Cooperation between co-workers is so refreshing when everyone pulls together as a team.  I think we take it for granted at Manifest SEO the way we communicate and collaborate in our office.  Cooperation is a mind set and each person that makes up the team needs to buy into the team spirit. 

To foster a cooperative atmosphere in the office, set the example that it is OK to accept responsibility if everything doesn’t turn out exactly as planned.  You want to encourage your employees to think outside of the box and not be afraid to voice their opinions or ideas.  Brainstorming is a great team building, creative experience that encourages cooperation.  Even when things don’t work out perfectly, let your employees know that you appreciate their efforts.  Ask productive questions to find solutions they could do differently the next time without placing blame. 

Especially in the field of SEO, new programs, new methods, and new ideas are mandatory.  This is a cutting edge industry with little guidance from books or schools, so everyone needs to be encouraged to take on new frontiers without fear of repercussions from their team mates or boss.  

Employees that are not afraid to voice their opinion are so much happier, and therefore productive.  It’s a win-win situation when you have confident, happy, cooperative employees that encourage each other to reach new levels of success due to their effective communication.

Compassion can build a thriving workplace because compassion is outwardly directed and encourages less preoccupation with self centeredness.  Practicing compassion with your co-workers contributes to personal, team and organizational success.  When people feel cared for, they are able to care for others, which instills a positive environment where people are encouraged to be creative and supported.

Just recently, here at ManifestSEO, we had a proposal deadline that had to be done in twenty four hours.  In the middle of the proposal, a co-worker had to go home seriously ill.  We were one man down, and we needed to check in on him to make sure he was OK.  Although this was going to interfere with meeting our deadline, it was more important for us to take care of our co-worker than the proposal.  With this show of support, and with one man down, we were still able to get the proposal done on time because we pulled together as a team and had an added amount of energy to complete the task at hand.  We also set the example that people are our most important asset. 

To show compassion in the work place, there are several actions you can practice on a daily basis:

Listen Empathetically:  We are trained in school to be good speakers, but we are not trained to be good listeners, which is equally as important.  Active, genuine listening is vital as well as taking a moment at the end of a conversation to allow the other person to add something they have forgotten.   A lot of us daydream or start thinking of our response before the person has finished speaking, thereby not listening carefully, which is conveyed in your responses or body language.  Make sure you are genuinely listening.  There are a lot of good listening articles out there to help improve your listening skills.

Be Curious:  Be curious about your co-workers and ask questions in regards to their personal being, or a project they are working on you know is important to them.  People like to talk about themselves, so asking some deeper questions other than, “How are you today?” makes people feel interesting.  In their responses, make sure you are actively listening.  It’s fun to hear about other people’s lives and you may learn something!

Have Respect:  Showing respect for others make others respect you.  Listening happens to be one of the greatest manifestations of respect, so here is yet another reason to become a better listener.  No doubt, there are times when it is trying to practice respect, however, rather than making a remark you may regret later, ask the speaker a question that could lead to answer you may better understand. 

Practicing compassion is a trait that will benefit others as much as it benefits yourself.  After all, we spend a good portion of our lives at the work place, why not make it the best experience we can, for ourselves and for others.

So my husband and I put our house on the market, sold everything we owned in 2007, and moved to Tulum, Mexico.   We were jumping in with both feet, not knowing exactly what we were getting into, but allowing the universe to present itself to us. 

The universe has presented us turquoise waters, star filled skies with the sounds of the ocean, sandy white beaches, nesting sea turtles, full moon parties with local talent, the freshest most delicious food I have ever eaten, tropical drinks, open sandals, loose light clothing, and sleeping with open windows that bring in the breeze you were hoping for, like a sign.  A sign this is the right place to be, at the right time.

The folks at The Turquoise Reef Group, Chuck and Mary Anne, have been in the Yucatan Peninsula for over 25 years, making endearing relationships with small cabana owners, and promoting this beautiful landscape.  They are intimately involved with the locals and can make tour suggestions with people they personally know.  They even have a local representative in Tulum to help make sure your vacation is everything you hoped it would be.  If you need help deciding on Playa Del Carmen hotels or your looking for another great Playa Del Carmen travel deal, Chuck and Mary Anne at Mexico Holiday are the best sources your could choose. 

Salud!

     Ambitious people are creative problem solvers with a purpose.  This can be a very positive force when it is used to benefit others as much as it benefits you.  Search engine optimization is a wonderful field for ambitious people looking for a creative outlet to help others find the success they have been working towards. 

     At ManifestSEO, we have an ambitious group of individuals using all of the newest tools available to help our clients realize their dreams.  There is a desire amongst our team to share their most recent article, their most recent social outlet, tool for dissemination, ect.  It’s exciting to come to work every day and this excitement is contagious.  Discovery is encouraged and change is paramount.

     I have to give credit to the founders of ManifestSEO for encouraging an ambitious atmosphere as it is clear that they are setting the stage for something big that everyone will be part of.  Success breads success, and the goal at ManifestSEO is to truly make those around them as successful as possible. 

SEO is all about the exploration of the most recent technology available on the web today for dispersing information efficiently and effectively. The forums are constantly evolving and about the time you have mastered one outlet, another is making a buzz. Curiosity and exploration are critical in this area of expertise, along with fearlessness. Not every single new avenue has the results you were hoping for, so acceptance of a lack of progress with the tenacity to find another route is critical. SEO is exciting, daunting, evolving and never, ever boring or stagnant.
The team in place at ManifestSEO is curious. They are a group of energetic and forward thinking people ready for the challenges each unique customer brings. Seeking out the newest outlets for social media, link building, blogging, writing, and other methods of disbursing information is their passion.
Curiosity leads to exploration, and exploration leads to discovery. Let the team at ManifestSEO discover the newest sources of media so that you can do what you do best. Together we can each find our own success.

  ManifestSEO is a young, growing company comprised of bright, college educated, self-starting, driven individuals.  Ron Burdine and Matt Ludwig have owned their own start-up businesses in the past and are driven enough to start another.  Watching the both of them work together, hearing the conversations and ideas thrown around the office, no matter the diversity of clients, there is a common element to every day that is always present:  Their enthusiasm for the future and unwavering self-imposed, high moral standards.

     Maybe their intrinsic values comes from past experience, a good upbringing, a good education, strong faith, belief in themselves, or an amazing combination of all of those elements, but to bear witness to countless examples of virtues in the work place are inspiring.  It inspires me every day.  It inspires me so much, that I believe I can give examples, and applications, of the more than 100 recognized virtues, in the daily operations of ManifestSEO, regularly. 

    Here is a recent example of the virtue integrity, my first virtuous example in our driving company:

    We received a call from a potential client a few days ago that was very flattering and could have brought our start-up company some needed revenue.  Success brings attention, so this potential client wanted the same results witnessed by our current client. We listened carefully to our potential client desires and determined that we could indeed assist in meeting their needs.  However, accepting this client would have compromised another as they were a direct competitor.  This particular client was willing to pay twice what our existing client is paying for the same results.

     If we were to accept the job, would we ever have to disclose this information?  Probably not.  Would anyone find out about our assistance?  Probably not.  Could we use the added revenue?  Definitely.  However, after some reflective assertations of the situation, neither partner had a difficult decision to make: They were going to make the right decision. 

     The right decision comes naturally for these two gentlemen, and humbly.  No one will recognize their gift of integrity on society, no matter how small its effect, but it’s the smallest of decisions that can impact the direction and outcome of any given day, for all of us. 

     A small example of the character at ManifestSEO, business with integrity.  To be continued……