There is no doubt that virtual meetings have taken off in a big way over the previous months and years, but some companies are simply not sold on their main advantages and are looking to go back to the old-fashioned way of doing things at the earliest possible opportunity. Well, the following blog post is all about some of the main benefits of virtual team meetings that may end up playing a big role in your decision-making process when it comes to working out whether a meeting should be held virtually or face to face. Reduced Costs First of all, there is the low-cost factor of a virtual meeting to take into account. Obviously, this can prove to be majorly beneficial as your standard business trip can end up racking up huge bills if you are not careful. On the other hand, many of the main virtual meeting providers are available for free or at an extremely low cost. This makes it a no-brainer for many organizations – especially the smaller ones, which have budgets that cannot stretch as far as the big companies. At the same time, many larger businesses are also deciding to switch to virtual meetings to reduce their costs. Comfort in Own Environment While there is no doubt that it can feel strange when it comes to not being in the same room as the other person, plenty of people have now adapted to virtual meetings and would not go back to the old way of doing things. Ultimately, some people perform better when they can control their own space. As for technical issues, these are something that many people have become used to during the pandemic, so they may well not prove to be as awkward as you would initially think they should be. Allows Time to Focus on Other Things The next major advantage of virtual team meetings is that they are certainly time-saving. A lot of hours can be expended moving from one place to another – not to mention the possibility of getting stuck in traffic and all the other potential issues that can end up occurring along the way. When you are in a virtual meeting, there is no commute time to concern yourself with. Not only this, but you have a lot more hours in the day when it comes to focusing on the other issues that may be pressing to your business and need to be dealt with straight away. Before, a meeting out of town could have taken up your entire afternoon. Now, it can be dealt with within an hour due to virtual meetings. These are just three of the major advantages that can push people to conduct virtual meetings rather than their real-life counterparts. Ultimately, they come down to three simple factors: cost, comfort, and time. Adding all three of them together can certainly make all the difference when it comes to ensuring that you get everything out of the meeting you had initially hoped to, which can prove vital in the road to...

One of the greatest assets of any commercial organization is to be found in its employees. Regardless of business scale or complexity, this remains a fundamental truth. It can also be observed that, throughout each of the past decades, the commercial sector has had to embrace significant social and cultural issues which have quite literally transformed the workplace. From issues of gender and race equality in the 1950s, to the introduction of new technology through subsequent decades, which impacted and replaced parts of the labor force, the employer/employee relationship has been tested with successive challenges. Similarly, the present business environment finds itself challenged by questions of worker health and safety, and rapidly changing business practices, during a once in a lifetime health pandemic. The question becomes: Are there some universal considerations which can assist management in dealing with human issues as they arise? Listen! A conflict left unattended will escalate There is a simple notion that remains constant throughout the years – we each feel the need to be recognized. The simple fact is that every single person, both employers and employees alike, view the world in a different way. Sometimes, it is that simple acknowledgment which diffuses potential conflict. When a problem arises – Listen. Really listen. It is surprising the number of managers who take pride in their listening skills, yet find themselves with an escalating staffing problem. Referral to a local specialized website provides a telling insight into the scale and depth of the industrial dispute issue. In short, a conflict left unattended will invariably escalate. The first step in conflict resolution is putting aside personal thoughts and feelings on a matter, and focusing on hearing and understanding an individual’s problem or concern. Agree on a solution! A conflict left unresolved will escalate If listening is the first step, then the next step is to seek a solution which will reconcile the matter. Clarify with the worker (or workers in a larger industrial dispute) whether you have understood their concerns and correctly ascertained the extent of the problem. Once the problem is understood by both parties, the next step is find a solution or a course of action which removes the concern for the employee, and is mutually acceptable to the employer. The solution may be a simple and straightforward one in the majority of cases. Ensure that talk is supported by action – words are generally not enough to finalize a matter. Quite often the matter is not simply addressed and may require a longer term ‘fix’ which may necessitate procedural, behavioral or cultural change. In this case, ensure that any commitment is honored – set progress milestones and regular meetings if needed. Mediation by a third party In more complex cases, the involvement of a third party may be warranted. This might be a ‘neutral’ party, perhaps chosen by the employee or a senior level manager. If the conflict cannot be resolved in-house, the employment of an external consultant or legal firm may become the next logical step towards mediation and reconciliation. Summary Regardless of employment position or level, people respond best when they are treated as individuals and feel they are being listened to with interest. Taking some time to remind ourselves of these basic understandings often goes a long way to resolving human issues before they compound and...

If you’re new to the world of business, you want to make sure that you hit the ground running, as the early days can often be the most difficult as you’re likely spending more money than you might expect. Even later on, as a more established business, you want to make sure you’re doing as many things right as possible. The landscape that you find yourself in as a business is a very competitive one, meaning that any advantage that you can leverage is something that’s potentially worth doing. Your next step should be finding out what you can do to accomplish this and then making the most of your newfound position as a business with the right approach to success. Streamline Your Hiring Process Different people in your position will have different attitudes towards the importance that employees play in the overall success of the business, but a lot of people agree that their role is an instrumental one. With this in mind, you might find that your first step is making sure that your hiring process is as effective as possible – find the best possible candidates for the jobs that you have available and ensure the application process is suitably succinct. It’s not necessary to accomplish something like this on your own, especially if you’re used to doing things a different way, so seeking help from companies such as DataCheck can mean that the improvements you feel are far more substantial than you would have otherwise been able to achieve. When you’re talking about your employees, it’s also important that you think about their importance after you’ve hired them. Employees aren’t simply machines that can benefit you only, you need to treat them properly and do what you can to make sure that they’re happy and comfortable in their positions. Failing to do this won’t just mean that their productivity may slip, but also that they might seek work elsewhere, somewhere they feel their efforts will be more appreciated. Adapt to Changing Times In all areas of life, outside of business, it isn’t uncommon to find people who are particularly averse to change. In particular, change that requires them to do something differently to how they’ve always done it. It’s understandable why people can feel this way, it’s easier to just keep doing something the same way as always, after all. However, when the aim of the game is standing out and giving your customers or clients a reason to choose you, it’s important that you keep an open mind about change. This isn’t just for the sake of your clients either. Your employees may well respond more positively to you if they know that they can approach you with ideas and you value and will take time to consider these suggestions. This mentality is something that’s especially important to maintain in an age where technology is rapidly improving and allowing for different ways of doing things in such short spans of...

Identify a designated workspace and keep it clean and organized. Work with what you have and don’t blow your entire budget on day one. There is always space for improvement; so decide what you need later. Focus on great lighting and a view. Use proper lighting to avoid unncessary eye strain and find a spot in your home with a view. Find a desk with the right height and a chair with proper back support. Interruptions can hamper productivity. Free yourself from distractions and consider using headphones. Now, let me inspire you with a few home office hacks for small spaces that can be transformed magically into a hassle free working environment. Who says that only big office chairs are comfortable? Pick a unique and pleasant chair that would fit in your small home office space. Find the best chair deals for your home office on Spoken – a company that partners with hundreds of furniture retailers. Never let a corner go to waste  There are many ways to uses for corners. From stacking books and placing a plant on top, to building a Lazy Susan turning shelf, create a Reading Space, a Corner Bookshelf from Ceiling to Floor; there are uses for every space… the list goes on and on! Source: 5 TINY YET BEAUTIFUL ROOM IDEAS Start a Squarespace Web Design Business – Work from Home! Work from home or anywhere by starting a highly profitable Squarespace Web Design Business – WITHOUT learning to code! Space Saver This is a makeshift laptop table that can be installed anywhere in your home and serves as a great space saver. Source: 24 Small Nightstand Ideas in 2021 Minimal Floating Desk The minimal float wall desk mounts easily to any wall to create a multi-use desk or display shelf. Perfect as a laptop station, full desktop station or writing desk. Design accommodates use at standing height or traditional sitting height. Clever use of geometry and physics eliminates legs while providing a full surface slide out tray and wire management slot. Source: Living in a Shoebox Standing Desk Home Office This standing desk will encourage you to be more active and more energetic all day. This can also be great for keeping your posture intact. The height of this desk can also be adjusted (so you can sit if you choose to). Source: 16 Modern Home Office Ideas for Women (With Small Spaces) Turn a Closet into a Home Office This closet has been beautifully transformed into a working space by a master mind inetrior designer with a narrow low profile desk and shelving above. And the orange shade maked everything bright and sets the perfect atmosphere for a home office. Source; 27 Ways to Create a Stylish Small Home Office Rearranging Your FurnitureSwitching up the furniture arrangement in this small living room created the space needed for a home office. They have placed the sofa against the longest wall and then put the desk directly in front of the window. Doing so opened up square footage in the center of the space making the room feel open and airy instead of cramped and crowded. Beige Minimal Bedding Set For Married Instagram Story by managementguru.net Home Office Near Your Window Creating a home office in a small space might be challenging, but not impossible. This small area has been carved into a lovely inspiring work place with minimal set up. Source: 7 Ways To Carve Out A Workspace In Your Small Home Success Could be in a Corner One of the most efficient ways to fit a workspace into a small footprint is with a wall-mounted desk. A shelf, fixed to the wall at tabletop height, need only be...

There has been much focus on mental health issues in recent years. Long working hours, family stresses, bad health, and the current global pandemic have taken their toll on even the most optimistic individuals. So, what can be done to ensure safeguarding mental health as a priority? Healthy Eating Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is vital for physical and mental wellness. If you only eat junk food, the body will struggle to perform all the processes needed for healthy function. The brain relies upon vitamins and minerals for optimum performance. It’s essential to eat regularly so as not to allow your blood sugar levels to drop. Slow-release foods such as oats and bananas will help stabilize mood and prevent dips in energy. It’s good practice to try to eat your ‘5 a day’ as recommended. Fruit and vegetables will provide vital nutrients and help protect your digestive system as well as the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids are a great way to regenerate nerve cells in the brain and are known for helping prevent age-related brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Exercise Physical activity has long been known for its ‘feel good’ properties. When you exercise, your body pumps more oxygen to the brain and stimulates the growth of new cells. Increasing the body’s activity will act as a mild antidepressant and improve memory and learning. You don’t have to be pumping iron each day for hours at the gym. Small changes such as walking every day or playing sports you enjoy will provide a plethora of benefits. Keeping Busy If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that humans need structure in their lives. Along with daily routines and working life, it is essential to have things to look forward to and time with friends. Staying busy helps the mind from dwelling on spiraling negative thought patterns. If you have missed your busy schedule and not socializing has affected your mental health, why not plan a party or event to make up for a lost time? It will give you something to focus your mind on and something to look forward to. Research some local venues and start asking your friends about availability. Compile a list of all your guests and get an idea of the numbers. If you make it a ticketed event, it will keep costs down and allow you to make it a little extra special. If you decide to outsource the catering, you could use Event Bartenders to attend the function and provide the first-class service throughout the evening. You can then relax and enjoy the party and make special memories to mark the end of restrictions. Relaxing As well as keeping busy, it’s essential to find time to relax. Meditation and mindfulness have become popular in recent years, and they are a great way to de-stress after a busy day. Integrating meditation into daily life will help you control stress levels and not allow worries to overwhelm you. There are various apps available with guidance on how to get started. Meditation takes some practice but is well worth it for the benefits it offers. Looking after your mental health is crucial to prevent further problems and remain happy in everyday...