If you've ever had a customer service experience where you felt like you were talking to a robot, then you'll appreciate this authentic customer service tip. Customers want to speak with real people and not a bunch of memorized catchphrases. It's a common problem, in the world of sales, but one that can be easily [...] The post Authentic Customer Service Tip appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Life in 2025 will likely present more work-life balance challenges for professionals. In our last episode (#711), we talked about some of the top ones you're dealing with. Let's continue the discussion with two more common work-life balance challenges. Plus, you'll learn some actionable solutions to these common problems. Get balanced or re-balanced on this [...] The post More Work-Life Balance Challenges For Professionals appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Today's top work-life balance challenges impact productivity, stress, and retention. I've identified four of the most common ones for today's leaders. Today you'll learn about two of them and we'll discuss the remaining two in our next episode. Beyond just identifying these problem areas, I want to empower you with some possible solutions. Find out [...] The post Top Work-Life Balance Challenges appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Recently I learned a great productivity lesson from a tree. At the time, the tree was being removed by a landscaping crew. Their approach to this task reminded me that doing things quickly may not always be the best way. This lesson is important for businesses that feel speedy changes are their only option. If [...] The post A Tree Taught Me a Great Productivity Lesson appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you want an engaged workforce, then you need to consider whether you have a PTO problem. PTO or paid time off, is a benefit that a growing number of employees are refusing to use. Why are people turning their backs on something that gets them out of the office and instead work more than [...] The post Do You Have a PTO Problem? appeared first on Ken Okel .
If you can put jealousy or competitiveness aside, then you can learn a lot when you research your competition. You have to remember your business does not exist in a vacuum. By doing a little market research, you'll gain valuable insight into what's working for your competition or how those companies approach their marketing. And [...] The post How to Research Your Competition appeared first on Ken Okel ....
While many want to make self-care a priority, they're not sure how to make it a reality. In a busy world that's full of challenges, taking time to improve your physical and mental health may seem impossible. Recently, I surveyed my LinkedIn connections for their thoughts about self-care. Let's go through the surprising results and [...] The post How to Make Self-Care a Priority appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you're a leader, do you know why employees hate your employee recognition program? There's a good chance your program started off with good intentions but now has become a turnoff. The reason is that people may feel like they have no chance of ever winning the award. As a result, something that was supposed [...] The post Do Employees Hate Your Employee Recognition Program? appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Learning how to answer colleague complaints is an important skill that can help you enrich your career. Keep in mind that often the other person is just confiding in you and realizes there's little you can do to solve the problem. But that doesn't mean you can't help them and silence may feel like a [...] The post How to Answer Colleague Complaints appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you work at a business that has just been acquired, then it's understandable if you're nervous about a merger. A lot of uncertainty comes when new ownership takes over. Often these deals happen in secrecy, so they come as a big surprise. What should you do next? I asked my LinkedIn connections for their [...] The post Nervous About a Merger? appeared first on Ken Okel .
A good way to get work done faster and improve your work-life balance will see you solve procrastination with deadlines. In many cases, wanting to do a good job with projects is important. But are you spending too much time on certain things, in the pursuit of perfect, where the extra effort does little to [...] The post Solve Procrastination With Deadlines appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you're a leader, then understand you will be judged on responding to an unexpected challenge. Some sort of problem will emerge, you likely will have little control over it, and yet you'll be expected to find a path out of the challenge. Do you have the skills to make this kind of fast adjustment? [...] The post Responding to an Unexpected Challenge appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Celebrate episode 700 of this podcast with a story about why you may need to redefine impossible. When faced with an unexpected challenge, do you find yourself immediately throwing in the towel and saying, "It can't be done."? What if, in those moments, you were selling yourself and others short? Join me on stage, at [...] The post Redefine Impossible appeared first on Ken Okel .
For businesses that have been around for a while, it's important to consider if you're old or experienced. The two are not always the same and you need to understand the difference. If your business is just old, then trouble might be down the road. Find out what makes something old, still relevant, in this week's [...] The post Old or Experienced? appeared first on Ken Okel .
These tips for smart networking at conferences can help you boost your return on investment when you attend events. For many, the ability to connect with fellow professionals is a big reason why they go. But you may not get the success you desire if you don't have a strategy. Find out how your fellow [...] The post Tips For Smart Networking at Conferences appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you want a job or a task done correctly, then you need to understand that poor training produces poor results. When you assume someone will understand exactly what you want, through some kind of magic, disappointment is often around the corner. This was never more true than when I saw an employee's vision of [...] The post Poor Training Produces Poor Results appeared first on Ken Okel ....
In a world where technology is everywhere, should your smartphone be banned in meetings? Meetings are a place where lively discussions are supposed to happen, leading to major decisions. Does the smartphone interfere with that productive process? Recently, I polled my LinkedIn connections on the topic and found there's support for several different strategies when [...] The post Should Your Smartphone Be Banned in Meetings? appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If you're outsourcing a task, then you need to ask your provider, "Who does does the work?" The answer can save you time, money, and frustration. When you hire someone to do a job for you, it's understandable to expect their showcased level of quality. That may not be the case, as your account may [...] The post Who Does the Work? appeared first on Ken Okel .
In business, it's easy to let cheap problems hurt your productivity. These are little issues that are extremely annoying. But they aren't your big problems or your most pressing issues. Are you giving these cheap problems too much of your attention at the expense of more important things? How can we handle this time management [...] The post Do Cheap Problems Hurt Your Productivity? appeared first on Ken Okel ....
In your career, it's important to consider who's watching you. There's a good chance you may be exhibiting behavior that hurts you but you believe that you can get away with it because no one is looking at you, in the moment. You believe that if no one sees it, then it doesn't matter. That's [...] The post Who’s Watching You? appeared first on Ken Okel .
Having a sense of purpose at work is an important part of a career. It's empowering to find that connection, as it can help you stay motivated and help you get through challenging times. Not long ago, I polled my LinkedIn connections about their purposes at work and I discovered they fall into four categories. [...] The post Do You have a Sense of Purpose at Work? appeared first on Ken Okel ....
In business, you need to watch your words with customers. The things you say to them, even as offhand remarks, can become major turnoffs. And in a competitive marketplace that could cost you business. Even if you have the best marketing and branding, you and your employees can repel customers with your words. Let's go [...] The post Watch Your Words With Customers appeared first on Ken Okel ....
If your Monday morning productivity is a concern, then you'll like these tips to start your week off strong. Each is designed to be easily implemented. Complex things usually never become habits. You don't want to get into a situation where you feel like you're falling behind on your week and it's only Monday morning. [...] The post Tips to Start Your Week Off Strong appeared first on Ken Okel ....
Have you ever wondered if you can change your clients? Sometimes, they can be demanding and ask you to do things beyond your scope of work agreement. I was asked this question by an audience member not long ago. And while this isn't exactly my area of expertise, I understood the problem and knew there [...] The post Can You Change Your Clients? appeared first on Ken Okel .
When you've got a tough challenge, what you do next is very important. Obviously, you'll want to pursue a solution. But how do you go about that process? Leaving it to chance may not produce a good outcome and could waste a lot of time. Instead, define how you'll approach finding a solution. Learn how [...] The post You’ve Got a Tough Challenge. Now What? appeared first on Ken Okel .
It's important for leaders to understand that employees can learn how to exceed limitations at work. It can be easy to pigeonhole people's skills and their ability to make positive changes. That kind of growth can happen faster than you think, especially during challenging times, if you're open to providing three key pieces of information. [...] The post Exceed Limitations at Work appeared first on Ken Okel ....
You may recognize some of these common boss complaints. While some might call them minor quirks, they could represent problems that could impact your hiring and retention efforts. And if you're a leader, you may not have realized certain behaviors could become a turnoff for employees. Why not change behaviors before you get a bad [...] The post Common Boss Complaints appeared first on Ken Okel ....
These four daily business questions can bring some focus and discipline to your career. While none of them are complicated, all can provide a bridge to a more productive tomorrow. You may have noticed that increased demands and responsibilities keep you from your most important work or your long-term goals. As a result, your days [...] The post Four Daily Business Questions appeared first on Ken Okel ....
At conferences, should the boss party with employees? At many of these events, there are opportunities to let your hair down and have some fun. If you're a leader, have you thought about how you'll respond to an invitation to join the rest of your employees at the festivities? While there's not a right or [...] The post Should the Boss Party With Employees at a Conference? appeared first on Ken Okel ....
While embracing unexpected change may sound like a skill that requires some clairvoyance, it's something you can master on the job. It's all about thinking proactively, rather than waiting for situations to happen. If you only react to these events, you're likely operating in a state of panic, which may not product the best results. [...] The post Embracing Unexpected Change appeared first on Ken Okel ....
