Lessons for Business Leaders

Upgrade Your Dreams to Become a Successful Business Leader By Manisha Rewani

Upgrade Your Dreams to Become a Successful Business Leader

By @Manisha Rewani

Upgrading by definition is the act of implementing new strategies, systems, or people to your vision that takes your goals to the next level more reasonably and efficiently increasing your reach and your revenue at the same time decreasing your sweat equity. That’s a mouth-full, but one of the truest things I’ve ever written!

Let’s think about it… As a leader within an organization or of a team, any upgrade you make to personnel or technology would only be worth it if the person or the technology increases efficiency of the existing processes of the day; which in turn impacts revenue. The new person or technology may initially increase your sweat as you work to introduce, train, and of course have your 1-on-1 Meeting; however, in the long run… your trust in them or the new process allows you to be more trusting, hands-off, and focused.

Before you decide to upgrade by making changes to your staff, be sure you’ve done your job as a leader:

· Bringing in people not only qualified for a position, but also a best fit your desired culture

· You’ve connected regularly with your people with A Leader’s 1-on-1 Meetings (as I’ve shared in previous blogs, videos, and training for organizations) or you’ve made it an expectation that the leaders within your organization have the meetings.

· You operate not only as a boss, but as a coach… providing information, tools, trainings, and opportunity for your people to upgrade themselves, the team, and the company

· Then giving them the power and authority to do so without being micromanaged by you and others.

5 Steps to Become a Successful Business Leader

Create a Business Entity to Show Commitment

These days, you can create an LLC or a C-corporation online, in some states for less than $100. This process will motivate you to come up with a name, a formal definition, and a way to isolate business expenses from personal expenses. Company name also has to be consistent with an available website domain name, and social media names on Twitter, Facebook, and other relevant sites. Thus, setting up all of these is a key starting point for separating new venture reality from dreams.

Build a Prototype for Visual Impact and Viability

When you can only wave your arms in describing your dream solution, everyone sees something different.

With a three-dimensional prototype, you can get accurate feedback from customers on the real demand, and relevant investors will agree that you are well past the idea stage. In addition, a prototype is a big step toward proving that the solution is viable, and you learn the effort and costs involved. A prototype will convince me that you are ready and able to write and negotiate contracts for manufacturing, support, and marketing.

An idea that cannot be patented or protected is very likely to be replicated by established competitors who have more money and resources than you can dream.

Filing a provisional patent or a trademark is very inexpensive, and will protect your idea, as well as suggest to me you have a business. Even though you may be convinced that your idea is innovative, completing the patent process shows you can demonstrate to others that your idea is more than a dream. Intellectual property initiates a defensible competitive advantage, and a barrier to entry.

Outline an Investor Pitch and Written Business Plan

Based on my experience, a business plan always adds value to you in making the idea real - most people can't assimilate all the details in their head, and need the process of organizing it on paper to make it consistent and complete. An investor pitch will do the same for your financials.

Too many aspiring entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. In my experience, it doesn't work that way, unless you just sold your last business for $800 million.

Assemble an Implementation Team and Advisors.

Ideas and dreams often come from one person, but creating a business requires a team of people, and leadership from the top. Idea people often need a co-founder with business and leadership skills to assemble a credible implementation team, and provide the discipline to create the business. If you are new to a business arena, it's always worth your time to enlist as advisors two or three executives who have traveled that road before. They give you credibility with investors, as well as mentoring that can help you avoid the many unknown pitfalls ahead.

Manisha Rewani [MBA]

Manager Mktg

AirCrews Aviation Pvt. Ltd

www.AircrewsAviation.com

Advantages of Work From Home Internship by @Manisha Rewani

Advantages of Work From Home Internship

by @Manisha Rewani

While there are plenty of reasons employees benefit from a work-from-home job, employers can enjoy many similar benefits too. When employees are more satisfied with their roles and working situation, companies can become more profitable and productive. Here is a more in-depth look at the many benefits of work from home for employers:

Streamlined communication

When working in an office setting, communication might take place via email, in-person meetings, phone calls, video chats or informal conversations. This can make it challenging to keep track of all the conversations and decisions about important projects or tasks. When working remotely, employers can choose from a variety of communication platforms to keep all communications in one place. This can lead to better organization and improved collaboration among employees.

Higher productivity

Employees who work from home encounter fewer social distractions from coworkers, which can lead to improved productivity in the workplace. Employees also have the opportunity to take brief breaks as they need them, which can help them return to their work feeling more energized and motivated. By giving employees space to fully focus on their work and follow their own schedules, employers may see productivity increase when switching over to remote work.

Improved work-life balance

Working from home can make it easier for employees to create a better work-life balance. This is beneficial for employers because a good work-life balance among staff can lead to less burnout and more productivity. Since remote work tends to be more flexible, employees can better manage their personal time. Getting to appointments and taking care of family matters is much more realistic with a flexible schedule and no commute.

Larger talent pool

Rather than being confined to candidates within their area, remote employers can hire candidates from all over the world. Since remote work can be done virtually anywhere, employers can choose from the very best people when making their hiring decisions. There is no need to have an employee relocate if they have a strong internet connection and computer setup.

Lower turnover rates

Employers may experience lower turnover rates when offering remote work. One reason this can happen is that employees have fewer reasons to look for a new role. For instance, with an in-person job, an employee may need to resign if they need to relocate for their spouse's job. With remote work, this same employee can keep their job since they can work from anywhere. Companies may also experience lower turnover rates due to having flexible schedules and high job satisfaction among employees.

Increased job satisfaction

Remote work often comes with more flexibility and freedom for employees. Those who can adjust to this work environment may feel happier in their roles. Increased job satisfaction among employees can lead to all sorts of beneficial things for employers. Higher staff loyalty, more productivity, happier employees and a better reputation are just a few.

Reduced overhead costs

While remote employers may reimburse employees for their at-home work setup, there are significantly fewer costs associated with starting a remote company. With a non-remote company, employers need to pay for building rent, utilities, office supplies, kitchen snacks and coffee supplies. This can lead to a lot of savings for companies. Employees may also feel happy about the money they save not paying for gas money, frequent oil changes, parking fees, business attire and team lunches.

More time saved

Both employers and their employees can save quite a bit of time working from home. Getting ready for work each morning can take a couple of hours. Along with this, driving to and from work takes up a good portion of the day. With all this extra time, companies can be more productive and meet important deadlines. Employees may feel happier about all the extra time they have for their personal lives too.

Better brand reputation

Companies that offer work-from-home options may improve their public relations. When people know that the employees at a company are happy, they may feel more inclined to support it. Likewise, those who are looking to apply for jobs may be more excited to apply for a company that offers more flexibility.

Global insights

Having employees who work all over the country—and possibly the world—can be quite beneficial for employers. That's because by hiring people from different areas, companies can gain unique perspectives and ways of thinking. Employers may also be able to learn more about different markets by having employees working in these locations.

Fewer sick days

When employees work from home, they may less likely to be exposed to germs that make them sick. That's because they aren't interacting with colleagues who feel like they need to come to work even if they are feeling ill. This can lead to fewer sick days among team members, which is a good thing for productivity. Employees may also be able to work through a slight cold without the risk of getting their coworkers sick.

Improved inclusivity

Traveling to work can be challenging for some employees. By giving people the option to work from home, employers can improve inclusivity. Along with accounting for those who have mobility barriers, remote work can open up more opportunities for those from various cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

More sustainability

Remote work can help employers lower their environmental impact quite a bit. By cutting back on energy usage and gas emissions, remote companies can be much more sustainable. Having people work from home ensures they are using less gas and oil that can majorly impact the environment. Likewise, employees may be more inclined to use their own dishes and cups rather than using disposable ones in the office.

Comfortable employees

Having an ergonomic setup is an important part of being healthy and happy at work. When employees can customize their own workspace, they may feel much more comfortable throughout the workday. This can help employers build a healthier workforce and may even save them money on health insurance. Likewise, employees who are more comfortable may take fewer sick days due to neck and back problems.

More freedom

Employers and employees can both have more freedom with a remote job. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, it's easy for you to travel for extended periods of time. This makes it easier for employers and employees to plan long getaways. One thing to be mindful of with this freedom is that it's important for both employers and employees to take time off for themselves and turn off their work. It can be very easy to check in on work even if you're on a tropical getaway.

Longer business days

Having employees in different time zones allows companies to extend their business days. Since employees are starting and ending their workdays at different times, this makes it easier for employers to ensure someone is working most hours of the day. This can be quite helpful for things like customer support and other 24/7 services.

Manisha Rewani [MBA]

Manager Mktg

AirCrews Aviation Pvt. Ltd

www.AircrewsAviation.com

Causes of Overthinking and Negative Thinking in Management and how to Overcome

It might feel like you’re the only one lying awake at night, dwelling on a decision you made earlier that day or worrying about tomorrow’s to-do list. But you’re not alone—research suggests 73% of 25- to 35-year-olds chronically overthink, along with 52% of people ages 45 to 55. In many cases, overthinking could show up as rumination, which often involves perseverating on events of the past and even the present with a negative mind-set. Whether your tendency of overthinking takes you into the past or focuses on the future, there are positive ways to reframe your thoughts.

Now the question remains the same, what causes overthinking?

While overthinking itself is not a mental illness, it is associated with conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance use disorders. Rumination can be common in people who have chronic pain and chronic illness as well, taking the form of negative thoughts about that pain and healing from it. Some people may have the impression that worrying shows that they care about something or prepares them for the worst outcome, so it can easily become a habit—albeit one you can (and should) break.

A flow of sad thoughts through your mind can be frustrating because you can't be sure if depression is making you think negatively, or thinking negatively is making you depressed. A common cold, exhaustion, stress, hunger, sleep deprivation, even allergies can make you depressed, which leads to negative thoughts.

How to stop overthinking?

ACCEPT OR DENY YOUR THOUGHTS: - The brain is constantly churning out all kinds of thoughts. “But thinking is a two-way street,” says Dattilo. “While the brain may offer numerous or near-constant ‘thought suggestions,’ it’s ultimately up to us to decide if we accept them.”

RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN: - “When the brain is ‘at rest,’ the areas that light up are the problem solving areas and areas associated with self-referential thinking. So, when left to its own devices, the brain will overthink,” says Dattilo. That means you have to train your brain to do otherwise—particularly if you’re overthinking at certain times, like before bed. It’s possible to reprogram that habit with other mind-clearing activities instead, she adds.

MEDITATE: - Attention training is a meditation technique that can benefit people with anxiety and depression. The easiest way to practice it is to focus on something completely mundane and routine, such as washing dishes or folding laundry. “You simply direct your attention to the task in a way that may even feel hyper-focused and ‘zero in’ on observing yourself and any sensations that arise,” advises Dattilo. That laser focus can help quiet other intrusive thoughts in your head.

DO A BRAIN DUMP: - Journaling is a helpful way to get your thoughts out of your head so they’re not overwhelming you as much. Or, you could always jot down a to-do list. “Making a list or plan is more action-oriented, and that can calm our ruminating brain a bit, too,” says Dattilo. You can do it anywhere, from a piece of paper to your notes app on your phone.J

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE: - No matter where you’re located, fresh air can do your mind plenty of good. If you’re able to get out in nature, even better. Studies show taking a 90-minute walk in a nature-filled environment can decrease one’s inclination toward rumination.

Priyanshi Singh

Manager HR

AirCrews Aviation Pvt. Ltd.

www.AircrewsAviation.com

Priyanshi@Air-Aviator.com

Creating an Effective and Creative Poster

Creating an effective and Creative Poster

Although it is assumed that the poster will do most of the talking, it is the role of the presenter to answer questions and explain the work in further detail. A successful poster will not only attract a viewer's attention, but will also outline accurately and concisely the aims, workings, and conclusions of your scientific research. Below are some suggested guidelines to help you prepare a successful and effective poster.

Content

Determine how large your poster will be and how much space you have been allocated. Once you know this, you can begin to work out how much information you can to include. The purpose of a poster is not to simply stick every single bit of information you have on a board, but to be succinct and clear in what you are trying to present. Be clear as to the message that the poster is presenting so that relevant results are presented and discussed.
Think about your audience and what you are trying to achieve with your poster, as this will help to determine your poster style. For example, posters that are conveying a simple message (e.g. billboards and poster campaigns) tend to be very visual with non-technical content. By comparison, scientific posters will have more detailed and complex content.
Typically, a poster should contain: a title section, abstract or summary, short introduction, aims and objectives, methodology, results, discussion and conclusions. You may also want to include a section detailing suggestions for further work; you could recommend how your work could be developed, or suggest other tests that could be applied.
Keep your title short and to the point so as to grab the attention of the viewer. The title section should also include the names of the people involved in the work.
Be selective in the results you include in your poster, display only those representing the main findings of your work, you can always keep other results close to hand in case you are asked about them. Use figures to present data in a concise form e.g. showing trends, but refer to figures where they support the text.
The conclusion of your poster should be the climax of your work, and needs to address the main aims and objectives of the project.

Layout and Format

It is very important that the text and data included in your poster follow a logical and hierarchical order. When we approach new information we tend to read from top to bottom and from left to right. Therefore, it makes good sense to lay your work out in this order. You could, for example, place your abstract in the top left corner and the conclusions in the bottom right corner. Remember that the poster should be able to lead the reader through the work presented.
An alternative layout to the one described above is to place the conclusions in the center of the poster and have the supporting work radiating out from it.
It may be helpful to provide arrows that direct attention to the sequence and order of the presentation. Excessive augmentation, however, can be distracting and confusing.
Keep the column widths at a size that is easy to scan.
Try not to present long and detailed sections of text. Bullet points can often be more effective and will maintain the reader's interest.

Images, Graphs and Photographs

If used in the correct way, graphics and visual images can greatly enhance your poster, increasing both understanding and interest. However, ensure that all graphics are relevant to your work, and linked by references e.g. figures numbers in the text.
Make sure that all diagrams are clearly captioned and easily seen. For example, a micrograph should be around 120 - 80 mm in size. Captions should be positioned below to the diagram/figure and the figure should be placed close to the relevant text.
Whenever possible captions on graphs and diagrams should be read horizontally (the exception to this is the vertical axis label on a graph).

Style

Keep it simple, clear and concise. Obviously the poster needs to be eye-catching and attractive, but filling up your poster space with excess clutter can be distracting for the viewer.
Ensure that your font size is large enough to be legible from at least a meter away (e.g. 16 - 18 for the text and 24 - 36 for titles). Individuals will soon tire of having to lean in or squint to read small text. .
Try to use one or two font types at most. Too many font types can look messy and confusing, particularly if they are in the same sentence or paragraph. It is best to choose fonts that are easy on the eye, such as Times Roman or Arial.
Use caps and lowercase instead of all caps for easier reading.
Maintain a consistent style throughout.

Color

Using colors on your poster is a useful way of attracting attention and can give your work impact. However, be careful to use color sparingly and with discretion, too many colors or borders can be distracting and look untidy.
Try to avoid bright, noisy or clashing colors.
A good tip is to use background and foreground colors that compliment each other and have high contrast. This will ensure that your text and images will stand out.
If you are using coloured text, make sure that it contrasts with the background paper, as it can be frustrating for the viewer to search for text that appears camouflaged.

Posters are one of the oldest, most tried and true types of marketing collateral. Posters are an effective way to draw attention to your sales, events, fundraisers and more.

While there is no one right way to make a poster, there are still poster design best practices that you should follow.

So we decided to take it upon ourselves to write the ultimate, most in-depth poster design guide out there. If you want to learn how to design a poster from scratch, you’re in the right place.

What Makes a Good Poster?

Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away
Title is short and draws interest
Word count of about 300 to 800 words
Text is clear and to the point
Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
Consistent and clean layout
Includes acknowledgments, your name and institutional affiliation

For a more prominent and perfect ideology a video will be helpful for making an effective and creative poster in no time.