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Tag: inspiration

Lone Star Staffing Solutions > Our Blog > inspiration
05Jan

Take Charge of Employee Retention

Did the previous year leave you wondering why there was employee turnover in your business? Were you blindsided when you lost a critical team member to another organization? In your eyes, you thought everything was going smoothly.
While we cannot always control how a person thinks and feels, there are steps we can take to engage employees before they have one foot out the door. You may already participate actively to include some of the following engagement opportunities in your day-to-day, but if you still need to implement some best practices, now is the time to consider taking these steps to make them a part of your company.

Transparency Leads to Better Communication

Do you have a vision for your company?

Do you have a vision for your company? Do your employees understand what that is? When you openly share your plan, you can help motivate your employees by answering any questions and talking to them about how their role fits into that bigger picture. When they know what they do directly impacts the company, it will give them a sense of ownership, and their morale and productivity will increase.

When sharing your company vision, remember you’ve had an opportunity to digest the information. Be as straightforward as possible and allow your team, without repercussion, to ask questions so that they clearly understand. It will benefit the success of the company long term.

Keep Up the Good Work

Say It Like You Mean It

Many employees will tell you that it’s only sometimes about the money when they look to be recognized. Appreciation comes in many forms, and one of the most significant rewards an employee can receive is a pat on the back with words that back it up by saying something like “Great work on the Bender project. You were instrumental in helping us reach our goal.” And if a team was involved, and all did well, mention their names – out loud, which will encourage teamwork.

When you neglect to take those extra steps, which aren’t complicated, you risk losing a high-performing employee whose morale you can improve with your encouraging words.

And, say it like you mean it – otherwise, they’ll recognize that it’s not real, which can be detrimental.

Consider small gifts (rewards) that accompany verbal praise. There is no reason to break the bank, but there are fun options that motivate employees. Check out this article about “Money Isn’t the Only Motivator for Employees.”

Do this ALL YEAR LONG, not just during bonus time.

Break a Project Up Into Bite-Size Chunks

Check Off MIlestones to Reach the Goal

Like in many companies, some undertakings are more significant and may stretch over an extended period. For those projects, consider breaking them up into smaller milestones. It’s still the same assignment, but when employees feel like they’ve successfully reached a milestone, they will feel a sense of accomplishment.

This strategy gives you, the leader, an opportunity to provide them with kudos before they move forward to reach other milestones.

Tummy Rumbles

Grab a Snack if Distracted

Like in many companies, some undertakings are more significant and may stretch over an extended period. For those projects, consider breaking them up into smaller milestones. It’s still the same assignment, but when employees feel like they’ve successfully reached a milestone, they will feel a sense of accomplishment.

This strategy gives you, the leader, an opportunity to provide them with kudos before they move forward to reach other milestones.

It will be reflected in their work when people get hungry and don’t have that time to recharge at lunch. Even if they’re taking their lunch, it’s easy to get “hangry” later in the day. Show you care by keeping some simple healthy snacks to keep them going throughout the day. Of course, if snacktimes become the priority, you must address it so it stays under control as work still does need to be the focus.

Take that Break Time and Vacation Leave

Allow Time to Rejuvenate

Ensure regular breaks are a given. We’re all human, and taking those moments to rejuvenate quickly makes all the difference.

Encourage people to step away from their desks for an actual work pause.

Make it easy for someone to take vacation time. Your employees should be able to take a real vacation, where work stops for them. And for time-sensitive projects, do your best to ensure they don’t have a stack of stress to tackle when they return to their desk.

This is also true for sick time. We all have those heroes in the office who will come in no matter what, but that’s not good for anyone. Enforce your policy that when you’re sick, stay home. Otherwise, you risk that employee getting worse or spreading it through the office.

Following some of the above advice will show your employees that you care about their well-being and are excited to have them on your team.
20Jan

Didn’t Get the Job? Rejection Makes You Stronger.

You just learned that you weren’t chosen for the job you wanted. Even though rejection is inevitable during a job search, it doesn’t make it hurt any less. How can you start recognizing a “no” as a positive thing by learning from your mistakes and taking pride in giving it your all? The following suggestions will help you prepare for the next time it happens and learn how to bounce back in a flash.

Accept That Rejection Is Normal

It’s normal to be upset when a potential employer chooses another candidate for a great job opportunity. After all, you put a lot of time and effort into the application process. Getting rejected from a job can cause you to lose your self-confidence and result in negative self-talk. That’s why it’s important to remember that rejection is normal and unavoidable.

It’s just one more chance for you to grow as an employee. Reframe the situation into a positive because it frees you up for a new opportunity that will be a better fit. Accepting rejection doesn’t mean you shouldn’t improve where needed for your next job possibility. But it does make you more resilient and able to deal with the negative feeling of getting passed over for a job you wanted.

Don't Burn Bridges

There are many reasons why you might not have been offered the job.

  • You may not have the proper education, skills, or experience for that particular position. If that’s the case and this is the type of role you want, take the steps needed to acquire those skills.
  • Maybe the interviewer didn’t feel you would fit in with their company culture. In the future, make sure you’ve taken the time to research the company and its culture and ask yourself if you genuinely feel this would be a good match.
  • We don’t like to hear it, but perhaps you didn’t make a good first impression with the interviewer. Hopefully, you’re working with a professional recruiter who will help you brush up on those skills if that’s the case. It’s also possible you did just fine, but the connection wasn’t there.

You shouldn’t take it personally as difficult as it is to miss out on a job offer. Don’t burn any bridges by badmouthing the employer or interviewer when you receive a rejection.

Make sure to thank them for the opportunity and let them know you would be interested in a potential position in the future.

Conduct yourself with poise and grace, knowing that there are always other opportunities. The employers will appreciate your decorum and may keep you in mind for different roles.

Redefine What Skills You Bring To The Table

After an unsuccessful interview, focus on how the experience will make you stronger and more prepared for the next time around. You should consider every interview as an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Review your resume and write down at least three things you learned during the interview process.

These could include improving your resume or better responses to some of the questions asked. You might find that the experience has shown you skills to highlight that will make you more desirable in the future.

It can also be helpful to ask the recruiter or employer for feedback that you can use to help make your next interview a success.

Get Some Perspective and Move On

After a job rejection, you may be too emotional to see things clearly, so try to step back and look at how you might have done some things differently. Ask yourself what situations contributed to the outcome and what you can do to improve in those areas. If there are actions you could take toward having a more positive future experience, do them now.

For example, if you were passed over because you didn’t meet the minimum requirements, try to gain experience in those areas by doing volunteer work or taking classes.

Once you have a plan, forget about the situation and move on. Dwelling on what you perceive as failure won’t do anything but keep you in a negative mindset.

Be proud of yourself for applying and putting forth effort.

No one likes rejection, but when it comes to job searches or professional experiences, rejection is inevitable and can only make you stronger!

Make your next job search easier by partnering with Lone Star Staffing Solutions.

We have a comprehensive database of employers looking to find talented employees, just like you! Contact us today and get one step closer to finding your dream job.
29Dec

How To Turn Challenges Into Learning Opportunities

Personally and professionally, difficult situations can be challenging to spin into a positive perspective. Business mistakes can feel like a roadblock, shifting your focus from success to pessimism and worry. But all isn’t lost!
These are a few key practices you can use to help you learn from these negative situations and start with a fresh outlook in the new year.

Look for the Silver Lining

This may be hard to find amid a” business crisis,” but many problems also result in an upside. Take the time to look for the positives of any negative circumstance. Outline specific choices that led to the issue to become more aware of what not to do again in the future. This knowledge will help you be a better business owner and serve as a valuable learning opportunity.

Make Changes For Better Outcomes

Now that you know what might have caused the mistake to happen, vow to make changes to avoid a future recurrence. This may mean updating a business process, learning a new skill, or outsourcing work to a strategic partner like Lone Star Staffing Solutions. Whatever the outcome, set yourself up for success by taking action.

Mindset Matters

It’s easy to fall into negative thinking about emotionally draining challenges. However, developing a positive mindset is critical to moving on from past mistakes. It may be tough, but do your best to avoid having a defeatist attitude that focuses on the problem and leaves little room for potential solutions. Some steps to change your mindset are:

  • Try starting a business gratitude journal
    Find a motivational accountability partner to help keep you on the positive path

Get Goal Oriented

Now that you know how to succeed, don’t be afraid to set new goals and try again. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone is brave enough to own up to them and move on. You may fail again, but it’s important to remember that’s a normal part of learning something new. Prioritize by updating your goals to continue positive growth as an employee or leader in your business.
Lone Star Staffing Solutions is here to help you overcome challenges by providing solutions for your employment needs. We are committed to helping employees and businesses avoid mistakes by assisting them to make the right connections. We invite you to reach out to our experienced team today and start securing the best candidates to help you accomplish your 2022 goals!

REACH OUT TO US

27May

Lack of Completed COVID Resolutions? That’s OK!

Many of us thought it would be just a few weeks and then back to regular routines when the pandemic was first upon us. As time continued to move on, with no insight into when this would happen, each of us had our realities to face. Whether it was home-schooling, working remotely, or, as many experienced, no work at all due to business closings. And, for so many, all of the above was coming at them from all directions.
In addition to the day-to-day changes and the increased computer time, we had all these learning options thrown at us. In-person events morphed into virtual conferences and meetings, and opportunities to learn everything from how to bake bread to learning a new language were everywhere. Those of us who were already overwhelmed felt compelled to jump on the merry-go-round and soak up what we could via webinars, online workshops and seminars, throughout the day.

And then came the COVID resolutions – not to be confused with the annual New Year’s resolutions – once we realized we would “be on our own” and away from others for an indefinite amount of time. For some, it was tackling those “honey-do” projects such as painting, cleaning out those cluttered closets or, getting in the best shape ever. For others, it was more of a spiritual time to slow down to reflect while taking time to catch up on their reading.

As time continued to move forward, some people accomplished all they set out to and more. And others started strong but then, with everything else that is going on, drifted back to old habits and lost their motivation.

The latter of the above scenarios is where we need to be careful in our thinking. As we turn to a healthier environment, thoughts of failure enter our minds and paralyze even the most optimistic person. You look out your window and see a neighbor running her silent marathon and getting better every day. Your best friend has mastered another language and still manages to tackle daily tasks.

When we put this type of stress on ourselves, it can cause us to retreat, and instead of making things better, we become complacent and more falls through the cracks. That’s OK. Between New Year’s and COVID resolutions, we pigeonhole ourselves by allowing resolutions to dictate our course of action. When we push ourselves when we’re not ready, we end up “failing” at what we’re trying to accomplish. For example, fitness centers sign up more new members in January and then fall off in February.

It’s all OK. When it’s the right time, and most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others.

Everyone has their time clock, and just because we’re headed into the new normal and back to in-person interactions, don’t beat yourself up.
Tomorrow will always come, and there is no right or wrong time to jumpstart whatever goal you are ready to undertake.

If you scroll through social media and notice that others accomplish what seems like a lot, don’t feel defeated. And better yet, refrain from visiting those platforms. This unprecedented time in history was unexpected, and there are no right/wrong behaviors when it comes to expanding your horizons. Take a step back and feel alive, and don’t judge yourself or others. If asked what you did during your time off in COVID, simply say, I learned a lot about myself and so happy to be alive.

In summary, create your own time for resolutions and set REALISTIC goals to give you a better chance of success.

If you slip up, no worries, start again. Better yet, find a buddy with the same interests and do it together. Healthy competition is good, and when you encourage each other, especially if you trip, it makes all the difference.
Do what makes YOU happy! Now, what would you like to accomplish?