As a business owner, you’re aware that employees will come and go from your establishment and there isn’t much you can do to control this. You can try your best to retain your best workers, but you can’t always control this element of your company. One thing you can do is get the hiring process right from the very beginning, so that you don’t have to worry about extraneous factors preventing your employees from doing their very best on the job. You want to make sure that your business is made up of the best possible people so that it can grow and continue to thrive as a competitor in your industry. With this in mind, here’s how you can get the hiring process just right for your company.
Conduct Thorough Background Searches
Security and background checks are paramount when it comes to bringing new people into your business. You want to make sure your investigations are thorough in order to protect the people who already work for you and the business reputation you currently have. Fingerprinting is a quick and effective method that is used by many businesses in order to carry out security clearances. Whether you’re looking for criminal history checks or trying to verify someone’s identity, this process can give you peace of mind that your potential candidate is exactly who they say they are.
Consider Both Experience and Qualifications
As well as looking at the employment history of your potential employees, you should also consider their experience and qualifications too. Even if they haven’t worked in a business quite like yours before, they may have a number of transferable skills that can help them thrive in a future job role in your business establishment.
Will They Mesh With The Rest of Your Team?
There is so much you can do to manage the workplace dynamics of your company, and most of it comes down to who you hire and how they work with other people. Even if a certain candidate possesses the right skills and experience, you need to make sure their personality is going to work well in the presence of everyone else on your team right now.
Find Out Their Future Goals
When it comes to interviewing your candidates, you need to ask them about what their future goals are to see if they will fit well into the career progression available in your company. If you choose not to hire them, you may be doing them a favor if they’re not quite the right fit with regards to their aspirations.
As you can see, there are a number of different factors that go hand in hand with hiring the best possible people for your business. Whether you’re carrying out in depth background checks, or you’re asking the right questions during the interview process, you can make sure that your hiring process is rock solid from start to finish. Hopefully, these ideas will spark some inspiration so that you can tighten up your strategies as soon as possible.
Image from Pexels – CC0 Licence
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4 Reasons to Use Notary Services for Your Business
4 Reasons to Use Notary Services for Your Business
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Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. An important component any business activity is capturing certifications and transactions. Notary services are thus critical. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Reasons to Use Notary Services for Your Business.
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When it comes to starting your own business, there are likely to be lots of situations, forms, signs, and legal documentation you need to work through to ensure your company and its activities are legal. You will also need to be able to act on your own if something untoward happens.
When making significant business decisions, such as signing paperwork, creating contracts, or making investments, it’s wise to have these actions witnessed and signed by a notary public. This step adds an extra layer of validation to your business decisions.
A notary public, a state-appointed official, is a key player in securing your business. They not only verify identities but also witness signatures on crucial documents, thereby ensuring the legality of your actions, partnerships, and purchases. This level of protection can instill a sense of security and confidence in your business decisions.
Let’s look at some of the top benefits of using a Notary public.
Fraud Prevention
In an era where fraud is a growing concern, a notary public plays a pivotal role in ensuring the authenticity of signatures and identities. By using government-issued identification and a physical presence, a notary public can provide the assurance that you are dealing with the right people, thereby instilling a sense of trust and protection in your business transactions.
To Ensure Compliance
Consider a scenario where you’re updating your will to accommodate what you want to happen to your business if you are no longer able to run it or you unexpectedly pass away, and you want to prevent your decision from being contested. A notary can serve as an impartial third-party witness at the signing of the will, ensuring all parties are aware of your sound mind and capability to make changes and that no one is being coerced. This same level of assurance can extend to business loan repayments from investment partners, verifying that everyone is in full compliance with their obligations and no one is being pressured into unwanted actions.
To Preserve Documents
If you’re making business decisions that you want to be upheld now and in the future, notarizing them can help ensure their legal validity and future adherence. When establishing your business, it’s crucial to set the foundation for how things should be and have the correct policies and procedures in place. Notarizing your documents can reinforce these requirements and preserve them for future reference.
To Facilitate International Business
When conducting business with internal companies, there can often be a lot of red tape and hurdles to jump to get the deal done. Suppose you want to speed up the process. In that case, you can have your documentation checked, verified, and signed by a notary to help you avoid delays and legal implications that might arise if things haven’t been inspected by another person with no interest in the business deal and relationship and who is legally responsible for ensuring compliance and legal credibility.
A notary can be extremely useful for business owners who want to add production of documents and business agreements and ensure that the transactions are all legal and above board.
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Ridiculously Simple Ways to Save Time in Your Business
- by Yasmin Chambers -
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- June 21, 2024
RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE TIME IN YOUR BUSINESS
When you make the decision to run your own business, you kind of resign yourself to never having enough time in the day again. But you know what? Even if you’re running a one-man (or woman) band, it doesn’t have to be that way! It’s totally possible to save time, and not only run a more efficient business, but also have more you-time too. Ridiculously easy actually…
Embrace the Magic of Automation
Automation. It’s like having a fairy godmother for your business, but instead of turning pumpkins into carriages, it turns tedious tasks into time-saving treasures. Whether it’s automating your email marketing, invoicing, or customer follow-ups, letting software handle the repetitive tasks can free up hours of your time. Just think of all the things you could do with those extra hours—like finally organizing that desk drawer or actually eating lunch away from your computer!
Use a One-Stop Shop Business Hub
Ever feel like you spend half your life managing logistics? Enter cone-stoop shop business hubs. They’re your business’s new best friend. With PackageHub, for example, you can manage shipments, returns, and all those fun shipping details in one place. No more bouncing between multiple carriers and losing track of packages (or your mind). It’s like having a personal shipping concierge, without the fancy suit.
Go Paperless
Still drowning in paper? It’s time to embrace the digital age fully. Going paperless not only reduces clutter but speeds up information retrieval. Cloud storage solutions allow you to keep all your important files in one accessible-from-anywhere spot. Bonus: You’ll be doing the planet a favor, too!
Hold Stand-Up Meetings
Yes, literally standing up. Stand-up meetings are usually shorter and more to the point than traditional sit-down affairs. Keep these meetings to 10-15 minutes. You’ll be amazed at how quickly decisions can be made when everyone’s itching to sit down!
Batch Similar Tasks Together
Task switching is a time killer. Save hours each week by batching similar activities together. Schedule all your calls in one block and do your admin work in another. It’s like meal prepping but for your workday. Efficient and satisfying!
Delegate Like a Pro
You might be the captain of your ship, but even captains need a crew. Delegating tasks is not a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic move. Play to your team’s strengths and let them handle tasks they’re good at or enjoy. This not only frees up your time but also boosts team morale. Win-win!
Use Templates
Why reinvent the wheel every time you send an email or create a document? Templates are the secret sauce to efficiency. Create templates for everything you possibly can—from emails to project plans. Next time, you’ll just need to tweak a few details, and voila! You’re done.
As you can see, saving time in your business is possible, and what’s more, it really doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few clever tweaks, you can claw back some time, and that’s good for you, and your bottom line!
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Why Motivating Your Employees Is Surprisingly Simple
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If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary, you know the drill: the majestic lion leads the pride, not by micromanaging how each lioness hunts, but by being the cool cat everyone respects. Now, swap out lions for employees, and the savannah for your office, and boom—you’re on your way to mastering employee motivation. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how you can motivate your team with ease (and maybe less wildlife).
- Be the Trophy Boss
Yes, trophies! Not just those shiny objects (although a nice trophy with some personalized engraving is great), but metaphorical ones too. Recognize achievements with something tangible. It doesn’t have to scream “I won the Super Bowl!” but a little “Hey, you’re awesome” trophy goes a long way. And if you actually give out real trophies, even better—nothing like a little gold to make an employee feel like they’ve conquered the corporate world.
- Turn Mistakes into Spectacular Learning Moments
Remember how your first pancake always turns out a bit wonky? Work is like that too. Instead of flipping out over a burnt pancake (or spreadsheet error), use it as a teachable moment. Celebrate the oopsies as much as the victories because frankly, the blunders are often more memorable. Plus, who doesn’t love a good “remember when you accidentally emailed the entire company” story at the holiday party?
- Coffee is King
Never underestimate the power of caffeine. Keeping the break room stocked with good coffee (and decent snacks) can boost morale like you wouldn’t believe. It’s the fuel that powers your office—plus, it’s a lot cheaper than installing nap pods in every corner.
- Flex Those Hours
If your business allows it, why not let your team have some flexibility? Not everyone is a morning person, and frankly, some of us do our best work when everyone else is asleep. If you can give your team the gift of working when they feel most productive, you’ll see the magic happen. And yes, that might mean Zoom calls feature more pajamas than suits, but hey, comfort inspires creativity!
- Gamify the Mundane
Turn the routine into a game. Sales targets? Make a leaderboard. Paperwork? Set up a bingo game. Even the most boring tasks can have a layer of fun smeared on top like a fine layer of competitive, gamey jam. Last one to finish their TPS reports buys doughnuts!
- Talk Less, Listen More
Sometimes, the best motivation comes from just knowing someone is listening. Hold regular check-ins where you do less talking and more listening. You might find out that what motivates your team isn’t more money or promotions, but simply having a quiet space to work or more challenging projects.
- Celebrate Everything
Got through Monday without a meltdown? That’s a win. Coffee machine worked on the first try? Break out the confetti. Small wins keep morale high and keep the team ready for bigger challenges. Plus, it’s an excuse to have a party, and who doesn’t love a good office party?
So there you have it, the art of employee motivation is not locked in a high tower guarded by dragons. It’s all about understanding what makes your team tick and showing them a little love along the way. Get creative, be genuine, and maybe keep a few trophies on hand—because nothing says “I appreciate you” quite like a shiny piece of recognition!
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UHAUL NEWS
MADISON, Tenn.—In his 40 years of U-Haul service, Neal Miller—a brake/tire specialist at Kar-Go Service Center of Nashville (Shop 177)—has weathered many of the Company’s historic highs and lows.
Miller joined Team U-Haul in 1984 at U-Haul Moving and Storage at New Salem and Warrior Road (772-072) where he worked as a mechanic for the Company’s then-active General Rental Item (GRI) Program. This program allowed customers to rent thousands of items across North America, including tools, gardening equipment, jet skis and more.
“U-Haul was looking for people who could repair all the different rental items, and since I’d previously gone to trade school for two years to be a mechanic, I had enough experience that they were willing to take a chance on me,” Miller reminisced. “From there, I slowly started working on repairing trailer hitches, brake controls and transmission coolers, and did those for several years.”
Miller then transitioned to U-Haul Moving and Storage of Bowling Green (772-070) in Kentucky, where he worked as a customer service representative (CSR) and hitch pro for the next several years.
In 2000, the marketing company president (MCP) for UHC of North Nashville (Co. 772) approached Miller with an exciting offer. The Bowling Green location was in the process of building an on-location repair/preventive-maintenance (PM) satellite shop, and Miller—if he chose to accept this change in responsibilities—would be responsible for running it.
“Of course, I said yes!” Miller enthusiastically declared.
Part Of The Team
While at the satellite shop, Miller worked in close conjunction with Shop 177. As he did so, he grew to admire and respect Shop Manager Lewis Hash and the rest of the Shop 177 Team.
“Lewis has taught me so much, and he’s been an incredible teammate and friend,” Miller praised. “I loved working together with him to make sure that equipment in the region was in top shape. I took pride in my work, and made sure to produce quality results.”
This dedication paid off in 2008, when the satellite shop closed and Miller was asked to officially join the Shop 177 Team. Nowadays, he primarily focuses on pre-inspections and general servicing of trucks, and enthusiastically teaches and learns from each of his fellow team members.
“I like working with the younger folks—they care deeply about safety!” Miller cheered. “In addition, I feel like I can go to anyone at the shop—including management—with any questions or concerns I have, and they’ll take them seriously. We all support each other and want each other to succeed.”
Always Getting Better
As he looks back on his years of U-Haul service, Miller is in awe of the improvements the Company has made to its products, services and ways of doing business.
“When I was a GRI mechanic, it was difficult for me to find all the parts I needed to do my job,” Miller admitted. “Eventually, that program was retired, and we got new U-Haul fleet equipment. It was so much better! The old trucks didn’t have A/C or radio, but the new ones did and just ran better. It was amazing to see (U-Haul CEO) Mr. Joe Shoen turn things around.”
Miller has heaps of good advice for team members who want to create their own 40-year U-Haul career.
“Put money in your 401(k) and save for retirement early!” Miller emphasized. “Also, don’t expect to be ‘on top’ the minute you start with the Company. When I became a GRI mechanic, I made $4 per hour and had to use my own tools. But, we have lots of opportunities to educate ourselves here—including U-Haul University (UHU) courses—so if you work hard and keep learning, you can build a career you can be proud of.
“I went from digging ditches as a teenager to working on brand-new trucks—it’s been a great life!” Miller proclaimed. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“A Class Of His Own”
“Neal is a team player and an all-around great guy,” praised Shop 177 Brake/Tire Specialist James Shaw. “He gets along with everyone in the shop, and we like to talk about old times with him and hear his stories. He’s got so many years with U-Haul, and he’s a good example to look up to.”
“Neal and I have been best friends ever since 1970!” highlighted Shop 177 Mechanical Express Specialist Glen Jones. “We worked at Beech Bend Amusement Park in Bowling Green when we were kids … we’d run around sweeping the midway at night together. We got older and worked at different jobs, but still stayed in touch.
“After he joined U-Haul, he told me about what a great Company it was, so I joined in 1996,” Jones continued. “Neal is a great guy, and a wonderful friend. We’ve been part of each other’s lives for decades—I was even there at the birth of his kid, grandkid and great-grandkid! He’s just the kind of person you want to be around.”
“When I joined Shop 177 as shop manager in 2002, Neal reported to me from the satellite shop, so I’ve known and worked with him for many years,” Hash detailed. “He’s dependable, a hard worker and a likeable guy. And, he’s extremely dedicated to his work! He and Glen still live in the Bowling Green area, so they commute an hour each way to work every single day and take turns driving. That just shows how willing they are to ‘go the distance' to get things done.”
“Neal's knowledge and understanding of procedures when it comes to inspecting and repairing U-Haul equipment are extraordinary,” enthused Adam Muszynski, marketing company president (MCP) of UHC of North Nashville (Co. 772). “He's always working or looking for something to do, keeps his area tidy and helps others in need without hesitation. His willingness to serve others, crack a smile, tell a joke—often at the cost of himself—and just keep the atmosphere light for everyone proves that he’s in a class of his own.”
Congratulations, Neal!
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