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TIP NO. 1: GO TOWORK. Work experience is always a good thing, especially if it’s in your child’s eventual field of study. Encourage your teen to take this opportunity to give their “dream job” a test run. They may find it isn’t for them and save them thousands in tuition. Internships are also a good option. If online learning wasn’t the motivating factor behind your child choosing to take a gap year, you can suggest that they explore remote options through platforms like AngelList.com andWeWorkRemotely.com. TIP NO. 2: LEARN SOMETHING NEW. Usually, travel and cultural immersion are go-to gap year strategies for learning new things. However, your kid doesn’t actually need to head to Spain to learn Spanish — their fluency will be just as valid to a future employer if they pick it up from Duolingo. Additionally, YouTube video tutorials and online certification programs can lay the groundwork for any number of valuable skills, including coding, furniture building, and medical work. TIP NO. 3: START AN ONLINE BUSINESS. If your teen has an entrepreneurial spirit, encourage them to use their year off to start a business. Etsy is a great online platform to sell handmade items, and if they’re passionate about a craft, like writing or website development, they can conduct their business entirely online. Who knows! With a year of effort, they might make some money, and even if they don’t, they’ll learn something and add a line item to their resume.
TIP NO. 4: REACH OUT TO ROLE MODELS. Teens are not too young to start networking. Whether yours wants to be a welder, a professor, or a geologist, there are likely people in their field who they admire. If your kid seems stuck in a rut, suggest they reach out to their idols or join a group of other young people with similar interests. On the off chance they hear back from a giant in their field, they’ll make a priceless connection, and their peers may soon become their colleagues. TIP NO. 5: DEVELOP A SELF-MARKETING STRATEGY. According to the Student Conservation Association, 92% of kids who take a gap year do it in order to “gain life experiences and grow personally.” That personal growth can be valuable. If your teen knows their strengths, weaknesses, and how to represent themselves well, they will have a leg up in a job or fellowship interview. Before your kid goes back to school, you can sit down together and discuss how they’ll talk about their gap year and market what they’ve learned. Your teen doesn’t have to tackle all of these tips at once, but if they follow even one of them well, when they do head back to school, they’ll be wiser, more well-rounded, and better prepared for the next challenge.
OPTIMIZE YOUR SALES TEAM By Enhancing Their Leadership Qualities
Think about the traits of a leader. You may be thinking of someone who can take charge, isn’t afraid to fail, communicates clearly, has a passion for helping people, and is extroverted. Now, think of a successful salesperson. Do you see any overlap in characteristics? The answer is likely yes. Salespeople are natural leaders. They lead consumers to the best product or service, and they effectively push our economy and businesses forward. However, having multiple leaders on one team can create friction. As an entrepreneur or sales manager, you must create a work environment that nurtures your leaders in the sales department without causing issues. Those with an innate sense of leadership still need the right training and work environment to optimize their skills and excel. When you provide these, the
confidence of your team increases, their ability to sell effectively is boosted, and your sales numbers improve. It’s a win-win-win for you, your team, and the company. You can create a plan for cultivating leadership with these two steps. ANALYZE TRAITS Leaders do have defined traits, but no two leaders are alike. Pinpointing the qualities that make each team member an effective leader, and therefore great at their job, can help you identify sales teams or partners that will function harmoniously. (Coincidentally, this process will also show you who should not work together.) The best pairs feed off one another. Maybe you have one salesperson who is the best at explaining the technical aspects of your product, while another is the most empathetic and emotional seller. Together, they’re a winning combination.
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING Learning is an essential part of sales. Salespeople have to understand the
demographic, cater to trends, and be the first to admit when a sales tactic is wrong. In addition to learning skills specific to their position, salespeople should also undergo leadership training. Many of these courses and teachings target managers who have employees, but when you encourage your team to apply these concepts to potential clients, they will learn what leadership skills they must nurture within themselves to get more sales. You can also take managerial leadership training and convert it into a program that targets your sales team.
2 • www.yolofskylaw.com
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