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We recently had the opportunity to talk to Mark Schultz, CEO and Founder of Word Refiner. Mark started proofreading in 1974. After retiring from a career in construction he went full time with Word Refiner. During the interview, Schultz gave us an insider’s view of what it is like to be a successful proofreader. He also shared some of his words of wisdom on the beauty of proofreading and book promotion.

Here’s a transcript of our conversation (edited for clarity):

Me: So, why don’t we start off by you telling me about your job function and your creative process?

Schultz: I do proofreading and book promoting. Those are my two main functions. It turns out I have a pretty unique talent. I find the invisible spelling errors that computer spellcheckers, editors, and other proofreaders miss.

I have classified four categories of spelling errors: misspelled words, misplaced words, multiple words, and missing words. The latter is the hardest because the words on the page are not there when they should be.

Sometimes people ask me about misplaced words. I explained that they are correctly spelled words, but in the wrong context, the exact thing that a spell checker can miss and that can happen by homophone error and typographical mistakes. Think about those homophones that we know so well, to, too, and two and they’re, their, and there. Those are only two examples out of thousands that are there to trip up our writing.

I have blogged quite a bit about these sources of errors. As part of my book promoting, I put up a new book review every week.

Me: I think it’s awesome that we still have proofreaders in the book industry and that we’re not entirely relying on the technological industry of trying to completely edit a book.

Schultz: Yes, I am too. When computers first came out I thought maybe I was going to be out of a job. It didn’t take long for me to realize I had nothing to worry about.

Me: *chuckles Indeed. So from your perspective, what is the beauty of proofreading?

Schultz: That’s a great question, Mela. I love it. I also love taking a well-written book and giving it a final polish, removing the smallest flaws, so the prose shines in the reader’s mind without encountering a spelling error that can ruin the smooth flow of their reading pleasure.

Me: That’s beautiful. Like I said before, I’m glad there are proofreaders who make reading enjoyable. What are some news outlets or resources do you trust that pertain to your field?

Schultz: Well, I subscribe to a number of bloggers and the list is too long to use here. But my top two favorite bloggers are Joanna Penn and Ann R. Allen. They consistently bring information-packed topics to light that are very applicable to authors of all kinds.

Me: Wonderful. My last question for you is what would you tell people to look for when choosing a proofreader?

Schultz: I would say look for someone with a broad range of experience. I believe it is just as important for a proofreader to read as well as an author; recommendations and testimonials, which are also worth quite a bit, especially if the person giving that recommendation can be contacted for verification.

To visit Mark Schultz’s work, visit him at Wordrefiner.com.

AirSend helps book promoters and proofreaders create a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

We all know that when it comes to marketing and business, your brand is the most important visual. Branding follows the basic guidelines of persuasion.

Without branding, businesses would be struggling to gain referrals, growth, and ultimately success. AirSend makes branding easier.

Enjoy the comforts of customizing your background and logo to fit the personality of your brand. In the video below, we give a tutorial on how to do this.

Further, Airsend is perfect for building brands, and ultimately, a micro-network system all from one platform. In this video, we show an example using the Gap marketing team.

With a nice and seemingly aesthetic background, one can feel proud to take a screenshot of their messages and background to persuade their fellow members to join.

Additionally, AirSend is made for all types of professionals and creatives, such as authors, interior designers, architects, realtors, music industry, etc.

AirSend is a great platform to build ideas, share files, and ultimately innovating with ease of communication. With a nice background and logo implemented, building/creating a brand has become a 1000% doable.

Try us at AirSend, we simplify your business for you.

AirSend helps creatives and professionals create a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

We recently had the opportunity to talk to Rajiv Fernandez, owner of Lil’ Icon and Freelance Architect. During the interview, Fernandez gave us an insider’s view of what it’s like to be a successful image designer and architect. He also shed some light on what the design industry is all about.

Here’s a transcript of our conversation (edited for clarity):

Me: So why don’t you tell me about your job function or like what you do with your creative side, with your imagery and how you create the images?

Fernandez: So Lil’Icom kind of started out as a passion project. Basically it started out as a children’s company cause I came out with a few children’s books. And then, you know, probably a year into it I realized that I don’t really know anything about children.

I did enjoy what I was doing you know, drawing these images that could be perceived from different perspectives. So basically it was a conversation. I want my images to be conversation starters.

Whether it was between like a millennial and a newborn baby I started getting more involved with political discourse. So I wanted to create images where it would spread positive messaging.

It really started off with an image of the Statue of Liberty and dressing her up with different characteristics to speak to different policy issues and everything. But trying to keep the messaging positive out there, you know, and there’s enough negative artwork out there.

Me: Definitely. So, how do you determine how to perceive your drawings through different perspectives? Are you making images for millennials and also for like newborn babies? How do you decide or make an image based on that perspective?

Fernandez: A lot of it usually starts with a pun. I like to throw in jokes somehow. And if there’s like some big thing happening, in the world where, you know, I can make a pun out of it. Like I’m really like a dad at heart and drawing is my medium.

So, basically I’m creating art from millennials by millennials, so using the millennial lexicon so that I would understand or stuff that I would, you know, want to read.

Basically. It’s like if everyone’s going to have an opinion on some sort of issue in an article and you know, we can spend that time reading a long article but not really remember everything that’s [inaudible] or, and then create a dialogue with someone saying like, “Oh, what was your opinion? Like I saw this Statue of Liberty with the Hijab. Like what do you think about, you know, immigration rights?”

So it’s supposed to be kind of like a gateway to a larger, deeper discussion. That’s my intention. I’ve been lucky to have those conversations start many times.

Me: Where and what kind of news do you use to catch up with your industries? Like design and architecture?

Fernandez: Yeah. So yeah, with the design world, you know, I, I really like this blog called Dezeen architecture side. And then, you know, I, I read a lot of the probably the more liberal news sources like Washington Post, New York Times and since I’m a millennial, Buzzfeed.

Me: [Vivacious Laughter] Oof, that kills me as an English major.

Fernandez: I know, I know. I really, I really enjoy reading like a good, like an in-depth article, and then see like 27 pictures of dogs.

Me: Yeah. I got to say, well Rajid you’re very hip. So how hard is it managing your client files and communications today? Like with all the resources?

Fernandez: I like to keep my business organized. Whenever I get a new client, I like to create shared folders, that way the client and I are in the same loop.

I also like to have an agenda and meeting minutes. My clients are always impressed by that and I have something that can put my methods in a former office of mine. And that actually just really helps me stay on track.

And I have like a big whiteboard in my office where I write down like my daily tasks, like, you know, physically.

Me: Yeah. Kind of like a Scrum Board or Kanban.

Fernandez: Yeah, basically. If I didn’t have that, it’d be a difficult thing. So like to be honest, I use a Google calendar to schedule all my meetings and you know, it’s good, it’s convenient, but it’s still for me, lacking.

I’m a very visual person, so having something set up in front of me, helps. Physically, tactile things and all that, that really helps. I’m kind of also aware that maybe I’m a boomer. I need to see everything.

To visit Rajiv Fernandez’s work, visit him at Lil’ Icon.

AirSend helps architects and image designers create a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

Do you ever wish to communicate with like-minded people who have synonymous interests, hobbies, theories, or ideas?? Do you also wish to have conversations in which you can opt-in a private only intimate setting? We have your solution. AirSend. In today’s blog post, we will give you the step-by-step process of how to create a secure channel to have the best conversations of your life.

How to Create a Community

We believe communication should be the focal point between every relationship built. To do so we needed to create a platform that allows for an intimate setting. One, where unlike others, you can solely chat with others on the specified interest. In the video below we present a how-to scenario on how to create a Community.

With so many people in a group, the noise-to-signal ratio is high. Put another way, the hundreds of notifications (noise) you receive from Facebook Groups are usually irrelevant messages that do not pertain to you.

With AirSend it is the opposite. Anything you send in the channel is relevant to what you want it to be. AirSend is perfect for creating deep and meaningful conversations in a close-knit community. A community that is involved in their interest/hobbies, and who wish to spread their passion to other like-minded individuals.

Through tight security measures, you have the pleasure of sending invites to those you want in your community. Additionally, you can customize your built-in wiki, assign actions, and assign files. In other words, AirSend is a platform that builds communities through invite-only. Whereas with Facebook Groups or Discord, for example, there are thousands of people who join groups.

Our Purpose

We want our communities to feel inspired when they use AirSend. Compared to Discord and Facebook Groups, where they too have invite-only, they also have hundreds of members in their specified community. How is one supposed to feel a part of their community when there are endless threads of conversations happening, and you aren’t sure where to jump in??

AirSend relieves this pressure, by allowing you to control the channel the way you want to, and to have the perfect conversation with a few other people. We want you to have innovation. We wish for you to feel the excitement of having an amazing conversation through a technological medium.

Much like Discord and Facebook Groups, AirSend strives to build communities. BUT the difference that sets us apart is innovation. AirSend strives to create close-knit communities. This allows for ease of communication and 24-hour exchanges of ideas, theories, comments, interests, likes and dislikes, everything.

The Essence of AirSend

We believe that having a great conversation should include efficient and, if possible, limited context switching. In other words, creating a micro-networking environment.

What is micro-networking you might ask? Well, as the name implies, micro-networking involves networking in a small secure environment through one platform. I.e. Micro. We are the first-ever platform to deliver innovation through micro-networking.

With a clean UI design, micro-networking has never been clearer. Unlike Discord where the visuality is overwhelming, AirSend has a clear cut design, made for accessible and visually appealing clicking. With AirSend you can feel comfortable having the conversations you love.

AirSend allows you to customize your built-in community using our wiki. Further, we give you the efficiency of context switching and uploading and sharing files. Best of all there are several designated locations to see your files uploaded. In your specified channel, and in your profile center where you can see ALL the files from your various communities.

We strive for our clients to feel inspired to innovate when they converse with their community. Building your own micro-network is the new medium to innovate. AirSend is the new medium.

AirSend helps with community building by creating a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

Welcome back to AirSend’s Book Corner! This week we are covering a fairly recent book published in 2019. The hot-selling knowledge enthrallment that we are covering this week is titled, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” written by David Epstein. In this week’s book corner, we are going to do something a little different. Rather than giving you chapter analysis’ or several key points of the book, we are going to elaborate on Epstein’s argument. Just a little something to provide perspective. Let’s dive in.

One of our favorite comparisons by far is Tiger Woods vs. Roger Federer. Don’t worry, this comparison actually comes in handy when explaining the overall argument. So, you are probably asking, or probably not, what is the Tiger Woods vs. Roger Federer comparison? According to our analysis, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer represent two ends of a spectrum. Both sharing a commonality, specialization. However, this type of specialization is seen in two different ways. Specialization is defined as the process of concentrating on and becoming an expert in a particular subject or skill.

Alright, enough side talk. The comparison of both athletes lie in the process of their specialization. Since he was a child, Tiger Woods was a prodigy golf player. He had far excelled in his abilities, resulting in his competing at a young age. Roger Federer on the other hand, actually did not start off as a prodigy child. Instead, he played a variety of sports at a young age. Only after did he discover tennis, did he really start honing his skill in the field. Epstein claims that though it would be nice to live in a world that is like golf or chess, i.e. a world with predicted consequences and results, and defined rules, we wouldn’t be living for one. Secondly, we wouldn’t be in a society where specialization exists.

The argument Epstein makes is that we, as a society, should stray from a specialist-only view, in order to become better at it. In a world where specialization exists, we need to carry a holistic or broad perspective of our field, rather than having a narrow scope.

Basically having one foot outside the door. Tiger Woods embodies the narrow focus, where, even as a child, all he did was focus on golf. In antithesis, Roger Federer started with a broad perspective on all types of sports and then narrowed his focus to tennis. Now, I know you will most likely argue that one cannot compare a prodigy to a non-prodigy. That is not the argument we are making here.

The argument we are trying to convey is that Tiger Woods=specialized focus and Roger Federer= broad perspective. Of course, not every specialization can carry a broad perspective. For example, Epstein refers to firefighters and scientists. They too cannot carry a broad perspective in their field. What they could do is implement creativity in their field, which is another form is a holistic view. Without creativity, there is no innovation.

“The more contexts in which something is learned, the more the learner creates abstract models, and the less they rely on any particular example. Learners become better at applying their knowledge to a situation they’ve never seen before, which is the essence of creativity,”- p.77

The Argument

As reiterated before, David Epstein’s argument is that we should have a holistic style of thinking in specialized focus. Especially in a specialized and industrialist society, as he notes in chapter 2.

“The more constrained and repetitive a challenge, the more likely it will be automated, while great rewards will accrue to those who can take conceptual knowledge from one problem or domain and apply it in an entirely new one” p. 53

If we were to look back on our college days, we would find that all we knew at that time were what was in our field of study. An English Major could list you the top British Literature, but they may not be able to tell you anything related to changing a tire. An organic chemistry major could tell you all there is to know about their related field, but they probably couldn’t tell you how to file taxes. To the author, this is an issue.

The issue isn’t that an English major doesn’t necessarily know how to change a major, or that an organic chemistry student doesn’t know how to file taxes. Even in college, we have a narrow focus on our specialization that we fail to look at a broader perspective.

Examples

The Architect

Let’s apply this to professions. Take architects for instance. According to d2 architects, an architect should have confidence, adaptability, creativity etc. Now, what if they have the focus of being creative, but do not have the focus on adaptability. For instance, an architect who is easy going and has all the creativity they need to do their job, but they lack the skills to give them range (perspective). A perspective that gives them adaptability. This is a hypothetical example, but one that actually happens in quite a range (pun intended) of fields.

Having a range of perspectives inspires creativity in a world that is heavily specialized. Of course, not all fields can have range, such as science, chess, sports, etc.

The Real Estate Agent

Let’s take another example: A real estate agent. Real estate agents should have the tenacity, knowledge of the market, and have attention to detail. Let’s say this real estate agent possesses all these qualities.

A client comes in one day, specifying all the qualities they want in their home. The real estate agent understands and picks his/her top three favorite selections. From the three selections, the client chooses none. No biggie, sometimes agents don’t get the house on the first, second, or third try. But let’s say this is the agents sixth time in showing selections. The client doesn’t like any of them. The real estate agent is confused because they used all of their strategies. However, for whatever reason, the client is not happy. Could it be that the real estate agent is focusing too much on what the client wants, and not looking on a broader scale?

Welcome to the TV series, House Hunters. Not everything they show you are true. Perhaps if the real estate agent had a range in perspective they possibly could have found the client’s dream home. Now, not every situation is like this. Half of the time the real estate agent could do everything right, and it is perhaps the client themself who do not carry a range in perspective. The point is, having a narrow focus of what you want/ know does not always lead to success.

“It’s strange that some of the greatest musicians were self-taught or never learned to read music. I’m not saying one way is the best, but now I get a lot of students from schools that are teaching jazz, and they all sound the same. They don’t seem to find their own voice. I think when you’re self-taught you experiment more, trying to find the same sound in different places, you learn how to solve problems.” 77

So, as you can see, having a specialized focus of something does not always lead to success. However, if we were to take on range, then perhaps, innovation may happen out the wazoo! As the author points out, we should stop living in a wicked learning environment. We need to carry out the task to remind ourselves to have a broad perspective, especially in a specialized field.

“The more contexts in which something is learned, the more the learner creates abstract models, and the less they rely on any particular example. Learners become better at applying their knowledge to a situation they’ve never seen before, which is the essence of creativity,”- p.77

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you.

The major steps and questions that real estate agents must consider when working with a seller.

Whether people are upgrading, downsizing, or relocating, one of the first decisions they must make is what to do with their current home, and selling is the most common way to go. Maybe that’s why over five million homes are sold in the U.S. every year as part of the multi-trillion dollar real estate industry — great news for real estate agents who work with sellers.

While helping someone sell their home can seem daunting if you are new and have never gone through the process, with the right approach, you can come out of a sale knowing you helped your client get the best possible price with the least amount of hassle.

This guide summarizes the major steps and questions that real estate agents must consider when working with a seller.

How to ace the real estate hiring process

Before you can even begin to help someone sell their home, you must first get hired by acing the hiring process.

Show your value.

Some potential clients might be asking themselves if they even need a real estate agent. While some states require people to have an agent to complete closing paperwork, others do not. That’s why it’s important you show the value that you can bring to the table. Real estate market analysis, pricing, listing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork — these are all basic services that you provide as a real estate agent. It’s important that you make sure potential clients know this so that they have a reason to hire you.

Some common interview questions…

The sale of a home is often one of the biggest financial transactions a person experiences in life. It’s no wonder people are picky when it comes to choosing a real estate agent. Clients want their agent to be knowledgeable, dedicated, and highly accessible. So make sure this is the image that you portray when you go into that first meeting or phone call.

Below are some common interview questions to help you prepare.

How long have you been in real estate?
As a seller’s agent, how many homes did you help sell last year ?
What marketing strategies do you use to help your clients sell their properties?
Can you tell me the average time between listing and accepting an offer for the clients you work for?
What are some things I can do to make my home more attractive to buyers?
How often will you communicate with me about our progress?
What are some ways I can contact you?
Will you go to all of the inspections on my home? (The answer should be yes.)
What are your fees?
Will I be able to terminate our contract if I’m not happy with the results you’re giving me?
What are your references? (Always have these prepared.)

How to prepare your seller’s home

Should they renovate?

Deciding whether or not to renovate comes down to comparing the cost to the value added. Sellers don’t usually renovate their homes right before selling because they find that the sales price will not fully recoup the cost of renovations. In some cases, though, small renovations can make a large impact on the property’s perceived quality and value. These types of renovations are worthwhile because they pay for themselves.

Some possible interior repairs and renovations…

Buyers decide to buy a home based on emotion as much as logic. Whether or not a property feels right is a common reason an offer is or is not placed. Can the buyer imagine themselves watching football on the couch in your living room? Enjoying a family meal at the dining table?

If a part of your seller’s home looks outdated or worn, giving it a makeover can add a lot of perceived value. The two most common places for these types of renovations are the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, updating the flooring, cabinets, appliances, counter tops, and lighting can transform your seller’s home from a no to a yes. If they are on a budget, even small changes like newly painted cabinet doors will make a difference. Updating the bathroom in similar, small ways is very helpful especially in older homes. No matter which part of the home they choose to renovate, encourage your seller to choose neutral colors, good lighting, spacious storage, and energy-efficient upgrades, if applicable.

Here is a list of other small interior repairs or renovations for you to suggest:

Tighten loose door knobs.
Repair leaking toilets and taps.
Oil squeaky door hinges and fix screen and closet doors that are not on their tracks.
Replace or fix cracked molding or floor tiles.
Replace all dead light bulbs.
Clean vents and ceiling corners.
Repaint walls with a new coat of paint, favoring light, neutral colors.
Shampoo or replace their carpet and rugs.
Clear out and clean the garage.

Some possible exterior repairs and renovations…

While important, the interior of your seller’s home is not the only aspect that requires consideration. The second a potential buyer parks in their driveway is the moment the first impression begins, culminating in a decision whether or not to place an offer. Here is a list of items to check to make sure that the exterior of your seller’s home is in top condition.

Mend broken fences.
Clear out the eaves and gutters.
Fix or replace any broken screens, windows, shutters, or storm doors.
Re-paint any worn surfaces on the exterior of their home.
Fix and paint the patio and deck.
Make sure their pool is clean or covered if there is one.
Clean and re-paint the front door and consider a fresh Welcome mat.
Plant fresh flowers and fix any dry patches in their lawn.

Marie Kondo before listing.

Part of boosting a home’s appeal to potential buyers is clearing out unnecessary clutter. Clutter can make a space seem smaller, darker, and even older. On the flip side, clutter-free homes make it easier for potential buyers to envision the home the way that they might occupy it.

If the house seems cluttered, encourage your seller to move their treasured belongings from the house to storage or a friend or family member’s place until you have sold the home.

Set the stage.

Staging may not be necessary, but it doesn’t hurt. Little things like buying some discounted pillows for a splash of brightness or putting fresh flowers on the dining room table provide a nice touch with minimal effort and cost. And all real estate agents know the importance of scent. Open the doors and windows and light a warm-smelling candle, or bake a pan of cookies. These small details add up to a quickly sold home and satisfied seller.

Successful real estate sales is about listing at the right price.

After you have completed the work necessary to get your seller’s home sale ready, it is time to set a price. Pricing a home is the single most important step in determining how quickly the home will sell and how many offers you will receive. This is where your real estate expertise and any persuasion skills will come in handy.

Avoid overpricing.

Convincing your seller to list at the right price is a balancing act between starting too high and idling on the market for months or shooting too low and getting flat out rejected or missing out on potential profits. A CMA, or comparative market analysis, is your best friend here because it not only provides you with necessary data but also gives your seller something solid to refer to.

The most common mistake that sellers make is overpricing, and many of these sellers are working with real estate agents who were not able to convince them to do otherwise. Knowing the market and the worth of your seller’s home and being straightforward with your professional opinion is the best strategy to take in most situations.

A few words on marketing…

Once you and your seller have settled on a price for the property and you have listed their home, it’s time to market.

As you know, listing your seller’s home is very much like putting a product up for sale on Amazon. It is now available for purchase, but there are other products just like it. Be sure to do the necessary marketing to ensure your seller’s home stands out. This marketing includes posting on social media and blogs, ensuring that listings are filled with attractive images and detailed descriptions, and hosting open house events that will attract potential buyers. This is your job and no one else’s.

Starting a bidding war

After you have listed your seller’s home and spread the word through marketing, you will begin to receive offers. A buyer makes his or her offer by using a standard contract. In this contract, the buyer specifies a sale price and conditions such as deposit amount, closing date, and date of possession. The buyer’s agent will provide this to you. You will then review it with your seller, whose options when faced with an offer are to accept, reject or counter. Countering an offer begins the negotiation process.

If you have multiple offers, then you have the advantage in these negotiations. A bidding war is where a seller has multiple offers on the table, more coming in, and is able to leverage the interest to obtain a higher price on the property. You can find yourself in this situation if you are in a seller’s market, if you have a unique and highly desirable property, or if you as a real estate agent have done a very good job.

Are you ready?

Selling your first home can seem daunting if you have only read about the process while studying for your licensing exams. However, with an organized approach and the guidance of your broker, you can come out of a sale knowing you received the best possible price with the least amount of hassle. After reading this guide, you should feel better prepared to undergo the process. Now that you have more of the knowledge you need to help your seller make the most of it, it is time to take that first step and find your first clients.

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help your real estate business here.

Here are three more tips from a modern text — Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson — to improve your team management skills.

Have you ever had a great manager? Someone who made you extra excited to go to the office and do your best work possible every day.

How did they do that?

Even though management is an essential skill for most business owners, it’s often overlooked as something that needs to be learned and practiced. This can have negative consequences on factors that directly impact the bottom line, including team productivity, employee turnover, and client relations. Thankfully, because it is a skill and not some innate talent — anyone can improve their management capabilities.

Earlier this month, we shared some helpful management tips from the Thirukkural, a 2,000-year old classic Tamil text, for our weekly Book Corner. Here are three more tips from a modern text — Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson — to improve your team management skills.

Tip #1: Stay humble.

Thompson’s first tip is that no matter how large your business grows, never lose touch with the front line. Even if most of your work becomes planning and directing at a high level, spend at least a few hours per month working in the field.

Taking some time to do the work that your team is doing ensures that you maintain real-time knowledge of what is happening at every level of your business. It is also a way to gain the respect of those who work for you and to show them respect as well.

Tip #2: Forget yourself.

The moment you begin managing others, you are no longer one person — you are your team. That means that the success of your team members takes the spotlight over your own individual career success. This echoes the tip from the Thirukkural that your job as a manager is to make sure your people have everything they need to succeed.

The main point: look after your people, and you shall rise.

Tip #3: Punish positively.

Everyone makes mistakes, including the people who work for you. How you respond to those mistakes defines who you are as a manager.

For example, it may be tempting to blow up in frustration at an employee who disappears for multiple hour-long breaks everyday without clocking out or letting anyone know. But yelling at them will not make them want to do a better job. In fact, it’d probably have the opposite effect.

In his book, Thompson makes the point that the goal of punishment is positive, so the tone and language should be positive, too. Never show anger when disciplining a team member. Make corrections using disinterested language that shows no bias. The moment you show anger or condescension when you punish is the moment you lose power in the situation and cause permanent harm.

You can express displeasure if you need to. Just don’t do it while you are disciplining. Make it a separate conversation.

Keep practicing.

Management is an essential skill that can make or break your business, so it is worth taking the time to learn, practice, and improve your capabilities. No matter how happy and productive your team is, there is always room for improvement, and bettering your management skills will always be a step in the right direction.

AirSend is a versatile digital workspace for professionals to share files, send messages, and complete tasks. See how AirSend can help you as your business grows here.

Introducing AirSend’s new weekly theme…drum roll please…productivity trends!! Every Friday, we will be releasing a new post on the latest productivity trends that are happening in the world. We figured, instead of us giving you great advice, let everyone else give them to you. For more productivity advice, check out our podcast recommendation. Without further ado, let’s begin with the first current trend.

Break Time!

According to a recent study done by AtmanCo, quantity is no longer equivalent to quality. In other words, the more time you work (quantity), the less quality you produce. “Less can be sometimes more,” (Roy, 2019). Based on their study, it is concluded that taking short breaks to move around, stretch, socialize, or even contemplating a screensaver, “can increase concentration and performance at work,” (Roy, 2019).

Zero Waste

What is Zero Waste you might ask? You didn’t? Well, we asked for you anyway. In the past year, Zero Waste has increased in popularity. Not only does it benefit the environment, but it has also been proven to make those who implement the strategy more productive. According to Mandy Gilbert, founder, and chief executive of Creative Niche, Zero Waste involves, “eradicating your workplace operations so that not one ounce of garbage goes into the landfill,” (2019). By taking on the challenge of Zero Waste, goals and challenges are created that can help bring your team together, i.e. bonding. Gilbert further mentions that setting goals and benchmarks is a great way to keep everyone involved, and therefore more motivated and connected to the cause.

Maximizing Soft Skills!

Due to the ever-present influence of our new and upcoming generation, soft skills have become one of the top leading productivity trends. “Soft skills are the personal attributes, personality traits, inherent social cues, and communication abilities needed for success on the job,” (Doyle 2020). Essentially soft skills are similar to emotions, the ability to create and innovate, and characterize a persons’ interaction with others. The way soft skills implement further productivity is by allowing expressive creativity, communication, and leadership skills. After all, creativity leads to innovation. For more information on understanding soft and hard skills, check out this article, here.

Summation

There are plenty of hacks, tricks, methods, and tactics to become more productive. Of course, that’s our job to tell you what the latest trends are, so stick around for next week to see the latest, latest trends. To briefly cover this week’s productivity motto: take breaks, get rid of unconventional work items, and embrace your creativity/soft skills.

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Interview with a Top-Notch Proofreader Mark Schultz

Month: February 2020

How to Create a Community

Our Purpose

The Essence of AirSend

The Argument