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Chatbots and Customer Experience: Why Authentic Interactions Trump Chatbot Customer Service
Chatbots offer fast responses & 24/7 support but lack the human touch. Explore why customers still prefer humans in customer service.
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It is no secret that exercise is beneficial to your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Practicing yoga is one of the most popular activities and for good reason. It relieves stress, increases concentration, improves memory, decreases lower back pain, and improves balance and flexibility. These benefits are incredibly valuable for those who work at a… Read More »

It is no secret that exercise is beneficial to your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Practicing yoga is one of the most popular activities and for good reason. It relieves stress, increases concentration, improves memory, decreases lower back pain, and improves balance and flexibility. These benefits are incredibly valuable for those who work at a desk all day. Let’s take a look at five yoga poses that you can do right from your desk.

1. Neck Roll

This is one of the easiest poses to get started with. Take a deep breath and closes your eyes. Drop your chin toward your chest. Slowly circle your neck. As you do so, let your right ear drop to your right shoulder and left ear drop to your left shoulder. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Do five rolls in a counterclockwise motion and then five rolls in a clockwise motion.

2. Seated Crescent Moon

Begin in the seated position with your feet flat on the floor. Lift both arms over your head and put your palms together with fingers stretched wide. Gently lean to the right side for 3-5 breaths and then lean to the left side for 3-5 breaths.

3. Seated Forward Bend

Sit in your chair with both feet flat on the floor. Bring your arms behind your back and interlace your fingers. Straighten your arms as much as you can. Bend at the waist (Your chest should be on your thighs) while raising your interlocked hands over your back. Let your head fall as far as it will comfortably. Repeat 2-3 times.

4. Seated Spinal Twist

Sit sideways in your office chair and place both feet flat on the floor. Hold the back of your chair with both hands and gently twist towards the back. You should be turning 180 degrees. Do 2-3 reps on one side, switch the opposite side of the chair, and do 2-3 reps.

5. Sit and Stand Chair Pose

Begin in the seated position with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at a 90-degree angle. Next, press your heels down towards the floor. Using only your legs and glutes, stand up. Slowly sit back down only using your leg muscles. It is helpful to have your arms stretched out in front of you.

Take Care of Your Body and Your Mind

These five desk yoga poses require minimal space and will not disrupt coworkers. Taking a few minutes during the workday can help you increase your productivity and efficiency.

If you are having trouble concentrating at work, it may be more than yoga can solve. Maybe it is time for a career change. If so, Salem Solutions is here to help. Our specialists will help you find the perfect job to fit your skills and career goals. Click here to get started and learn more.

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As 2020 showed us, the ability to swiftly handle a crisis has never been more critical. Effective crisis leadership helps to minimize the loss and damage to organizations and allows potential threats to be identified and addressed much sooner. This is your guide on five ways to prepare for crisis management. Develop a Crisis Management… Read More »

As 2020 showed us, the ability to swiftly handle a crisis has never been more critical. Effective crisis leadership helps to minimize the loss and damage to organizations and allows potential threats to be identified and addressed much sooner. This is your guide on five ways to prepare for crisis management.

Develop a Crisis Management Plan

Your company will never be able to put together a plan with contingencies for every potential situation. Inherently, crises are unexpected and can have devastating effects on an organization. However, your business can put together a general crisis management plan that gives you a place to start. For instance, develop a protocol for how communications with staff, clients, and the public will be handled. Put together a crisis management team and designate a leader through which all actions will go through. Have your plan written (or typed) out and available both digitally and in print so that all staff can already be familiar with the plan.

If your company is susceptible to specific crises, put contingencies in your plan for them. For example, let’s say your organization is responsible for confidential client information. Have a plan in place should the integrity of this information be compromised.

Get to the Truth

During times of crisis, there tends to be a lot of misinformation swirling around. Before you can take any action, you need to get to as much of the truth as possible as quickly as you can. Unknowingly presenting false information to your clients or the public will only make the situation worse.

Take Action Quickly

The sooner you address the incident, the less damage there will be. The most important thing to make sure of is that everything is factual. Postponing the inevitable will not help, and it will allow outside organizations such as the media to paint the crisis as they perceive it. Your crisis management team should take control from the very beginning. Your employees, clients, and the public should first hear of the incident from your company.

Be Honest and Show Empathy

Bad news always gets out one way or another. Attempting to hide it will only make your company look worse and instill a sense of distrust among consumers. Be forthcoming about bad news. Present it very delicately and show that you have empathy for the victims involved.

Ongoing Information

Make sure employees, investors, clients, and the public remain in the know of ongoing progress. Hearing frequent updates of the situation’s status will prevent the media and other outlets from speculating and circulating misinformation.

Bonus Tip!

Ready to hire more personnel after recovering from a crisis? Let Salem Solutions find the perfect talent. You have enough on your plate. As an expert in the staffing industry, our specialists will do all of the leg work and present you with only the most qualified candidates. Request an employee today, and let us help you overcome this hurdle!

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Your team is the backbone of your call center. Engaging with your staff doesn’t end with hiring and training. Continuous involvement is crucial to your call center’s success by increasing productivity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Follow these tips to stay better connected with your employees. Facilitate Frequent Communication Whether your call center’s team is in-house,… Read More »

Your team is the backbone of your call center. Engaging with your staff doesn’t end with hiring and training. Continuous involvement is crucial to your call center’s success by increasing productivity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Follow these tips to stay better connected with your employees.

Facilitate Frequent Communication

Whether your call center’s team is in-house, remote, or hybrid, communication is the cornerstone to staying connected. Hold meetings at least weekly to discuss progress on team goals, address areas of improvement, and acknowledge accomplishments. Always listen to your team’s opinions and concerns. If possible, hold video meetings instead of phone calls. In between meetings, make sure you are easily accessible through email, text, and phone calls.

Obtain Feedback

Understanding how employees feel is one of the best ways to stay engaged with your team. Often, team members are worried about giving honest feedback, especially if it is negative, for fear of retribution. Anonymous feedback such as surveys, polls, and questionnaires is a great way to gain insight into how your employees really feel.

Obtaining feedback is just half of the equation. Although it is unreasonable to think you can make everyone happy, it is vital to address all concerns and accommodate the ones you can. This will show your team that their opinions matter and instill a greater sense of trust with your staff.

Regular Employee Assessments

You should conduct one-on-one assessments with each team member at least once a year or more often if need be. During the conversation, discuss performance, progress in meeting goals, achievements, and areas of improvement. Give your employees a chance to address any questions or concerns they may have.

Set Milestones

Setting milestones for your call center’s goals make them more tangible. Identify dates you want each milestone reached, and then celebrate when your team succeeds. This will not only foster a sense of camaraderie but allow you to stay more connected with your staff.

Company Activities

Whether your team is in-house or remote, coordinating company activities and participating in them will help you and your staff stay more engaged. Activities you can try include:

  • Team lunches
  • Healthy company competitions
  • Team building sessions
  • Team workouts
  • Collaboration sessions

All of these activities can be in-person or virtual, depending on your call center’s set up.

Start Off on the Right Foot

Hiring the right employees that fit your staffing needs and call center’s culture is the first step to creating and nurturing a top-notch team. Salem Solutions is well-versed in call-center staffing and able to tackle even the most complex hiring challenges. You have enough on your plate. Let us know your personnel needs and let the most trusted call center staffing specialists handle the rest. Request an employee today!

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The implementation of call centers is on the rise as companies search for ways to increase productivity and efficiency while cutting costs. Whether you are looking for your first job or the next step in your career, working in a call center can offer unexpected benefits. Let’s take a look at why this career should… Read More »

The implementation of call centers is on the rise as companies search for ways to increase productivity and efficiency while cutting costs. Whether you are looking for your first job or the next step in your career, working in a call center can offer unexpected benefits. Let’s take a look at why this career should be on your shortlist.

Experience is Not Required

You do not have to worry about a laundry list of job requirements you do not have, especially if this is your first job. Call centers welcome entry-level applicants and provide the in-house training necessary to succeed.

Generous Compensation

Compared to most entry-level positions, call centers offer higher salaries. Most provide additional compensation if you work overtime or agree to a less than desirable shift (e.g., night shift). Call centers also tend to offer special discounts, life insurance, off-site gym membership, etc.

Advancements Opportunities

You are not stuck in one position For those who are willing to work hard, there are plenty of advancement opportunities within call centers.

Ability to Work from Anywhere

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is becoming a priority for more and more people. Call centers typically offer flexible schedules that allow you to work around your family commitments. Many even allow their fully-trained team members to work remotely from anywhere.

Relaxed Dress Code

Most call centers do not implement strict business-professional dress codes that leave you ironing suits every day. While you should always make an effort to look presentable when on the job, the dress code tends to be much more casual than office jobs.

Enhance Communication Skills

No matter what job you work in, the ability to communicate effectively is necessary to some extent. A large part of working in a call center is communication. This means will have the opportunity to improve your communication skills very quickly.

Leave Work at Work

With many jobs, when the workday is over, it is not really over. For instance, if you are a lawyer, you may still have paperwork to tend to once the kids are in bed, or the best strategy for a case is still on your mind even after you have left the office. When working in a call center, once your workday is over, you can leave it at work and focus on your family and personal life.

Great Perks

If you choose to work in-house, many call centers offer great amenities. These include gyms for catching a workout without leaving the office, entertainment rooms, and even refreshments such as coffee and doughnuts. Some companies even allow their employees x number of hours a paid week to exercise to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Ready to Get Started?

As the leading staffing agency in Florida, Salem Solutions can help you find the perfect call center position to fit your skills and career goals. Get started by browsing our open positions today!

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Money is a tough subject to discuss, especially at work with your supervisor. Deciding whether you should ask for a raise can be tricky. Whether a raise is granted depends on factors within your control, such as performance and skillset, and factors outside of your control, such as the company’s financial health. Ask yourself these questions when… Read More »

Money is a tough subject to discuss, especially at work with your supervisor. Deciding whether you should ask for a raise can be tricky. Whether a raise is granted depends on factors within your control, such as performance and skillset, and factors outside of your control, such as the company’s financial health. Ask yourself these questions when deciding if now is the time to ask for a raise?  

How is the Companys Financial Health 

If your company is exceeding revenue goals, expanding, and hiring new employees, then now may a good time to ask. However, if you notice budget cuts, failure to meet revenue goals, and not refilling open positions, you should wait until the company is doing better.  

Have Co-Workers Received Raises? 

If you are thinking about asking for a raise, keep your eyes and ears open about whether coworkers have asked for and received raises. If they were denied higher pay, you might want to wait a bit before asking. However, if they have requested and received, then you should ask too.  

How is Your Relationship with Your Supervisor?  

If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, then they will be more likely to grant your request for a raise or speak your praises to the person who has the final say. If your relationship is on the rocks, wait a bit until things settle down. 

When is the Last Time You Have Received a Raise?  

If you have just received a raise, it is not wise to turn around and ask for another one. However, if you havent received a raise recently, then it doesnt hurt to ask.  

Have You Taken on New Additional Responsibilities? 

If youve taken on new work since your last raise, then it is perfectly reasonable to ask for higher pay that corresponds with your new workload. If nothing has changed since your previous raise, it may be advisable to refrain from asking for more money.  

Have You Earned a New Degree?  

Completing a new degree or specialized training programs typically warrants a raise in the workplace. 

Do You Have Other Job Offers?  

If you have other job offers that are higher paying, but you do not want to leave your current company, then it is time to talk to your supervisor 

Can You Explain Why You Deserve a Raise? 

No doubt, you will be asked the dreaded question, Why do you deserve a raise?. If you can answer this question, then you are good to go. If not, you better wait until you can answer this question before hitting your boss up for a raise.  

Ready for a Change?  

If you are stagnant at your current job, then it may be time to look for a new one. Salem Solutions can help you find the perfect job to fit your skillset and career goals. Browse current job openings today! 

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As technology continues to advance, remote call centers are becoming increasingly popular. One of the biggest draws is that they cut down on operational and IT costs. However, remote call centers are not without their challenges, with one of the main hurdles being how to implement effective management. This is your guide to managing your… Read More »

As technology continues to advance, remote call centers are becoming increasingly popular. One of the biggest draws is that they cut down on operational and IT costs. However, remote call centers are not without their challenges, with one of the main hurdles being how to implement effective management. This is your guide to managing your virtual call center staff at a distance.  

Implement a Comprehensive Training Program 

Building a great remote team begins with the training program. Since agents will not have the opportunity to work with more knowledgeable agents, it is crucial to have a robust training process in place. New hires should have comprehensive resources available to them that they can reference, as well as access to veteran agents should any questions arise. 

Schedule Frequent Meetings 

Communication is one of the main components of managing a virtual call center team. Schedule weekly video conferences. This allows your staff to stay informed and feel connected with one another. It is a great way to encourage employee engagement and foster a positive workplace culture. 

Provide Collaboration Tools 

Your team members cannot run over to another agent’s desk to ask a question or brainstorm. Providing collaboration tools allows your staff to collaborate with each other. The ability to share files internally and send messages back and forth is vital for managing remote call center teams.  

Make it Fun 

Just because your team is remote doesn’t mean there can’t be a little friendly competition. Increase motivation by offering rewards for high performance. Prizes can be anything from paid time off to gift cards. Games and competitions also provide a sense of camaraderie between team members, even if they are hundreds or thousands of miles apart. 

Listen to Feedback 

Gathering and listening to feedback is one of the best ways to determine which processes are working well and which ones need improvement. While not every piece of feedback will be actionable, taking it into account will help to improve your call center’s processes and workplace environment. 

Rely on Management Tools 

Using call center analytics and metrics can help you identify and address issues more quickly. For instance, you can track employee performance and customer satisfaction. You can use this information to measure your team’s performance against the standard. 

Bonus Tip! 

When it comes to making your call center’s next hire, let Salem Solutions handle the leg work. The hiring process takes a great deal of time and resources that are better spent on managing your team. At Salem Solutions, our staffing specialists will take the time to understand your staffing needs, sift through resumes, and send you only the most highly qualified candidates. Request an employee today, and let us do the rest! 

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