Many managers need to work on this important skill, which not only reduces your workload but also makes your team stronger. In order to leverage the diverse strengths of your team and allow them to share and shine, you need to delegate. Delegating, when done well, not only reduces your own workload, it develops your employees, gives you and your team a bigger range of skills and impact, provides emergency back-up (since you’re not the only one who knows how to do something), creates inclusive opportunities, empowers people, and retains talent. Read Full Story

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Starting an employee retirement plan is not too hard or expensive, even for small businesses. Plus, these programs offer tax advantages to both the employees and the company, which leave more money in everyone’s account. Offering such benefits is a great way to attract qualified candidates and gives your top talent a huge reason to stay. The sooner you start the better. First, I’ll walk you through the different types of employee retirement plans available. There are more than just 401(k) plans helping people save for post-career life, including some types that are specifically made for small businesses. Then we’ll take a look at what to consider as you decide on which provider you want to manage your employee retirement plan. There’s a little bit to know, sure, but …

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. HR is confusing. And the legal ramifications of doing something wrong… are huge. There’s a reason people spend their entire lives learning the ins and outs of human resources—there’s a lot to it. But the good news is that nobody expects you to know it all and you don’t have to navigate it alone. The best HR outsourcing services exist to make your life easier. However, there are a ton of service providers on the market. How do you decide which one’s right for you when they all appear to be exactly the same? To help answer that question, I looked at countless options and narrowed it down to my top six recommendations. And by the end of this guide, you’ll know everything you need to know to make …

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Companies exchange private information with clients and customers all the time. If even one document falls into the wrong hands, they could lose a great relationship in an instant. Everyone I work with uses document management software, and you should too. Once you get started, you’ll see that it gives you tons of advantages beyond security. Whether you are trying to go green, stay organized, build great looking newsletters, or meet the most stringent regulations, document management software can make a hard process much easier. The key is finding the right one for your specific needs. I’ve put together a list of my top five document management solutions—let’s talk about why they are valuable and how they can help. The Top 5 Options for Document Management Software DocSend – …

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Running an agile team effectively is nearly impossible without the right software. But agile project management tools can make your life much easier. It’s the best way to collaborate with your team, manage changing tasks, and keep track of various projects at scale. In addition to the managerial perks of agile project management software, your entire team will benefit as well. These tools will make it easier for everyone to work efficiently, communicate, and meet deadlines. Recognizing you need to invest in agile project management software is only half of the battle. Finding the right software for your business and team is a different story entirely—which is why I created this guide. After extensive research and testing, I narrowed down the top five agile project management tools available on …

No matter what industry you’re in, there’s always more work than time to do it. This means that there is always something lacking, always more work to be done, and new companies often fall behind their expectations and deadlines. One of the most insidious parts is that it leads to massive stress. According to business coach Michael Hyatt, 45% of entrepreneurs are stressed . So, what’s an overworked entrepreneur to do? There are plenty of answers, and not everyone works for every type of entrepreneur. But the answer more and more business owners are turning to is a simple one: outsourcing. Outsourcing is giving your work to someone else outside of your main business. That could be through freelancing, or by hiring another firm (like a call center) to handle segments of your business. You could even outsource by shipping a business process like manufacturing overseas. For most small business …

Posted by MiriamEllis The Internet can be a great connector, but sometimes, it acts as a barrier. Your local business receives a negative review, and the slate-colored words on the bland white screen can seem so cold, remote. You respond, but the whole interaction feels stilted, formal, devoid of face-to-face human feelings, like this: At least when a complaint occurs via phone, the tone of a customer’s voice tells you a bit more and you can strive to respond with an appropriate vocal pitch, further questions, soothing, helping, maybe resolving. Still, if you’re working off a formal script, the human connection can be missed: Image credit: News Oresund , Elvert Barnes It’s a win when a customer complains in person to your staff, but only if those employees have been empowered to use their own initiative to solve problems. Employees who’ve been tasked with face-to-face interactions but lack permission to …

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Collaboration software has become a must-have tool for businesses today. With teams scattered across different locations working remotely, these tools ensure that everyone can communicate and collaborate effectively. From simple check-ins and real-time status updates to ongoing project management, collaboration software can accommodate businesses of all shapes and sizes. Your organization can even use collaboration software to improve the way you work with clients, contractors, and stakeholders in your business. By leveraging collaboration tools, everyone will benefit from improved workflows and have greater access to crucial information. But in order to take advantage of these benefits, your first task will be finding the right collaboration software for your business—and there are a ton of options out there. To make your decision easier, use the buying guide and recommendations that …

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. The days of the paper punch cards and physical time clocks are fading in the rearview mirror. But time clock software isn’t just a less clunky alternative to the physical clock. It saves companies time by eliminating all the processing of individual cards. It makes managing remote workers and teams easier and more streamlined. It alleviates human error and prevents employees from attempting to game the system. And it makes running payroll a breeze since everyone’s info is all in the same place. When you’re ready to implement time clock software for your company, choosing the best one will be easy with our list of the top seven time clock software options. The Top 7 Time Clock Software Options Homebase – Best Free Software ClockInEasy – Simplest Solution TimeClockPlus …

Local search has exploded. Research from Think with Google, says local searches with the qualifier “near me” have grown by 150 percent faster than other local search queries. There’s been a 500 percent increase in “near me” mobile searches and a 900 percent increase in “near me today/tonight” searches. When you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Google introduced us to something they call “ micro moments .” They defined micro moments as “an intent-rich moment when a person turns to a device to act on a need — to know, go, do, or buy.” Businesses that rely on local SEO companies dominate these micro moments in the long run. Which company is best for your business? We’ll take a look at a few of the best Local SEO companies in the industry today. 6 of the Best Local SEO companies 1. NP Digital – Best for …