Published on: 06 December 2018
Last Updated on: 19 July 2019
Whether you call it a disaster plan or a crisis plan, every company and organization needs to have detailed plans in place on how to respond to a worst-case scenario. This should be a team effort, not the product of one individual. Here are some tips for handling the nightmare situations you hope never occur.
Create a Team:
This is the very first step. Whether creating a team is to develop a plan from its inception or to manage a crisis when it occurs, it should involve multiple people with a firm grasp of their individual responsibilities.
Brainstorm What-Ifs:
Effective crisis management means having a plan in place before the crisis actually occurs. For example, Pittsburgh is ranked as one of the worst cities in the country for car accidents. Developing a “what-if” plan there might involve including the name of a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer.
Write it Down:
Every detail should be spelled out. While there might be more extensive information for crisis team managers, every employee should be familiar with the plan, including having a copy of what they need to do…or not to do. Along with writing it down is remembering to update it as employee information and technology change.
Manage Communication:
There are internal and external components to consider. Communication lines to inform employees of what to do and where to go need to be clearly established. However, companies and organizations also have to know how they will manage the story that goes out to the public. For example, many school systems establish protocols that allow only a district public information officer or a building administrator to communicate to the media. Effective communication sometimes also means controlling what and when information is released.
Be Honest and Open:
In an age when everyone has a phone to record events and information can quickly go viral via the internet and social media, it’s important to be as candid as possible in handling any sort of crisis that has the potential to become a public relations nightmare. First and foremost, keep your own employees informed. Be proactive with social media by frequently updating whatever services you use.
Assess and Train:
Your plan needs constant re-evaluation to be effective. Once a crisis is past, the team should assess what happened and any changes that need to be made as a result. In the wake of a crisis and as new employees come on board, it’s important to conduct training and drills to everyone remains up to date on how to respond.
Having an effective crisis management plan in place can mean the difference between your company recovering from a reputation-damaging event such as an oil spill or a criminal investigation and sustaining a blow that affects your bottom line for years to come.
Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
Sailing across the open sea is a vivid dream for many. However, the steps to turn that dream into reality sometimes seem overwhelming. For most, this journey begins with finding the right marine dealership that offers comprehensive services, taking care of everything from finding the perfect boat to providing continuous support, maintenance, and upgrades. These essential aspects of a full-service marine dealership are vital in ensuring a hassle-free, smooth sailing experience. It's time to bring your dock decking vision to life with a partner passionate about going against the grain to offer cutting-edge solutions to all your problems.
The Complete Package: Understanding Full-Service Marine Dealerships
Comprehensive Services For All Your Needs
A full-service marine dealership provides all-encompassing services tailored to boat owners' diverse needs. These dealerships are one-stop shops where you can purchase new or pre-owned boats, access high-quality maintenance services, and find unique dock decking solutions that enhance your boat's aesthetic appeal and significantly increase its durability and lifespan.
Turning Your Dock Decking Vision Into A Reality
Go Beyond The Norm With Innovative Solutions
Your boat is a significant investment; you want it to last like any investment. This goes beyond just the boat's structure; it extends to the deck, one of the most utilised parts of any marine vessel. Decking not only contributes to the visual appeal of your boat but also its overall performance. Choose a decking material that withstands time and weather without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.
One material gaining popularity due to its resilience and innovative properties is 100% polypropylene. This material exceeds expectations regarding longevity, as it is immune to warping, bending, cracking, and splintering, issues commonly associated with wood or composite decking.
A Worry-Free Decking Choice
What sets 100% polypropylene apart is its "worry-free" promise. This decking material requires minimal upkeep, making it the ideal choice for those seeking to invest more time in enjoying their boating experience rather than maintaining it.
Furthermore, these boards are UV protected to minimise fading, a common issue with most other decking materials. This UV protection means that your deck retains its original colour even in the harshest sunlight, ensuring your boat remains as aesthetically appealing as the day you purchased it. These boards also don't have heat, making them comfortable for barefoot walking even on sunny days.
Weathering The Storms
Marine environments can be harsh, and storm surges significantly threaten your boat and dock. The 100% polypropylene boards come with a unique water flow-through design. This feature helps protect your port from damage dring storm surges and prevents water from pooling on the deck, providing a safer and cleaner surface.
With the smooth texture of the 100% polypropylene boards, you can walk barefoot on your deck without worrying about splinters or rough spots. This comfort, coupled with their resilience, makes these boards the perfect choice for any boat owner.
Riding The Wave Of Innovation
More Than Just A Product
An in-tune marine dealership doesn't just provide products; it offers solutions. The journey towards being a boat owner is exciting, filled with many decisions and considerations. A reliable dealership understands this and provides guidance every step of the way, helping navigate these choices and offering innovative, problem-solving products that genuinely meet your needs.
Pioneering The Future
The boating industry continuously evolves, introducing new technologies and materials regularly. Staying ahead of these developments and integrating them into the services provided is a hallmark of a forward-thinking marine dealership. Using 100% polypropylene for dock decking is an innovative solution that enhances the boating experience and contributes to sustainability by providing a durable, long-lasting product.
Conclusion
As previously discussed, embarking on your transformative journey with a full-service marine dealership is like setting sail towards an endless ocean of possibilities and the promise of success and selecting a partner who understands your aspirations and requirements as the winds behind your sails guide your every move forward.
Full-service marine dealerships provide invaluable support, meticulously catering to your needs, from expert advice for selecting the ideal vessel to top-tier maintenance and repair services; they ensure your boating experience runs smoothly and efficiently without unnecessary concerns or headaches. With their unwavering commitment to excellence, you can confidently navigate the waters, knowing you have a trusted partner.
A major component of running a business successfully -any business- is being able to have all your information integrated. At MCA Connect we have the ability to intertwine both your CRM and ERP needs seamlessly.
Every business has 2 sides. You have the customer base side and you have your employee sides. Both of these sides are vital to your business success and both sides have unique needs. It is crucial for business owners to understand the needs of both sides. The owners can work with technology experts on how best to combine those two, ensuring that all needs are being met.
Let’s take a look at each aspect and how it affects your business:
ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning, is a vital component of your business’ operations. To run ERP successfully you will need to implement this software within your company. ERP software will help manage sales and marketing, human resources, accounting, manufacturing, order management, and distribution.
Using ERP software effectively will help your company with product and purchase planning, manufacturing and delivery planning, inventory management, shipping and payment, supply chain management, accounting, marketing and sales, and customer relationship management. An ERP system can be comprised of a single suite of software or multiple software applications that can be integrated with each other.
CRM stands for Customer Relations Management. This type of software is used to assist the customer-based side of your business. This software will help your business to keep track of customers and their purchasing patterns, identify business opportunities and new sales leads, streamline the sales process and reduce paperwork, automate the marketing process, manage social media, and facilitate support for current customers. You can purchase different software to handle all of these applications, but there are some all-inclusive software options available.
So how do both of these functions work together?
Both ERP and CRM systems will help your sales force automation and marketing automation. There is where the overlap ends. If you are using an ERP system that you like, then you can just integrate a CRM system.
If your business is growing or you just need to revamp your current system, then it is recommended that you upgrade your ERP. Once you have your updated system in place, you can add in CRM components to best fit your company’s needs.
Using a combination of both ERP and CRM systems will streamline your business and be a positive change for your company. By using both technology systems, you are integrating both sides of your business. A good combination system will allow you to be up to date with your manufacturers and suppliers and to have up to the minute info on orders and deliveries. Your company will also be able to accurately and quickly answer questions from customers and manage their needs. And everyone in your company will be using the same technology and will have access to all up to date information.
This combined CRM and ERP technology will assist your company seamlessly and help it to continue to grow and be successful.
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Cold Calling Script For Successful Sales Persons
It’s the end of your first day. You’ve completed a plethora of online applications, psychometric tests, digital interviews and hopped through all manner of recruitment rings of fire – and you’ve landed the job of your dreams. Or so you thought… But do you know what are the ways to prepare a new employee?
You arrived at your fancy new office, but there was no one to greet you. After waiting near an hour, your co-worker-to-be apologized and took you to your desk, only to find it hadn’t been cleared. Grimacing that your equipment hadn’t been set up, your ‘guide’ spun you around the office’s sea of blank faces. Did they even know you were starting? The awkward acclimations were interrupted by an irritated-looking administrator who lugged a thick binder of forms to fill in. You missed lunch with the gang.
After finally navigating through all the red tape, the person you were meant to shadow was never notified so you were given menial tasks to pass the time, while they were in an important meeting with a client. You stared at the clock, waiting, waiting, waiting.
With the day over, you’re just sad you didn’t get out sooner. Wait – is this really your dream job?
New hires expect and need their onboarding to run smoothly. The above scenario sounds like an exaggerated horror story, but in a survey, Cezanne HR asked new employees about their onboarding experiences and was shocked to find:
52% didn’t know what to expect on their first day
30% didn’t have a buddy
8% didn’t meet their managers
23% didn’t have a desk ready
6% didn’t get told about health and safety regulations
5% didn’t have data security training
6 didn’t have a laptop or computer.
Great onboarding is extremely important. It increases retention and reduces staffing costs. It delivers an engaging experience for new hires, so they connect with the organization and colleagues from the moment they’re given the offer. Also. it should turn first-day new employee anxiety into genuine excitement. It should make them feel prepared for the new job and welcome!
Of course, no one said it’s an easy process, and orchestrating the activities to get onboarding right is time-consuming for everyone. In addition, the burdens of paper-based systems or dancing between data spreadsheets, such as Excel, allow important processes to slip through the cracks – which shouldn’t happen in a modern workplace. However, with the right HR software, you can make new employee onboarding engaging and straightforward, while automating and streamlining the admin involved in bringing on new hires.
Here are the ways to prepare a new employee:
Stay in touch after the job offer
It’s very important for a new employee to engage with employers from the moment they’re hired. This can go beyond a simple email. Make sure you consider the following:
Welcome portals are a very common feature in HR software because they do precisely that: they welcome people. Welcome portals act as an information hub and enable constant communication. They are a platform to share all essential details, including the new hire’s start date, office location, and contact details. It’s also a great way to prepare the new hire by letting them know how their first day will be structured and what their first projects will be.
Make sure you send your new hire links to any documents they need. Provide them with essential advice including what they should bring with them on the first day or week, including items like their passport, P45, national insurance number and other relevant work documents. You could use your HR software system’s welcome portal to deliver this information and advice.
Get the paperwork out of the way in advance of the first day. Signing a lot of forms can delay more pressing tasks, such as the relevant introductions, training, and the new hire’s first projects. HR software can be especially effective here. Instead of wasting time filling out form after form, new hires can sign documents electronically. It streamlines admin processes and makes everything available in one place – and it can all be done before the starting date.
Making use of welcome portals and their visual content is a powerful way of engaging with new hires and allows companies to add photos and embed company videos – it might be a hello from a CEO, or a video demonstrating the company’s culture, or brand values and goals. Portals can also allow new hires to self-serve, adding a profile, information, bank details and the like.
Moreover, all information you collect should flow straight through to your HR system. Cloud HR solutions should come with onboarding modules that are simple to set up and accessible 24/7. Storing information in one place also cuts back on the task of re-entering the same data into multiple systems.
Prepare the desk
When your new hire’s first day comes, ensure you’ve got a plan:
assign someone to receive and greet them at the door
put in an order with IT and prepare all the relevant equipment: a computer, phone, email, and network access, and office supplies
moreover, ensure security and compliance policies are explained as appropriate.
Spread the duties for onboarding tasks across different departments. For example, the IT department might be responsible for setting up the new hire’s laptop and email; the finance team might organize payroll, and the line manager will arrange inductions as well as check-in meetings. HR software’s task management systems can help significantly here.
HR software makes it much easier for these departments to fully understand their roles in the onboarding process. Task managers and checklists make use of notifications, meaning important processes don’t get forgotten about. It gives an overview of what’s been done and what needs doing.
Involve your employees
Send the first-day welcome announcement to the organization and share the news of the new hire with the team. Give their name, title, and something that distinguishes them: it might be a hobby or interest, for instance. This allows current employees to easily see if they have anything in common, making everyone more prepared for the big day. Moreover, give your current employees details of the new hire’s background, making sure the new employee’s biggest strengths are acknowledged.
Find a peer and assign them to mentor/buddy the new hire. This will help the new hire to get settled and to be comfortable enough to ask any questions that are on their mind. This also helps build relationships with the team, integrating the new employee into the company significantly faster.
Also, consider explaining who’s who – HR software can create a staff directory mapping this for you. This will help your new hire to familiarise themselves with their co-workers and assists them in directing their queries to the right people from the right departments, so they don’t feel like they’re barraging their mentor with questions.
Planning welcome social help breaks the ice, too – and not just between the company and the new hire. From team lunches to company happy hours, both new hires and current employees can benefit from getting to know each other in a more open and casual environment, building stronger relationships and channels for collaboration.
Establish a formal training program
The importance of setting a clear and comprehensive training program can’t be overstated. Doing so helps prepare and motivate the new hire for the first day and sets a precedent for the weeks and months ahead as they approach their new projects. Such a structured program does much to ease their potential short- and longer-term worries. Indeed, the HR portal assists here, too. By being able to provide access to important training documents, setting out a comprehensive program schedule through calendars, and by making use of notifications to make clear to current employees what is expected of them in the onboarding process and when. On top of this, it’s an effective and simple way for new hires to view set assignments and tasks, as well as their own schedules.
Check-ins
Check-ins are a series of regular discussions between managers and employees about their progress. They are:
ongoing and build a rapport, setting short and long-term goals
an extremely effective way of ensuring employees are continuously aware of their professional development within the company, allowing them to express any concerns and ask questions, and
they form a crucial part of the onboarding process.
At the end of the first week, give the new hire the opportunity to ask any outstanding questions. This helps demonstrate your enthusiasm towards the employee’s start beyond just the first day and will help set a clear and lasting relationship between the new hire and the company.
HR software can make continuous performance reviews and check-ins an integral part of company culture. Cezanne HR, for instance, provides a seamless and engaging way of recording conversations, achievements and agreed goals or outcomes, so it’s easier to ensure everyone is aligned.
The right HR systems are equipped with performance management functions that allow employees to make use of their flexibility and to collaborate in an online forum where others can easily and securely request feedback, record check-in conversations, and track outcomes.
Poor onboarding is a wasted opportunity
The benefits of great onboarding are infinite. It reduces unnecessary barriers that might otherwise inhibit the new employee from settling in or performing at their best. It gets new hires up to speed swiftly and immerses them in the company’s values, vision, and culture.
Furthermore, great onboarding protects your new investment. A robust, systematic onboarding process boosts new hire retention by 50%, and new hires that experienced strong onboarding are 58% more likely to stay with the company for more than three years.
Why would you waste all your efforts with a dissatisfactory onboarding process?
Onboarding can be the difference between a quick and costly new employee turnover, and a long and lasting productive relationship.
Above are just some of the boxes to tick to ensure an engaging onboarding experience. Do you have any more? Let us know!
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