Mismatched Socks

We seem to lose socks when doing laundry, do you? Our oldest daughter started wearing any two socks, and before you know it, her entire class was doing it. The other grade 4 class started, and now you have an example of something going viral. It is a small example but shows it does not take much for something to catch on. I have started wearing two different dress socks, not all the time, but no one has noticed. I am sure a few people will look now. LOL.

Why do things go viral? The answer is simple……. someone has put his or her heart and soul into it. How can you apply this to your business? Make original, funny, honest and authentic videos. Use your iPhone to take the video, and some apps can help you edit.

You do not have to be tech savvy to build social media. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.. are straightforward, easy to use and free. I recommend investing money to advertise. For as little as $7 you enhance your reach, and the analytics are great.

Here are a few tips

1. Keep It Short - You have 20-30 seconds to keep their attention,

2. Tell Don’t Sell - People love stories

3. Entertaining - Come up with fun & exciting ideas.

4. Be Involved - You are your brand, and your brand is you.

5. Variety - Don’t use the same subject or places. Switch it up

6. Date & Time - Change the date and time of your posts. This allows you to monitor when your posts are successful.

7. HAVE FUN!!!

Thank you for your time and have a great day.

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www.JadeAlbertsConsulting.com

Thank You

When traveling, I always get teased about saying "Sorry," even though I've done nothing wrong. My colleagues and business associates get a kick out of it, but it's part of my Canadian DNA. The big question I want to ask you, is how often do you say Thank You? Thank you are the two most important words you can use when building a relationship. 

When you get a new client, do you thank them for the business? If you don't, you better start. I always send a thank you gift, this gesture shows your appreciation and how important they are. It doesn't need to be expensive, just something the office can share. An email is a lazy way of thanking someone for becoming a new client.

After a meeting, send a Thank you email. I send it approximately 15-30 minutes after the meeting has concluded. I Thank them for taking time out of their busy schedule to meet with me and recap the next steps. 

You can never overuse Thank You, and say it with a smile. 

Have a Great Day

How Do You Greet People

How you greet people says a lot about you. When people ask me "how it’s going" or "how are you," my answer is always positive and uplifting. I say “I’m great,” “Outstanding” “Fantastic” or “Couldn’t Be Better.” I might be having the worst day in the history of my life, but I never want the person asking to know that. After your response, ask the person how their day is going. After hearing my answer, I usually receive a positive response. 

It doesn't matter if I’m on the phone, having a Face to Face conversation, in a meeting, sending an email or giving a speech, my response is always positive. Starting with a positive response sets the tone for the entire encounter. I like reminding people that a smile is the simplest form of communication and it makes you and others feel majestic. 

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Be Different

How do you differentiate yourself from others? I would start by treating people how you want to be treated.

I heard a great quote the other day “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile”. People or clients want you to help them solve a problem. Sometimes it's a simple problem and sometimes not, but treat them same. Focus on what you can solve because you can’t be everything to everyone. If you can’t help then direct them to someone that can. If you don’t have the product, then send them to someone who does. They will respect your honesty and honesty is a building block of trust. Trust is the hardest thing to achieve, and everything you do should be focused on gaining it. It takes years to build trust and only seconds to lose it.

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Virtual & Augmented Reality will Change the Office

To start, I am sure no one will look as cool as me interacting in a VR world, LOL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ClunZdt9M Special thanks to Matt Wright of Mammoth VR for this experience. 

How far away are we from VR taking over the communication space in the office? Some people say 2-3 years, but others say it is much closer than that. Google just released its Pixel smartphone and Daydream VR set; it is affordable. Facebook's Oculus Rift is a little pricey, but it is dropping. Apple has been hiring top talent in the VR world, so it will not be long before they release something. 

We have all experienced bad video conference calls using Skype, GoTo Meeting or any other platform. Currently, you are looking at a small photo or video on the computer. With VR, you look at the person talking to you by turning your head because the are right beside you. Their facial expressions, hand gestures are all real, you can even high five them after the meeting. How sweet will it be if your meeting background is Niagara Falls or some other exotic location?

VR will also increase engagement of the remote worker. Some companies are leery of remote work because it might affect the culture. Having H2H (Human 2 Human) contact is necessary, and this is a solution. Today, human capital is the most valuable capital in every company, no matter what industry it is in. It is critical to invest in people and their experiences. 

Imagine the benefits of training in VR. Oil companies can simulate scenarios like never before. For example, an employee can practice fixing an on-site oil spill or leak. You can create a 3D model that's leveraged virtually to see pipes and electrical wiring behind walls. HR can train sensitive issues or even conduct the interview in VR. Why read a resume when you can have the interviewee simulate different situations. Onboarding, E-Learning, Continued Education can be done virtually. 

The real life experiences a person or company receives from VR are limitless. Technology changes fast and the future of AR/VR is ............... just imagine. 

No Sales Commission

When you hire a sales professional, they usually receive a base salary plus commission. This is the way it has always been, and many organizations do not have the vision to change. The age old question, does the client buy from the company or do they buy from the sales rep? People buy from people, and I would do anything to keep your people.

The heartbeat of any company are the people. When you hire a sales rep your intentions are they will have a long successful career with you. Most of the time you do not know what you are getting until months down the road. The issue is you are hiring different personalities, and they are motivated by different things. Money, recognition, career growth, job stability, work life balance are just a few motivations. Our society has never been more educated, and it is easy for someone to fake his or her way into a job. One way to end this is to use consultants and if you like the way they work, offer them a job. It beats reading resumes or calling references.  

Would your company benefit from a reduced turnover rate at the sales rep position? Would your clients enjoy dealing with the same rep for 5-10 years? What kind of relationship would you have with potential customers if a new rep is not walking in twice a year? Would this increase sales and improve the bottom line? 

The position that turns over the most are sales reps, why is that? Some people are not cut out to be in sales. Rejection, unorganized, lack of preparation, poor people skills, can’t hack the pressure are a few reasons. Why do salespeople fail? Yes, some of the reasons I listed are above, but sometimes it is because of the systems you may or may not have in place. Have you promoted the wrong person into management? Not every great sales person makes a great manager. How do you keep sales reps around for a long time? It is time to start thinking how they are compensated. Have you ever thought about a commission free sales team? Compensation can be based on the last 2-3 years salary. They can still increase their wages by selling more. When someone is underperforming, you can let them go because numbers do not lie. 

You should have two goals. The first goal is to reduce or eliminate turnover and the second goal is to remove stress. Removing stress increases productivity and higher productivity equals increase revenue. 

Sales are contingent on the attitude of the sales person, not the attitude of the prospect. What do you have to lose, take 2-3 reps and give it a try? 

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How Do You Build Trust

In today’s world trust is almost a swear word. How many times do you come across someone that says “Trust Me, ” and you don’t know them? How often does Donald Trump say “Believe Me”? Trust is something that’s earned, and a not a phrase that comes out of your mouth because it’s convenient. Trust is reciprocal; you are more likely to trust someone who already trusts you. Below are a few behaviors to help you build trust.

1.      Honest – Say what mean and mean what you say. When they ask you a question, and you do not know the answer, admit it, and get back to them. Nothing hurts your credibility more than being caught in a lie. You will never gain that person’s trust again, and you have no control over who they tell.

2.      Listen – People are more likely trust people that listen to them than preaching at them. When you’re in a conversation, let them finish before you make your point. Interrupting someone while their talking is very rude.

3.      Get to Know Them Better – Take time to get to know your client or colleague. Go out for a non-work discussion lunch. Ask open-ended questions to get them talking. This is a great first step to building a strong personal relationship.

4.      Credibility - Have an updated LinkedIn profile with written recommendations. Like and share articles relevant to your industry. Post or blog your thoughts on topics, but keep it positive. Never post negative news or thoughts. 

5.      Integrity – Stick to what you believe in. Don’t do anything during the day that will keep you up at night.

6.      Positivity – Always come into their office or a meeting with a big smile on your face. Smiling is the simplest form of communication and will set the tone for your meeting.

7.      Unselfishness – There might be a situation where you cannot solve their problem, but you know someone who can. Pass on their info to them because looking out for their best interests goes a long way building trust.

8.      Follow Up – If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. Once you get the information to them, follow up. Even if you do not get the business ask if you can stay in touch.

9.      Stay in Touch – They might not need anything from you now but could in the future. Always ask if you can contact them again and if they would like to receive informative emails about topics pertinent to the industry or your company.

These are just a few points that are important to building a trusting relationship.

Shut Up and Listen

Some people love to hear the sound of their voice and have a real problem when confronted with ideas that don't match their own. Your ideas might be fantastic, but you also need to listen to other people's ideas. When someone makes a suggestion or modifies your idea, you need to shut up and listen. Whether it is a client, colleague or peer, listening to what they have to say because you will learn more and gain their respect. If you cannot listen to what other people have to say, you can only climb so high.

The best advice I can give you is “Be Humble” and accept the criticism or suggestions, but more importantly “Don’t take anything personally.” You are all trying to achieve the same goal. 

Employee Appreciation

It is baffling why there's an Employee Appreciation Day. Do you think showing employee’s love one day a year will keep them happy? If you do, you are living in the Dark Ages because employee appreciation should be every day of the year.

How do you expect to attract and retain the most talented people if they are not treated like they own the business? Your employees are the heartbeat of the company, and the sooner you realize this, the more successful the business will be.

There are many ways to keep employees happy. Some of them cost money, but most of them are very simple, below are a few examples

1.      Lunches – Many of your employees are from different ethnic background. Periodically bring in lunches, so they learn more about their co-worker’s cultures.

2.      Sharing Successes – If someone has a great win share it with the entire company internally and on Social Media. If one of your employees gets recognized outside the workplace, do the same thing.

3.      Flexible Work – Things happen in people’s lives so offer a flexible work program. People do not need to be in the office 100% of the time to do their job, so letting them work from home allows them a break from the office. Don’t just allow this during bad weather or other circumstances, encourage this, and you will be surprised by the increased office moral.

4.      Extra Holidays – Don’t be a stickler of the person’s holiday time. If they ask for a few extra days to take a longer vacation, give it to them. People are loyal, and they will remember this.

5.      Open Meetings – Every quarter have a staff meeting to talk about the company’s direction. During this session encourage employees to offer suggestions or concerns about EVERYTHING. No suggestion is a bad idea. Take notes and respond via email to everything that was suggested. People want to be heard, and you will be surprised what comes out of these meetings. Be sure to put a time limit on the meeting and stick to it.

6.      Technology – if a piece of technology is good enough for the CEO it should be good enough for anyone in the organization. A little investment in tech goes a long way.

The number one reason employees leave is the don’t feel appreciated. Make sure you make them feel appreciate more than once a year.

Never forget “IT STARTS WITH PEOPLE.”

Look People In The Eye

"A great attitude becomes a great mood, which becomes a great day, which becomes a great year, which becomes a great life."

NEVER FORGET you get to choose your attitude every day. Your is attitude is contagious and affects everyone around you. A poor attitude is very destructive, and in a team environment, it is very difficult to lead. Say what you mean and mean what you say and ALWAYS look people in the eye when you say it. Live, work with honesty, openness, integrity and always keep your word.

The Answer is "No"

"We would accomplish much more if we did not think of them as impossible."

There's a natural tendency to be hesitant when asked to do something outside your comfort zone. If you are asked too often, your initial response becomes "No" and if you always say "No," you will never test your limits. Testing your limits is how you grow as a person and develop into a Leader. If you want something you have never had, you have got to do something you've never done and don’t be afraid to take on the status quo.

You Control Your Own Happiness

If you wake up in the morning and dread the next 8 hours, you have a problem. When did you stop enjoying your job? Life is too short to give up 1/3 of your time hating what you do. It might even be more than a 1/3 of your time if you count how much you think about it. YOU CONTROL what you do on your own time, so make it enjoyable.

Start by never eating at your desk. You cannot enjoy lunch if you are staring at your computer or being constantly interrupted. Take you lunch and leave the office. I can not stress enough that you need to leave the office at least once during the work day. This helps clear your head and gives you a break. 

There are things that you can do to help make your job more enjoyable. Talk to your co-workers because some of them may feel the same way. If this is the case, then plan some activities over breaks or lunch that involve getting away from the office. Bring board games, start a cell phone game group, launch a book club and review a chapter each day or start a walking club. 

Remember you control you own Happiness.

Ethics vs. Job

"If it comes down to your ethics vs. a job, you can always find another job."

Never and I mean ever sacrifice your principles for the sake of your company. Your reputation is so important in today's world, and once it is compromised, you might never get it back. If you think that no one will find out you are naive, we live in a social media world.

Express Yourself Part Deux

Part 2 - Employee POV

Don’t be afraid to be bold and take on the status quo. Just because it has always been done that way does not mean it always has to be. Share your ideas and believe in them. If management ignores you and isn't listening, it might be time to move on. Nothing is more demoralizing than a company that doesn't listen because if you think you are ready for a leadership role and their not giving you an opportunity, ask why then clarify the reasons you are ready. If you do not like the answer or they beat around the bush, get out. This is a red flag that they like status quo. Never forget that Change Favors the Prepared Mind.

Express Yourself - Part 1

"Don’t let old confidence become the new ignorance…you don’t know what you don’t know."

Part 1 - Company POV

The most dangerous phrase in business is "We've always done it that way." If this is your model .......... It's was nice knowing you. It's time to start thinking outside the office. Today's employee is smarter and more educated, so use this to your advantage. You never know where the next great idea will come from and if you're not asking or listening it could walk out your door. Engage your people and encourage them to express themselves.

Show and Tell

"People don’t buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic"

I'm going to take you back a few years, think all the way back to grade 3, what was your favorite subject? Was it math, reading, spelling or show and tell? Did you like reading an essay in front of the class or telling them about your favorite teddy bear. I loved Show and Tell. Fast forward to today, what do you think is a more effective way of selling? Reading points off a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation or finding out what their story is and showing them what they need. Telling stories is the most powerful tools humans have developed.

Are You a Status Quo Leader?

Don’t let fear stop you from being the Leader that challenges the status quo. The most dangerous phrase in business is “We’ve always done it this way”. Step your game up because if you don’t go after what you want; you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. Stop being afraid of what can go wrong and start getting excited about what could go right.

THINK BIG and come up with new ideas. Coming up with ideas is easy, but implementing them is difficult. Once you’ve decided what ideas you’re going to act on, make sure you have the best people in the correct roles to make this possible, and LISTEN to what they have to say. Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.

Transparency with your employees is very important because conversations are real. Say what you mean and mean what you say, and become that leader that inspires people. Taking on the status quo and engaging your employees will greatly enhance your company’s Culture. When people are happy the company will be more successful.

Listen = Learning

"Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say"

I see so many people act like jackasses once they're promoted into a position of authority. There are too many leaders out there today that act like dictators, it's their way or the highway. Don't get me wrong, this is needed in certain situations, but not many. If you're always telling people what to do, how will you know what they want or need? When your employee is talking, are you listening or just waiting to make your next point? If this is the case, how are you going to help them succeed or get promoted? If they do get promoted what kind of role model are you? Listen once in awhile, you might be shocked what you learn.

Are You Still Standing?

"If you don’t go after what you want; you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place"

How many of you set goals? Do you write them down or tell anyone? If you don't, you should. Having something to strive for is an effective driving force. The goal doesn't have to be huge, just a little one that not difficult to achieve. Everyone needs a little push forward once in awhile and having someone to talk to about achieving your goals only helps. Sharing your experiences with a mentor gives you feedback you might never expect. Listen to this feedback and use it to move improve yourself.

What's Your Great Idea

"If you have a idea, you have to believe it yourself of no one else will"

How many times did you have a idea and didn'f share it? Not sharing an idea with your team, boss or someone who can help you make it happen is a huge mistake. The idea is a starting point, it only gets better with the input of others. Ideas are easy, the implementation is hard. Not many companies have one founder and even the greatest minds in history had a team to help them.

Listen To Lead

"I’ve never aspired to be a leader; I have only focused on doing things that I felt were important"

Leaders are not born, they're inspired by someone or an event. The most effective leaders think of themselves second. By listening to others you soak ideas in and focus on what important to them. It's easy to inspire others when you know what drives them because if you're not inspiring you're not leading.