Jer Blog

Being a leader takes a lot of work and comon sense. In today’s world many of those who have the ability to “make or break” a business, or even a nation, are lacking some, or all of these 10 qualities that any leader should posess:

1. Have vision. Leaders have a clear sense of where they want to go and how they intend to get there. They see the big picture, then create a strategic plan for achieving their goals and are not afraid to share these goals with the rest of the team. 

2. Make decisions. Leaders aren’t afraid to make difficult or unpopular decisions because they have confidence in themselves and in their abilities. They know that indecision wastes valuable resources, time and opportunities.

3. Take risks. Leaders have the courage to act in situations where results aren’t assured. They are both willing to risk failure but also learn from that failure.

When you decide it is time to organize your home office, one of the most important things to consider if you have enough space. Many people are opting for office armoires or space saving smaller desks, but this elimination of desk surface working space can really be counter productive. Yes, in some cases, the more space you have, the more you will use, but if you want to get organized, having sufficient working space and keeping it clean is part of the drill.

A quick office organization tip: choose the right desk! First, make sure your desk has a keyboard drawer - this will preserve the space in front of the computer for papers, notebooks etc. Second, consider a corner oriented desk or a taller desk depending on the space you have to use. Finally, keep your computer tower under your desk. As long as you keep the PC free of dust, no harm will come to your tower and you will free up valuable desk space.

Proper business etiquette is more than knowing what knife and fork to use, or how to graciously lose a golf game to a client. Inside the office you would be surprised how often comments are taken out of context or misunderstood. Communication is key to employee morale:

• Address conflict as it’s related to the situation. Never make anything personal.
• Always consider one’s feelings, but also stick to your convictions.
• Apologise when you step on somebody’s toes or encroach on their territory.
• Avoid raising your voice. Lowering actually gets you more attention.
• Never interrupt or use harsh language.
• Thank those who help with the little things.
• Leave no task un-noticed.