How to Build Business Emotional Intelligence

In my ten years as an executive coach, I have never had someone raise his hand and declare that he needs to work on his emotional intelligence. Yet I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard from people that the one thing their colleague needs to work on is emotional intelligence. This is the problem: those who most need to develop it are the ones who least realize it. The data showing that emotional intelligence is a key differentiator between star performers and the rest of the pack is irrefutable. Nevertheless, there are some who never embrace the skill for themselves — or who wait until it’s too late.

Take Craig (not his real name), a coaching client of mine, who showed tremendous potential and a strong ability to drive results for his company. The issue with Craig was the way in which he got those results. When asked to describe him, his colleagues would say things like: “he’s a bull in a china shop;” “he has sharp elbows;” and “he leaves dead bodies in his path.” His approach to executing projects was not sustainable as he wasn’t able to motivate, attract and retain good talent. His direct reports pointed out how frequently Craig seemed oblivious to how he demeaned others. His boss commented on Craig’s impatience and his propensity to lash out at his peers. When I shared this feedback with Craig, he seemed taken aback and was convinced that I had heard wrong. He didn’t have the self-awareness or empathy that are hallmarks of emotional intelligence.

Here are some of the telltale signs that you need to work on your emotional intelligence:

You often feel like others don’t get the point and it makes you impatient and frustrated. You’re surprised when others are sensitive to your comments or jokes and you think they’re overreacting. You think being liked at work is overrated. You weigh in early with your assertions and defend them with rigor. You hold others to the same high expectations you hold for yourself. You find others are to blame for most of the issues on your team. You find it annoying when others expect you to know how they feel. So what do you do if you recognized yourself in this list? Here are four strategies:

1. Get feedback. You can’t work on a problem you don’t understand. A critical component of emotional intelligence is self-awareness — this is the ability to recognize and stay cognizant of behaviors in the moment. Whether you engage in a 360 assessment or simply ask a few people what they observe, this step is critical in heightening your sense of what you do or don’t do. And don’t just find excuses for your behavior. That defeats the purpose. Rather, listen to the feedback, try to understand it, and own it. When Craig initially heard what others thought of him, he quickly became defensive. But when he accepted the feedback, he moved to owning it and became determined to change.

2. Beware of the gap between intent and impact. Those with weak emotional intelligence often underestimate what a negative impact their words and actions have on others. They ignore the gap between what they mean to say and what others actually hear. Here are some common examples of what those with low emotional intelligence may say and how it’s actually heard:

What you say: “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting the work done.”

What others hear: “All I care about is the results and if some are offended along the way, so be it.”

What you say: “If I can understand it, anyone can.”

What others hear: “You’re not smart enough to get this.”

What you say: “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

What others hear: “I don’t really care how you feel.”

Regardless of what you intend to mean, think about how your words are going to impact others and whether that’s how you want to them to feel. Craig was notorious for saying things that made others bristle, but he began to consider the impact of his words. Before every meeting, he spent a few minutes asking himself: What is the impression I want to make? How do I want people to feel about me at the end? How do I need to frame my message to reach that objective?

3. Press the pause button: Having high emotional intelligence means making choices about how you respond to situations, rather than having a knee-jerk reaction. For example, Craig tended to interrupt and shoot down other people’s ideas before they could complete their thoughts. This behavior was a reaction to his fear of losing control of the discussion and wasting time. So he started to take pauses before reacting. There are two important pauses to take:

Pause to listen to yourself. When Craig was getting impatient and frustrated in discussions, he often felt his jaw clench and his chest tighten. By recognizing these physical signs, he was able to pause and remind himself that he feared losing control. As a result, Craig was better able to determine how he wanted to respond, rather than relying on his default of lashing out.

Pause to listen to others. Listening means helping others feel like you’ve understood them (even if you don’t agree with them). It’s not the same as not saying anything. It’s simply giving others a chance to convey their ideas before you jump in.

4. Wear both shoes. People often suggest you “put yourself in the other person’s shoes” to develop empathy, a key component of emotional intelligence, but you shouldn’t dismiss how you feel. You need to wear both shoes — understanding both your agenda and theirs and seeing any situation from both sides. Craig shifted his approach from “Here are my concerns” to “These are my issues, and I hear your concerns. Let’s determine a way forward that takes both into consideration.”

Strengthening your emotional intelligence takes commitment, discipline, and a genuine belief in its value. With time and practice, though, you’ll find that the results you achieve far outweigh the effort it took to get there.

Written by Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Source: Harvard Business Review

9 Bookkeeping Apps Your Small Business Needs to Succeed

One of the most common causes of business failure is inadequate financing. But, let’s be honest, sending out invoices, keeping track of expenses, doing the weekly payroll and filing taxes can be incredibly challenging when your mind is on business growth.

No matter how vital these tasks, they are tedious and can consume more of your time and resources than you would like.

With the following bookkeeping apps, however, you streamline all of your finance tasks so that you can ensure that your business succeeds.

Wave

Since launching in 2010, Wave has been used by more than 2 million small business owners, consultants and freelancers to manage all of their accounting, payroll and invoicing needs. Wave also has a handy receipt scanner and is 100 percent free. And, if you do run into any serious problems, Wave can connect you to a local accountant through it’s ‘Find an Account’ feature.

With the Wave iOS app, you can easily send out an unlimited number of invoices while on the go. As for Android users, the Receipts by Wave app allows you to scan receipts and upload them to the cloud to simplify your business’s record keeping.

FreshBooks

Forbes has stated that FreshBooks is “incredibly user friendly,” and there’s a whole lot of truth to that. The FreshBooks platform gives you the power to create online invoices, capture expenses, track your times on a job, and keep a tab on your cash flow and expenses. If that isn’t enough, FreshBooks comes with award-winning customer support.

The FreshBooks app is free and handles all of the tasks that were just mentioned. One of the best features about the app is that you can work offline and all your information will be synced to the cloud once you’re back online.

Due.com

If you’re looking for a top-notch time tracking and invoicing platform for your business, then Due.com is worth checking out. You can create professional-looking invoices in a snap and manage times by either client, project, or task. What makes Due.com stand out from other time tracking and invoicing tools is it’s design. It’s well-organized and has brightly colored icons so that you can easily view the progress of your work.

The app is free for five clients per month. If you want to integrate with PayPal, set-up recurring payments, and send out unlimited invoices, pricing starts at $3 per month.

You Need a Budget

YNAB was named the 2011 Reader’s Choice Winner for Best Personal Finance Software by About.com because of how efficient it is at helping you make informed spending decisions. With YNAB you can quickly view your budget’s ‘outflow,’ schedule bills and paychecks, and split transactions. YNAB supports most currencies (Dollars, Euros, Pounds, Rupees, Reals, Rands) and has a convenient autosave.

You can download the YNAB app for iOS and Android devices for a free trial. You will have to purchase the software with a one-time payment of $60 following the free trial.

Zenpayroll

If you find payroll and taxes a bit too tedious, then Zenpayroll is one of the best solutions available. Zenpayroll will automate everything from new employee reports, calculate state and federal payroll taxes, and process payroll. You can even use Zenpayroll to track employee sick and vacation time, set up worker’s compensation, and create online payroll forms.

To access Zenpayroll on any device, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee of $25 plus $4 per employees.

Ebates

Keep on top of the coupons and cash back deals on the products and goods that your business commonly uses to save 3 to 10 percent utilizing the Ebates app.

If your small business or startup purchases supplies from Amazon, for example, the Ebates.com app can notify you or your buyer when discounts are available.

Expensify

As a business owner, there will be plenty of employee expenses that come across your desk. Thankfully, Expensify has developed software that will simplify how expenses are reported and approved. With Expensify, you can capture billable expenses, add cash expenses, scan receipts, and automate duplicate expenses with ease.

There’s a free mobile app for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone devices.

Neat

Neat is a nifty tool if you’re looking to improve your workflow. This is accomplished by letting you file receipts and invoices in seconds and create tax, spending, and expense reports. And, if you need to pull up a previous invoice or receipt, you can do so in one convenient location.

The app can be used on Android and iOS devices, but you’ll have to purchase the Neat Cloud Service. Plans range from $5.99 to $24.99 per month.

Zoho Books

What can’t Zoho do for your business? The platform can be used for sales and marketing, email collaboration with team members, recruiting, invoicing and expense reporting. Zoho also seamlessly integrates with Google Apps and is an affordable option with plans starting at $12 per user per month.

If you need to manage your business’s finances while on the go, Zoho is available for iOS and Android users. There’s even an app for the brand new Apple Watch!

Which bookkeeping apps do you frequently use to handle your finances?

Written by Loren Baker
Source: Small Biz Trends

How To Be More Organized

We all have that one person at work or school who is effortlessly organized. They never seem to miss any deadlines, always finish their work with time to spare, and always know where they can find what they are looking for.

And let’s face it: you are obviously jealous of them. But why? Why be jealous when you can actually learn from them and be the same as them? They do seem to be on the right track with life, don’t they?

Being organized isn’t just something you adapt to. Well, okay, initially it is. But slowly as you dwell in your organized lifestyle, you tend to start taking it more as a mindset rather than a way of living. For instance, you begin living your life in an organized manner, with each and every thing in your routine well thought out. And then comes a time where your systems and your rituals are actually morphed into your routine, and your mind adapts to them as habits. If you actually happen to get to this stage; congratulations, you’ve officially become an organized person.

Without further ado, let’s get you introduced to the 20 daily habits of highly organized people. Don’t worry, it’s nothing you can’t handle!

1. They read/address emails on a daily basis

Here’s the deal: it doesn’t matter at what time of the day you check your inbox. What matters is that you have a dedicated timeslot each day, let’s say, half an hour, for reading and answering all your emails. Your cluttered up inbox won’t go anywhere unless you handle it appropriately.

2. They also read/address mail on a daily basis

If you have a pile of mail, then dedicating some of your time to sort these bad boys out on a daily basis, just like your emails, won’t hurt.

3. They clear paper piles off their desk

There should absolutely be no space at all for clutter on your desk. If there are piles of paper that need to be sorted out, get straight to it!

4. They have specific routines and rituals set for the start and end of every day

Staying organized isn’t all about being uptight. You should always spare some time out for things that make you who you are. You don’t want to be a prisoner of your routine now, do you?

5. They put everything where it belongs

Each and every thing is supposed to go in its rightful place. Don’t leave your socks in the fridge!

6. They follow a to-do list

Following a to-do list is like your primary source of organization. Never miss out on it!

7. They prioritize

What’s more important? Get to it first! Don’t forget to prioritize. Postpone whatever that can be done sometime later and get to the dirty-bits first.

8. They leave room for last minute changes in the list

You’re doing just fine with your daily routine and are almost half-way through, when it out of nowhere, your best friend calls you up for an urgent meeting. Did you leave enough room for this sudden readjustment in your to-do list? You had better!

9. They have some “me-time” every day

Again, it’s not about being a prisoner of your routine when you can always cut some time out for yourself. Read a book, watch a movie, hit the gym; whatever that floats your boat!

10. They never leave anything undone

This is the holy grail of staying organized. Don’t leave any task half done. Leaving unfinished business is the hallmark of a disorganized person.

11. They stay well-nourished throughout the day

Your routine needs you in order to complete. You need food in order to complete your routine. What can you possibly do without enough energy? It’s a simple equation.

12. They always plan the coming day in advance.

Once you’re done with your day, then would be a good time to plan for the coming day. Every day needs its own unique to-do list!

13. They set alarms and reminders

You can’t leave room for error. Have everything on your side to help you avoid them. Set alarms, reminders, and whatever else you need to deal with your tasks on time.

14. They know how to filter relevant information

The best example in this regard is your notification list. The latest cat video on the Internet is irrelevant. The email you just received from your client is top priority. Make sure you know how to differentiate between these two.

15. They are not perfectionists

Not everything can be just the way you want it. Sometimes, “good enough” really is enough to get you by. So know where the most feasible option would suffice, and forget about making things perfect.

16. They leave no room for clutter

As mentioned earlier, clutter is your worst enemy. Leave no room for it on your territory!

17. They keep all the essentials within touching distance

Pen? Paper? Smartphone? Spare underwear? Yes, you can need any of those at any point. Keep them around you so you don’t face any problems during emergencies.

18. They are always prepared to face any mishaps

Staying organized is mainly all about preparing yourself to face turmoil, whenever it shows up. Don’t be afraid of tackling mishaps head on, deal with the elephant in the room first.

19. They opt for the simplest solutions

You don’t need only the best pen in the whole world to do your paperwork. A mere pencil will be enough. Follow the same ideology regarding everything else. Pick the simplest problem-solver!

20. They practice maintenance

This doesn’t mean you need to be a top quality handyman. You don’t even need to be tech-savvy for this one. So long as you know how to keep everything up-to-date and maintained, there is no one that can disturb you in your organized glory!

Written by Daniel Philben
Source: LH

14 Things Productive People Do In The First 15 Minutes Of The Workday

The first 15 minutes of your workday sets the tone for the rest of your workday.

If you are already too busy at the start of your workday, imagine what the rest of your day might be like when challenges arise and other people start seeking you for help.

Here are 14 things productive people do in the first 15 minutes of their workday to help them stay productive for the rest of their day.

1. They stroll into the office at least 15 minutes before official working hours

Productive people know the importance of reporting to work early. Instead of rushing to work anxiously and hoping to be on time, they leave their house early and stroll into the office calmly. They set a relaxing tone right from the start of their workday and give themselves an extra 15 minutes to be ready for work.

2. They set up their workspace like professionals

Similar to a surgeon performing an operation and a chef working in the kitchen, productive people make sure their tools are in proper position before they begin their work. Every minute counts in the operating theater and kitchen, so too in your workspace! Productive people keep their workspace organized so that they don’t have to spend unnecessary time looking for what they need.

3. They review what they have done previously

It’s good to review what you have done previously, especially if you’ve just returned from the weekend or holidays. Productive people warms themselves up for work by reminding themselves where they left off previously. Instead of jumping straight into a task, they review past achievement to give themselves some direction on what to do next and a sense of accomplishment.

4. They review their to-do list and deadlines

Productive people have a to-do list. They review their to-do list at the start of their workday so that they can strategize and plan ahead. They remind themselves of important deadlines and meetings so that they can prioritize and schedule their work accordingly.

5. They identify no more than 3 important tasks for the day

Productive people know they will be overwhelmed if they plan too much for themselves. To stay focused at work and prevent themselves from multitasking they identify no more than 3 important tasks for the day. Leo Babauta, founder of the productivity blog Zen Habits, also sets himself 3 most important tasks (MITs) each morning to move himself forward.

6. They ask themselves good questions

Productive people gain clarity on what they want to achieve each day by asking themselves good questions. They identify problems clearly and assess if these problems need to be solved. They don’t waste time during their day solving unimportant issues. Asking good questions also motivates during the day. For example, Ron Friedman, an expert on human motivation, suggests to ask this question at the beginning of your workday:

The day is over and I am leaving the office with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. What have I achieved?

7. They check their emails only if they absolutely have to

Productive people like Tumblr founder David Karp don’t check or read their emails in the first 15 minutes of their workday. They know they will get distracted easily. If they anticipate important emails from their superiors and customers, they will scan their inbox for these emails and schedule replies accordingly. They don’t read emails in chronological order and reply to emails immediately.

8. They put their mobile phone on silent

Productive people know they get the most work done in the morning, so they prioritize what is important and plan their work first. They put their mobile phone on silent and do not have their schedule dictated by incoming messages and notifications.

9. They close their eyes and visualize what their workday is going to be like

Similar to athletes who use visualization techniques for training and competition, productive people run through positive images of success and achievement in their mind. They mentally rehearse and practice what they have to do for the day and program their subconscious mind. When it’s time for them to actually perform the task, they find it much easier.

10. They take a moment to breathe and be present

After visualizing the future, productive people take a moment to be present. They know they may get too busy during the day so they take a break even before they start their work. Breathing deeply provides oxygen to your brain. It makes you think clearer and allow you to be calmer. Successful people like Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington take time to mediate in the morning too.

11. They do some light stretching

Productive people know they have to sit in front of the computer all day. They know that being inactive for too long would bring them health problems in the long run. To combat this they do some light stretching in the first 15 minutes of the workday and schedule time to stretch throughout the day.

12. They give their colleagues space and time to warm up for work

Productive people don’t talk to their colleagues about work issues first thing in the morning. They respect other people’s time and they know their colleagues need time to get ready for work. Unless you want others to find you early in the morning, don’t go into your office and ask others for favors straightaway.

13. They serve their own needs before helping others

Productive people know the importance of fulfilling their own needs before helping others. They determine their own priorities first and slot in other people’s requests later. They don’t try to be supermen or superwomen and help everyone in need. They respect their 15 minute routine in the morning and will politely reject or delay requests if they are approached by others.

14. They are grateful for work and challenges ahead

Productive people remind themselves each morning how blessed they are to have a job and be of value to others. They see challenges as opportunities to grow and stretch themselves. They look forward to work each day. When you feel good about your work, it removes any negative feeling or procrastination you may have that prevents you from being productive.

Written by Yong Kang Chan
Source: LH

10 Things Every Solopreneur Should Know To Be Successful

When you are in the business of being in business for yourself, it can definitely get lonely at the top. As a solopreneur, you often have to set your own deadlines, motivate yourself, and light the fire under your own seat to get things done. How you measure success is subjective. Is it important to you to make a certain amount of money? To have time off to travel? To be able to balance homelife and work? To get yourself out there in the world and have an influence on people?

No matter how you define success, these 10 things are what make solopreneurs successful:

1. They know that money isn’t the main focus

When money is the focus, the big picture becomes lost. You are in business to provide a service, or to do something you love or feel passionate about. The money is what results from this. When solopreneurs make it solely about money, the passion gets lost.

2. They get that being true to their brand is more important than selling out

Affiliating with companies that are not aligned with your values, will make your customers distrust you, and make them think you are selling them out, rather than creating relationships with them. Stay true to your brand. Focus your resources on expanding your message rather than diluting it with other people’s messages.

3. They know the value of their time

Successfull solopreneurs know that time is important. They are not afraid to charge what they are worth, and to say “no,” if something will take more time than it will be worth.

4. They are not afraid to try new things

Keeping on top of latest trends is important. Clinging to a software program, or a way of operating that is outdated keeps you behind. Forge ahead. Many programs offer things like free 14 or 30 day trials so you can test things out with no risk.

5. They are consistent, no matter what

If a successful solopreneur says they are going to send out a weekly blog, they send out a weekly blog. They also keep their branding consistent on all platforms, by using the same colors, fonts, etc. to be easily identified.

6. They surround themselves with people who are smarter than them

They don’t think that they are so smart that they cannot learn anything. A know-it-all has no room to grow. Just when we think we know something, a new study comes out to debunk the previous theory. Challenge your brain by having conversations with people who are more versed and educated than you in areas that you know less about.

7. They know the power of collaboration

Cross-promotion, and partnering with others can expand your reach, and increase your credibility. Don’t try to stay all by yourself but be open for collaborations which will bring you forward.

8. They make mistakes, and they keep going

Mistakes happen. Obsessing over them does not make them go away. When you make a mistake, take the time to clean it up, or rectify it as much as possible. Then, move on. Don’t let it stop you from taking action.

9. They remember to have fun along the way

All work and no play … well, you know how the saying goes. Staying focused and being productive is great, but if it is turning into too much “hard work,” it may be time to revisit your business. You should be enjoying your efforts along the way. If you are not, you can become burned out, and the type of business you are in may not be a good fit for you.

10. They celebrate their small victories, as a means of encouraging their big successes

When your eye is focused on a big goal, it can be easy to overstep the small victories that lead to success. Pat yourself on the back when you make that difficult phone call. One of my favorite examples has always been when brick and mortar business owners frame their first dollar bill they made from their business. Frame your own version of a dollar bill by celebrating your first twitter follower, your 100th email subscriber, and so on.

Written by Bridget Baker
Source: LH.org