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How to Bounce Back from a Costly Mistake at Work

Take a step back. We all make mistakes at work, and no one is perfect!

Depending on the gravity of the mistake and your tenure with the organization, a timely resolution may solve your problem. Whether you missed a deadline or came unprepared to a client meeting, the most important thing is to act and address the situation sooner rather than later.

On that note, here are eight steps you can take to deal with your costly mistakes at work.

#1: BE ACCOUNTABLE

There is no point in hiding your mistakes or finding a scapegoat to cover up your problems. Be accountable for the mistakes you have made. These are part of the learning process that can help you become better at your job. Assess your part in the situation and acknowledge where things went wrong.

#2: BE ABLE TO EXAMINE THE SITUATION

Look into the issue with fresh lenses. Pretend as if someone else made the mistake to evaluate what happened with an objective eye.

Ask yourself these questions:

What actions led to the mistake?
What is the severity of the situation?
What should the person have done instead?
What are the consequences of the mistake?
How can the situation be prevented in the future?

#3: BE OPEN TO A PRIVATE MEETING WITH YOUR SUPERIOR

Setting up a private meeting with your boss may not always be necessary, but you could schedule one if your mistake led to serious repercussions.

Be direct, factual, and honest during this meeting. Apologize for your mishaps and explain what happened. Your boss does not need to listen to your excuses!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: BE APOLOGETIC

A sincere apology goes a long way. Other people can still be held accountable for the mistake you made. Your boss and co-workers may step in to fix the issue too. So, being apologetic is important in maintaining these professional relationships.

#5: BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS

Instead of whining about your mistake, focus on finding a solution. Once you determine where things went wrong, you can figure out how to fix it. Leaders appreciate people who bring solutions instead of problems. These types of people are usually considered to rise to the top.

#6: BE ACTIVE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM

Do everything within your power to ensure that the issue gets remedied or fixed quickly. List all the viable solutions and review which one offers the best outcome. Stay in the path throughout the process even if the resolution has been taken out of your responsibilities. It is still vital to know how the solution was executed for future references.

#7: BE OPEN TO CHANGE

You should constantly adjust your flow until you find a work routine that suits you best. If you are always late in submitting your reports or if you are always sending the wrong proposals, you must do something to turn things around. Incorporate healthy habits such as using a planner or meditating for a few minutes. Apply healthy habits to improve your focus, concentration, and productivity.

#8: BE KIND TO YOURSELF

You can be your harshest critique. Eliminate any negative self-talk, learn from the mistake, and move forward. The mistakes you make will not ruin your career. Instead, your reaction to these mistakes can break you!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

8 Reasons Why Your Employees Are Leaving You

The reasons why an employee desires to leave may be obvious, such as wanting to pursue better opportunities or feeling underpaid. These reasons provide a better understanding of how you can improve your organization’s processes and recruitment strategies.

So, why do employees leave and what can you do to prevent a good employee from quitting?

#1: LACK OF APPRECIATION

Recognizing the efforts of employees can increase their motivation. When a company and its management ignore the employees’ accomplishments, they may seek value elsewhere. Implement a system that rewards quality output and efficient workers. Most employees are willing to go the extra mile when they feel valued by the company that they work for.

#2: FEELING UNDERPAID

With the uncertainties of the current situation, many Singaporeans seek stability. Salary is among the top reasons why employees depart from their previous employer. Offering competitive salaries and other benefits can prevent the employee from leaving a post. However, not every resignation is financial in nature. Uncovering other underlying factors can be necessary to retain an employee.

#3: LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Professionals have a potent desire to grow at a company. Who wants to remain stagnant, anyway? Recognizing the efforts and setting a clear career path can make the employees feel like they have a bright future in the organization.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: MISMATCH BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND THE EMPLOYEE

When you first arrived onboard, you were a perfect fit for the organization. As time passes, your goals and values no longer align with the organizational culture. This is a difficult situation to be in as the change needs to be addressed by several employees. Promoting open and honest communication in the workplace can bolster retention rates. Moreover, providing opportunities to interact outside of the office fosters a sense of camaraderie.

#5: LACK OF RESPECT

You are at risk of losing a good employee if he or she does not feel respected or trusted at work. Whether the employee feels disrespected by their boss or co-workers, the negative feelings can pile up. Employees can experience lack of respect in many ways ranging from written instances to sexual harassment. Prevent these issues by providing open channels for communication and exercising regular feedback.

#6: HAVING A HORRIBLE BOSS

A horrible boss can create a toxic environment for the employees. Many high performing workers quit their jobs because of their managers and not because of the job itself. Whether the manager is incompetent or is behaving badly towards the rest of the team, his presence can make or break an employee’s experience. Thus, training is essential. Ensure that the manager is given the tools to properly support their employees.

#7: DISCONNECT WITH THE COMPANY’S VALUES

If an employee no longer sees a connection between him and the company’s values, the employee can leave the organization. Do not sacrifice the company’s values for a result.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#8: NO WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Last but not least, having no work-life balance can contribute to an employee’s burnout and eventual departure. At the end of the day, you must respect that your employees have lives outside of work. Providing an ample amount for rest and recovery can help improve the quality of one’s work.

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Manage Difficult Phone Calls

Handling a frustrated or angry caller is not an easy feat! While the stress and anxiety of managing these situations fade as you learn more about your job, the importance of dealing with difficult clients never fades.

When it comes to client support, dissatisfied clients air out their sentiments more than the satisfied clients. Bad news travel faster than the good. Thus, you must ensure that the client hangs up with a happier disposition.

#1: WORK EFFICIENTLY

Time is money. The more efficient you can be, the more clients you can help throughout the day. You need to address all the concerns as quickly as possible. You must be organized because clients get frustrated when they wait or when they are put on hold for a long time.

#2: BE PREPARED

Before starting the call, ensure that you pull out all the relevant files and reviewed all the notes pertaining to the case. Being prepared will help you to avoid asking for the client’s story again. After the call, take down notes on what was discussed. This will help you know what to follow-up next time.

#3: ACTIVELY LISTEN

In general, one of the vital aspects of handling difficult callers is active listening. Listen to your clients while simultaneously showing concern and getting insight into the issue. This will help you arrive at a solution.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: REACT POSITIVELY

Train yourself to be pleasant during stressful situations. Practice your tone of voice and use a calm approach. At times, callers can test your patience to the limit. You must separate yourself from their emotions and treat the issue objectively. Reacting with anger can only exacerbate the situation.

#5: LET IT GO

It is worth your time to apologize for any problem or inconvenience caused. If the problem was originally the client’s fault, blaming the person will make it worse. Remember that the client should be your ally and not your enemy. Assist the client to arrive at a workable solution together.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When the challenging call is over, take a deep breath and let it go. Hanging on to the stress of the demanding situation can affect your relationships at work. There is simply no benefit in reliving the difficult call.

Sources: 1 & 2

Adequately Managing Your Business’ Finances In The Digital Age

Everyone knows that the professional landscape is always evolving and shifting, adapting and relining with the way that the world around it is functioning and thriving at any given time. We have seen an incredible amount of attention to detail and overall emphasis that is focused primarily not just on what works for the industries at any given time but also what is going to be most effective for the moving forward. There is a lot to be said about the fact that while there is significant interest and investment in powering for the current era in this particular field, there are always ways to enhance and improve. And now that we are moving into a modern age that is all about embracing modernisation like never before, this is truer than ever.

How the digital age impacts businesses

In the digital age, there is genuinely so much to be said about the fact that it has truly impacted and entirely revolutionised every aspect of life as we know it every corresponding industry in their own ways. For businesses of all natures, shapes, and sizes around the globe, there is quite a lot to be said about understanding not only how businesses are able to navigate their way through the beginning stages but also how they are able to do so on an active and ongoing basis moving forward from here on out. What has always worked so well for businesses is perhaps no longer as relevant and so the digital age is impacting businesses of all natures, shapes, and sizes by inspiring them to embrace modernisation and work towards finding better ways to move forward, onward, and upward.

Adequately managing your business’ finances in the digital age

Each and every aspect of how business functions and thrives today has been and continues to be impacted. This of course includes the business’ finances. Adequately managing your business’ finances is all about understanding that while there have been significantly successful innovations in the past, the best way to embrace they are moving forward is to figure out how they can be impactful in the future. Business finances today can be made more convenient and efficient by being streamlined online. For your business expenses, you can pay bill online for faster transactions and easy tracking of payments.As a result, adequately managing business finances in the digital era is all about embracing the digital landscape and utilising it to your distinct advantage in a way that allows you to come and pursue the longevity and success of your company.

Why this is always going to be of the utmost important

Without a doubt, the finances of a business is one of the most important meeting pieces. The corporate account of a business ultimately says a lot about how the business operates and functions on a daily basis as well as how it is able to withstand change overtime. And this is always going to be incredibly important to understand. Regardless of how the nature of business is going to evolve over the years, the importance of being able to manage professional finances for the business and surrounding the business is always going to have a significant role to play.

5 Valuable Tips To Help You Succeed As A Freelancer

Due to the effects of the recent pandemic, companies began to hire more contract workers over full-time employees. The “freelance economy” became a viable option for many Singaporeans. However, with many freelancers in the market, it is harder to stand out.

Much of the freelancer’s income depends on his or her reputation and capability to fulfill the customer’s request. Here are some valuable tips to get an online job if you want to stay in the game for a long time.

#1: INCREASE YOUR SELF-AWARENESS

Knowing yourself means recognizing different parts of your personality such as your strengths and weaknesses. The goal is not to criticize yourself, but to acknowledge where you need to improve and where you can excel. Be honest about your capacity to commit time, your home situation, and your attitude towards deadlines.

Some people look for a 9-to-5 job while others need more freedom. Some people prefer working with a team while others prefer working on their own. Find out who you really are to know who to work with.

#2: SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

Freelancers are project-based workers. This means that they can work anytime, as long as they finish their tasks. The downside is, they do not earn money when they do not have projects. The influx of projects is influenced by the season. For instance, you can feel an abundance of work during special events or holidays.

It is essential that you save money to cover the periods when you do not have a pipeline of projects coming your way. This way, you will be able to cover your bills and other expenses.

#3: MARKET YOURSELF

Entering the freelancing world is not easy. The competition is high! Making a name for yourself can be challenging. Thus, you must use social media or other websites to market yourself.

The key to success is being active in these platforms and having an attractive profile where your information as a freelancer can be retrieved. Samples, testimonies, and feedbacks from your past clients will make a big difference.

#4: ESTABLISH REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS

There are three main channels where you can get clients. These channels are inbound, outbound, and referrals. Inbound refers to using methods such as content marketing or search engine optimization (SEO) to attract potential clients. Outbound refers to reaching out to potential clients by sending emails, responding to job advertisements, and so on. Lastly, referrals refer to having clients recommend you by word-of-mouth.

Many freelancers focus on networking with prospective clients only. However, you can establish referral partnerships with businesses, entrepreneurs, and other freelancers. Having a wide referral network will help you gain more access to different clients.

#5: RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITION

Spend some time researching the market to discover online portfolios and to see what others are doing. Find out the supplementary skills that they have to improve yourself and your career (e.g., photography, video editing, or podcast creation).

Image credits: pixabay.com

Grasp a bigger picture of what your competitors are doing and how much they are charging. This is vital in evaluating how much your service is worth. Set a reasonable price list afterwards.

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