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Is It Important To Have Friends In The Workplace?

friends

You spend the majority of your life and time at work. Whether you work in an office with several other people or you work as a solo entrepreneur, a lot of your life is spent working. This is why many people find it necessary to have friends at work or to at least be social with the people they come in contact with in their professional life. Making the effort to make friends at work may seem useless — after all, these people are not your family. However, having good work relationships can make your career richer and more enjoyable.

Having friends at work can be tricky. Besides, you may want to be friendly, but you also have to do your job. This could mean disagreeing with someone, having to evaluate his or her work, or other things that could be awkward for two people who are also friends. Some practical ways you can make friends at work and still do your job include the following:

  • Be a good listener, even if you do not agree with what the other person is saying.
  • Try to see issues from the perspectives of others, and do not insist on “winning” every argument or discussion.
  • Ask about people’s lives, and be genuinely interested in what they say.
  • Be honest, and don’t just say things that you think people want to hear.
  • Be supportive, even when it means others get to have the spotlight and recognition.

Being friendly and having friends can make your work-life better — and a simple way you can make this happen is to just not be a jerk. You can still chase your career goals, pursue promotions and keep your focus on your long-term professional objectives without being a loner. You may find that you are better at your job and enjoy your career more when you look forward to seeing your co-workers and heading into work each morning.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Is Your Personality Costing You Business?

personality

Have you ever been around a person who was difficult, annoying or high-maintenance? You know how difficult it can be to speak with this type of person, especially if you have to do business with him or her. In some cases, bad personality traits can be enough to turn you off from working with a person entirely. You know how damaging certain personality types can be to professional relationships, and it’s worthwhile to make sure that you have not developed habits that could be damaging your reputation or even costing you business. You could be the most knowledgeable person in the world or have the best products, but the way you come across to people could have a significant toll on your success.

People are often completely unaware of how others think about them, or they may not see how bad personality traits could be standing between them and more business — not to mention happier customers. Some of the specific traits you may need to look for include the following:

  • Sarcasm — This often does not come across well in conversations that take place in professional settings.
  • Negativity — Negative outlooks can be a turnoff to potential clients.
  • Overly controlling — It’s sometimes necessary to roll with the punches and be flexible when unexpected things happen.
  • Impatient — Losing patience with a client or customer is a sure-fire way to make ensure you do not get his or her business.
  • Lack of empathy — Coming across as mean or uncaring can have a significant impact on your business.

Your personality will have a significant impact on your business, perhaps in ways you don’t even realize. Self-improvement is a constant exercise and goal, and one thing you can do in this effort is to make sure that you are striving to display positive personality traits. It’s prudent, no matter your career or job, to ensure you’re giving a good impression and not driving people away unintentionally.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

How Important Is Reputation For Your Success?

There are people who have the ability to go through life caring very little what others think of them. This frees them up to make decisions without worrying what others will think or say about them. Perhaps you are one of these people, or perhaps you can’t imagine what this would be like. Whether you have no cares about the perceptions of others or if you spend too much time worried about the opinions of other people, the reality is that your reputation is important. There are many reasons why you should strive to protect your reputation as much as you can, but it doesn’t have to consume you either. There can be a healthy balance between the two.

In the business world, word of mouth matters. If you give little thought to what others say about you or your business, you may not be aware of how you come across. Your customers may not be happy or people may have a problem with an aspect of your marketing campaign, but you could be completely unaware of it because you aren’t listening. Even if you are a confident individual and feel good about the choices you’ve made, you still want to listen to feedback and ask for opinions. Listening to your employees is also a good way to get a feel for how things are going. Ignoring feedback can significantly damage your reputation.

A simple way to protect your reputation is to be willing to adapt and change when necessary. The reality is that you probably won’t do everything perfectly, and your plans will not always go off without a hitch. People will notice how you handle those types of things, and it’s smart to be willing to rethink things when it’s necessary. Digging your feet in won’t endear you to anyone, especially if you trample over the feelings and thoughts of others to make a point.

When there is a problem, take the time to listen. Whether it’s an employee who has an issue, an unhappy client or a concerned business mentor, don’t assume you know everything. This does not mean that you have to give in to every demand, but it simply means that you should strive to listen well. When necessary, do what you can to fix these type of issues. Showing your concern and listening well can go a long way toward building a positive reputation in your community, with your clients, and among your employees or coworkers.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

In Sales, You Need To Sell Yourself As An Expert

Sales are an important part of many different types of businesses. Even if you do not have to sell a specific product, you may have to sell yourself as the right person for a specific job, or you may have to sell your company as the best option for a potential client. It can be hard to learn how to sell well, especially if it makes you feel uncomfortable to put yourself out there, talk about why you are the best and try to convince people to give you their money. It may help to stop focusing so much on making the actual sale and focus on selling yourself as an expert. In fact, you don’t even have to think of yourself as salesperson in order to succeed in sales.

When you aren’t thinking of yourself as salesperson, it gives you room to slow down and actually think about what your customers and potential customers need. Listen to their concerns and try to meet their needs. Remember, you’re the expert, which means you can stop and figure out if your product or service is actually a good fit before you try and close the deal. When you approach a sale with a client-first mentality, you’ll come across as more genuine, honest and personable.

You can also let go of the tendency to be overly bubbly and enthusiastic. As an expert, you already know how good your product or service is. You can explain the benefits of what you’re selling without going overboard on the emotion and fake peppiness. Again, take the time to listen to needs, understand the challenges your clients are facing and talk about specific ways you may be able to help.

One important component to seeming like an expert is to actually be an expert on your product. While there are times you’ll have to “fake ’til you make it,” you should know your product and service inside out. Take the time to do your homework, study options, look over questions a customer may ask and know everything you can about what it is you’re trying to sell.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

The Type Of Feedback You Really Want

It’s not easy to hear the honest truth, especially when it comes from people who work with you or for you. After all, it’s uncomfortable to hear about ways you fell short, failed to listen or made a mistake. This is one of the many reasons why employers are often hesitant to ask for honest feedback from employees. While it may make you squirm, brutally honest feedback can help you significantly. It can help you do better and be better — for yourself, your employees, your coworkers and your business as a whole. Instead of avoiding this type of constructive criticism, change your perspective and start welcoming it.

When you allow your employees to be honest with you, it opens the door for them to communicate things they may have felt uncomfortable telling you before. For example, some of your language may come off as harsh or your emails over the weekend may feel overwhelming. These are minor things, but they can lead to resentment and poor attitudes. It’s better to know the truth about the impact of your actions so that you can adjust accordingly. Seeing you respond to their concerns will build respect and trust between you and the people who work with and for you.

Employees are often hesitant to offer suggestions or express their feelings because they don’t want to jeopardize their employment or come off as disrespectful. It is possible to open the door of honest communication between you and your employees and co-workers so that they can express concerns freely. This means you’ll have to learn not to take certain things personally, which is not always easy to do. It can be difficult to hear negative things about yourself, but honest and respectful feedback can be one of the most powerful tools in your quest for self-improvement and growth as as leader.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC