Breakfast Leadership 10/21/23 Breakfast Leadership 10/21/23

Balancing A Home-Based Business With Childcare

If you have both children and a business to care for, it can be quite tough to make sure that you are looking after both as well as possible. Your children are obviously going to be the most important thing in your life, and will always take priority over anything else. But that doesn’t mean that you are able or even willing to completely forget about your business, and you’ll probably want this to still be cared for as well as possible.

That’s why some balance is required, and this is a balancing act that a lot of people find quite a struggle. If you are keen to try and do this, however, then there are a few things that you can bear in mind which should hopefully make it easier. Let’s take a look at some of them now, to help you balance your home-based business with your childcare duties.

Get Scheduling

One of the main things you will need to learn how to do well is to write up and follow a good schedule. As a parent, you will already be well aware that your children will not often follow a schedule as well as you would like, but you will still find that it is helpful to have one in place, especially when it comes to your work you need to do for the business. A good schedule can help you to figure out how much time you have to devote to your business given the various childcare responsibilities you have to think about.

It is certainly preferable to never plan anything out, and this is going to help you to figure out exactly what you need to do inorder to keep both of these major parts of your life balanced as well as possible. So make sure that you are drawing up detailed schedules for each day, week, month, and so on. You will be glad you did, and even if you can’t stick to it perfectly, you’ll still find it helps a little.

Find Childcare Help

There is nothing wrong with seeking out some help for your childcare from time to time. This is something that all parents need to do, not just those who have home businesses to run. But if you do have such a business, then you are going to find it especially useful to have some childcare that is going to make a difference to your days. If you want to do this, however, you should be careful about where you look and who you accept help from.

The best is when you have someone close to you that can look after your child for a while. A friend or family member, or just anyone you know quite well. If you have such a person, definitely make sure that you are making use of them for your childcare. Beyond that, you can of course hire a babysitter form time to time too, which can sometimes be enough to free up enough time to let you focus on your work for a while - or just to have a night off, which can be beneficial too.

Then there are all kinds of specialist help which you may want to make use of too. You might, for instance, need to get some help medically for your child, whether in the form of a doctor or a pediatric compounding pharmacy or whatever else it might be. Actually making use of those kinds of help can really make a world of difference, so it’s something you should be careful to think about. As long as you are getting the help you need, that is going to make a huge difference to how your business pans out in general and how well your child is looked after too.

Hire Employees & Freelancers

As well as getting help with your childcare, it can be useful to get help with running your business. This can be true even for pretty small businesses that you're running from your home. You might be surprised at how early on you can make use of a few employees or freelancers, and it’s definitely a good idea to look out for some of these early on. Sometimes hiring just one person is enough to give you more time and allow the business to still be running smoothly while you care for your kid.

You might think about hiring a receptionist for instance, which can largely be done virtually these days. Or you might want someone who is going to help you with marketing, or with making the actual product. Whatever it is, hiring people is one of those simple ways to really give your business a boost, and allow you to keep on focusing on what’s most important to you at all times.

Involve Your Child

If your child is at a certain age, you might even be able to involve them a little with your home-based business. This doesn’t mean that you rope them in for work they are not keen on doing, but you might be surprised at how often your children are actually going to be curious about the work, and might even be happy to help. That can be great, because it can kill two birds with one stone very effectively. You might be able to enlist their help for some tasks and it keeps them busy while also ensuring that you are looking after the business too.

Of course, this might only work for a while, but it’s something to think about every now and then if you are unsure about what to do in order to care for both your children and your business. And it’s certainly the kind of thing that you are going to want to think about.

Those are the main ways to balance your home business with childcare as effectively as possible.

Breakfast Leadership 6/28/23 Breakfast Leadership 6/28/23

Unlocking the Benefits of Flexible Working: 4 Methods to Foster a Positive Environment

There has been a lot of talk about flexible working over the past year or so. More and more employers are allowing their staff members to stay at home, choose their own hours, and work to a schedule that fits in with their home life. There are numerous questions surrounding flexible working, and whether it is beneficial for businesses and their long-term growth. Whether you’re considering a hybrid working policy in your workplace, or you’re trying to change the narrative surrounding working from home, here are a handful of methods for you to consider.

Hire Staff Who Want to Work Flexibly

In a rapidly changing world, the concept of traditional office spaces has gradually shifted towards remote work. Embracing this trend offers incredible opportunities for businesses to tap into a global talent pool and operate with enhanced efficiency. This transformative shift calls for organizations to recognize the importance of hiring staff who are not only capable but also eager to work remotely. Here's why hiring remote-ready staff should be a priority:
1. Increased Productivity: Remote work allows employees to customize their work environment to suit their needs. When individuals have the freedom to work in an environment conducive to focus and creativity, their productivity soars. By hiring staff who desire remote work, organizations are more likely to attract self-motivated individuals who thrive in autonomous environments, resulting in higher productivity levels across the board.
2. Access to Top Talent: Remote work eliminates the limitations of geographical proximity when recruiting potential talent. By tapping into a global workforce, organizations open themselves up to a larger pool of qualified applicants. Hiring staff willing to work remotely allows companies to access the brightest minds from around the world, bringing diverse ideas and perspectives to the table.
3. Cost Savings: Shifting to a remote workforce can significantly reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining physical office spaces. Rent, utilities, and other expenses can be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether. By hiring staff who prefer remote work, organizations can cut these costs while still maintaining a highly productive workforce.
4. Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Remote work offers employees the flexibility to balance their personal and professional lives effectively. When staff members have the autonomy to determine their working hours and environment, they are more likely to achieve work-life harmony. By hiring individuals who value this flexibility, organizations can foster a happier and more satisfied workforce, leading to increased loyalty and reduced turnover.
5. Environmental Sustainability: Embracing a remote workforce can contribute to a greener future. By minimizing commuting and reducing office energy consumption, organizations hiring remote-ready staff play an active role in reducing their carbon footprint. This commitment to environmental sustainability also resonates with employees and customers who prioritize conscious business practices.
6. Enhanced Disaster Preparedness: The ongoing global crisis has highlighted the importance of having a business contingency plan. Organizations that hire staff who are accustomed to working remotely are better equipped to handle unexpected events. Remote-ready staff provide a valuable resource during times of crisis, ensuring uninterrupted operations when faced with unforeseen challenges.

Communicate Your Expectations

Once you have your ideal workforce in place, you need to talk about your expectations. Laying out the firm but fair ground rules of flexible working will help everyone to get onto the right page so that there is a level of trust established.

Lead By Example

If you are demanding something in particular from your flexible workers, you need to lead by example in every way. Doing something different to them simply because you’re the boss doesn’t give off a positive look, and you need them to be able to trust you. When it comes to leading by example, you shouldn't have any guidelines or rules that you wouldn’t be happy to follow yourself. This will ultimately make it much easier for you and your employees to stick to the workplace rules surrounding flexible working.

Talk to Your Employees

Now would be the ideal time to talk to your employees and find out exactly what they are looking for regarding flexible working hours. Perhaps the general consensus is that they all want to be at home and work regular office hours. Whereas other employers may find that earlier starts or later finishes working better for their particular lifestyle. Seeing each person in your workplace as an individual rather than a group that wants the same thing, will help hugely when it comes to creating a positive narrative around flexible working.

As you can see, there are so many different ways in which you can approach flexible working in your workplace. The most important consideration to make is communication amongst your team. Everyone needs to know where they stand with regard to working from home and other flexible working policies that are outlined in your establishment. Getting everyone onto the same page, listening to their opinions, and allowing a certain level of flexibility will ultimately help to boost morale and create a more positive environment in your place of work.

Breakfast Leadership 4/14/21 Breakfast Leadership 4/14/21

What Can You Do To Make Your Employees Feel Good About Returning To Work?

Over the coming months, many employees will be returning to work after many months or years of remote work. After all, many businesses have had to close their doors due to the social distancing rules and regulations implemented due to COVID-19. A lot of people have worked from home over the past several years. No matter what applies to your business, if you have employees coming back into the workplace, it is essential to make sure they feel happy and comfortable about the environment they are entering into. Here are some things you can do to make your employees feel good about returning to work.

Supplement income if you can

One of the best things you can do during this challenging period is to ensure your workers get the pay they deserve. Of course, we have all experienced a difficult financial time. However, it will make a massive difference if your business can afford to pay your employees when state aid does not suffice. You will have a team of productive and loyal employees who want to drive your company to success. Passavant Memorial Homes is a good example of a business that has done this for its employees.

Make health and safety a priority

Many people have different attitudes toward coronavirus. Some are incredibly worried about catching the virus, while others don’t feel scared. We must respect everyone’s views and ensure the best health and safety standards. There are now laws regarding COVID-19 health and safety, which is the minimum you should do to ensure your employees feel safe and secure in the work environment.

Be honest and open, and communicate regularly

Communication is critical during this period. Communicating effectively with your employees to keep them informed is one of the best things you can do. As mentioned, a lot of people have been apprehensive as of late. Therefore, by being open and honest, you can ensure everyone is on the same page, and your workforce feels supported. If you need to reduce hours, for example, the sooner you tell people, the better. The worst thing you can do is hide information, as the more time people have to deal with it, the more time they have to sort out other arrangements.

So there you have it: some of the different things you can do to make your employees feel good about returning to work. We hope this helps you feel more confident about establishing a work environment where your employees can thrive. After all, we know it has been a challenging period for people worldwide, so giving your employees comfort and assurance is one of the best things you can do.

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