Tips on Planning an Employee Appreciation Party

Upon first glance, a companywide employee appreciation party may seem like a complicated undertaking, but with a little careful preparation you can throw a successful and memorable event that goes off without a hitch. Here are some easy pro tips on planning a stellar employee appreciation party.

Enlist some helpers.

Going at it alone isn’t impossible but you can be surprised by how often you second guess your own decisions when planning a large event. Having a little help with your choices and getting a few extra hands to help tie up loose ends is really great place to start. Chances are you have some extremely enthusiastic and adept party planners in your staff who would love to help out and taking them on could greatly reduce any party planning stress later on.

Make a checklist.

Once you’ve elected one or two helpers, start making a check list for everything you’d like to include at your event. The most helpful list is arranged in order from what needs to be tackled right away to things that can be done last. For example, you’ll want to list picking the location for your party first while decorating for the event can be placed somewhere near the end of the list.

Pick a theme.

You don’t absolutely need to have a themed party but having an idea in place can make decisions on decorations, activities, gifts and even menu options much easier. It will help these elements look cohesive and your event as a whole look like it was planned by a pro. Your theme could center on a specific appreciation message you wish to convey or you can base it off of an activity you’d like to participate in, like a company softball tournament or relay race. If you prefer a more formal event, a charity based theme complete with a silent auction is a popular choice. Just remember to keep your attendants in mind and pick a theme that matches the overall personality of the group.

Send Email Announcements and Updates

Once you have your date, time, venue and theme chosen you can start informing your guests. Some employers like to have all the details of the event squared away so attendees merely have to show up and enjoy themselves while others prefer to get employees involved with some of the decision making, as a way of building interest. For example, if you are a little unsure of certain activities you’d like to include or the type of cuisine you’d like to serve it may help to request opinions from your staff or let them vote when you send your initial event announcement. This will show them that you want to make sure they have the best time possible at the upcoming event. When you send updates as the event gets closer it will build anticipation and interest even further.

Plan a set schedule for the event.

Arrival times, cocktail or dinner hours, speakers, award ceremonies and the end of the event should all be laid out so you can be sure the party runs smoothly. Even if something changes at the last minute, it won’t end up derailing your entire event because the rest of the schedule has been firmly set.

Choose a thoughtful, personalized gift.

Your words of gratitude at the event will be meaningful to your guests, but a customized employee appreciation gift will serve as a tangible reminder that will reinforce those words for a long time to come. You should select a gift your employees can use often or display at home or in the office. High end tech devices, like Bluetooth speakers or power banks, as well as thoughtful keepsakes, like picture frames, are popular choices. You should include your company brand and appreciation message custom printed on every gift for an added personal touch.

Save on decorations with your gifts.

If you are hosting a sit down event you may feel obligated to decorate your tables with centerpieces, which could end up taking a big bite out of your budget. This is where you can use your employee appreciation gifts to help you save. In lieu of expensive centerpieces, you can place your gifts at each table where guests will be seated, which is just as decorative but far less wasteful.

Consider raffling off prizes.

Giving out prizes at an employee appreciation party is one way to amp up the fun factor and using a raffle or a spinning wheel will give everyone a fair shake at taking home a prize. This is a great opportunity to incorporate some big ticket items that have been branded with your company logo, but don’t fit into your budget as a gift for every single attendant.

Put together an emergency kit before the event.

Remember Murphy’s Law? Whatever can go wrong, will. It doesn’t have to ruin your event, however. Before you head to your party bring a bag that is packed with tape, scissors, a stapler, extra string or ribbon, a mini tool kit, trash bags and anything you think you might need if something should go amiss. It’s always better to be safe – and prepared – than sorry.

Follow up after the event.

Send another email announcement after the party has passed to thank everyone for attending, share pictures and fond memories and, most importantly, to ask for feedback. Keep in mind that the whole purpose for your party was to honor your hard workers, so their constructive feedback should be valued and can help you when planning for next year.

If you’re thinking of planning an employee appreciation event, you are on the right track to making sure your workforce is in top performing condition. It’s a proven fact that a happy employee who feels appreciated will be a much more productive member of your business. You want your staff members to know you are grateful for their hard work and dedication and you want them to feel content at your company, so planning an appreciation party creates a win win situation for everyone involved. Nice work! Now you just have to make it happen.

Is it Time to Breakup With Your Job?

Far too many people spend every day at a job they hate. Wondering if you should leave your job behind and move on to something new? Read on for tips that will help you make your decision.

1. You’re not in charge of your schedule.

If you’re not a morning person, you may not be accomplishing a lot in the first part of your work day. When you choose your schedule, you can base it on when your energy levels are their highest. When you don’t set your own schedule, you’re on someone else’s time table, which isn’t always conducive to great work.

2. You can’t decide what to wear.

There are few things that limit individuality as much as being required to wear a uniform. If you have to follow some sort of dress code, you may not feel free enough to really explore your creativity. It’s difficult to focus on work when you’re uncomfortable in your clothes.

3. You hope you don’t grow up to be like your boss.

If you’re trying with all your might to not become like your boss, you should ask yourself how long you plan on working for them. When you don’t respect your boss, it’s difficult to work for them day in and day out. What is it you’re working towards if you can’t stand management? If you work for someone like Shahram Shirkhani, on the other hand, you may aspire to be like them.

4. You feel drained at the end of each day.

There’s a difference between being tired after putting in a hard and productive day of work, and feeling like you’ve had the life sucked out of you by the time the clock strikes five. Whatever’s dragging you down, it’s important to pinpoint it and determine if it’s something that can change or if it’s simply the nature of the job.

5. You have no power to change anything.

If you’re not allowed to make suggestions or offer up new, more efficient methods of doing things, you probably feel stuck and shut down. A good boss and a quality company will want to have staff members who are proactive and feel comfortable making suggestions. What kind of company wouldn’t want to be more efficient and productive?

If you’re bored, miserable, or working on things that simply don’t matter to you, it may be time to start job hunting. Make sure you follow your company’s rules about leaving the job the right way. This will help you to make a good impression at your next interview.

Work at Home Opportunities for Geeks

If you love technology then you might have a long standing dream of working with gadgets or online. However, could you be tempted to give up the security of a steady job in order to chance on doing this? The good news is that you can find a number of jobs online that match your skills and interests if you do some research.

What type of work at home opportunities for geeks would you be most interested in?

Tech Writer

One of the great things about writing news and reviews about new technology is that you get paid for carrying out your hobby. If you are interested in the new iPhone then why not write an article reviewing it? Equally, if you want to find out about the latest apps and gadgets then you can become an expert just by doing your job. You could do this in a number of ways, from hosting your own blog to working as a freelance writer. There are millions of people all over the world interested in finding  out about technology so you could provide a great service for them and earn money at the same time.

Graphic Designer

This is the type of job that it is ideally suited to working at home. If you have good design skills then using them in front of your home PC could open up a whole new way of living for you. Would you like some ice in that cool drink while you lounge in the garden with your laptop, sir? You might get a full time job in this field or perhaps you would be happy working as a freelancer and picking up jobs here and there. This is the sort of job where you can earn a decent salary and get good job satisfaction as well. If you long to get some extra creativity into your working day then this is a fine way to do so. 

IT Support

With so many IT problems being simple to solve over the phone it is no wonder that a lot of companies now outsource their IT support work to off-site workers. This type of job can be very interesting for someone with a keen interest in technology. If you are looking to change your way of living and working then it is the sort of role that could be right for you. It can be relatively undemanding for someone who understands technology well but can also be good fun too.    

Mobile App Developer

It appears that just about every business in the world now wants to get its own mobile apps, and someone has to develop them, right? This type of work can be hugely satisfying, as you jump from one project onto something completely different. The future of mobile app development looks extremely bright and this is a great time to get in on the act and start working from home on them. You might need to learn some new skills first of all but if you have a decent knowledge of programming then you have a head start.

This is a guest post for Socialwatch.co a newly launched social media agency who specialise in the buy twitter followers uk and buy Instagram followers uk market.

Training and Development's Role in Your Personal Life

Learning is a continuous process. Our parents, elders and educators have constantly drilled us on that aspect - to keep learning. Learning comes in many forms. You can learn thru schooling, by researching, by coaching and being a mentee, by reading, hearing and observation, by traveling and by attending workshops and trainings geared for development.

Many may think that training and development is merely for those in the workforce, academe, students and the military. It is actually for everyone who aims to develop their professional and/or personal life.

The role of training and development can be classified into 2 aspects:

1. Professional

Professional training and development entail teachings about how one can incorporate the soft skills (eg., leadership, diplomacy, communication, problem solving and decision making skills, emotional quotient in the workplace) and other skills set learned in the workplace.  Professional training and development works for both the employees and employer as they all benefit from what result of the training and development. This is crucial for both as what skills and theories learned by the staff will be transferred and applied to the day-to-day functions required in the workplace.

2. Personal

Even if you have taken a training for professional purposes, most of these trainings and workshops are actually applicable to your personal life. For example, I have gone through series of trainings from our company's leadership programme for a year. I know what I have learned is mainly beneficial to being applied in my work area but the plus factor is that, I have tapped my inner leadership abilities and honed my soft skills like communicating with influence, applying the theories I have learned in problem solving and decision making even in personal matters.  I have also been able to practice the art of diplomacy by being more patient and understanding when to shift my role from being a "child" to a "nurturing parent" to an "adult" thru all the things I have learned in all the training and development workshops I have attended in the past.

So, the role of training and development in both our professional and personal life cannot be denied. In fact, it is really a boon to nominate ourselves to these kinds of trainings so we can evaluate ourselves more and see where we can enhance further. And you will see how doing this can be both beneficial to your career and personal life.

Going On Leave Soon

The first month of the year has proven to be a one to reckon with. My workload is so immense and testy. It is also extremely stressful and time constraint and most importantly, it has changed me to become a mini-monster in a span of 3 weeks.

My patience is wearing off and it's only January 2014! I desperately need to get away soon before I snap at someone again. One thing that peeves me is when my personality is getting affected by the stress. I don't like that because I AM NOT LIKE THAT - a big B! However, for some very unconscious reasons, people at work (and even at home) see the toxicity level of stress taking its toll on me.

That is why, I deserve a leave and I will go on one in few days. I have to get away from all the hassles, stress that I somehow drag into 2014, unknowingly and not my fault because all those stuff are never ending unless one has been accomplished.

Anyway, no time to rant and I don't want that. I should be happy. So, I'll be away for few days this February. There's won't be any activity in my blogs for several days so I can unwind and enjoy 2014 in a better perspective. I have to recharge and detox both personally and professionally. It's just too much negativity stemming from one task. And that is just ONE task. Imagine, if I have to do that singular task day in and day out, I'd probably go bonkers. Well, this is where vacation leaves come into play.

Why Extra Training Can Boost Your Career

I have been diligently enhancing my skills and acquiring more knowledge in my field and other areas of the industry where I am at to boost my career growth.

Training, seminars and workshops have greatly affected my work performance because of the skills I learned and soft skills I have learned to improve. This infographic below will show you why it is important to further your studies, enrol yourself in trainings or even to another course and nominate yourself to trainings and workshops. All these will help in improving you as a professional in the long run.

Presented By CSI Now

How Social Media Influences the Development of a Company

The dilemma that lots of modern companies deal with is far removed from the early question of whether workers must use social media while at work. In fact, social media have paved way in improving the success in every company at the same time giving much more opportunities. Still, the main concern that almost all managers must deal with is how to manage the effective use of social media within the workplace. Social media, particularly Twitter, is an effective tool in improving the quality of hired talent, productivity of employees and interaction within an organization.

Hiring the Best Talent

Emerging Workforce Study have conducted a survey in which 45% of employees believed that the company’s social media existence will impact their choice concerning to where they're going to submit an application for work. In short, the more prominent the company’s social media presence is; it attracts to Buy Extra Followerson Twitter and drawing more possible employees in return.

One way for a company to enhance its online platforms like Twitter is to make the most of its employees’ personal accounts. This can be manifested whenever employees send tweets concerning the company’s current events. The combined effect of having many workers on Twitter would add up to a much greater reach than would be possible with a company's own Twitter account. It's through this that a lot of prospective workers will be reached and provide awareness at the same time concerning the organization itself.

Giving employees the freedom in making use of their own Twitter account while at work will more likely draw in today’s skilled and talented individuals. Creative minds generally discover new ideas if there’s no restricted rules hanging on their back. With that, most skilled employees choose to work in a flexible working place.

On the other hand, the level of productivity at work will be compromised if the usage of social media is abused. Therefore, any business seeking to maintain the benefits of social media should assess the best way to utilize social platforms. One way to manage the use of social media may involve much better access by departments that benefit most from its use. The departments that usually benefit most from the use of social media include sales, advertising, and customer care departments.

Enhanced Productivity

A recent study carried out by Evolv (a company that evaluates the metrics of Fortune 500 companies) found that use of social media actually enhances productivity among specific groups of workers. The social interaction offered by sites like Twitter gives the perfect opportunity for many sales people to achieve bigger reach with prospective clients. Compared to the employees who aren’t benefiting from the use of social media, these workers are able to close a number of deals and simply bringing their business to greater heights.

There were also companies which took advantage of Twitter in using their accounts to provide customer care services. Through this, any client’s complaints, concerns and queries can be immediately managed by employees. Considering this fast and trustworthy response, the company can attain customer loyalty that will also guarantee long-term sales.

Moreover, employees can easily determine the company’s reputation in accordance with the public’s perception in Twitter. Besides, any misguided opinions can be directly corrected before it shed a bad light for the firm. Early recognition of such incorrect information regarding the company will allow brand managers to take corrective action. Thus, the reputation of the firm is left unstained.

Twitter is also an ideal place to follow up the company’s previous clients. It provides the perfect opportunity for sales personnel to continually stay in touch with past clients without being obtrusive. This provides the firm far better odds of landing other sales opportunities from return clients.

Employees who accomplish prominence and recognition in social media would also give fame to the firm in which they work. Many individuals on social media would have a positive perception of the businesses in which well-known professionals work. In other words, if specialists are very prominent in social media platforms, they would also spread the fame to the organizations they are a part of.

Better Relationships at Work

Most contemporary companies have a much more open interaction between the top management and basic level personnel. Such active communication could be enhanced further through social media platforms. For example in Twitter, it will permit employees to interact with sheer honesty among other workers. With Twitter, employees at lower levels have better freedom to freely provide their feedback to higher level personnel. This is contrary to traditional memos and emails which provide less opportunity for entry level employees to express their unreserved opinions.

The emphasis on social interaction offered by Twitter allows employees to develop greater knowledge and appreciation of one another. Moreover, workers can easily share their ideas, perspectives, and how they see life which can assist them to make better choices. Having an awareness of these problems assists HR managers to develop techniques and programs that will cause least resistance within the organization.

Countless firms organize team building events partly to develop closer social interaction among the employees. Such social interaction can be boosted through social media. By interacting with one another on Twitter, numerous workers develop closer relationships beyond the work environment. This can assist develop team work and cooperation within a firm.

Once workers and managers are having a good line of communication on Twitter, this promotes understanding not just on a personal level but also to the innate skills and talents they possess. This provides useful insight especially during consideration for promotion in the organization. Nevertheless, HR managers can determine the ideals and values of the staff which also serve as a basis for promotion.

Lots of business organizations know the grave significance of social media in business management. It has become an essential item without which, no business can hope to accomplish great heights of prosperity and success. Regardless of how big or small your company is, as long as you know how to control and utilize the advantages of social media; long term stability and productivity will be in your hands.

This article is brought to you by followersboosts.com. This is the best reliable source of information and tools that will assist you establish a good reputation on Twitter.

The Balancing Act of Stress and Life

Photo credit: yahoo images

A little stress can save your life. A lot of stress can end up killing you. How do you find the balance? Learning to control your stress can be one of the most beneficial actions you can take with your life. Every person creates their own reality with what they know, feel, think, and see. Every individual creates a different version of reality for themselves. Everyone sees the world around them in different ways. Some people see the cup as half full. They see the positive side of most situations. This mindset allows them to have many friends as they continually progress themselves to take on bigger and better challenges. Those who see the cup as half empty may need some help to break out of their current situation. 

The reality of a negative person is completely different from that of a positive individual. Any person can choose to change themselves and their reality for better or worse. Companies like HeartMath help people stay on the path of growth and enlightenment by offering tools and strategies to help people stay in a state of coherence. Coherence allows a person to accept changes in their reality without reacting with stress and disharmony.

Positive and Effective Tools for Meditation

Meditation is a great tool to help you begin controlling your thoughts and emotions. However, an inexperienced person might give up on meditation quickly. It is difficult to know whether or not the strategies are working when you have little to no experience. Thankfully there are tools that allow you to see instant feedback on your current state of being. Combining meditative techniques with these tools can help you on the path to changing your reality for the better very quickly.  

Seek Help and Discover How to Control Stress

It is well known that stress causes illness. Stress can also destroy families and create rifts in important interpersonal relationships. Every individual has a choice when it comes to dealing with stress. Many cannot see a way that they could control their stress response. Make the right choice and seek out help when you’re dealing with stress-related problems. You can enjoy life stress free; check out a company like HeartMath for more information.