Following on from our last post on traditional networking, today’s blog explores the topic of online networking, which, when utilized correctly, can lead to valuable business contacts. If you feel that you are still a ‘newbie’ to online networking, read on and be energised to start today! 

Where do you start? You may want to start with one or two social media channels or select a combination of social media channels:

Four digital networking options: 

1.Blogs: These can be accessed and read by customers and other industry professionals.  Blogs are interactive and will enable you to identify potential business customers or contacts by: 

a) Developing your own blog: Post regular stories or content from your website. Alternatively, post a topic of interest or a thought provoking idea to stimulate discussion and interaction.

With new technologies contributing towards an ever increasing pace of life, stress in the workplace is constantly on the rise.  This is perhaps why a new trend known as “mindfulness” is now gaining popularity in major corporations such as Google, Apple, Nike and Target. 

In the article below, mindfulness is described as deliberately taking the time to slow down and focus on the reality of what’s happening in the moment.  Studies have proven that this approach actually does help to reduce stress, improve productivity and happiness in general. 

It’s no surprise that digital communication in all its forms is beginning to impact society in a negative way – time spent communicating online is time away from the real world and possibly also the chance to engage in more personal and meaningful interactions. And the fact that most digital platforms are also mobile only makes matters worse. It raises the question whether there should perhaps be an active drive towards spending as much time away from e-mail and social media sites as possible. Perhaps even switching your mobile devise off when possible and genuinely taking the time to appreciate the simpler aspects of life.

How can employers establish stronger relationships with their employees? This was the question posed in an article recently published by Entrepreneur. While vision and drive are vital leadership qualities for any ambitious entrepreneur, truly successful leadership also relies heavily on the development of healthy relationships with your employees. If these don’t succeed, neither will your business.     

In his article, What it Takes To Be a Boss Every Employee Loves, Mark Sanborn makes four basic suggestions for employers hoping to improve the relational aspect of their work environment.  

1. The first involves the way in which you view and consequently treat your employees. This can mean the difference between making someone feel like they work for you instead of letting them know they work with you.  It all comes down to reciprocity and how you can help one another to achieve your goals.

As the pace of life continues to increase so do our stress levels, and while the reality is that high stress in the work environment is always going to exist, we need to find effective ways of dealing with it if we are going to live healthy, happy lives.

In her article, 3 Common Stressful Work Situations - and How to fix Them, Maggie Parker reveals that work is the primary cause of most of our stress. Indeed, 70 percent of Americans state this as the case. The article provides comment from MD David Posen who believes that the most effective way to combat stress is to deal with it head on. To illustrate his point, he describes three highly common workplace challenges and provides helpful tips on how to approach them. 

1.Tight deadlines

Don’t wait until you’re about to blow your deadline to institute damage control. If you’re facing an unrealistic deadline, rather let your boss know the timeline isn’t viable from the get go. If the impossibility of making your deadline sneaks up on you, speak up as soon as it becomes evident.