Alliance Hero

5 Tips for Delivering Excellent Customer Service Over the Phone Don’t make your customers feel like this. Get them engaged in their communications with you. Treat the customer service experience very seriously. Someone who’s had a bad interaction with your company is likely to spread the word and discontinue using your products or services. Here are some simple tips for improving a customer’s experience when interacting with them over the phone. Smile Like You Mean It Smili...ng is always suggested as a way to improve how you deliver customer service. You can literally hear if someone is smiling or has a blank expression on their face, even if you can’t see them. For a customer, a friendly voice is one thing that tells them that you genuinely care about their problem and want to help them solve it. Use Their Name Research shows that hearing one’s name activates certain parts of the brain more than hearing other people’s names. Calling a customer by their name will get their attention. It signals to them that you see them as a human being, not just a number. As a result, they’ll feel more comfortable speaking with you because you’ve added a personal touch to the experience. Provide Alternatives When you’re helping our customers with issues they’re having with your company’s product or service, you’ll likely run into some obstacles. It’s simply a natural part of the job. You may offer a solution that they’re not thrilled about. Since your job is to make the customer happy and try to exceed their expectations, make sure you offer alternative solutions. Speak with Positive Language Don’t use words like I can’t, Unfortunately or You failed to. This would certainly apply to situations where you need to provide alternative solutions. Instead, use phrases like, I’d be more than happy to offer or I have a solution will be able to help you. Using positive language focuses on what can be done rather than what can’t be done. Be an Active Listener This sounds obvious but it’s surprising how many people fail to do this. When a customer is telling you about their problem, give them your undivided attention. Don’t get distracted by things like your phone or your computer. #AllianceHero #Tips #CustomerService

It’s a great time to assess your business in terms of what’s working, what’s doing alright, and what’s not working. It’s also a good time to take a look at what you want to focus on in the coming year. Step 1: Reflect on the past year Do a general brainstorm about everything that you think went well with your business. Anything from client projects that went super smoothly to processes that worked to keep you on track and organized. Things that worked, but might be able to be... improved on or made better in some way or another. Step 2: Reflect on your numbers The second part of reflecting on the past year involves taking a hard look at the numbers within your business. Pay the closest attention to: Overall income that year, Monthly income, Number of client projects you took on, and Number of sales you made on digital and physical products. It’s important to have a good sense of how your business is growing over a year. Step 3: Brainstorm Session for the new year Be ready to tackle a brainstorm session for everything on your mind for the new year. Start this process by setting a timer or just giving yourself the freedom to take as long as you need to get everything down on paper. Grab a notebook and a pen and just start jotting things down. Jot down things like: Side projects you're thinking of working on (new products, collaborationsetc.) Client projects that will go into the new year Financial goals you're thinking of Words/feelings/habits to focus on Step 4: Work through The Brand Planner Start to incorporate The Brand Planner into your routine for new year planning and it’s really helped you get a solid grasp on the big picture of your business. Work through the exercises to remind yourself of your why as a business owner and to help keep you focused on what’s more important to your brand. Step 5 | Break down financial goals Referring back to your brainstorm session and notes from The Brand Planner, start to break out all of your expenses that you're projecting for the new year. Things like: Mortgage or rent, Food costs, Entertainment, and Nice-to-have things (like date nights, day trips, self-care) Step 6: Organize a plan Start to pick out some of the bigger ticket projects and tasks you want to tackle. List them out along with tasks on another page in your notebook. The Brand Planner also has a nice, tidy section on setting priorities in your business and how to break them out into manageable tasks! Step 7: Decide on my 3 words Each year, instead of committing to new year resolutions, set 3 intention words for the coming year. These are words that we want you to embrace and focus on in any aspect of your business and/or life. Words for the coming year: collaboration, nurture, sustainable. #AllianceHero #7Steps #Tips #Planning

Competition can be healthy and does have the potential to drive us forward to excel. There are likely to come across individuals that we deem more capable, or successful than ourselves. However, the very notion of competition doesn't have to evoke debilitating stress and self-doubt. To master workplace competition, we ultimately must deal with our own feelings with the concept itself. Some things to consider: 1. Accept its presence. Competition is ubiquitous. No matter where ...your career leads you, there will be ample competition to keep you on your toes and it is ever present. Try to become comfortable and make peace with it. 2. Not a "zero sum" game. Opt for an "abundance mentality". Don't take the stance that if someone else succeeds, you are doomed to fail. Another individual's promotion or good fortune, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be left out. 3. Identify your "comparison other"? Choose individuals that motivate you and possess skills that you wish to emulate. Learn from your competition, instead of feeling threatened. 4. Be the "best of you". We're not required to be all things to all people. Instead, find a way to acknowledge your strengths and create your own brand. Find a niche that makes you indispensable - create value and build on this strength. Take control of your own career and find paths to showcase your own talent. 5. Build alliances and collaborate. Network without staying too close to the cuff. Spread your wings to develop depth within your workplace relationships - be the "linking pin" between other departments or functions and solve problems. 6. Get a mentor and a sponsor. Most successful people speak of a mentor that has either inspired or guided them. However, you also need a sponsor. This is an individual that will help you gain exposure, facilitate "stretch assignments" that test your abilities. 7. Be aware. There is no greater confidence builder than becoming your own advocate. Of course, there is a dark side to workplace competition. Watch for individuals who "fight dirty" and have an unhealthy relationship with competition. Document your accomplishments, if you feel it is necessary - and take credit when it is owed to you. If an environment causes you troubling levels of stress, seek a change. #AllianceHero #Ways #Competition #Workplace See more

1. Don't Think About it as Hard Work Think about it as part of making yourself into who You want to be. Once You've made the choice to do something, try not to think so much about how difficult or frustrating or impossible that might be. 2. Create Small, Bite-Sized Goals Make sure you break down that goal into bite-sized, consumable goals. This way you'll feel like you're making progress in your journey and you'll also feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete the smal...ler goals. 3. Read Daily Read for at least one hour a day. If that's too much, start with 20 minutes and do it for one month. Develop a belief that reading is the quickest way to success. 4. Stop Caring About the Things That Don't Matter Doing things that don't mean anything costs a ton of mental energy. Look at your aggregated to-do list, find things you know that you don't care about, and get rid of as many of these activities as possible. 5. Set a Quit Time Set a realistic quitting time for yourself, and stick to it most days of the week. Stop answering emails after 8 PM, or take Sundays off. You'll feel more refreshed and more productive when you allow yourself some down time. 6. Just Do It To get motivated to start doing something, the most effective trick is to just do it. As soon as you think something needs to be done, jump into it, doing it immediately 7. Celebrate Wins How often do you think the good things such as being on time, or signing a new client is simply how it's meant to be? They need celebrating. You need more wins in your life. This will motivate you, encourage you, and help you see how brilliant you truly are. #AllianceHero #Tips #Workplace #Career See more

Most would agree that there are three basic stages in the learning transfer process while every organization deals with differently: preparation, action, and evaluation. With those three things in mind, let’s briefly look at some tips for improving learning transfer within your organization. 1. Clearly Identify Learning Goals and Outcomes It’s important that you review the purpose of the training session and clearly identify learning goals and outcomes, before any training st...arts. This is beneficial for two main reasons. First, it allows your team to refocus their efforts and keep the big picture in mind. Second, this gives the participants an idea of where the training is headed and what will be expected of them at the end of the process. When people know what the takeaways are supposed to be, they’re more aware of what they’re learning and which pieces of information are most important. 2. Use Real World Examples During Training When training your employees, it’s important that you use as many real life examples and situational experiences as possible. If everything is a drill, they won’t be able to transfer much of what they learn from training sessions. Let trainees shadow employees, field phone calls, and get a taste of actual experiences. When combined with drills and exercises, these real-life experiences can facilitate a better transfer of learning and helps to develop leadership capabilities. 3. Provide Individuals with Post-Training Support Transferring skills to the workplace at the conclusion of the training program begins with a post-course debriefing. The post-course debriefing is an ideal juncture at which to identify, plan and agree with the employee where the skills will be applied and to set specific goals for their application. It’s important that you provide participants with some level of ongoing support that they can access. This provides them with a place to answer questions, review concepts, and communicate when they’re having trouble transferring some part of the learning over to the job. Alliance Hero agrees that the success of your training programs depends on your ability to facilitate a transfer of learning among your employees and participants. It’s not the amount of money you spend on training, but the amount of attention you give to learning transfer that will determine the long-term success of your new hires. #AllianceHero #Tips #forManagers #forTeachers See more

National Gingerbread House Day is for you. What are you waiting for? Time to make your gingerbread using cakes or cookies and decorating it with the candies and icing. #AllianceHero #AllianceHeroFamily #12December #NationalGingerbreadHouseDay

Close-knit teams work more effectively and productively together. This is why scheduling regular team bonding activities encourages staff members to get to know their colleagues better while also having a little fun. What’s a fun and effective team bonding activity that’s free or budgetfriendly? 1. Group workouts This activity can bring a team or group closer together than a good, old-fashioned group workout or boot camp. Not something that will make people pass out and hurl...Continue reading

5 Ways To Build Relationships With Colleagues It is important that you get there. But how do you build relationships with co-workers to begin with? Alliance Hero has five ways: Be Honest And Communicate Be open and honest when it comes to building relationships with your co-workers. Make it your way to build social relationships. Be Likable... Sometimes you’re looking for a co-worker. However, don’t be completely interested in building a relationship. You still need to offer assistance and support to work-related tasks. Be Observant This would be a relationship with a fellow worker. If you’re unsure about what you’re trying to do. If you have a good time, you can grow as a co-workers. Find A Common Interest For some, it can be a little awkward to get to know a complete stranger. However, it’s not possible. If you are feeling uneasy about befriending, you don’t know. Don’t Be Afraid To Aim A Little Higher (Or Lower) It wouldn’t be possible to make it out. outrank - in the company. Mentor relationships in the workplace are both parties. #AllianceHero #5Ways #Friends #Colleagues See more

The responsibilities are serious and heavy. If you're a manager, you need to get good results from your employees or you'll find yourself out on your ear. Here are eight tips for getting the best work and results from your employees: Hire People Who Are Better Than You Are You need to hire the best people you can find. You need to look for great people who will ask you questions, who will point out errors and who will work without you hovering over them. Give Great Traini...ng Lots of managers are super busy and often new hire training gets a back seat. Sure, someone sits down with a new employee and shows the employee how to log on to the system and such, but make sure you have a dedicated trainer that the new employee can question whenever needed. Set Clear Goals So many managers let employees flounder and then discipline when the employee doesn't live up to expectations that they never knew existed. Be Fair Judge people based on their work. Give fair schedules.If an employee exceeds her goals, don't respond by increasing the goals for next year without a corresponding rise in salary and/or bonus. Provide Feedback Let them know you're grateful so that she doesn't make the mistake again. Give your employees feedback and they'll know how to improve and what works best. Give Employees Leeway to Do Their Jobs If your reporting employee says that she needs X training in order to solve a certain set of problems, arrange for that training. Listen Please listen to your employees. Listen to their ideas. There's no point in hiring good people if you are going to treat them like robots. They aren't robots. Listen to their ideas. Talk to them. Get their feedback. Give Credit When your boss praises your department for something, say, Thanks so much. Likewise, when there's an error, take responsibility. Your employees will know that you have their back, and they'll work hard to keep the trust you've given them. It's the best way to go about it. #AllianceHero #Workplace #Results #TeamWork #Tips See more

Let's celebrate National Christmas Lights Day by putting up Christmas lights and synchronize it with music. Have a great time with your family, friends, and neighbors. #AllianceHero #NationalChristmasLightsDay #1December

1. Nervousness Is Normal. Practice and Prepare! All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance. The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your n...Continue reading

Make sure you are doing all you can to ensure the health of your spine while you are seated. 1. Check your posture Sit as close as possible to your desk, with your upper arms parallel to your spine and your hands rested on the work surface. At this point, examine whether your elbows are at a 90-degree angle and make sure that your legs are bent at the knees at a 90 degree angle. If they are not, adjust your office chair higher or lower as necessary. 2. Don’t sit too high By t...Continue reading

Happy and blessed thanksgiving! Alliance Hero wishes from across the miles from our house to yours. May your home be filled with laughter and happiness! #AllianceHero #22November #HappyThanksgivingDay

5 Tips for Delivering Excellent Customer Service Over the Phone Don’t make your customers feel like this. Get them engaged in their communications with you. Treat the customer service experience very seriously. Someone who’s had a bad interaction with your company is likely to spread the word and discontinue using your products or services. Here are some simple tips for improving a customer’s experience when interacting with them over the phone. Smile Like You Mean It Smili...ng is always suggested as a way to improve how you deliver customer service. You can literally hear if someone is smiling or has a blank expression on their face, even if you can’t see them. For a customer, a friendly voice is one thing that tells them that you genuinely care about their problem and want to help them solve it. Use Their Name Research shows that hearing one’s name activates certain parts of the brain more than hearing other people’s names. Calling a customer by their name will get their attention. It signals to them that you see them as a human being, not just a number. As a result, they’ll feel more comfortable speaking with you because you’ve added a personal touch to the experience. Provide Alternatives When you’re helping our customers with issues they’re having with your company’s product or service, you’ll likely run into some obstacles. It’s simply a natural part of the job. You may offer a solution that they’re not thrilled about. Since your job is to make the customer happy and try to exceed their expectations, make sure you offer alternative solutions. Speak with Positive Language Don’t use words like I can’t, Unfortunately or You failed to. This would certainly apply to situations where you need to provide alternative solutions. Instead, use phrases like, I’d be more than happy to offer or I have a solution will be able to help you. Using positive language focuses on what can be done rather than what can’t be done. Be an Active Listener This sounds obvious but it’s surprising how many people fail to do this. When a customer is telling you about their problem, give them your undivided attention. Don’t get distracted by things like your phone or your computer. #AllianceHero #Tips #CustomerService

It’s a great time to assess your business in terms of what’s working, what’s doing alright, and what’s not working. It’s also a good time to take a look at what you want to focus on in the coming year. Step 1: Reflect on the past year Do a general brainstorm about everything that you think went well with your business. Anything from client projects that went super smoothly to processes that worked to keep you on track and organized. Things that worked, but might be able to be... improved on or made better in some way or another. Step 2: Reflect on your numbers The second part of reflecting on the past year involves taking a hard look at the numbers within your business. Pay the closest attention to: Overall income that year, Monthly income, Number of client projects you took on, and Number of sales you made on digital and physical products. It’s important to have a good sense of how your business is growing over a year. Step 3: Brainstorm Session for the new year Be ready to tackle a brainstorm session for everything on your mind for the new year. Start this process by setting a timer or just giving yourself the freedom to take as long as you need to get everything down on paper. Grab a notebook and a pen and just start jotting things down. Jot down things like: Side projects you're thinking of working on (new products, collaborationsetc.) Client projects that will go into the new year Financial goals you're thinking of Words/feelings/habits to focus on Step 4: Work through The Brand Planner Start to incorporate The Brand Planner into your routine for new year planning and it’s really helped you get a solid grasp on the big picture of your business. Work through the exercises to remind yourself of your why as a business owner and to help keep you focused on what’s more important to your brand. Step 5 | Break down financial goals Referring back to your brainstorm session and notes from The Brand Planner, start to break out all of your expenses that you're projecting for the new year. Things like: Mortgage or rent, Food costs, Entertainment, and Nice-to-have things (like date nights, day trips, self-care) Step 6: Organize a plan Start to pick out some of the bigger ticket projects and tasks you want to tackle. List them out along with tasks on another page in your notebook. The Brand Planner also has a nice, tidy section on setting priorities in your business and how to break them out into manageable tasks! Step 7: Decide on my 3 words Each year, instead of committing to new year resolutions, set 3 intention words for the coming year. These are words that we want you to embrace and focus on in any aspect of your business and/or life. Words for the coming year: collaboration, nurture, sustainable. #AllianceHero #7Steps #Tips #Planning

Competition can be healthy and does have the potential to drive us forward to excel. There are likely to come across individuals that we deem more capable, or successful than ourselves. However, the very notion of competition doesn't have to evoke debilitating stress and self-doubt. To master workplace competition, we ultimately must deal with our own feelings with the concept itself. Some things to consider: 1. Accept its presence. Competition is ubiquitous. No matter where ...your career leads you, there will be ample competition to keep you on your toes and it is ever present. Try to become comfortable and make peace with it. 2. Not a "zero sum" game. Opt for an "abundance mentality". Don't take the stance that if someone else succeeds, you are doomed to fail. Another individual's promotion or good fortune, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be left out. 3. Identify your "comparison other"? Choose individuals that motivate you and possess skills that you wish to emulate. Learn from your competition, instead of feeling threatened. 4. Be the "best of you". We're not required to be all things to all people. Instead, find a way to acknowledge your strengths and create your own brand. Find a niche that makes you indispensable - create value and build on this strength. Take control of your own career and find paths to showcase your own talent. 5. Build alliances and collaborate. Network without staying too close to the cuff. Spread your wings to develop depth within your workplace relationships - be the "linking pin" between other departments or functions and solve problems. 6. Get a mentor and a sponsor. Most successful people speak of a mentor that has either inspired or guided them. However, you also need a sponsor. This is an individual that will help you gain exposure, facilitate "stretch assignments" that test your abilities. 7. Be aware. There is no greater confidence builder than becoming your own advocate. Of course, there is a dark side to workplace competition. Watch for individuals who "fight dirty" and have an unhealthy relationship with competition. Document your accomplishments, if you feel it is necessary - and take credit when it is owed to you. If an environment causes you troubling levels of stress, seek a change. #AllianceHero #Ways #Competition #Workplace See more

1. Don't Think About it as Hard Work Think about it as part of making yourself into who You want to be. Once You've made the choice to do something, try not to think so much about how difficult or frustrating or impossible that might be. 2. Create Small, Bite-Sized Goals Make sure you break down that goal into bite-sized, consumable goals. This way you'll feel like you're making progress in your journey and you'll also feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete the smal...ler goals. 3. Read Daily Read for at least one hour a day. If that's too much, start with 20 minutes and do it for one month. Develop a belief that reading is the quickest way to success. 4. Stop Caring About the Things That Don't Matter Doing things that don't mean anything costs a ton of mental energy. Look at your aggregated to-do list, find things you know that you don't care about, and get rid of as many of these activities as possible. 5. Set a Quit Time Set a realistic quitting time for yourself, and stick to it most days of the week. Stop answering emails after 8 PM, or take Sundays off. You'll feel more refreshed and more productive when you allow yourself some down time. 6. Just Do It To get motivated to start doing something, the most effective trick is to just do it. As soon as you think something needs to be done, jump into it, doing it immediately 7. Celebrate Wins How often do you think the good things such as being on time, or signing a new client is simply how it's meant to be? They need celebrating. You need more wins in your life. This will motivate you, encourage you, and help you see how brilliant you truly are. #AllianceHero #Tips #Workplace #Career See more

Most would agree that there are three basic stages in the learning transfer process while every organization deals with differently: preparation, action, and evaluation. With those three things in mind, let’s briefly look at some tips for improving learning transfer within your organization. 1. Clearly Identify Learning Goals and Outcomes It’s important that you review the purpose of the training session and clearly identify learning goals and outcomes, before any training st...arts. This is beneficial for two main reasons. First, it allows your team to refocus their efforts and keep the big picture in mind. Second, this gives the participants an idea of where the training is headed and what will be expected of them at the end of the process. When people know what the takeaways are supposed to be, they’re more aware of what they’re learning and which pieces of information are most important. 2. Use Real World Examples During Training When training your employees, it’s important that you use as many real life examples and situational experiences as possible. If everything is a drill, they won’t be able to transfer much of what they learn from training sessions. Let trainees shadow employees, field phone calls, and get a taste of actual experiences. When combined with drills and exercises, these real-life experiences can facilitate a better transfer of learning and helps to develop leadership capabilities. 3. Provide Individuals with Post-Training Support Transferring skills to the workplace at the conclusion of the training program begins with a post-course debriefing. The post-course debriefing is an ideal juncture at which to identify, plan and agree with the employee where the skills will be applied and to set specific goals for their application. It’s important that you provide participants with some level of ongoing support that they can access. This provides them with a place to answer questions, review concepts, and communicate when they’re having trouble transferring some part of the learning over to the job. Alliance Hero agrees that the success of your training programs depends on your ability to facilitate a transfer of learning among your employees and participants. It’s not the amount of money you spend on training, but the amount of attention you give to learning transfer that will determine the long-term success of your new hires. #AllianceHero #Tips #forManagers #forTeachers See more