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The season is favourable for you to make that reasonable and bold decision. Do you know, 47% to 54% of employers look to hire at the beginning of every new year? Do you also know that 80% to 87% of employees become job seekers at the beginning every new year? Take advantage now while employers seek to increase productivity and expand operations. Be careful with your decision-making process. Salary should not be the only factor in the job switching decision, say’s human resources consultant (Rita Kusi). Even though you would be taking home a bigger pay cheque, you could be uncomfortable in the new working environment if proper research is not done. You could be accepting a job that offers more cash but less generous employee benefits like health, retirement plans, vacation time, among others. It is always good to do an excellent research before you accept a job offer. Here are four key factors to consider. WORK ENVIRONMENT How favourable are the working environment to your corporate values and work ethics? For instance, communication might be a vital part of your career advancement. Observe if communication between the various levels of management is encouraged. Ensure that the working environment is collaborative enough to promote teamwork and increase productivity. If professional growth is your priority, then you might seek an employer who is interested in this. BENEFITS As stated earlier, the focus of benefits should not be based on the salary only. You will be accepting an offer with a good pay cheque but fewer employee benefits. Other benefits such as detailed insurance, a vision plan, continuing education reimbursement, disability insurance, maternity leave, flexible working hours, good pension policies among others must be considered. Compare the above benefits to that of your previous company before you make a move. Do not forget, the retirement package matters. YOUR LIFESTYLE It is equally important to think about how the new job will fit into your lifestyle. Even though you will be enjoying other benefits, you could be interfering with more important commitments or priorities in your lifestyle. For instance, if you are like me, lateness reporting to work always lower my morale. Ensure there is an easy commute. Observe if the job offer puts you closer to achieving your long-term goals as well as your short-term goals. This will give you some peace of mind. VACATION AND LEAVE ‘TIME OFF’ is another relevant issue. Before you switch, find out if there is room for vacation and leave. How many vacation and leave time will you receive annually? Access the employer’s policy on leaves as well. Do not forget to envisage how the new work environment will create room for you to attain a higher certificate for career advancement. In doing all these, access how your presence will affect the future and sustainability of the company. Don’t just switch, be cautious! #KUSIConsulting #employment #opportunities #jobs #hr #work #career #goals #switchingjobs

It is the most wonderful time of the year indeed and for many reasons. The holiday season is not just for spending time with our loved ones, eating to our heart's content, singing melodious Christmas Carols and relishing in our days out of the office. For some, the end of the year is also a time of reflection, a critique of the current year while planning for the upcoming New Year. At least once or twice a year, I make it a point to pause, reflect and go. I believe that in order to step into our best selves we have to evaluate our past actions and behaviors. For me personally, this year came along with many life-changing lessons and struggles. Nothing seemed to go as planned especially at the beginning of 2017. From my quest to find a place to live, business deals falling through, all while dealing with the pressures of being an entrepreneur. One specific challenge I faced was restructuring both KUSI Consulting and rebranding threesixtyGh, now siro360 and assembling an effective team for both platforms, which seem to come full circle at the end of the year, with the help of my business partner. I found myself at a very obscure place for most of 2017 but managed to find the strength to put my game face on and keep pushing. It was all very confusing at first but I later learned to appreciate every single lesson and challenge and what it taught me. I learned to accept the things I could not change and grow from the pain. I also learned to let go a little and trust, perhaps the most difficult lesson of the year. Through it all, I found inner peace and strength I never knew I possessed. I cannot speak for everyone and their methods but when I reflect, it usually comes with a lot of alone and quiet time, which involves prayer, reading, writing, fitness and a getaway to regroup and reenergize. This is all very necessary and helpful because around this time of year, I am in deep thought wondering what I could have done better, as well as evaluating my circle of friends, influencers, and supporters. I also make it a point to appreciating all that I accomplished and devise ways to build on those achievements. Here are seven activities I recommend during moments of reflecting: Fitness- Fitness has become a lifestyle for me and this year I pushed myself far beyond my limit. Working out is a great way to stay in shape but it is also a great way to strengthen your inner core and your mind. If you are not keen on going to the gym then work out at home or go for a jog, run or swim. This is one of the best forms of stress relief. I highly recommend it after a long day or before getting your day started. Reading and writing- There is a lot of peace that comes with reading or writing. In the evenings, I love to cuddle in bed with a cup of tea and read or write. Make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes reading or writing per day. Limited time online- Occasionally, I disconnect from the distractions of the online world, mainly social media. Sure, it is a useful tool for work but at times we get so caught up that we lose sight of why we opened an account in the first place. Do this every now and then and notice how much more productive you will be. Spend time in a serene and green place – The best way to feel rejuvenated is to spend time away and free your mind of all its troubles. Go for a hike, paddle boat on the lake, sit under a tree and feel the cool breeze on your face. Surprisingly, you do not have to go far to experience nature and all it has to offer. Volunteer- December is a time of giving. Do something that feels good and brings joy to others. This, in turn, will also bring joy to you. Domestic chores- Cooking and cleaning can be therapeutic although it might come off as a chore to some. For me, it is an absolute chore and so I listen to music, which helps. Soul cleansing- This is something I recently started. This year I realized the importance of cleaning house (figuratively) and protecting my energy. This usually involves evaluating your circle and the people you keep around. Doing this comes with a lot of questions and doubt but in the end, go with your instinct. It knows the way. The key, when reflecting, is to spend time alone in calm and serene places that bring you peace of mind; a place where you can think and shed off your old skin as you step into the new. You will be surprised the things one can learn about themselves and their surroundings by taking time to reflect. In those moments of solitude so much is revealed and ideas are generated. I hope this helps you in your quest to find inner peace and growth. Cheers to 2018, our year of breakthrough and protected energy. Rita Kusi is the CEO of KUSI Consulting, an HR and Marketing company and Head of Operations at siro360, a media company. #kusiconsulting #siro360 #reflections #ritakusi #goodbye2017 #hello2018 #happynewyear

On October 10th, 2017, founder of Butterfly Walkers, Inc. Alliance of Hope for Lupus (AHL), Judith Mills, embarked on a journey to create Lupus awareness in Ghana. This year AHL, committed to expanding their mission to establish an interactive community service project called “Saving Butterflies: United We Fight Against Lupus.” While in Ghana, Judith participated in speaking engagements at the Afuso Nursing and Training Midwefy College in the Eastern Region educating future nurses about Lupus followed by a speaking engagement at the Madina Fire Amour Public School and Ghana Health. She also appeared on several morning shows on UTV, TV3, GTV and Obunu Fm discussing Lupus, the causes, symptoms, side effects, proper diet and other relevant information to help viewers identify and combat the autoimmune disease. It was very important to be able to appear on these platforms and educate the Ghanaian community because of the rapidly growing number of Lupus sufferers in the country. Specifically, the many women and children being affected by the disease. On Sunday, October 29th, 2017, a team of runners took part in the Accra International Marathon and raced to bring awareness to ‘the silent killer’ on behalf of Alliance of Hope for Lupus (AHL). We are happy to announce that one of our team members came in first place for the 5K run. Thank you to everyone who participated in the marathon! During her journey, Judith had a chance to speak with to the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson and representatives at USAID about ways and means of helping Lupus patients in Ghana. We are currently awaiting the involvement of The Ministry of Health. Judith will personally like to thank those who voted for her to win the Africa Entertainment Awards 'Best Community Award' of the year. And of course a huge thank you to all of our donors and supporters including the Accra International Marathon, Settepani, Lightville Photography, the Nurses of Eastern Region Afosu, Madina Fire Amour Public School, Professor Edmund Delle, Sangu Delle, UTV, TV3, GTV, Obunu Fm, Robert P. Jackson, Nora and the Lupus patients who took part and showed their support. The money raised from our fundraiser will go towards Lupus education and research. There is more work to be done and with your continued support we know we can fulfill our mission of creating awareness. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Judith Mills at 862-253-3095 or via email at judithnmills@gmail.com. For more information please contact: KUSI Consulting +233554081727 info@kusiconsulting.com #lupusawareness #butterflywalkers #accrainternationalmarathon #judithmills #kusiconsulting

Is motivation really something someone can create for you or should you create it for yourself? As recruiters, when we look to hire for our organization and for clients, we look for candidates who are self-motivated because we know it will alleviate unnecessary stress. How can you tell if someone is self-motivated or not? One way to tell is if the person has any particular interest in the position which he or she is applying and whether or not they are seeking career progression in that specific area. If they are, then chances are they will be motivated to learn more about the role and the sector. Employees who are interested in career advancement understand the importance of taking matters into their own hands because they know what they want. They will be eager to conduct research, seek adequate training and other available opportunities, which will help them to grow in their respective field of interest. Employers who want to see growth in their employees will, therefore, be more than willing to go the extra mile by investing in relevant programs, events and other initiatives that will aid in the employee’s career progression. “Employers are not in the business of paying you and also motivating you.” In today's tough job market, employers are looking for an asset and not a liability. Self-motivated individuals require very little to no micromanagement, they are self-starters with an independent mindset. They are doers who enjoy staying busy and have the ability to take on leadership roles. They are also team players with positive effects on fellow colleagues. “Motivate yourself because nobody is going to do it for you!” Let's be honest, it is not always easy staying motivated and drawing up inspiration, However, for your own well being and career success, it is important to find ways to motivate yourself. Stop waiting for someone to motivate you. Whether it is on the job or at home. Considering the fact that everyone else has a ton on their plate and have their own cross to bear. Here are some ways you can motivate yourself: Write sticky notes of quotes or phrases that motivate and inspire you and place them all over your room and/or at your work desk. Create a vision board and make constant updates if necessary. Watch a motivational video to get your day started. Join a motivational group. Follow motivational and inspirational blogs and social media pages. Attend events and seek out training. Take breaks at work and speak with like-minded colleagues. In this digital era, motivation is just a click or phone call away. Imagine what an asset you will be to someone if you found ways to motivate yourself. Where do you find motivation? Whether it is through YouTube videos, church, fitness, etc. you are more than capable of taking your life into your own hands. Be an asset to the people around you by being self-motivated. #kusiconsulting #motivation #motivationmonday #selfstarter

Today's organization operates in a world of 24/7 connectivity, social media and streaming video, where any message can travel farther and faster than ever before—and quickly trend online. Likewise, millions of employees are increasingly being asked to integrate mobile devices and Internet-based apps into their daily routines. But what rules of modern etiquette should be observed when using high-tech tools to conduct business or social networks to communicate? Until now, answers have been hard to come by. Happily, Netiquette Essentials: New Rules for Minding Your Manners in a Digital World (Amazon Digital Services LLC, 2017), my new book with co-author Damon Brown, offers simple training tips and suggestions to help employees enjoy more-positive high-tech interactions—and put their best foot forward online. Among the topics the book covers: Establishing a Social Media Policy Make it clear to employees what's OK to share online, how and when to do so, and the most appropriate manner in which to conduct outreach efforts. With every employee a brand ambassador, training should begin the first day on the job to reinforce and instill the importance of these corporate values. Establishing formal rules of engagement, clearly communicating them to workers and explaining what's expected from hires are crucial. Guidelines are only the beginning, however: Establish an internal program designed to teach social media literacy and aptitude, provide continued education efforts, and reward employees for successfully practicing these skills. You may wish to consider regular skills refreshers, training sessions, certification courses and gamification-based programs to reinforce these maxims. Be straightforward and specific about what's expected in terms of tone, attitude, end results and output from your social media professionals, and regularly monitor and assess how well their actions align with and meet these goals. Providing continuous feedback to help staff grow and improve is a vital way to bolster performance in these areas. To this end, you may wish to have team leaders provide sample tweets, posts or updates to provide a sense of how to shape these communications efforts. For the sake of clarity and assurance of appropriate conduct, post formal guidelines for online communication within your own corporate blogs, communities and online venues, public-facing or otherwise. Having established guidelines in place helps set expectations upfront and helps you address any issues that may arise, such as having to ban argumentative users or remove inappropriate posts. Expressing Your Brand's Online Personality When people go to social media sites, they expect exchanges to be more personal, more immediate and more engaging. Be less formal, but make sure you teach employees to adhere to the rules and guidelines your organization sets forth about your brand, message and tone of voice while also creating value for your audience. Casual and fun doesn't equate to flippant, glib or self-centered. Encourage workers to think about how you or your brand may be perceived, and take care to present yourself as affably and respectfully as possible in all situations. Be cognizant of post quality as well, including taking care to eliminate grammatical and spelling errors. Note that kindness, courtesy, positivity and empathy should be reflected in every post. The use of humor may be appropriate depending on the context. However, it should be the same sort of humor that is acceptable for use in an office or business casual setting. Avoid risqué or controversial statements. Determining Tone of Voice and Attitude Professionalism is imperative. Remind workers that if they wouldn't say it in a social or work setting, they shouldn't say it online. Politeness and respect are vital. Teach members of your organization to always be considerate of others and to treat them with respect. Maintain a positive tone and attitude. Negativity, complaints and condescending messages often reflect poorly on the poster. Remind workers that conversational nuances and subtle shifts in tone or personality may be lost in translation and that individual users may interpret messages differently. Consider how posts will be read and interpreted before sending. Using Phones and Mobile Devices for Business Purposes Business calls made in public should be kept as short, sweet and quiet as possible and should be confined to crowded or noisier areas. When speaking in public spaces, employees should avoid sharing private information, as it may be overheard and subsequently shared with others. Phones should not be used in enclosed spaces such as stores, subway cars, gyms, restaurants, airplanes and autos where conversations may disturb or annoy others. Employees who need to make a business call should politely excuse themselves and step outside to do so or wait until they're in a more private setting. Phones placed on vibrate should be stored in a purse or pocket so as not to make noise when they shake against a hard surface—for example, a boardroom table—disturbing others with the sound of the vibrations. Using Devices During Meetings Employees should text, send e-mails and check messages only after meetings are finished or during official breaks. At no time during meetings should devices be used for personal purposes (e.g., updating social media accounts or flipping through a favorite video game). Employees may want to consider having an alternative voice message for the times they're in meetings. The message would let callers know that the employee is engaged so callers don't feel that they've been left hanging by a delayed response. Employees who must use an app during a meeting should set their device to airplane mode so it won't accept any outside calls or disturbances and should turn sound effects and volume levels to off. Employees should always turn their phone's ringer off when they are in a professional gathering. Note that many wearable devices such as the Apple Watch or Fitbit Charge can push call and text notifications to a user's wrist, where he or she can quickly receive and parse them without disturbing others. Phones placed on vibrate should be stored in a purse or pocket so as not to make noise when they shake against a hard surface—for example, a boardroom table—disturbing others with the sound of the vibrations. With proper training and guidance, every employee can practice online manners that reflect positively on them and your organization. SOURCE: The SHRM Blog (http://bit.ly/2gldZir) #Netiquette #BusinessEtiquette #HumanResource #Employees #Manners #OnlineWorld #SHRMORG #KUSIConsulting #Blog

Creating a ready-now leader from your current employees is one of the best types of career development opportunity that a company can offer to its employees. If you want to grow a leader, you primarily need to look for talents within your organization and not seek for external talent sources. This means to get the leader you want, from your current employees. There are many reasons why you need to look for talent internally within your organization. The two main reasons are as below: It is a strategic way to engage your employee with the organization. It is one of the best strategic approaches to empower key talents and retain them. Imagine how your employees will feel valued and embrace transformation on realizing that you are preparing them to be the next organizational leader of change. What do you think matters to employees in terms of motivation, satisfaction, engagement, etc.? 2. Swinging between the possibility of engagement levels being either extremely high or low, the next step is to sustain these engagement levels, change preconceived notions and make them grow with the company in the long run. To perform this you need to primarily realize that it is not a one-time execution, but an ongoing process that commences right from day one, when your employee decides to join and become a member of your organization. Here are some of the steps on how you can transform your current employees into effective ready-now leaders: Empower your employees. Create a role for your employees, not just some tasks to perform. Know your employees well enough to keep them self-motivated. Create and grow your employee’s self-confidence. Make your employees feel valued for their contributions and see themselves as an integral part of the organization’s bigger picture. Create an attainable goal for your employees that helps them participate in the leadership evaluation, even if the project is of small-scale. Allow your employees to gauge their self-ability and competence as a leader. Keep your workforce in mind before initiating an action plan and involve them actively in management decisions. Do not assume employee reactions to a change in policy or process flow, rather ensure seamless communication in a team and effective collaboration. Define your quarter on the awareness-matrix regarding leadership. Treat your employees in a professional, fair and respected manner at all times to infuse them with the most important leadership traits: respect, integrity and fairness. Treat your employees as your strategic business partners. Value your employees first as your internal customer to make sure they are satisfied working for your company. Define a structure based on team work to initiate leadership early on, from team leader perspective. Starting from day one, the organizational aspects, business goals and workplace culture have to be clear to your employees. Implement the traditional wise “walk your talk”. Do not ruin your efforts to make a ready-now leader by being unprofessional at work. Study your employees carefully and observe their behaviors to know from where to start inculcating leadership training. Listen carefully to your employees and take feedback seriously for inclusion of the idea will help support business growth. Believe in leadership abilities of your employees to make them feel worthy of being the next leader. Work on your employee’s loyalty system. The more you make your employees valued for their contributions, and empower their ability to be the next leader, the more they will continue to be engaged to upscale your organisation to new heights of success. This process of creating a ready-now leader is ongoing, and one of the most effective ways to motivate key talent and retain them with the company. Source: SHRM.ORG #KUSIConsulting #SHRMORG #EmployeeMotivation #Leaders #Motivation

Human resource is the essential resource needed for the success of every business, industry or organization. Arguably, it can be referred to as the backbone of the world’s economy. “Take away my people, but leave my factories, and soon grass will grow on the factory floors. Take away my factories, but leave my people, and soon we will have a new and better factory.” — Andrew Carnegie According to Bratton and Gold, human resource management is “a strategic approach to managing employment relations which emphasises that leveraging people’s capabilities is critical to achieving sustainable competitive advantage, this being achieved through a distinctive set of integrated employment policies, programmes and practices.” This makes us understand better how the proper management of human resource is capable of making an organization grow constantly, and on a national level, ensure the development of the nation’s economy. Unfortunately, we have seen how Ghana’s public sector has been backlashed and tagged as a sector with apathetic and clock-watching workers. The President of the Republic of Ghana did not leave that fact out when he pleaded to be plain with workers. He said, “We arrive at work late and then spend the first hour in prayer; we are clock watchers and leave in the middle of critical work because it is the official closing time. Everything comes to a stop when it rains and we seem to expect the rest of the world also to stop. We have no respect for the hours set aside for work… we pray, we eat, we visit during working hours. We spend hours chatting on the telephone when customers are waiting to be served, thereby increasing our labour costs. We take a week off for every funeral. And then we wonder why we are not competitive. The service that we provide in our hospitality industry does not match that of our competitors and many of us have sadly come around to accept poor service as the norm. There is a particularly pernicious attitude to property that we find at work. There is the petty stealing of paper, envelopes, tea, milk and other equipment. There is the reckless use of office vehicles. Employees show no inclination to protecting the things that are in the offices and factories, and extreme reluctance to stand up for what we know to be right in our workplaces in general. If we are going to make the changes we all want, then we have to start with a change in attitude to work.” This unveils the big question; how is the workforce of the country managed? Are they being treated as stakeholders or they are being undermined? Many workers across the country have shared their experiences of how they have been intimidated and made to feel they are being favoured to perform their respective duties. Many workers have coiled into their shells like tortoises and snails and will not selflessly work for the betterment of this nation due to bad attitude and management skills that some managers express towards workers. For instance, in some organizations, if a worker dares to suggest a new and efficient way of performing a task; he/she will be frustrated and intimidated to shut up instead of his/her innovation encouraged. When it comes to personal development, it is not a priority for these unethical managers, who think that the continuous development of a worker means the worker will overtake him/her in terms of salary or positions. So they will rather frustrate the worker and let the organization lag behind to satisfy their selfish ego that they are the managers of the organization. The most serious part is that in this era of demographic transition, where young workers can be guided and directed to harness the demographic dividend that comes with it, is that they are rather looked down on and victimized at the least mistake. Committing mistakes by young professionals is not something that should not be expected but managers need to make it a point to monitor their actions and correct them where they go wrong while encouraging them to bring out the best in them for the development of the organization and the country as a whole. Professionally managing workers is the way we need take, especially in our public sector. If there will be a change in our plight as a country, it is going to come from the workers. Renee West once said, “You can have the best strategy and the best building in the world, but if you don’t have the hearts and minds of the people who work with you, none of it comes to life.” It is, therefore, necessary for managers to pay attention to their relations with workers and to treat them as key stakeholders in the organization. Also, managers have to be concerned and in fact be committed to the continuous development of workers especially the young professionals. “I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people, not on strategies.” —Lawrence Bossidy, GE In a nutshell, if the intimidation, frustration and victimization of workers in the public sector will be replaced with the showing of care, encouragement and good guidance, the negative tag on the public sector workforce will be a thing of the past. #Business #CivilService #HR #HumanResource #Management #Productivity #Professionalism #PublicSector

Time is an expensive commodity when there is a lot to be done. Pressure mounts when there is a mountain of tasks but little time. It is not everyone who works well under pressure and deadlines. Pressure and deadlines can be a setback when not utilized properly but when managed well can be a motivation to achieve set targets. Have you thought of what the consequences would be in an organisation where there are targets and deadlines? Imagine you find yourself in a place that allowed you to work at your own pace, without pressure, finish whenever you like and still receive a pay check. What do you think the end result would be? Would this company be able to survive? What gets measured, gets done! Every job has pressure and deadlines that come with it, else things will never get done. There is a difference between stress and pressure but we often use these words interchangeably. Stress is when one’s ability is overwhelmed by the demands of the environment and pressure on the other hand is being challenged to meet significant demands that are at stake if one does not deliver. Have you thought of why most interviewers ask the question, ‘’How well do you work under pressure?’’ This question is asked to be sure whether you can prove your ability to handle responsibilities and deadline pressure very well and to make sure you understand that if you take the job there is going to be pressure to deal with. At interviews, when candidates are asked the question about handling pressure and meeting deadlines, often they give either a straight yes answer which is not what the interviewers expect. Most candidates claim they can handle pressure very well but fail to cite examples where they encountered pressure at the workplace and how they dealt with it. In answering the question about pressure and meeting deadlines, provide answers that tell the company about your confidence in what you do. You can answer by saying; “Yes, I can. I have had various experiences where I was faced with stressful situations that required me to work under pressure daily and have since learned to manage stress. Now it has become a part of the job that I do well.” “Yes, I enjoy working under pressure, though I believe proper planning and good time management will greatly reduce any alarming deadlines.” “Yes, I work well under pressure. But I believe that by simply reacting to a situation, you are creating the pressure. Instead of reacting to a problem, I will review the facts at a heightened pace and respond to the situation with a solution all while keeping a clear head.” ~Dr. Joyce Brothers advices, ‘’No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you would be more productive.'' It is very normal to feel nervous and anxious but how you think about it and react to it are totally up to you. It is important to take a break and relax when you encounter deadline pressures on the job. One would ask, ‘’how can I relax with all this pressure and deadlines I must meet?’’ The answer is to enjoy the pressure by building a positive mental attitude. Instead of dwelling on the million reasons why you cannot deliver under pressure or meet the deadlines set by your boss ( who is probably under more pressure) or circumstances, see it as an opportunity to show what you are made of and come out victorious. Focus on the strategies to get to your targets and not the pressure. Develop a personal resilience. You can also do the following to help you calm down and focus on your tasks when under pressure; Look out for stressors and write them down. Make a list of your tasks and prioritise them. Seek support when you cannot do everything. Stretch out or find an exercise that helps you to relax. Get to work early. Be aware of your emotions and body language when under pressure. Eat healthy. Cut down on caffeine intake to enable you to stay up and get the job done. Listen to relaxing and soothing music. Enjoy aromatherapy Look at a loved one’s photo. Meditate on the efforts that lead to your previous achievements. Try to reminisce on good times and laugh. It is easy to blossom when everything is going well, but it is how you respond to pressure and work deadlines that set you apart from the others. At KUSI Consulting, we offer Human Resource Management Solutions, Salary Surveys, HR Procedure and Policy Implementation, Employer/Employee Relations Management, HR Consulting, Coaching and Counselling. #KUSIConsulting #pressure #deadlines #workplace #time #HRtips

Work–life balance is a concept which seeks to find an equilibrium between one’s work (career and ambition) and one’s lifestyle (health, pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development/meditation). Is this attainable? Yes! Because it is a lifestyle choice. Too often, people believe that to achieve success, they must give up their personal life. Today, because of job security most people have made unhealthy choices to focus more on work-related chores and goals and have neglected other important areas of their lives. Time with family and friends, personal development, socialization, wealth creation, hobbies, your health and career are all very important. Sometimes you need to step out, get some fresh air and remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be. You cannot do a good job if your job is all you do; so how can you achieve a healthy work-life balance? Set your priorities. Know the differences between personal life goals and professional goals. Figure out what you want your priorities to be, not what you think they should be. Discover what is important and what is not. Stop saying “I’m too busy” and find ways to create a harmonious work-life balance by taking into consideration people, experiences and events that add value to your life. When people or things are important to you, make time for them and avoid giving the excuse of being busy all the time. Work on your time management skills. After getting to know your priorities and properly planning, it is important to manage your time according to your priorities. Keep a focus on work when you are at work, wrap up and close on time and use the extra hours to enjoy life. Going according to a schedule ensures that your work does not eat into your personal life. Some people can stay buried in their work even after office hours are over because they have a lot of tasks to do. When you keep a to-do list, you will be able to keep track of your tasks and achievements. Look out for distractions and time wasters and get rid of them. Proper planning serves as means to achieve work-life balance. Have flexible working arrangements. Do the job you love. Steve Jobs rightly puts it, ‘’The only way to do great work is to do what you love’’. When you are in a job you do not enjoy doing, you feel stressed and unhappy most of the time. It affects your mental and emotional well-being. Look out for tasks and projects you enjoy doing. Make sure you let your employer know the responsibilities you can take on and deliver with enthusiasm, passion and a sense of fulfillment. If you are not happy with your job and it is negatively affecting other important aspects of your life, do well to get to know yourself and the jobs you particularly enjoy doing and get into them. Do not be afraid to say no. You cannot take on every task that comes your way, be it a voluntary service or at the workplace. Yes, you may be nice but there comes that time when you must say no to things that would not be of any immediate benefit to you and your goals. Many people say yes even when they know deep within that they are taking on more than they can do; they might appear happy on the outside, but on the inside, they’re feeling burnt out, resentful, and depressed. Do well to empathize with the person while you say no. Make time for fun. Times without number, we have heard this saying, ‘’All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’’. You cannot stay buried in work and professional goals all your life and abandon your hobbies, social life and interests. Taking time off to have some fun with family and friends, relaxation, sight-seeing or touring helps to recuperate. Many career-minded people think that leaving work for even a couple of hours to relax and have fun is not worth it because they feel that time spent having fun can be used to achieve another business target. This is something that happens a lot in Ghana. Many people work and do not make time for enjoyment. Find ways to manage relationships. Do not let your desire to achieve career milestones override your relationship with family and friends. A balance between work and life is the key to happiness. Busy work schedules and chasing of career goals have destroyed many relationships. Never neglect your family for business; You can love your job but your job cannot love you back. Family and friends will be there for you long after that job is gone. Stay healthy and exercise. Many people focus too much on work and find it difficult to stay healthy and exercise. Though we say we are busy, we still make time for crucial activities like sleeping, taking a shower, attending to nature’s call, eating and above all exercising. One thing that helps to reduce stress is exercise. Eating healthy is also essential in maintaining a work-life balance. Eating junk foods after getting home late from work is not an advisable practice. Many employees would say they have no option but as a matter of fact, they do. Find time in your busy work schedule to eat healthy and exercise. Work-life balance is assisted by employers who implement policies, procedures, actions, and expectations that enable employees to easily pursue more balanced lives. When you pursue a work-life balance, it reduces the stress employees experience. When employees spend most of their days on work-related activities and feel as if they are neglecting the other important components of their lives, stress and unhappiness set in. Work-life balance enables employees to feel as if they are paying attention to all the important aspects of their lives. When companies design work-life balance initiatives for employees; Flexible working arrangements result in reduced work overload. There is improved health and well-being of staff. Employees can remain employed. There is an improvement in personal and family relationships. There is the ability to manage work and individual commitments. It brings increased focus, motivation and job satisfaction knowing that family and work commitments are being met. Increased job security is ensured from the knowledge that the organisation understands and supports workers with family and other responsibilities. There is increased ability to remain competitive in career development. One of the benefits of working is to have enough money to enjoy life. Do not make the mistake of spending your health to gain wealth and then end up spending your wealth to regain health. Make time to live healthy while you chase your career dreams. Work-Life Balance is not something you find; it is something you create. At KUSI Consulting, we offer Human Resource Management Solutions, Salary Surveys, HR Procedure and Policy Implementation, Employer/Employee Relations Management, HR Consulting, Coaching and Counselling. Let us help 'U' create a healthy work-life balance. #KUSIConsulting #worklifebalance #career #personallife #priorities #goals

I recently sat in a panel to interview candidates for a maintenance technician role. One candidate then mentioned that his current job pays him three hundred Ghana Cedis per month (equivalent to $75). I was in awe after I heard this and I just wanted to be clear on that so I asked; ‘Are you receiving this amount because you are on a contract basis?’ To my surprise, he answered saying he had been working with the said company for the past five years. Let us look at this scenario; I did not have a first degree or a diploma but had a certificate in broadcast journalism. I did not let my academic qualification stop me from applying for jobs I knew I would be able to do excellently even without a degree qualification because I believe in self-learning and application of knowledge. I had gathered experiences working with various firms that made my resume rich even without a degree. With this, I applied to a company for an administrative assistant position for which I interviewed well and got the job. During salary negotiations, the country manager who was also in charge of recruitment offered an amount that to me, was fair enough and I was more than excited to take the job. Without being given an appointment letter, I was given a date to start work and told that the employment offer letter (which I did not receive until the second month of being on the job) would be given within the week I start. I started the job and even took on tasks that were not part of my job description and performed them excellently to the satisfaction of my immediate employers. My first month was ending and I was in high expectations of my salary because I had a lot of things to sort out on my budget list. I received a credit transaction notification from my bank only to realize that only half of the agreed salary was paid. You can imagine my confusion. I went forward to the country manager and asked for an explanation only for him to tell me that, the board had a meeting about my employment, they concluded to pay me half the amount because I did not have a degree or a diploma. I was angry and disappointed. I did not feel appreciated and felt cheated for my commitment, hard work, achievement of targets, and for the days I stayed to work overtime I felt I did not deserve the salary I was being paid. So, the questions that I kept asking myself were; ‘Did they not see the academic qualification on my resume before offering me the job?’ ‘Why did they not tell me about the new salary arrangement earlier?’ ‘Will my transportation costs take up all of my now meagre salary?’ ‘How much would I be able to save and how can I survive in this job?’ ‘Am I not doing the same job and even doing better than the other employees who have diplomas and degrees?’ I am certain many others have gone through or are going through a similar phase with salary issues at the workplace, but how to address the issue, is in itself another issue. Do you know your worth as an employee? How much is your time and input worth to you and your employer? If you believe you are worth more than the salary you are receiving, why would you still stay? Is it because you would rather settle for less than stay at home unemployed? The period of ‘’you are fortunate to have a job’’ is long gone. Many employees think and know they should be paid more than they are currently earning but they fail to find ways to demand a raise. In today’s tough economy, some employers have found ways of underpaying their employees due to high unemployment rates. The onus lies on employees to know their value and not settle for less than they deserve. This is not to say that the main aim of looking for a job should be based on financial benefits. The conducive working environment, networking opportunities, training programs and rich experiences gathered on the job go a long way to add value to the employee. If you find yourself in an organisation where your employer is verbally abusive with salaries not being paid per the date stated in your appointment letter or if salaries are not being paid at all for a couple of months due to reasons you are not aware of, do well to inquire from management rather than sit down and hope things get better. You cannot work for free. Be actively and aggressively looking and applying for other jobs while you continue to push to get paid. If the employer fails to pay you after many promises, you must take the issue up to the labour authorities. Some employers go as far as offering jobs by word of mouth without issuing employment or offer letters. As an employee, make sure you receive an offer letter before you accept to start working with an organisation. Ensure that you understand the terms and conditions, benefits, responsibilities and that you are satisfied with the remuneration that comes with the job. Seek clarity if you do not understand anything stated in the offer letter before you sign and start work. During your job search, ensure that you maintain realistic salary expectations with regards to the salary requirements. Your salary or wage expectations should be realistic and in line with the current trends and standards of the industry or field you have chosen. Do research on how much others in your position are earning in different institutions. If you have done your homework correctly, you should be bold enough to politely ask for the salary you deserve. Also, ensure that your experiences, skills set and academic credentials meet the requirements of the job. Make sure you are applying to the right jobs as well. As an employee, see yourself as an entrepreneur with one big client. No matter how much you are earning, it is not going to be easy. You must be able to stand up for your value and that is what will get you the compensation you deserve. Your salary largely depends on your ability to demonstrate your value to your company. Join me this Thursday, 7th September at 3pm for more in-depth discussion on this topic. Be sure to send in your questions beforehand. Check the Flyer for more details. At KUSI Consulting, we offer Human Resource Management Solutions, Salary Surveys, HR Procedure and Policy Implementation, Employer/Employee Relations Management, HR Consulting, Coaching and Counselling. Let us help you as you climb the ladder to a successful career. #KUSIConsulting #Salary #Employee #Workplace #Wage #Jobs #HumanResource

As a company executive, there are times when you would need to organize an event which is calculated to give you the best shot at entering the next phase of your evolution as a business venture. On such occasions, one cannot ignore the fact that the role played by members of staff can either endanger the success story expected or enhance it. As a result, I am going to share with you what I observed during the planning and preparation process of an event held by Rite FM which I was fortunate to witness and partake in. Trust me, you would definitely pick a cue from it and hopefully apply it for that event you are having difficulty planning. GET A PLANNING COMMITTEE Sieve the list of your staff members and appoint at the most, a ten-member planning committee depending on the burden of work there is to do. After appointing and inaugurating them, put them in charge of the planning of the event. ENGAGE ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENT IN THE COMPANY Now that you have a planning committee, get them to engage all heads of management in the various departments of the company. Doing this would make it easier for you as a business owner or manager to tackle all prospects of what needs to be done since you would have tasked each department with a special assignment. CREATE TEAMS IN EACH DEPARTMENT As assigned, each head of department should be able to create at least three different teams within the department, all of which would be assigned different responsibilities gearing towards achieving the main agenda of the department. The purpose of creating these teams within the department is to make sure that each member of staff in the department contributes his or her quota to the realization of the goal set. Team members should be made to appoint their own team heads and none of them should be made to feel inferior in any way as this could threaten the success of the task. CREATE A FINANCIAL TEAM The essence of creating this team is to ensure that all plans made are properly achieved with the right processes being followed. Having this team determines on a large-scale whether the event would be successful or not. When selecting people for the financial team, one should not leave out the fact that people without financial discipline would distort the entire vision of the project. Members of this team should not be made to belong to other teams as it would demand a divided loyalty which could affect the effectiveness of work done. ORGANIZE AN IN- HOUSE TRAINING SESSION FOR MEMBERS OF STAFF It is extremely relevant that each team is made to undergo an in-house training session for the event because the last thing you want as a company on the day of the event is to realize that for example, the team in charge of seeing to the welfare of dignitaries end up making a mess out of themselves. This training is to make each team member equipped with the right training on what is expected of them on the day of the event. Looking at the above, it is apparent that I have not exhausted all that there is to but I am certain that doing the above would ensure that all members of staff are included in the decision-making process thus making them feel significant enough to perform all roles assigned to them for the success of the prospective event. #Discipline #Hardwork #Events #Loyalty #Staff #Success #Tips #Organization

“I've always had an issue with our belief that "the customer is always right" and after what I witnessed a few hours ago, I'm unsubscribing to the long held notion: I was at the pedicure section of the beauty parlor, doing my hair and nails, when a customer decided to pick an outrageously loud and unjustified fight with the pedicurist who had just finished serving her, claiming she was mistreated and didn't get what she wanted and insisting that she wouldn’t pay the full price. We were all there; no such mistreatment happened. The poor pedicurist was visibly shaken. This client created quite a disturbing and uncomfortable scene. I could tell she and her slightly calmer friend were riding on the negative perceptions many have about their countrymen, to bully the spa out of their due earnings, knowing very well no wrong had been done to them. I refrain from mentioning their country of origin because I won't help these two further tarnish the image of the country. Besides, I know several people from their country who are working round the clock to change these negative perceptions. Out of desperation, the managers had to allow them to have their way so they could leave quickly… I was so shaken by the whole encounter. I had never witnessed such #OverTheTop #drama over 50GHS before.” I recently came across the above post on Facebook by a young lady, Amazing Grace Lois Danso. Her statement actually prompted me to write this article. As a marketing professional with extensive knowledge in the areas of sales, telemarketing, and customer service, I can assure you that THE CUSTOMER IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. Customers are human beings and they make mistakes whether intentional or unintentional. Unfortunately, some customers use the notion of the customer being right to take advantage, like in the above real life scenario. “The customer is always right", has been the first rule of customer service we have been told for many years. However, it is not to be taken literally. The saying doesn't necessarily mean the customer is indeed right. It is a caution, alerting business owners to pick and choose their battles while protecting their business and saving their time, energy and money. Let me explain.. Before you decide to entertain an irate client and get in a heated argument ask yourself, “Will I rather have one happy/satisfied customer and lose 50GHS or do I want to lose more customers and more money?” In other words, should the shop owner or manager let the customer keep their 50GHS in order to defuse a situation which could have a negative effect on their business or argue with the customer, lose more clients and damage the reputation of their business? Even business owners, managers, store associates, and sales persons need to choose their battles. I am sure you will agree with me on the statement that, no business owner wants a bad reputation. A determined customer with bad intentions can easily give a business a bad reputation whether or not they deserve it. At one point or another, everyone has been a customer and customers like to stick together when it comes to quality services. One bad incident reported by one customer immediately triggers other customers to recall similar experiences causing them to sympathize with the ‘victim’. Unfortunately, in the above scenario, the only witnesses were the few people inside the beauty salon’s pedicure section, not the millions of people out in the universe and the digital sphere who did not witness the incident. My advice to business owners and managers is to always PICK AND CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. In the above scenario, should the business owner lose 50GHS to an “unhappy/unsatisfied client” or lose 2500GHS to several customers who might never patronize their services because of one bad review or false review made by a disgruntled customer? Especially, in today’s digital age where news spreads like wildfire with very little investigation being done. In her post, Amazing Grace made a suggestion to the managers of the hair and nail salon, that “they familiarize themselves with the closest police station and obtain the direct contacts of a few officers whom they can tell clients they would like to call to help settle all service disputes. I feel the invocation of the police - no matter how low our confidence in them can be - might get customers, either Ghanaian or Immigrant, who intend to avoid paying, to change their tune.” While this is a great solution, is it worth the time and money or the frustration? Time is money and in most cases dealing with the Ghana Police Service can become a very long and tedious process, which could result in unwanted scenes. In any event, business owners should be able to defend the business they work hard to build. Ideally, it is about choosing your battles and deciding if it is worth your time, money and stress. For the sake of your sanity and the business you own or manage, it is best to believe and treat the customer as though they are right, even when you know and believe they are wrong. In the end, it will cost you less money, save you time and effort and keep the reputation of your business intact. At KUSI Consulting, we offer marketing services and customer service training. Visit www.KUSIconsulting.com for more about our services. #KUSIConsulting #Marketing #CustomerService101 #CustomerService #Isthecustomerright #TipsforEntrepreneurs #TipsforBusinessOwners #MarketingTips