Posts by Shannon Gronich | Shannon Procise

How to Develop the Next Generation of Workers

November 29, 2022 By Shannon Gronich Leave a Comment

Happy employees and positive manager celebrating good dealing

The world of work is changing. With the advent of new technologies, many jobs that were once done by human beings are now being done by machines. This means that the next generation of workers will need to be trained in different skills than those who came before them.

Here are a few ways that your business can develop the next generation of workers and prepare them for the future of work.

Visit College Campuses

As the workforce continues to evolve, businesses must adapt their recruitment strategies to attract top talent. One way to identify future leaders is to visit college campuses and connect with students who are nearing graduation. By attending career fairs, giving presentations, and hosting information sessions, businesses can give students a taste of what it’s like to work for their company.

This is an excellent way to develop relationships with potential employees and get a sense of their skills and interests. Furthermore, it’s an opportunity for businesses to showcase their commitment to developing the next generation of workers. By taking the time to connect with students on college campuses, businesses can ensure that they are well-positioned to attract and retain the best talent.

Fund Youth Programs

There are many ways that businesses can develop the next generation of workers. One way is to fund youth programs. Youth can benefit from a mentor to help add stability to their life. These programs can provide much-needed stability and guidance for young people. They can also help them develop important life skills.

In addition, businesses can offer internships and apprenticeships to give young people a chance to learn about the work world. And finally, businesses can develop relationships with schools and colleges to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn about the careers that they offer. By taking these steps, businesses can help to develop the next generation of workers.

Host Summer Programs

One way your business can develop the next generation of workers is to host summer programs. These programs can provide students with valuable work experience, help them develop their skills, and give them a chance to explore different career paths. By hosting a summer program, you can give students a taste of what it’s like to work in your industry and help them make the transition into the workforce. In addition, summer programs can be a great way to identify potential new employees.

By getting to know students during their time in the program, you can get a better sense of their skills and abilities and determine whether they would be a good fit for your company. So if you’re looking for ways to develop the next generation of workers, hosting a summer program could be the perfect solution.

The world of work is constantly changing, and it requires specialized education to understand. Fostering the workers of tomorrow needs to start today. By following these strategies, your business can help to develop the employees of the future.

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read. How Your Business Can Get More Involved With the Community

Filed Under: entrepreneurs, Mentors

How to Protect Yourself From a Forced Early Retirement

November 28, 2022 By Shannon Gronich Leave a Comment

Ideally, during retirement, you should be relaxed and at peace. However, if you are forced into an early retirement, you might not feel that way. Taking measures to either prevent forced retirement or prepare better for it can help protect yourself.

Diversify Your Skills

Employers are constantly looking for innovative ways to market and keep their companies relevant. If you have a very limited skill set, you probably are not as valuable as you could be to an employer. This is because you only know how to do one or a few things, so you can’t adapt and take on new responsibilities or tasks as the company and market continue to change. You should seek to diversify your skills within the bounds of your profession if you want to stay at your current job. On the other hand, you can also pick up skills outside the bounds of your profession so you have something to fall back on in case you are asked to leave your current position.

Front Load Your Retirement Contributions

Sometimes, even if you try as hard as you can, you may still be forced into an early retirement. Not having enough retirement funds can make forced early retirement stressful and unsustainable. To avoid this problem, you should contribute significant amounts of money to your retirement funds. If you’re already maxing out a 401(k), a cash balance plan will let you put away even more money.

Stay Up to Date on Current Software

Lots of work is moving to the digital sphere. One way to stay employable, then, is to stay up to date on current software. This will help you keep a job rather than being replaced by a younger employee or a computer. If it takes you a long time to learn how to use new software, get a head start by researching which types of software are gaining popularity and learning how to use them. Repetition is key when learning new software, so dedicate regular time each day or throughout the week to learn.

Nowadays, some people are worried about being out of work. You can avoid this problem by being proactive in your career and learning how to market yourself better. While you are putting your best efforts into your career, you should also be preparing for retirement so it is not a shock or a burden when it happens.

Check out this article on how to avoid critical mistakes when running a business!

Filed Under: entrepreneurs

What Entrepreneurs Should Know Before Retiring Early

November 28, 2022 By Shannon Gronich Leave a Comment

Many people still wait until their sixties to retire, but this is not a requirement. If you have the means to retire earlier, you can do so if that is a good option for your lifestyle. Entrepreneurs often have the means for early retirement, but they should consider a few things before following through.

Why You Want to Retire

Retirement is a life-changing experience. When you are retired, your life is not like how it was before. Your daily routine will no longer consist of business strategies, work projects, and meetings with other professionals. Some retirees tend to miss the structure and engaging activities associated with work.

If you are considering early retirement, think about why you want to retire and what—if anything—you would miss after retiring. Perhaps what you really want is a change of pace in your work or a different career instead of retirement.

How to Exit Your Business

Once you have decided that you want to retire for legitimate reasons, you need to come up with an exit strategy. An exit strategy helps you take care of any outstanding responsibilities or debts related to your business. One method could include selling your business. Before picking someone to sell to, you should make sure that the buyer has good intentions and values your business.

Selling your business helps you find more time to do what you want. This is because you will make a significant profit from selling the business that you can use to cover expenses while you decide what to do during retirement or to work again.

What Your Income Will Be

Before retiring for good, you should first figure out what your income will be and how much money you need for necessities and wants. Income can come from investments, stocks, or bonds. If you are younger than the typical retirement age, you must pay a penalty when accessing some retirement accounts. Make sure to account for these penalties when calculating what your income will be.

Retiring early can be a great way to more fully enjoy your life while you are still young and healthy. Without the responsibilities of work, you can be free to travel, explore new hobbies, and strengthen your relationships. If you are considering retiring early, just make sure that early retirement will be a sustainable lifestyle for you financially, mentally, and emotionally.

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read. What to Know Before Spending Money on Product Development

Filed Under: entrepreneurs

Improvements to Your Workplace That Can Make a Big Difference

November 18, 2022 By Shannon Gronich Leave a Comment

As an employer, you want to create the best workplace you can. This includes creating a pleasant environment for your employees and clients as well as designing an efficient place of business. Sometimes even the smallest change can have a huge impact.

Energy Efficient Renovations

When you make renovations, it’s worth it to consider energy efficiency into the equation. Embracing energy efficiency can save your business money while also creating a more efficient environment. Some energy-efficient renovations to consider might include a smart thermostat, a new HVAC system, or energy-efficient windows. You can also make small changes to your daily practices that can help you save on electricity. These changes can reduce the amount of energy you use which will save your business money in the long run. Additionally, energy-efficient devices tend to work more effectively than their less energy-conscious counterparts.

Painting the Walls

The physical space of your business can also benefit from changes. You want to create a space that is inviting and engaging for your employees. Painting the walls of your space is one simple change you can make that can drastically improve things. The colors you choose for your business can affect employees’ moods. Shades of blue can be calming. Warmer colors can brighten the space and inject more energy. Take time to consider what sort of environment you want to create in your space. If you choose, you could get more creative and do some color blocking. Perhaps you could even include a mural.

Add Some Natural Elements

While working, your employees are likely spending a lot of time indoors. You can liven up your workplace environment by introducing more natural elements. To start off, you should increase the amount of natural light as much as possible. Use sheer curtains or blinds that let in light while also allowing for privacy. Include more reflective surfaces in your office to increase the light. Next, you should bring in some real plants. These plants can add some color and life to the space. Plants also purify the air and create a calm environment. These small changes can make your workplace feel more alive and appealing.

You don’t need to do major renovations or a massive overall of your office in order to create the “ideal” workplace. If you want to make things better, sometimes you just need to employ a few small changes. These can have more impact than you might expect.

Check out this article on how to keep employees happy at your company!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Avoid the Appearance of Discrimination in the Workplace

November 17, 2022 By Shannon Gronich Leave a Comment

There are plenty of pitfalls anyone involved in any business should avoid. Discrimination in the workplace is one such pitfall. Certain characteristics such as race, sex (and related matters such as orientation, identity, and pregnancy), age, religion, disability, and color are illegal to discriminate against. Even the appearance of discrimination can be enough to cause trouble. How can you avoid it?

Create Clear Policies

Everyone should be on the same page regarding avoiding workplace discrimination. One of the best ways to do that is to create clear policies that define rules and procedures surrounding workplace discrimination.

Employees must clearly understand that harassment and discriminatory behavior is completely unacceptable. Written policies are the best way to communicate that to employees since they aren’t as likely to be familiar with workplace antidiscrimination laws.

Be Careful What You Ask Employees

Concerns about discrimination can start even before your employees are working for you. From the time you begin an interview until whenever they leave your company, you must be careful about what you ask your employees. Asking about sexual orientation or marital status may be seen as discriminatory.

The same can be said for questions about age, children, and race. As a general rule, it’s best to keep conversations professional and stay away from personal matters when talking to employees so you can avoid even the appearance of discrimination.

Avoid Playing Favorites

It’s perfectly normal to have people on your team that you prefer to work with over others. That said, avoid playing favorites if you want to avoid the appearance of discrimination in the workplace. Make an effort to treat all your employees equally. Set up a system that allows you to track how you divide responsibilities amongst your team to keep things as even as possible. The same goes for any reward system you implement. Ideally, rewards should be merit-based, which may mean that some employees are rewarded more than others. That said, you can still build equality into your reward system by showing each employee appreciation for the work they do.

When it comes to workplace discrimination, it’s often better to be safe than sorry. Even the appearance of discrimination in the workplace should be avoided as much as possible by anyone in any sort of business leadership position. Remember, you can always consult with your business’s HR department for guidance to ensure that your behavior is beyond reproach regarding the appearance of discrimination in the workplace.

Check out this article on How to Avoid Burnout When Running a Business

Filed Under: Business