Chamber Blog

High Value Employees Need Emotionally Intelligent Leaders

Submitted by alesia on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 1:01pm

Dedicated employees are essential to success. Anyone can say they are highly skilled, but if employees lack a congruent vision and determination, it can be detrimental for a business.

To succeed in a business environment, employees must have two qualities: enthusiasm and flexibility. They must be ready and willing to work in the trenches right next to you. Like the saying goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. As a business leader, I’d rather take a determined individual with some experience over an experienced candidate with no enthusiasm.

The business battlefield involves a lot of sacrifices, hard work and important decisions. Talented individuals who believe in the vision — not just their paychecks — can make a tremendous difference.

Hire employees that love their jobs

5 Ways to Work your Network Naturally

Submitted by alesia on Thu, 04/12/2018 - 1:39pm

 5 Ways to Work your Network Naturally

Traditional networking advice dictates that before you pitch someone, you should go out of your way to provide them as much value as you can. While networking should never just be an all-out pitch fest, bending over backwards to help someone you’ve just met can come across the wrong way.

Serve before you sell. But forgo the extremes and reserve them for people you know will feel comfortable receiving such favors. That said, there are plenty of ways to work your network

so you can make your network work for you — without making anyone feel remotely uncomfortable.

 1. Make one new introduction a week

Change or Be Left Behind!

Submitted by alesia on Thu, 03/22/2018 - 2:35pm

Change Or Be Left Behind:

How To Reinvent Yourself When Life Demands It

Change can be difficult, uncomfortable, and frightening. But sooner or later, most of us will have to reinvent ourselves (or risk getting left behind).

In these fast-paced times, it seems like change is the only constant we have. Some people accept change gracefully, while others hold on kicking and screaming. But today it’s more important than ever to embrace change and be able to reinvent yourself.

Why? Because innovation is changing markets daily, because our global economy has leveled the playing field and introduced more competition than ever before, and because life occasionally compels us to move in a new direction—like it or not.

3 Awesome ways to Boost employee engagement and Productivity

Submitted by alesia on Fri, 03/09/2018 - 3:32pm

3 Awesome Ways To Boost Employee Engagement And Productivity

 

Employee engagement sounds like something human resources folks should discuss on their own time. However, when you run a business — it really does matter.

With more people spending time at work, it’s important to make sure you’re not only providing a productive and safe space, but also an enjoyable one. With that said, let’s look at some effective, fun and creative ways to increase employee engagement and productivity in the workplace.

But first, let’s cover why employee engagement is important in the first place. The “Ultimate Guide to Employee Engagement” by SnackNation, highlights the following benefits:

How are you protecting your employees Biometrics?

Submitted by alesia on Thu, 07/27/2017 - 3:13pm

Mariano’s, Kimpton Hotels sued over alleged collection of biometric data:

It’s something very personal.

Chicago Tribune Article:  Byerek@chicagotribune.com

 

Punch clocks, key codes and ID-badge swipes — they're all so 2010.

A new twist on tracking employee hours or providing access to sensitive work areas relies on biometrics. That's technologyspeak for distinguishing physical characteristics such as fingerprints, palm prints, iris scans and DNA.

But unlike, say, a stolen company ID, which can be replaced, individuals can't order up a new body part, raising concerns about what could happen if scans of their fingertips' arches, loops and whorls fell into the wrong hands. Those concerns are prompting employees and others to push back against company policies that require collection of biometric data.

3 Reasons you should hang-out with entreprenuers

Submitted by alesia on Thu, 03/02/2017 - 8:30am

3 Reasons Why You Should Hang-out With Like-Minded Entrepreneurs

“Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.” This age-old proverb is talking about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.

As the founder of a startup, surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs is essential. It can have a major impact on your personal and business success. Unfortunately, many business owners fail to seek out like-minded entrepreneurs due to fear, feelings of inadequacy or a lack of time.

However, I’ve learned that when you connect with other successful entrepreneurs it goes a long way. Here’s what you can stand to gain.

1. Inspiration

When you seek out like-minded entrepreneurs, regardless of your industry, you’ll get fired up about being an entrepreneur. It’s not always easy to meet up with other entrepreneurs, but I’m always impressed when I do. Their success, determination and confidence gives me the courage to make the next move.

Is Fear of Failure Holding Your Business Back?

Submitted by alesia on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 6:13pm

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins — oh my! While children clad in Halloween costumes may fear witches and zombies, many Villa Park businesses are equally terrified of failure. But since failure is an inevitable part of growing a small business, fear of failure could be holding you and your business back from success. Here are six ways to overcome your fear of failure:

22 Qualities that make a Great Leader

Submitted by alesia on Mon, 11/07/2016 - 12:44pm

1. Focus 

“It’s been said that leadership is making important but unpopular decisions. That’s certainly a partial truth, but I think it underscores the importance of focus. To be a good leader, you cannot major in minor things, and you must be less distracted than your competition. To get the few critical things done, you must develop incredible selective ignorance. Otherwise, the trivial will drown you.”  —Tim Ferriss, bestselling author, host of The Tim Ferriss Show 

2. Confidence

“A leader instills confidence and ‘followership’ by having a clear vision, showing empathy and being a strong coach. As a female leader, to be recognized I feel I have to show up with swagger and assertiveness, yet always try to maintain my Southern upbringing, which underscores kindness and generosity. The two work well together in gaining respect.” —Barri Rafferty, CEO, Ketchum North America