Discussions With Employees Made Easy

As a business owner (or manager), communication with employees can make or break your business. Creating, sharing, and discussing ideas is crucial to helping the business grow and expand. When you are having discussions with your employees, there are some things you need to keep in mind in order to have flawless communication.

Say “And,” Not “But”

Having employees that are proactive and constantly thinking of ways to improve your business is a dream scenario. In order to not discourage them, always listen to their idea AND tell them what you love about it. Build off of what you like and how maybe you could incorporate it into your processes. Immediately saying “but” can discourage them in the moment, and maybe from pitching another idea in the future (even if their idea might not work).

Make a List, Then Make Another

Building off of the last tip, when you tell your employee what you like about their idea, make a list of the things you like. Following that, make a list of how to improve upon this idea. Simply stating the obstacles and what's wrong with the idea won't do the business any good. Thinking of ways to make the original idea better won't just make your employee feel appreciated, but you could end up with an idea that could very well help your business.

Keep Communication Clear

Not all employees are going to work at the physical location of the company. Some will work from home, in other offices, and on business trips. To keep everyone connected with a reliable communication system, consider installing a VoIP phone system. You'll be able to experience a high-quality and reliable sound, as well as a long list of features like video conferencing, call forwarding, and call recording.

Knowing how to have a clear and positive discussion with your employees about their ideas can help catapult your business into areas of growth you've yet to see. When you decide that a VoIP phone system is right for your business, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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4 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Small Business

Are you currently trying to take your small business to the next level? Running a small business can be tough, but there are things you can do to set it on the path to success. As a matter of fact, there are a few things you can do right now to instantly improve it!

1. Mark the Cash - At the end of each and every day, keep track of how much money was spent on expenses and how much was made in revenue. Keeping track of expenses will allow you to know how much profit you are earning and if the business is doing well. Knowing how much was made in revenue each day will not only help you understand what your profit is, but it can help identify trends throughout the week, month, and in the year over year analysis.
2. Pay Attention - Being able to identify trends on when you make the most money is important so you can gear up for that time of the week, month, or year. You should also be able to identify trends in the industry and your local community to better predict customer traffic and possible revenue.
3. Best Practices - Every business is going to have their way of doing things, just as yours will. However, there are certain best practices that are industry wide that you can adopt to streamline certain processes. Using what is already proven to work can save you time, money, and a handful of potential headaches.
4. Clear Communication - All businesses need a reliable phone system for clear communication with their clients, vendors, business partners, and fellow employees. The phone system with the most features at the most cost effective price is VoIP. A VoIP phone system will benefit all employees, whether they are working on-site, from home, or on the go.

If you could change a few things around to make your small business better this second, wouldn’t you? To improve your small business with a VoIP business phone system, contact Reliable Voice and Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule an free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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How to Choose the Right Business Phone System

Communication is one of the most important aspects of creating and maintaining a business. In order for your business to properly communicate with clients, customers, vendors, employees, etc., you will need a reliable phone system in place. When choosing a phone system for your business, keep one word in mind: VoIP.

All About VoIP

VoIP phone systems will piggyback off of your current internet connection, so not only will you be cutting the cord for your traditional landline phone system, you’ll be cutting your phone bills in half! If that's not enough to entice you, VoIP phone systems also come with a boatload of advanced features. Some of which include call forwarding, call monitoring, using your computer as a “softphone”, video conferencing, and many more!

Cloud-Based VoIP

Small businesses looking for the best phone system possible at a price they can afford should consider a cloud-based VoIP system. There is no hardware to purchase or maintain other than the actual IP phones, so this is an extremely cost-effective and hands off phone solution. The service provider will make all necessary maintenance and upgrades without ever allowing you to lift a finger.

On-Premises VoIP

Larger businesses that want control of their phone system should opt for an on-premises VoIP system. You will need an IT team to manage and maintain the system, but this will allow you to configure the system how you want. The up front cost for an on-premises system is rather expensive, but you will end up paying lower monthly fees over time.

Every business needs a phone system, but all businesses are different and will need options in order to pick the right one for them. When it’s time to switch to a VoIP phone system, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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3 Ways You Can Protect Your Business

One of the most important aspects of running your own business is protecting your investment and limiting your liability. Otherwise, you could end up in the middle of an awful lawsuit that could leave you with no money when it’s all said and done. In order to protect your business, make sure you take the proper steps to do so.

Get Yourself a Top Notch Attorney

Finding yourself an attorney as soon as you start your business is recommended. This attorney should be competent and knowledgeable with your local laws and have expertise in the type of business you run. Being able to have an attorney familiar with your business right away will allow you to contact them before you take any action during a possible lawsuit.

Separate Identities

Most small businesses start out as a sole proprietorship, which is something no business owner should ever do. Why? Because when the company is sued, all of the owner’s assets are up for grabs in court. To keep your home, cars, and personal finances safe from being attacked in court, set up a trust to own your business. This trust will give your business its own legal entity that won’t put its owners at risk when being sued.

Install CCTV Security Cameras

The lack of evidence during a lawsuit is something that can hurt a business when it's being sued. Let’s say someone falls in the building of your business and sues you for a large sum of money. Can you prove that this fall is something you are responsible for — or that it even happened at all? Having CCTV security cameras surveying every open space of your business will allow you and the court of law to see what really happened so a fair trial can take place.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to protect your investment from being sued. If you’re looking to keep an eye on your business at all times, consider installing CCTV security cameras from Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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