According to a report published in March by the Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada (ICTC), the rise of cloud computing, mobile devices, analytics and apps has forced many companies to rethink the talent they need to succeed. In fact, the report projects that within just four years, businesses across the country will be struggling to fill a collective 18,000 jobs or more.

Unfortunately, not all firms have human resources departments who can make these hires a priority.

“While building a healthy talent supply through education and training is a key focus in Canada, the lead-time to staff and train critical positions is a challenge for many industries, especially SMEs (small and medium enterprises),” the ICTC report says.

Of course, having this kind of data is a helpful first step towards preparing for the future, as are the growing number of educational programs at Canadian post-secondary schools to develop the next-generation workforce. However there is a lot more small and medium-sized businesses in Canada can do today to make sure they’ll be able to attract the kind of skills they will require tomorrow:

Think of every job as an ‘IT’ job: While the ICTC report highlights programmers, computer technicians and database analysts as the most in-demand jobs of the near future, a lot of other roles in companies today rely on technology, from sales reps to marketers. The more familiar they are with the use of mobile apps, cloud-based services and how to analyze data, the better they’ll be able to work with technology professionals and explain their specific needs.

Think beyond traditional assumptions about gender and technology: Like many professions, women have historically been under-represented in technology careers, and the looming worker shortage may only make matters worse. The solution starts with recognizing that not all technology professionals are going to be former video game-playing teenage boys but an increasing number of young women who blend an understanding or interest in solving business problems and a comfort level with smartphones, apps and other digital tools.

Think young – but also international: As best-selling Canadian author Don Tapscott first observed, today’s Millennials have “grown up digital.” That means creating internships or co-op roles for younger workers could be the first step in gaining IT expertise while also providing valuable business experience to new recruits. There are also a number of new Canadians who bring technology skills from overseas who haven’t found a place to apply them. Explore mentoring or “bridging” programs that give this talent a way to prove themselves in a competitive market while easing future hiring woes.

If the value of technology talent isn’t immediately obvious, Canadian SMBs should explore how technology can make them more competitive with even the largest firms in their industry or sector. To find out more, download Salesforce’s free eBook, Best Practices To Grow Your Business.

The post How Canadian Business Can Avoid The Hiring Crunch That’s Coming appeared first on Salesforce.

But staying productive isn’t just about the nine to five. While there are strategies to improve productivity during the daily grind, it’s important to set yourself up for success outside of the office as well. Studies suggest starting the day with low-pressure mornings (and a satisfying breakfast) and ending with a proper wind down and adequate sleep can improve efficiency, alertness, and ultimately productivity. While all of these tips may not be realistic for everyone, gradually adopt just a few of these productivity boosters to combat burn out and manage your time more efficiently.

All in a Day’s Work

Increase Productivity

In and Out of the Office

How to Get Up and At ‘Em

• Stay scheduled
  • Try to set the alarm for the same time every morning
  • Skip the snooze button. Snoozing can disturb REM cycle sleep
• Keep mornings pressure free
  • Allow a little time for something you love, like reading or meditating
• Eat breakfast
  • A pre-work meal can provide an energy and productivity boost
  • Choose foods rich in vitamin B, which can improve concentration and clear thinking:
    • Oatmeal
    • Bananas
    • Pineapple
    • Avocados
• Squeeze in a workout
  • Physical activity is associated with a reduced chance of low energy and fatigue
• Avoid email
  • Don’t open your inbox until work starts
  • One email can throw off your whole morning routine

How to Stay Focused At the Office

• Prioritize
  • Do the things you need to get done, but don’t want to, first
  • The rest of the day’s tasks will follow
• Take breaks
  • Short breaks can increase concentration, alertness, and work speed
  • Even brief diversions from a task can significantly improve focus on a task for prolonged periods
• Work in intervals
  • Research suggests working in 90 minute intervals maximizes productivity
• Be aware of distractions
  • Personal business, emails, socializing, meetings
  • 28% of the average office worker’s day is spent focused on unnecessary interruptions
  • In a workplace productivity study:
    • 63% of respondents reported loud colleagues as the biggest distraction
  • Physically move away from distractions, put in earphones, or ask coworkers to not disturb you for a set period of time
• Pop in earphones
  • For mundane and repetitive tasks, like checking email, research suggests music can increase productive output
• Set the temperature just right
  • Research shows indoor temperature can significantly impact productivity
  • The best temperature to work: Between 72 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit
• Don’t be so serious
  • Make some time for humor and non-work-related Internet surfing
  • Those who spent less than 20 percent of their time watching silly YouTube videos or reading other viral content were 9 percent more productive than those who didn’t take internet leisure time
• Sip some coffee
  • Research shows both coffee and tea can increase alertness
  • Coffee can also reduce mistakes and accidents
  • One study found drinking coffee boosted productivity and motivation by 19 percent
• Dodge multitasking
  • Doing several things at once can negatively affect clarity and make us less efficient
  • Only 2 percent of people can multitask effectively
  • One study found multitasking reduced productivity by up to 40 percent
• Evade email dependency
  • A survey of employed email users found:
    • 22% are expected to respond to work email when they’re not at work
    • 50% check work email on the weekends
    • 46% check work email on sick days
    • 34% check work email while on vacation
  • It takes an average of 64 seconds to recover each time we’re interrupted by an email
  • Turn off distracting email alerts
  • Block set times to check and respond to email rather than reply immediately to each
• Change up your work environment
  • Research shows employees who work from home are happier, less likely to quit, and more productive
  • To stay productive at home:
    • Set up a dedicated work area with set hours
    • Eliminate or reduce distractions like the TV or pets
    • Set ground rules with friends and family members

How to Wind Down After Work

• Debrief
• On the commute home (or walk away from the home office), debrief then put work thoughts aside
• Write down any thoughts, or to dos and file them away for tomorrow
• Prepare for tomorrow, today
• Program the coffeemaker, make lunch, lay out an outfit, do whatever you can to make tomorrow morning haggle free
• Allow for relaxation
• Let yourself wind down before bed, at least 1 hour before
• Listen to calming music, read, do a Sudoku puzzle
• Get enough sleep
• Workers who report high workloads, stressful workweeks, or who score higher on burnout indexes report shorter sleep timesSleep deprivation costs American companies an estimated $63.2 billion every year in lost productivityThere’s no magic number of hours for optimal productivity, but studies suggest 7-9 hoursTips to bring on better sleep:
• Go to bed and wake up at the same times every day
• Keep the bedroom dark, quiet, comfy, and cool
• Keep all electronics out of the bedroom
• Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before bedtime
• Exercise regularly

Conclusion:

With hectic schedules and crazy workloads, a productive day may seem like a distant dream. When we allow time for breaks, relaxation, and routine work output may actually increase.

The post How to Increase Productivity appeared first on Salesforce.

In order to give you a hand in this journey, three successful entrepreneurs agreed to share their advice for boosting small business growth and measuring success. All three of them have been through the thrill of founding a new company from the ground up and are constantly challenged to innovate in order to succeed.

Download the Secrets to Business Growth: Advice from 3 Successful Entrepreneurs eBook to read their stories and insights:

Or here is a sneak peek into some of small business advice they shared:

1. Surround yourself with a great team: Hiring the right people and creating a great company culture is essential if you want your business to succeed. Team members who believe in your values are more likely to go out of their way to provide better experience for your customers and generate more value for the company. Always nurture and build up team members that are not top-notch, but have potential. Fire fast the ones that are dragging the company down.
2. Choose the right technology to power your business: Picking the right software to power your business is essential for your company’s productivity. The right tools can automate the best behaviors of your employees and make their work more transparent and efficient. Specific technology ideas can be found in the ebook!
3. Location, location, location: When growing your company think twice about its location. Make sure that you plant roots in a place that has top-notch talent in your field and well as a lot of potential customers. If that’s not the case, it’s never too late to move.
4. Market your company in low-cost and creative ways: As a small business or a start-up, you often don’t have a marketing and advertising budget. Get creative! Formulate your brand story and get news publications and blogs to share it for you. Always keep an eye out for events and trade shows where you can speak and get exposure,
5. Hire amazing sales leaders: Sales leaders are essential for any company, because they are compensated based on how their sales quotas impact the business. They have obvious motivation to sell more and boost your business, so the better sales leaders you get, the better off you will be.

The post Small Business Advice from 3 Successful Entrepreneurs [EBOOK] appeared first on Salesforce.