Social relationship succession planning refers to the process of introducing successors to the professional contacts of individuals who are retiring from the organisation. Social relationships are crucial for preserving contacts between the organisation and its customers, suppliers and other 3rd party vendors whom the organisation work with for business success. If companies do not make the effort to pass on these relationships, business and productivity may suffer. Here are

Good managers make employees feel like they are partners in business rather than hired help. When people feel like they are stakeholders of a business, they will look out for it and ensure that they produce better results to sustain it. Here are 3 ways to make employees feel like they are part of the business:   Show them how the business is run Help your employees to understand how your business works. Educate them about the company’s history, highlight the company’s vision,

Social networking sites are a good way of reaching out, making contact, sharing experiences and offering support for working professionals. Here are some ways to harness social media for networking: 1. LinkedIn is one of the most popular business networking site. Rather than typing out a detailed resume on your profile, summarise the highlights of your career. List down specifics that differentiates you from others. For instance, replace “A project manager with 8 years of exp

The majority of us display features from both personality types - extrovert or introvert - but for many, one of the character traits is dominant. Here are some networking tips for both personality types: Extroverts: Many non-extroverts view extroverts as intimidating with their larger than life personas at events. Hence it is important not to intimidate others at first sight or overstep their limits. Be careful not to end up acting like an entertainer rather than a networker.

Everyone has emotional needs and it is necessary to recognise them when we interact with our co-workers. Here are 3 ways to recognise the emotional needs of others: 1. Identifying emotional cues Anger, sadness, fear, envy and guilt are some of the emotional cues to look out for when you communicate with others at the workplace. You will need to correctly identify these cues with the types of behaviour and actions demonstrated by the other party. 2. Observing body language Rea

Having a purpose in life, desiring job security and having a sense of autonomy and control are some examples of emotional needs. Different people have different emotional needs. Here are 5 ways to empathise and respond to the emotional needs of others. 1. Clarifying by being tactful and sensitive When you do not understand something, be sure to clarify in a tactful and sensitive manner. You do not want to make the other person feel as if you are interrogating him/her. 2. Use

When you are newly promoted, it doesn’t mean that everyone in your organisation knows about it. Rather than rely on the email memorandum from human resources department, take this chance to raise your visibility by networking actively in the following ways: 1. Join cross departmental teams Working with other departments can bring you new perspectives and allow you to gain new skills along the way. It is also a good way to get to know your colleagues from the other departments

“The grass is greener on the other side”. While many of us may consider changing jobs at one point or another in our career, it is wise to first think about the reasons you are leaving your current job and evaluate if it is a good move to jump ship. Here are 5 questions to consider when deciding your next career move. These are bad reasons for leaving: You dislike your boss “People leave managers, not companies”, yet this could be a bad reason for wanting to leave. No boss is

Interviews are a critical part of recruiting new employees. While the content of the interview is important, opening and closing the interview are also important aspects of the recruitment process. Opening interviews Welcome interviewees with a warm smile and a firm handshake. Introduce yourself and the rest of the interview panel. Begin the interview by describing the agenda and letting the interviewee know how much time you expect the session to run. “First, we would like t

Nothing highlights an individual’s achievement more than a promotion at work. Here are 5 tips for you to climb up the corporate ladder and make your way to upper management. 1. Be enthusiastic.  Display your commitment and excitement for the company cause. When you are passionate about your work, your boss will notice the efforts and energy you have put in. He may likely consider having you in another position where your energy can inspire others to perform. 2. Network.  The

Effective public speaking depends on your preparation, projecting positive body language, grabbing your audience’s attention, making your speech interesting and ending the speech on a good note. Step 1: Prepare Profile your audience: What background or experience do they have? What questions will they ask? Keep your speech in point forms, rather than write it out word for word. Use the points to guide you in your speech rather than speaking stiffly. Step 2: Grab your audience

In celebration of International Women's Day, we interviewed 4 amazing women who inspire us with their success stories. In this post, we sat down with Elizabeth Wu, one of the co-founders of Trehaus to find out about her career, her family and how she finds the perfect balance between the two.      Elizabeth Wu Co-founder of Trehaus, Entrepreneur, Mom to the Kao Kids, Education Enthusiast, Wordsmith Describe your typical day. EW: If it is a school-going day, 5.50am I'm up, bec

What does it take for a woman to be successful in business?  Research has shown that women have the capacity to be leaders and contribute to success and profitability of businesses. For a time, it seemed that women had established an unstoppable momentum and were moving up the ranks with alacrity. But in the last few years, women’s progress has slowed. Even though we have witnessed the value of females’ contribution to the workforce, this upward movement is not matching the

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. As the new year approaches, many of us start reflecting on what we have achieved for the past year and prepare a list of New Year’s resolutions hoping that a fresh start of the year will provide the motivation for us to be a better person. While losing weight and quitting smoking are personal goals, managers should strive to incorporate some of these resolutions and become better managers. 3 out of 4 employees report their boss is the wo