Shocking New Business Trends That Will Impact the Future of Your Small Business

Everything that we know changes and improves as time goes by. Medicine, science, technology, our way of living, and even the way we work are also affected by trends and improvements. Even work life balance is influenced by trends. So how do these trends affect small businesses and entrepreneurs? Let’s take a look at some of the current work place trends that greatly affect how entrepreneurs work and small business function today.

It’s All About Convenience and Flexibility.

It’s no secret that all small business owners and entrepreneurs are incredibly busy and need to cram in as many things as possible on the day. Therefore, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and even freelancers who often function as entrepreneurs all look for convenience and flexibility. This is why there is such a huge push in our society on technology. The use of tablets, Smartphones, and wireless Internet has enabled entrepreneurs to work, communicate with clients, manage social media, and respond to leads…all on the go. This helps the entrepreneurs who have to be in several places at once and constantly multi-tasking.

Don’t Mess With Stress.

Today it is safe to say that workloads have significantly increased. With many companies cutting back on expenses, this has led to one person wearing “multiple hats”, or doing one job built for three. As a result, small businesses and entrepreneurs are beginning to pay attention and take stress levels seriously. Gone are the days when during challenging times and heavy workloads do employers say, “hey…suck it up”. Studies by the American Institute of Stress have shown that stress directly impacts productivity, creates project risks, and ultimately impacts project success and outcomes. In fact, 25% of workers reported that their jobs are the number one stressor in their lives…above finances and raising families, and 80% of workers claim they feel stress on the job.

As a result, small businesses and entrepreneurs spend more time paying attention to their own stress levels and even those of their employees or freelancers. Many companies today offer stress management techniques and classes on how to deal with stress on the job.

The Three C’s: Cooperation, Communication, and Collaboration.

Team collaboration is a huge small business trend today. Most small businesses and entrepreneurs have become more interested in working with teams than making executive decisions solely. Small businesses should be open to team participation and collaboration on making business decisions and participating in team discussions. Studies have also proven that this has helped small businesses with employees feel more valued and it enhanced efficiency, trust, and productivity within the organization.

Cooperation and communication are the other pieces to this puzzle…especially for organizations that work off-site or remotely. This is where communication becomes a huge deal. Without working with an in-house team, it’s easy for team members to lose track of tasks, misinterpret instructions or project specifications, or worse…just disappear. Cooperation and communication on mutual projects can go a long way. Make the effort.

The small business realm and even our society has certainly changed and evolved with these new trends. One huge trend focus is on work life balance, as outlined above. Many small businesses are focusing on these new trends and adjusting their policies and practices accordingly. Small business trends of today will certainly impact the future of small business as well.