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Having constant problems at your business can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you don’t know how to solve them. Sometimes it can seem like it would be easier to let the problems continue rather than to figure out a solution to your problem. However, there are a couple of different ways that you can find good solutions to your issues in a time-effective way. 

Bring in Outside Consultants

One good way to develop solutions to your problems is to bring in outside consultants or specialists. If you can find people that have been in similar situations, they’ll be able to help you to know how to solve them in a way that works for your company. In order to truly help your business, the consultants should not only understand your problems but also what makes your company unique. This will allow them to figure out solutions that will maintain the integrity of your business and its goals.

Listen to Your Employees

Another important step in finding solutions to your work problems is listening to your employees. Frontline employees understand better than anyone the root causes of workplace issues. Make sure that you can maintain trusting, open relationships with your employees so that when problems do arise, they’ll trust you enough to tell you about them. If your employees are afraid that you’ll get angry and respond badly to a problematic situation, they’ll likely try to hide any problems that are occurring. However, if they trust you and feel that they can communicate with you easily, you’ll be able to find out about work problems as soon as they are occurring. 

Brainstorm Solutions

If you are able to have a good, open relationship with your employees and they trust you with work problems, you should also trust them to come up with viable solutions for said problems. One great way to find solutions to your work problems is to have a brainstorming session with your employees. Sit down and identify the issues at hand, analyze any interests, motivations, or factors that could be causing the issues, and then brainstorm possible solutions. With the joint brainpower of your employees, you’ll be more likely to find good solutions to your problems. 

Remember, even though work problems can be frustrating and exhausting, it is worth it to take the time to find ways to resolve them. Trust in your team and any outside help that can help you to better understand the issues that are occurring, and you’ll be better equipped to come up with solutions. Before giving up on the issue, try each of these steps and you’ll be sure to find success.

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Managing your budget when you are cutting costs is one of the most difficult parts of running any business. It can be especially difficult to manage when you are trying to avoid hurting the people who make your company great. When you are able to manage budget cuts without reducing your employees you will create a reputation as a great workplace and a sought-after employer. 

Reduce Equipment Costs 

Paying for equipment is one of the most expensive elements of running a business. And, while you can’t get rid of your equipment costs all together you can do a few things to decrease those costs during a budget cut. It’s important to consider both physical equipment and software when you think about decreasing costs. If you have any unnecessary subscription-based software, paying for it may greatly improve your budget to cancel the subscription. Also working to keep your equipment in good working order and avoiding replacing equipment unnecessarily can help you to keep your budget in check. 

Increase Efficiency 

The more efficiently your business runs the more profitable it will become. So, if you can find ways to make your processes run more efficiently you can cut your budget and keep your great employees. Increasing efficiency can be done in a variety of ways, for example, PDCA makes processes more efficient in the workplace. You can also look for areas in your processes where waste is being produced. Getting rid of that waste is a great way to increase efficiency and make your business more productive as a whole. 

Work on Projects In-House 

Sometimes outsourcing is the right call when you’re running a business, but it isn’t always the best choice. If you have many outsourced projects going it may be a good idea to bring them in house so you can decrease your costs and use your employees more efficiently. Outsourcing projects is only worthwhile if they require expertise that your company can’t offer, and it is less work than warrants adding a full-time employee. Moving projects in house can save you a lot of money over time.

When you are on top of your budget you can handle making small cuts without having to let go of any of your employees. Holding on to the employees you have is a positive action for your business over time. Make smart cuts to your budget so you can keep your business in the best possible standing.

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There are many situations that will require public speaking. For many people, these situations can be intimidating and stressful, not to mention disastrous when a job or opportunity is on the line. If public speaking is one of your weaknesses, never fear! Learning how to overcome your fear and even feeling confident speaking to a large group is very possible for anyone.

Work With a Coach

One of the best ways to work through something hard is to have someone help you. A public speaking coach is just the person you need. With a specialized mentor to guide you, not only will you learn how to work through your fear of public speaking, you will gain tools and methods you can use to improve your overall presentation. Work with a public speaking coach no matter your level, and don’t think you have to fail on your own enough times to deserve one. This kind of coach can help you prepare to give a quality speech and generally improve your confidence.

The feedback I received from folks I coached during the Tedx Provincetown’s 2019 show, illustrated how important it was to have someone work alongside you when developing your pitch and your confidence. As a presenter myself in 2018, I personally found a huge benefit to working with a coach

Identify Your Weaknesses

In order to overcome your fear of public speaking, you should first identify what your fears and weaknesses are. When you understand your personal weaknesses, you can find more specific ways to work through them. For example, if you struggle with pronunciation, then you might want to seek help so this is no longer an obstacle for you. Speech therapy can correct pronunciation issues which commonly afflict people of all ages. If you are worried about your connection to the audience and their engagement with your speech/presentation, then you can find some techniques to help you learn how to engage more with your audience.

Focus on the Material

To help you feel more confident while giving a speech, you should also focus more on the material you are preparing. Often people’s true insecurities stem from a lack of knowledge on the subject they’re explaining, so knowing your material really well will ease your nerves. As you start off, have a clear plan and structure for your speech. It can be extremely helpful if you take plenty of time to practice. This will allow you to be comfortable with your content and it can help you to stay on track while giving the speech. Additionally, you can give yourself cues, such as notes on notecards, that you can reference while practicing your speech. Being confident in your material can help you overcome the fear of public speaking. In the end – know what 3-5 points you want your audience to leave with and bring them home at the end 

It’s perfectly natural to be intimidated by public speaking. Many people feel vulnerable when all eyes are on them, much less when all ears are too. There are many methods to help you overcome the fear, however, so be intentional and don’t give up!

Ready to take control of your professional or personal future? Check out MentorSF’s Explorer Program.

Being financially stable is something many people desperately want. They worry about losing their money and getting stranded in their situation. If that applies to you, check out some of the things you can do to keep yourself financially secure below.

Learn New Skills

If you are constantly learning something new at your job, you’re going to be valued and harder to let go. You’re essentially trying to become a jack of all trades. Why would your company take the time and expense to hire someone new when you can do the same work? Just make sure you’re compensated for what you learn while still keeping up with other work.

Additionally, learning new skills can help you find work elsewhere. If everyone has a similar resume to you, then one of the best things you can do is learn a skill to help you stand out. You could also try a new field of work if you wish.

Remember – even if you hated being in school – as an adult, learning becomes a personal desire and not one “put upon you”. So don’t be afraid to try a course our side your comfort zone. Many adults who I find in my classrooms, discover themselves falling in love with learning and all sorts of inspirations.

Save More For Emergencies

Having money for financial emergencies can help you to feel secure. A good rule of thumb is to set aside enough money that is worth three months of expenses. You’ll also need to consider variable expenses, like birthday presents, car registration fees, and taxes. Your variable expenses should be saved in addition to your three months of expenses. You can calculate your expenses using an emergency fund savings calculator. 

Once you know how much you need to save, figure out how long it will take you to save up to the amount. Then get saving!

If you get injured while working, your work can provide workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation helps cover some expenses while recovering an injury sustained at work. This will allow you to stay afloat financially if you are unable to go into work. 

Prepare for Retirement 

If you don’t want to stress about retirement, start saving now rather than later. You can start small. Setting aside as little as $50 a month will help you be prepared for when your career is at its end. 

Perhaps open up a Roth or traditional Individual Retirement Account. A traditional IRA is an account you can put or invest your money into. You aren’t allowed to take out that cash until you retire (or for other special circumstances). When you are ready to take out that cash, you’ll have to pay taxes on it. However, with a Roth IRA, you’ve already paid taxes on the cash. So when you take your money out of the account, the money is yours to use.

You could also consider investing in mutual funds, index funds, bonds, bitcoin, real estate, and more. There’s always risk when you invest in anything. Be sure to do your research and consult with your financial advisor before starting a new investment.

If you feel overwhelmed about being financially stable, take baby steps. Consider what you can feasibly do right now. Readjust your savings plans and what skills you want to learn as you go.

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