StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Industrial Generator Sizing: How to Measure Your Place of business for the Right Generator

Industrial Generator Sizing: How to Measure Your Place of business for the Right Generator

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Industrial Generator Sizing: How to Measure Your Place of business for the Right GeneratorBefore you choose a generator for your place of business, you have to measure the building to buy the right one. Learn about industrial generator sizing here. Power outages are one of the most common reasons businesses experience interruption-related loss. Claims of this type have totaled more than $5 billion. If you live in an area where there are storms of any kind, then you are at risk for this type of loss. It is easily preventable, though. All you need is a generator. But you can’t buy just any generator. You need to buy the right one that is big enough to run your business. Use this guide on industrial generator sizing to help you with your purchase.

Size

Before you start shopping for a generator, you need to know what you want to power. This will help you determine what size generator you need.

Factoring Size

You can determine the size you need by calculating the voltage of all of the electronics you wish to power. Then you can figure out the total voltage you need to power everything.

Make a list of everything that needs power. Now note on your list the starting and running wattage requirements for each item. Calculate your total need.
You should be able to find these requirements in the owner’s manual or on a metal plate affixed to the unit. Occasionally you will find amps instead of watts.

You can use this formula to convert them.

  • Reactive load: (amps x volts) x load factor= wattage
  • Resistance load: Amps x volts = wattage

You need to know both the starting and running demand to ensure you buy a generator that can handle these two different types of needs.

Single or Three-Phase

You will also need to decide if you need a single or three-phase generator. The power that comes out of the generator is the same as your home electrical outlets. The power travels in a wave pattern.

A single-phase generator has a single output of fluctuating wave where the power goes up and down. A three-phase generator uses three different waves. They are slightly out of sync so that the generator is always at peak power.

If you need to power basic office electronics, then you’re probably okay with a single-phase generator.If you need to power large equipment or machinery, then you will do better with a three-phase generator.

Noise Level

Think about where you plan to place your generator. Generators can be loud, and it will disrupt your work if you put it too close to your office. You should also consider any noise ordinances.

As a general rule, the larger the generator, the more noise it will produce.

Budget

Our guide wouldn’t be complete without a section on budget. Determine what you can afford and stick to it.

Keep in mind that this unit will save you thousands in losses from power outages. You should also consider the growth of your business. You don’t want to invest in a barely big enough generator that you will outgrow in a year or two.

Bellwood Rewinds has plenty of options so you can find the perfect generator for your business.

Know Your Industrial Generator Sizing

Now that you know the basics of industrial generator sizing, you are ready to start shopping for your generator. Remember, you need a generator that will power your electronics during both starting and running.

You can narrow down your search by focusing on generators that are within your budget.

Be sure to read our insights section for more advice on running a successful business.

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs: The Straight Dope - Why needs are more like vitamins than pyramids

Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs: The Straight Dope – Why needs are more like vitamins than pyramids

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs: The Straight Dope - Why needs are more like vitamins than pyramidsThe question of how to motivate people is a central preoccupation for most businesses: how to motivate employees to work hard; how to motivate customers to buy and recommend your company’s products; how to motivate partner organizations to work with you; how to motivate shareholders to buy your stock. For many people, the go-to theory for motivation was put forward by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper ‘A Theory of Human Motivation’ and is most commonly known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

The chances are you’ve come across the five-tiered pyramid, with physiological needs such as food, sleep and sex at its base, rising up to needs around safety, then belonging, then esteem, until we reach the top of the pyramid, where needs around self-actualization reside: the fulfilment of these needs was a subject of fascination for Maslow. He admired people like Albert Einstein, who he believed to be a paragon of self-actualization. In fact, he was so enamored by the likes of Einstein and Mother Teresa and Beethoven that he based his theory of self-actualization around them. The tip of his pyramid contains a list of the qualities he most admired in his heroes: morality, creativity, problem-solving capability and absence of prejudice. The purpose of the hierarchy is to demonstrate that until lower-order needs have been met, it’s difficult for individuals to focus on and satisfy their higher-order needs. In Maslow’s words: ‘For the man who is extremely and dangerously hungry, no other interests exist but food.’

Where’s the science?

The popularity of Maslow’s hierarchy lies in how simple it is to grasp and how flexible it is in its application. As a universal theory of human motivation, it can be used to make the case for staff canteens, team-building days, canapés at investor presentations and CSR schemes. And because each of the five layers of needs feels intuitive to Western minds, any huckster business consultant or cod psychologist can manipulate it to suit their purposes. But few people who use the hierarchy seem to understand it is based on the biographies of 18 people. There’s no scientific method at work. No body of evidence exists to prove or disprove the veracity of the model or its assumptions. He may as well have built his model around Jane and Michael’s nanny advert from Mary Poppins: a cheery disposition… Kind… Witty…. Never cross or cruel… In fact, there are striking similarities between Mary Poppins and Maslow’s actualized self.

A more serious issue with Maslow’s model is that it reflects a Western tendency to consider the individual above the collective. This is a huge value judgment, given that self-actualization and self-esteem both sit above love and belonging. It’s not clear why needs need to exist in a hierarchy at all – particularly one that champions the self to such a degree. Van Gogh and Vermeer managed to create sublime works of art, despite spending much of their lives on the poverty line. And a 2011 analysis of Gallup data from over 60 thousand people across 123 countries revealed that we are happiest when we achieve a balanced fulfilment of needs – including a balance between basic needs, social needs and self-actualization needs. In other words, it’s wrong to think of needs belonging to a hierarchy. Needs are like vitamins – we need a healthy and varied diet of them.

Beyond making ourselves happy, this has significant implications for how we think about leadership, attracting and retaining employees, and how to make customers happy. In the case of leadership, it suggests we place too great an emphasis on individual effectiveness and not enough on understanding group dynamics. When it comes to motivating employees, we probably pay too much attention to personal development, reward and recognition, at the expense of influence and social currency. And in the case of customers, we almost certainly pay too much attention to satisfying individuals’ rational and emotional needs and too little on the social benefits that organizations deliver to their customers and the communities they are a part of. Ultimately, humans are far less selfish than Maslow’s model suggests. That’s a reason to celebrate. And to find a better model of human motivation.


About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Nick LiddellNick Liddell is co-author, with Richard Buchanan, of Wild Thinking: 25 Unconventional Idea to Grow Your Brand and Your Business. He is Director of Consulting at The Clearing, helping global brands grow and make a difference. For more information, please visit: https://www.koganpage.com/product/wild-thinking-9780749484507

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Putting Smiles on Faces: 3 Tips for Happy Employees

Putting Smiles on Faces: 3 Tips for Happy Employees

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Putting Smiles on Faces: 3 Tips for Happy EmployeesOne of the most important parts of business is productivity. Companies have been trying since their inception to reach the highest productivity possible. Today, we live in an industrialized world because people wanted to create better, easier ways of doing things.

One aspect of productivity that gets overlooked a lot is the employees. The workers are what make the company run, so having happy workers can only work in your favor.

The question is, how do you achieve this? What are some things you can do to make sure you have happy employees? We’ll give you a few ideas in the paragraphs below.

1. Praise and Recognition

Sometimes, the best things you can do are also the simplest. We all need to feel needed, and letting someone know that they’re valued can do a lot towards making them feel better and work more efficiently.

Studies have shown that happy employees are much more productive. There’s plenty of cynical sayings out there about people just waiting to take advantage of your generosity and trust, but they’re often untrue.

Humans are social creatures. We’ve evolved to be social creatures, and in the course of that evolution, we have learned that groups work best when everybody does their share and gets along.

2. Be Honest and Forthright

This sounds obvious, but it goes a lot further than just telling the truth when asked. Tell people things about the company as a whole.

Keep them up-to-date on what’s going on, how it affects them, and what the future might hold. You should even ask for feedback when you can.

Businesses tend to function much better when employees feel trusted.

This goes along with instinct and group dynamic. People who consistently tell us the truth often have a stake in our well-being, or, at the very least, probably aren’t a threat to us.

Trust is one of the reasons we have paystubs. Not only do they make it easier to keep records, but it helps us to understand our pay and why we’re getting the amount we are.

You can discover more about paystubs, or even create them, by clicking the link.

3. Understand That Work Isn’t Everything

Everybody has a life outside of work, and you’ll learn more about the lives of your employees as you get to know them.

Making an employee as productive as possible means caring about their home lives as well. This means offering help and support whenever they need it. Offer them more days off, or create a daycare center in your office building.

Employee wellness plays a role. Trying to give more insurance or insurance at a lower cost mean you care not only about them, but those who depend on them.

Happy Employees Make a Happy Business

Companies benefit from happy employees. Employees who feel valued tend to care more about the company and do more to see it thrive.

The best way to get happy employees is to see people before workers. Praise them and make them feel appreciated when they do something good. Be honest with them, and understand that they have a home and a set of responsibilities outside of work.

If you want more information and advice on business, the internet, and social media, please visit our site.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Keep These 7 Office Moving and Building Tips in Mind for Your Business

Keep These 7 Office Moving and Building Tips in Mind for Your Business

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Keep These 7 Office Moving and Building Tips in Mind for Your BusinessHave you made the decision to build a new office for your business?

Want to make sure you have an easy time moving? Then choosing a business moving company is the perfect solution for you.

An office move can be a difficult thing if you don’t know how to do it right, but it can be especially difficult if you’re building a brand new office yourself. It’s important that you give both your new building design as well as the moving process a lot of thought to ensure you and your employees have a smooth transition.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Below are the 7 top office moving and building tips that you should keep in mind when moving your business.

1. Take Time For Planning the Move

Before moving to a new building or office, it’s important that you do as much planning as possible beforehand. You need to make sure that you’re not only planning the new office design but that you’re also thinking thoroughly about the moving process.

It’s a good idea to use a checklist and to make a list of everything you need to move to the new location whether that includes office furniture, equipment, files, or inventory. You should also create a thorough timeline that will help guide you as the moving day approaches.

2. Hire Professional Movers

While you may think you’ll be able to handle an office move on your own, it’s usually best to get professional help instead. Be sure to look at reviews online and do your research to find great movers for the job.

Hiring professional movers is often well worth the money you’ll spend and can help move into your new space much more efficiently and effortlessly. Professionals will have the skills and expertise to make a move much less stressful for you.

This also ensures that you don’t miss a beat with your everyday activities.

3. Do Some Serious Labeling

While it may seem like a small thing, doing some serious labeling on your moving boxes is one thing that will make your move much easier to handle. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find a specific item and having to dig through a lot of different boxes to find what you’re looking for.

Labeling your boxes will make it much easier for you to find what you’re looking for once you arrive at your new building. Doing so can help make setting up your new office a much simpler process.

Be sure you label things thoroughly when packing up your current office and your move will be easier than you may expect.

4. Get Rid of Unneeded Items

When you’re building a new office or you’re moving to different office space, it’s a great time to get rid of some of your old supplies and equipment. You should consider getting rid of anything you don’t need anymore.

Chances are that your office has some furniture around that has seen better days and could stand to be replaced or some equipment that you simply don’t use often enough. Instead of taking this stuff with you to your new space, it may be time to sell or donate them.

5. Secure Your Job Site

It’s important that you secure your equipment and materials before moving. Theft can be a serious problem for a job site and you’ll need to take measures to protect against it. Be sure that you take all of the necessary precautions when building a new office.

Particularly if you’re working with valuable materials such as copper, you need to have a plan for protecting it against thieves. Using portable storage containers can help prevent theft on job sites and will help ensure that the construction of your building goes on without a hitch.

6. Take Measurements

Whether you’re building a new building or you’re moving to a new rental space, take accurate measurements when relocating. You need to do the groundwork necessary to ensure you’ll have enough space for everything.

You’ll want to measure the furniture and equipment you’re taking with you and compare your current office space to your new one. By taking the necessary measurements of the space and planning out the layout thoroughly, you’ll avoid having space problems later on.

7. Optimize the Layout for Productivity

When moving into a new space, you should also make sure you think critically about its layout. Chances are you’ll want to alter it from what you currently have.

Most of all, you should be aiming to create a layout that helps foster productivity and efficiency and helps make daily tasks easier to accomplish.

Positioning equipment, supplies, and employees either closer together or further apart can have a big impact on your office. Be sure to think about the layout carefully to ensure you’re creating an office that meets your needs.

Making the Most of These Office Moving Tips

If you’re going through an office move or building a new office building then you need to do your due diligence and plan carefully. By using the office moving tips above, you’ll have the best chance of having a smooth transition to your new space.

Looking for more office and business tips? Explore our blog!

StrategyDriven Organizational Structure Article | Creating A Business Structure That Kicks Ass!

Creating A Business Structure That Kicks Ass!

StrategyDriven | General | Creating A Business Structure That Kicks Ass!If you strive for improvement, or you want to be a better leader, you need to ensure that you practice what you preach. But while there are so many behavioral approaches to running a business, if you don’t have that structure in place, you aren’t going to be able to hang greatness upon it. As such, if you need an organizational structure, especially as a small business where everybody is making him and doing everything, this can help to define roles, and create a less fuzzy approach. So, with this in mind, how can you create an organizational structure for your small business, so that everyone can kick ass?

Focus On The Three Main Elements

We are referring to operations, your sales and marketing, and your financial and administrative processes. Once you lay out the priorities for each of these three departments, you will be able to figure out what you are missing. In terms of the operations, it’s all down to the processes. And if there are aspects that you are failing in right now, then you might want to consider outsourcing. There are plenty of resources out there. A company like a Red Key that provides managed IT services, can you create a more thorough sensibility, especially in terms of technical processes. You can’t expect everybody in your small business to be acutely technologically minded. As soon as you start to focus on these three main elements, and you understand what you miss, you are ready to fly!

Defining Specific Roles

Under these three main elements, you can start to split it into even more defined roles. Sales and marketing can encompass public relations, account management, as well as maintenance of the website. Once you start to determine the specific tasks, you then have to go through everyone in your organization to see who can fulfill what role. If you have a small company, by clearly defining roles, especially according to skill, you will need to help encourage more responsibility and ownership. And from there, you can start to create a more defined organisation.

Implementing The Structure

The preparation is the easy bit, you’ve got to see it in action to truly understand if it makes an impact. Having the structure in place, and doing a thorough vetting process will help you to put the best person for each role. And while you put this in place, you’ve got to give yourself some leeway. Things may not go according to plan, but also, you may find that your employees will struggle in, what are, essentially, new roles. Give yourself that breathing space, and if something isn’t working, you can go back to the drawing board. Implementing the structure needs to take a couple of months, at least. At this point, you may find that you are concerned with the skills of a role, but there are always going to be teething problems.

In a small business, it can feel like you’re being thrown to the lions somewhat, but once you prepare, but also allow yourself to fail, you will benefit, and the structure becomes the thing you hang your ideals upon.