Could You Become A Better Manager?

To improve your management skills, focus on the following core areas of your practice:

Share your Vision

Is your business a one-man show or do your colleagues input into the strategic development? As a manager you can lay down the law but employees who have signed up to your vision are more likely to focus on outcomes in their work. Empower your team to be part of a shared ethos; sometimes it’s about making them believe they have contributed even if the direction is the same as if you had driven it alone.

Know your team

As a manager you should know exactly what each team member’s role entails and how they well they perform their duties (regular appraisal with achievable targets is essential especially if this is linked to pay increases or bonuses). If obstacles occur which will prevent a colleague from being able to fulfil their role then you must know how you will overcome those obstacles so that he can discharge his duties effectively.

Knowing your staff also means understanding their skills and experiences and how you can use these to the benefit of the organisation. Employees become disenchanted if they feel their talents are being wasted; equally, they appreciate the opportunity to venture into new territory. As a manager you have to strike a fine balance between deploying people according to their abilities and enabling them to learn new skills for their professional development.

Trust your Team

Micromanaging your team constantly is a waste of your time and devalues their role. Managers who trust their employees help to facilitate a positive ethos in which everyone understands their role and feels entrusted to do the job to the best of their ability. Team members who recognise they are trusted are more likely to go the extra mile, to take on new responsibilities and to demonstrate a more innovative approach to their work.

Remember that if a problem occurs within your team, such as a target not being met or a project failing, it is not necessarily one person’s fault. The let’s-find-someone-to-blame culture of The Apprentice is not a good example of effective people management.

Remember they are People

Do you give enough consideration to the fact your team members have personal lives? Difficulties occur in everyone’s life from time-to-time which can have an impact on productivity. Your company may have targets to achieve or deadlines to meet but this has to be balanced with supporting your colleagues in difficult times. An unhappy employee is an unproductive one, so find solutions together such as flexible working, paid leave or support from occupational health.

Say ‘Thank You’

It’s as simple as that. Take the time to let your team know they are valued and you recognise and appreciate their hard work.

Oregon Commercial Real Estate

Real estate is broadly categorized into two types. This includes residential and commercial real estate. As the name suggests, the latter revolves around sale and lease of property that is intended for use in trade and business. This includes a wide range of business opportunities including shopping malls, gas stations, car parks and office buildings. The Oregon commercial real estate market is huge and encompasses innumerable viable plots and property.

Oregon commercial real estate could refer to an empty plot of land, a building, a store or multiple shops, or even a park. The instant any property is to be used for a business purpose, it is categorized as commercial real estate. Oregon commercial real estate includes land, as well as anything that is permanently built or fixed onto it. These fixtures include nursing homes, buildings and fences. They also refer to pipes, plumbing, heating devices and light fixtures that are inbuilt or fixed on the exterior of a building. Commercial real estate can be purchased, sold or rented as required. Such commitments prove to be profitable for real estate agents who deal in them. Since commercial real estate deals with profitability in the long run, entrepreneurs do no rush into such commitments. It is important to find an Oregon commercial real estate property that is feasible and can help increase trade.

Price points for Oregon commercial real estate depend upon their location. Areas that are established as "commercially profitable" are categorized within higher price brackets, as compared to others located in developing areas. Their rates are calculated differently from residential real estate. A number of Oregon real estate listing companies have dedicated commercial real estate databases that are easy to access and designed to help clients find a viable property in a short time. Before finalizing an Oregon commercial real estate deal, it is important to ensure the property is not blacklisted and all fixtures within it are in compliance with state regulations.

How to Choose an Insurance Agent

Do You Need An Insurance Agent?

I talk a lot about how great the internet is for finding insurance. You can find company financial ratings, customer satisfaction ratings, and even websites that list complaints.

You can also learn about different types of policies you may want to purchase. For example, you may know you want to buy life insurance, but you do not know if you should purchase term life, whole life, or universal life. Getting these types of policies explained can help you make a good decision.

And finally, you can find online insurance quotes from many companies. Some insurers will allow you to get quotes for their rates, but some quote forms even allow you to compare multiple premiums from different companies.

All of this is convenient, and it can save you a lot of time. But the truth is, many consumers want to sit down with an experienced insurance professional before they make a final decision. I think this is great. You may learn a lot online, but an agent who has a lot of experience with his or her products can bring up some things you may not find online because you did not even know to look for them!

How To Find Good Insurance Agents

Of course, some agents will be more motivated by sales goals than by selling customers the best policy. In my experience, though, agents that stay in business a long time do so because they want to keep their clients, and they want to get that client to refer their friends.

• This is not always true, but in general you should be wary of any agent that seems very focused on one product. Make sure that he or she listens to you first. You can explain your concerns, and your unique situation. After that, your agent should make suggestions about the types and amounts of coverage you need. In fact, some agents will want to set two appointments with you. On the first appointment, they may interview you, and then come back to suggest products after they have done some careful research and analysis. This will not always be true, but if your agent wants to set a second appointment, you will probably do better by giving that professional time to give you carefully thought out answers. Sometimes you can do the first step over the phone or through email, and then just meet in person for the second step.
• Start off with online quote forms to check rates. Most of the time, they will also give you contact information for local agents. This can be a quick and easy way to narrow down your search so you do not have to speak with multiple people.
• You may want to ask your friends and family which companies or agents they use. The right company or policy for the family next door or your aunt may not always be the right choice for you. But if they like their policy enough to tell you about it, that is a good sign!

Get The Best Insurance Policy For You

You do not want to buy insurance to please anybody but yourself. Make sure you are purchasing your policy because it is the right thing to do, and not because you feel pressure from a good sales person. A good agent should be happy to work with you, and they should not be concerned that you have a lot of questions about prior research you have done on your own.