Forget Black Friday, employees should plan for Cyber Monday!

Black Friday is days away and aren't you excited! I am! J I’ve been watching the Target commercials on TV and I have to say that I think they’re hilarious. For those that are not familiar with them, the Commercials display a very excited lady who is preparing for Black Friday--commonly a major shopping day for Americans. During the commercial, the lady is seen preparing for Black Friday shopping at Target by sharing some of her tips. Some of them are: (1) Plan your way around the store; (2) Get to the store on time and be first in line; and (3) Have a list available ahead of time of the key items you’re interested in purchasing. See one of the ads below.

Even though it’s hilarious to view, it shows just how carefully people prepare for Black Friday.

Cyber Monday has also evolved into a heavy shopping day for Americans. According to a survey by Adecco in a CNN Money article, about 14% of shoppers plan to hunt [for] bargains when they should otherwise be working…some 106.9 million Americans are expected to shop online for Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. That equals to low productivity for some businesses.” (Source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/29/pf/cyber_monday_productivity/index.htm) With proper planning, employees can limit the amount of time spent online thereby reducing the impact on productivity.

So, we know Cyber Monday is a touchy topic in the office, especially for managers who are trying to have productive teams on Monday. I think that employees should follow some key steps like the Target lady does and strategically plan ahead. Here are some of my
“Target lady” tips:

1. Make a list of all the items that you need. You may be interested in buying toys for your kids or close friends/family, getting the new gadgets, close or shoes for yourself or a loved one. Write those items down and focus on those items alone. Just as in Black Friday shopping, you want to position yourself so that you are ready with the key items that you need to get the best deals immediately before the items are “no longer available” or “out of stock”.

2. Get coupons that can be used for shopping online.

a. There’s a dedicated Cyber Monday website that you can go to in order to get deals called www.cybermonday.com. Once you get on that site, you can view all the coupons and offers on that individual stores are offering. You can search by Merchant or by category.

b. Living Social also has offerings where you can save 50% or more on your holiday shopping but according to their website, you have to check back Friday to Monday in order to get those deals: http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/230/black-friday

c. Groupon also has deals but they are for Black Friday only according to their website. Go to http://www.groupon.com/washington-dc/.

d. I’m sure each individual store’s website will be sharing online deals that you can get immediately. Check out those sites in advance to make sure what their Cyber Monday deals are.

3. Plan to get up early to shop or shop later in the day. Why wait for when you’re sitting in the office to shop online. There are so many distractions and who wants to be distracted when they’re shopping with tons of emails they have to check, phone calls, people passing by, and did I mention tons of emails. Start early because by doing so, I’m sure you’ll be able to get the best deals anyway in the comfort of your home. You can also choose to shop later in the day so you’re relaxed and can put your feet up while you’re winding down your day in the comfort of your home.

4. Shop on the weekend. Some stores offer the same deals on the weekend which will alleviate the need to shop online on Cyber Monday. We have close to one month to go so you can get the same deals in the store that you can get online.

5. If all fails, get a personal shopper. Some stores such as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales provide this service for customers that are able to afford it. You can also find a personal shopper at www.craigslist.org or get a college student home for the holidays who is interested in making extra money. But be careful with this type of service if you’re going outside a store. Interview the individuals to ensure that they are trustworthy and capable of getting the best deals for the items that you want.

And finally, managers don’t get too annoyed with your employees shopping online. It’s great for building morale within the workplace.

As always, prioritize, set boundaries and live!

The 25 Most Influential Business Management Books from TIME magazine

Time magazine shares their list of the 25 most influential business management books. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey happens to be two of my favorites. What do you think of their list? Are there any books that you would add?

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2086680_2086683_2086684,00.html

As always prioritize, set boundaries and live!

More Americans Calling it Quits: Another Sign the Job Market May be Better Than it Looks

Stephen provides some insight on what's happening in the job market and how it affects you. Read on! Share your thoughts. More Americans Calling it Quits: Another Sign the Job Market May be Better Than it Looks

SHRM Diversity and Inclusion interview with Robert L. Johnson

At the Diversity and Inclusion conference this year, I had the pleasure of learning more about the new label for Human Resources professionals who are responsible for strategically implementing Diversity and Inclusion programs at their companies. SHRM refers to these people as “Game Changers”. I was able to speak to one of those individuals, Robert L. Johnson, the founder and chairman of RLJ Companies, Inc, an innovative business network that provides strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of companies. Within The RLJ Companies portfolio, Mr. Johnson owns or holds interests in businesses operating in hotel real estate investment; private equity; financial services; asset management; insurance services; automobile dealerships; sports and entertainment; and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming. In July 2007, he was named by USA Today as one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years.”

I interviewed Mr. Johnson about diversity in the workplace.

Blogabouthr: What was your motivation to speak at the SHRM 2011 Diversity and Inclusion conference?

RLJ: What motivated me is my concern that the US economy is causing a systematic drop in opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. [This is mainly] because of changes in manufacturing, heavy industries and global competitiveness causing jobs to be sent overseas. If we don’t identify areas for diversity, then minorities will fall lower in terms income and wealth.

Blogabouthr: Over your years as a business leader, what are two things you feel you have done to enhance diversity at your companies?

RLJ: To give people the opportunity to succeed at the highest level possible. My companies focus on African Americans and minorities. African American and minorities are consumer and having gained much in terms of populations. Focus is on giving opportunities to minorities for employment and suppliers. I tell my business managers that the critical part of diversity and inclusion is an important opportunity for doing business.

Blogabouthr: In your experience, what HR best practices do you feel have had the greatest impact on your employees/businesses?

RLJ: By giving people responsibility and supporting them in their efforts. Provide them with information about what their job is, overall goals of the company, give them responsibility. Provide a context them and hold them accountable…not for them to fail but for them to focus on a task. [They should] understand their job function, how it fits and the strategic vision of the company. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. We want you to succeed. Be open to new ideas and creating an environment where people understand the vision of the company.

Blogabouthr: As the CEO of RLJ Holdings, Inc. and a minority, what do you think leaders still need to do to develop and engage a more diverse workforce within their organizations?

RLJ: Leaders at the CEO level need to know that diversity is an absolute necessity in business. You can’t live in the US where minorities are the fastest growing population and the biggest consumers. The US can’t be competitive without embracing diversity. Make sure diversity is a core part of the market. Diversity should stand right beside other company’s criteria. People should be held accountable. I mentioned the RLJ rule during SHRM’s Diversity and Inclusion conference. The RLJ rule is before making a decision for a high level position, at least interview 2 minorities. Before offering contracts to business, interview at least 2 minority businesses. It’s not mandatory but should be common practice.

Blogabouthr: How does your new website www.oppsplace.com help in creating a diverse workforce?

RLJ: One of the things in my business career I’ve heard is that “Gee Bob, we don’t know how to find minorities with certain job qualifications”. OppsPlace.com answers that question. It’s a one stop shop for identifying African Americans that are capable and qualified to provide a business service. It’s a place where companies search for minority candidates before hiring. Click away! It becomes the norm rather than the necessity that they have to do. Focus from standpoint of minority applicants. They get more data from a company. Companies will be able to employ minorities looking for work.

www.oppsplace.com is set to go live in Spring 2012.

As always prioritize, set boundaries and live!