by Fronetics | Dec 16, 2013 | Blog, Logistics, Strategy, Supply Chain, Talent
Kathryn Minshew, founder and CEO of The Muse and The Daily Muse, began a piece for the Harvard Business Blog Network with this sage advice: “Network Your Face Off.” The truth and value of this statement cannot be underestimated. Here are 5 reasons why networking is essential and why connections matter.
1. The larger the network the larger the salary
A recent study of 6,000 executives in over 3,000 firms found that the more connections an employee has, the greater the salary. Specifically the study found that a 50 percent increase in network size accompanies a 3.8 percent increase in salary with respect to the average.
2. Networks beget jobs
A survey conducted by The Adler Group found that 46 percent of active candidates and 49 percent of passive candidates found employment thanks to networking. Similarly, a study conducted by Banque de France and the University of Toulouse noted that half of all jobs in the United States are filled through personal contacts. ABC News cites an even higher number – according to ABC News, 80 percent of jobs are landed through networking.
3. Networks bring opportunities
The opportunities networks can bring include: partnerships, invitations to events, introductions, and invitations to give talks and presentations. In short networks bring opportunities that benefit and feed your career, professional development, and personal interests.
4. Networks make you smarter
Knowing what is happening in your field and industry is vital. When you have a strong network you are more likely to be “in the know” than those who do not have a strong and active network.
5. Networks make you happy
Minshew writes: “Networks are powerful, and when done right leave you surrounded by a core of individuals who are all rooting for your success and happy to help you.” So true.
Networking is essential. Get out there and build your network.
by Fronetics | Dec 11, 2013 | Blog, Leadership, Strategy, Talent
Source: CrossFit Full Potential
CrossFitters recognize that good outcomes only come with hard work, and lots of it. For that reason, it generally attracts people who are willing to make sacrifices and go the extra mile to get results both in the gym and at work.
If you want to hire top performers who have staying power hire people who do CrossFit. Here are eight reasons why CrossFitters make great employees.
1. They are able to work with a variety of people
In business it is essential to be able to work with a variety of different people – people within different departments, at different levels within the company, even across various industries. However, many employees don’t have this capability and they fall flat. CrossFitters excel in this area. On a typical day a CrossFit class is comprised of people who have attended just one class and people who have been religiously attending CrossFit for several years, ex-Marines, pregnant women, people in their 20’s, and people in their 70s. There are people who have been athletes their whole life and people for whom CrossFit is their first foray into an active lifestyle. Because there are such a variety of people at CrossFit, when team or partner work comes into play it is essential to, seamlessly, be able to work with anyone and everyone.
2. They are willing to try new things
Business is ever evolving. In order to stay competitive it is essential that your business is willing to try new things, to be inventive, to be creative, and to be able to be willing to change. An employee who is unwilling to try new things becomes a barrier to change and to the evolution of your company. CrossFit is about trying new things and not getting bogged down with routine; CrossFitters train to be ready for the “unknown and unknowable.”
3. They are willing to go beyond their comfort zone
A step beyond trying new things is stepping outside of the comfort zone. Going beyond the comfort zone involves risk and can lead to failure. Because of this, many employees are unwilling to go beyond their comfort zone. However, employees who are willing to take this leap are typically those who bring creativity, drive, and innovation to the company. CrossFit encourages people to go beyond their comfort zone and, by nature, the majority of CrossFitters leap at this chance.
4. They can recognize their limits
Everyone has their limits. An employee who is able to recognize his or her limits is much more effective and efficient than an employee who cannot recognize their limits. If your employee knows the right time to ask for help your guidance you are lucky. CrossFitters are adept at knowing their limits; in CrossFit knowing your limits is essential in that going beyond can result in injury.
5. They are willing to tackle seemingly insurmountable problems
Many employees tackle the small problems and leave the big ones alone hoping someone else will take them on. Or, even worse, some employees are so focused on the small problems they don’t even notice that there are bigger problems which need to be addressed. Each workout of the day (WOD) presents seemingly insurmountable problems. That CrossFitters choose to do an activity which consistently presents participants with seemingly insurmountable problems tells you a lot about the drive of CrossFitters.
6. They like challenge
Employees who like to play it safe and easy are not going to be top performers. If you want top performers, look for employees who embrace challenge. CrossFitters embrace challenge. For example, a couple weeks ago the WOD was to, as a team of three, deadlift 25,000 pounds. My team was comprised of an ex-professional hockey player, a woman in her 30’s who was relatively new to CrossFit, and me (5’1” and not easily mistaken for the world’s strongest woman). Faced with a big challenge and a diverse team (see #1) – we dove in…headfirst.
7. They work hard
Dan Vadala, business consultant and owner of CrossFit Full Potential, describes the work ethic of CrossFitters: “CrossFitters recognize that good outcomes only come with hard work, and lots of it. For that reason, it generally attracts people who are willing to make sacrifices and go the extra mile to get results both in the gym and at work.” Moreover, Vadala notes that he sees positive transformations in those who do CrossFit: “CrossFit has the capacity to transform people into the types of performers and self-starters that employers are finding harder and harder to recruit.”
8. They are supportive
A good employee will support others through the good and the bad. A supportive employee will be the first to recognize their peers for a job well done, and be the first to provide guidance to those who appear to be struggling. A supportive employee is good for morale and good for your company. CrossFitters are a supportive bunch. I have never participated in another activity in which there has been so much support from so many people. “Nice work!”, and “Well done!” is heard over and over again as are little tidbits of information such as “That looks great, but if you try moving your grip a little you’ll be amazed by what you can do.”
by Fronetics | Dec 2, 2013 | Blog, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy
Not too long ago I did not use Twitter and I relished being able to say that I had never sent a Tweet. I believed Twitter was not applicable to me – I don’t follow celebrity gossip and whereabouts, I don’t like the idea of sharing my personal thoughts and experiences with 232 million strangers, and I have yet to take a “selfie” (much less share it with said 232 million strangers). In short, I didn’t use Twitter because I did not understand Twitter and I had no idea of its value. When I finally decided to remove my head from the sand and take stock of Twitter I was blown away not only by what Twitter really is, but also by my ignorance. Using Twitter for business is essential. If you and your business have not yet taken the plunge into the Twitter pool it is time to grab your trunks and jump.
A 2013 study conducted by the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Dartmouth found that 77 percent of Fortune 500 companies have an active corporate blog. The study also found that rank influences Twitter use – 43 percent of the Twitter accounts are held by companies in the top 200 on the list as compared with the bottom 200 which hold 43 percent of the Twitter accounts. Similarly, 67 percent of the Inc. 500 use Twitter. Looking at small businesses, in 2013 Constant Contact reported that 25 percent of small businesses use Twitter – up from only 7 percent last year.
Why is it important to know who is using Twitter? Because those who are using Twitter are more likely to gain customers than those who don’t. A survey conducted by Market Probe International found that 72 percent of those who follow a business on Twitter are more likely to make a purchase from that business and that 82 percent of followers are more likely to recommend a product or service to friends and family. The survey also found that 85 percent of respondents reported feeling a closer connection to a small business if they follow them on Twitter.
In addition to demand generation, the following are reasons why you and your business should use Twitter:
- Increase market intelligence
- Drive traffic to your website
- Monitor your business and your brand
- Connect with customers
- Manage risk
- Share information
Still skeptical?
SJF Material Handling Equipment is the single largest source for new, used and refurbished material handling equipment in the US. The company has built an extensive and successful social media network – one which uses Twitter – with the objective of increasing sales. The company has 55,797 followers on Twitter (and is gaining 200 to 400 followers each week). Stafford Sterner, President of SJF, says that Twitter enables the company to cover more ground and attract customers from unexpected and often unrelated circles.
Another example is the battle for customers between AT&T and T-Mobile that played out on Twitter. The throw down began when Jay Rooney Tweeted that he was considering a switch from AT&T to T-Mobile.
What occurred next was an all-out battle between AT&T and T-Mobile for Jay Rooney (and other customers) – both companies took to Twitter to try to convince Rooney that their company and service is the best. Rooney does a great job of summarizing the exchange:
The battle for Rooney intensifies and T-Mobile’s Chief Executive John Legere jumps in the fray:
Impressed, Jay Rooney decides to make the jump to T-Mobile. What’s more, the conversation caught the attention of many others. In the end, the exchange netted customers for T-Mobile.
(For more on the exchange, check out ZDNet’s article on battle between AT&T and T-Mobile.)
Ready to take the plunge? Social Media Examiner has a great how to article on how to use Twitter for business and for marketing.
by Fronetics | Nov 25, 2013 | Blog, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy, Talent
First impressions are no longer face to face. Rather, a first impression is now comprised of information which can be gathered via a quick search of the Internet. A first impression can be, for example, inclusive of your LinkedIn and Facebook pages, your personal blog, your Instagram page, your Twitter account, your Klout score, your pins on Pinterest, and anything else that may have made itself onto the Internet. Because of this, that 7 seconds you used to have to make a first impression when you enter the room is gone – chances are that the first impression was made long before you arrived. The reality is that when you walk into that room you are likely being evaluated against the first impression that was made prior to your arrival.
In today’s world you are a brand. Like it or not, if you want to be successful you need to not only recognize this reality, but you also need to take steps to build and enhance your brand. Here is how to brand yourself.
1. Define your brand
In short, a brand is a story. What is your story? Take the time to sit down and look at where you have been and where you are. Where you want to be? What is your skill set? What experiences do you have? How are you unique? Take all of this information and knowledge and define your brand – define your story. Be clear, be concise, and be direct. If you can’t define you as a brand in a sentence or two, you have lost an opportunity.
2. Take stock
What information is “out there”? Start by making a list of all the social media accounts you have – even if you no longer actively use them
Next, Google yourself. What do you find? As G.I. Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.”
3. Define a strategy
At this point you have a brand and you know what information about your brand is publicly available. Is the information enhancing or hurting your brand? What steps can you take to strengthen your brand? For example, should you adjust your privacy settings on some of your accounts so that personal information and exploits are not available for all to see? Does your LinkedIn page need to be updated? If you don’t take the time to define your strategy you will not be able to execute it effectively.
4. Take action
Frank Cavallaro recently wrote about moving from strategy to execution. He wrote: “Strategy is about making choices. Execution is about getting down and dirty so that those choices can produce results.” Don’t stop at creating the strategy – execute. And remember, the Internet is not static. What information about you has been added? Furthermore, it is important to periodically look at your brand. Is it still representative of where are and where you want to be? If not, take the time to re-brand yourself.
When you take the time to brand yourself you have the opportunity to define that first impression.
by Elizabeth Hines | Nov 19, 2013 | Blog, Leadership, Strategy, Talent
Career Builder identified Supply Chain Manager as a Top Growth Job for 2013. Why did supply chain manager make the short list (just 18 jobs made the list)? Supply chain manager has experienced an 8 percent job growth since 2010 and there is just one active candidate for every five posted jobs. Colleges and universities have recognized the demand – and opportunity. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that supply chain management is the “hot new MBA” and that “more than a half-dozen universities have recently introduced undergraduate majors, M.B.A. concentrations and even entire degree programs dedicated to procurement, inventory management and global supply-chain strategy.”
Finding the right person for a job opening is essential. Hiring the wrong person is a costly mistake not only financially, but also in terms of team morale and productivity. Given the demand for supply chain talent, the dearth of experienced talent, and an increasing number of newly graduated talent entering the job market – how do you find and hire the right person? Here are a few tips on how to hire.
Look across the industry
Look across the industry and identify individuals who are a good match to your company and the role.
Look within the company
Look inside your company. Is there someone who would thrive in a new role – even if the role is outside of their current field?
Look outside the industry
While this may seem counter intuitive, bringing in a talented professional from outside the industry could provide the fresh ideas and insight that your company.
Work with colleges and universities
Develop a relationship with colleges and universities. Work with the schools to identify upcoming or recent graduates who are/were stars. Another option is to establish an internship program with a school.
Work with a strategic advisory firm
Working with a strategic advisory firm is an option as well. This type of partnership, such as the ones I build with our clients, can make identifying the right talent for the right position easier. An advisory firm often has the pulse on where the most talented people are in the supply chain and logistics industry. This type of partner can launch a successful candidate search process, get new hires up and running, and help retain talent for the long run.
Be creative and have vision
Throughout the hiring process remember that creativity and vision are key.
Offer an out
Here is a great example of offering an out. Zappos pays new employees to quit. You read that right – the company pays new employees to quit their jobs. Once new employees have completed their 4 wee training program they are given “The Offer.” That is, they can choose to remain with the company or quit. If they choose to quit they will be paid for the time they worked and given an additional $3,000. The employee has 24 hours to decide. Why does the company do this? If the employee is not happy in the new position and not committed, it makes sense for both parties to cut and run.
