Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Today, our business spotlight shines on Midland Concierge. This company offers touchscreen kiosks connected to the internet that allows the general public to buy something or get something done while waiting. Midland Concierge has devised a way to kill boredom of waiting customers, provide business establishments a new and thrilling way to advertise their product and attract customers through these kiosks. Imagine people being able to get what they want right at their fingertips. It’s like having a real concierge only it’s fully automated.
The Things To Do. MidlandConcierge.com showcases two great things that your target customers and even you (yes, you!) can do while on the go. Remember the touchscreen kiosks we were talking about earlier? Hollywood Theaters and Ranchland Golf Club decided to advertise and sell their products the Midland Concierge way. These high-tech and easy to use “electronic concierges” are distributed around town so that people can access various products and services available in Midland. Say, you need to know what’s showing in the Hollywood Theaters or you want to schedule your golf tee time in Ranchland Golf Club, all these are available in the Midland Concierge kiosks. What’s even cooler is that customers can pay for these services through the kiosks.
Homes for Sale section. Jeaneen Pruitt of I Sell Midland, for instance, has a running ad and search bar for people who are looking for a house that fits their needs and budget. If you check it out, interested buyers can pick a home based on prize range or size of the home they want. One can easily sort the search results from the most expensive to least and vice versa or when the posting was added, etc.
The Business Members page. Check out Midland Concierge’s business members: Classic Carpets, Meet Midland, Fusion Power Lab’s VBS Plus, Advance Kwik Lube & Kar Wash, and Midland Memorial Hospital. These business partners enjoy the following: their banner ads displayed multiple times an hour in 20 different locations, detailed information about the establishment through the touchscreen kiosks, and credit card capability to capture sales immediately.
Don’t you just love technology!
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Click here to listen in on the 2-minute tip
TOPIC: Mealtime Etiquette
• Know which glass is yours
• Napkin never touches the table
• Never start eating until everyone’s served
• Utensils with tines up at 4′oclock position signals you’re finished
• Plates will not be removed until everyone’s finished
• No speaking with mouthful
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Not using power point powerfully?
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Who are you missing in your network?
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Piercings in the workplace: episode 4 - one more episode to go!
7. If needed, make reasonable accommodations
There are some people who wear body piercings for religious reasons. In some cases, they are forbidden to remove their earrings, studs, or hoops. You may give reasonable accommodations for these employees. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not exempting them from following the policies. If they’re not allowed to take their jewelries off, then we can ask them to at least hide them during work hours. Covering it up with a band aid or hair net are just some of the suggestions. Have you tried seeking involvement from the employee concerned? How do they want their piercings covered? You’ll never know if they have a better way of doing things. And if their idea sounds reasonable, it’s even easier to ask them to comply since it was their idea anyway!
8. Follow the due process
Okay, so let’s say you’ve already coached someone but he/she is still violating the dress code, what are you supposed to do next? If you are the immediate supervisor/manager of the person, you may issue a show cause notice. It is a formal and written way of asking why he/she is not meeting expectations. Ask for a written reply from your employee. Once you receive the reply, read his/her explanation. Is it reasonable? If not, does it merit any disciplinary actions? Just make sure that you follow the due process carefully to avoid violating anything in the labor code. If in doubt, ask an HR specialist.
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Piercings in the workplace: episode 3
5. Give some feedback and coaching
If a member of the team is violating the dress code by wearing body piercings, the best thing to do is to coach him/her. I believe in the power of feedback. Being a coach is sure tough but it helps other people to become better. Whenever I coach a member of my team, I talk less and I let them talk more about their behavior by asking questions. Although asking why is easier, asking what is less annoying to the coachee. I usually validate if they know what the policy is before jumping at anything. If they don’t know about the dress code, then I could help by telling him/her about it. However, if it isn’t the case, asking more questions would help you figure out what kind of approach you need to take. After getting their opinion, it would also be nice if you ask if the dress code benefits him/her. You can explain how business-related reasons impact the employee as an individual. Employees usually want to know WIIFMs or What’s in it for me? Once they understand why following the policy benefits them, they are more likely to comply.
6. Be consistent in enforcing the dress code
If you want people to follow you, then you should set as an example. Ever heard of the saying, “No one is above the law?” The same goes with company policies. Nobody should be exempted, thus everyone is expected to follow. A policy will not be very effective if someone gets away with it. We want to be treated fairly at the workplace and exempting anybody from following the rules is definitely unfair. This makes it more difficult to ask everyone to comply, too.
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Click here for the podcast on the E’s of Personal Branding
EXTRACT: (you have a brand - what is it?)
EXPRESS: (do you communicate your brand - with and without words?)
EXUDE: (how do you deliver on the company brand promise with your authentic brand?)
ENGAGE: (do you connect with those who build or tear down your personal brand?)
EXCEL: (do you compel others to speak positively on your behalf?)
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Click here to listen in on the 2-minute tip!
TOPIC: BUSINESS LUNCH ETIQUETTE
• The one who invites is the one who pays
• If you are paying, then inform the wait staff before your guest(s) arrive
• Dress for business
• If it’s with a client, pick them up and drop them off
• Avoid difficult to eat food
• Follow the leader in regards to dessert and alcohol
• Avoid the battle of the sexes
Book Recommendation
This is the “must have” definitive book on the professional and profitable way to do lunch.
Chief Buzz Agent™ and Compelling Connections Coach Maria Elena Duron helps high performing entrepreneurs and executives learn how to manage their personal brand on-line and off-line, leverage their expertise and connections and generate “the talk that yields profits”. To claim your FREE gift, Crafting Your On-Brand Intro Toolkit, visit her site www.buzz2bucks.com . Ask Maria Elena branding & networking questions at www.askmariaelena.com
Maria Elena Duron
Chief Buzz Agent
Business & Executive Connections Coach
"Turning Social Capital & Relationship Capital To Financial Capital"
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