Discover practical advice, inspiration, and insights to help you succeed in business and grow both personally and professionally.
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Delegation: Learning to trust your colleagues in helping you complete work is an ability that some struggle with. However, everyone will need help every once in a while; be it covering for you while you are on vacation, handling an emergency situation, or taking on a task simply too large to handle alone.
Communication is important. Be sure to tell your team member or co-worker the key goals of your project or work being handled with a client. Also be sure to give them all the resources available, along with relevant contact information and documents.
Lists: Despite our best intentions, many to-do items can get lost in the fray of our everyday lives. Writing things down and creating lists is a great way to manage and check-off tasks that have been completed.
For larger tasks, break them down into multiple, smaller tasks. For example, writing a ten-page document can be pared down to creating two pages a day up to its deadline.
One of the most satisfying aspects of creating a to-do list is crossing off things when they are done. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and gives you a visualization of progress for tasks both large and small.
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Breaks: Studies have shown that spending more than eight hours a day at a desk without moving around much is detrimental to one’s energy level and focus. Productivity is not measured by the number of hours sitting at your desk, but by how much work you get done.
Many recommend getting up every hour for a ten-minute break to walk, stretch and drink some water and socialize with your co-workers.
Goals: Set ambitious, yet realistic goals. Create goals both in your professional and personal lives. One of biggest reasons why people don’t succeed with their goals is because they didn’t set a deadline. Goals should be specific, measurable, and they should be written down. It is also good to get feedback about the goals in order to refine them.
Here is Cydcor's review of In Good Company by Don Cohen and Laurence Prusak.
About In Good Company: In Good Company criticizes the agency theory that disregards social capital by emphasizing the free agency of employees who act in the interests of the organization only if it is in their financial interests.
The book is short and light reading, using largely anecdotal evidence to support its arguments. For managers considering telecommuting, hoteling, the reduction of business travel, or other efforts to gain efficiency should read this book. The authors conclude by stating that whatever the form of future organizations, they will require the nurture of "trust, community, connection, conversation and loyalty" to work effectively.
Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders because: In Good Company helps organizational leaders understand the social capital phenomenon. It is an excellent work for those who care about the quality of organizational life and the ability to do great things at work with your team. The authors do a great job of showing how a number of important companies, including HP and 3M, take the matter of social capital very seriously and make investments in building and nurturing it.
We suggest this book for thinkers who favor a more techno-centric approach. In Good Company digs into the profound social aspects of work, knowledge sharing, and learning, and offers a heavy dose of reality in its discussion of the “the challenge of virtuality.”
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Our favorite part: “Social capital consists of the stock of active connections among people, the trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors that bind the members of human networks and communities and make cooperative action possible."
The authors argue for hiring and encouraging people who fit the values and culture of the organization, and creating an environment in which social capital will build. To do this, companies should actively take steps that build trust, networks, and communication through making appropriate spaces and time available, and help people learn through effective storytelling.
The benefits of this approach will result in better knowledge sharing, lower transaction costs, lower turnover of key employees, better coherence of action due to organizational stability, and more shared understanding.
We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services, committed to client satisfaction and retention.
Here is Cydcor's review of Instant Analysis: How You Can Understand and Change the Most Common Self-Defeating Behaviors and Habits By David J. Lieberman.
About Instant Analysis: This book is a unique look into the self-help and pop-psychology category, providing a practical formulaic approach for improving your life in a very readable format. It looks to offer practical suggestions and strategies for transforming one hundred of the most common self-defeating behaviors and habits, including fear of failure, procrastination and superstition.
Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders because: There’s a wealth of information that the author brings that is useful for every reader, especially those looking to be involved in leadership positions. No one is immune from the emotional fragilities that accompany life, and while some people are more stable than others, each person has experienced self-doubt. Lieberman addresses many of these circumstances by identifying the problem, analyzing the situation and offering a solution.
Thus, when you are able to identity and admit self-defeating habits, you have taken the first step to conquering the problem. As he writes, “This is accomplished by looking objectively at specific behaviors that usually go unnoticed or unexamined. As you begin to question these behaviors, you will get in the 'habit' of not being in the habit."
By going through 100 chapters, you will be able to with many unnoticed behaviors you yourself might do.
Our favorite part: Lieberman is very clear about the intended audience for Instant Analysis. “Most people are almost happy. They’re so close to being the kinds of people they want to be, living the kinds of lives they want to live, yet they are stuck in a mental rut.”
The author acknowledges the difficulties of direct introspection and concentrates on assisting the reader by “cutting away the clutter” and illuminating behaviors that have become an automatic response mechanism. He also has a plain and engaging writing style. The nutshell summaries are well written and provide a good overview of the topics. The suggestions for change are simple, powerful, and (theoretically) easy to implement.
To learn more about Cydcor, take a look at the Cydcor Sales YouTube page.
An important trait to instill in yourself is this:
Don’t think in terms of sales but rather in terms of building a business.
Great salespeople are building a business, not just trying to make a sale. When you think beyond a sale, you’re going to get other people’s attention much more easily. They’re going to be interested in what you have to say. You want something that’s going to live and go beyond a single sale.
Successful people are persistent. Cydcor knows that selling or running a business requires a tremendous amount of persistence. Obstacles loom on a regular basis, but it’s what you do when faced with these barriers that will determine your level of success. The most successful people in any industry have learned to face the obstacles that get in their way.
Don’t just make a sale. Build relationships. Build your business by building relationships one customer at a time. The last sale you make should always open the door to a new relationship and more customers..
Invest in networking, community and relationships. Invest in your community and you will see great returns emotionally and for your professional and personal lives. Be involved as much as you can.
Head over to Cydcor's YouTube Channel to catch a glimpse into what it's like to work for a reputable sales company.
Invest in yourself. Successful salespeople invest in their education and know which tools of the trade works best for them. Always continue to invest to help get you to the next level.
Thriving salespeople surround themselves with overachievers. These people are sometimes viewed as being uninterested in others, but the truth is that they’re just not interested in low production. Don’t waste your time with people who don’t get anything done, or aren’t striving towards success.
The recognized leader in outsourced sales services, Cydcor is committed to providing clients with proven sales and marketing strategies.
Here is Cydcor's review of Identity Economics: How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages and Well-Being by George Akerlof.
About Identity Economics: Identity Economics bridges the gap in the social sciences. It brings identity and norms to economics. People’s notions of what is proper and what is forbidden, and for whom, are fundamental to how they work and how they learn, spend and save. People’s identity—their conception of who they are, and of who they choose to be—may be the most important factor affecting their economic lives. And the limits placed by society on people’s identity can also be critical determinants of their economic well-being. This is important for people to understand.
Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders because: Identity Economics provides an important and compelling new way to understand human behavior, revealing how our identities—and not just economic incentives—influence our decisions.
It is admirably short and not difficult to read, and it makes a compelling case that and individual’s identity completely shapes their decisions about schooling and investments. The book offers better ways of understanding the consequences of public polities and business practices.
The book provides a new language and is a useful apparatus that takes measure of ‘real people in real situations.’
Our favorite part: The authors examine the popular topics of gender wage inequality and occupational segregation and put them into the perspective of identity economics. Women are significantly underrepresented in engineering and certain other science fields, while there are low percentages of men working as secretaries, nurses, or elementary school teachers.
There are plenty of examples the book discusses, as well exploring the best ways to analyze a situation using theory from identity economics. If the topic of identity economics is one that holds interest for you, we certainly recommend giving this a quick read.
For more information regarding Cydcor, check out our job openings on CareerBuilder.
Here is Cydcor's review of The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun.
About the Myths of Innovation: Author Scott Berkun explains how to transcend the false stories that many business experts, scientists, and much of pop culture foolishly use to guide their thinking about how ideas change the world. He asks readers to question where ideas come from, and what people focus on when discussing those ideas.
The book is a short yet still fun read. Berkun has a witty, and at times hilarious, writing style, and his personal experiences help to explain some of his counter-intuitive demythologizing.
Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders because: True leadership requires a great deal of knowledge and understanding of trends in many different areas. Being innovative is not only for lone geniuses, but is also for anyone who looks to improve himself or herself by being realistic and observant.
This book, if nothing else, will remind you that the world is not as simple as we think it is.
Our favorite part: Berkun begins the book with a great story of when he visited Google's headquarters and joined a tour group. He describes the moment when two of his co-tourists whispered to each other, pointing over to a group of programmers, saying, “I see them talking and typing, but when do they come up with their ideas?"
This lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. It's a question many people ask of any creative/innovative person. Scott Berkun continues to explore the fascination with innovation and the desire to find the “hidden secrets.” Like all myths, the ones behind innovation are derived from quaint stories from history like Newton's Apple and Archimedes' bathtub.
Cydcor is the recognized leader in outsourced sales solutions. To find out more about our company, connect to Cydcor on LinkedIn.
On Tuesday, June 2nd Cydcor held our first intern kick off party. Held at Triunfo Park, our six amazing interns got together for the summer of 2014 meet up to start the summer off right.
With fantastic food and company, we welcomed them with games such as football, Frisbee, corn-hole, and ladder ball. Camaraderie, teamwork, and building relationships towards success are a big part of our culture.
Team building and activities such as the ones we hold open communications and create leadership opportunities. Our interns and team members are able to express ideas and opinions, becoming more motivated to take on new challenges, all while having fun and developing friendships and productive work relationships.
Overall, our event was a success in those regards, enabling better communication, better relationships and encouragement to engage and express creativity. Take a look at some of the best photos of the 2014 meet up:
For more information about Cydcor, check out our CrunchBase profile.
Networking events can be a bit overwhelming, and if you don’t know what you're doing, they can feel like a waste of time. Follow these 5 tips in order to get the best return on investment at a networking event.
Be Prepared
Look over the list of attendees if possible. If a name strikes your eye, Cydcor recommends checking out their LinkedIn profile, or other social media or website and find out a little more about him or her. It’s easier to strike up a conversation with someone you’ve never met if you come prepared and can ask them specific questions about their time working at Apple or if they enjoy being a sales manager.
Make sure you have several business cards on you to hand out when you meet people that you’d like to chat with again. You can even go higher-tech and use apps like Bump to share contact information. Also remember to bring pens and a small notebook or tablet; they can be helpful if you need to take notes or jot down a piece of advice.
Come Prepared with Goals
What are you hoping to get out of the event and learn from the people you meet? Whatever it is, make sure you figure this out before you attend the event – that way you’ll know what to bring up and the type of people to talk to. Since some networking events cost money, only attend the ones that will help you reach your goal.
Show Up On Time
Unless the event is a “come as you please” event, don’t be the one that shows up late. Chances are that if you are going to an event at a place you have never been before, it is going to take longer than Google Maps estimates. Look at the route beforehand, and give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes to find the place—and parking.
Check out our job openings on Cydcor's LinkedIn for more information on joining our company.
Don’t Throw Yourself at Everyone
No one likes the person who talks with everyone in the room for two minutes, gives them their contact information, and heads to the next person. Networking is about making real connections; it’s not a contest to see who can pass out the most business cards. If you don’t think someone will be a good connection, you don’t have to give him or her your card. On the other hand, take your time talking and getting to know people that could become valuable connections. You don’t need to spend a half hour chatting with someone, but learn a little more about the people you talk to than just his or her job title.
Follow Up
This is by far the most important tip for networking. Who cares if you dressed well and came prepared – if you don’t follow up, that relationship means nothing. Connect on LinkedIn or send a quick coffee invite. Relationships take time to cultivate so make the most out of what you started.
Motivation, despite our best intentions, is never a constant state. Everyone wants to achieve something in their life, but sometimes one can struggle with the desire to stay committed or to make the changes they know they need. Cydcor is a firm believer that getting your motivation back is key to achieving any goal. Here are five tips to help you whenever you feel stuck:
Inspiration. Find the source of your drive. Figure out what gets you fired up and in tune with yourself. It can be family, friends, music, exercise or even inspiring stories of others who have achieved a similar goal. Once you identify your source of inspiration, you can be assured in times of doubt that you know what can get you going again.
Realistic goals. One of the biggest reasons people find themselves setting up goals and not achieving them is that they set the bar too high. Don’t sabotage yourself by not being realistic. Set your major objective and have smaller steps along the way that can help you get there. Breaking it down into smaller, more manageable goals will help motivate you. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being able check off a goal from your list and track the progress you’ve made.
Anticipate. When setting your objective, anticipate potential pitfalls that might occur and create solutions before the problem arises. A study done in 2009 regarding goals found that those who were taught to foresee obstacles were able to quickly find workarounds by having a back up plan already in place. By knowing in advance of potential hurdles, those who anticipated were then mentally committed to following their backup plan instead of becoming discouraged and giving up.
Step Back. While you move forward with your goal, sometimes stepping back can help you. You can gain clarity by stopping to re-evaluating your goals and remembering why you set them. This can help motivate you to move forward, and you’ll make better progress.
Find encouragement. Make a commitment to those around you by letting them in on what you’re trying to achieve. Telling others can get them excited for you and keep you accountable. Friends and family are excellent sources of motivation because they generate enthusiasm for your project. Most people are better at keeping promises and commitments to others than they are to themselves. Committing to others can make it more likely that you will reach your goals even when faced with challenges along the way.
The following is Cydcor's review of The Good Listener: Better Relationships through Better Communication by Hugh Mackay.
About The Good Listener: Now in its second edition, the Good Listener is a guide to communication within relationships by social researcher Hugh Mackay. Originally published as “Why don’t people listen?” the book discusses communication and why it is difficult for most people to properly communicate ideas to others.
One of the more interesting ways that Mackay teaches communication skills is by creating a fictional, and rather dysfunctional, family. As Mackay explains it, “most of us learn about communication from our families,” and by illustrating communication problems through the issues of a single family the reader will hopefully retain the lessons more completely.
Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders because: Communication is one of the most important skills for a leader to learn. Not only does clear communication help leaders to motivate and inspire their people, but it also helps organizations to promote discipline and strategic alignment. The very best leaders are good communicators and many otherwise excellent companies struggle based on communication issues within their leadership.
Mackay does an excellent job of explaining why listening is important to improving relationships, and provides practical advice on how to listen and resolve conflicts through communication.
Our favorite part: Our favorite passage appears rather early in the book and sets up the entire premise for Mackay’s thesis:
“The real mystery is why, when we are so keen to communicate, we so consistently fail to take into account what our experience should have taught us at a very early age: the fact that, generally speaking, people only pay close attention to things which directly concern them- things which are relevant to their own situation, their own needs, their own interests- and, even when they do listen, they will be listening to everything in their own way.”
Mackay goes on to explain that people are not blank slates on which we can write our messages, rather every person has their own mechanism for viewing the world. Everyone sees the world very differently, and because of this we often communicate in a way that makes sense for us but not to others. It’s an eye-opening look at why communication fails, and how it can be repaired.
Cydcor is the global leader in outsourced sales. Follow Cydcor today for more information on careers, sales and other business information.
Cydcor was started in 1994 in Canada and has since grown into a leading source for outsourced sales teams. For twenty years now, Cydcor has offered solutions to high level, Fortune 500 Companies looking for new ways to increase their revenue. Our friendly, driven and highly trained team deploys sales superstars into the regions our clients need Cydcor the most and produce results.
Here are some of the milestones we have accomplished in the last twenty years:
Here is what our core executive team had to say for all of Cydcor's accomplishments:
"We offer a unique expertise within our sales channels. Our clients know we deliver above and beyond our goals; the salespeople in the field are experts who understand the sales that the client needs. The offices band together as teams, working to help one another reach personal development goals that will catapult them to success." – President Jim Majeski
"We deliver proven results that make us the leaders in outsourced sales. This couldn't have happened without vision, tenacity, and commitment to achieving the best results for our clients possible." – CEO Gary Polson
"Our reputation as a leader in outsourced sales solutions stems from the fact that we are experts in our industry with the ability to be flexible for our clients. The ability we have to deliver outstanding results has catapulted us into a growing, successful company with an abundance of opportunity." – Chief Operating Officer Vera Quinn
Want to know more about what it's like to work for Cydcor? Check out our testimonial page!