business

Challenging Yourself: What I’ve Learned From My Daughter

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You come to a point in your exercise regimen where your results become stagnant or even start regressing. You wonder how this is happening? – You are going to the gym almost every day. The problem could be that you have fallen into the comfort zone routine trap. You are checking off the miles/reps/laps, but your effort is less than optimal, your body says, “Hey I’m good, I have done this before, – no changes needed.”  You are comfortable, but you absolutely need to invest in a change in order to progress physically.  

Many people don’t take this step or make this push because it’s uncomfortable, it’s hard. Why disrupt a rhythm, especially when it is becoming easier. They’ve finally hit a great rhythm and things are starting to become easier. That is the perfect time to start the challenge. Stepping out of the comfort zone is only going to further your improvement and help reach your goals of a healthier lifestyle.  Only through new stressors can we have the resultant adaptive gains.

Personally, I became somewhat stagnant in my swim, bike run workouts over a lengthy triathlon career. I did way too many of the same workouts over and over again, the workouts were like “comfort food” yet I needed more of a variety of Physical nourishments to make any significant progress.

I recently had a revelation; found through my 16-year-old daughter.

Beginning on January 1st of this year, I began a routine of early morning swims with my daughter at an outdoor pool in Colorado. With the sun coming up, a snow-covered landscape and the steam rising it was magical. However, ‘magical’ was far from the correct adverb to describe the workouts, – more accurate would be excruciating, exhausting and yet exhilarating.  I can hang with my daughter on freestyle, but not only is she talented but also smart and she knows I cannot keep up on Butterfly, so she does what all good teenage daughters do – she punishes me with a heavy butterfly focused workout.

As a triathlete, I had swum almost no butterfly previously and she obliterated me, my body would be absolutely screaming in order to make the interval and she would be grinning at the wall waiting for me.  Out of my comfort zone was an understatement. But I continue to push through as I wanted to be able to keep up, have a stretch goal and ultimately gain transformative fitness.

So if you’re a freestyler, swim butterfly; if you are a runner, swim; if you are a yogi, lift …. Vary your routine, each and every time – vary the intensity vary the exercise, vary the sport.  Whatever it is, explode out of your comfort zone and you will be rewarded with real fitness gains,

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

How to Handle Workplace Conflicts

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When dealing with conflict in the workplace, the most important rule for handling it is dealing with it head-on. If a company ignores conflict among coworkers, it can snowball into something bigger and eventually cause problems for more than just the parties initially involved. There are a few easy ways to deal with conflict and stop it before it even becomes an issue. If ignored, there’s the potential for people quitting, lawsuits, and even workplace violence.

Open Door Policy

When leadership has an open door policy in place, people are more inclined to come to them with problems. Upper management must set aside time for all employees to go to them with any conflict they may be dealing with. This way, employees know they have an outlet for when they need to talk. It’s a way for them to be heard, and it’s a way for them to know that management cares about their happiness and emotional health.

Create Practical Solutions

When two employees can’t seem to get along, management needs to intervene. If conflict isn’t addressed, fights can happen, which creates a more significant issue than what was there in the first place. Employees involved in a conflict need to feel like their voices are being heard. Management shouldn’t just brush off concerns even if they may seem trivial at the time. If a solution can’t be found, management may need to consider different shifts or workspaces for involved parties.

Address Rumors to Avoid Future Problems

Rumors will inevitably pop up in the workplace. How a company deals with those rumors says everything about them. Rumors are a substantial contributing factor to workplace conflicts and even workplace violence. That’s why it’s important that employees have someone they can ask about rumors and someone they can go to should a rumor arise about themselves.

Perhaps the most helpful way to deal with conflict is to stop it before it arises. Companies should have policies in place that deal with bullying, rumors, and other problematic behaviors. By having a zero-tolerance rule, people can come to work feeling safe in the long run. Employees should also know when and where they can find HR. Creating a zero-tolerance policy for bullying is also a great way to keep all employees on the same page and avoid showing favoritism. 

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Strengthening Communication Among Remote Teams

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Remote teams are a reality for many companies with the rise of the internet and technology. However, remote working can present challenges to communication that in-person work does not have to deal with. Here are some tips on strengthening communication among remote teams.

Create a Company-wide Communication Policy

The most successful remote teams are the ones that have a clear understanding of how to communicate with each other. A company-wide communication policy ensures everyone has a shared understanding of the expectations for communicating, both internally and externally. In addition, there should be an established crisis plan detailing who communicates with whom during emergencies, who oversees those communications, and who makes decisions based on the received information.

Remote teams should have a shared understanding of the company’s culture

Every remote team should have a shared understanding of the company’s culture, even if they’re composed of members from different countries or locations. To do this, a company needs to make sure that the employee values get aligned with the company’s vision and mission statement. Having a shared understanding allows proper communication and fewer misunderstandings.

Create an internal wiki to house

It is important for a business to create an internal wiki and include all necessary information about the company. The remote team will refer to the shared expectations and see how it applies to them directly. This information allows for clarification of the things expected from each position or role. It will also allow for a better understanding of the responsibilities of each member.

Encourage remote employees to attend in-person meetings

Remote employees who attend in-person meetings will understand the company’s culture and allow for more close communication with the managers. It will also make it easier to understand and follow their duties and responsibilities.

If employees have a good relationship among themselves, it will be easier for them to establish connections and relationships. This connection and relationship-building in person give the employee.

One of the best ways to make remote teams feel like they are part of a cohesive team is by providing them with a company-wide communication policy. When remote teams have clear guidelines for communicating with one another, it helps build trust and handle companies’ duties effectively.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Leadership Traits Essential for Trust

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Each family, organization, and company needs a leader that can take the group from one level to the next. But, remember that leadership requires trust.

A successful relationship is always dependent upon trusting one another. It is commonly recognized that there is more resistance to change in the workplace when there is no trust between an employee and leadership. In such situations, corporate infighting tends to take the place of collaboration. Uncertainty is everywhere, and stagnation persists as opposed to innovation.

Leadership traits are essential to develop and maintain the level of trust in the workplace, and that helps motivate teams and works positively for almost everyone. The following are a few leadership traits that are essential for trust among team members working alongside one another.

Listen First, Then Conclude

The fundamental rule of communication is to listen to employees. A good leader must listen to his or her team members to know what they think and what they want to share. A successful leader should learn to listen to what employees are saying at all times. A leader must consider what issues are essential for the employees, address them, and provide a satisfactory response.

Leaders Trust Their Employees

To gain trust, one should trust others as well. Someone in a leadership position must show their employees that they trust each and every one of them. A leader who trusts can help their employees be creative and set challenges for themselves that can be helpful for both individuals and the company.

Encouraging Transparency

A good leader will share their ideas with other employees to encourage transparency. They will help their team understand what is needed in order to achieve company goals and individual goals.  Explaining the company’s aims, future vision, and creating a peaceful, engaging environment where everyone can share their views and ideas is essential.

Great leaders should show people that they value their time and ideas presented by them. This will allow trust to build between all team members, ultimately leading to success for everyone involved.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

How to Handle Workplace Conflicts

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When dealing with conflict in the workplace, the most important rule for handling it is dealing with it head-on. If a company ignores conflict among coworkers, it can snowball into something bigger and eventually cause problems for more than just the parties initially involved. There are a few easy ways to deal with conflict and stop it before it even becomes an issue. If ignored, there’s the potential for people quitting, lawsuits, and even workplace violence.

Open Door Policy

When leadership has an open door policy in place, people are more inclined to come to them with problems. Upper management must set aside time for all employees to go to them with any conflict they may be dealing with. This way, employees know they have an outlet for when they need to talk. It’s a way for them to be heard, and it’s a way for them to know that management cares about their happiness and emotional health.

Create Practical Solutions

When two employees can’t seem to get along, management needs to intervene. If conflict isn’t addressed, fights can happen, which creates a more significant issue than what was there in the first place. Employees involved in a conflict need to feel like their voices are being heard. Management shouldn’t just brush off concerns even if they may seem trivial at the time. If a solution can’t be found, management may need to consider different shifts or workspaces for involved parties.

Address Rumors to Avoid Future Problems

Rumors will inevitably pop up in the workplace. How a company deals with those rumors says everything about them. Rumors are a substantial contributing factor to workplace conflicts and even workplace violence. That’s why it’s important that employees have someone they can ask about rumors and someone they can go to should a rumor arise about themselves.

Perhaps the most helpful way to deal with conflict is to stop it before it arises. Companies should have policies in place that deal with bullying, rumors, and other problematic behaviors. By having a zero-tolerance rule, people can come to work feeling safe in the long run. Employees should also know when and where they can find HR. Creating a zero-tolerance policy for bullying is also a great way to keep all employees on the same page and avoid showing favoritism.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Branding Essentials for Startup Companies

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When starting up a new company, there are three essentials that the business needs for visibility: a trademarked logo, a website, and a domain name that matches the brand.

Business Logo

The logo is the picture customers and clients use to remember the brand and what it represents. This needs to be unique to the business and should be trademarked to protect others from using it as their own. The logo is what introduces people to the company and should create a positive impression in their minds. It represents the company’s values and purpose, so the design and colors should reflect those things.

Website

The website is often the first place people read about a new company before trying their services. In today’s world, a website is essential for a business to thrive since so much business is done online. A nicely designed website will have details about the product or services offered, the background or history of the company, and contact information, such as email and phone number. 

The website should incorporate the logo of the brand and have links with which to navigate the website easily. Some businesses offer a scheduling option on the web page, making it easier for service-oriented businesses to schedule times with customers. If the business sells a product, the website should be created to make online sales as easy a possible for both the customer and the company.

Domain Name

The domain name is what people type as the URL to access the website for the business. The domain name for the brand should match closely with the name as much as possible. Sometimes an exact match is not possible because a specific domain name may already be taken. 

The domain name may also use search engine optimization (SEO) words, which are words used to search for that type of business or service in a specific location.

The business owner could do some of these things himself, but often it is better to hire a professional to help design a logo and create a website. 

When a new business has a great logo, a website that is easy to use, and a domain name that matches its business name, the essentials are in place for a great start.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Ways to Make Sure Your Business Succeeds

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When you start a business, the ultimate goal should be to make sure it becomes and stays successful. No one goes into the business world wanting their idea to crash and burn at the gate, after all. Thankfully, there are strategies and tips available to help any business owner, whether new or old, take their company and make sure it continues to thrive. Here are a few of those tips and tricks.

1 ) Write out a plan.

Though some people are good at winging it when it comes to life situations, that’s not something that you should do when you want your business to succeed. Not having a written plan makes your ideas more of a dream than reality, and having something written down will give you a tangible place to start. What you write down doesn’t have to be novel-length; it can be a mere outline for strategies, objectives, financing, marketing, and whatever else you need to get started.

2 ) Be prepared to change your plan.

Writing down your plan and sticking to it is smart, but it isn’t smart to stick to it when it’s obviously not working anymore. Following a plan you wrote down months ago when it’s not doing anything beneficial for your business will only bring you closer to failure, so don’t be afraid to scrap the plan and adjust accordingly if the situation calls for it.

3 ) Listen to others.

It’s far too easy to let success inflate your ego, and letting that happen is detrimental to your future success. That’s why having advisors around you is essential to success; you’ll be able to bounce ideas off of them while having someone keep you in check as well. Having people there to hold you accountable is smart and will make sure your focus is primarily on your business, not your ego.

4 ) Delegate without micromanagement.

When you hire people, you need to trust that they know what they’re doing—there’s a reason you hired them in the first place, after all. You can’t control everything, nor can you do everything necessary to keep your business running smoothly. That’s why you can’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your employees: if you do so effectively, you’ll get more done in a much better way than you would’ve on your own. 

You also need to be aware of micromanagement; letting yourself fall into that habit will not only slow you down, but make for some very unhappy employees in the long run. 

Effective Networking Communication

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Networking is one of the most essential business skills because it enables an entrepreneur to connect with other like-minded individuals. Those networks can help the business owner succeed.

Despite having numerous benefits, networking is one of the most feared activities because people don’t know how to talk to strangers.

However, one shouldn’t be afraid of networking for two reasons: people don’t mind talking about themselves, and human beings generally want to help each other.

Networking Hacks

1. Taking Control

The main objective of a networking event is getting to know one another. Therefore, anyone that attends a networking event should be ready to take control by asking questions if the other party is quiet. One shouldn’t be afraid to break the ice with a simple greeting.

2. Mental Preparation

It can be hard for a person to talk about themselves right off the bat. One needs time to gather thoughts. Since the process can lead to an awkward silence, it’s best to write down a brief introduction of themselves and memorize it. That way, they’ll know what to say if someone approaches them out of nowhere.

3. Asking the Right Questions

It’s easy to ask generic questions like, “what’s your name?’ or “what do you do?” because they’re so common. An individual should be creative with their questions if they want to make an impact. First, they should be open-ended and thoughtful. Second, they can be linked to the event.

4. Approaching Smartly

In networking events, there are those presumed to be more accomplished than others. Everyone wants a chance to talk to those people, and they know it. That’s why they’re hard to talk to. If a person wants to talk to that individual, they should be tactful with their approach. They should look for the most ideal moment to engage.

5. Important Takeaways

With so many people gathered in one place, it can be challenging to remember everything. The golden rule is to remember at least three new things from every conversation and follow up on them; it could be a book recommendation or a referral.

Anyone can take advantage of the benefits of networking by using the mentioned techniques. The participant should also remember to be a good listener because people love talking about themselves.

Making the Jump from Manager to Leader

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Nearly every hardworking individual in the business world has the similar goal of making it to the top of the corporate ladder. However, without properly setting one’s expectations and doing the necessary research, one can often be met with disappointment. This is because many people assume that once a higher position is achieved, they will be met with instant respect and positivity due to their new title alone. The reality is much harsher, as they tend to experience the opposite in a brand new position. 

So, what is the solution to this? Changing the way you think is the first and, perhaps, most important step. Therefore, the following list includes a few mental tips for successfully making your first jump from manager to leader.

Leave Your Ego at the Door

Your ego should never be something that gets in the way of your success. A leader is someone who can handle criticism and accept when they are wrong. It also means completing tasks that may not necessarily fall under your normal umbrella of responsibilities. Should the task at hand be something small, do not hesitate to take matters into your own hands. Similarly, if an assignment of yours is eating up more time than you anticipated, do not be afraid to ask for assistance.

Stop and Listen

A true leader is one that understands that his or her level of experience may be significantly lower than that of their peers. Stop and listen to your employees during group meetings or projects. If nobody is offering any suggestions, do not hesitate to offer your own. When your staff feels comfortable expressing themselves, they feel valued and will very likely work even harder to provide you with better results. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through town hall meetings. This is where the staff is allowed to provide their concerns and suggestions in an open platform.

Strengthen Your Emotions

If there is one clear difference between a manager and a leader, it’s how they react emotionally to negative situations. A less experienced manager who faces rejection, whether it be from a client or boss, may point fingers and try to blame others for the poor outcome. True leaders hold their emotions firmly in the face of difficult situations and are not afraid to admit when they are the reason for failure. They ask what they could have done better and what they can offer their staff to remedy the situation for them as well.

Effectively Operating Your Business Remotely

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For many of us, we have never worked from home pre-COVID, and if you are like me it may have been or may still be a struggle. Perhaps, like me, you were distracted by walking the dog, (wait, I don’t have a dog). I struggled for about three weeks and then hyper adapted to an even greater level of productivity. I got in a disciplined rhythm and focused on my leadership communication to mitigate any risk of missing non-verbal cues, and am able to leverage the ability to mono-task. Below are some tips:

First, it is important to understand that working remotely needs getting used to by a majority of the workforce, especially for employees that are accustomed to working within certain hours. Having a structured approach makes it easier to guide your team and clearly detail what is expected of them. Additionally, consistent communication of these expectations is vital if the team is expected to deliver excellent work, and on time.

Secondly, invest in the necessary tools to make working remotely possible for both management and your employees. Communication tools such as video conferencing, enterprise resource planning, and customer relationship management software are essential when operating businesses remotely. Ensure that the entire team is conversant with using these tools to avoid hiccups along the way.

Thirdly, go for the best cybersecurity system to safeguard and reduce the risk of prying eyes gaining any level of access to sensitive data. Keeping information such as passwords and log-ins private is the best way to avoid hacking when transferring information from one team member to another. Company policies that govern the sharing of information should be put in place and adhered to by every team member.

Finally, do your best to achieve a solid work-home balance to avoid burnout. Have a schedule similar to a regular workday so that tasks get done within the agreed timelines. Maintaining a calendar accessible to everyone acts as a guide that can be adopted when things get back to normal.