Ropella

Which Is the Right Fit for My Business - Full Time or Temporary?

Posted: 06/07/2012  Category: Assessing, Transformation, Organizational Improvement, General Management, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

Should I hire full-time staff or temporary employees?

Unnecessary hires can costs thousands of dollars.  At the same time, profitable opportunities often require staff increases to complete the job.  Use these tips to decide whether permanent or temporary staffing is your best solution:

• Take note of how often deadlines are missed.  If the answer is daily or weekly, a permanent hire might be necessary to meet commitments.
• Keep temporary employees temporary. Consider permanent positions if temporary employees are continually hired for the same job or stay on board beyond six months.
• Monitor overtime costs.  A significant increase in overtime cost is a cue to bring in permanent talent.
• Evaluate the learning curve.  Permanent hires reduce the lag in productivity that results each time a contract staffer is brought in to do work.

How Do I Manage Work Stress?

Posted: 06/07/2012  Category: Transformation, Organizational Improvement, General Management, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

Sometimes I find work to be very stressful and find myself getting upset and frustrated.  Do you have any advice on how to manage work stress?

When you become frustrated, angry, or upset, you are exhibiting an innate Fight or Flight Response.  The response was designed to protect you from bodily harm, but concentration is difficult when you are stuck in this survival mode.  Regain a focused, relaxed, positive attitude in three easy steps:

1. Acknowledge that you are in survival mode. When you become conscious of the state you are in, you have an easier time getting out of it.
2. Actively elicit a relaxation response. Use exercise, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga to calm yourself.
3. Find a new perspective. Think about your best outcome, action steps, or helpful qualities to diffuse the situation.

How to Recruit a Superstar Candidate

Posted: 06/07/2012  Category: Sourcing, Recruiting, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

How do I recruit a successful, well-educated, highly desirable individual who is satisfied in their current job?

Build a strong relationship with prospective candidates from the beginning.  It is easier to recruit, interview, negotiate and close an offer when a strong relationship exists between you, your company and the candidate.

• Before the Interview: Send introductory information including a welcome letter, position description, annual report and corporate brochures to the candidate.
• During the Interview: Do your best to “sell” the company to the candidate and give them time to “sell” themselves to you.
• After the Interview:  Continue courting the candidate.  Invite the spouse to visit the community, offer tickets to a community event, or take the candidate and spouse out to dinner to talk about next steps.

How To Eradicate Stress

Posted: 06/05/2012  Category: Retention, Transformation, Organizational Improvement, General Management, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

How do I eradicate negative stress for my team?

Stress in and of itself is not an entirely bad thing. Some types of stress actually help drive performance and result in extraordinary accomplishments. The problem occurs when stress becomes excessive.  Use these tools to identify root causes of pressure and eliminate unhealthy stress:

• Help employees manage excessive workloads.  Provide incentives, encouragement, and training to avoid burnout.
• Communicate thoroughly, ask for input, and use candid conversation to reduce fear and uncertainty.
• Provide flexibility for employees to design their schedules to fit their personal lives.
• Present change in terms of the opportunities and benefits it affords.
• Address concerns, seek improvements, and provide feedback to help diffuse speculation and negative energy.

How Do I Best Market Myself?

Posted: 05/15/2012  Category: Marketing, Career Transition, Video, Candidate FAQs, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

How do I best market myself?

How to Ensure Peak Productivity

Posted: 05/01/2012  Category: Training, Organizational Improvement, General Management,   ShareThis Article

We are ramping up for an eventful year and I want to help my employees prepare. Is there anything I can do to ensure they perform at their peak?

Achieving peak performance means becoming mentally fit.  Make sure your employees are ready for the challenge by preparing them mentally, just as you would prepare them physically if you were training them for a marathon.  Encourage them to exercise the following traits:

• Maintain exceptional concentration. Peak performers’ focus on what they want to happen, not what they are afraid will happen.
• Remain relaxed despite outside factors. High achievers quickly recover their balance in the face of stressful circumstances.
• Learn quickly. Top performers welcome feedback and integrate it rather than getting defensive.
• Make goals that include personal value. Greater fulfillment is obtained by people who choose clear, inspiring, and personally meaningful objectives.

How to Deal with Tough Interview Questions

Posted: 03/20/2012  Category: Career Transition, Video, Candidate FAQs, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

How do I deal with those tough interview questions?

Need Passion in Your Job?

Posted: 03/06/2012  Category: Transformation, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

For the most part, I enjoy my job.  But, sometimes I need an extra push to get inspired.  How should I explain this need to my boss?

A current trend in the workplace is to find a higher meaning than a paycheck. Not everyone can be a firefighter or find the cure for cancer, but you can uncover your drive.  Tap into your source of motivation by finding creative ways to incorporate your passions with your work:

• Participate in brainstorming sessions
• Volunteer for projects
• Head committees
• Attend continuing education and training classes
• Challenge yourself and your coworkers

How Do I Motivate Employees Across the Board?

Posted: 02/28/2012  Category: Retention, Transformation, General Management, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

I have a very diverse staff, but want to keep everyone motivated.  Do you have any tips for motivating employees across the board?

Developing one plan to positively impact all employees can seem like an impossible task. Some employees are inspired by accomplishing meaningful tasks, while others are fueled by a sense of stability and belonging. Here are five universal motivation tips to foster motivated employees:

• Communicate openly, honestly, and often. Solicit ideas, ask for input, and compromise between what is beneficial for your employees and your bottom line.
• Set clear expectations.  Monitor the amount of responsibility given to each person and be careful not to overload anyone.
• Fuel their passion. Encourage people to share their ideas, challenge each other, and brainstorm.
• Break down the barriers. Be careful not to stifle creative license and independence with too many rules, policies, or micromanaging.
• Reward and Recognize. Don’t overlook the benefits of some good old-fashioned recognition and genuine appreciation.

What Should I Wear to an Interview?

Posted: 01/17/2012  Category: Career Transition, Video, Candidate FAQs, Ropella Answers,   ShareThis Article

What Should I Wear to an Interview?