3 Major Salary Negotiation Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)
Negotiating, much like networking, is something we need to know how to do, yet it’s not a skill we are ever taught in school. But unlike networking, making a big mistake during a salary negotiation won’t just cost you a relationship, it may result in thousands of dollars being left on the table. So what exactly do you need to know when it comes to making the big ask? Here are the top three things to avoid doing in your next negotiation.
1. Getting Defensive
Let’s say you have taken on more responsibilities and put in way more overtime than your peers this past year. However, during your performance review, your boss informs you that you will only be getting the standard 3% raise due to budget constraints.
In the heat of the moment, your heart rate will naturally jump through the roof in frustration.
What to do instead:
Instead of snapping back with how unfair this is, take a nice deep breath and allow for silence. Slowing the conversation down rather than jumping into a response will create space for you to be thoughtful in your answer rather than reactive.
2. Giving In Too Quickly
Now that you’ve given yourself a moment to breathe, you can start to prepare your response. While it’s natural to worry about what will happen if you ask for more, don’t let the fear of rejection keep you from getting what you deserve.
I’m here to tell you that negotiation is a normal and expected part of working. While your boss may secretly be hoping you don’t push back, they won’t become offended when you do (and if they do, it may be an important red flag to take note of).
What to do instead:
Instead of quickly giving in, restate your value and get their buy-in. For example, “I understand that constraints in the budget must be difficult. However, the amount of hours and effort I have been putting in for the company goes well beyond the standard expectations and performance, wouldn’t you say?”
3. Not Aiming High Enough
Lastly, when discussing pay, it’s natural to worry that if you go too high you will either offend the other party, lose the position, or come across as greedy.
However, you shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable. By starting with a “safer” sounding number you are doing the work for them, and negotiating against yourself before the conversation has even begun.
What to do instead:
Focus on the facts and then aim high.
Do your research and get clear on a salary range that is both fair and reasonable. Next, instead of lowering your standards in order to come across as more agreeable, start at the top of the range.
For the example above, if a 3 to 8% raise is reasonable, don’t lower your expectations to a safer sounding 5%. Instead, anchor high and say, “I was really hoping that given the results I’ve produced in the past year, that I would get at least an 8 percent increase. Do you think that’s something we could work toward?”
Interestingly enough, by anchoring higher, you actually give your boss the psychological feeling that they just got a “deal.” Let them feel the sweet pleasure of a deal, while you allow yourself the sweet reward of a higher paycheck!
So, in conclusion…
Negotiating doesn’t have to be scary or hard. No one will advocate for you in the same way you can advocate for yourself. You are in control of your financial well-being, and you know the value that you create. Now, share it with the world! And most importantly, share it with your boss when you ask for that next raise. This awkward and uncomfortable situation will only last a few minutes, and it may result in thousands of more dollars in your bank account.
About the author: Kathlyn Hart is a financial empowerment coach and a motivational speaker who supports ambitious women earn more. Her salary negotiation boot camp “Be Brave Get Paid,” which teaches women how to confidently own their worth and ask for more, has helped women increase their income by an average of $15,000. In addition, she is the host of The Kathlyn Hart Show, where she interviews entrepreneurial women about their journey from dreaming to doing.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
This post was originally published on March 26, 2019, and has since been updated.
MORE ON THE BLOG
6 Tips for Creating a Productive Work-From-Home Environment
Working from home. It sounds great in theory, but it actually takes a lot of discipline to establish a routine that makes working from home productive and fulfilling. Given that many companies are currently implementing work from home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19, I feel compelled to share my tried-and-true tips for creating a productive work-from-home environment.
As someone who’s been freelancing and working from home for the past five years, I’ve gone through all of the ups and downs WFH life can present—from feeling lonely and needing to talk to someone to needing to get out of the house and take a break (while practicing social distancing, of course). Scroll on for my tips on how to create a dedicated work space, set office hours, eliminate distracts, and more.
Create a Dedicated Work Space
Find a place in your home that you can dedicate to work. This will be different for everyone, and while I highly encourage having a desk, a dining room table or breakfast bar are great substitutes.
I don’t recommend your workspace be on your couch or on anything where you can recline. While I love being on my laptop and having my feet up on my couch, I am never as productive as I am when sitting upright.
When choosing a space for work in your home, try to find an area that has the following:
Find a space that you can check-in for work and check-out for everything you’d typically do while at home.
Set Office Hours
As a freelancer, it’s incredibly important to have office hours. Not only to manage client expectations but to give yourself structure.
Setting office hours should empower you to develop a routine for yourself like you typically would if you had a 9-to-5 office job. You’d wake up in the morning, enjoy your morning cup of coffee, maybe squeeze in a yoga class before you get dressed, and head to work. The same should be taken into consideration when you work from home.
Freelance life is supposed to allow you to do all of the things you want to do with your time. Don’t let it create an opposite effect where you convince yourself to always be on and working just because you’re able to do it from the freedom of your own home.
Eliminate Distractions
It’s so important to eliminate any distractions from your home that would take you away from getting work done. For me, I need my home to be clean - period. If the home isn’t tidy, I’m not focused.
Other distractions I try to eliminate are:
If you find yourself being distracted by a common theme throughout your days, find a way to eliminate that distraction so you can stay focused and do your best work.
Get Out of Your PJs
We all have days where we want to stay in our PJs, but it’s important to get out of the jammies and into something that says, “my day has started.”
Most of the time I will change out of PJs and into activewear or comfortable denim. I’ll wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, put on some CC cream and deodorant, and then get to work. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference.
Talk To Someone
One of the biggest things I didn’t realize about working from home is just how lonely it can be.
You are by yourself all day and unless you have clients who love phone calls, most of your correspondence will primarily be done through email. It’s important to talk to someone; anyone. Make time to pick up the phone and call a relative or an old friend. Schedule calls with people in your network so you don’t lose your conversation skills.
I realized a change in myself probably around my second or third year of freelancing, where I would struggle with conversation because I just wasn’t having any. I’d either talk too long or too fast, have difficulty forming sentences, and just felt awkward. This is not me.
Now I talk to everyone.
I am not shy when it comes to conversation and make an effort to have a casual chat with just about anybody I come into contact with throughout the day. That’s people I pass by when I’m walking the dogs, the barista at Alfred’s, Anthony who does my nails at Olive & June, Mary who delivers our mail… AN-Y-BOD-Y.
Get Out of the House
How many of you working from home and reading this typically don’t leave your house during the workweek? 🙋 I get it.
Your home is your office and your office is your home, but it’s still important to get out of the house every once in a while. Keep yourself active and engaged with things happening in your community so you can get out of your PJs, talk to somebody, and enjoy those office hours! (You like what I did there?)
It’s important to get outside and break away from work so you can actually stay engaged in work.
When I spend hours on my computer without any breaks my mind becomes fatigued, and I become less productive. So I’ll take the dogs for a longer walk, do a workout class on my balcony, or take my laptop to the coffee shop down the road and just take in a bit of new scenery to help adjust my internal boss mode.
So if you’re feeling uninspired or having trouble getting anything done, give yourself a break and get out.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
This story was originally published on March 5, 2019, and has since been updated.
Pro Tip: Networking Is About Giving
“People want to help people who help them.”
Photo: Smith House Photo
Welcome to our series Pro Tip where we’ll be sharing expert advice on hot-button career issues that are a part of our day-to-day lives—issues like productivity, funding, budgeting, and being a good boss.
Today, we’re sharing tips on an often-misunderstood matter: Networking. Whether you’re self-employed or climbing the corporate ladder, we all feel the pressure to “network” our way to the top. But to become a networker who generates leads instead of a desk full of other people’s business cards takes one simple ethos…
Networking Is About Giving
It isn’t about reaching out only when you want or need something or seeing how many people you can “connect” with on LinkedIn. Networking is about actively helping others and genuinely wanting to do it.
See, when you’re consistently networking and providing your skills and knowledge to other people, you’ll find you will rarely need to ask for help because the power of giving is infectious. People want to help people who help them and if the people you’re investing your time into aren’t sharing the love - then it’s time to find some new people.
Below are a few tried and true habits for being an active and giving networker.
How Can I Help?
Every time I connect with someone new the first question I like to ask is, “How can I help?” You’d be surprised how often it catches people off guard. “You want to help me?" Of course, I do!
When we offer to help we open a door, we make a friend and we learn something new. It’s also where the true connection begins because it creates the opportunity to make an impact on someone else. As the old cliché goes, by helping others we help ourselves.
Make Introductions
Sometimes, all it takes is meeting the right person to take a project to the next level. If you have a connection who’s looking for what someone in your network can provide, connect them. If you think two of your connections would be better simply by knowing each other, connect them. If you think an introduction could lead to some new business for someone in your network, CONNECT THEM. No matter what the reason, help others expand their networks by offering to make introductions for the people whose work you believe in.
Offer Your Time
Our most valuable asset is time, and when you offer it to others, it goes farther than any other networking tip I can give you—especially if you’re self-employed because you’re not only the sole representative of your business but you’re the sole proofreader, manager, marketer, designer, advisor, and everything else in between. Offer up your time to help review assets or be a sounding board to people who are in similar positions to you and build your community.
Stay Present
How many of us feel defeated every time we post something about our business on social media and NO ONE responds to it the way we imagined they would? Be the person who does. Stay present and actively engage with the things people in your network are sharing about their business and ideas. Share their content with your own audience.
Beyond social media, continue to be in people’s lives and follow up consistently. Share articles on topics you think would benefit them, set up a coffee meet-up with another person in your network, and keep practicing these techniques to help make yourself a consistently active and giving networker.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
This story was originally published on February 9, 2015, and has since been updaetd.
MORE ON THE BLOG
Ask a Confidence Coach—11 Tips to Take Your Career to the Next Level
The “fake it ‘till you make it” mantra works… until it doesn’t.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Show of hands: Who has heard the phrase “confidence is key” before? Are you with me on this? From elementary school murals to iPhone screensavers, this common phrase is plastered everywhere, and for good reason. I truly believe that confidence is key for many areas of your life, but if you’re like me, I only think about confidence in personal settings. My personality, looks, and sense of humor are all things that I easily see as areas needing confidence. But the one area I’ve always struggled feeling confident in? My career. And that’s where Heather Monahan comes in.
Monahan is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of Boss in Heels. Having successfully climbed the corporate ladder for nearly 20 years, Monahan’s book “Confidence Creator” illustrates the tough lessons she’s learned throughout her career that have helped her develop the self-assurance necessary for getting what she wanted in life. Below, Monahan shares 11 ways you can take your career to the next level by feeding your own. Here’s what she recommends.
Figure Out Where Your Passions and Talents Lie
When you are spending your time in your superpower you feel so confident. What I mean by that is if your talent is highlighted when you are interacting with others, but you are currently in a job where you only interact with spreadsheets on your computer, you need to change roles. Figuring out where your passions and talents are is critical to becoming your most confident self at work. This is the single most important thing you can do. When we speak about what we know and love, we are more confident. Identify your superpower and spend your time there.
Bring Your Confidence to Work (Even If You Have to Fake It Sometimes)
Confidence everywhere is important. Here is an example: I was hired by an association to give my keynote speech. On the conference call the week before the event, the new president was laying out expectations for me. This is what he said: “Heather, this is my first year as president and there is so much pressure on me to create a stellar event. If your speech is amazing then I am golden, if you blow it I fail. You cannot blow it.” I laughed in my head. I could hear how he was lacking confidence in his new role. Thankfully, I am very confident in my speaking abilities, and here is what I said: “Have no fear. I will nail this and you will look like a superstar. You can take that to the bank.”
He started laughing and thanked me for being so confident, it put him at ease. However, if I had said to him, “I am so sorry you are feeling this pressure. It sounds really hard. I can promise I will try my best,” (while a fair response) it would not have been the confident response my client needed in his moment of fear. Bringing confidence to work is the difference between existing and excelling. People want to work with people that are confident because it makes them feel comfortable.
Confront Your Misconceptions and Limiting Beliefs
This is the million-dollar question. Statistics show that women feel less confident than men beginning at age eight. What this says to me is the way we are raised—the self-limiting beliefs that are imposed on us through culture, society, media, and the “lanes” that are created for women—all impact our confidence. We are told to be a certain weight, look pretty, be kind and gentle, be smart but not too smart, and on and on. What I have learned over the last two decades is pretty much everything I was taught as a child needs to be re-examined now.
I was raised as the “social” one and my sister was the “smart” one. I walked through life carrying these labels with me and allowing myself to be limited as a result. Confronting these misconceptions and moving into my fear allowed me to create confidence in myself; however, it was pretty scary. Realizing that we create our own reality and we allow for or choose not to accept others’ opinions or limitations is incredibly empowering. For years, I had played small at work because I saw that it allowed others to feel more comfortable. When I would rise up or step into my power I would see others feel uncomfortable.
Deciding to own my power has allowed me to take off in business and in my life. It starts with you and me deciding to live our lives by our own rules. Confidence is a choice.
Make Goals and Stretch Yourself Every Day
There are so many things. Leverage LinkedIn. Everyone has a personal brand. Make the conscious decision to hold the pen when orchestrating your personal brand. If you don’t do this others will be writing the outline for your brand and deciding your story. LinkedIn is a fantastic place to showcase your highlight reel at work. This is where you want to list your accomplishments, accolades, and reviews. We live in a word-of-mouth society and the best words are the ones others share about us.
The next time someone says, “Great job!” convert that feedback in the moment and ask that person to write a review of your work on your LinkedIn wall. Get in the habit of doing this and watch the credibility and traction you create. Have a goal. Whether it is to make 10 sales calls today or to reach out to three new potential mentors, you need to have a big picture goal and vision of your future and you need to have micro-goals that you will accomplish each day. Surround yourself with people that are ahead of you, as they will help to stretch you beyond what you see as your current potential.
“Make the conscious decision to hold the pen when orchestrating your personal brand.”
Be Prepared to Step Into the Uncomfortable Sometimes
If you lack confidence, you will not pitch yourself for the job that doesn’t exist or for the promotion right in front of you. The first time I pitched myself for a vision I had, which was not an existing job, others said to me that it wouldn’t work and others had the same idea, but the company wouldn’t want to implement it. In that moment, if I lacked confidence, I would have accepted that answer and backed away. Thankfully, I was confident in my abilities at work and I called the president of the company, met with him face-to-face, and closed him on my idea.
That idea more than doubled the company’s revenues during my tenure at the company. If you want to move up, you need to create confidence so you can step into the uncomfortable and move beyond what has always been. When you create confidence, you also allow yourself to innovate and see things others might not be able to see. Confidence allows for creativity and authenticity which are key in getting ahead at work.
“Faking it ‘till you make it will help you to get through difficult times, but it is never the long term answer.”
Confidence Is Earned
Confidence is such an interesting thing. I believe we are all born with the same baseline. However, we are immediately impacted by our surroundings and the individuals we are interacting with. There are so many people that I meet who have amazing parents, wealth, and health and create confidence immediately from their surroundings. What is interesting is those same people as adults when faced with losing their parents crumble. When your confidence comes from an external place it can’t be sustained.
I know this first hand. I had associated my confidence with my job title and my paycheck. The day I got fired, my confidence came crumbling down. The important thing to know is regardless of if you have confidence today or don’t, you can create it in any moment. The act of reading this article is creating confidence as you are accessing knowledge to better yourself. Confidence is not something that some are born with and some are not. Confidence is something that anyone can create and that can falter at different times in your life or different areas of your life.
Some may be confident in their personal life but not at work and some may be really confident in their workout but not when dating. Confidence is different at different times in your life and different situations, but through practice and discipline, you can become masterful in creating it and realizing your true potential.
The “Fake It ‘Till You Make It” Mantra Works… Until It Doesn’t
This mantra served me well in corporate America. Back in the day, I lacked confidence at work for many reasons. One of the big issues is because I had been told by many to dress a certain way, look a certain way, and change how I really am. The more you move away from the authentic you, the more you chip away at your confidence.
Over time, my confidence was dropping. When that happened, I began to allow others to treat me poorly at work. When I allowed for that, my confidence started spiraling. I still had a very high position in the company and would have to address employees and audiences often. In those moments, I would fake my confidence. I would take the stage or the mic and “pretend” I was ultra-confident. This worked and so many people believed it. The real fail is I didn’t believe it. Faking it till you make it will help you to get through difficult times, but it is never the long-term answer.
Practice Gratitude and Visualization
Using affirmations daily works. As does:
Writing notes on the bottom of your shoe, which is a great reminder to pick you up when your confidence dips.
Wearing your power color to work will allow you to feel your best.
Putting yourself first and investing in you will build your confidence.
Deciding to no longer apologize and instead thank others will help you to feel stronger.
Taking others off of the proverbial pedestal will allow you to feel on level ground with others which creates confidence.
Scents like lavender or anything that resonates with you can help when you are lacking confidence.
Creating a confidence playlist and theme song will help you to ignite confidence before a big meeting. -Writing down three things you are grateful for each day will shift your mindset.
Practicing visualizing the life, promotion, meeting you want to happen will start things in motion and ready you for your dreams to manifest.”
Clothing Can Be a Powerful Tool
For years, I would wear a navy blue pantsuit because I had listened to the prescriptive direction others had imposed on me. These days, I rock ripped jeans and bodysuits and I feel powerful. Being true to your style and what you feel great in will always help you to be more confident. Trying to follow what others tell you will work is a recipe for failure. You have the answers for you. You know what you like to wear and what you don’t like to wear. Show up as you and shine your light ripped jeans and all.
Ditch the Fear and Do It Anyway
For years, I sat paralyzed by my fear. I would go to work in a toxic environment and cry at home at night because I felt stuck at the job that paid my bills. I was so fearful I would make excuses as to why I had to stay. I never thought, “Why don’t I leap and see what happens?” I now see fear as a green light that means GO! Not only go, but go faster. If I had leapt years ago, I would be so much further now. Done will always be better than perfect and failure only occurs if you quit. I am not a quitter.
I have had countless failures since I was fired and re-invented myself as an entrepreneur but each failure leads me to a new place, a better place as long as I just keep going. Like anything, you can build your strength and conquer new levels of fear. Start small and take baby steps. Talk to a new person in line at Starbucks today. Then tomorrow use that experience to allow you to share your new idea at work with your boss. Keep amassing these small wins by confronting your fear, and before you know it, you will have momentum that will propel you to smash through fear. What’s the worst that can happen?
This story was originally published on July 15, 2019, and has since been published.
MORE ON THE BLOG
3 Major Salary Negotiation Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)
Read this first before making your move.
Photo: Smith House Photo
Negotiating, much like networking, is something we need to know how to do, yet it’s not a skill we are ever taught in school. But unlike networking, making a big mistake during a salary negotiation won’t just cost you a relationship, it may result in thousands of dollars being left on the table. So what exactly do you need to know when it comes to making the big ask? Here are the top three things to avoid doing in your next negotiation.
1. Getting Defensive
Let’s say you have taken on more responsibilities and put in way more overtime than your peers this past year. However, during your performance review, your boss informs you that you will only be getting the standard 3% raise due to budget constraints.
In the heat of the moment, your heart rate will naturally jump through the roof in frustration.
What to do instead:
Instead of snapping back with how unfair this is, take a nice deep breath and allow for silence. Slowing the conversation down rather than jumping into a response will create space for you to be thoughtful in your answer rather than reactive.
2. Giving In Too Quickly
Now that you’ve given yourself a moment to breathe, you can start to prepare your response. While it’s natural to worry about what will happen if you ask for more, don’t let the fear of rejection keep you from getting what you deserve.
I’m here to tell you that negotiation is a normal and expected part of working. While your boss may secretly be hoping you don’t push back, they won’t become offended when you do (and if they do, it may be an important red flag to take note of).
What to do instead:
Instead of quickly giving in, restate your value and get their buy-in. For example, “I understand that constraints in the budget must be difficult. However, the amount of hours and effort I have been putting in for the company goes well beyond the standard expectations and performance, wouldn’t you say?”
3. Not Aiming High Enough
Lastly, when discussing pay, it’s natural to worry that if you go too high you will either offend the other party, lose the position, or come across as greedy.
However, you shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable. By starting with a “safer” sounding number you are doing the work for them, and negotiating against yourself before the conversation has even begun.
What to do instead:
Focus on the facts and then aim high.
Do your research and get clear on a salary range that is both fair and reasonable. Next, instead of lowering your standards in order to come across as more agreeable, start at the top of the range.
For the example above, if a 3 to 8% raise is reasonable, don’t lower your expectations to a safer sounding 5%. Instead, anchor high and say, “I was really hoping that given the results I’ve produced in the past year, that I would get at least an 8 percent increase. Do you think that’s something we could work toward?”
Interestingly enough, by anchoring higher, you actually give your boss the psychological feeling that they just got a “deal.” Let them feel the sweet pleasure of a deal, while you allow yourself the sweet reward of a higher paycheck!
So, in conclusion…
Negotiating doesn’t have to be scary or hard. No one will advocate for you in the same way you can advocate for yourself. You are in control of your financial well-being, and you know the value that you create. Now, share it with the world! And most importantly, share it with your boss when you ask for that next raise. This awkward and uncomfortable situation will only last a few minutes, and it may result in thousands of more dollars in your bank account.
“You shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable.”
—Kathlyn Hart, Financial Empowerment Coach
About the author: Kathlyn Hart is a financial empowerment coach and a motivational speaker who supports ambitious women earn more. Her salary negotiation boot camp “Be Brave Get Paid,” which teaches women how to confidently own their worth and ask for more, has helped women increase their income by an average of $15,000. In addition, she is the host of The Kathlyn Hart Show, where she interviews entrepreneurial women about their journey from dreaming to doing.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
This post was originally published on March 26, 2019, and has since been updated.
MORE ON THE BLOG
Pro Tip: How to Approach a Client About a Late Payment
If you‘ve continually met your deliverables, then it’s time to take a stand.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography
We’ve all more than likely been through this particular situation but I’m curious: how many of you reading this are happy with the way it was handled? In my experience, people are typically afraid to approach a client about late payments because they’re afraid of annoying or upsetting the client.
Your clients do not hold all of the power.
They should be just as concerned with annoying or upsetting you by being late with their payments. And more likely than not, these situations can be easily solved with some good ole fashioned communication. So let’s break down how to approach and communicate with your clients about a late payment.
Why it’s important
You need to get paid, that’s why.
Scenario #1
You’ve been working with a new client and after the first month of service, submitted your invoice. Another month of work has gone by and you’re about to submit your second invoice but haven’t been paid for the first invoice you submitted. You originally agreed to payment schedule terms with your client at the start of your working relationship and put a “net 30” payment deadline in your scope of work and invoice.
If the terms have been agreed upon and this is the first time you and your client are working together, it may take time to get the first payment process into rotation with Human Resources (HR) and Accounts Payable (AP).
While this isn’t ideal for any situation, it’s one of the many hurdles of freelance life and it’s better to prepare for it than not; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say anything when a payment is late either.
Say this
“I’m getting ready to submit my second invoice and wanted to let you know I still haven’t received payment for last month’s services. Do you have everything you need from me to get this processed? If so, can you please let me know when payment is expected to come through?”
Don’t say
“….”
The breakdown
When it comes to talking to your client about getting paid, more people opt for saying nothing over something. It’s imperative you keep an open dialogue about payment processing so you can better manage your personal finances.
Freelancers don’t have the luxury of bi-monthly paychecks and your clients will understand this. Remember, your services are an investment and they should respect your time and business by actively communicating when payment may be late.
If you approach your client about a late payment and they’re able to share why it’s running late and when it will be processed, that’s a great first step. Take note and document it in a follow-up email with the information that was shared if the conversation is held in person or over the phone.
From there, hold your clients accountable. If the date comes that they said you’d receive payment and it doesn’t process, follow up with another email. Chances are, there’s another department that handles payments and your client will do their due diligence to make sure you get paid.
Scenario #2
You’ve submitted not one, but two invoices that have not been processed. You’ve approached your client about the first late payment and they gave you a timeline for when it would be processed. Now you have two late invoices and it’s time to submit invoice number three.
Say this
“I’m getting ready to submit my third invoice and have still yet to receive payment for my first or second invoices. The terms we agreed upon have not been met and I’ve followed up several times to try and resolve this matter together. With respect, I will have to cease my services if these late invoices aren’t processed by one week from today. I hope you can understand the difficult circumstance this puts me in and that we can work together to reach a solution.”
I have a feeling this is going to cause some mouths to drop.
What? Cease services?
YES. You need to get paid!
Freelancers, hear me! This is business 101.
Clients and freelancers create a circle. You should be getting just as much value from the relationship as your client is getting from you. This isn’t just measured in dollars. This is measured in reliability and respect. If you have continually met your deliverables and communicated your expectations for payments and they’re not being met, then it’s time to take a stand.
It will be difficult but it is necessary. And it will light the fire under your client’s butt because if you’re doing your job right, having you around makes their work-life easier and they should want to keep you happy and ultimately, paid.
What financial situations have you found yourself in that you wish you had communicated better? Share them in the comments or send me an email at hello@thescopeblog.com.
“Clients and freelancers create a circle. You should be getting just as much value from the relationship as your client is getting from you.”
—Audrey Adair, Founder of The Scope
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
This post was originally published on April 30, 2019, and has since been updated.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
MORE ON THE BLOG
C&C Pro Tip: How to Get Paid as a Freelancer (and Know Your Worth)
And communicate your value with confidence.
Photo: Smith House Photography
Why does talking about money make people uncomfortable? It’s something we all need. We spend it on a daily basis. We always want more of it. So why is it that talking about it is seen as taboo?
When it comes to your professional career, the first thing you’ll want to get over is any fear or discomfort you have when it comes to talking about money because guess what? Your boss or client is only going to pay you what they think you think you’re worth. They didn’t teach you that at university, did they?
When you’re a freelancer, how much you get paid is up to you and the only way you’re going to continue to put money in the bank is if you’re comfortable talking about it. For today’s Pro Tip, I’m going to share tips for how to communicate your value.
Why It’s Important
Understanding your value is important because it helps you enter into conversations knowing what you and your potential client should work towards together.
Remember, freelancers and clients create a circle: You should be getting as much value out of the relationship from working with them as they are getting from hiring you.
Beyond the quantitative factors in establishing value, qualitative factors like expertise, convenience, and reliability also play a vital role.
Consider adding to your value if any of the following apply to you:
You specialize in a high-demand field or in a particular area not many people are experts in
You can provide something to the client no one else can (i.e. You have a direct line of contact to a company they’ve been trying to pitch, you can translate copy into different languages saving them money on additional services, etc.)
You create convenience by knowing exactly what to do and getting the job done quickly
When it comes to the quantitative aspect of value, research what full-time employees who do what you do get paid annually. Then take the added value you provide and use this hourly rate calculator to determine a rate that embodies the value you know you can bring and that makes you excited to do good work.
The Scenario
(For this post, I’ll create a common scenario and break down the best way to communicate a clear and effective message.)
You’re on a call with a potential client and have decided this is a project you’d like to work on. It’s perfect for your expertise and it would help progress you and your business forward. The scope of work is challenging but you’re up for the work ahead. The client expresses she would love to work with you and asks you how much it would cost to complete the tasks she’s outlined.
Say this:
“This is a project I’m excited to work with you on. I would need to take time to evaluate everything we discussed to determine how many hours I’d need to complete these tasks. With that in mind, is there a particular budget you have for this project?”
Don’t say:
“I can do this for $X-amount and have it to you by next Tuesday.”
The Breakdown
While it’s always nice to show enthusiasm, the last thing you want to do is be quick to commit yourself to a number or deadline without knowing all of the details. It’s important to determine your client’s budget so you can realistically state whether this is an opportunity you’re able to take on.
When I’m on a call like this, I’m adding hours up in my mind as the scope is discussed so at the very least I’ll have a ballpark of how much time it the project will take. If I know that a project will take at least $2,500 of my time to complete but they only have a $1,000 budget, I can confidently communicate on the call that the budget they have isn’t enough to support the value I can bring.
If you find yourself in this situation but still want to work with the client, try communicating the following:
“That budget may not be able to support the amount of time I’d need to dedicate to this project but I’d still love to work together. Would you be willing to add more for the right person or consider reducing the scope of work? I can put together what I’d be able to accomplish for that amount if it would be helpful.”
If you find yourself in this situation but the budget they have isn’t something you’re willing to work with, say this:
“I’ve really enjoyed learning more about this project but that budget isn’t enough to support my value and the amount of time I’d need to complete this project. I’d be happy to look into my network and recommend someone else who may be a good fit and hope there’s an opportunity for us to work together soon.”
Turning down an opportunity might seem like a hard concept but the jobs you turn down are just as important as the ones you take on. This messaging establishes your value in a professional way and if the client really wants to work with you, they’ll either find more budget or reach back out for something bigger and better in the future. This also keeps you available for an opportunity that will be able to afford what you can bring to the table.
What financial situations have you found yourself in that you wish you had communicated better?
About the Author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope—a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
This post was originally published on April 9, 2019, and has since been updated.
MORE ON THE BLOG
6 Tips for Creating a Productive Work-From-Home Environment
Become a boss at working from home.
Photo: Polina Zimmerman for Pexels
Working from home. It sounds great in theory, but it actually takes a lot of discipline to establish a routine that makes working from home productive and fulfilling. Given that many companies are currently implementing work from home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19, I feel compelled to share my tried-and-true tips for creating a productive work-from-home environment.
As someone who’s been freelancing and working from home for the past five years, I’ve gone through all of the ups and downs WFH life can present—from feeling lonely and needing to talk to someone to needing to get out of the house and take a break (while practicing social distancing, of course). Scroll on for my tips on how to create a dedicated work space, set office hours, eliminate distracts, and more.
Create a Dedicated Work Space
Find a place in your home that you can dedicate to work. This will be different for everyone, and while I highly encourage having a desk, a dining room table or breakfast bar are great substitutes.
I don’t recommend your workspace be on your couch or on anything where you can recline. While I love being on my laptop and having my feet up on my couch, I am never as productive as I am when sitting upright.
When choosing a space for work in your home, try to find an area that has the following:
Natural light
Quiet
Minimal household distractions (dirty dishes in the sink, children’s toys on the floor, etc.)
Find a space that you can check-in for work and check-out for everything you’d typically do while at home.
Set Office Hours
As a freelancer, it’s incredibly important to have office hours. Not only to manage client expectations but to give yourself structure.
Setting office hours should empower you to develop a routine for yourself like you typically would if you had a 9-to-5 office job. You’d wake up in the morning, enjoy your morning cup of coffee, maybe squeeze in a yoga class before you get dressed, and head to work. The same should be taken into consideration when you work from home.
Freelance life is supposed to allow you to do all of the things you want to do with your time. Don’t let it create an opposite effect where you convince yourself to always be on and working just because you’re able to do it from the freedom of your own home.
Eliminate Distractions
It’s so important to eliminate any distractions from your home that would take you away from getting work done. For me, I need my home to be clean - period. If the home isn’t tidy, I’m not focused.
Other distractions I try to eliminate are:
Mindless social media scrolling. There’s a difference between taking time to engage on social media to benefit your business and spending 20 minutes scrolling through videos of pigs taking a bath. Cut the scroll!
Noise. If noise distracts you (or a lack thereof), plug in your noise-canceling headphones or put on some white noise to help you regain focus.
Pets. I have two dogs who can be very needy for attention. They sleep for most of the day, but every now and then they have a tendency for loudly playing with each other while I’m on client calls. When that happens, or if I think it could happen, I put them in their beds in our master bedroom and shut the door. It’s never for long and it helps calm them down - and helps prevent me from having to apologize to a client for the squeaky toy noises in the background.
If you find yourself being distracted by a common theme throughout your days, find a way to eliminate that distraction so you can stay focused and do your best work.
Get Out of Your PJs
We all have days where we want to stay in our PJs, but it’s important to get out of the jammies and into something that says, “my day has started.”
Most of the time I will change out of PJs and into activewear or comfortable denim. I’ll wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, put on some CC cream and deodorant, and then get to work. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference.
Talk To Someone
One of the biggest things I didn’t realize about working from home is just how lonely it can be.
You are by yourself all day and unless you have clients who love phone calls, most of your correspondence will primarily be done through email. It’s important to talk to someone; anyone. Make time to pick up the phone and call a relative or an old friend. Schedule calls with people in your network so you don’t lose your conversation skills.
I realized a change in myself probably around my second or third year of freelancing, where I would struggle with conversation because I just wasn’t having any. I’d either talk too long or too fast, have difficulty forming sentences, and just felt awkward. This is not me.
Now I talk to everyone.
I am not shy when it comes to conversation and make an effort to have a casual chat with just about anybody I come into contact with throughout the day. That’s people I pass by when I’m walking the dogs, the barista at Alfred’s, Anthony who does my nails at Olive & June, Mary who delivers our mail… AN-Y-BOD-Y.
Get Out of the House
How many of you working from home and reading this typically don’t leave your house during the workweek? 🙋 I get it.
Your home is your office and your office is your home, but it’s still important to get out of the house every once in a while. Keep yourself active and engaged with things happening in your community so you can get out of your PJs, talk to somebody, and enjoy those office hours! (You like what I did there?)
It’s important to get outside and break away from work so you can actually stay engaged in work.
When I spend hours on my computer without any breaks my mind becomes fatigued, and I become less productive. So I’ll take the dogs for a longer walk, do a workout class on my balcony, or take my laptop to the coffee shop down the road and just take in a bit of new scenery to help adjust my internal boss mode.
So if you’re feeling uninspired or having trouble getting anything done, give yourself a break and get out.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
This story was originally published on March 5, 2019, and has since been updated.
Influencer Pricing Guide: How Much To Charge For Brand Partnerships
Know your worth.
“How much do I charge?” is arguably the most asked question in influencer marketing, and for good reason—the world of influencer content is still relatively new. But if you have set rates and a plan in place, you’ll eliminate a lot of the stress of partnerships and brand outreach.
When it comes to pricing for brand collaborations, there’s no perfect equation. As much as we wish there was a go-to price that works for content across the board, there just isn’t. That said, there are a few best practices you can follow to eliminate the confusion quite a bit.
The Industry Standard Equation:
For social posts: $0.01 x number of followers*
*if “like” engagement is over 2.5%, charge $0.02 or more per follower.
For blog posts: $0.10 x monthly site sessions
Before giving a final fee, run through the requirements for the partnership. Consider an add-on fee if...
You have to include more than 10 images in your blog post
You're giving the brand image rights
You're posting an Instagram Story that drives to your blog post
You’re required to share your blog post on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest
You have a manager with an overhead fee
You're working with a brand that requires certain verbiage
You have to travel
You have to buy props
You have to outsource any work (e.g., a photographer or makeup artist)
The project requires a lot of pre- or post-production
The brand requests more than one round of approval, extra images, additional links, or an unusual timeline
Consider the value of each of those asks. When finalizing pricing, think about how much time each task will cost you. Don’t be afraid to charge more if you see yourself putting a lot of extra time into the project!
When should I start charging?
The short answer? Now! If you’re able to offer a brand value, then you deserve to be paid. And the numbers above aren’t hard and fast rules: If you only have 5k followers but your work fits into a certain special niche, you don’t have to stick to the industry standard. If you believe your work is valued at a higher cost, charge what it’s worth.
Too many people think you have to wait until 30k or 50k followers to start charging for partnerships, but when you offer value to a brand, you should be getting paid. Think of it this way: Professional photographers charge thousands of dollars for social imagery, and many of them only have a few thousand followers on Instagram.
How do I have “the money talk?”
Talking about fees is uncomfortable—we get it. But if you have a strong media kit that shows analytics from your social platforms and website, it’ll do the talking for you. Data is the best way to prove a point.
If you’re partnering with a brand you really love and want to build a relationship with, consider being flexible the first time you work with them. Name your price, but don’t be afraid to offer a slightly discounted rate for more posts if you want to build a rapport and make it an ongoing partnership.
Do I need a manager?
Is it time to hire representation? That depends on several factors. Answer the following questions if you’re considering hiring out:
Do you spend the majority of your day answering emails?
Have you hit a wall when it comes to partnerships and outreach?
Do you feel like you just don’t have the right connections?
Do you hate handling contracts?
Do you feel like you know your branding well enough to relay that information to a manager to pitch to brands?
Do you have the financial stability to give up a portion of your commission to a manager?
If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then a manager might be worth considering. They’ll find potential collaborations, handle client back-and-forth, and have those difficult money conversations for you. But that doesn’t mean you’re entirely off the hook: Successful brand partnerships start with showing the value you can bring to a brand, so you still have to come to the table with strong branding, high audience engagement, or unique blog content as selling points.
How do I sell myself?
Consider your brand guidelines, website design, SEO, email and overall content planning. If you're constantly winging it, it’s going to be difficult to set goals for content and partnerships. At Flocke hq, we work on influencer growth through brand and marketing strategy. The best way to feel confident in your content is to have data that shows growth and a larger strategy that outlines your long term goals.
At the end of the day, your personal brand is yours. You call the shots and get to pick how you handle brand partnerships. Remember: Your pricing comes down to the worth of your work and the time you're putting into everything you do. Ultimately, you're the voice of your brand, and no industry standard is perfectly crafted to you.
As you take on this year, we recommend that you create a 30-, 60-, and 90-day content plan and a growth strategy that ensures brand partnerships are always within reach. If you need a little guidance or want to learn more about what performs best, head over to Flocke hq and find out what we can do for your brand!
Tyler Grove and Rachel Broas are co-founders of Flocke hq, a digital marketing consultancy geared solely to help influencers build and scale their personal brands. As influencers themselves (@rachellaurenlucy and @tytygrove), they know the hard work that goes into creating a successful empire off of your own personal brand.
MORE ON OUR BLOG
Pro Tip: Five Things To Include In Every Scope Of Work
Yes, office hours exist for freelancers.
Today’s Pro Tip is for all of the freelancers out there! You’ve just secured your first client and have been asked to provide a scope of work…but what is that, exactly?
A scope of work (also referred to as an SOW) is a document outlining details for the deliverables you’ll oversee, the time you’ll spend and the steps you’ll take working on these deliverables, and how you will be compensated. Beyond these basic areas, there are a few additional things you'll want to cover off in your scope of work to help proactively manage client expectations and create accountability for yourself.
Here are five things to include in your scope of work (and if you're not entirely sure what an SOW looks like, I’ve got you covered! Download my free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit, here).
Office Hours
Yes, office hours exist for freelancers! If your client is in the same time zone as you, this may not be too big of an issue but it's still important to share if you have a timeframe you work within each day. This is especially the case if you have daily obligations like doctor's appointments, a side hustle or kids to pick up from school.
While we all will have to work outside of our desired times here and there, it's beneficial to express when you will be available for emails and phone calls with your client up front. If you work with clients in a different time zone, let them know when you will be available during their daily working hours and beyond in your scope of work.
Days Off
To echo the office hours section - yes, freelancers take days off! If you have a family vacation, previous commitments or just need some personal time, include those dates in your SOW. So long it doesn't conflict with any of your deadlines or obligations promised to your client, this shouldn't be a problem, but it's always better to communicate upfront.
Billing Expectations
It is so important to put any billing expectations you have into the scope of work and even more important, to have an actual conversation with your client on these expectations either in person or over the phone. Talking about money is an uncomfortable topic for some people but believe me, you want to be crystal clear when it comes to your finances as a freelancer.
If you expect to be paid every 30 days because it's what you and your client agreed to, put it in the scope of work and ask your client what you need to do proactively to make sure that happens. Once the SOW is signed, I usually follow up asking if there's anyone in accounts payable I should connect with to get setup as a new vendor. That way when I submit my invoice at the end of the month, everything is already in place and my money hits the bank a lot faster.
Number of Revisions
This doesn't necessarily apply for every type of freelancer but if you work in any form of creative field (graphic design, copywriting, video production, etc.), you will want to include instructions for the number of revisions you're willing to provide. This will help prevent you from spending extra hours going back and forth on minor requests and instead encourage your client to be very clear and detailed with their expectations and needed edits the first time around.
Extra Work
This is by far the most important line to include in every scope of work... *clears throat*
“Any work requested by the client outside of this agreed upon scope of work before, during or after the project dates will be billed at an additional hourly rate of $(your hourly rate).”
Why is this so important to include? Because you will undoubtedly be asked to do something outside of the original scope of work. Your time is valuable and if you are on retainer or working on a project fee, you need to be compensated for the extra effort.
Freelance isn't free. Remember that.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of ‘The Scope’ — a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
MORE ON THE BLOG
How to Ask Your Boss to Buy Your Create & Cultivate NY Ticket
It’s so worth it.
Tickets are going fast for C&C New York! Don’t have yours yet? Have you considered asking your boss to foot the bill?
While some companies have established budgets for career advancement training, many don’t. If you’re not so lucky, here’s how you can pitch your boss on the paying for your ticket to the NY conference.
RELATIONSHIPS THAT COUNT
The connections and relationships you’ll build at C&C are unparalleled. Where else can you interact with like-minded hustlers, smart CEOs, and boss ladies you’ve looked up to for years on such an intimate level? If you take advantage of the golden opportunities you’ll receive in New York—whether through our mentor sessions, keynote speaker tips, or mingling during happy hour—it could open a myriad of doors...not only for you, but for your company as well.
GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR EARLY
Relationships matter, but so does having your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry. Sure, we’ve had keynote speakers like Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe, and Chelsea Handler on our roster, but also smaller, lesser-known names your boss might not know...yet. This conference is your chance to get your foot in the door before anyone else, introducing you to people, ideas, and relationships you may not have heard of otherwise. Do your research on who’ll be at the conference, round up some stats, and present your boss with a good case of why you think it would be good to get on their radar.
STRAIGHT BUSINESS ADVICE
Sure, there is fun to be had—goodie bags and a power cocktail hour, to name a couple—but C&C gets down to business. The panel discussions offer direct takeaways: You’ll learn from the best in the biz, like Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Michelle Lee, Rebecca Minkoff, and other CEOs who will share the deets on how they built their businesses.
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING OFFSITE
If you spent most of 2018 behind a computer in an office, explain the benefits of hands-on experience. Whether you want to use C&C to work on interpersonal skills—like sticking out a hand and introducing yourself to a stranger—or as the first place to make your mark in the business world, there is nothing like practical application.
"To make your mark in the business world there is nothing like practical application."
CONFIDENCE BOOST
In the same way that a wellness retreat works to revitalize your body, a conference like Create & Cultivate works to boost your brain power...which in turn, gives you a confidence boost like no other. When you leave New York, you'll feel energized, empowered, and ready to dive back into your job with more fervor than ever. There’s something about the energy generated at C&C that gives attendees the focus and confidence they need to really assess and hone their strengths.
NAIL THE PRESENTATION
When you're presenting a new cost to your boss, it's crucial to nail down specifics relevant to your job. Find the speaker, panelist, or mentor that would be most beneficial to you, your team, and your company as a whole. Elaborate on how building a relationship with this person will be of merit to all three. Bosses are interested in ROI, so show them why it’s worth it.
You can find the link to buy tickets here.
MORE ON THE BLOG
Why You Should Be Wary of Online Resume Templates
There’s more to your resume than design.
As a certified professional resume writer, I stay on top of current trends in hiring patterns and resume writing. A lot of people reach out to me asking for flashy resumes that they’ve seen on Pinterest; however, the truth is, a flashy resume won’t get you the job. A lot of the templates online don’t include the information needed on a resume, so today we’re talking about why you should be wary of those templates. Regardless of how pretty your resume is, if the content isn’t there, the pretty resume won’t do you any good.
The truth about a lot of the flashy resume templates online
First of all, it’s important to note that most of the resume templates you see online are created by designers who have no background in resume writing, recruiting, or hiring. They are coming from a completely visual background. A lot of the resume templates circulating the internet right now are minimalistic, eye-catching, and look more like a work of art than a resume—because many have no real information on them. These templates don’t often offer the space needed for the right information about you, your experience, and your skill set.
Infographics are another popular style of resume known for their attractive nature. While they may appear to hold a lot of information, I have yet to see an infographic resume that actually contains the necessary information needed on a resume. Additionally, many recruiters agree that infographic resumes rarely work when applying for corporate jobs as they don’t pass through applicant tracking systems.
What kind of resume will help your job search?
A resume alone will not get you a job. A resume is tool that will help you get an interview. Your resume, interview, personal brand, connections, and a lot of other factors will help you get a job. Hiring doesn’t come down to your resume alone.
To create an effective resume that will help you in your job search, you should make sure your document meets the following requirements:
It highlights your value and gives concrete metrics and achievements to show what you’ve done
It is accomplishment-based, not responsibility-based
It is free from spelling and punctuation errors
It is aesthetically pleasing and easy to read
When you’re trying to create an effective resume to help you land your dream job, it’s important to keep in mind that a great resume contains information that highlights your value. An online resume template or a flashy resume with no information won’t get you the job. Resumes that are focused on visual appearance rarely have the right information that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for. Resume templates are often created by graphic designers who focus on creating a document that is visually appealing, not on creating an effective resume to meet your needs. Instead of using an online resume template, use the visual aspect for inspiration to create a document for yourself, or reach out to a certified professional resume writer for help!
Written by Michele Lando, Certified Professional Resume Writer
MORE ON THE BLOG
This Easy Analog Resolution Will Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet
Technology doesn’t always win.
Lately, it seems that more and more invites for all things festive and fun come via email rather than the postal service, especially over the holidays. While tracking RSVPs online simplifies the party-planning process, it doesn’t mean we should give up on traditional correspondence. A card is a classic way to let somebody know you appreciate them while making a lasting impression. Don’t believe us? Take it from our C&C Atlanta keynote speaker, actor and activist, Meghan Markle, who told us that she often sends out and loves to receive handwritten thank you notes. "I can't tell you how few of them I get," she said, "but one hundred percent of the time, I end up remembering that person."
It’s an approach to business and life that can easily be worked into your 2019 resolutions. Here’s how!
SEND A WARM NEW YEAR GREETING
So, you didn’t get around to taking the picture-perfect holiday card. Not a problem. The New Year is the perfect time to send someone special a card that wishes them the best in 2019. Thinking of others is a great way to start your January off on the right foot.
HANDWRITE YOUR THANK-YOUS
Make a “thank you list” and check it twice because they pile up as fast as the presents you receive. From grandparents to bosses, to hosts of holiday parties and gatherings, you will have a lot of thanking to do. Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; just like it’s fun to open a present, there is nothing like opening a piece of mail.
"Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; there is nothing like opening a piece of mail."
Tweet this.
Not only that - writing out a thank you note goes a long way to show your appreciation and will last longer than an email. People are more likely to hold onto thank you notes and beautiful cards to display around their office or living space. Think of a card as a sweet memory in return for their generosity.
MAKE IT WORTH REMEMBERING
Remember the old rule “show, don’t tell?” A well-written and memorable thank you note follows this line of thought.
You don’t have to write a novel to create meaningful thank you notes or New Year’s wishes; you can express how much you appreciate their generosity in one or two sentences. Single out a memorable moment. What it felt like opening the gift. An instance in which you’ve since used it. Use these prompts to express your thanks and wishes for a happy and healthy 2019.
BONUS: IT HELPS YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
We’re used to firing off emails. (Anyone else ever met their email quota for the day? Yep, it’s a thing.) Digital communication may be quick, but it isn’t necessarily the most meaningful or effective. It’s important to honor the practice of sending letters, writing notes, and thank you letters to keep relationships strong and grounded in real-life.
Think of the last time you opened a letter and thought, “Wow, what a great feeling.” Be sure to pass that feeling on as we enter 2019. It will not go unnoticed.
MORE FROM THE BLOG