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The managerial process encompasses four management functions, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Each function is important in its own right, although they all work in unison for the purpose of achieving organizational goals. In this blog post,...

Have you ever been in a situation where your project was behind schedule and had to fast-track it? Or maybe you're not sure what that even means. This blog post will discuss what fast-tracking is when necessary and how to do it effectively. We'll also share some tips...

Every business needs a media kit. A media kit is a collection of information and materials that you can use to promote your company to the media. Your media kit should include everything from your company profile and mission statement to fact sheets and press...

"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency".– Bill Gates. Are you looking to...

If you're like most business owners, you're always looking for ways to improve your operations and achieve your goals. Monitoring your key performance indicators (KPIs) is a great way to do this. KPIs are metrics that measure how well your business is doing in...

Are you looking to build relationships with other business professionals in your area? Professional networking can be a great way to expand your circle of contacts, learn from others in your industry, and find potential referral partners. This blog post will discuss...

  "Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability." – Patrick Lencioni     When it comes to business, team dynamics is critical. A well-functioning team can accomplish great things, but a...

What is employee motivation? Motivation is the psychological process that gets employees going, keeps them going, and determines the direction and level of effort they exert at work. If motivation is present, work performance is possible. Motivation and performance...

Did you know the first known recorded timeclock is over 3,200 years old? On Feb 15, 2022, scientists found a 3,200-Year-Old Egyptian tablet providing evidence that ancient Egyptians recorded attendance and absences from work. The timeclock was called an ostracon. An...

When greeting a customer, it's essential to be polite and professional. Use a warm and friendly tone, and greet them by name if you know it. Be sure to greet everyone who enters your store, even if they don't buy anything. A simple hello can make a big difference in...

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Walt Disney Are you looking for ways to increase your working efficiency? If so, you're not alone. Many business owners are always looking for new and improved ways to get things done. Fortunately, a few...

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) lays out the steps and procedures a company will follow before, during, and in the wake of a disaster to maintain maximum functionality during the emergency and get its operations back to normal in the shortest possible time. Every...

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."-John Maxwell. Being a leader in business is more than just having a position of authority. It's about using that power to impact people inside and outside of the...

When making data-driven decisions, businesses need to understand and analyze their data. Thankfully, several different analytics tools can help with this. Companies can quickly get insights into customer behavior, market trends, and more by using the right tool for...

Planograms (POG) are vital merchandising tools most modern retail businesses use. POGs help arrange products on store shelves in the most effective way possible to promote sales. Without a planogram, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for store employees to...

The term "gig" is jargon for "temporary job." You've likely heard it used conversationally, especially when freelancers say, "I've booked a gig." Additionally, you've probably heard of a "gig economy," which means a free market system in which businesses use...

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new" - Socrates Making changes in your small business can be daunting, but it is critical for growth. Many changes, such as process improvements or new technology...

Most successful companies today have HRIS systems. A human resources information system, or HRIS, is an essential tool. Companies that have successfully implemented HRIS systems include Google, Apple, and Microsoft. These companies have used their HRIS systems to...

"People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards." - Dale Carnegie. The "great resignation" describes the growing trend of mass resignations in every economic sector. People quit their jobs for many reasons, but most people say they...

Retaining your top employees should be a priority for any manager, regardless of the industry you operate in. High-quality staff will always translate into more profits, higher productivity, and just a better business all-around. There is a significant difference...

When you’re running a restaurant it’s impossible to avoid on-call scheduling, as you never know when things are going to get increasingly busy. A team member could also call in sick at any given time, leaving the team short-staffed and unprepared for the shift! This...

Many industries are facing a shortage of skilled workers these days, especially those that focus on employing “top talent” the most. In particular, the hospitality industry has been hit relatively hard - the pandemic has led to a talent shortage that most business...

There are many instances in life where having more than one set of skills is going to take you much further. Of course, that would seem obvious to some people, but that isn’t always the case. I feel like if you relate this issue to sports, more individuals would...

Bringing your team together through team-building activities is not only a great choice but a popular one as well. I’m sure most of you reading this have been through some sort of tacky team-building exercise in the past, but there are plenty of amazing ones to be had...

Wondering what Human Resources is all about? Please read this blog post to learn more about the basics, including why it’s important and how it helps your business thrive!

Unsure of how to conduct job interviews? This blog post will give you some tips on making the process run smoothly and help you determine whether or not the candidate is a good fit for your company

Teenagers are the workers that keep many businesses afloat, offering them affordable labour at flexible hours (especially during the holidays). The one thing that business owners forget about though is that teenagers are getting smarter over time, and it can be...

Letting your employees know that they’re doing a good job is a simple way to boost both moreale and productivity. Any manager that has been in the game for a while understands the importance of employee morale, and how it can seriously impact the success that your...

Running a business isn’t easy by any means, and most of you reading this already understand that fact. It takes a lot of time and dedication to run a business of your own, but there are fewer things in the world that can make you feel more prideful. Running a...

Running a coffee shop is a popular choice these days, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s tough to do. Many business owners believe that they’ll open up a coffee shop and immediately start raking in the cash, but that’s not how it works at all. As a...

Communication is one of the easiest ways to keep your team members in the loop, as well as improve upon productivity. Whenever you can connect with your team and communicate effectively, you can get your point across without any wasted time. This leads to people...

Scheduling will always remain one of the toughest things to handle as a retail manager, but there are many tricks you can use to ensure that employees are always in high spirits during the Holiday rush. During the Holidays (and more specifically during Christmas)...

Employees are turning towards freelance and remote gigs now more than ever, but there are also more small businesses being developed on top of that. The minimum wage that people in Ontario experience is lackluster to say the least, and that’s mainly due to the living...

Those of you who run a business that is open 24-hours a day should consider working in rotating shifts (if you haven’t already), but this can be applied to just about any company. Whether you’re operating hours are 14 or 16 hours out of the day, it always helps to...

Working through the pandemic, in general, has been tough, but that can ring especially true for anybody who is also a parent. Whether they’ve got toddlers or even college students, the pandemic has pushed many children back into their homes for school - the only...

If you’re struggling to find and retain employees ever since the pandemic, you’re not alone. There’s a reason why remote and gig-based work has become more popular recent, and that’s simply because people are more willing to do it. The economy seems to be bouncing...

There are four total management styles to consider, with each one pertaining to a different sort of managerial process. Some managers will be laid back and allow employees to do their thing, while others will demand greatness and help people reach their true...

Working in the health care sector comes with a lot of pressure. The hours can be long and the shifts never seem to stop coming, which is why we’re going to look at the importance of proper scheduling in the health care sector. Creating manual schedules puts pressure...

Growing a business requires constant learning, from your own experiences and those of others. There are thousands of experts out there willing to share their experiences and all you need to gain access is a library card (People still use those?). The following list is...

Ever since the pandemic managers have been trying to figure out how they can keep their employees engaged throughout the year, regardless of whether they’re working remotely or not. If you aren’t completely sure how to revitalize your team and keep them engaged,...

Some business owners believe in hard work and determination, which translates into less than stellar circumstances for their employees. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fair and successful business owners out there that have this philosophy, but there’s a...

We are living through unprecedented times. We don’t know when we’ll be able to stop and look back on them, because we don’t know when they’re going to end. What we do know is that the constant change, the constant dealing with the unknown, is making things tough on...

As we’ve said, nothing beats the knowledge of a seasoned labour lawyer when you’re trying to navigate your way through Canada’s labour laws. But if you can’t afford one as you’re starting out, these snippets should help you gain a basic understanding of your legal...

Important changes to federal employment standards under Part III the Canada Labour Code are set to come into effect on September 1, 2019, that will have a significant impact on many employers. One area that saw changes under the Code was the addition of new types of...

Starting your own business means wearing a whole lot of different hats, at least at the beginning. Head of Production, V.P. Marketing, HR Director. One hat you want to be careful about wearing is Head of Legal. Canada’s labour laws as outlined in the Employment...

Achieving individual work productivity among employees is a factor that greatly affects the company as a whole. For instance, people with management and business administration careers are always looking for ways to create more optimal work cultures and environments....

A simple question: Is it appropriate to discuss politics at the office? The simple answer (that would make this the shortest article we’ve posted by several pages): No. The last decade or so has seen the most divisive and polarizing political figures, policies and...

We've added more details to the vital signs on the dashboard, we now show you yesterdays numbers and this week so you can keep on top of the current budget percent.

For some, becoming an entrepreneur is the culmination of the (North) American Dream. It can be a thrill ride that leads to enormous wealth and a pathway to true freedom. But it carries with it a great deal of risk, especially at the beginning. It takes a real...

How to Fire Your IT Professional While Protecting Your Data Firing an employee is never easy and never pleasant. Firing your IT pro or Systems Administrator comes with a whole other set of issues. Often referred to as “the keeper of the keys”, this individual has the...

Getting Your High School Grad Tech-Ready for the Next Step Time flies! It seems like just yesterday she was all pigtails and puddle jumping, and mere weeks ago that you were teaching him how to knot a tie for his first school dance. (Does anyone wear ties to school...

As your business expands and grows, you will find a need to have an IT Professional. These 4 tips will help you get the right fit, the first time! How to Hire the Right IT Professional for Your Business As your company grows, there is no doubt you will need a...

We've updated the asset tracking so you can create assets that require the employee to enter the asset number at punch.  When creating the asset, select the new optionThen on punch, your employees will be prompted:

Things are starting to open up and the possibility of travel is just over the horizon. If you own your own business, travel can often be an important part of keeping that business growing. And on top of the business trips that take you away from the office are,...

It is impossible to read them all, and perhaps in the face of such an overwhelming number, you need some ideas to get started. We recommend that you start with one of the following books: Profit First: A Simple System to Transform Any Business from a Cash-Eating...

It is a practice used to express appreciation, motivate employees, and reinforce desired company behavior. The goal of job recognition is to encourage employees in the workplace and showcase their good performance and positive business results. When an employee feels...

9 Tips to Help Scale Your Small BusinessScalability is about capacity and capability. Does your business have the capacity to grow? Will your business systems, infrastructure and team be able to accommodate and keep up with growth? There’s a difference between scaling...

As a small business owner you are forced to wear many hats, particularly as things begin to take shape and your company begins to grow. Having people on staff who can step up and help in larger roles will become a necessity. Bringing leaders in from outside the...

When an employee works over 40 hours in a workweek, you may be required to pay them additional wages at a higher rate.  Overtime ranks as one of the biggest ongoing expenses for most companies, and poor management of overtime can cost your small business a lot of...

Running a company is complicated, even more so in times when reality is harsh and life has changed so much in the past year. Many workspaces had to reinvent themselves to survive, many employees lost their jobs, others changed their way of working, others stopped...

When you first started your company, employee reviews were probably just an act of self-reflection, as you were the only one sitting at the table. But as your company grows and you hire more employees, it becomes more and more important that you regularly evaluate...

The Advantages of Self-SchedulingEven before COVID-19, many small businesses were working towards a self-scheduling model. Now, with so many people working from home or other remote locations, and with customer demands going unpredictably up and down, self-scheduling...

First, you must recognize the issue. Many people ask, what is the difference between stress and burnout? Is there one? There is. And it’s important to understand that. Because there is a difference in how each syndrome presents itself, there is a difference in how...

While we are not through the pandemic yet, the roll out of vaccinations has provided a light at the end of the tunnel. We are at a point where going back to the workplace is becoming a not-so-distant reality. And this is bringing with it a whole new set of challenges...

No matter what business you’re in - retail, restaurant, services, professionals, healthcare - proper scheduling of your employees is paramount in guaranteeing the best experience for your clients and staff, leading to the best results for your bottom line. It creates...

Ways to Deal with Work-Related Stress These unpredictable times have led to unprecedented levels of stress in the workforce. Its effects are real and potentially devastating. Many studies have shown how stress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset...

Many people forced to work from home by the pandemic may find it difficult to be on their own - maybe for the first time. It is very easy to lose contact with “the outside world”. For some people, especially those who feed off the hustle and bustle of a busy office...

How to Hire During Times of CrisisA global crisis changes everything! Don’t we know it! You make your plans and the universe laughs.Things change everyday and it can feel impossible to keep up. And this is as true for your business as it is for everything else. Maybe...

10 Lead Generating Strategies for Small BusinessWhether you’re just starting out or are an established small business, a good portion of your time, or your staff’s, is likely spent on lead generation. Lead generation is the actions or tactics you use to attract...

7 Attributes of a Great Small Business LeaderGreat leadership is essential for any business to succeed. Without it, it is nearly impossible for a company to grow and expand in ever-changing markets. This may be especially true for small businesses that are often...

7 Tips to Stay Productive While Working from HomeIn this year like no other year, many people have been forced to work from home. If you are used to, and happy with, an office environment, this change can be rather unsettling. There are a whole host of potential...

11 Ways to Improve Communication at Your Small BusinessImportance of Communication Effective communication, both internal and external, is essential to the success of any business. It improves business performance in several different ways. First, good communication...

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