You Are Not Alone

Whether you are a business owner, HR professional or hiring manager and you are in a new position or in a role that has been modified over the last few months due to restructuring, you are not alone if you are feeling like you can't keep up with all of the changes.

The business landscape continues to change and move at a rapid pace and laws have been changing too when it comes to things like employment, labor relations and health care. Take those and couple them with things likemonitoring your competition, looking at new avenues for marketing, branding and hiring, such as social media, and maintaining your corporate culture as a great place to work and you have a busy day AND you haven't even touched your regular work day!

You are not alone!

No, I don't have all of the answers or a quick fix, but the good news is you've made it this far and are determined to come out of this year better than you started it! Here are some tips on feeling more connected and a little less overwhelmed:

1. Network (yes, I know this takes time but choose wisely) -

• Look for professionals in your area to share ideas with if you are a CEO check out an executive level group, HR check out NHRA, etc... don't recreate the wheel if you don't have to when it comes to forms, strategies, outlines, etc...
• Have coffee with a consultant; bounce ideas off an expert you might need help with in the future; you can see if you are headed in the right direction without over committing
• Meet early in the morning before your day really begins and your mind is fresh

2. Read what other people are doing

• You may not want to write your own but reading others helps to keep you connected; there are blogs of all types, you might find your next new hire in a blog - http://mikelally.net/blog/ or if you want to learn something on a topic you don't know a lot about such as LinkedIn http://sirlinkedalot.com/blog/blog/
• Check out your LinkedIn updates; are their events/seminars/webinars nationally or locally you can tap in to; are your competitors, potential new hires or customers at these events
• Read discussions and respond - you know your industry, you have an opinion so start participating and soon you can be an expert too!

3. Keep the culture going - don't loose sight of the little things even in the busiest of times

• Run a contest giving employees the option for a 1/2 day off rather than a big extravagant prize; time off is very valuable
• Have a cook out where you are the grill master
• Get tickets to a local sporting event or meet up at one of the great wine tastings that go on weekly around town http://drthemag.com/wine.php even if your employees buy their own ticket its still a fun meet up
• Sign up for a charity walk together
• It's football season have a jersey day

Take a half day or dare I say it an entire day off - NO EMAIL, NO CELL PHONES one person in your company gets your number and knows its for emergencies only

It's the little things that keep us all going in the busiest of times and as managers it is our job to ensure these stay on the forefront of our team, our day, our lives.