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Managers use performance feedbacks for two things; one is to boost the positive attitude in the workplace, and second is to guide them from their mistakes. Although some seminars or training programs focus on how to take negative feedback, positive feedback is also important too. But not every manager knows how to give proper positive feedback, so we listed down a few simple tricks that can change how you can deliver them. Praising is not good enough Praising your employees is good but not good enough. Telling your employee a good job is not enough you need to be more detailed when giving feedback. As this can help them prepare in the future. For example, an employee of yours exceeded the quota of sales for your department, a simple “Good job” won’t do. You need to make sure that they know what they did well as this can help them know what they should maintain and/or improve. Providing feedback whether positive or negative, should be in detail as this can impact the receiver. Giving negative comments won’t help them at all as this tells nothing at all and may repeat their mistakes. Provide Details Using the example scenario above let’s try adding some details on the feedback: “Hey I’ve got your sales report for this week and exceeded at almost 50% Good job! Looks like those marketing skills are paying off.” In the first scenario, the employee wonders where did he/she do good or how can he/she do it again. Using the second scenario the employee is a bit better and because they can easily identify where he/she did well. After knowing the details the employee will now have an idea his/her strengths so that he/she can improve. Although it is okay for you to narrow it down when it comes to giving detailed feedback. Your employee will now be ready for future work and to be consistent especially the points where he did well. Maintain Positive Feedback Keeping things positive can be tricky since everyone has their perspective things. Here are the things that you should keep in mind: When providing feedback be sure to do it as soon as possible so that employee can reflect fresh events in his/her mind Assure that your comments are specific. The more specific you are the more the employee will understand and eventually carry them out in the future. Be sure that the comments are related to the business itself. Giving positive feedback to a single employee should be heard by others so that they can learn as well. One of the basic rules of giving feedback is that the positive should outweigh negative. Therefore, every negative comment should as well have at least three positive comments. Positive Feedback’s are Beneficial Giving feedback doesn’t just benefit only your employees, you will too… in the future of course.  Feedbacks aren’t just for employees, it’s for everyone. Everyone wants to be appreciated once in a while, once it’s done they’ll feel that they are a part of a company and you will earn their trust. Once an employee receives detailed positive feedback they will know their strength and areas to improve. This knowledge can improve their performance at work and productivity. Stating your feedback to your employees can give clarity on how you want things to go. This can also provide satisfaction and improve your relationship with your employees in return they will provide great reviews to your company boosting your organization’s image. Mistakes to Avoid One of the most crucial mistakes you can do is to not give any positive feedback at all. If you’re not doing it then you need to start now. Here’s how: Start by slowly making your way up there try to notice improvements from your employees but not too frequently. Don’t force yourself or else your employees will find it weird. When giving out positive comments make sure that it isn’t trivial as this would lead to nowhere. Make sure to watch your tone when giving out comments as it may sound rude to others. Always be mindful of your audience. Try to give out positive feedbacks at the right time not just when on performance reviews. It is better if the employee can hear it as soon as possible so that it’ll stick to his/her mind. Conclusion Constructive feedbacks are mainly used to correct the mistakes or bring out the best of your employees. One word can change everything that is why giving out feedbacks are important and should be used correctly. If done correctly you could bring out the best of your employees.

Last January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed COVID-19, a new coronavirus disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. From its first case last December 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China, the virus easily spread to other countries around the world.  In March 2020, WHO made an evaluation concluding COVID-19 as a pandemic. With an estimated total of 2.48 million cases, the disease outbreak pesters the livelihood and well-being of the population. The stay-at-home policy has enforced changes in our routine. Everything that we used to find customary, like going for a jog and traveling to work seems to be out of reach in this time of crisis. With that being said, it triggers emotional and mental distress to almost everyone, even to those without pre-existing mental conditions. The WHO Department of Health and Substance Use acknowledges that we need to guard our psychosocial health more than ever.  In support of this, the WHO Department of Health and Substance Use presented considerations to support mental and psychosocial health in different target groups during this time of the pandemic. 1. For the general population It is important that while we are taking care of our general health, we also show empathy towards other people. Do not attach any particular ethnicity or nationality when referring to the virus. Those affected by COVID-19 are not to blame in this situation. If anything, they deserve support and compassion from us. In order to reduce stigma, do not refer to “people who have COVID-19” as “victims”, “COVID-19 cases, or “the disease”. Separate the person from an identity defined by COVID-19 because once they are recovered, their life will go in with their loved ones, friends, and jobs. It’s okay to take a break from the news if it causes you anxiety. Get the facts only from trusted sources, as rumors and misinformation only trigger anxiety and fear. Protect yourself and those who are in need. It takes a little effort to check in on friends and neighbors through social media. You can ask them if they need some extra assistance. Working together solidarily is a big help in addressing the pandemic.  Moreover, honor the frontliners— including health care workers and police officers— and their sacrifices. Acknowledge the big role they play in order to keep our community safe. You can help them by simply spreading positive images of people who have recovered or news of the people who donated, no matter how big or small. 2. For healthcare workers It is normal to feel under pressure during this situation. Guarding your mental and psychosocial health is just as important as guarding your physical health. Use healthy coping strategies as a recourse to fight off stress. Take sufficient rest, eat healthy food, engage in physical activity, and contact your family and loved ones. Provide support to those affected by COVID-19, especially those who require mental health and psychosocial support. Link them with available resources. The mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide is designed for use by general healthcare workers which provides clinical guidance for addressing mental health conditions. 3. For team leaders or managers in health facilities The staff needs better mental and physical capacity in order to fulfill their roles. Ensure them good quality communication and accurate information. Rotate their tasks and partner inexperienced workers with more experienced colleagues. Establish a buddy system for them so that they can provide support and reinforce safety procedures with each other.  Try to be as considerate of their needs. Encourage and monitor work breaks. Ensure that the staff is aware of how they can access mental health support services.  Secure the availability of essential medications at all levels of health care. People with long-term mental health conditions need uninterrupted access to such medications; discontinuation of medication is highly discouraged. 4. For carers of children Children are prone to mental distress too. Help them find positive ways to express feelings of fear and sadness. Let them engage in age-appropriate activities, such as drawing or reading a book. Children feel relieved when they are able to express their feelings vocally. During this time of stress, children may seek more attention and demands from their parents. Discuss COVID-19 matters with your children in an honest and age-appropriate way. You must also address the issue together to help ease their anxiety. 5. For older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and their carers Older adults, especially those with dementia may become more agitated, easily angry, and anxious while in quarantine. You must provide them with emotional support and further understanding they need through their families and health professionals. Give them simple and clear facts on how to reduce the risk of infection in words they can understand.  If you have an underlying condition, be sure that the medications you are using are accessible. Activate your social contacts if you need someone to provide you with assistance.  Keep regular routines, including regular exercising, cleaning, or reading to maintain mental stability and reduce boredom. 6. For people in isolation Keep in touch with your social networks through social media. Pay attention to your needs and feelings by engaging in healthy activities that you find relaxing. Exercise regularly and get enough sleep to keep things in perspective. Stay informed with the latest information from WHO on where COVID-19 is spreading through this link.

Some small business owners struggle in keeping the business alive and there are also people who succeed. There are a lot of reasons for this and one of them would be the approach of the owner. We have our own definition when calling a business owner successful in building his/her business. But when comparing successful owners from other business owners you can really see the difference. Therefore, we listed down 10 characteristics of a successful business owner. Success Driven The most common trait of all business owners. Every small business owners want to see their business grow from being a startup. They constantly work in finding how to improve things in order to lead their business to success. Starting a business is challenging, therefore, business owners would require a lot of determination and motivation. Focused Small business owners carry a huge amount of responsibilities in their business. Carrying them out accordingly to plan would be hard since distractions would always be there. A successful small business owner knows how to block out distractions and give immediate attention to important details. Focusing on Goals Another trait that a successful business owner should have. Business needs goals in order to set a path. Without it, achieving success can be difficult. Most business owners spend most of their time planning out their goals so they can have an idea of what changes are required and how to accomplish it. Confidence Confidence is important in every business owner.  it relies on what you know about yourself; the more you know your limitations and abilities the more confident you will be. With proper confidence clients, business partners, and employees will put their trust and respect on you which can lead to your success. Passionate Challenges will always put you in a spot where you want to give up. But passion is what keeps us moving forward. Business owners don’t just start businesses out of context they started it for a reason and most of their reasons are due to their passion. Being able to fuse your passion into day-to-day business activities is what makes business owners remarkable. Open-minded Having an idea for the future of your business is very important. Trying out new things may be considered a gamble. But as a successful business owner, it is also important to take consideration of different ideas and processes, as this might also lead to the success of your business. Being Self-Reliant Acting as a leader is important for a team in small or big businesses. Although, everyone has their own opinion of being self-reliant. Shouldering the burden of a company does not mean that you’re not accepting the help of others. It means that your willing to do it by yourself if needed. Humble Although, being self-reliant is good, knowing when to seek help is also good. Your businesses won’t grow if your insecurity will keep floating around. Successful business owners know when to ask for help, receive constructive criticism, and to remain humble even in the verge of success. Persistent Even running a small business can have its ups and downs. Who said things will always be easy, there will be always setbacks in response to victories. A successful small business owner should be resilient and have the ability to bounce back through any hardships and not give up. Budget-conscious The success of a business often relies on its financial status. Successful business owners are very strict when it comes to planning their budgets. Once planned the business will carry them out as the operations go. Being able to know your funds, cut costs, and correctly spend your money can determine your company’s success.

The outbreak of the new coronavirus has resulted in an economic downturn. Even the economic activity across the world as factories shutdown bring manufacturing to a halt. Businesses are experiencing challenges due to the reeling of the global markets and locked-at-home employees. That is why businesses must create new tactics to conform to such challenges. The government, businesses, and its dependents have to go through a cycle of adjustments to keep the economy fueled. The government is implementing new business measures to support the economy and its citizens. On the other hand, businesses need to adapt their systems and structures with the changing laws. As such, companies need to focus on HR and payroll issues in order to prioritize the best interests of their staff. It is crucial at such a time of crisis for companies to ensure that their employees are paid the right amount at the right time. This helps maintain their trust and motivation. Now, companies, whether big or small, will come under great pressure to get it right. 1. Evolving Business Laws Companies need to be updated with the evolving government legislation. They should also rapidly integrate the new legislation into their policies. This adds complexity to the nature of payroll management, especially for multinational companies.  There will be changes relating to sick pay, overtime, and leave. While the situation evolves, it is best to have clear communication and processes among employees and third parties to manage miscommunication and uncertainty.  The United Kingdom government is making a move to implement statutory sick pay (SSP) to COVID-19-related issues. The SSP is exclusive for companies with less than 250 employees. Moreover, they changed the legislation to enable SSP payment from day one rather than day four. With that being said, companies need to adapt to the changes made by the government. Updating and adjusting their payroll system is a must in this situation. In terms of payroll taxes, states like Queensland are implementing payroll tax waiver. Each plan contains different specifics, such as payroll amounts and deferral time. It is of utmost importance that companies pay attention to new rules and apply them to their payroll system. 2. The Current Situation Sometimes, companies go beyond legal requirements; they adopt voluntary changes to the policies to ease the financial burden of their staff. This helps maintain a good relationship between the company and employees. It also establishes a good employer reputation. Such voluntary policies include paid leave to support the employee’s self-isolation and caring for relatives. Furthermore, the companies should also consider the increase in employee leave and the overtime policy. They should also explore the adjustments of paid and unpaid holidays. Complying with these requirements should reflect on the policies and internal working practices to keep everything in sync.  3. Managing the Changes With the surprising amount of changes, companies should ensure that their new policies are aligned with the government’s laws. It must fall within the limit of local regulations. They should expect the adjustment of workflows and processes in order to deal with filing and processing. Additionally, reducing the risk of late payment needs to be on top priority. If in case the situation is unavoidable, flag the delays as early as possible.  Workflow analysis comes in handy to manage these changes. The first step is to identify the processes that are important in paying employees and filing tax obligations. Ask whether you would be able to access all the systems remotely. Companies should also consider the lack of resources. There needs to be enough back-up staff if it happens. They also have to inform the third parties and partners regularly regarding the changes in the ways of working and possible payment delays.  Lastly, clear communication should always be established between the company and the employees. Companies should always keep in mind that their policies are in place to guide their staff through evolving laws.

Here’s the thing, a month has passed since the enhance community quarantine. Have you already crossed out a task or two that you promised yourself you will accomplish this quarantine period? Are you making the most of your free time by doing the things you are passionate about, perhaps learning something new? Or do you feel stressed out from all the news about the COVID-19 fatalities and political disputes? It is now the time to contemplate whether you are making use of your time efficiently, while, of course, taking into consideration your mental health during this pandemic. If you are lacking the motivation to function, all you need is a swift kick in the pants— for instance, taking an online course.   Good thing though, various organizations and websites are providing free online courses you could commit yourself to for the time being. From vlogging to agriculture, you are just one click closer to easing your boredom and exploring your niche. Check out these categories and allot at least an hour every day to pursuing new knowledge of your preference. Vlogging If you are an aspiring vlogger, well here’s a piece of good news for you: Skillshare now offers thousands of videos for you to explore. All you have to do is choose your platform: will it be Instagram, WordPress, Blogger, or Youtube? Health and Wellness While the pandemic causes us unhealthy coping mechanisms such as stress-eating and lack of sleep, it is still important that we watch over our mind and body. Do not let the pandemic devour you. Yale University and Coursera now offer a course regarding “The Science of Well-Being.” The course will let you engage in a series of challenges designed to build more productive habits and incorporate specific wellness activity into your life. Additionally, Imperial College London initiated a course entitled, “Science Matters: Let’s Talk About COVID-19” where you can hear directly from our world-class experts about the theory behind the analyses of COVID-19 and its spread. Career Enhancement Udacity offers a wide range of nanodegree programs free for one month. Udacity covers Computer and Science courses, including Programming and Development, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Data Science, and Autonomous Systems. They cover Business courses too, ranging from growth and acquisition strategy to UX designing! Culinary Arts Just after one month of community quarantine, Filipinos have rediscovered their passion for homemade cooking. Social media has now become a platform for DIY versions of our favorite fast foods. Take for example the Dalgona coffee and Jollibee-inspired tuna pie.  If you are looking for sites to level up your cooking game, you’re just in the right place! Master chefs who were forced to close down their restaurants are now offering online cooking classes through IGTV, including “Quar Eye” of Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski and “Kitchen Quarantine” of Massimo Bottura. Arts, Music, and Literature Ever since the pandemic, arts, music, and literature have been keeping our sanity intact. We owe these three for keeping our company in times of boredom. If you are interested in creating your own art, a Kadenze account grants you access to courses in Art and Creative Technology. Some of their top courses include Sound Design with Kontakt and Classical Sonatinas and Sonatas at the Piano. Agriculture TESDA Online Program (TOP) aims to make education more accessible to Filipino citizens in the comfort of their own homes. While you’re at it, TESDA offers a free agricultural course on how to grow fruits.  Decorating Being stuck at home, you may want to use your free time to improve your digs. You can learn interior design through Oxford Home Study Centre. Oxford Home Study Center provides 46 free courses to help you either revisit past qualifications or discover inspiring subjects for the first time. Don’t worry, most of these websites provide a certificate of completion at the end of the course. It will surely look good on your portfolio! If you are not fond of signing up on academic platforms though, you can always go to YouTube for easily accessible informative videos. The Internet is indeed a good place to expand your horizons.

Amidst the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are taking advantage of technology to implement work-from-home policies. This may seem all of a sudden for all of us; the new set-up seems like a whole new world, that’s why you have to shift gears and still be as productive, if not more during your working hours. Working remotely can be detrimental to your quality of work. Because there is no one watching over you, you may be tempted to slack off during working hours. It shouldn’t be the case; your work output should always be of good quality no matter where you work and even if there’s no one watching. Here are easy time management techniques you can implement to boost productivity while working from home. 1. Act like you’re going to the office One of the advantages of working from home is that you can get away with wearing your sleepwear. However, if you feel like it doesn’t help your productivity, you can wake up and get into a routine as though you’re going to the office. You don’t have to dress formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing your clothes will help set your mind into thinking that you have to get things done. Setting the alarm, getting a cup of coffee, and taking a bath before working is important as such a time like this, especially when you feel detached from your “normal” life. Besides, we’re all about video meetings now; a dab of lipstick or a quick fresh bath will make you look presentable in front of your coworkers virtually. 2. Create a designated workplace If you are used to going into the office every day, the difference between home and workplace is physical. Recreating that difference will help you feel like you’re working in your traditional office. Designate a specific place in your home for your work. It should at least feel separate from your home as possible. Try to make your workspace comfortable with a chair you can sit in 8 hours straight and add a bit of decoration to your desk if you wish. 3. Don’t surf the internet During your entire shift—be it at the office or at home— you are required to use the internet. The only difference when working from home is your boss is not around to watch you. You might be tempted to surf the internet and check your Facebook notification. Keep in mind that while you are not in the office, your working hours are still paid and it is your duty to get things done while rendering standard outputs. Turn off your phone’s WiFi connection when working. You can give yourself a break and turn it on again but only when you feel like you really deserve it! 4. The Getting Things Done (GTD) Method The GTD method is a stress-free productivity method for organizing your to-dos, priorities, and schedule to make them more manageable. The five pillars of the GTD includes: Capturing everything from to-dos to recurring tasks. Clarifying the things you have to do by breaking it down to actionable steps. Organizing the actionable steps by category and priority. Reflecting on your to-do list to see what your action should be. Engaging and getting to work. By implementing the GTD method, it makes it easy for you to see what you have on your plate and choose what to work on next. 5. Avoid personal tasks This goes back to no. 3. The lack of supervision is one of the biggest downfalls of working at home. It drives you to do personal tasks because you think it would only take a couple of minutes. You think to yourself that washing a few dishes won’t hurt your work productivity but then you find yourself doing other personal tasks like putting in a load of laundry or mopping the floor. You wouldn’t do those things in the office; always treat working from home the same way. If you notice personal tasks while working, you can jot it down on a sticky note next to your work station so you can work on them after your shift. 6. Determine your most productive time of the day Ask yourself whether you are a morning or a night person. Working at the time when you feel the most energetic could help double your productivity resulting in better outputs. You can work on the most challenging task during the time you feel the most productive and try answering emails or phone calls at the time you feel tired or least energetic. 7. Use your lunch break Even if you feel extra productive, you should not skip lunch breaks. Eating your lunch during work can become a detrimental habit. You have to take a real lunch break and turn off your computer unit. While you’re taking a break, your laptop needs time off too! Use the time to meditate or eat lunch with your family. Besides, it’s not every day you get to eat lunch with them. Working from home is no excuse to slack off. Make sure that you are ready to accomplish your to-do list without forgetting that you have to take a break to rejuvenate your mind. While the world is freaking out, it is important to have a clear sight of your goals and you also take care of your well-being.

Practicing time management wisely is an important skill to embody for personal and professional success, especially if you are in the human resources department. Being a human resource employee, you are tasked to place workers, train and develop, manage performance, handle employee relations, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. On top of it all, you are tasked to observe and maintain the time productivity of the rest of the organization. You have to be tactical when it comes to sorting and managing your tasks as a human resource employee. Here, we have put together some of the most effective time management tips to help you get through your jam-packed schedule. 1. Create a to-do and do-not-do list Making a to-do list is the most convenient and conventional tool for time management and organization. Even though nothing about it is ground-breaking, you can improve your way of making to-do lists by being more specific with your tasks. As much as possible, each task should be achievable within a day.  You can do so by breaking down one big task into smaller, specific modules. When you are creating the list, it is important that you sort the tasks by priority level. Determine which tasks are the priorities and allocate realistic amounts of time and deadline to each. Setting deadlines will more likely help you follow through and complete each task. Another fun way of assembling a to-do list is sharing it with your coworkers to keep each other accountable and to be on the same page as everyone else.  By creating a do-not-do list, you are freeing yourself from the insignificant tasks that would only burden your schedule. Your do-not-do list is a collection of things that might hurt your productivity. You need to identify these things. Examples include reading and answering personal emails, getting caught up in office drama, and complaining in front of your co-workers. You can also list down personal shortcomings and how you can improve them. Your do-not-do list will help instill the things that you need not do and to set your sight on tasks that are far more important. 2. Practice time blocking Time blocking is a calendar-like, proactive process of arranging your tasks into the hours of the day in order to reach productivity. With time blocking, you are dedicating hours to a crucial task so you can concentrate on your priorities. There are various applications online where you can make your own time blocks.  You can make your own plan using this simple three-step process: Determine your most productive time of the day and maximize it. Create your schedule and stick to it. Your most important task should be placed in your 60-minute slot. Try stand-up meetings or huddles A stand-up meeting or huddle is a brief meeting between a team that is held on foot. The goal in stand-up meetings is to talk about the finished tasks, in-progress tasks, and impediments. Establishing a daily 15-minute stand-up meeting will help cut the fluff and let you talk about the most important details of the tasks due to the time limit of the meeting. By doing a daily stand-up meeting, the employees are reminded of the tasks that they have to accomplish for the day so that they have something to share for the next stand-up meeting. It also helps achieve better alignment among teammates and keep everyone focused on the same direction. Plan a specific time for reading and answering emails Reading and answering emails has become time-consuming in the modern workday. While it is a major part of business, sometimes it can be a distraction. Getting obsessed with reading and responding to emails consumes the time when you are supposed to perform far more significant tasks. Only choose a block of time each day to focus on email. Turning off the notification will help you sidetrack from opening your emails. It’s okay not to respond to them immediately; if someone urgently needs you, they can set aside time to see you or call you.  Clean up your desk Keeping your desk clean is a good way to avoid stress. Having a well-organized desk helps elevate the mood in the workplace so you can manage your time efficiently. If you have some spare time, try tidying up and decorating your office space. Take quick breaks You owe yourself a quick break after accomplishing a nerve-wracking task. A quick break clears your mind and boosts your productivity by encouraging creativity and problem-solving. Of course, what you do during your break is important. Try doing a 5-minute stretching or listening to relaxing music! It’s okay to say “no” Being in the human resource department, you will expect a lot of employees to ask for a favor. Most of the employees are relying on you for something. You must know that it’s okay to say “no” sometimes, especially when the requests aren’t the best use of your time. You can still be helpful though by suggesting ways for the employees to resolve the issues on their own. 8. Set milestones and plan for the future It is important to set milestones and celebrate them. Big or small, accomplishments should be acknowledged. At the end of the day, you can create an all-done list where you can put all the tasks that you were able to accomplish. In this way, you are reminding yourself that did well today and you can do better tomorrow.   You are now one step closer to success. Feel free to share these tips with your coworkers and make your company a more productive place!