As a Woman Owned business, firstPRO is particularly sensitive to maintaining and growing diversity among our staff. I believe that a diverse workplace makes good business sense and it encourages a more culturally diverse client base. By embracing this, we can better understand the culture of more companies and ultimately bring new ideas and new perspectives to our own business. There have been studies that prove that a more diverse workforce does in fact contribute to the bottom line. When you think about it, we all like to do business with people we like and are comfortable with, so a diverse company naturally appeals to prospective customers.
At firstPRO, we bring in outside firms to conduct “sensitivity training” with our staff, and we keep an open door policy for discussion and follow-up. This is very eye-opening in training, because we are asked to leave our comfort zone and listen to the views and experiences of others.
In terms of communication, men and women do this very differently. Men tend to be short and to the point; they view communication as a means to solving a problem. Women, on the other hand, are more detail oriented and ask more questions. We have also found that men make decisions more quickly, but women tend not to change their mind once they have been made. Men talk more about facts, whereas women talk more about people, relationships and feelings. It is everyone’s personal responsibility to continue to evaluate their own views and biases while still maintaining their own ideals and moral compasses. Our true values don’t generally change, and we need to stay true to ourselves. At the same time, however, it is a big and ever-changing world, and those who don’t recognize that will be left behind, especially in business. As a working professional, we must understand our own perceptions, behaviors and communication styles because it is these things that will contribute to your overall growth and prosperity.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Paul Voss is Featured Speaker at firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search Diversity Lunch
On Wednesday, February 4, 2009, firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search continued their Diversity series with a luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown. The program featured April Nagel, CEO of firstPRO, and special guest speaker Paul J. Voss, President of Ethikos, Inc., a company specializing in ethical decision making for the 21st century.
The Diversity Series gives us a platform for bringing together the top HR Executives in Atlanta in a setting that allows us to share insights, experience and discuss the best practices. Our speakers lead the discussion with thought provoking issues, and everyone leaves with knowledge and ideas that can help their companies. Voss’s presentation focused on intellectual diversity and how to apply ethics in today’s trying times. He also offered his tips for understanding the dynamics of different mindsets and how they add to a better work environment.
firstPRO is making this Diversity Series a quarterly event, and future panels will cover issues of interest to top executives in Diversity Hiring positions. Key industry leaders from many of Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies will be in attendance. For more information on the Diversity Series, contact Michelle Kennedy at 404.252.9422 x 442 or visit www.firstproinc.com.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Raj Nichani Named Vice President of Attorney Search Division of firstPRO Executive Search
firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search announced today that Raj Nichani will serve as Vice President of the Attorney Search Division.Raj has been a leader in the Legal Recruiting field for many years in Atlanta and we are very excited about him joining firstPRO. Raj’s legal background and his involvement in community and diversity initiatives make him a valuable consultant for our clients. Prior to joining firstPRO, Nichani was a leading recruiter at another Atlanta based recruiting firm and practiced law in the Atlanta firms of Rogers & Hardin and Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, LLP. He currently serves as President of the IndusBar of Georgia and is the 2009 President elect of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association. (GAPABA).
"I am really looking forward to helping this division continue to grow,” Nichani says. "firstPRO is one of the fastest growing independently own firms in the U.S. and really values its long term relationship with their clients. They also place an important emphasis on diversity hiring practice which has always been important to my clients." Nichani is a graduate of Emory University and earned his Juris Doctor from the Syracuse University College of Law. Today he remains active in both the Georgia and New York state bar.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Telephone Etiquette
With email and instant messaging becoming the standard forms of office communication, many of us forgo using the telephone, and by extension, our telephone manners. But the telephone still plays an important role in business, and just like a face-to-face meeting, telephone conversations are expected to and should follow certain rules of etiquette.
When you are connected with the person, state your purpose and be sure to ask if you are calling at a convenient time. If it is someone you don't know and you need something from them, start by thanking them for taking your call. When calling people on their cell phones, it is always polite to ask if it is a convenient time before proceeding. Know what you are going to say during those first 30 seconds so that you do not appear to be wasting anyone's valuable time.
Other things to avoid include:
• speaking to someone on the phone while also speaking to someone in front of you
• eating or drinking while on the phone
• speaking on your cell phone in an inappropriate place
• discussing subject matter others do not need to overhear
When someone calls the business and an individual is on another line or tied up for a moment or two, it is polite to give the caller the option of holding or leaving a message. When returning messages, be sure to do this in a timely manner as well. Do not wait more than 24 to 48 hours to do this. Nobody likes to be kept waiting.
The message you leave as your outgoing message is another important business tool, and should include the following key things:
• your name
• the organization and/or group you are in
• the current date (this tells them you are checking your messages)
• whether you are in the office or not that day
• when to expect a call back
• whom to contact if the call is urgent
In the end, the phone is still an important part of doing business, and knowing how to employ it properly will only help you in your work environment. Just use common sense about when, where and how you use the phone, and you will surely do the appropriate thing.
When you are connected with the person, state your purpose and be sure to ask if you are calling at a convenient time. If it is someone you don't know and you need something from them, start by thanking them for taking your call. When calling people on their cell phones, it is always polite to ask if it is a convenient time before proceeding. Know what you are going to say during those first 30 seconds so that you do not appear to be wasting anyone's valuable time.
Other things to avoid include:
• speaking to someone on the phone while also speaking to someone in front of you
• eating or drinking while on the phone
• speaking on your cell phone in an inappropriate place
• discussing subject matter others do not need to overhear
When someone calls the business and an individual is on another line or tied up for a moment or two, it is polite to give the caller the option of holding or leaving a message. When returning messages, be sure to do this in a timely manner as well. Do not wait more than 24 to 48 hours to do this. Nobody likes to be kept waiting.
The message you leave as your outgoing message is another important business tool, and should include the following key things:
• your name
• the organization and/or group you are in
• the current date (this tells them you are checking your messages)
• whether you are in the office or not that day
• when to expect a call back
• whom to contact if the call is urgent
In the end, the phone is still an important part of doing business, and knowing how to employ it properly will only help you in your work environment. Just use common sense about when, where and how you use the phone, and you will surely do the appropriate thing.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search Sponsors Special Olympics Power Lifting Event
On Saturday, January 17, 2009, firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search was proud to sponsor the Special Olympics Power Lifting Event at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, located at 340 Aviation Road in Marietta.
This was an opportunity to give back to an incredible organization and recognize the unique gifts of young people who want to compete. We are thrilled to assist in any way we can to bring sports, education and health programs to these deserving individuals.
Over 1,500 Special Olympics athletes competed in basketball, bowling, power lifting, floor hockey, ice skating, rhythmic gymnastics and roller skating. Staff members from each sector of firstPRO were on hand to volunteer and oversee the day’s events.
Our company has always operated from the “do the right thing” mentality. We want to continue to build awareness for this organization and celebrate every person involved.
For more information visit www.firstproinc.com.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Balancing Act
In today's fast-paced culture, most of us can attest that our personal lives and our business lives overlap. With things like telecommuting or on-premise child care, working environments are structured to allow more overlapping than ever before. Having worked my way up as a woman in business, however, I strive very hard to not let this happen.
As a working mother, I have always maintained reliable help at home and have trained my children from an early age not to make unnecessary calls to me during working hours. I let them know when I have important business plans so they use extra caution when they need to reach me. Communicating how and why you do this to your children can make for great lessons and certainly will add to their own work ethic.
Today I employ a high caliber, professional staff at firstPRO, and I only hire individuals with a proven track record for getting the job done. It is a given that their job is a priority and I don't micro-manage their time. I have complete confidence that my employees will manage their business day productively and fulfill their personal obligations in a responsible way. There are, however, many jobs that require hourly and daily attention with specific hours of operation and contact with the public. In those cases, I discourage the overlapping of business and personal time because so much of the success of the job requires their undivided attention to the task at hand. In these instances, it is important to have concrete rules for how personal interruptions are handled, and they need to be applied across the board and consistently. Hourly workers should be given breaks throughout the day, including a lunch hour, and all personal business should be handled during those times. (Of course, emergencies will arise and there should be a policy as to what constitutes an emergency and what protocol should be.)
At firstPRO, we believe in a balanced life and offering a certain degree of flexibility. Everyone deserves uninterrupted time away from the office, be it weekends or vacations. An organized employee makes arrangements for things to be handled appropriately while they are gone, but depending on their level or position, it may be necessary for someone to reach them regarding a business emergency. It is a good idea to check in once or twice while away, just to determine that all is well. (As a manager and business owner, however, I am always reachable and want to be contacted when important events occur.) It is wise to have continual access to email so that you can respond to questions or situations at your convenience and without interruption.
With the amount of work we face today, the line between work time and personal time will inevitably blur, but maintaining this balance will certainly add to your work ethic. Remember that a bit of personal time during the workday is healthy, but in the end, the workday is for just that ... work.
As a working mother, I have always maintained reliable help at home and have trained my children from an early age not to make unnecessary calls to me during working hours. I let them know when I have important business plans so they use extra caution when they need to reach me. Communicating how and why you do this to your children can make for great lessons and certainly will add to their own work ethic.
Today I employ a high caliber, professional staff at firstPRO, and I only hire individuals with a proven track record for getting the job done. It is a given that their job is a priority and I don't micro-manage their time. I have complete confidence that my employees will manage their business day productively and fulfill their personal obligations in a responsible way. There are, however, many jobs that require hourly and daily attention with specific hours of operation and contact with the public. In those cases, I discourage the overlapping of business and personal time because so much of the success of the job requires their undivided attention to the task at hand. In these instances, it is important to have concrete rules for how personal interruptions are handled, and they need to be applied across the board and consistently. Hourly workers should be given breaks throughout the day, including a lunch hour, and all personal business should be handled during those times. (Of course, emergencies will arise and there should be a policy as to what constitutes an emergency and what protocol should be.)
At firstPRO, we believe in a balanced life and offering a certain degree of flexibility. Everyone deserves uninterrupted time away from the office, be it weekends or vacations. An organized employee makes arrangements for things to be handled appropriately while they are gone, but depending on their level or position, it may be necessary for someone to reach them regarding a business emergency. It is a good idea to check in once or twice while away, just to determine that all is well. (As a manager and business owner, however, I am always reachable and want to be contacted when important events occur.) It is wise to have continual access to email so that you can respond to questions or situations at your convenience and without interruption.
With the amount of work we face today, the line between work time and personal time will inevitably blur, but maintaining this balance will certainly add to your work ethic. Remember that a bit of personal time during the workday is healthy, but in the end, the workday is for just that ... work.
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