Have you noticed that your electricity bill has been going up in recent years with no sign of stopping? Did you know that you can take small steps to lower your monthly bill and improve the energy efficiency in your living and work space?[1] Conserving energy is one small way you can help not only your wallet, but the environment as well. We have put together some simple and effective changes you can make to conserve electricity every day. Conserving energy at home: Prioritize using natural light, especially during the day. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Make it a habit to turn off lights...

Employee Perspective Have you ever walked into your first day at your new job and felt so comfortable you didn’t feel the novelty of the ‘newness’ of your surroundings? Have you ever felt the exact opposite and almost alienated from the environment? The truth is that not all organizations have welcoming and efficient employee onboarding. This affects both the employees and the employer in many ways. Many employers are responsible for setting up effective onboarding but don’t realize its significance to employees’ success within the organization. From the moment you walk through the door, an effective onboarding process can make all the difference. It’s not just about filling...

You have something to say, and you have put great consideration into just what information to include, which words to wield, and the audience you are approaching. But have you thought about which communication mediums will deliver your message most effectively? This choice can seem obvious or even arbitrary, but the way people receive information can be more impactful than the information itself. Canadian communication theorist and the father of media studies Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase “The medium is the message”[1], highlighting the importance of how we relay information. The same message delivered through different communication mediums can have a vastly different impact. For example, breaking up...

Our technology and securities are continually improving, but so are hackers and their malicious software. The standard practice of choosing strong passwords, while important, is not enough anymore. Take a moment to consider the digital accounts that you commonly access. You will likely notice a trend across these platforms now requiring multiple steps to verify who is trying to login to the account. Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is a process using two or more credentials in combination to verify a user’s identity. These credentials will fall into three categories: Something you know: like a password, passphrase, or PIN Something you have: like a security token or security code Something...

Providing excellent customer service is part of what makes your business great.  You know how important your customers are, but did you know that creating better experience for your customers starts with creating a better experience for your employees? You can apply customer service fundamentals to internal employee interactions to better support your workforce. This can boost employee satisfaction, increase productivity, streamline processes, reduce acquisition costs, and improve external customer service. Here is how you can make internal customer service work for you and your team: Foster an Environment of Mutual Accountability At its core, exceptional customer service is about building trust. Just as your customers trust you...

As part of Canada's 2024 Federal Budget, the Canada Carbon Rebate has been expanded for small businesses. The program is not yet in full swing, as the government is waiting on key information from the Minister of Finance. Coming Soon At the time of posting this blog, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has stated: They can only calculate your estimated rebate after the payment rates have been set by the Minister of Finance. As a result, they also cannot confirm a specific distribution date at this time. Curious if there have been any updates? Check out CRA's webpage for Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses - Canada.ca. What We...

Computer based work is typically categorized as low risk in terms of work-related injuries or illness. That being said, repetitive strain injuries are an example of an injury more commonly attributed to this kind of work. This risk of repetitive strain injures becomes even higher when computer work is performed in an awkward body position for prolonged periods. You can help prevent these injuries by utilizing basic ergonomic tools. As an employer, you can provide employees with something as simple as ergonomic self-assessment worksheets for posture and body position, or as complex as professional assessments and specialized equipment. What about employees who work from home? We know that...

Welcome to 2024!  So, what is the action plan for this New Year? Why not start the year off with a bang? It’s a new year, the time to review upcoming prospects that were waiting to potentially come on board.  Why not get those meetings finally confirmed and start moving forward with these new and exciting prospects! Potential clients are looking to get things right this year. It’s a great time to review how you can be of service. Ensure to talk around the areas that have been a struggle during the previous years and this will be a great time to review what their objective is for...

 “Where are you at today for annual set goals?”  A question to ask yourself in order to set the plan in motion for the fourth quarter.  What will be some of the challenges heading into the fourth quarter? Finally, you will need to find creative ways to not get distracted by people taking vacations and encouraging these key prospects to speak with you. As you sit down and review your targets don’t forget about the most important aspect, how will you be able to execute?  What plan do you have in motion to move you closer to your goals, execute and close your sale? People can get lost...

Relationship Marketing is all about cultivating lasting connections with your customers. Instead of chasing one-time sales, it’s about building trust and loyalty through exceptional experience and personalized service. Let’s dive into the importance of focusing on Relationship Marketing Internally, so we can continue to drive value for customers externally. Let’s explore the importance of treating your employees as internal customers. Your employees are the backbone of your organization, with that being said, here are some ways an employee can continue to succeed: Satisfaction: A happy team is your secret ingredient to success. Motivation: Inspired employees bring that extra sparkle to both your inside, and outside connections. Involvement: When...