Cydcor Blog

Discover practical advice, inspiration, and insights to help you succeed in business and grow both personally and professionally.

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Create A Customer-Focused Mindset in Your Business

Feb 5, 2016

0 min read

Create A Customer-Focused Mindset in Your Business

Getting close to your customers is one of the most important business strategies you can master. Learn how to change your mindset to keep the customers you have—and get new ones!

As a sales professional, you live, die, and breathe for customers. Simply stating that customers are vital to your success would be a massive understatement—customers are everything!

Instilling a customer-focused mindset into your employees and salespeople will keep their eyes on the ball and lead to some seriously good results for your business. In fact, according to a study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity and the American Management Association, companies that don’t foster an environment and culture of pleasing customers fail to succeed.

The study found that the best organizations -understand and leverage customer-focused initiatives that require a blend of attraction, engagement, satisfaction, collaboration, and retention.

Have we convinced you to make a change within your own business? If so, here are a few ways to start manufacturing a customer-centric cultural shift in your business:

Find A Good Place To Start

Begin by benchmarking your current level of customer focus. By completing an audit of your ongoing efforts, you can actually determine where to begin and how your team could improve.

Know Your Audience

Naturally, you’ll need to know who your customers actually are if you want to serve them properly. Try customizing your approach for your customers at every opportunity. Learn from the past and the present to see what they like and dislike about your current strategy so that you can refine your efforts in the future!

Consistency Is Key

Creating a consistent standard that your customers can anticipate is crucial. Standardizing training and protocols for your customer-facing employees is essential for maintaining a consistent brand image.

Think Of The Big Picture

Help your employees see the actual impact that their work has on customers. Forging this relationship is incredibly important to getting your employees invested in the customers that they serve. Employees that can see the fruits of their labor tend to be more productive as well!

Communication Matters Most

Maintaining open communication with your customers at all times is another essential. There’s a reason large companies have 24/7 customer support—it pays always to be there when your customers need you. While it may not be possible for all businesses to have a dedicated 24/7 customer support team, do the best that you can with the resources available to you. Your customers will be able to tell that you’re working hard for them.

Hire Help

Are you having trouble making the shift happen? If all else fails, try making your next hire someone that already has a customer-focused mindset. This will help you fill your ranks with right-minded individuals!

For further reading about creating a customer-focused environment in your business, check out this insightful article from Forbes.

Constructive communication with your customers will help you close a sale today and let you know who to call tomorrow. What are your secrets for staying connected with your customers? Share the skills you’ve developed with us. Post your story on Twitter, follow us @Cydcor, and start a conversation with your network.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Photo Contest - Share Your Crew’s Excitement!

Jan 22, 2016

0 min read

Want to win a $200 gift card to treat your sales-force to a fun team night?

Enter Cydcor’s photo contest! All you have to do is:

  1. Run your “sales-force in a box” morning meeting.
  2. Take a picture of your crew showing how excited they are about what you just shared with them.
  3. Share your crew’s picture on Instagram including #CydcorSF.
  4. Increase your chances to win and enter as many pictures of your excited crew as you want!

The contest starts Feb 1st and you have until Feb. 12th to submit your pictures!

The Winner will be announced on Cydcor’s Instagram on Feb. 15th!

Start sharing the joy!

Terms and Conditions (Instagram)

(i) Post a picture on Instagram of your sales office crew after running your “sales-force in a box” morning meeting and (ii) include #CydcorSF for a chance to win $200 visa gift card. Pictures posted anytime from Monday, February 1st, 2016, 12:00 PM PST until Friday, February 12th, 2016, 11:59 PM PST will be automatically entered in the Cydcor’s photo contest.  To be eligible, entrants must be (i) at least 18 years of age and (ii) an owner, employee or contractor of a Cydcor independent corporate licensee. Profanity or inappropriate language or images, as determined by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. The winner will be selected by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, and announced via Cydcor’s Instagram (@Cydcor), on Monday, February 15th, 2016, on or soon after 12:00 PM PST (no later than 11:59 PM PST). This promotional offer is not intended to create a partnership, joint venture, co-ownership or other association between Cydcor and the participant. This promotion does not have a connection with Instagram, Inc. in any way and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering the contest, participants agree to fully release Instagram from any and all liability, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

A Positive Attitude Will Make You Better at Business

Jan 22, 2016

0 min read

A Positive Attitude Will Make You Better at Business Cydcor WordPress
Flickr CC via Mike Monaghan

Becoming positive is a choice, a state of mind, and a feeling. Optimism is an essential component for developing a positive attitude.

Have you ever had to resolve a tough situation involving an unhappy customer? If so, then you know just how important—and how game changing—having a positive attitude can be. Where pessimism would work against you, optimism helps focus your energy, find opportunities, and solutions in the face of adversity.

A positive attitude is crucial for anyone who works in sales. Below, we’ve provided some techniques you can use to develop the positive attitude required to provide your team and your customers with the solutions they need.

Optimize Each Opportunity

Here’s a secret for crafting a positive attitude: The specific assignment doesn’t matter. What matters is how you approach the task at hand. If all you can see are problems, write them down and find solutions to turn them around. If you need support, ask for insight from your team members or supervisor. You do have the power to be the positive change!

Win With Words

Change your vocabulary. Say things like, “I’m going to learn a lot from this assignment” instead of “But I don’t know how to do any of this!” Not only will this help you keep a positive attitude, but it will also influence your team members to do the same.

Look at each part of the challenge with a solutions-minded attitude. Every element is an opportunity and an invitation to succeed. Every assignment you receive provides an opportunity to improve your success and prove your value.

Contradict Complainers

You will always encounter complainers. When you run into one, ignore their comments. Nod, smile, say thank you, and then get back to work. Your steady progress and ultimate achievement may even convince them it’s time to change their point of view.

Banish Bad News

Negativity is also found in the news, on social media, and professional publications related to your industry. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but you should reject the impulse to support and spread bad news. Play inspirational music instead of engaging with negative content.

Practice Positive Visualization

See yourself closing the deal before you start a conversation with your customer. If your first call of the day doesn’t work out, say to yourself, “Every sales call is different.” If someone changes their mind, remind yourself that, “I’m creating a positive experience for my customer, and satisfied customers are more likely to stay—and less likely to spread dissatisfaction.”

Perfecting a positive attitude takes practice. To maintain a motivated mindset, schedule ten minutes every day to read an inspirational book, speak to your mentor, or review messages that inspire you with feelings of strength and hope. Making a date with motivation every day will improve your chances of developing a powerful positive attitude.

Tell us what you do to stay positive when facing a difficult task! Post your tips on Twitter, follow us @Cydcor, and share this blog with your friends. Start a conversation with your community!

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Keys to Success 2016 Destination: Austin, TX

Jan 20, 2016

0 min read

Flickr CC via Photon Phisher

Austin, TX is Cydcor’s destination for this year’s Keys to Success event! Held annually, Keys to Success is an opportunity for our company to define this year's business goals. Keys to Success also helps to create excitement for the year ahead, and reinforces the best practices in our business, as well as opportunities to earn recognition. Cydcor is pleased to host both the residential Keys to Success and the B2B & Retail events from January 26th – 31st, 2016. This is the first time in Keys to Success history that there will be two events instead of one!

What makes Austin the perfect place to host #KTS2016? For starters, it’s the state capital of Texas and is the 11th most populous city in the country. It’s also the fastest growing of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. Here are a few other fun facts about this vibrant city:

The Texas State Capitol building is huge! Standing 311 feet from the ground, it’s taller than the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. It contains 392 rooms, 118 vaults, 924 windows, and 404 doors. Built from 1882-1888, the architecture remains impressive even by today’s standards.

Austin loves music and entertainment and boasts over 100 live music venues throughout the city. The Austin City Limits music festival is one of its most famous events. Over three days, more than 130 musical acts get together to play live in the beautiful Zilker Park. Austin is also known for South by Southwest, an annual festival of film, interactive media, and music. Past acts have included The Flaming Lips, Foo Fighters, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga.

Like every fast-growing city, there is a few famous people from Austin. Notable celebrities born here include Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock, R&B singer Ciara, legendary journalist and TV anchor Walter Cronkite, hip-hop recording artist Nelly, and NFL quarterback Drew Brees.

Here is a fact about Austin you probably didn’t know: living under the Congress Avenue Bridge are close to 1.5 million bats! That is the biggest urban bat colony in North America!

Throw those horns up! Austin is home to the Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Football Stadium, home to the University of Texas Longhorns. With a seating capacity of over 100,000 people, it is the biggest football stadium in Texas and the eighth largest football stadium in the United States!

Interested in expanding your horizons while taking in Austin’s many sights? The city is home to many renowned museums like the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.

Did you know that Austin also has an awesome food scene?  Breakfast tacos are one of the most popular foods in the city, and many people travel to the city just to try them. Be sure to stop by the local-recommended Veracruz All Natural to get your breakfast taco fix! Stop by Pieous for some delicious pizza, or La Barbecue for some good southern grilling. And don’t forget Gourdough’s “Blueballs”—delicious blueberry donuts covered in blue frosting—for dessert!

Are you excited for Keys to Success 2016? We know we are! Tweet us your favorite fun fact from above with #KTS2016, and follow the latest news and announcements regarding the event on Cydcor’s Facebook and Instagram!

Cydcor’s Keys to Success 2016 Photo Series Contest

Jan 19, 2016

0 min read

We're gearing up for Keys to Success 2016 in Austin, TX with a photo contest on Instagram! The winner will receive $200 cash. To enter this contest:

1) Share three pictures on Instagram (a creative picture holding a door key, one picture while traveling, and one at an interesting location at the Hilton hotel in Austin, TX)

2) Tag @Cydcor on all three photos

3) Include the hashtag #KTS2016 in all three photos.

The contest starts on January 19th, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST/ 2:00 PM CT.

Two winners will be selected, one for our Retail Keys to Success 2016 event on Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 and one for Business to Business/Residential Keys to Success 2016 event on Saturday, January 30th, 2016.

Best of luck, and we can't wait until #KTS2016!

Retail KTS 2016:

Terms and Conditions (Instagram)

(i) Post three photos on Instagram (one showing a door key, one of you traveling, and one of you at the Hilton Austin hotel), (ii) tag @Cydcor and (iii) use the hashtag #KTS2016, for a chance to win $200 cash to be awarded at the Keys to Success Event. Pictures posted anytime from Tuesday, January 19th, 2016, 2:00 PM CT until Wednesday, Jan. 27th, 2016, 8:00PM CT will be automatically entered in the Cydcor’s photo series contest.  To be eligible, entrants must be (i) at least 18 years of age and (ii) an owner, employee or contractor of a Cydcor independent corporate licensee. Profanity or inappropriate language or images, as determined by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. The winner will be selected by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, and announced via Cydcor’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/CydcorLLC) as well as on Cydcor’s Instagram (@Cydcor), and on Cydcor’s Twitter (@Cydcor) on Wednesday, Jan. 27th, 2016, on or soon after 9:00PM CT (no later than 11:59 PM CT). This promotional offer is not intended to create a partnership, joint venture, co-ownership or other association between Cydcor and the participant.

This promotion does not have a connection with Instagram, Inc. in any way and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering the contest, participants agree to fully release Instagram from any and all liability, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

B2B-Residential KTS:

Terms and Conditions (Instagram)

(i) Post three photos on Instagram (one showing a door key, one of you traveling, and one of you at the Hilton Austin hotel), (ii) tag @Cydcor and (iii) use the hashtag #KTS2016, for a chance to win $200 cash to be awarded at the Keys to Success Event. Pictures posted anytime from Tuesday, January 19th, 2016, 2:00 PM CT until Saturday, Jan. 30th, 2016, 8:00PM CT will be automatically entered in the Cydcor’s photo series contest.  To be eligible, entrants must be (i) at least 18 years of age and (ii) an owner, employee or contractor of a Cydcor independent corporate licensee. Profanity or inappropriate language or images, as determined by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. The winner will be selected by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, and announced via Cydcor’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/CydcorLLC) as well as on Cydcor’s Instagram (@Cydcor), and on Cydcor’s Twitter (@Cydcor) on Saturday Jan. 30th ,2016, on or soon after 9:00PM CT (no later than 11:59 PM CT). This promotional offer is not intended to create a partnership, joint venture, co-ownership or other association between Cydcor and the participant.

This promotion does not have a connection with Instagram, Inc. in any way and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering the contest, participants agree to fully release Instagram from any and all liability, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

5 Top Tips to De-clutter Your Workspace and Get Back to Business

Jan 15, 2016

0 min read

5 Top Tips To De-clutter Your Workspace And Get Back To Business Cydcor WordPress
Flickr CC via Cat Sidh

Clutter is anything that prevents you from achieving your goals, learning new skills, and getting your job done. Follow these five tips and get your clutter under control.If you’re drowning in clutter, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Don’t go there. Clutter makes you less productive, but it’s not a reflection of your character. With a little concentration and some hard work, you can fix your clutter problem. We’ve put together five tips to finally get your mess under control.

  1. Monthly Review

Schedule a monthly review of your paper and digital files. And don’t just think about doing it—actually do it! Pick a date and mark it on your calendar to make this procedure a regular part of your workweek. Review everything in your inbox, on top of your desk, and in your smartphone. Get rid of any files and documents you no longer need. File or scan and save documents that matter.

  1. Daily Clean Up

Pick a time at the beginning or end of your day for a 5-minute review of your workspace. Go through your inbox, review paperwork on your desk, and identify any items you can resolve with immediate action. If there are items that you can recycle or file, then take care of them right away.

  1. A Place for Everything

Get familiar with the items in your workspace and how often you need them.  Make sure that your tools have a place to call home and that they don’t migrate around during the week. To work efficiently, you need to be able to reach your supplies easily; make sure that all your most frequently used supplies are close at hand.

  1. Know Your Problem Areas

It’s great to keep personal knick-knacks on your desk—family photos, Star Wars action figures, or snow globes from all of your vacation—but if your collectibles get in the way of getting things done, then it’s time to reduce your collection. Also, be aware that this kind of clutter may send the wrong message to supervisors--it could tell them that you’re not the serious person they’re looking for to advance in their company. Have a friend or colleague take a look at your workspace and ask them what they think it says about you.

  1. Independence Day

Schedule one day per quarter to go through all of the drawers, file cabinets, and storage areas in your workspace and clean them out, one at a time. Have a roll of paper towels and some spray cleaning fluid on hand. You’re going to empty every drawer and wash it out. This task will force you to decide whether to keep, recycle, or discard the items you find. Clean and wash your work surfaces. When you are finished, you will finally have a clean place to work, and that will motivate you to keep your workspace free of clutter.

How do you keep your workspace free of clutter? We want to know your secrets to staying organized and maintaining order with your print and digital files. Please comment here, share your tips on Twitter, and follow us @Cydcor. Invite your friends and colleagues to participate in this discussion so we can learn to do better together.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

The 12 Best Quotes To Inspire Personal Excellence In 2016

Jan 6, 2016

0 min read

The 12 Best Quotes To Inspire Personal Excellence In 2016 - Cydcor Sales
Flickr CC via s76fitz

As you celebrate the New Year, reflect back on the one we’re just finishing up. What were your biggest successes? Your most frustrating failures? Consider the coming months and use this year’s experiences to identify possible challenges and desired goals.

After a month or two, the New Year loses some of its initial excitement and may move back into that place of hard work and routine. It’s during these times that we need support and encouragement to continue moving onward and upward the most.

We’ve selected 12 inspirational quotes from some seriously smart men and women in a variety of professions. Their wit and wisdom are just the spark you’ll need to pump up your optimism!

1. "If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door." – Milton Berle, American humorist, and actor

2. "Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve." – Mary Kay Ash, Founder Mary Kay Cosmetics

3. "It’s easier to explain price once than to apologize for quality forever." – Zig Ziglar, Salesman and motivational speaker

4. "Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them." – Ann Landers, Advice columnist

5. "Goals aren't enough. You need goals plus deadlines: goals big enough to get excited about and a deadline to make you run." – Ben Feldman, Salesman, and author

6. "I’ve never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard." – Estée Lauder, Co-founder Estée Lauder Companies

7. "Fear is the destroyer of dreams and the killer of ambitions." – Jeffrey Benjamin, Senior adviser to Cyrus Capital Partners, LP

8. "If you are hardworking and determined, you will make it, and that’s the bottom line. I don’t believe in an easy way through." – Isabel Dos Santos, Africa’s richest businesswoman as reported by Forbes

9. "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." –  Booker T. Washington, African-American educator, author, and businessman

10. "You really can change the world if you care enough." – Marian Wright Edelman, President and founder, The Children’s Defense Fund

11. "A lot of people complain about yesterday. We have no power to change yesterday. But this very day, 30 years later, is what we can control and decide. Change yourself, take baby steps, and stay determined for ten years." – Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group

12, "My best successes came on the heels of failures." – Barbara Corcoran, businesswoman and investor, host of ABC’s Shark Tank

Save these quotes. Display them near your work area where is easy for you to see. Get familiar with them and turn to them when times get tough. Use these quotes as the foundation of a personal book of quotations, one that you’ll build and study over the coming months and years.

And always remember that you’re never alone when you surround yourself with wise and thoughtful friends.

Has an inspirational quote ever had a positive impact affect on your work habits? Please share it here, and be sure to follow Cydcor on Instagram for the latest photos of what’s going on at our office in Agoura Hills, CA: https://www.instagram.com/cydcor

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

The Three D’s of Leadership

Dec 18, 2015

0 min read

Cydcor The Three D’s of Leadership: Discipline, Determination, and Dedication

Who is the best leader you’ve ever known? What qualities do you think made them successful?

At Cydcor, our idea of a leader is someone who can create a vision of the future, express that vision well, and use it to motivate people. Building a team, providing coaching, and setting clear expectations are some of the things leaders need to be really good at in order for the team to work effectively.

Leaders also need to master three key qualities to have a true impact: discipline, determination, and dedication. Examine these skills and discover how you can integrate them into your professional life.

Discipline

Discipline by its very nature is not an easy quality to master. It’s not glamorous—it’s simply unrelenting hard work. Excelling at discipline means that you approach each project with a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how you will get it done.

Don’t misunderstand the nature of discipline. It does not require you to be rigid or unrelenting. At its best, discipline is flexible and responds to changes in circumstance; it doesn’t mean that you’re unable to adapt as circumstances change during a project or when a new opportunity presents itself.

A disciplined leader is willing to address problems that arise and provide solutions. He or she looks for the best compromises and puts in the extra effort to make sure the job gets done well. They communicate clearly with the team and exemplify how to get the work done right.

Determination

A leader’s beliefs, principles, and values are founded in their determination. Determination can be a source of motivation, helping you through any and all challenges that might arise.

Did a family member, friend, or public figure inspire you when you were young? Often, a leader’s determination is learned through observation, stemming from a profound personal experience. Those who are determined to succeed recognize potential opportunities in a situation someone else might see as a dead end.

Dedication

A leader must develop and examine their dedication to projects so that they don’t lose sight of the goals. You must be a relentless worker: regularly check your progress against objectives throughout any project. Dedication requires focus. Make sure that the goals you establish are clearly stated and understood by your team as well. Schedule regular check-ins with team members to make sure everyone remains on the same page throughout a project’s duration.

A dedicated leader engages colleagues and keeps a conversation going throughout the life of the project. Dedication is fueled by communication and mutual respect. Let your colleagues know that you appreciate their efforts.

Leadership is a lot more than the three D's, but discipline, determination, and dedication are all necessary to being an ideal leader. Integrating these key attributes of a great leader into your work and personal life will have its own rewards.

Use This Year’s Lessons To Maximize Achievement in the New Year

Dec 9, 2015

0 min read

Use This Year’s Lessons To Maximize Achievement in 2016 Cydcor
Flickr CC via RnD.de.Portraits

What worked this year? What didn’t work? These two questions provide a framework that will improve your performance in the coming year.

Do you have a plan for setting and achieving goals in next year? A personal review of your past year will uncover winning strategies that deserve to be carried forward into the coming year—and those that can be left behind. Conduct an annual review of your performance at work with the following techniques.

Write It Down

Record your observations as you conduct your annual review so you’ll have something to refer back to later. A simple Excel worksheet allows you to organize the past year’s wins and losses month by month. Or, if you prefer to write by hand, Moleskine notebooks are well-made—and can work with Livescribe smartpens to translate your notes into digital content.

Look For Significant Events

Be cautious with granularity. Looking too closely at the past year can cause more issues than it will solve, distracting you from the larger picture. Stay focused on identifying significant events and strategies that impacted your performance.

Create Specific Goals

When planning for next year, create specific goals. Don’t just say you want to make more money or “get better at” something. What will you actually do to make more money? What does “getting better” at something look like? You need to be able to measure your progress toward these goals in a concrete way.

Make a plan and follow up on each step. Use the following categories to establish specific goals for the New Year.

  • Attitude – Find a way to cultivate a positive attitude by listening to music that makes you smile, studying meditation, or engaging in other positive activities.
  • Career – Review your job description for important keywords and phrases, and find opportunities at work that engage those skills and your expertise.
  • Creative – Take a class in something new to challenge your mind. Study a new language or learn to dance. Energize and activate your mind.
  • Education – Build a business book list for the coming year and form a reading group at work. Learning together is powerful.
  • Family and Friends – Schedule time with family and friends and follow through with your dates. You’ll be energized when you get back to work.
  • Health and Fitness – Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest.
  • Volunteering – Find opportunities to volunteer at work. For example, Cydcor employees recently sponsored a food drive for a local charity. They also support Cydcor Operation Smile and regularly participate in doing good works. Find a way to help in your company too.

Did you achieve your goals during this year, or did you fall short of your expectations? Have you conducted an annual review and planned for the new year? Comment here, tell your story on Twitter, and follow us @Cydcor. Share this article with your friends and start a conversation with your community. #cydcorlearnandgrow

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Utilize Body Language to Improve Your Professional Performance

Dec 4, 2015

0 min read

Utilize Body Language to Improve Your Professional Performance Cydcor

Becoming fluent in body language empowers you to make a lasting impression on colleagues and supervisors

Your conversation begins when you enter the room—before you begin to speak. Your body expresses your moods and, depending on your awareness of how your body talks, you will communicate confidence or fear. Fortunately for you, it’s possible to learn to communicate confidence nonverbally.

Practice makes perfect. Strategies for controlling nonverbal communication are easy to learn and fun to practice. Don’t be afraid to feel silly when you try them. Have you heard the expression, “fake it ‘til you make it”? It means that when you’re trying something new you should pretend to be an expert. Expertise will come in time.

Harvard professor Amy Cuddy suggests that posing for two minutes will have a significant positive impact on your confidence. We have a few poses you can start practicing today:

Strong Man Pose

Flex your muscles if you’re hearing negative information. It will help you remain focused. Curl up both arms as if you’re showing of your biceps. Flex your legs and bend your knees slightly. This is a bit of a cartoon pose, and you should have fun with it. Try it out before a meeting or presentation.

Superman Pose

Stand straight and tall. Place your hands on your waist and put your chin in the air. Hold your head high. This pose is a powerful tool for situations where you might feel anxious or afraid. Try using it a few minutes before giving a speech or presentation.

Embody Your Success

Sit comfortably in your desk chair. Call up a memory of a past success and let that positive energy fill your chest with each breath. Send that warm glow up and down your spine, out across your shoulders, into your arms and hands and down into your legs and feet.  Feel the emotional power of your past successes come to life and ignite the positive power you carry inside.

Face Facts

Your face communicates your emotions, moods, and attitudes without you having to say a word. If your audience interprets your expression as sad, confused, or angry, you may lose them even before you start to speak.

You can improve your facial expressions with a little effort, awareness, and practice. It’s probably easier to schedule these efforts for important social, professional, or networking events. Tilt your head slightly to the side. Practice smiling and making eye contact with your audience  to show that you are actively interested.

So, go ahead, pick a power pose and give it a try. What does it feel like? Do you have any other cool tips to help improve body language? Share with us! Comment here, share your story on Twitter, and follow us @Cydcor. Share this article with your friends and start a conversation with your community!

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Cydcor's 2015 Thanksgiving Food Drive Supports Local Families

Dec 4, 2015

0 min read

Cydcor voluteers collect food and deliver them to families in need for Thanksgiving 2015.
Cydcor voluteers collect food and deliver them to families in need for Thanksgiving 2015.

Once again this year, Cydcor team members organized a Thanksgiving Food Drive where several Cydcor employees donated and delivered food to families in need.

Cydcor’s Thanksgiving Food Drive was organized to benefit Earths Magnet Elementary School in Newbury Park, CA. The National Wildlife Federation Fund has recognized this school as one of the Top 10 Eco-Schools in the country, meaning that it uses environmental education as a platform for teaching students about technology, engineering, and math. Students learn the importance of creating sustainable businesses. Working with the support of the school, Cydcor encourages community sustainability with this annual food drive. Being able to provide families in need with a Thanksgiving dinner year-after-year allows the Cydcor team to support people in a meaningful way.

Cydcor employees readily volunteer because they’re organized, skilled at getting things done, and ready to take on any opportunity they meet—especially if it’s one that helps struggling families and strengthens community connections.

“It is amazing to see a group of people come together and be so passionate about helping others in need. Holidays are about spending time with loved ones, and I am happy we can contribute and make a difference for these families,” explained one Cydcor volunteer.

Many Cydcor employees donated food and raised enough money to provide meals for 90 families. In addition, Cydcor’s executive team donated a total of $1,800 through payroll deductions, which allowed the organizers to purchase $20 Vons gift cards for each family.

Cydcor has taken the time to examine the true meaning of Thanksgiving bounty and thankfulness. The annual Thanksgiving Food Drive expresses the company’s core values and commitment to caring for community members suffering difficult times. Cydcor continues its tradition of nurturing the community and turning need into an opportunity—so that families in need can see a future that is just a little bit brighter.

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