Truthfully, over the last year I’ve spent most of my spare time renovating and updating my new-to-me, old home.  Constantly busying around the house fixing things up, painting, buying furniture and art, the whole bit! (There’s a point to me telling you this…)

Feeling uninspired, I started to procrastinate and navigate some other blogs.  I quickly realized that besides not posting, my blog was generally out of date.  It looked stale compared to some of the cool sites I was checking out, had no pictures (sad, but true), and only a couple of widgets.

I started fiddling with the dashboard, modernized my theme, added photos, more tags, and some extra widgets…basically redecorating my site I thought….

Light-blub moment! I realized that I wasn’t only updating the look, but also some important and valuable content. Really, I was beginning to ‘redeco-right’ my site by making it a better experience for my readers and also for search engines.

I now understand how businesses can neglect their websites for so long without making important changes and updates.  It’s so easy to get caught up with day-to-day life and forget how quickly technology and the internet change around you.

A year later, after re-doing almost my whole house, take my advice and don’t be intimidated. It’s a big job and takes time, so start with one thing like the artwork and update/add some pictures!

If you haven’t done it in a while, it might be time to do some ‘redeco-righting’ to your website or blog!

- Aleya Suleman

Lately, everyone I seem to speak to is so interested in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), that they seem to forget the whole point!  The primary objective of search engines is to provide searchers with relevant results. Results that match as closely as possible to what the searcher is looking for.

It’s not possible to be well optimized if you are unclear on what keywords and phrases will drive quality leads to your business. Quality leads that will ultimately result in increased sales (last time I checked, most companies are in business to make money)!

The foundation of a solid online strategy has to be a comprehensive understanding of your client’s needs and search habits. It is important to note that this is not limited to website content, but any online presence you may have including Search Engine Marketing, Blogs, News etc…Basically, any digital content related to your business.

When you begin devising an online strategy there are some key questions you need to ask yourself. This is the time to put your green hat on and really brainstorm!

• What are clients looking for when they need my business? Get specific. Make a list of all the products, services and brands that you offer. Don’t forget about what differentiates you.
  
• What might clients type into the search box in an effort to find me? If a client wants a white watch, are they likely to look for ‘white watch’ or ‘jewelry store’? Search has changed, people look for what they want.
  
• What are some of the common requests I am asked for on the phone and in person? If a client calls a plumber, do they say ‘I need a plumber’ or ‘I need my toilet unclogged’? Think beyond the common business categories.
• Are my clients likely to use industry terms that I do? Is a client likely to look for ‘Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Insulation’ or ‘foam insulation’? Don’t forget about the layman.

There are lots of different ways to come up with the answers, but first you need to start asking the right questions!

So, question… How relevant are you for what your potential client is looking for?

- Aleya Suleman

These days daters are smart! They know despite what they hear about someone from a friend, or read about someone on a dating service…there is always more to the picture.  It all starts with the background check, research. Almost always today, there’s Googling and social media creeping. The point is to get as much information as you can, as quickly as you can before you meet, to see if the person is even worth the time.  In a busy week, there is limited time for dating, and it needs to be productive!

In the business world, employers often begin and end their initial hiring stage by just reviewing resumes. Resumes that paint the rosy picture, which is often not the accurate or complete picture.  Rarely do employers Google potential candidates, or review their social media profiles to learn more about the candidate before investing valuable and expensive resources to conduct an interview.

In dating, only after the research shows that there is potential does it make sense to proceed to a casual date – with no time commitment like a coffee or a walk. It is a waste of time and money to start with a full 5 course dinner date until you know that there is some kind of connection. In addition, the casual setting is also less stressful, reduces the pressure to behave in a particular manner and the conversation is usually more relaxed depicting more accurate personalities.  Only if the casual mini-date is successful would daters take it to the next step and go on one, or a couple real dates to see if there is relationship potential.  It has become a very streamlined, thorough and efficient process for finding true love.

Employers on the other hand, typically jump from resume review to a full interview without even screening the candidate first. They often spend a forced 30min-1.5hrs with someone without knowing if there is even a potential fit. Plus, interviews are often very formal, and interviewees don’t show their true personalities, strengths and weaknesses.  It would be wise for employers to spin off the ‘mini-date’ idea and have recruiter evenings, or short meet and greets to narrow candidates and see them in a more relaxed setting before holding formal interviews. Doing something like this would allow for quality over quantity and minimize an employer’s time commitment and resources, as well as enable true fit.

Next time you are interviewing – pretend you are dating.

- Aleya Suleman

As things begin to slow down ever-so-little, I’ve been reminded of the powerful things that come of taking, wait… MAKING the time to think.

For many of us, ‘Think Time’ is one of our most productive times in the work week. The quiet minutes you have to yourself looking blankly at the computer or out of the window. Even though it doesn’t look pretty (or should I say smart) it’s incredibly valuable.  These uncommon moments when you take a step away from from the day to day chaos and look at things from a different perspective, make all the difference! Not only do you feel slightly refreshed, but the days and weeks that follow have more clearly defined goals and objectives, go more smoothly and deliver better results.

In today’s world we schedule everything important back-to-back, with each getting the allotted time and attention it needs, yet we don’t schedule one of the most critical activities to our success – thinking!  Even if you don’t/can’t/won’t schedule it in, leave a little room…in case you need it.

I’ve been thinking…it’s time to start thinking!

- Aleya Suleman

Despite not wanting to register for another social media site, what caught my attention was the line, “High performers ask for feedback.” How true! Instantly, I was hooked. After providing my colleague with feedback, I quickly registered for an account and immediately asked my team what they thought of my weekly team meetings to date. What they liked, disliked, and what they would add or change.  Within an hour I had already received a few responses!

I really liked using this method because rather than asking people face to face, it gave them time to reflect before replying and allowed them to be more honest with their feedback.  What a fantastic way to get candid opinions!

So far I have only been a member for 11 hours and counting, but I was inspired to tell you because it reminded me how essential it is to ask others how you are doing in order to continually improve your performance.

Think it might be time for a Rypple in your pond?  Ask.

- Aleya Suleman

Today was the “Aha!” moment that reminded me of my intentions.

At 9am this morning, we had a large regional sales meeting to kick of the New Year (or more suitably, the New Decade) led by company executives.  The 2-hour meeting was completed with a 5 minute speech from three of our most successful salespeople on what they have done to become top performers in the organization.  As they spoke, their peers (ranging from brand-newbies to veterans) sat attentively and listened carefully to what these people had to say. Their stories were told honestly and with such conviction that the buzz could be felt around the room almost immediately.  Despite all the valuable information that was shared throughout the powerful and motivating meeting, what stood out the most were the words coming from those who do it every day.

The reasons why are the same as when I initially wrote them down, but all of a sudden they were reinforced. Lateral learning, learning from your peers who do it every day is extremely valuable.

• It’s practical vs. theoretical.  Not just some great idea someone has, but something that someone has done before, successfully.
• This lends it credibility.  It has worked for someone else, so it can work for you.
• There is less risk.  Someone else has taken the chance, and you can benefit from the results.
• It’s participative.  You can ask questions, contribute your thoughts and maximize your experience.

Certainly, learn from your managers, take courses, attend training sessions, self-educate…you can do it all, but don’t overlook the importance of lateral learning…and you can do it standing vertically!

- Aleya Suleman

Based on this simple definition, it is clear that organizations have a social class system which is arranged hierarchically into groups such as senior managers, middle managers, first line managers and regular staff.  As you move up the hierarchy, decision making abilities and access to desirable resources increase. These desirable resources in relation to career development are exposure, information sharing and connections to the right people.

In the past, these resources were not accessible to all employees which was a significant barrier that made advancement within an organization challenging.  With the rise of social media, exposure, access to information and good networks are no longer luxuries that are exclusive to the “upper class” in organizations.

Today, any employee now has access to online social media resources such as Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and several other communities that can be used to communicate thoughts and ideas increasing exposure, gain knowledge of an industry, competition, trends etc. and network with the right people.

Social media is helping to level the playing field and creates more opportunity for advancement in organizational social class.  Are you leveraging your social media resources for your career development?

- Aleya Suleman

One story I heard was that an architectural firm held a meeting with the usual decision makers, but also invited one representative from every area that would be impacted by the design, including the janitor who would clean the building. After the round table discussion a lot was learned from the janitor like how certain materials were hard to clean, impractical and lacking durability.  These types of non-traditional perspectives added considerable insight to the process, which allowed the architects to design a far superior structure than they had ever imagined.

What I have learned is that it is essential to get the perspective of everyone who is impacted by a decision you make in order to provide a solution that is considerably better than one you imagined yourself.

So next time you have an important decision to make, bring the janitor into the meeting!

- Aleya Suleman

According to Wikipedia, “Management in all business and human organization activity is simply the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives.”  Therefore, managing yourself is simply the act of getting yourself together to accomplish desired goals and objectives. HA! I guess it is that simple? It is not that simple, is it? How do you actually do it?

To manage yourself you have to think like a manager and act like a manager.

What does a manager do?

Effective managers take their desired goals and objectives and deliver results.  In order to achieve this, they create a plan, organize resources to implement the plan, measure results, communicate progress and make adjustments.

So, to manage yourself:

1. Outline your personal desired goals and objectives. Start by identifying a broad goal, then determine specific measurable objectives to reach it within a certain time frame.
2. Formalize your plan.  Write out a plan outlining exactly how you intend to achieve your goals & objectives.
3. Organize your resources. Assess what tools, people, etc. you have access to.  Determine what you need, and what you can do to get it.
4. Measure your results. Develop a structure to measure your results regularly to help you stay on track.
5. Communicate your progress. Share your experiences, successes and challenges.  Review what is working and what is not.
6. Adjust your plan.  Revise the plan where needed to ensure success.

Like with management in general, managing yourself fails when there is weakness in any of these areas.

Take control of your success and start managing yourself!

- Aleya Suleman

“So what” is a great tool to use when you are telling, but what about when you are listening? As we have all heard before, “telling is not selling”.  Sales has evolved over the years, it is no longer just pushing your products and services onto potential clients.  Today it is an interactive process which involves assessing needs and providing solutions.  It recently occurred to me that this shift requires “so what?” to be part of the whole conversation, not just the presentation.  As much as it is your responsibility to answer the question, it is now also your responsibility to ask it!

Next time you are listening to a client and you find yourself thinking “so what?”…  Ask! (Maybe not in so many few words.)

Reversing the method could help to:

• Clarify your understanding.
• Dig a little deeper.
• Emphasize important points.
• Get the client thinking about the solution.

So that’s what!

- Aleya Suleman