When you think about what makes a standout manager, technical expertise might be the first thing to come to mind. Of course it’s important for most managers to be masters of their respective fields, but in truth, it’s actually the soft skills—i.e. the interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities—that often set great managers apart.

Soft skills refer to the intangible, non-technical abilities that help someone interact effectively with others and lead them through the various complexities of the workplace. If you’re eyeing management jobs in the market, for example in a web design or SEO agency, having soft skills will not only help you get the position you want but also allow you to lead, motivate, and connect with your team on a deeper level.

Developing the following skills can make the difference between being just a manager and being a leader who inspires positive change:

1. Communication

Communication is at the heart of effective management. As a manager, you’re the bridge between your team and higher management, so you need to be able to communicate clearly to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This is a critical soft skill to have no matter if you’re explaining a new project, giving feedback to a subordinate, or resolving a misunderstanding.

To handle these situations successfully, it’s a must to practice active listening and seek feedback from others on how well you convey your ideas. It would also be good to engage in regular conversations with your team and try different methods of communication, such as written reports or verbal presentations, to see what works best.

2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Being able to understand and manage your emotions is another important skill when you’re handling your own team. You need to have a high emotional intelligence (EQ) to be able to build strong relationships with the people you work with.

A manager with high EQ would recognize the signs of a team member who is struggling with a personal issue, for instance. They are also more likely to approach the situation with empathy and offer support—two things that can help the team member feel valued and strengthen their trust, both between you two and within the team.

Though some managers may be gifted with naturally high EQs, remember that it’s possible to enhance your emotional intelligence through practice. In that sense, you should think of your EQ as something to develop just like you would any other skill.

Start by reflecting on your own emotions and how they affect your interactions. Then, try to practice empathy by putting yourself in others’ shoes and actively considering their feelings and perspectives during conversations. It may take you some time to improve upon this soft skill, but the payoff will benefit both you and everyone you’ll work with in the long run.

3. Problem-Solving

People in management positions are often faced with challenges that require quick and effective solutions. Let’s say that a project is running behind schedule due to unforeseen issues. In these situations, managers are expected to be able to analyze the situation, consider sound alternatives, and implement a solution that can quickly prevent a minor setback from becoming a major problem.

Strong problem-solving skills will enable you to weather through such hurdles with confidence. You can develop this skill by, first and foremost, approaching challenges with an open mind and breaking down complex issues into more manageable parts. It would also be a good idea to regularly engage in exercises that require creative thinking and brainstorming, such as completing puzzles or scenario planning, so that you can constantly level up your problem-solving skills.

4. Time Management

Managers are also expected to balance multiple responsibilities while ensuring that their deadlines are met. To successfully meet this expectation, you need to have excellent time management skills. This means being able to set priorities, delegate tasks appropriately, and maintain a balance between achieving your short-term goals versus your long-term goals. In addition to developing your discipline and speed, you can improve this soft skill by learning how to use planning tools like calendars and task management apps to your advantage.

Once you’re tasked with overseeing a project with a tight deadline, you must allocate time for planning, execution, and review, all while managing your regular duties. But if you can truly become a master of time management, you’ll be considered an invaluable asset to your company for your ability to engineer a less stressful work environment for both yourself and your team.

5. Adaptability

In today’s hypercompetitive business landscape, adaptability is more important than ever. As a manager, you need to be flexible and open to change, be it adjusting to new technologies or to shifting priorities in your workplace. Building up the soft skill of adaptability will enable you to smoothly and effectively lead your team through transitions and maintain productivity and morale, even in the face of (often frightening) change.

Develop adaptability by actively seeking out new experiences that push you out of your comfort zone. It’s also a must to stay informed about new trends and evolving best practices in your industry so that you can adjust your strategies or approaches as needed.

6. Decision-Making

Effective decision-making involves critical thinking, the ability to properly assess risks, and the ability to make necessary calls even in the face of high pressure. All good managers need this soft skill, as they are often required to make tough decisions that can impact both their immediate team and the organization as a whole.

To perform well in this position, you’ll need to make a habit of gathering relevant information before making choices and considering the potential outcomes. Practice making decisions under pressure as well through role-playing scenarios or by reflecting on past decisions to identify areas for improvement. Doing so will eventually make it easier for you to choose according to what aligns with your organization’s goals and the well-being of your team.

7. Conflict Resolution

Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace, even a healthy one. As a manager, your ability to resolve them will be key to your professional development. Conflict resolution skills involve mediation, active listening, and finding common ground. It can be especially tough to build these skills in stressful situations, but a manager who can remember that conflict isn’t the end of the world will be a long-term asset to any company.

Whenever a disagreement arises, help resolve it by facilitating a conversation that can help opposing parties understand each other’s perspectives and reach a compromise. Managing conflicts in this manner will help you maintain a positive work environment and prevent small issues from escalating into larger, more complex problems.

Again, soft skills can be natural talents to some, but to every professional who wants to reach a managerial level in their job, they must be thought of as things to be learned, practiced, and continually developed. As you grow in your career, make a conscious effort to strengthen these skills, and you’ll be well-equipped to make a significant impact on any organization you work for.

Grabbing your customers’ attention online requires tried-and-true strategies, and nothing quite captures an impulsive buyer’s eyes and wallets than putting up a “Flash Sale” or “For a Limited Time Only!” sign on your website or product page.

Flash sales and limited-time offers have emerged as potent tools for businesses online, whether you’re located in the United States or the Philippines. Amazon, for instance, has their Lightning Deals, which typically lasts for 2 to 6 hours. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ largest online ecommerce platforms, Lazada and Shopee, have their monthly Payday and Flash sales. These promotions are designed to create a sense of urgency and encourage swift decision-making. If done properly, they prompt buyers to add items to their cart without previously intending to do so, boosting your sales in record time.

This article sheds some light on why your business should provide flash sales and limited-time offers for your customers. It also covers key strategies and best practices to maximize your success.

Defining Flash Sales and Limited-Time Offers

Flash sales are time-bound promotional events during which products or services are offered at significantly discounted prices. They typically last for a few hours or even an entire day in some cases, creating a sense of urgency and excitement among customers. On the other hand, limited-time offers are short-term promotions that run for a specific duration, often a few days to a week, with special pricing or added value benefits.

Whether it’s a flash sale or a limited-time offer, these kinds of deals are the best opportunities to promote your products and services locally and abroad. With low-cost and convenient logistics providers, shipping from US to the Philippines is hassle-free. 

Benefits of Flash Sales and Limited-Time Offers for Online Businesses

1. Boosting Sales and Revenue. One of the primary benefits of flash sales and limited-time offers is their ability to drive immediate sales. And due to the time-sensitive nature of these promotions, your customers are compelled to act quickly, resulting in a surge in transactions and revenue.

2. Creating a Sense of Urgency and FOMO. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is a powerful psychological trigger. You can capitalize on this by creating a sense of urgency with limited-time offers, prompting your customers to make purchasing decisions swiftly before the opportunity disappears.

3. Clearing Excess Inventory. If your business has surplus inventory, discounted sales offer an effective way to clear stock quickly. By providing attractive discounts, your business can move products that might otherwise stagnate.

4. Attracting New Customers and Expanding the Customer Base. The excitement and buzz generated by time-limited promotions can attract new customers to your online store. Once acquired, these customers can become repeat buyers with the right marketing strategies.

5. Building Customer Loyalty and Engagement. Offering exclusive access to loyal customers during flash sales fosters a sense of appreciation and loyalty. Engage with your customers through personalized offers to enhance the overall shopping experience and to strengthen your customer-business relationship.

Key Strategies for Successful Flash Sales and Limited-Time Offers

1. Define Clear Objectives and KPIs. Begin by setting clear goals for your flash sale or limited-time offer. Are you aiming to increase sales, clear inventory, or attract new customers? Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your promotion.

2. Segment Target Audience for Personalization. Tailor your offers to specific customer segments based on their preferences and buying behavior. Personalized promotions resonate better with customers and increase the likelihood of conversion.

3. Create Genuine Scarcity and Urgency. Emphasize the limited availability of the products or services on offer. You can use countdown timers, compelling headlines, and persuasive calls-to-action to instill a genuine sense of scarcity and urgency.

4. Utilize Multiple Marketing Channels. Promote your flash sale or limited-time offer across various marketing channels. To reach a broader audience and increase visibility, employ email marketing, social media, paid advertising, and website banners.

5. Optimize Website Performance for Increased Traffic. Ensure your website can handle the surge in traffic during the promotion. Perform stress tests and optimize your website to prevent crashes and slow loading times that can frustrate potential customers.

6. Leverage Mobile Optimization for Mobile Users. With the increasing number of mobile shoppers, optimize your website and promotions for mobile devices to capture mobile users’ attention effectively.

7. Offer Exclusive Access to Loyal Customers. Reward loyal customers with early access to the sale or special offers. This exclusivity enhances customer loyalty and encourages repeat business.

8. Highlight Social Proof for Credibility. Showcase positive customer reviews and testimonials to build trust and credibility. Social proof reassures potential customers about the value of the offer and encourages them to make a purchase.

9. Upsell and Cross-sell to Maximize Sales Potential. Use sales and limited-time offers as an opportunity to upsell customers with relevant add-ons or cross-sell complementary products or services.

10. Monitor and Analyze Performance for Continuous Improvement. Track and analyze key metrics such as conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, and overall revenue generated. Use these insights to refine your future flash sales and limited-time offers for even better results.

Flash sales and limited-time offers are effective sales and marketing tactics that can significantly impact the success of your online business locally and abroad. This has been proven many times over with famous sales events such as the Black Friday Sale after Thanksgiving in the US and the Philippine’s monthly online flash deals.

When planned and implemented thoughtfully, these time-limited promotions can boost sales and attract new customers. Aside from that, your company is more likely to retain loyal customers who are appreciative of the discounts afforded to them. And with multiple successful promotions, your business can steadily gain ground against the competition and be the brand leader it deserves to be.

The Philippines is a tropical country, so the summers here can be quite brutal. Aside from the intense heat, many Filipinos also have to deal with high levels of humidity. The latter can hinder the body’s ability to cool itself and leave you feeling sticky and overheated for a good portion of the day. This can be bad for business, as heat is a potent productivity killer. Overheated employees may find themselves with low energy levels that make it difficult to focus on their work, while uncomfortable customers will not likely wish to stay for too long inside a warm store. Thus, investing in reliable cooling solutions for your office and other commercial spaces can be a beneficial move for your business.

There are plenty of options that you can explore for cooling your office or store this summer, and one of these is purchasing appliances that are dedicated to maintaining the temperature in a room. Often, this choice comes down to choosing between an air conditioner and an air cooler. While both are effective cooling solutions, the best option is the one that matches your business needs. Here’s how you can see if it makes more sense to buy air cooler online or if you’re better off spending your money on an air conditioner. 

Understanding How Air Coolers and Air Conditioners Work

Before setting your heart on an air cooler or an air conditioner model, it’s important to know exactly how these appliances work. An air cooler may seem very similar to an aircon, but there are a few key differences in how they function. While they share the same end goal—that is, to bring down the indoor temperature—these two appliances achieve this effect in different manners.

This is quite obvious by observing the key components of an air cooler, which is also sometimes called an evaporative cooler. The appliance has three main components: a fan, a water tank, and an absorbent pad. The air cooler blows air through the water-soaked pad to reduce the temperature in the room. This works as intended, but it can also raise the humidity levels in enclosed spaces. In the long run, the rising humidity levels can make the room feel stickier and hotter than it already is.

Meanwhile, air conditioners are presented as more sophisticated devices. There are different makes and models of air conditioners, but in general, this appliance features an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, a compressor, and an expansion valve. The compressor pressurizes the liquid refrigerant, or the fluid that readily absorbs heat from the environment, while the expansion valve regulates the flow of the refrigerant into the evaporator.

The evaporator and compressor coils, respectively, receive the refrigerant and facilitate the transfer of heat. The cool side of the air conditioner features the evaporator and a fan that blows cooled air into the room, while the other components except for the expansion valve are usually found on the hot side of the appliance.

A Quick Look at the Pros and Cons of Each Appliance Type

Apart from the differences in how they operate, there are also different pros and cons to investing in either an air conditioneror an air cooler. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from each appliance, so you can better determine the right option for your needs:

Air Cooler Pros and Cons:

• It’s more affordable compared to air conditioners.
• It’s easy to install, clean, and maintain.
• It consumes less energy and is cheaper and more eco-friendly to run.
• Its cooling capacity is limited to reducing only 5 degrees Celsius from the original temperature.
• Its water tank must be topped up once it runs out of water.
• It increases humidity levels as it cools the room.
• It requires continuous air circulation in the room to eliminate the excess humidity.

Air Conditioner Pros and Cons:

• It is capable of cooling a room down to as low as 14 degrees Celsius.
• It can reduce humidity in the room as it brings down the temperature.
• It can be a challenge to install if the room doesn’t have a built-in slot for a window-type aircon, or if you choose a split-type aircon that requires professional installation.
• It can be quite pricey, depending on the features of the model.
• It consumes more electricity compared to air coolers.
• It requires regular professional cleaning and maintenance.
• The use of certain refrigerants can contribute to climate change.

If you have the budget and you want to create a cool and comfortable indoor environment that allows people to focus on their tasks, then the air conditioner is a clear option. With such an appliance in your shop or office, you can rest assured that everyone can feel relaxed and unbothered by the heat, even at the peak of the summer season.

If you have an indoor space with plenty of windows for ventilation, however, then an air cooler may be a more practical choice. It should be an adequate solution for keeping a cool breeze circulating in the area without raising your energy consumption. Keeping these considerations in mind will help you make the best possible purchase for your business.

As newlyweds, you and your spouse will be blending all aspects of your life, including your finances, which means the two of you will be sharing your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. As such, it’s a good idea to discuss your financial management plan as a couple as early as possible. It’s certainly ideal to talk things through when it comes to money matters since it is one the most common sources of disagreements in the first three years of marriage.

While your household finances isn’t the most romantic topic of conversation out there, it’s a subject that certainly needs to be discussed. It allows you to plot the best ways to handle your money, from paying your bills to managing your savings, all while supporting the lifestyle that you want for yourselves. It also helps you prepare for future plans, like adding new members to your family. 

As you transition from handling your finances independently to doing it as husband and wife, here are six practical money management tips you can take into consideration. 

Buy Household Items Secondhand

When moving into your new home, it can be tempting to purchase brand new household items to welcome your new life together as a married couple. However, getting new furniture and appliances to match your new home can be a costly choice. Unless you have the budget to buy everything brand new, you can consider getting some of them secondhand. It will help you save up money and still furnish your home. 

Additionally, purchasing secondhand is a great way to discover quality items at  lower prices. You’re likely to find a second hand sofa or dining set in good condition at a fraction of the cost that you would typically pay for when you get the set brand new. Moreover, you’re also more likely to stumble upon unique pieces when you buy secondhand, since many of these items are no longer being produced or they may come from faraway places where the original owners lived. Think of furniture and decorative pieces of rare designs, or even custom creations you probably wouldn’t find elsewhere. 

Open a Joint Account for Household Expenses

Having a joint account mainly for household expenses will help you monitor the money that comes in and out of your coffers. You can also use it as your central fund to pay for your common household expenses such as food, rent, utility bills, and others. Sharing a joint account also allows both of you to access the money should you encounter emergencies.

And if you’re wondering about whether or not it’s advisable to keep separate accounts as a married couple, the short answer is “it’s totally up to you.” Many relationship experts and even long-time couples recommend the practice of letting one’s spouse maintain their financial independence while also sharing financial responsibilities.

Talk about Who Pays for What

If you have a two-income household, be sure to define what your monthly contributions will be for the household. You can also discuss how much you’ll give to the joint account monthly, as well as how much you’ll spend, save, and invest. In case you prefer maintaining separate accounts, you can assign certain payments to each other. This can depend on your earnings and if you have any loan obligations to fulfill before getting married.

Some couples assign between them who will manage certain daily expenses. One might be assigned to handle food, utilities, and transportation, while the other might be tasked to make contributions toward the household’s insurance, retirement funds, and investments. This is a practical approach because you get to distribute your household’s financial responsibilities. That said, make sure that these financial responsibilities are distributed equitably.

Set Up a Luxe Fund

Do you want a new smart TV or go on a vacation? Prepare for these non-essential expenses by creating a “luxe fund” and channeling a portion of your income into it. Doing this will allow you to still take care of essential expenses while saving up for the little luxuries you want. Also, it’s a good practice to splurge on dispensable expenses only when you already have enough budget for them. It will help teach both you and your spouse to plan and control your spending.

Build an Emergency Fund

It’s never too early to set up an emergency fund, and you won’t regret doing it. An emergency fund is a stash of money (ideally a separate savings account) that you set aside  in case the unexpected happens, such as a health emergency, a home repair emergency, or a retrenchment at work.

When considering how much of your monthly budget you should set aside for your  emergency fund, you can follow the typical recommendation of stashing away at least 6 months’ worth of living expenses. To do this, you’ll need to set aside 10 percent or more of your gross income each month, and you need to keep saving until you have the amount you need—or more.

If you want to ensure you regularly put money into your emergency fund, you can set up an automatic transfer with your bank or take turns with your spouse putting money into the account every month. If you begin creating an emergency fund now, you can slowly grow it over time, which should give you peace of mind should you encounter any unexpected issues in the future.

Update Your Accounts

Many newlyweds move into new homes after getting married. If you’ll have this kind of arrangement as well, make sure to notify the banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, and investment companies you have accounts with about the change in your address or contact information. You also have to inform these institutions about your change in marital status because the union will have a bearing on your legal entitlements to one another’s financial assets and estates.

When it comes to managing finances, it’s up to you as a  couple to discuss what works best for you. However, if you’re looking for time-tested pieces of advice, make sure to consider the abovementioned tips. These will help you settle in your new life as husband and wife, and they will help you prepare financially for your future.