Must-Have Accessories For The Modern Businessman

20 June 2019

The tech revolution has brought with it a revolution in business dress codes. No longer does a tailored suit necessarily signify competence. In fact, were your tech guru to turn up in a shirt, tie and suit you’d probably feel very anxious that this person wasn’t the real deal. That said, that’s ok in a Silicon Valley boardroom won’t necessarily go down well in the office of a New York financial advisor. The old dictum that ‘The more you deal with a client’s money, the more conservatively you should be dressed, ’still carries some weight. Dress codes are crucial, they are subtle, shifting communicators. Get them right and your client will feel confident in your competence, get them wrong and an impeccable pitch may leave your client with niggling doubts.

Accessories are an important part of your appearance and the impression that you make: they have a practical function but are also objects which signify style and quality and reassure your client that you are successful and have good judgment. Times change and our times change fast and that’s why a touch of tradition is so reassuring. So, here’s a mix of old and new which will serve you well.

Contents

1 An understated watch of quality
2 A Quality Pen
3 Understated cuff links and a leather belt
4 A Leather Bag
5 A Business Card
6 A Lint Roller
7 Dopp Kit
8 Electronics Organiser
9 Portable Charger
10 Compact Smart Projector

An understated watch of quality

It’s old fashioned technology, but so is the wheel. You’ve got the time on your phone and your tablet, but a watch remains the most convenient way to track time and when you are running to a tight schedule it is a crucial accessory. It is of course far more than a practical tool, it’s a stylish and attractive adornment. The simpler the better, a slim body and a clean face, uncluttered by knobs and dials. A diver’s watch is great for divers but not for the boardroom. A watch can also signify affluence, if you are wearing a Rolex, it is a clear indicator of both taste and affluence. That doesn’t mean that you need to spend thousands on a wristwatch, there plenty of great stylish watches out there for under $200 such as the Daniel Wellington Classic Cornwall or the Skagen Ancher.

A Quality Pen

There will be times when a pen is required and when an important document is being signed how could you possibly use anything other than a quality pen. A fountain pen is a wonderful thing but it’s for personal use and there’s always the risk of ink where you don’t want it, so a quality ball pen is an obvious choice. The Montblanc is unquestionably the Rolls Royce of pens but there are plenty of other pens which are pleasing to look at and a pleasure to use.

Understated cuff links and a leather belt

Details matter and although these accessories may only be glimpsed by your client, they speak volumes about your style and good taste.

A Leather Bag

The rise of veganism might persuade you that you should opt for some alternative fabric but if you are concerned about the environment then a leather bag, which will last a lifetime, is a better choice than synthetic material, full of toxic chemicals, which will need replacing in a few years. A leather bag is a thing of beauty and a practical and reliable accessory. A briefcase is unwieldy and outmoded, much better to go for something which allows you to be hands-free, such as the Messenger bags or Satchels from MAHI, both of which are big enough to take your laptop, electronics accessories and paperwork. A satchel or messenger bag also works well as a weekend bag or cabin bag, so they are great for those short notice trips.

A Business Card

Remember that scene from ‘American Psycho’ where the Christian Bale character reveals his new super stylish business card? Well despite a world of cyber-everything here’s a traditional business accessory that still has its place. A stylish small card is more memorable than a note on a phone or an email. There’s an important moment of human interaction when you hand that card over and the fact that it’s a physical experience makes it more memorable. Do not produce your card from the depths of some scatty, stuffed billfold but from a slim leather wallet.

A Lint Roller

Your presentation was outstanding, but all your client noticed were the fibers on your suit. A lint roller tucked away in that Messenger bag means that you can give yourself a quick once over and feel confident that you are spick and span.

Dopp Kit

In a global marketplace, travel has become part of a businessman’s working life. Trips abroad are often short and at short notice, so you need to be ready to travel at any time. A Dopp kit which you keep packed and ready to go means that you’ve only got one object to remember, instead of arriving at your hotel to discover that you haven’t packed a razor. A Dopp kit enables you to keep all your toiletries in one place and is a compact and convenient storage accessory.

Electronics Organiser

It’s undignified and unprofessional to be seen to be scrabbling about in your bag for a lead or a charger while everyone waits for your presentation. Make sure that you know where everything is by storing it in an electronics organizer, that way you won’t leave anything behind, and you’ll know exactly where everything is.

Portable Charger

Flat batteries have put pay to many a promising presentation. Can you really be trusted with a client’s account if you can’t manage to charge your laptop? A portable charger can be used on the go and buys you invaluable peace of mind.

Compact Smart Projector

Problem with the projector? Be the one who’s prepared and pick up instant brownie points by plucking a compact smart projector from your bag. It’ll interface with your phone or tablet and project straight onto a blank wall. New tech, which you know how to use, and which solves a problem neatly is a great way to convince clients that they are in safe hands.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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Importance Of Industrial Test System

The performance forms the basis of all kinds of machines and equipment. It is even more so when one can eliminate or reduce the chances of a machine failure and prevent loss. For the industrial test, you have to use the equipment. The automotive sector is a globally competitive and dynamic industry. Automotive businesses must continually innovate in terms of quality, durability, and so on to remain competitive in the market and ensure sustainability. Also, vehicle manufacturers must ensure that the system and components of the automobiles function correctly throughout their lifetime. Although the environment in which automobiles operate changes frequently, engineers must use highly sophisticated and innovative test applications to improve the performance of newly launched products in a highly effective and modern manner. Click here to know more about test systems and quality control parameters. What Is Industrial Testing? An Industrial Testing system means you are running some tests to check the functions of an automobile vehicle. First, run the test, then identify the problems and then do some tests for the nucleic sequences of the products. After all, you will find the problems which are associated with vehicle production. This industrial testing is not only finding the errors of the vehicles. These tests are also required to measure up the vehicle's effects on the environment. But you are not testing food or beverages. You are testing vehicles. That is the reason you need to use some of the equipment for it. The automobile is directly attached to human life. So one negligence during the testing time can cause a huge blunder or accident. Even before launching the vehicles, you have to run some tests to get government permission for the vehicles. Related: Is Industrial Machinery/Components A Good Career Path In 2021? Why Is Testing Required in The Automobile Industry? With the increasing rate of innovation in the industry, test engineers must react accordingly in order to provide the ultimate testing solutions in response to rapid market changes and the new launches, along with user-friendly testing solutions. That can be easily implemented for highly advanced and new technological changes. However, sophisticated testing requires highly effective and dependable testing methodologies, from research and development through the final product, at which point engineers must make active and swift judgments. With the increased production rate of automotive components, the risks associated with product manufacturing increase, resulting in warranty issues and emphasizing the importance of testing at every stage of production, whether it is research, advancement, unrefined substance investigation, or item producing. Here are a few things you will find through the proper industrial testing system.Flows FindingImprovement AreasEffects On The EnvironmentHelping to build up a Defect-Free System The Industrial Test Equipment For An Automobile Industry After manufacturing the individual products from the automobile industry, every part of the vehicle needs some testing. Here is the list of a few types of equipment that every industry requires to test automobile parts. Using this equipment, you will find the problematic areas of the vehicles, and in the new products, you can rectify the challenges. UV light weathering testers.Testing Machines For Automobile IndustryTensile Testing MachinesGloss metersSalt spray chambers Why Is Testing Required in The Aviation Industry? Software testing techniques are still highly reliant on human labor, which is incompatible with this fast-paced sector. The new age needs advanced automated testing to survive in the agile environment. 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You can see how important the testing is. Automobile brands and reputations all partially depend on the vehicles' testing parts. So what is your idea about the testing? Are you thinking of starting a factory for automobile production? Hence, it is always best to set up an entire automobile testing department for better output. Read Also: The Main Reasons Why Cabover Trucks Are Less Common Than Long Hood Rigs7 Ways to Find the Best Auto Repair Shop for Your VehicleHow Professional Mechanics Can Score Deals on Auto Parts

What Are the Ways to Prepare a New Employee?

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. 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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! Read Also: Fastest Growing Company, on Creating the Best Place to Work How Private Hire Insurance Takes You Out from Problems?

4 Tips for Dealing with a Family Business in Divorce

Divorce brings a lot of problems in every part of your life. However, it makes the situation by dividing a family business particularly complicated. Therefore, you have to be prepared and get the necessary help before you start any legal proceedings. There are no avoiding problems when managing a family business in a divorce. However, you can minimize them if you go about it right. 1. Study your papers very closely : The first and most important thing to do is to get a professional lawyer to examine your business paperwork. They’ll need to see all agreements, contracts, and other papers that have some bearing on defining the ownership of the business. Note that these examinations might prove to be very surprising. For example, you might find out that some of your distant relatives become stock owners of the company. To prepare for any nasty surprises and develop a strategy for managing possible problems, you need to determine what those problems might be beforehand. 2. Consult as many different lawyers as you need : Employing the assistance of a divorce lawyer is essential when going through this process. However, in the point mentioned above, you might also need to consult a company lawyer with experience in family businesses. You’ll also be facing other issues that might require specialized legal assistance. For example, the division of assets during a divorce usually means you’ll need to get a lawyer specializing in foreclosure. If your family business is home-based, you’ll need all three experts’ help. Therefore, it’s usually best to employ a law firm with a versatile team. In case you already have a company lawyer, connect them with your divorce attorney. 3. Talk to a counselor before making any major business decisions : Roughly 95% of people who received marriage counseling state that they were extremely satisfied with the results. Note that this doesn’t mean they solved all their problems and chose to remain together. What counseling offers is assistance with finding the right direction to move on. When it comes to managing a family business in divorce, partners usually need to decide whether one will buy out the other’s share or if they can work together. Many people are able to maintain a successful business relationship even after a divorce. A counselor is a person who can help you determine if that would be the right choice for you. 4. If keeping the business, do not make any changes right away : If you are the partner who gets to keep the business, it might be tempting to ‘bury yourself in the work’. However, you should abstain from making any major changes or improvements until your divorce is legally complete. Otherwise, you’ll increase (or decrease) the value of your assets. This will make it necessary to renegotiate the entire ‘division of assets’ balance and can prolong the legal proceedings. This might also lose you a lot of money in the future and at the very least increase the lawyer’s fees. Managing a family business in a divorce is always a struggle. That’s why you shouldn’t rush and let your emotions dictate your decisions. Instead, focus on working through your current problems and get professional assistance whenever it’s needed. Read More : 1. Why Your Business Should Care About Social Responsibility 2. Why Lead Generation Is Essential For Business? 3. Resolutions To Help The Small Business Owners To Avoid Being Bankrupt