NCG, Inc Reviews: 7 Signs That You're Hanging Out With The Wrong People!

NCG, Inc Reviews: 7 Signs That You're Hanging Out With The Wrong People!

Remember when you were a teenager and your parents used to not be fans of some of your friends? They would say things like, "You are who you hang out with!" If you are like most people, you shrugged them off and continued on with your teenage rebellion. But, what if your parents were right back then? Well, new research shows that they are. Studies have been done about individual income. They've found that your income is the average of your 10 closest friends. At the end of the day, most of us know that hanging out with the right crowd can make our break our lives. It relates to the amount of happiness that you feel, the amount of inspiration that you get, and the number of achievements you make. That's why people push the idea of being in a positive environment. This is easier said than done. Sometimes we don't want to let go of certain people, we keep making excuses for them, and are blind to the fact that we're in bad company. But how do you know? Well, here at NCG, Inc we focus a lot on your circle of influence. So, we found this article that points out 7 Signs that you're hanging with the wrong friends!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The "Tin Man!"

NCG, Inc Reviews: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The "Tin Man!"

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in client relations and brand building. For our clients, our job is to help them grow and expand through their selected target markets. We are able to do this by training and developing our people from within on campaign management, the training and development of others, and the ability to lead. So, a big focus of ours is training someone on having an "entrepreneurial mindset." So, when we saw this article at www.under30ceo.com about what we can learn from one of our favorite Wizard of Oz characters, we couldn't help but share it with our people!

When people think about the Tin Man, they think of the Wizard of Oz and not as someone that they can learn from. So, here are the main reasons why entrepreneurs can benefit from taking some pages out of the Tin Man's book!

1. The Tin Man is industry personified, but he doesn't forget the importance of having a heart!

In the public eye, most entrepreneurs are often perceived as ruthless in their hunger for making money and heartless people. Now, if you compare this to the Tin Man, on the surface he's a machine and doesn't have a heart, fitting the typical stereo-type of an entrepreneur. However, all he cares about is having a heart. It doesn't mater that he's a walking, talking example of industry, he still cares about relationship building and his one ambition is to avoid hollowness. Entrepreneurs can learn from this, it's important to get work done, but it's also important to e personable. When dealing with clients, never become a "machine" and always remember the importance of building real relationships. 

2. The Tin Man has a clarity of purpose. He knows what his goals are and the path he must take to achieve them.

Look at the Tin Man's journey. He has a burning ambition to get a real heart. Rather than pine about it and write it off as un-achievable, he makes it a goal and plans the journey he needs to take. Not ONCE does he lose sight of that goal. His ambition never strays and he keeps going until he achieves fulfillment. Having clarity about a purpose and a strategy can help any entrepreneur gain leverage in their career. Setting targets and planning out steps to reach your destination are good practice. 

3. The Tin Man aligns his individual goals with the goals of his team.

By travelling together towards the same goal, the Tin Man and his famous companions all achieve success! He recognizes that his goals are no more or less important than the goals of his team, and without a trace of selfishness they all move forward as a connected unit. Like a true team player, the Tin Man aligns his individual targets with the targets of his companions. He understands that this is the only way the higher purpose will be accomplished.

Entrepreneurs who want to ensure sustained success would do well to understand this balance and unite their ambitions with the ambitions of their team.

4. The Tin Man proactively strives to solve his problems.

He knows his flaw. He doesn't have a heart and he wants one. Rather than ignoring the issue, the Tin Man sets about to solve it. Entrepreneurship is all about problem solving and being proactive. It's not about settling for second best and doing whatever you can to be the best that you can be. Following in the footsteps of the Tin Man, entrepreneurs need to acknowledge and address any problems they face with a proactive, can-do attitude,

Taking lessons from the Tin Man may not uncover a wizard at the end of a yellow brick road, but it might just encourage some good working practices.

To learn more about the career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website and see our Careers page at www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc Reviews: 3 Ways To Train Your Brain To Think More Clearly!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 3 Ways To Train Your Brain To Think More Clearly!

Analytic thinking is the process of remembering words and putting their meanings into context. This process is not simply accessing a mental dictionary. Every time you use words, you re-create their meaning. The words you habitually use when you're thinking (and then expressing those thoughts) mold how you see the world. For example, people who habitually think (and speak and write) the word "hate" tend to find an ever-increasing number of things to hate. The relationship between word usage and perception is hugely important in business. When you train yourself to speak and write using clearly defined words arranged into concise sentences, you're training your brain to think more clearly. When you write and speak more clearly, you increase your positive influence on your team. Clarity is contagious. Conversely, if you habitually use fuzzy, ill-defined words crammed into long and convoluted sentences, you're training your brain, and the brains of your team members, to think less clearly. Confusion is also contagious. 

1. Mentally edit out fuzzy buzzwords.

Most buzzwords are just simply annoying, things like saying "utilize" rather than "use." Some examples of the biggest buzz word offenders are: alignment, best of breed, client-centric, core competency, crystallize, customer-centric, diversity, empowerment, holistic, leading, leverage, generation, paradigm, roust, seamless, stakeholder, sustainability, and synergy.

For example, in physics, synergy describes the creation of a whole that's greater than the arithmetic sum of its parts. So, combining flour, water, yeast, and heat to create a loaf of bread. In business, the term synergy generally pops up when we talk about how organizations are combined, as in a merger, acquisition, or restructuring. However, in business, synergy barely exists

Mentally editing out these fuzzy, vague buzzwords when you're talking, speaking, listening, or reading gradually clears your mind of the confusion that they create, thereby making you smarter.

2. Simplify your business writing.

If you find yourself writing long, complex sentences at work, edit and reedit them so that they express the gist in fewer words. Do this enough times and you'll automatically accustom your brain to shorter, clearer wordings. Simplifying to the fewest number of words doesn't just make your writing crisper, it also habituates your mind to seek the simple essence of needlessly complex concepts. The more often you practice this clarification process the smarter you get.

3. Play the "one syllable" game.

This exercise trains your brain to use smaller, easier to understand words rather than complex ones. The concept is simple. Try to communicate business ideas using words of only one syllable. For example, if you want to explain the directions of this game say something like, "The point of the game is to talk and write with words that are so short that they cannot be split." It's not about talking like this all the time, it's more about the mental effort. It helps you simplify rather than make things more complex.

NCG, Inc is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. A big part of what we do for our clients is to help them grow and expand through their target markets. For our people, we provide the development needed for them to advance from within and move into a management role. To learn more about the career opportunities available within our company please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc Reviews: 5 Reasons Why We Need Mentors!

NCG, Inc Reviews: 5 Reasons Why We NEED Mentors!

Northeast Consulting Group knows that there is always room for improvement or new knowledge to gain. As your business grows and matures, so will your team, and so should you. But, if you're a leader, you're probably getting pretty good now at getting your team to grow, providing them with advice and useful tools for their development. But, how do you grow? Growing as a leader is essential to your success and to do that you need to find a mentor. 

1. Having already "walked the walk."

A mentor can provide knowledge based on various business experiences. The best mentors have successfully navigated the same industry as the entrepreneur and can provide insight on the obstacles you'll face. A solid mentor might not automatically have all the answers, but will know the questions to ask or the direction to guide you. They will try to understand where you're coming from and that can make all the difference.

2. Offering a sounding board.

By definition, the best mentors are there to help, which means they have no hidden agendas. Once you build up a strong relationship with such a mentor, you have a rare opportunity to freely seek professional advice, without worrying about conflicts of interest or misplaced trust. Additionally, the mentor can be a neutral party and provide candid feedback on your plans or strategies and help you make your decisions with confidence.

3. Offering networks to leverage.

Even if a mentor can't help you on a certain issue, chances are they'll know someone who can. This persons networks and resources are probably much more extensive than your own and a mentors referral or introduction carries more weight than a business card at a networking event. Building a strong relationship with a mentor will broaden your network. 

4. Providing perspective and vision.

Part of your job as a leader is to focus on the big picture. But, it can be difficult to maintain perspective at a time of stress. A relatively minor setback can seem like an urgent crisis, whereas smaller problems left un-handled can have long-term negative effects on your business. A mentor can help you navigate through both types of circumstances by providing a fresh pair of eyes to evaluate and assess the situation and give you a nudge or two when necessary.

5. Focusing on the person not just the company.

As leaders you have a lot at stake when it comes to your business ventures. Everyone is looking at you to lead and it's not uncommon to lose yourself as you put the best interest of the company before your own. A mentor can help you take a step back and offer a chance to focus on you as an individual, which is essential for maintaining your sanity and your company's successful growth.

NCG, Inc is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand through their target markets. For our people, we provide them with the tools and resources necessary to grow within our company and advance into management positions. To learn more about the career opportunities available, please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc Reviews: How to Give Employee Appreciation!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: Employee Appreciation!

With the holiday season approaching, many people become nostalgic and reflect upon their lives and experiences. It should be no different in the workplace. There’s no better time of year to show appreciation and gratitude to the people around you that have contributed to the business. Showing appreciation should be shown all year round, not just within the holiday season. But, the end of the year is a great time to step up and show that gratitude. Here are 5 simple ways that you can say “thank you” to your people.

1. Give Thanks

Be sincere, sending out a personalized email even can go a long way. If you can find one special person about each member of your team and make it personal to that person. They’ll feel extremely appreciated. This can help people know that they’re not just numbers, but rather an important part of the workplace family and that you care about them individually.

2. Stage Appreciation Events

An easy way to show your people that you care is by having parties! The best parties allow your employees to include the families, friends, and significant others. This send a message that you care not only about your people but their entire families as well. It takes a village to run an awesome company. Every employee makes some sacrifice to be part of an organization and sometimes that expense is time that they can’t spend with their families. Say thanks with a company outing or a get together that celebrates your people, their families, and your organization!

3. Plan An Excursion

Organize a day off for your team. Ask them what they want or what would get them excited and then plan it. What better way to show you care than to listen to what your employees want and then to come through for them!

4. Send Personal Notes

Sending appreciation to a team member can be as simple as sending a note. It doesn’t have to be long it can just be a simple thank you. If you know that one of your team members is struggling with something you can even send them a book along with your note.

5. Help Your Staff Show Appreciation To Others

Make it easy for your staff to show their appreciation to their clients and extend a circle of gratitude that goes beyond the doors of your company.

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand through their target markets. For our people, we offer full and paid training that will allow them to develop the skills necessary to advance in our company and move into a management position. To learn more about the career opportunities available, please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc Reviews: 7 Traits Entrepreneurs Display at Work!

NCG, Inc Reviews: 7 Traits Entrepreneurs Display at Work!

NCG, Inc is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. Simply, our job is to help the clients that we work with grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we provide full training within our company that offers an opportunity for advancement into management.

1. Loving their work.

Elite entrepreneurs are driven from a deep feeling within to do what they love. Their minds are consumed with creativity, adventure, and the desire to see what they envision come to life. Because these people love what they do, they experience gains such as personal satisfaction, financial abundance, security, and self-fulfillment. These rewards affect heir home life in positive ways.

2. Living with determination.

Successful business leaders deeply believe in their mission in life: they view themselves and the services they offer as necessary and helpful to the whole society. The emotional drive here won't get sidetracked or demotivated. These entrepreneurs believe so profoundly in what they do that they take every aspect of their business and personal life seriously. These individuals come across critics and naysayers, but their internal belief is unshaken. They press forward, inspiring others, including: family, friends, employees, and customers to be part of their cause. Everyone wins under their influence. 

3. Staying organized. 

Entrepreneurs know one of the master keys to success in life is being and staying organized. A business or family cannot be managed well without an organized system for its operation. Top entrepreneurs establish routines in an effort to keep heir minds operation rationally yet available for change and new possibilities. 

4. Creating positivity.

Top entrepreneurs are aware of their emotions and the emotions of others. There is clarity in how they motivate the people in their life. Top business leaders have clear and firm goals and know the key to motivating others emerges from their own attitude. The most successful are those who inspire others and who are flexible, open, and direct. Elite entrepreneurs do not sweat the small stuff. They look at detours as positive learning experiences and continue to motivate and reward hard work by following that motto themselves.

5. Building an elite business team.

Truly successful entrepreneurs are aware that their business is only as good as the people who run it. They have no ego involved in the realization that a successful team is not made of one player. Team members are treated as extensions and representatives of the product being sold. Top leaders in business know how to get team members on board and infuse them with passion. These entrepreneurs are always on the lookout for toxic team members and quickly dispose of them.

6. Investing in personal development.

The elite entrepreneurs are infatuated by personal and business development. They are in constant education mode, reading, buying books, journals, and self-help information. They take advantage of their resources and understand that it will improve their understanding of themselves, their work with others, their business, and their marketing skills. These people will collaborate with other professionals because they are totally engaged in personal development.

7. Enjoying life.

The temptation to work around the clock is very real for passionate people. But, ultra-successful entrepreneurs recognize this creates more loss than gain, especially in their personal life. Top business leaders are able to establish a regular work schedule and set aside time for family, friends, and vacations. Self-renewal is key. It maintains the balance needed to lead a successful enterprise. Top leaders know breaks are essential and necessary so that they can continue to fuel their business with passion and keep it alive and growing.

To learn more about career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 9 Ways To Save More Time!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 9 Ways To Save More Time!

1. Do strategic planning.

Most people just take life one day at a time and then they wonder where the time went. Living reactively may take less brainpower, but it isn't always most productive. Whether you are in charge of a growing company or just your own future, you owe it to those affected to put some structure to your destiny.

2. Monitor your time. 

As business guru Tom Peters said: What gets measured gets done. If you measure the time you spend you can identify areas where you can adjust and improve. Try measuring your time for just a week or even a day. You'll be surprised where you find pockets of poorly used time that you can put to better use.

3. Prioritize your day.

So often people get lost working on projects with little importance or impact. Take a few minutes each morning to confirm with yourself that the projects you took on will actually have a positive impact on your life and the life of others. Then, you can rank them so the best projects get your valuable time. 

4. Time your phone calls.

Keep an eye on the clock and recognize how long you're spending on the phone and put limits on your conversations. It will help you stay on schedule and make you more effective when communicating.

5. Make a daily to-do list.

Without a list, it's easy to get pulled different directions throughout the day leaving you unfocused and unproductive. A simple list lets you concentrate and schedule your time effectively. It feels good to check things off as well as complete things.

6. Get a good nights sleep. 

Lack of rest equals lack of focus. If your sleep time is solid then you'll be better equipped to make the most of your awake time. Then you'll get more done, be more effective, and will help you relax t the end of the day which leads to a better sleep. It will turn into a positive cycle. 

7. Make your meals a social event.

Everyone has to eat and most people need social time to give their work brain a rest and feel more human. You may think you are saving time by having lunch from the vending machine. But, you really just add unnecessary stress which makes you perform poorly. Make your meals social, breakfast with family or lunch with colleagues. You don't have to take a long time, but 20 minutes of positive, social interaction will help your brain recharge and is good for you. 

8. Choose your companions carefully. 

Everyone has at least one time-sucker in his or her life. These people are stealing your time because you let them do it. Whether it is a friend or family member, you must take control. Limit their availability or cut them out completely. You can do more for them by ceasing to enable their behavior.

9. Give yourself 30 dedicated minutes each day.

Your day belongs to you. You may choose to give it to work, friends, TV or whatever. But, ultimately it is your time and you can choose how to use it. Instead of battling it, take control. Take 30 minutes each day to use on yourself in the best way possible so you can be your best self for others.

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we are committed to providing the training and development needed to give each employee the opportunity to advance within our company and the potential to achieve a management role. To learn more about the career opportunities available within our company please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 10 Productivity Tips For the Overwhelmed Entrepreneur!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews:

10 Productivity Tips For The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur!

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we are committed to giving them the tools and the resources they would need to find success within our company and be able to advance from within. So, a big focus for us is training our people on having an entrepreneur mindset. This helps people be self-motivated, goal oriented, and find their passion to reach their goals. But, sometimes the entrepreneurial mindset can drain someone. So, when we found this article we just had to share it with our people!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Evening Routines of Successful Entrepreneurs!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Evening Routines of Successful Entrepreneurs!

So many people are fascinated with the success of entrepreneurs, but really what separates them from the average person, is the productivity. We all find ourselves obsessing about finding ways to wake up earlier each day, but it's not always about optimizing your morning routine as it is what you do at night that's really important. So, NCG, Inc. decided to review the 5 tips that can help you master your evening schedule to make your tomorrow more high-energy and focused!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs!

NCG, Inc is a privately owned marketing firm that specializes in client relations and brand building. We help our clients grow and expand throughout their target markets. However, for the people at Northeast Consulting Group, our job is to provide an opportunity for them to develop the leadership skills needed to advance within our company. But, what makes a successful entrepreneur? Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. wondered the same thing, so we reviewed this article about the 5 common traits of successful entrepreneurs.

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Mindsets of Highly Effective People In Business & Sales!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Mindsets of Highly Effective People in Business & Sales!

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. So, what we do for our clients is use our expertise to help them grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we provide them with a predictable career path that leads to an opportunity to advance from within to Management. With that being said, we see everyday that certain people are more effective than others. NCG, Inc. lives by the motto, "Attitude is Everything." So, when we saw this article we just had to share it with our people. It explains why certain people are more effective than others. Ultimately, this is due to the mindsets that they have.

1. They Clearly Understand THEIR "Why"

To be an extraordinary seller, a person needs to discover their "why."Most people usually understand what their organization does and how it's done, but the people that separate themselves to become great within an organization understand WHY.

2. They Have Helping, Not Selling

The most effective people lead with the mindset of wanting to help someone versus wanting to sell. They ask themselves how their product can genuinely help their customers by internalizing the benefits and value. This helps sellers to view their world through a lens of understanding and empathy.

3. They Have Clear Intent

Customers can feel when they are being sold and viewed as commission. Once a customer catches on that a seller is only in for the sale, they don't have the customer's best interests at heart, the trust goes out the door. The only true difference between manipulating someone and persuading someone is intent. The best sellers are crystal clear in their intent to help and serve the customer from the very beginning.

4. They Focus on What They Can Control

A seller can only really control two elements of the job-- their attitude and effort. It is inevitable that rejection and lost sales are going to happen. What's important is how a great seller responds when things get tough. The best sales people don't let the fear of failure or rejection harm their effort levels. They fail fast, fail often, and use rejection as fuel toward closing their next sales opportunity.

5. They Listen More Than They Talk

You can't help someone without understanding their intrinsic needs first. In many cases, customers  aren't always willing or prepared to explain their needs on their own. Smart sales people take a listeners mindset at the very start of a sales conversation. They ask great questions and then they sit back and listen. They let the customer explain how that we can serve them best.

Starting out with the right mindset is the most important first step in becoming effective. Find your fundamental connections with your customers and set yourself apart from the pack.

To learn more about the career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website at: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc. Reviews: How To Get Anything You Want In Life!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: How To Get Anything You Want In Life!

Wouldn't it be nice if we could figure out a way to always get exactly what we want? Most of us know that this isn't going to happen and accept that. But, there are ways that we can bring ourselves closer to fulfilling our desires. Here at NCG, Inc. we pride ourselves on our ability to provide our people with an opportunity to advance within our company and give people the professional resources that they need to achieve success in the work place that will make their personal lives more fulfilling. This article outlines a simple formula that can help us all achieve more of what we want in our lives.

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 3 Ways To Help Your Team Be More Productive!

3 Ways To Help Your Team Be More Productive!

It's true, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. So, why are some people so much more productive in that time than others? Surprisingly, a big reason why is because of multitasking. Too many tasks can lead a team to the edge of a burn out and that will severely lower performance. Studies have shown that our brains can be capable of incredibly rapid changes of focus, but cannon fully focus on two or more different tasks simultaneously. Each task receives some attention, but the more tasks that are added to the mix, the more diluted the focus becomes. Whether anyone notices or not, this results in some tasks having less than desired outcomes. For example, if you're trying to send an email while talking on the phone, you're brain will choose a task that is seemingly more important. Often times this results in our email text becoming what we're saying on the phone. So, what can we do to help our people be more productive without feeling the need to multitask?

1. Help Employees Prioritize.

• If all their tasks are marked "urgent" then nothing is. Help them by teaching them to create a task list and order it starting with the most important and urgent task that needs to be completed today to the least urgent task that needs to be completed today.

2. Encourage Them To Concentrate Fully On One Task.

• The more difficult the task, the more important the concentration. If someone puts all of their effort and attention into what they're doing, they'll have better results. Not only will they finish the task faster, but the quality of their work will increase. If you're going to do something, do it once, do it right, and do it well. 

3. When It's Time To Switch Tasks, SWITCH.

• Teach your employees that when it's time to do something new, it's time to do something new. Put away the previous work to avoid distraction and diluted concentration. Dr. Winchester from M*A*S*H said, "I do one thing at a time, I do it very well, and then I move on." Focus and concentration are imperative for a superior performance. A job is either going to be well done, or poorly done, and doing things right and doing them once will ensure that you and your team don't end up burnt out.

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in client relations and brand building. Our job, is to help the companies that we work with continue to grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we're committed to providing full development that will benefit our people inside and outside of work and help them develop. For more information about the career opportunities available within our company, please visit our website at: www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 18 Things Mentally Strong People Do!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 18 Things Mentally Strong People Do!

NCG, Inc believes that the difference between the average and above average person comes from their level of mental toughness. Life, work, careers.. they all have their struggles. What determines someone's path is how they are able to handle those struggles. Mental Toughness is not always something that people are born with, it's a learned skill and a habit that people can train themselves to do. So, we decided to go through the 18 Things Mentally Strong People Do with the office today!

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 4 Steps To Getting What You Want Most!

NCG, Inc. Reviews:

4 Steps To Getting What You Want!

1. You Are Drawn To What You Look At The Most

If you dig down deep into your innermost thoughts, you'll discover the thing that you concentrate on the most is the same thing that is drawing your conscious mind. There's a reason for the desires welling up inside of you. Don't shy away from the fantasies that you hide from the world. Don't dismiss those dreams. WRITE THEM DOWN, meditate on them, and start configuring an action plan.

2. What You Concentrate On Grows

If you focus solely on problems, pain will expand in your mind and your emotions. These barriers will become an unconquerable giant. However, if you concentrate on a goal, your mind can give you the chance to soar above the obstacles and reach your goal. If you focus on the things that can hinder you from reaching your goals and aspirations, you'll never achieve them.

3. Concentrate On Something And You Will Become Like It

You will take on a form of whatever you behold. You will adopt the attributes of your focus. Dwell on the negative and you will become negative. Dwell on the positive and you will become positive. Sounds simple right? Your thoughts determine your decisions, your decisions determine your actions, and your actions determine your success.

4. You Will Have What You Concentrate On

This explains the power of advertising. Why do you think companies spend millions of dollars placing images mixed with emotionally charged music before the public eye if it would have no effect on their decision making? When you concentrate on something strongly enough and couple it with emotional desire, your mind will do everything possible to bring that into your life. This means you must be careful to focus on the right things or else you may wind up getting thing that aren't helpful.

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the clients that we work with continue to grow and expand throughout their target markets. Within our company, we pride ourselves on providing an environment that fosters growth and development for our people. To learn more about the career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website at www.ncg-corp.com/

NCG, Inc Reviews: The Biggest Reasons People Fail

The Biggest Reasons People Fail

Henry Ford said, "Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can't, you're right."

The biggest reasons that we find ourselves not succeeding in things is because we never try and if we do try, when things get hard, we give up. It's human nature to want to choose the path of least resistance. But, will that path ultimately lead us to where we want to go in life? Usually not, there's some truth to the old adage, "Nothing worth having ever comes easy."

When you decide to make a change in your life, step up in your career, it's normal to feel a lot of resistance and start to feel stuck. As frustrating as that can be, it's usually a sign of you being on the verge of a break through. This is the ideal time to get coaching from others and to KEEP GOING! If you're experiencing this right now in your career, you're on the right path.

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Ways To Be A Happy & Healthy Entrepreneur!

5 Ways To Be A Happy & Healthy Entrepreneur!

NCG, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building for our clients. Our job is to help the clients that we work with grow and expand. What this does for our people is provide them with an opportunity to advance within our company and move into a management position. We're committed to giving our people development that will help them grow not only in the workplace but in life as well. So, when we saw this article about finding a happy medium with a work-life balance to be successful we thought it would be very important to share it with our people.

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 5 Ways To Set Yourself Up For A Stellar Work Day!

5 Ways To Set Yourself Up For A Stellar Work Day!

If you want to be more productive at work, you have to make every moment count at home. Many entrepreneurs talk about having a work-life balance, but very few people actually make it a habit. Here are the 5 best ways to live your best life and set yourself up for a PERFECT work day!

1. SLEEP

If you work long hours, it can be difficult to schedule everything you need to do outside of work into those few hours that you have in the evening. There’s dinner, house chores, errands to run, etc. The lowest priority on that list sometimes is getting to bed at a reasonable time. Those who are sleep deprived often become impatient, are less productive, have lapses in memory, difficulty concentrating, experience mood swings, and are constantly fatigued. Make sleep a priority and develop a nightly ritual. Try to go to bed at the same time and prepare your brain for sleep. Dim the lights, make bedroom cooler, and dim the light on your cell phone screen. When you get a solid nights rest, you’ll wake up more refreshed and enthusiastic. You’ll have a better sense of overall well being which will increase your productivity and success in the workplace.

2. INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH

The benefits of regular exercise can’t be stressed enough. People who exercise a few days a week have stronger immune systems. They’ll miss less days of work and have more energy. Their bodies are more equipped to manage stress and have a more positive attitude. You don’t have to become an Olympian to benefit from exercise. Find something that fits your schedule and lifestyle. If you don’t have enough time to get to the gym, even taking a short walk after dinner to escape the stress from your day will do the trick.

3. LET GO OF FEAR

The fear of failure is the most potent emotion, especially from entrepreneurs. Constant anxiety can become too much to handle. When you are facing new challenges, take a deep breath and relax your mind. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with the thoughts of what can go wrong, approach your challenges head on. If you can’t get over a particular fear, write it down and come up with the worse case scenario. If you put your thoughts on paper you’ll relieve your mind of the worry. More often than not, your worst fear becomes less scary when you actually articulate it and give yourself an opportunity to calmly think it through.

4. CULTIVATE GRATITUDE

A positive outlook on life starts with a feeling of gratitude. Take a moment each day to reflect on things that you’re thankful for. What brings you joy? That can be your business, your family, friends, health, or relationships. You can be grateful for small luxuries that you probably take for granted as well. Things like a fridge full of food, clean water, and a comfortable bed to sleep in each night. At work, don’t compare yourself to others. Instead, focus on your self improvement. Jealousy and frustration can surface when you compare someone else’s highlight reel to your behind the scenes footage. If you want a happy life, don’t measure success as an individual by the gauge of wealth and status. When something goes wrong, review your “gratitude list” to remind yourself of everything that has gone right. Focus on the best parts of your life and let go of the small stuff.

5. EXHIBIT GENEROSITY

Each morning, set out to do one nice thing for someone else. When you give freely, you focus on what you can do for others and invite good things into your life. Though generosity is traditionally considered to be given through gifts or monetary donations, sometimes the best generosity can be a simple gesture. Smile at a stranger, give a friend a call, or publicly recognize an employee for their dedication and hard work. Your authenticity and mindfulness will be contagious. Soon you’ll begin to recap what you sow and good things will come your way.

NCG, Inc. firmly believes in these ideals for our people. It is just as important to us that they are developing as a person outside of work as it is to see someone develop within our company. At the end of the day, if someone is happy in their personal life, their professional life flourishes. To learn more about the career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 10 Quotes You Should Memorize If You're In Sales!

10 Quotes You Should Memorize If You're In Sales!

1. "Begin by always expecting good things to happen." -- Tom Hopkins
2. "For every sale you miss because you're too enthusiastic, you'll miss a hundred because you're not enthusiastic enough." -- Zig Ziglar
3. "All things being equal , people will do business with, and refer business to those people they know, like, and trust." -- Bob Burg
4. "Treat objections as requests for further information." -- Brian Tracy
5. "The best way to sell yourself to others is to first sell the others to yourself." -- Napoleon Hill
6. "Ninety percent of selling is conviction and 10 percent is persuasion." -- Shiv Khera
7. "Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats." -- Og Mandino
8. "One of the best predictors of ultimate success isn't natural talent or even industry expertise, but how you explain your failures and rejections." -- Daniel Pink
9. "If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will." -- Bob Hooey
10. "To build a long-term, successful enterprise, when you don't close a sale, open a relationship." --Patricia Fripp

NCG, Inc. Reviews: 8 Uncommon Skills Managers Should Master!

8 Uncommon Skills Managers Should Master

Just as times change, technology advances, and generations evolve with different mindsets and points of view, business does as well. While the skills of motivating individuals, encouraging teamwork, and being a great communicator stay the same, the method towards achieving them has changed. Mangers, CEO's, and Leaders all have to adapt to the changing generation of fresh talent entering the work force. 

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in public relations and brand building for our clients. So, our job is to help our clients grow throughout their target markets. To achieve this goal, we offer a Management Development Program that gives our people the opportunity to learn the skills they would have to possess to find success in Management and help expand our company and target additional markets for our clients.

This article we reviewed from www.dilbert.com outlines the 8 Uncommon Skills Managers Should Master to keep up with the times and help achieve greatness in their people.

1. Know when to have fun!

• Having fun at work doesn't mean Blue Jean Fridays or Happy Hour after work. Large companies like Google, Foursquare, and Facebook lay a special emphasis on having fun at work. Some of this is by having fun office designs like gaming designs and modern decor. If your company doesn't have the budget to do these things, try setting up company events like hiking trips, fantasy football leagues, or even joining a softball or sports team. These will help amp up the fun for your people and intensify the teamwork mentality.

2. Fake Confidence.

• "People respond well to those that are sure of what they want." -- Anna Wintour
• There will always be times in management where you will second guess your decisions, your skills or abilities to finish projects, or even your ability to lead a team. On those occasions, just make sure you line up all of your facts and resources and then project an aura of confidence. As the adage goes, "fake it till you make it."

3. Understand different cultures.

• The world is getting smaller and more connected. If you close yourself out to different perspectives, global cultures, or even various working styles, then you may end up impeding your own growth. Having rigid opinions or a set style of work, you may face resistance from your own team, which ultimately results in loss of productivity.

4. Get competitive.

• Sometimes you need to lighten up the atmosphere in your office from time to time, it's also your job to nurture a spirit of competition. Not just any competition, but HEALTHY competition. Millennials get bored quicker than any earlier generation. To help combat that, make things more competitive within your office and organization. By keeping things competitive, you can engage your teammates and increase productivity!

5. Diffuse Conflict Quickly.

• Even healthy competitions can sometimes lead to conflicts. Be proactive and prevent conflicts. A manager should work towards creating camaraderie among their team members. Setting expectations within your team and interacting with them is key. Emphasize transparency and navigate any conflicts quickly and in a fair manner. 

6. Create more managers.

• People say now that today, everyone is a leader in an organization. Each person leads their own efforts and strives to achieve goals. Each person individually contributes to a collective goal. Nurture leadership in your team by communicating group goals and by giving every individual a sense of how they can contribute. Encourage creative thinking and for your team to ask, "why?" Be weary of your tendency to micromanage and let your team members learn how to manage their time, effort, and experience.

7. Get behind that emoji.

• While being a good listener is a universal trait that has remained an important skill throughout the ages.  Now, it's more challenging than ever. With remote working, communication becoming virtual, a manager will need to cut through the noise, read between the lines, and listen to the true meaning behind a person's words. Yes, as challenging as it may seem, you actually have to understand the emotion behind an emoji! This is where understanding different cultures comes in handy.

8. Drive technology adoption.

• There are thousands of apps and versions of software being introduced globally on a daily basis and many of these are great for increasing productivity at work. As a manager you need to stay ahead of technology trends and drive the adoption of technology.

NCG, Inc. specializes in public relations and brand building for our clients. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand. To learn more about the career opportunities available within our company, please visit our website at: www.ncg-corp.com

NCG, Inc. Reviews: How To Embrace Failure In Order To Become Successful!

NCG, Inc. offers a Management Development Program for our people to gain experience, provide personal and professional development, and to teach our people the skills they need to be successful. Part of the advancement process within our company is learning how to fail correctly and move forward. The people who advance within our company are able to see their so called failures in a different light that helps them learn the right things to do. So, when we came across this article from Forbes Magazine, we had to share it with our people.

“If you've never failed, you've never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was considered a failure from an early age. He didn't speak until he was almost 4 years old and didn't have fluent conversation until he was almost 12. Because of this, his teachers and family thought he wouldn't amount to much. As most of us know, Einstein proved all of these people wrong, however it didn't happen overnight. It took time, dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to fail – repeatedly. Those failures were what made it possible for him to achieve greatness and be remembered as he is today, a genius. Why was he able to achieve this? Because each time he failed, he used it as a lesson and moved forward.

Changing the way you view failure can help you move forward in life. It’s not always a bad thing. If you manage to learn, your failure can be the exact thing that propels you to find success.

Here are a few tips to help you start changing your mindset, today!

1. The only person you can control is yourself.

You might manage employees, but you certainly can’t control them. If you micro-manage them, you’re doing it wrong. Hire the best and most brilliant and get out of their way and let them do their job. If you’re a used to a controlling management style, this will probably be tough. But the sooner you can start letting go, the better off your people and your company will be.

Some people view failure as the ultimate loss of control. It isn't. You can’t control the weather, the market, or a bad campaign response. But, what you can control is your reaction to it. Instead of blowing a fuse or assigning blame, you can choose to take responsibility, learn from your mistakes, and make corrections going forward.

2. The only person who can help you is yourself.

Anyone else in your life will let you down at some point. This isn't a negative, its human nature. You will let down other people who count on you at some point too, no one is perfect. But, the only person you can count on 100 percent of the time is you. Once you realize that you’re the one in control of your own destiny, you can begin to make a significant change. It won’t be easy but it’s possible.

Start by realizing that everything is your fault, good or bad. If things go well, it’s your fault, so be happy! If things aren't going so good, it’s your fault. Take accountability, own up to it, and if it’s necessary, make changes.

3. You’re going to need GRIT.

“G” is for guts. Guts is the secret super power that allows you to overcome adversity and steer a course over, under, around, or straight though life’s many obstacles and challenges. Having guts is about living in the moment and doing things you’re afraid of right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, or even next year. It’s about being confident in your opinion, voicing that opinion, and not being afraid to disagree with people.

“R” is for resilience. Resilience allows us to bounce back from life’s defeats. It also allows you to enjoy the journey on the path to eventual success. The journey will take insatiable drive, the compulsion to create change, and to be the change. It will teach you to genuinely care about people, to care about the community around you, and to care about the impact that you will have on the future. Don’t limit yourself to what is immediately doable. Instead ask yourself, “What is possible?”

“I” is for initiative. Initiative is the entrepreneurial spirit that inspires us to act on our biggest ideas and build a life and career for ourselves. With initiative comes the risk of failure, which is why doing so well is worth it. Either it takes you forward into a new direction, or you fail and those failures take you in a new direction.

“T” is for tenacity. Tenacity ultimately determines how hard we fight for our dreams. Tenacity can be summed up as, “improvise, overcome, adapt,” regardless of the odds. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t’ take. A tenacious person never has to say “would have,” “could have,” and “should have.” Don’t think too long about things, just go for it! To begin making real progress you need to learn where you’re most comfortable, most skilled, and most proficient. Then, move on and find the place where you feel the most uncomfortable, most uncertain, and the most unsure of yourself. That’s the first step. Get outside of your comfort zone. Because if you’re always comfortable, you’ll never grow. 

To learn more about the career opportunities available within NCG, Inc. please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews: 8 Leadership Mistakes That Others Made So You Don't Have To!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews: 8 Leadership Mistakes That Others Made So You Don’t Have To!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. offers a Management Development Program for the employees within our company. Throughout the course of someone’s training we expect them to make mistakes. However, when we saw this article about the mistakes of others we couldn't help but share it with our people. Wouldn't it be great if we could all take the coaching given to us and bypass the common mistakes that leaders tend to make on the path to their success?

Here are the Top 10 Mistakes you SHOULDN'T make!

1.       Setting a Tense Tone.

-          Stress and tension are no fun. How a leader chooses to show up every day is everything. Positive or negative, cordial or rude, your people will embrace “you” whether you intend them to or not.

2.       Getting Buried in Nonsense.

-          The best tasks are completed in a very simple and straightforward manner. Business execution requires a few processes and steps as possible to reach critical mass and to be effective.

3.       Trying to get too much done.

-          Newly appointed leaders tend to struggle on knowing how to lead. There is a difference between being “the man” and delegation. Successful leaders know how to train their people to lessen their workload and thus be more productive.

4.       Becoming the “anti-successor.”

-          Some leaders like to leave their own marks on a company’s history by erasing the former leader’s initiatives and accomplishments. Wanting to create value is one thing, but completely changing systems and structures that have been proven to work shows selfishness. Strong leaders aim to embrace and build.

5.       Forgetting what it’s all about. YOUR PEOPLE NOT THE PRODUCTS/SERVICES

-          A service exists because of the people behind it, the personalities that attract customers, the work ethic of the team, and the creativity that spurs a new day. If you want your business to flourish, you need to focus on how to attain, train, and retain talent.

6.       Not tolerating failure.

-          It was Mark Twain who said, “Good judgment is the result of experience. Experience is the result of bad judgment.” Failure can be, and should be, welcomed. Accepting failure is not the goal, but understanding the difference between what happened and what was supposed to happen are integral to learning and improvement.

7.       Talking about the past.

-          New leaders need to lead. Nobody wants to hear about yesterday. That’s over. Instead, people want to know that their fearless leader is going to create value for them. Focus on the future is essential. You can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.

8.       Keeping a lid on things.

-          The worst mistake a leader can make is thinking that they should have all the answers. Knowing everything isn't the job of a leader. A leader’s job is to encourage an environment that enables information to be shared. 

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in brand building and public relations for our clients. Our job is to help the companies that we work with continue to grow and expand. Within our company, Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is committed to proving our people with skills and development they would need to be successful within our company. To learn more about our employment opportunities here please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com

Northeast Consulting Group Reviews: 7 Tips for Success from Entrepreneurs!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews: 7 Tips from Successful Entrepreneurs!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. believes that providing development for our people both inside and outside of work. So we thought this article fit right in for what we do here within our company. Being an Entrepreneur is not for everyone. It takes a person who is willing to put in the hard work and perseverance to achieve a high level of success.

1.       Ryan Blair – CEO of ViSalus and #1 New York Times Best Selling Author of, “Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain.”

-          “Even when you have everything to lose, act like you don’t. I used to have nothing to lose, but now that I have a lot to lose, I have a whole new perspective on this. Even after you’ve made it to the top, you still have to act like you have nothing to lose. Regardless of the amount of money a person has or the size of their company, or the amount of wealth they have—those people that take action and risk without the fear of failure are the ones that will ultimately take market share.”

2.       Nellie Akalp – CEO of CorpNet

-          “Work toward being significant. If you want to have success, you can’t make success your goal. The key is to not worry about being successful, but instead work toward being significant—and the success will naturally flow. If you do the work that you love, and work that fulfills you, the rest will come. I truly believe that the reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is because my focus has never, ever for one minute been money.”

3.       Trey Smith—founder of Kayabit Games

-          “Seek and you shall find. There are thousands of clues even direct blueprints to make money if you know where to look. Find a successful company that is creating products or services that you are interested in and figure out HOW they are doing it. I use a process called reverse engineering to isolate two important factors: Their traffic and monetization. Where are they getting their people to see their products? How are they converting them into buyers? If you can answer these two questions with a systematic approach, you can start to build a business around it immediately.”

4.       Brian Sharples—Co-Founder of HomeAway

-          “Love what you do. Choose something that is in line with your own personal interest and passion, then it never seems like work. Don’t be afraid to fail. It’s critical to spend the time early on hiring the right people. If you are disciplined in finding the best and brightest people who are also team players then management is easy. There is no substitute for talking directly to customers. Whether they are happy or upset about something, it feels great to connect with people who are using your products, because you immediately get a good sense for how to make it better.”

5.       Amber Schaub—Founder and CEO of RuffleButts.com

-          “Don’t let them intimidate you out of your dream. Work harder than everyone else—I may not be the most formally educated, the most financially set up, or even the smartest, but I will give them a run for their money when it comes to ambition and determination. It’s a bit cliché, but I always remember this quote: ‘Always go the extra mile, there’s a lot less traffic up there.’ Every expert was a newbie at one point—don’t let them intimidate you out of your dream. Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can. Ethics do matter—I don’t care what they say about, ‘it’s just business,’ the world comes full circle. Be competitive, but stay true to your beliefs and principals. It always comes back around eventually.”

6.       McWhinney Brothers – Chad and Troy McWhinney Founders of McWhinney Reality

-          “Focus on quality and execution. Hire exceptional people, make sure they feel valued and can work as a team. Work to achieve synergy (energy and alignment). Practice Kaizen (Japanese for ‘small improvement’ and ‘better’) everyday focus on getting a little bit better with the belief that over time outcomes become significant. Focus on expands and set outcomes that are bold, passionate, measurable, written, and positive. Worry less about growth and more about quality and execution. When you take care of your customers and exceed their expectations, growth and opportunity follow. Remember that success often comes to those who get in front of the inevitable.”

7.       Mike Byrnes—President of Byrnes Consulting LLC

-          “Be a thought leader. Based on my own experience, it pays to be a thought leader in your own industry. In today’s world, it is easy to publish your own information (including videos), but the traditional media outlets still carry a lot of weight. Get positive exposure and help others by sharing your expertise. By building up a following of strategic partners, good things will happen. On a side note, it pays to love what you do. Hard work and dedication can separate success stories from those that do not have their heart in it. As the old Confucius quote goes, ‘Find something you love to do and you will never have to work a day in your life.’”

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in brand building and public relations for our clients. Our job is to help these companies grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we are committed to providing the skills needed to provide our people with the opportunity for career advancement within our company. To learn more about the opportunities available within Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/  

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews: 8 Tips to Land Your First Job

8 Tips to Land Your First Job

Northeast Consulting Group understands that transitioning from college life to career life can be tough. We’re all taught that you go to college, you earn your degree, and you get a job. The scary truth is that the majority of college grads these days are still looking to jump start their career and are struggling to find a job to do that with. How do you get a job when you don’t have experience? How can you get your career going with only having a piece of paper that shows you graduated? Well, Sheryl Sandberg wrote a book called, “Lean In For Graduates” to help new grads land their first job to help jump start their careers. 

Here are 8 tips to help you get started!

1. Adopt the mantra, “Proceed and be bold.”

• Whether it’s applying to jobs or taking on assignments at work, take up this phrase as your new career mantra. “BE BOLD.” This is important for everyone especially women. Women often fear putting themselves out there. Most men will apply for jobs that they feel meet 60% of their job requirements while women won’t unless the job meets all of theirs. Who do you think has a better chance of landing the job? 
• If you’re employed, adopt the “bold” principal for opportunities at work. Let your manager know you’re interested in additional assignments and keep your eyes open for projects that will allow you to make a name for yourself. Shift your mind from thinking, “I’m not ready to do that,” to thinking “I want to do that – and I’ll learn by doing it.”

2. Shift from a “What do I get?” to a “What can I offer?” mindset.

• Most job seekers fall into the trap of focusing on what an organization will do for them, when in actuality, putting the company’s needs front and center is what really gets you noticed.
• At every step in your job search, look for other opportunities to make a good impression. Once you land the interview, go above and beyond what is expected. Look at the companies social media links that they send you. Don’t assume you’ll have the answers to all their interview questions. Plan ahead and have questions of your own.

3. Negotiate – Wisely!

• The wage gap starts early. You don’t get what you don’t ask for and in turn you don’t get what you don’t earn. If you’re willing to work hard and committed to succeeding in a career opportunity, show what you’re made of first and then ask your manager for what you think you've earned. You won’t get anything unless you show what you can do.

4. Break long-term goals into short-term steps.

• Figure out what your long term goal is and don’t be afraid to think big! Goals can be daunting, so start by breaking them down into small achievable steps. Make sure whatever you do, that you continue to learn and grow. Look for ways to improve and reflect on what slows you down or what you’re scared to try. If you do this, you’ll uncover valuable opportunities to build new strengths. 
• Keep your goal in mind and stay flexible and open to new and unexpected paths. Playing it safe holds you back. Seek out diverse experiences, especially if they’ll add new skills to your toolkit. The more you have, the more likely you’ll find yourself on track to achieve your goals both personally and professionally.

5. Own your spot at the table.

• It can be hard to feel confident when you’re just starting your career. Don’t underestimate yourself and in contrast, don’t overestimate yourself. Your success is attributed to skills not luck. It’s difficult to change the way you feel, but you can train yourself to change the way you think, which will ultimately change the way you act. When you walk into a situation feeling insecure, remember that you've earned your position. Act on your knowledge.
• When you’re faced with a challenge, remember that the person next to you most likely thinks they can tackle the challenge, so why shouldn't you? When you push past your insecurities, you’ll gain more confidence, which will lead you to more opportunities.

6. Listen to your inner voice.

• As you shift from college to the workplace, your inner voice can serve as a powerful guide. It’s okay to worry and wonder while you make the transition into the real world. But, don’t let the voices and opinions of others drown out your own. Once you start turning into what you think, feel, and care about, you can begin to forge your own path.
• Your inner voice can help you figure out the answers to really important questions: Do I want to apply for this job? Do I want to live in this city? Practice listening to that voice. Each time you listen to yourself, you build the confidence that will help you lead the life you truly want.

7. Don’t ask, “Will you be my mentor?”

• Too many young people start with the question, “Will you be my mentor?” But studies show that mentors select proteges based on their performance and potential, so shift your thinking from, “If I get a mentor, I’ll excel” to “If I excel, I’ll get a mentor.”

8. Don’t leave before you leave.

• Without realizing it, we start to make career decisions based on responsibilities that we don’t even have yet. Don’t fall into this trap. Keep all your options open until you need to make a choice. Odds are, if you do, you’ll have a more fulfilling position with flexibility for things that will happen later in life. Go in with the mentality that you can have it all. You don’t have to have “a” or “b” – figure out a way to have both “a” and “b” in your life.

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing firm that specializes in public relations and brand building for our clients. Our job is to help our clients continue to grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we are committed to providing development in the areas of customer service, marketing, sales, communications, and business management. This ensures that we give our peoples valuable skills that are needed to advance within our company or the experience needed to further their careers. To learn more about the career opportunities available within Northeast Consulting Group, please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com/

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. Reviews: You Can't Be A Great Manager If You're Not A Great Coach!

The work culture at Northeast Consulting Group is centered around having a team oriented environment that allows people to feel happy, safe, and comfortable in the workplace. We feel as though this allows our people to achieve professional successes and even develop personally by overcoming their fears of speaking up, public speaking, and stepping off of the sidelines and up into the spotlight. So, when we saw this article from the Harvard Business Review about how you can't be  a great manager without being a great coach, we decided we had to share it with our team and the community.

YOU CAN'T BE A GREAT MANAGER IF YOU'RE NOT A GREAT COACH!

The most motivating condition for people in the work place is feeling like you're making progress at something that is meaningful to you. If your job involves leading others the most important thing you can do is to help your people feel like they're experiencing progress. Easier said than done, right? The only way that someone in a leadership role can achieve this is by gaining an understanding of what drives each person. Know their goals, dreams, aspirations, and what they want moving forward. Then, build connections between those and the workplace mission and objectives. This is how you help people learn and grow on an ongoing basis. But, doing this once of twice will not make the difference. Having REGULAR communication around development (coaching conversations), is essential. The biggest thing that separates highly effective managers from average managers is one thing, coaching.

Anyone who has been around the job force over the last few years and has frequently changed positions tends to know that coaching isn't what most managers are expected to do. Most managers think that they don't have time to have these kinds of coaching conversations with their people and if they do have the time, they feel like they lack the skills to have the conversation effectively. If managers aren't getting actively involved, then employee growth is stunted. When that happens, then the engagement and retention of the employees decreases and work morale and turnover increases. 

If you're a manager already or aspire to be one there are simple things that can be done right away to make you more effective. They don't require you to spend money and go back to school, or attend a training seminar, or to buy books on "how to be a manager." Just start by engaging in regular conversations to help support your teams ongoing learning and development. Here are the top five tips to help you get started!

1. Listen Deeply.

Remember that annoying feeling you have when you're trying to get an important message across to someone who clearly has a lot of things on their mind? Well, don't be "that person." If you're having a conversation with one of your people, focus on them completely and actively listen to what they're saying. Put away your cell phone, shut down your email, and close your office door to eliminate distractions. Start the conversation by asking questions such as, "How would you like to grow this month in the company?" Or, something similar. What you say isn't nearly as important as the intention you have behind what you're saying. create a connection with your team member that will make them want to open up to you and help them think more creatively.

2. Ask, DON'T TELL.

As a manager, you're probably used to sharing, right? You have a high level of expertise and you're using to giving direction. This is great for when you're clarifying instructions, or leading a project, or giving advice to someone who asks for it. This is NOT okay for when you're trying to have a coaching conversation. You have to restrain your impulse to provide answers. Your path is not your team members path. Open-ended questions, not answers, are the tools to coaching. You succeed as a coach by helping your team members articulate their goals and challenges and by helping them find their own answers. If you're always giving your people the answers they will never grow.

3. Create A "Developmental Alliance."

Supporting your team members' developmental goals and strategies is essential to increasing your effectiveness as a manager. For example, say one of your people would like to develop by gaining a deeper understanding of some of the other services your firm provides. To achieve this, you suggest that she accompany you a team site visit in a different location, interview the users, and create an article on the experience to post on your firms blog. Now, the follow through on that suggestion is essential. You need to make sure that the individual in question has the authorization, space, and resources necessary to carry out the developmental plan. Follow-up is critical to build trust and to make your coaching more effective. The more you follow through the more productive your coaching becomes, the more your employees trust you, and the more engaged they become.

4. Focus On Moving Forward Positively.

While venting can provide temporary relief, it doesn't generate solutions. Take a moment to acknowledge the frustrations of your people, but then encourage them to think about how to move past them. Ask questions to help lead them in the right direction and focus on positive solutions to negative problems. 

5. Build Accountability!

In addition to making sure you follow through on commitments that you make to employees in coaching conversations, ti's also useful to build accountability for the employee's side of implementing developmental plans. Accountability increases the positive impact of coaching conversations and solidifies their rightful place as a key to the organizations effectiveness.

What will coaching your employees do for you? It will build a stronger bond between you and your team, support them in taking ownership over their own learning, and help them develop the skills they need to perform. Also, it FEELS GOOD! So go ahead and take the jump. You'll love the thrill of coaching conversations that catalyze your teams' growth!

Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company that specializes in brand building and public relations. Our job is to help the companies that we work with continue to grow and expand. The culture at Northeast Consulting Group is committed to providing our people with the skills they would need to be able to advance within our company. To learn more about the career opportunities within our company please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com