or a regular newsletter. Email can help you reinforce your brand strategy, make more sales, reduce your cart abandonment rate, and collect feedback from your customers about your products and services. But to do so effectively, you need email marketing software to manage it all.

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Email marketing software allows you to build an email contact list, create email marketing content and easily send it to relevant audience segments. The best email marketing software allows you to fully brand and customize your email content so that anyone who views it will immediately recognize that it’s from your company.

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What’s out there? To learn about our top pick for small business email marketing software, read our Constant Contact review. It earned that title for its easy-to-use interface and effective email marketing tools packaged at an affordable price. There are some other great options as well. For example, read our Monday.com email marketing review to find out about campaign management tools that can take your email marketing to the next level. Or read our Freshmarketer email marketing review to learn about a solution that can integrate with other marketing software, such as the best text message marketing software or social media marketing platforms.

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What will it cost? The cost of email marketing software can vary greatly, but for the simplest solutions, you can expect subscriptions to start at around $9 per month. If you need advanced features or a platform that supports frequent sends to vast audiences, you’ll likely pay more. Some solutions we’ve reviewed have plans that cost up to $400 per month, though most small businesses can make do with a much more cost-effective plan. If you’re not sure which software is best for you, check out our guide to choosing email marketing software for your business.

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CRM software

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CRM stands for “customer relationship management,” and this software will help your sales and marketing teams do just that. CRM software logs your communications with each customer, whether you’ve had a direct call from them, they’ve engaged with some of your marketing materials, or they’ve reached out with a question or complaint. This allows your sales team to personalize each interaction and better nurture leads along the sales funnel. It can also help marketers better understand their target audience and tailor their messaging and campaigns to these customers.

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The best CRM software collects much of this data automatically, relying on integrations with your business phone systems, email marketing software and web chat applications to compile customer profiles. Ultimately, it’s the CRM software’s job to ensure your entire team is up to speed on the most recent interactions with each customer, to understand who these customers are, and to know their overall experience with your brand. This software can be a powerful tool in managing customer relationships and converting prospects into customers.

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What’s out there? The market leader in CRM software is undoubtedly Salesforce. Check out our review of Salesforce CRM to see what makes it such a dominant player in the space. Of course, there are other viable options as well. If you’re looking for CRM software that’s useful for remote or hybrid teams, consider our Zoho CRM review. For a user-friendly solution that’s intuitive and requires little to no training for your team to get up to speed, check out our Keap CRM review.

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What will it cost? CRM software is generally priced per user, per month and can vary quite a bit depending on how many team members need access to the system and which features you incorporate. For small teams that need basic CRM software, expect to pay $10 to $15 per user per month. As your business grows, you may need access to more advanced tools, which can increase costs to anywhere between $20 and $75 per user per month. For the most advanced systems, which use artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, pricing may reach $250 per user per month. For most small businesses, though, more basic CRM software offers plenty of useful features for getting started. To learn more, read our guide to choosing CRM software for your small business.

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HR software

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If your small business maintains a team of employees or plans to hire more people, HR software may be for you. HR software includes all the tools your human resources team needs to store employee documentation, provide the required training materials, monitor regulatory compliance and track employee performance.

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The best HR software can also help you manage your recruitment, hiring and onboarding processes as you grow your team. Look for tools that connect you with HR experts who can provide advice and guidance to your internal human resources staff, especially if you’re a small team that wants to grow the right way. Integrations with payroll software and time and attendance systems are also highly recommended in HR software; in fact, many vendors are now including these systems as features in a broader suite of HR tools.

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What’s out there? The HR software space is replete with strong choices, depending on your business’s needs. For example, we covered our top pick for startups in our review of Bambee HR, which offers key features for businesses just trying to get off the ground with their new team. If data and analytics are more important to you, check out our Paycor review for an HR platform that provides powerful reporting capabilities. Or, if you’re looking to recruit and hire new talent to join your business, see our review of Rippling HR software, which outlines the system’s useful onboarding tools.

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What will it cost? HR software usually includes a base subscription price plus a per-employee monthly fee. Base pricing generally ranges from $25 to $200 per month, depending on the array of features you choose. Per-employee monthly fees can cost anywhere from $5 to $20 per employee per month. In addition, some vendors charge implementation or setup fees that can vary quite a bit from provider to provider. Others may provide access to HR experts for guidance at an additional cost as well.

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Point-of-sale (POS) systems

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POS systems are useful tools for retail establishments, restaurants and any other businesses that accept customer payments on-site. POS systems generally integrate with credit card processing services to facilitate payments via debit and credit cards. They include hardware such as credit card readers and software that can track sales and inventory.

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The best POS systems integrate with accounting software to automatically update information about sales and revenue, thereby preventing the need to enter the same data twice on two separate systems. This not only improves efficiency but also reduces the likelihood of manual errors that will skew your financial data.

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What’s out there? There’s a wide range of POS systems on the market, and each has its own advantages. If you’re looking for a POS system with a great hardware selection, check out our review of Clover. For restaurant-specific POS systems, consider our Toast review. And if you’re selecting a POS system for a retail business, check out our Lightspeed review, which covers a great choice for the industry.

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What will it cost? When you purchase a POS system, you generally pay for hardware, a software subscription, and a payment processing fee for each transaction. Hardware can range from a one-time cost of $750 to $1,500. Or, you can lease your hardware for less money up front, but that will be more expensive in the long run. POS software subscriptions range from free to $150 monthly, depending on the vendor and the features you require. Payment processing fees are generally 1.5 to 3.5 percent per transaction.

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Payroll software

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If you have employees, payroll software can help your business. These platforms make it easy to run payroll and get your employees the money they’re owed without a lot of manual effort. Payroll software also includes reporting tools so you can compare previous payroll cycles to current ones to see how your expenses have changed over time. This can be especially useful if your business is considering hiring or downsizing.

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The best payroll software integrates with systems such as HR software, accounting software, and time and attendance systems to ensure everyone is paid appropriately and on time while tracking your payroll expenses. Because payroll is usually one of the largest expenses a small business manages, this software is essential for monitoring your business’s bottom line.

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What’s out there? One of the biggest names in payroll software is ADP, our best pick for growing businesses. To learn more about why we chose it, read our ADP payroll review. For small businesses that don’t have near-term growth plans, consider our OnPay review, which is our choice for small businesses. Or, if you’re looking for payroll with some additional HR services, check out our Gusto review.

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What will it cost? Most online payroll services charge a monthly base fee of $30 to $150, plus per-employee fees of $5 to $15 per month. Some vendors may charge a per-payroll fee instead, which can range from $10 to $100 per payroll cycle, plus a per-employee fee of $2 to $15 per month. Some companies also may charge for setup and offer annual payroll tax services at an additional cost.

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Every business’s software needs are different

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When you’re choosing business software, it’s important to consider your business’s circumstances and needs. For example, a business with a rapidly growing team may want high-end HR software that offers extensive features and reporting capabilities, but a business with a small team and no plans to grow can make do with much simpler software. To avoid overspending on software you don’t need, develop a clear list of must-haves before you begin your market research.

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Because every business’s needs are different, your software suite should be tailored to your workflow. Ask your employees for their input as well; after all, they’ll be the ones using these systems the most. Ultimately, if you test the software, get buy-in from your team, and ensure each solution can integrate with your other business software, you’ll be well on your way to building a business software suite that can help your company grow and succeed.

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If you are thinking about starting a business, you should be considering whether your idea fills a need in the way people live their lives and approach their work. If you can identify an unmet need and a target market, then you might just have a business idea with legs. But how can you come up with a good small business idea in the first place? This list of business ideas includes 26 great types of business to help you find success.

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26 great small business ideas

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This list of 26 great business ideas will help you get started on your entrepreneurial journey. Note that many of the ideas below only require you to have a credit card processing partner to get started, so you can keep upfront expenses relatively low.

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Read on for some inspiration into the many types of businesses that could launch you to success.

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1. Online reselling

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If you’re interested in clothing and sales, you might consider starting an online reseller business. Although it takes time, dedication and an eye for fashion, you can start your business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time resale business. You could start by using online store websites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothing and items, then expand to your own resale website.

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Consider shopping estate sales and flea markets for hidden finds at a low cost and then listing them for a profit online. You may be able to collect a substantial inventory of items that are in good shape for very little overhead if you’re diligent enough and search the right places.

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2. Pet sitting

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About 70% of U.S. families have a pet. When these families go away for extended periods, your pet-sitting small business can give them peace of mind. As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house. As part of the job, you’ll need to feed them, give them water, play with them, and (with dogs) walk them as needed. To help keep clients satisfied, you’ll need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.

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If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting may be an especially apt small business idea. Almost all pet owners will be glad to let you work on your laptop while you spend time at their home with their pets, meaning that you can run two income streams simultaneously.

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3. T-shirt printing

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If you have a sense of fashion (or humor), you might enjoy launching a T-shirt printing business. You can also license someone else’s designs and screenprint them onto a blank tee. Either way, if you have space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary tools to get started.

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4. Cleaning service

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If you like to clean, you can easily turn that into a business. With a few staff members, a host of cleaning supplies and transportation, you can offer cleaning services to homeowners, apartment complexes and commercial properties. Most cleaning services charge $25 to $50 per hour. Cleaning services are straightforward businesses that require relatively little overhead; you simply need planning, dedication and marketing to attract customers.

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If you’re looking to differentiate yourself from other cleaning services, consider adding premium options like floor waxing or exterior power-washing for an additional fee. These services could be the deciding factor between your new cleaning service and seasoned companies that maintain too large a client list to provide that level of cleaning.

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5. Online teaching

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The demand for online education has opened up possibilities for entrepreneurs. Since this is an online venture, you can choose any subject you know about and teach a course regardless of location. If you don’t have advanced knowledge in any particular subject, consider teaching English as a foreign language online to students overseas.

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6. Online bookkeeping

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As with education, technology allows many bookkeeping services to be performed online. If you are an accountant or bookkeeper who wants the freedom and autonomy of running your own business, take advantage of modern technology to start your own online bookkeeping service.

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7. Consulting

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If you are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific topic (like business, social media, marketing, human resources, leadership or communication), consulting can be a lucrative option. You can start a consulting business on your own, then grow your business and hire other consultants over time.

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8. Medical courier service

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If you have a reliable vehicle and good time management skills, consider creating your own courier service – more specifically, a medical courier service. As a driver, you would be responsible for transporting medical items like lab specimens, prescription drugs and equipment. You could start your courier business on your own or hire other drivers to work for you.

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9. App development

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If you are knowledgeable and experienced in technology, you may want to consider a career in app development. Smartphones are an everyday accessory for many Americans that has increased the demand for mobile apps. Similarly, virtual reality software has become popular in recent years, so there is also a demand for VR app development.

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10. Transcription service

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If you have a good ear and can type quickly, a transcription service would allow you to work from home with a flexible schedule. Medical transcription services are especially needed as voice recognition technology proliferates for healthcare provider dictation.

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You can accept as few or as many transcription jobs as you’d like. This flexibility can be especially beneficial if you’re not looking to start all at once or if you have a day job you would like to keep for now. To boost your business prospects and justify charging more, consider becoming a certified transcriptionist and delving into a few specialties.

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Medical transcriptionists typically charge 6 to 14 cents per line of transcription, which adds up quickly. The typical turnaround time for transcription work is 24 hours, so it’s important to stay on top of the jobs you accept. However, the ability to accept only a few requests at first means you can scale up as you are ready. Best of all, there is very little startup cost and overhead. You only need a computer, the appropriate software and a secure messaging service.

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11. Professional organizing

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Looking for a small business idea that can really spark joy? Professional organizers, like Marie Kondo, help people declutter and minimize for a living. In an age of materialism, many people are desperate to downsize and take control over their possessions. Minimalism is becoming extremely popular, but people often find it hard to part with things they’ve owned for a long time. Part of being a professional organizer is helping clients develop a system for downsizing.

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If you’re a highly organized person who enjoys making spaces functional and comfortable, you might be good at coaching others to do the same. People will pay you to help them devise a method of minimizing their possessions and maintaining an organized space. To promote your business, ask if your clients will let you take before-and-after photos of the areas of their homes you’ve organized. If so, you can use those to create a portfolio that you can put on social media to attract more clients.

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12. Freelance copywriting or content writing

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If you’re a natural wordsmith with a bit of marketing knowledge, you can establish yourself as a freelance copywriter or content writer. Whether you write blogs, web content or press releases, plenty of companies will pay for your services. Increase your value by using SEO knowledge to help clients craft a strategy around specific keywords that their target audience is already using in their online searches.

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Freelance copywriting is a great business to run because as long as you have an internet connection, you can work. It’s a business that you can operate from the comfort of your own home or even from the road if you travel. If you establish a large enough network and gain referrals from satisfied clients, you could even make freelance writing your full-time job.

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13. Home care service

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A background in care and hospitality can go a long way to support housebound seniors who require in-home care. It’s also a service for which demand is only going to grow. According to the Population Reference Bureau, between 2020 and 2060, the 85-and-over population is projected to triple from 6.7 million to 19 million. The global number of centenarians (those over age 100) has already reached nearly 600,000. Many will need care and assistance, often in their own homes.

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Luckily, you don’t need a background in healthcare to help seniors and grow a successful business at the same time, although those skills will be in demand as well. Many seniors need help with all kinds of tasks, like errands or repairs around the house. With some experience, you could consider growing your business to help seniors transition from their homes to assisted living facilities, offering services such as packing, transporting, setting up, or storing their furniture and possessions.

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14. Translation service

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According to research from IBISWorld, the translation services industry saw a decline in 2020, as did many industries; however, IBISWorld forecasts a “major uptick” for the industry over the next five years. That projected growth isn’t surprising, as the internet has opened up entrepreneurs in other countries to English-speaking markets, and vice versa.

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This trend has created an opening for multilingual speakers to offer specific services, such as document translation and the translation of website information into languages for use in other markets. If you’re fluent in multiple languages, you could be successful in carving out a niche in the translation services industry.

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15. Digital marketing

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The importance of the internet grows with every passing day, but it also becomes harder for businesses to cut through the online clutter and properly market themselves. Digital marketing services are always in demand. Yet, many small and midsize companies would rather outsource them than establish a costly in-house team. If you have chops in SEO, content marketing, pay-per-click advertising, web development or social media management, you could seize a business opportunity that allows you the freedom to work from home.

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Digital marketing is an important part of any brand, so you’ll need to respond to developments in your clients’ marketing strategies. Social media management entails watching for comments and messages around the clock, not just scheduling posts with a set-it-and-forget-it mindset. If you enjoy strategizing and implementing marketing plans meticulously, digital marketing could be the right business for you. You may also consider becoming an affiliate marketer, which is another form of digital marketing.

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16. Owning a food truck

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Food trucks come in all shapes and sizes, serving up a wide range of snacks and cuisines. Take your favorite style of food on the road, and sell your culinary passions directly to hungry customers. Sure, you’ll be working, but you’ll be in a space you’re passionate about, with a chance to connect to people who have similar interests.

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Starting a food truck is a great small business idea for entrepreneurs with a taste for the culinary. The overhead and upkeep for a truck is significantly less than for a restaurant, and you have the added benefit of mobility. [Check out our recommendations for POS systems for your food truck.]

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17. Lawn care service

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If you grew up with a lawn, chances are your parents made you maintain it. For many, lawn care is bothersome, but for some it offers a sense of peace and serenity. Working outdoors with your hands to tame and beautify the natural landscape can be a rewarding experience, but since so many people find the work tedious, it can also be profitable.

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Lawn care services require little more than some basic equipment, a trailer and perhaps some staff, depending on how many clients you have and how big the jobs are. You can grow a small lawn care service into a full landscaping company by offering premium services and establishing a reputation as a brand that does a thorough job with a smile. If you like working outdoors and creating elegant landscapes, this could be the business for you.

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18. Rideshare driving

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If starting your own business seems daunting or too much of a risk, you can always use your car to become a rideshare driver. The overhead and responsibility of running the company fall on the rideshare service, giving you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want. Rideshare applications such as Uber and Lyft allow people to start side hustles that pay well and require little more than a willingness to drive people to their destinations and make occasional friendly conversation.

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Rideshare drivers have the independence of a small business owner without the heavy workload required to manage behind-the-scenes logistics. If any of the other business ideas seem to require too much effort or upfront capital, ridesharing might be the way to dip your toe into the world of entrepreneurship.

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19. Real estate

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For many people, navigating the housing market is overwhelming. As a real estate agent, you can help people find their dream home at a price that fits their budget. In many states, you only need to complete a few months of classes and pass an exam to qualify as a real estate agent. Keep in mind that even with a certification, you’ll need strong social skills, so if you’re not a people person, this might not be the route for you. [Read related article: How to Become a Real Estate Agent]

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20. Graphic design

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Corporations, small businesses and sole proprietors all need eye-catching promotional materials, but not everybody has an eye for what looks good. If you have an artistic streak and know how to organize content into a visually pleasing format, start a graphic design business to provide flyers, digital ads, posters and other engaging visual materials. Graphic design requires few physical tools beyond a laptop and a desk.

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21. Dropshipping

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Not all companies that sell goods store them on-site. In drop-shipping, people who run e-commerce sites go to a third party to fulfill all orders. The third party is likely a wholesale retailer or other entity that runs a warehouse and shipping operation. The minimal inventory and tools needed for drop-shipping make it an especially great startup idea if you’re worried about overhead costs and physical space.

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22. Personal training

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If the gym is like your second home, you might want to share some of your expertise and help others reach their fitness goals. As a personal trainer, you can offer in-home training sessions that cater to each of your clients’ exercise capabilities. You can also help clients build customized nutrition and meal plans so their diets complement their physical goals.

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Many personal trainers start their client acquisition process with social media pages that detail their experience in the gym along with some motivational quotes. While a certification can help expand your customer base, you aren’t legally required to have any specialized training to start this type of business.

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23. Resume writing

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People are always applying for jobs, whether they want to make a career shift, increase their pay or switch work environments. Of course, most job applications require candidates to submit resumes to detail their professional background. As a resume writer, you can help job applicants’ resumes stand out from their competition.

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You’ll also help your clients create cover letters and portfolios that show off the best of their work. Plus, you don’t need any special schooling to be a resume writer – just some basic organizing and proofreading skills. If you know what makes resumes appear professional and ready for employers’ eyes, you’re already off to a great start.

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24. Host a podcast

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Podcasts have become extremely popular, with more than 100 million active podcast listeners in the U.S. alone. Best of all, you can start a podcast on any topic that interests you, from business to history to pop culture and more. Starting a podcast requires consistency and dedication, as well as a basic understanding of audio editing (and video editing if you want to start a companion YouTube channel for subscribers to follow).

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Once your podcast has built up a substantial following, you can sell time to advertisers or establish partnerships with companies that generate revenue. As your brand expands further, you may even be able to charge to speak at events or moderate panels on topics your podcast focuses on. Of course, in order to get to that level, you need to come up with a unique small business idea that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about, and then make sure you can relate to your target audience.

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25. Launch a newsletter

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If podcasts aren’t your thing but you like the idea behind building a robust list of subscribers and then selling space to advertisers and partners, consider creating an email newsletter. More than 90% of Americans subscribe to email newsletters. This means if you can capture the attention of a particular audience, you could build a substantial following and monetize it.

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To do so, come up with an umbrella topic you can write about at length, and then work to establish a brand voice and mission. Explore the best email marketing software that can help you manage your subscriber list and email sends, and then you’re ready to get started. Solicit feedback from your audience over time to give them more of what they want and less of what they don’t. After all, their continued engagement with your newsletter is what will help you build it into a successful business.

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26. Event catering

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Do you have a passion for the culinary arts? If so, event catering may be a great business idea for you. There’s no shortage of people who need delicious food to serve their guests, whether that’s at parties, weddings, fundraisers, or family reunions. If you have a knack for cooking or baking and love to serve hungry guests, event catering could be a fun and lucrative way to do just that.

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To get started, you’ll need to set up a menu and price sheet, as well as obtain all necessary permits and licenses. Start small to get the word out about your catering service, but when your food speaks for itself don’t be surprised if your business grows by leaps and bounds through word of mouth alone.

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What are the most successful small businesses?

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Small businesses that involve website design, a subset of digital marketing, are among those that make the most sales and bring in the most profit. People learn about businesses on the internet more often than via other avenues, so finding clients and a steady income stream isn’t as difficult. Cleaning services and real estate businesses also have high success rates, which makes sense – all people need homes, and they prefer them to be clean.

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What would be a good small business to start?

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If you want to maximize your profit while minimizing your workload, try any of the small business ideas that most frequently prove successful. However, if you’re more interested in pursuing your passions while earning enough money to live, start a small business that fulfills you, requires you to use your skills and offers you a good work-life balance. There are so many great business ideas – and you know better than anyone what small business ideas will bring you happiness, success and stability.

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How can I start my own business with no money?

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You don’t need money to become a small business owner. The first step in starting a business with no money is to keep your current job and launch your small business as a side pursuit at first. Then, develop your business plan and analyze your consumer base, market and potential challenges.

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Near the final stages of planning, you’ll better understand how much money you need to make your business a full-time job. You can find this money through crowdfunding platforms and investors. Consider taking out a business loan only as a last resort.

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You should also work with reliable professionals, including an attorney and an accountant. Most of the businesses on this list require particular permits or licenses, and legal counsel can help you make sure you do it all by the book. Meanwhile, an accountant is critical for managing finances properly, especially in the early days when you’re still establishing your revenue stream. While these professionals represent an upfront cost, they’re well worth it and can help you build a healthy business.

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How do I start a small business from home?

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Home-based businesses tend to be the most convenient and manageable ones. That said, not all great business ideas are suited for home offices, so make sure your business can be conducted from home – jobs with on-site needs and heavy in-person demands might not be suitable. In your business plan and budget, incorporate any office supplies and tools that make your online business ideas feasible, such as a separate business computer, a suitable desk, high-speed internet, filing cabinets and a business website.

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What makes for a good work-from-home small business idea?

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A good work-from-home small business idea boasts the following traits:

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  • Minimal inventory and supplies: Presumably, your home isn’t a mansion (yet), and you have only so much space in which to store inventory and supplies. That means lawn care service is probably a no-go if you’re looking to work from home. The same might be true for T-shirt printing if you don’t have space to store your prints. Copywriting and graphic design, on the other hand, require little more than a laptop and a working internet connection, and you probably already have those.
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  • Low startup costs: A viable work-from-home business shouldn’t cost much to launch. With minimal storage space, it’s not like you can pile up raw materials and inventory. You might need to buy some software or obtain licensure for certain small business ideas, but your financial obstacles should be few and far between.
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  • Computer-based, online work: Many of the above small business ideas require the use of a computer with an internet connection. Drop-shipping, digital marketing and translation are all great examples. An exception to the rule is pet- sitting if you watch over pets at your house rather than the owner’s home. Then, all you need is a pair of watchful eyes and open ears. You can even do computer-based work while watching the pets.
  • \n
  • Flexible schedule: Traditional office jobs often demand a rigid 9-to-5 schedule from employees. This schedule can feel less important to adhere to if you’re working from home, especially when you’re your own boss. As such, the best work-from-home small business ideas allow for a flexible schedule. If you do your best app development work at 3 a.m., who’s to stop you?
  • \n
  • Modest collaboration needs: Although remote team collaboration is easy to achieve, working from home goes more smoothly when you’re almost fully independent. A small business in which you answer to just a handful of clients and one or two colleagues (if any) leads to greater independence. Then you can truly work on your own terms and see your small business idea through to full fruition.
  • \n
\n

What is the step-by-step process for starting a business?

\n

Starting a business takes work, but with the right tools and guidelines, your company will be up and running in no time. Although your specific business journey will be unique to you, we identified a few steps that entrepreneurs can take to start their businesses.

\n
    \n
  1. Choose a business idea and find your niche
  2. \n
  3. Analyze the current market
  4. \n
  5. Create a business plan
  6. \n
  7. Assess your finances and raise money as needed
  8. \n
  9. Determine your legal business structure
  10. \n
  11. Register your business with the government and IRS
  12. \n
  13. Choose the appropriate business insurance policies
  14. \n
  15. Hire employees and build your team
  16. \n
  17. Choose your vendors
  18. \n
  19. Market and advertise your business
  20. \n
"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"3092","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/10495-track-goals-tools.html","displayModified":"2024-05-17T14:59:59Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"10495-track-goals-tools.html","id":"3092","ID":3092,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-01-04T22:36:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Measure your progress with digital and analog tools to boost productivity and help you reach milestones. ","subtitle":"Measure your progress with digital and analog tools to boost productivity and help you reach milestones. ","title":"Track Your Goals With These 10 Free Tools","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Digital and analog tools can track your progress toward achieving your goals. Learn 10 tools to measure progress and milestones and boost productivity."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2018/01/02063348/woman-using-whiteboard.jpg","caption":"","alt":"Woman using a whiteboard to lay out business ideas"},"content":"

The workplace is a natural goal-oriented environment, with built-in deadlines and opportunities to analyze progress and milestones. For example, small business owners trying to grow their business will set budget, profit and sales goals. Beyond the workplace, it takes additional effort to proactively set career and personal goals. In either case, setting goals is necessary for growth and advancement.

\n

While setting goals is essential, following through on those goals isn’t guaranteed. Goal achievement requires steadfastly pursuing your goals, developing the right habits to support those goals and tracking your progress.

\n

Some people approach goal-tracking with straightforward analog tools like journals and whiteboards, while others prefer digital assistance. We’ll highlight 10 free goal-tracking tools you can test to find the right accountability partner for achieving business goals, personal goals and career goals.

\n\n\n

Free goal-tracking tools to keep you on track

\n\n\n

The following tools include features like reminders, performance analytics and integrated dashboards to make tracking goals easier and bring goal achievement within reach.

\n

1. The Habit Factor Lite

\n

The Habit Factor Lite is a free habit and goal tracker that prioritizes positive behavior change and habit development to make goal achievement easier and more successful. Create your goal, align supportive habits and set up a four-week tracking period to record and reassess your progress. Select target habit days and gradually increase them to strengthen your habits organically. Motivational quotes and the ability to add photos personalize the goal-setting and tracking process.

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Track one goal and up to three supportive habits in the Lite version. You can upgrade to Habit Factor Pro for a flat fee of $5.99 to track unlimited goals and habits. There’s also a companion book, The Habit Factor, if you’re interested in delving more into the science of habit and goal achievement.

\n

Visit The Habit Factor website for more information. You can download The Habit Factor Lite for iOS.

\n

\"The

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Source: The Habit Factor

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2. Hive

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Hive is a project management platform geared toward teams that aren’t in the same place at the same time, letting members track individual and overall project goals.

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Hive’s free tier allows up to 200MB of storage, 10 users, unlimited tasks and notes and more. You’ll have to upgrade to the Teams tier for $16 per user, per month (or $12 monthly billed annually) to access time-tracking, shareable forms, an in-app calendar and other features.

\n

Visit the Hive website to learn more about this project management platform. You can access Hive via its desktop app, download Hive for iOS or get the Android Hive app.

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\"Hive

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Source: Hive

\n\n\n \n\n\n

3. Coach.me

\n

Coach.me is a straightforward habit tracker designed to help users develop new habits or eliminate bad habits. Coach.me uses a questionnaire to help you determine goals. It tracks your progress with reminders and weekly reports and provides a support community to help you at any time. This free app also offers an optional paid experience of working with a coach one-on-one.

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Visit the Coach.me website for more information. You can download Coach.me for iOS or get the Android version of Coach.me.

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\"Coach.me

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Source: Coach.me

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4. HabitBull

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HabitBull is a free productivity app that helps you create, manage and track your progress toward your goals. You can view your progress on specific goals and overall achievement.

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HabitBull includes visual measurements, including bar graphs, line charts and pie charts. The app will send daily reminders and store your data in the cloud so that you can access it from multiple devices. HabitBull also includes a chain-based calendar to encourage productivity. Days on the calendar turn green when you complete a task for each goal and red when you don’t. This allows users to create a “habit chain” — a productivity concept comedian Jerry Seinfeld has discussed.

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Visit the HabitBull website for more information. You can download the free HabitBull app for iOS or get the Android version of HabitBull. A $4.99 premium version unlocks additional features and functionality.

\n

\"Habitbull

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Source: HabitBull

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5. Strides

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Strides is an iOS-only app that features analytics and data on users’ overall progress toward a goal. With Strides, you can add goals, set reminders and analyze your progress. Strides offers four progress-tracking interfaces based on targets, habits, milestones and averages. Each interface emphasizes different data to help instill a specific goal. This is a great feature for business owners looking to differentiate between developing good habits and achieving milestone goals.

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Visit the Strides website for more information. You can download Strides from the App Store for free. However, you’ll need to upgrade to Strides Plus for $4.99 to access unlimited tracking, sync, backup and more.

\n

\"Strides

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Source: Strides

\n\n\n \n\n\n

6. Google Drive

\n

Sometimes the best way to track your goals is the most straightforward. With Google Drive, you can use Sheets and Docs to create, manage and track your goals. By creating a dedicated goals folder, you can organize and view all your information easily in one place. While this tool doesn’t include reminders, analytics or advanced tracking, it provides you with everything necessary to complete your goals.

\n

You can break down goals into various sections to measure quarterly, yearly, weekly or even hourly successes. It’s also ideal for a business owner to share goals with employees. Place them in a shared folder on the drive, and they have complete transparency on the business’ goals every step of the way.

\n

Sign up for Google Drive to access 15GB per user of secure cloud storage.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

\"Google

\n

Source: Google Drive

\n

7. Way of Life

\n

Way of Life allows for quick goal creation and easy tracking through a color-coded calendar. It delivers advanced reporting and data daily. Throughout the day, the app prompts you to check in and mark whether you’ve completed a specific skill. Once recorded, the day will turn green or red.

\n

Like HabitBull, Way of Life includes a chain calendar, so you can see which days you’ve completed a task and edged closer to your goal.

\n

Visit the Way of Life website for more information. You can download Way of Life for iOS or get the Android version of Way of Life.

\n

\"Way

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Source: Way of Life

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8. SaveMyTime

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SaveMyTime is an Android time-tracking app that tracks how you spend your time daily. Time tracking helps create productive habits, reduce wasted time and procrastination and improve your work-life balance. With more insight into how you spend your time, you can assess and plan better for the proper steps to complete your goals.

\n

Visit the SaveMyTime website for more information. You can download SaveMyTime for Android. An iOS version is reportedly in the works.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

9. Bullet journaling

\n

The bullet journal method, developed by designer Ryder Carroll, is an analog planning system that tracks short- and long-term goals throughout the year. It incorporates scheduling, reminders, to-do lists, brainstorming and other organizational tasks. By using this system, users can track goals and plan their to-dos effectively and mindfully.

\n

Bullet journaling is a free system you can use with any notebook. The Bullet Journal website offers a free tutorial video showing how it works. Additionally, the Bullet Journal website sells a course and specially designed Bullet Journal notebooks and also offers a blog with support and feedback from users of this method. Official Bullet Journal companion iOS and Android apps cost $4.99 and provide a way to back up, tag and search notebooks. Download the iOS Bullet Journal Companion app or get the Android Bullet Journal Companion app.

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\"Bullet

\n

Source: Bullet Journal

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10. Whiteboards

\n

Despite excellent tech tools, sometimes an old-fashioned pen and paper or whiteboard is the most effective way to record, manage and track your goals. After all, most of your effort should be spent working toward your goal, not hyper-analyzing data. Many business owners and professionals track goals using a whiteboard or even Post-it notes.

\n

\"Woman

\n

Source: Getty Images

\n

Additional tips for improving productivity

\n

Analog or digital tools can help you stay on track. However, you can also improve productivity by incorporating small but impactful methods into your daily routine. Here are some additional tips for improving productivity:

\n
    \n
  • Take breaks: Frequent breaks can increase productivity. Ideally, take one break an hour to boost your productivity optimally. Remember to use breaks to reset your focus — checking work emails during your breaks doesn’t count.
  • \n
  • Set smaller goals: Set achievable business goals and personal goals to decrease the emotional and mental energy needed to complete the task. Seeing regular progress is motivating and inspiring.
  • \n
  • Limit distractions: Distractions like using cell phones at work and chatting with co-workers can derail productivity in the workplace. If you work at home, family concerns, TV and myriad other factors can distract you. Proactively limit distractions to increase productive hours. If you’re a business owner, distracted workers affect your bottom line, so fostering a focused culture with minimal distractions is especially important.
  • \n
  • Limit multitasking: Multitasking is a double-edged sword. Effective multitasking can help you get more done. However, too much multitasking means multiple endeavors aren’t getting enough effort and attention. Be careful how much you take on; if you’re a business owner or manager, be mindful of delegating too much to your team.
  • \n
  • Listen to music: Many people believe music can boost office productivity. However, it’s up to the individual to decide if music enhances their productivity. The best music for productivity will vary based on personal tastes and your current activity. One theory says it’s best to listen to music you like but that you’ve heard so often you don’t need to focus on the lyrics or beat.
  • \n
  • Declutter your space: Clutter can interfere with personal and professional goals by creating a chaotic atmosphere. You want your workplace to improve productivity, not detract from your goals.
  • \n
\n\n\n \n\n\n

Focus on progress when tracking your goals

\n

Hundreds of productivity tools and countless methods can help you achieve your goals. However, doing what works for you is essential to setting, tracking and achieving goals. Your most critical goal achievement tool is putting in the work and staying motivated.

\n

Whether you prefer pen and paper or digital assistance, goal tracking is about heading in the right direction. Taking a step back every so often is a normal part of progress, so don’t get discouraged. Stay focused and productive, and you’ll soon find yourself achieving your goals regularly.

\n

Matt D’Angelo contributed to the reporting and writing of this article.

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Excellent workers know they are valuable. When your best employee announces they plan to leave your company, there are many factors involved in that decision. It could be that they’ve found another company that appreciates their input or they are finding their current tasks not challenging enough. Ultimately, your best employee will leave one day, as that is the nature of employment.

\n

Your top employee leaving might cause panic, confusion or a drop in motivation among your team. After all, your best worker played an essential role. Losing such an employee can impact the entire small business or create a big gap in a large company.

\n

“Losing a valuable employee is always painful,” said Chris Sier, ICF-credentialed executive coach and owner of Executive Potential Plus. “When they leave, their experience, skills and overall knowledge also leaves with them.”

\n\n\n

What to do when your best employee leaves

\n\n\n

While no one wants to see an excellent worker leave, in order to make the transition run smoothly, employers must handle resignations in a professional and legally compliant manner. Here’s how to proceed when an important employee decides to quit.

\n

Thank them.

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People like to receive acknowledgement that they did a good job. Excellent employees know they are valuable, and they sometimes feel that they never received verbal appreciation. Thanking them for what they gave to your small business or to your team will go a long way.

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Make sure to commend the hard work they put in, and coordinate with the other employees to show them appreciation from the entire team. This will go a long way in the future; you never want to burn any bridges.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Stay calm.

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When one of your best staff members quits, the worst thing you can do as an employer is to lash out at them. “People rarely appreciate a ‘how can you do this to me?’ scene when they first give their notice,” said Chuck Post, chair of the Labor and Employment group at the Weintraub Tobin law firm.

\n

The best thing to do is to remain calm and ask the employee why they are planning to leave, Post said. While it’s not good to demand information or to put the employee in an uncomfortable or high-pressure position, you may be able to learn something that will help you craft a counteroffer or find another means of retaining that person.

\n

Issues might range from a lack of growth opportunities to poor management. Some might be fixable, while others aren’t specifically related to your company. Consider the best way to address the situation given the employee’s explanation; dig deeper than the surface.

\n

“People may think offering more money will solve anything, but … money only works for a very short time and doesn’t address an overall sense of unhappiness,” said Sier.

\n

Regardless, be considerate of their decision. If they insist on leaving, be cordial, wish them well, and ask them if they’ll stay for an appropriate amount of time to make a transition (usually two weeks).

\n

Review your legal obligations as an employer.

\n

If the employee decides they are definitely leaving the organization, the next step is to make sure you’re in compliance with all employment laws concerning termination.

\n

“Legally, termination of employment can be a source of liability,” said Post. “It is prudent … to ensure that the employer has fulfilled all mandated end-of-employment obligations.”

\n

Post noted that the legal obligations owed to a departing employee are as follows:

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    \n
  • Pay all accrued wages.
  • \n
  • Disburse any accrued benefits that must be paid upon termination (either under law or company policy), or document the employee’s non-entitlement to said benefits.
  • \n
  • If applicable, account for and establish a schedule for commission or bonus payments that will be made after the termination. This is usually governed by law and the terms of bonus and commission plans.
  • \n
  • Provide the employee with the required legal notices (COBRA benefit continuation, unemployment and workers’ compensation notices, etc.).
  • \n
\n

If the employee has signed confidentiality notices, noncompete/nondisclosure agreements or other legal documents protecting your company’s intellectual property, these should be reviewed as well so that both you and the employee are clear about the terms of these agreements once they leave the company.

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Conduct an exit interview.

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Holding an exit interview, whether face-to-face or via email/online survey, is more than a way to gain insight into an employee’s personal experience with your company. When you speak with a departing staff member, you also take an important step to tie up any loose ends and potential problems down the line.

\n

“Employers should take reasonable and lawful actions to ensure that all that leaves the company is the employee, and not information or customer relationships,” Post said.

\n

During the interview, Post advised confirming and documenting that the employee has returned all company property; that they have not taken, copied or transmitted any intellectual property or sensitive company information; and that they are aware of any continuing obligations not to use or appropriate your company’s business information.

\n

Your exit interview can also help you shape your strategy for the future of that particular position.

\n

“There can be an effect on morale to consider,” said Sier. “If the person leaving is unhappy, the team may also be unhappy. Implementing change based partly on feedback by the outgoing employee and conversations with the team is essential in creating a better workplace environment and a stronger team.”

\n

Here are some questions to ask and formally document in the exit interview, outlined by Sier:

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    \n
  • What are your reasons for leaving the company?
  • \n
  • What did you like about the company?
  • \n
  • Are there things the company should do differently?
  • \n
  • What did you like about your job?
  • \n
  • What didn’t you like?
  • \n
  • What was your relationship like with your supervisor?
  • \n
  • What could your supervisor have done differently?
  • \n
  • Were your expectations met with the goals you were given?
  • \n
  • Were your goals clearly stated and measurements given on what constituted achievement?
  • \n
\n

Find a way to fill the gap.

\n

Whether you’re planning to directly replace the departing employee or changing someone else’s role internally, you’re going to have some gaps to fill. But hiring the first new candidate who expresses interest may not be the best solution, despite the immediate, perceived benefits to your company.

\n

“Create development plans for the team according to their goals in alignment with the goals of the organization,” said Sier. “The important thing is to ensure follow-through of those plans.”

\n

You should also develop a succession plan to prevent the same issue in the future. That way, the position can easily be filled temporarily or permanently, even on short notice, said Sier. Maybe your employee who is leaving has a recommendation or has worked with someone in the past who can fill their spot.

\n

Recruiting and hiring top talent

\n

Replacing a talented employee is not easy. While there are plenty of qualified candidates, a new employee needs time to gain the skills, knowledge and cultural understanding that the top employee who just left had. Here are some potential ways to replace such top talent:

\n

Promote from within.

\n

In some roles, cultural fit is just as important as skills and knowledge. In these scenarios, consider an internal hire for the role. Maybe a top candidate from another team is looking to change their responsibilities and wants to try something different at the company. Other employees in your small business might know how to do the task that your former employee did, and it is only natural to recognize their skill sets and reward budding talent with a promotion.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Develop an effective job description before external hiring.

\n

Understanding exactly what your top employee did will be important when you are looking for a new candidate. If that employee went above and beyond their scope of duty, make sure to include those tasks in the job description, with appropriate pay for that extra work. It’s usually easy to notice these tasks after the top talent has left your team.

\n

Spreading out those jobs among your team can lead to burnout, reducing your team further. There may be instances where a top employee cannot be replaced by one individual and you’ll have to consider hiring multiple candidates.

\n

Use an external hiring company.

\n

If you are a small business with no HR team, as the manager or owner, you may not have time to spend on hiring. In this case, your best employee leaving creates extra work for you. Using an outsourced HR team or professional employer organization (PEO) will take up fewer hours and be a better investment for your team. [Read related article: The Best PEO Service Providers of 2024]

\n

For a breakdown of the most common pricing models and benefits based on the type of employee you are looking to get, see our reviews of the best HR outsourcing companies.

\n

An excellent company culture attracts top-notch people.

\n

Building a good working culture takes time. When a top employee leaves, it might be because your current environment does not entice them to stay. Understanding why they are leaving is important, and thanking them for their quality work provides an avenue for top talent to return in the future.

\n

Finding another candidate to replace that important employee is often difficult, but sometimes having an internal worker fill that role is good for continuity. For certain situations, using third-party companies to find a replacement is best for the business. No matter what the hiring process is, though, a business should continue improving its climate. After all, an excellent working culture not only attracts but also keeps top talent.

\n

Additional reporting by Sammi Caramela and Nicole Fallon. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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Having multiple different jobs is common in the modern era. However, if you are thinking of starting and developing a career in one field, you should prioritize planning out your future career in that industry. It will take you much longer to get where you want to go if you haven’t planned how to achieve your goals. That’s why many career experts recommend taking the time to create a formal career plan to guide you through your professional life.

\n

Before designing your career plan, you should first consider the benefits and drawbacks of moving from multiple varied jobs to a single profession. It is easy to pick up temporary shifts or freelance/consulting work for different companies or individuals. However, picking one field that you are planning to stay in for a period of time means understanding what you want to do in that industry and why you are attracted to that type of work.

\n\n\n

Why map your career path

\n\n\n

Getting up every day during the week and going to a full-time permanent job is not easy. Not everyone can do it. It’s important to map your career path to promote personal motivation and provide a pathway to understand what you want to do and how you will get there.

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“Regardless of how long you’ve been in the workforce, it’s important to take an active role in shaping the future of your career,” said Amanda Augustine, career advice expert at TopResume, a career services provider. “If you’re not managing your career path, someone might do it for you — and you might not like where it leads.”

\n

This doesn’t mean you have to have everything figured out and follow your “map” exactly. The purpose of a career plan isn’t to give yourself concrete, step-by-step instructions but to establish a general direction toward your own personal career success.

\n

“The beauty of a career plan is that it will help you explore opportunities and various career paths so you can confidently determine a long-term career goal for yourself and then take steps to achieve it,” Augustine said.

\n

This is especially true for recent or soon-to-be college graduates, who may end up taking a different path than they originally intended anyway. Many students end up changing their majors during their undergraduate career or finding a job outside their field of study after graduation, said Bob Labombard, former CEO of GradStaff (now Avenica), a career matchmaking company for entry-level positions.

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“It’s almost impossible for most college students to map out a detailed plan leading to a specific job or career area,” Labombard told Business News Daily. “Our advice for college students is to develop and identify their … skills, abilities and experiences that employers will find compelling. The benefit of this approach is that it opens up many potential career fields, not just one.”

\n

Once you know your specific job or career area, you can begin to understand the needed skills, education/certifications and experience you need so that you can reach your ultimate career goals.

\n

How to map your career path

\n

Mapping your career path is important as it allows you to know where you are now and what you want to be. Understanding where you are now is easy; knowing the next step might seem a little difficult to answer right now. Research the possibilities and assess what industry matches your skill set.

\n

If you work well in academia, for example, maybe a master’s degree in your field might be the next step. If you delegate and inspire others, upper management could be the right pathway. Once you know your strengths, know what skills you need to fill in any gaps — if you are someone who likes to work with their hands but don’t have any experience, for instance, maybe an apprenticeship or internship is appropriate. If your path requires further education, conduct research to learn what degrees or certifications you need to reach your ultimate career goals.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

Remember that a map is not an instructional guide. There’s plenty of room to explore within and outside the boundaries of your plan. It is about the journey more so than getting to the destination quickly. After all, progress is rarely linear.

\n

When you’re creating your career plan, use the step-by-step guide to map your career path:

\n

1. Identify a target role in a preferred industry.

\n

Knowing what you want to do can be challenging, so consider what you aim to achieve. Simply saying “I want to work in finance” won’t work. Knowing how the industry operates and what role you want to play is important. For instance, someone may want to be a teacher but doesn’t know that the various types of schools (public, private, charter, career/technical) have different cultures and it is important to account for that factor.

\n

If you are unsure, that is OK. You can make a list of mentors as well as contacts from your network, relevant membership associations and any professional development opportunities you’ve explored. Talk to them about their work and what they like/don’t enjoy about their industry. This insight can be invaluable.

\n

“[Job seekers] should develop and use their personal networks to augment their job searches,” Labombard added. “In addition to alumni, professors, coaches and other mentors, look for help from parents, parents of friends, co-workers and others to help you get a foot in the door. Informational interviews are an excellent way to get more information about employers.”

\n

Determine education and/or experience requirements.

\n

Because higher education is expensive, it is important to know exactly what requirements are needed for the role you are seeking. If all you need is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification, for example, you can find many online courses instead of attending school.

\n

If you need to develop soft skills, such as critical thinking, communication, interpersonal relations, visit workshops that can provide you with that opportunity. Internships should count as experience but be sure you can speak knowledgeably about the work you’ve done during that time when interviewing with hiring managers.

\n

Have a goal and a timeline.

\n

You don’t need to write, “I should be working for Company X three years from now.” But you should have a few general benchmarks to help you monitor your progress. For example, you might say you want to move up to the next level in your chosen field within the next three to five years or save up enough money to start your own business within 10 years.

\n

“Break down your plan into more digestible steps and action items you can work towards on a monthly or quarterly basis so the process does not seem overwhelming,” Augustine said.

\n

“Having a deadline to see if your plan will be worthy of the 24/7 efforts you’re putting in is helpful,” said Suki Kramer, founder of suki skincare.

\n

Did you know? There are plenty of free analog and digital goal tracking tools for you and your team to keep track of your career.

\n

Revisit and adjust career path periodically.

\n

As mentioned, your plan may change. After all, maps are for exploring. Since progress isn’t linear you may come up against obstacles. Sometimes an industry faces a serious downturn from factors outside your control, such as an economic recession.

\n

Revisiting your career path every six months is important so you can take stock of where you are and whether there still remains a pathway for where you want to be. Once you’ve charted a path, you need to commit to following it, even if that path changes over time. Kramer emphasized the importance of trusting your own instincts about your career, which means you need to be willing to pivot if something feels off.

\n

“For some, that means learning to hear them, because our instincts are the first millisecond feeling we get about everything,” she said. “Go against your instincts, [and] you will pay a steep price.”

\n

She also noted that there will be obstacles along the way and things will not always go according to your plan. But if you want to achieve your goals, you can’t give up when you feel discouraged.

\n

“Every obstacle is an opportunity to overcome a challenge that will have a ripple effect throughout your life,” Kramer said. “You need gumption, perseverance, determination, tenacity and a steely focus on your goal. If you do the necessary work, take the risks, face your fears and make the sacrifices you need to, [you will] get there.”

\n

Things to keep in mind in your career

\n

If you are in the middle of your career path, keep these additional tips in mind:

\n
    \n
  • Pay attention to trends: Stay on top of what is at the forefront of your industry. Knowing the trends makes you an expert and a valuable source.
  • \n
  • Stay abreast of technology: Advances in technology mean that within six months new software might make established ones obsolete. Keeping up-to-date on what is happening can impact your career path in a positive way.
  • \n
  • Be passionate: This might be a little cliched, but if you feel passionate about your career, you will have the drive to continue pursuing it even during difficult or slow days.
  • \n
  • Network with other professionals: Networking with other professionals is a mutually beneficial decision. It is important to learn from industry experts outside your own individual silo. But networking is also about trying to help others succeed, so look for opportunities to provide tips, advice and contacts to those you meet.
  • \n
  • Be flexible: Sometimes economic factors make your industry recede instead of growing. Relying on your strengths and passion is important as you navigate through periods of low growth. Of course, it is also fine to pivot and adjust your career path when necessary.
  • \n
\n

It’s all about the journey

\n

Knowing your strengths and your destination is as important as pinpointing where you are starting from and what weaknesses you have. Remember the most important part of the map you create is the journey. You will learn a lot as you progress through your career.

\n

Giving back to others helps future generations’ career maps become more detailed and clear and will help ensure the success of your industry. Navigating your career path is not always easy but it is an interesting ride.

\n

Additional reporting by Nicole Fallon.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"3609","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/8342-get-a-promotion.html","displayModified":"2023-10-24T18:12:29Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"8342-get-a-promotion.html","id":"3609","ID":3609,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2015-09-03T00:25:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Here are six proven ways to grab your boss's attention and get the promotion you want.","subtitle":"Here are six proven ways to grab your boss's attention and get the promotion you want.","title":"6 Proven Ways to Get a Promotion","author":{"displayName":"Tejas Vemparala","email":"TejasVemparala@gmail.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/11/17085147/tejas-vemparala-scaled.jpeg","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Build Your Career","slug":"build-your-career"},"sub":{"name":"Get Ahead","slug":"get-ahead"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Ready to move up in your company? Do these six things if you want a promotion."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04082248/1554240325.png","caption":"Bacho/Shutterstock","alt":""},"content":"

There are always opportunities to move up in the corporate world. If you wish for a better title, a bigger paycheck or more responsibility, but your boss hasn’t indicated that you’ll be moving up any time soon, you may need to make some changes. Here are six proven ways to grab your boss’s attention and secure that promotion.

\n

If you try these suggestions and still don’t receive a promotion, consider other avenues, such as leaving your current company or finding volunteer work that will boost your skill set.

\n\n\n

How to get a promotion

\n\n\n

1. Track your accomplishments.

\n

Highlight your accomplishments whenever you are asking for a promotion or a raise. Tracking your previous achievements can highlight your wins for the company – and signal to your boss that those victories would not have been possible if not for you. Limit yourself to three to five recent accomplishments.

\n

2. Dress for success.

\n

You’ve probably heard the phrase “dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” and research shows it’s true. The way you dress definitely plays a part in how others form their first impressions of you, and it can do the same when you’re looking to advance in your career.

\n

Research from OfficeTeam shows that 86% of workers and 80% of managers think wardrobe choices affect an employee’s chances of earning a promotion. Some workers make their wardrobe choices a priority, spending an average of 11 minutes each day picking out their outfits.

\n

If you work in a casual office, showing up in an expensive suit every day may not be the best option, but you can still dress to impress. Observe what your supervisor or those who work in your dream department wear and follow their lead. Dress appropriately for your work environment and find ways to incorporate your personality into your wardrobe, too.

\n

Also, according to research by University of Hertfordshire professor Karen Pine, your clothing can impact your self-confidence. You’re definitely more likely to impress your boss when you feel confident.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

3. Improve your skills with career development goals.

\n

A promotion sometimes requires additional skills. Prepare yourself by learning those skills prior to asking for a promotion. Online lessons in soft skills, like leadership and communication, can prepare you for the next level. You can also learn specific hard skills for your next role, such as training in the software that the company uses.

\n

4. Act like a leader.

\n

No boss will promote an employee who doesn’t demonstrate good leadership skills, especially if a promotion means you’ll be in a more managerial position. According to Harvard Business Review, if you want to move up in your career, you have to “act, think, and communicate like a leader long before that promotion,” and doing so will ultimately make you more likely to get promoted.

\n

So how can you prove your leadership capabilities without a team to lead? Harvard Business Review had some suggestions: First, make sure you’re not so distracted by your ambitions that you forget to excel at your current role. Get your work done, and do it well. From there, look for extra tasks, neglected business needs and smaller leadership roles that aren’t being filled, and volunteer to take them on. Build relationships with important figures at the company. And don’t let your ego get in the way – instead, focus on what the company needs and maintain some modesty.

\n

5. Be sociable.

\n

Another way to prove yourself to your boss is to socialize with other employees. Attending after-work events or joining group activities like a company softball league or trivia team shows that you’re invested in the company beyond just putting in your 40 hours per week. Building relationships with other employees demonstrates that you’re well liked and can add to the idea that you would make a strong leader.

\n

A study by professor Timothy Judge from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business found that extroversion is the best predictor of leadership effectiveness. According to CareerBuilder, building positive relationships at work not only increases teamwork, but also increases the relationship-building employees’ chances of promotion, since they make the workday more pleasant.

\n

When you’re socializing with co-workers, make sure you’re doing so appropriately. For example, attending a work happy hour is fine, but drinking too much could hurt your reputation. In addition, when you’re talking to your co-workers, avoid venting, because you never know who your remarks will get back to. Keep conversation light and positive, and avoid controversial topics that could upset people or get you in trouble.

\n

6. Just ask for it.

\n

If you don’t talk to your boss about growth opportunities and your career trajectory at the company, your boss might not even realize you’d like a promotion. Make it clear to your supervisor that you’re looking to take on a bigger role.

\n

A 2011 Accenture study found that only 44% of women and 48% of men said they have asked for pay raises, and only 28% of women and 39% of men said they’ve asked for promotions. But of those employees who did ask, the majority got a positive response. Seventeen percent were promoted to a new role that was even better than they’d hoped to land, and 42 percent got the role they asked for. Another 10% got a new role, but not the role they asked for, 5% got new responsibilities but no promotion, and only 10% got nothing in response.

\n

Even if you don’t think you’re ready to outright ask for a promotion, talking to your supervisor about your goals and ambitions is still a good idea. If you’re lacking in certain areas, your boss can tell you what you need to work on to be considered for a promotion or a pay raise. Not only will it give you an idea of changes that you need to make in your work and your behavior, it will show your boss that you’re actively trying to improve, which will definitely get you noticed in a good way. [Related article: 10 Negotiating Tips to Sharpen Your Skills]

\n

What to do if you don’t get a promotion

\n

You might have tried one or all of the above tips, but still didn’t receive a promotion. That might be because of a lack of budget for a promotion and raise, recent employee layoffs, or a direct supervisor who doesn’t appreciate you. Regardless, it’s important to keep your head high. Consider alternatives that can provide the same outcomes you wanted from a promotion.

\n

Stay the course and revisit in six months.

\n

If you are patient, consider staying in the same job and continuing to work hard. This will highlight to your boss that you are a good worker and deserve this promotion. Then, revisit asking for the promotion in six months. This is difficult to do when you have been rejected for promotion once, and requires significant strong will to continue working diligently when you feel unappreciated in your role.

\n

Consider finding a new job.

\n

The Great Resignation is prompting several million people to look for new jobs monthly. If you feel underappreciated in your current role, look for a new role that provides more income or more responsibility – ideally both. Use online tools that can help you find a new job, whether that is a similar role at a competitor with more pay and greater responsibility, or a role in the same field that allows direct supervision of junior employees. [Related article: 14 Ways to Quit on Good Terms]

\n

Look for positions within the company.

\n

If the company has been outperforming revenue goals but your boss doesn’t believe now is the right time for promotion, consider whether your boss financially appreciates the work you are putting in. If they don’t, it might be time to seek other positions within the company that will give you more responsibility. A lateral move might be the right choice if you want to stay at the same company. You will have the opportunity to work under a different supervisor, and may have a better opportunity to move up.

\n

Ask to do more.

\n

Sometimes a direct supervisor might want to see your capability in a temporary supervisor role before determining if you have the current capacity to have a promotion. Asking to do more work highlights to your boss that you have the schedule and capacity to take on greater responsibility in your current role. That can lead to a promotion sooner than expected.

\n

Find work that can supplement your full-time job.

\n

A lot of people with a full-time job also find supplemental incomes through part-time work. Sometimes these side jobs are within the same industry as the full-time job, but in a consulting role, which means you can earn a nice additional sum for the same work that you do in your current role. Other part-time jobs have no relation to the current full-time job, but are a pathway for you to pursue your passion and make money doing it.

\n

Did you know? Some part-time jobs offer benefits as well! You can find supplemental income with a part-time job that includes healthcare benefits, retirement plans and more.

\n

Volunteer.

\n

Volunteering is a great way of giving back to your community, but it can also be an opportunity to find a higher-paying job or more responsibility from your current role. You can learn many of the skills you would need in a corporate setting with the safety of a nonprofit, including bookkeeping, people management skills, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and other soft and hard skills that your current boss might need. Volunteer work can also signal to business decision-makers or supervisors at other companies that you are the right talent to bring to their company.

\n

Adjust your attitude.

\n

Before you even think about getting a promotion, make sure you have the right attitude. If you want to advance in your career, ditch the glass-half-empty mentality and be more positive and optimistic.

\n

According to a CareerBuilder survey, 62% of employers said that a negative or pessimistic attitude hurt an employee’s chances for promotion. Employers considered a bad attitude just as egregious as regularly showing up to work late, and worse than using vulgar language, regularly leaving work early or taking too many sick days.

\n

No one can be sunny and smiling every minute of every work day, but if you’re the type to complain frequently, be more aware of how you come across and try to make some changes.

\n

Earning a promotion

\n

There are many avenues to a promotion. You can do the groundwork now to help highlight to your boss that you are ready for more responsibility, a higher salary and the ability to directly supervise other employees. However, if your boss or company says that now is not the right time, there are ways to signal that you are actively learning the hard and soft skills to add to your skill set. [Related article: Soft Skills Every Tech Professional Should Have]

\n

Learn those skills at your leisure to be ready for a promotion in the future, or gain real-world experience quickly through part-time jobs or volunteering. Leverage the experience to either secure that promotion horizontally within your current company or at your company’s competitor.

\n

Brittney Morgan contributed to the writing and reporting in this article.

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