What is sociology, and how is its application important to the business world of today? According to an article by the American Sociological Association (ASA), sociology “…is the scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture.”

The author further states, “…sociologists study all things human, from the interactions between two people to the complex relationships between nations or multinational corporations.”

From the above statements, it goes without saying that sociology is an important part of any business. We say this because, let’s face, the actual business transaction happens between people. Having a good understanding of human behavior based on your background in sociology helps you to grow your business in ways others can’t.

In other words, sociology can help business owners, marketers and managers to develop skills that come in handy whether you’re researching the market conditions, trying to improve your products/services, or looking to boost the morale of your team.

With that preamble, let us look at a couple of ways sociology helps businesses move forward in a world of different cultures, genders, religions and sexualities among other things.

4 Main Ways Sociology Helps You in Business

The following section covers ways you can leverage sociology to grow your business be it big or small. We hope you find a gem.

Handling Staff

Richard Branson once said, “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” Coming from a businessman who owns more than 60 companies (under the Virgin Group), these words carry a lot of weight.

From firsthand experience, we’ve know for a fact that a happy employee is a valuable asset to have on your side. If you have disgruntled employees, you cannot expect an A1 performance. Obviously, unhappiness in the workplace breeds all manner of problems; problems that you can easily avoid with a background in sociology.

Sociology helps you to understand the cultural and social aspects that shape each member of your team. With this knowledge, you can avoid alienating staff members or hurting company loyalty. Sociology offers you an advantage when dealing with employees in the workplace.

Develop Analytical Thinking

Studying sociology helps you to develop or hone your analytical thinking skills. The study usually involves analyzing qualitative and quantitive data to figure out how various factors affect a population.

For this very reason, you can use the analytical skills you learn in sociology to better understand your target audience. It is the main reason today’s employers seek critical thinkers who are versatile in addressing complex challenges and why sociology degree holders can wok in a variety of settings, according to the University of Maryville.

As a matter of fact, sociologists have found a growing place in marketing teams. They use analytical methods of thinking to help businesses to research market data and draw beneficial conclusions from said data.

Identifying Market Opportunities

Businesses face a lot of competition on a daily basis. It is no secret that cutthroat competition can put you out of business.

It is also not secret that companies that adjust strategy according to viable market data overcome challenges and move forward.
But what has that have to do with sociology?

Well, sociology allows you to understand that certain conditions influence groups of people differently. For instance, those in business with a background in sociology will easily recognize opportunities created within a population even in the event of phenomena such as war, natural calamities or diseases.

Business owners without sociology backgrounds are likely to miss the opportunities that arise within a given population since they aren’t “in-touch” with the reality of things on the ground. More often than not, this type of business owners have a limited understanding of their customers, which is bad for any business.

Want to identify opportunities that your target audience present? Add a sociologist to you marketing team and thank me later.

Better Public Relations Management

According to Questia.com, public relations involves “…activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most favorable light.”

Going with the above definition, how do you expect to shine in public relations if you have no idea how to get through to your target audience? Remember, people’s behaviors are motivated by a number of factors including surrounding, cultural beliefs, religion and so on.

A sociology background will help you to identify the sociological factors that drive your customer base. With this information, you can then tune your public relations activities for best results. It goes without saying that certain actions by your business will affect your customers based on their cultural and economic backgrounds.

For instance, you cannot afford to make fun of people who don’t eat pork due to religious or cultural beliefs, even if they don’t make up a huge part of your customer base. But you will probably miss the mark completely with your public relations activities if you don’t understand your customer base, especially the things that drive their behaviors.

Final Words

A degree in sociology is not required to be successful in business, and it’s unlikely you will pursue a sociology degree just to get an edge in business. Still, having someone with a background in sociology on your team will help you in ways never imagined before.

We hope this article pointed you in the right direction as you look to grow your business. Have questions or suggestions? Please share in the comment section at the end.

Businesses will often put procedures in place to assist staff who are underperforming. Whether this is progress meetings, personal targets or even disciplinary action, most companies have some type of model readily available. However, many companies do not prepare or think of ways to manage staff members who are overly ambitious and are constantly seeking career progression.

This may sound like a strange thought when bosses everywhere are crying out for dedicated and ambitious personnel. However, ambitious staff like to plot and prepare for their next career moves and if your company is not offering career progression, then they may be quick to jump ship. For that reason, you need to implement ways to retain your most ambitious staff members.

The Benefits of Retaining Ambitious Staff

There is an argument that after spending money on recruitment campaigns or employing recruitment agencies on your behalf, you want to retain all your staff regardless of their levels of ambition. The money and business hours spent on recruiting staff lead to the prime benefits in retaining ambitious staff members – which is money and time.

There are many ways to lower your staff turnover, but one of the best is to retain them in the first place. If you can retain these individuals at the start of their career, you could easily have lifelong employees dedicated to your company.

There is another benefit in retaining ambitious staff. One university study found that ambitious people have been suggested to experience higher levels of dopamine release. This ultimately makes them happier people than their slacking counterparts. Thus, it could be suggested that there is a possibility of a correlation between having a team of go-getters and a happier workforce.

The Best Ways to Retain Ambitious Staff

To help your business keep hold of your most ambitious individuals, there are a number of things that you can do. Here are the best ways to keep these types of people engaged and interested in working for your company – and none of them involve the obvious promotion:

1. Hold Personal Development Meetings

Holding regular one-to-one meetings is a great way of opening a dialogue with your staff and getting to understand their intentions. It also makes the staff member feel valued and heard.

You can show the individual that there are opportunities for development and you can work towards these together. These meetings could also be considered a type of internal networking.

2. Review Pay

Many ambitious people are driven by money. Not always, but on many occasions, you can bide time with an employee until a promotion does become available with a well-deserved pay rise. However, just remember that you will need to offer the same pay rise to all your staff in the same role as the ambitious individual – unless you also followed our fifth tip, below.

3. Enhance Their Skills and Knowledge

Some staff members may agree that they are not ready for their dream job and recognise that to get there they need further learning and development. Online learning makes it easy to do this because it means that your staff can stay employed with you on a full-time basis and enhance their skills and knowledge in their own time, ready for when application day does come around.

There are many of these distance learning courses to choose from nowadays, from administration and marketing courses to business finance courses. Anyone in business can find an online course for them.

4. Be Open and Honest

Although you want to schedule meetings and show the staff member that there are possible career progressions at your company, you need to remain open and honest. Staff notice the potential for career progressions themselves. If you lie to them to keep hold of them longer, then they are likely to recognise this lie and are more likely to leave the company sooner.

5. Create Jobs

Sometimes, you may even need to create jobs that these people would be ideal candidates for. In doing so, you reward them for their work without having to have the capacity to offer promotions. It may increase their job satisfaction and give the feeling of a promotion, without necessarily needing to increase pay.

Summary

These are just five ways that your business can manage talented individuals that are striving for success.

Many businesses neglect the way they treat ambitious staff because it is more common to concentrate on managing underperforming staff and get the best out of them. Yet, retaining ambitious staff is just as valuable as improving the performance of your under-performers.

Whether it is your first time in a job site, training camp or else you are in a safety briefing, nowadays there have emerged numerous ways on which you can use to wear earplugs. In most cases, the trainer at the job site will give you a hint on how to use the earplugs.

Recently it has been proved that the best method to learn about hearing protection is through thorough training. If you are a worker, you need to have some knowledge on how and when to make use of earplugs and in which way you can use them to the optimum.

When to wear them

They need to be worn, around any noisy place which includes:

• Loud music to prevent induced hearing loss.
• Explosives.
• Aircraft.
• Lawn equipment.
• Around machinery.

Types of Earplugs

1. Earmuffs

Have emerged as a popular form of noise protection for those working around gardening equipment and at airports. They are mostly preferred by people who don’t like the way it feels to wear an earplug.

They can provide more noise protection than other earplugs. For that reason, those workers who work on aircraft engines, this is the best choice for you.

2. Custom noise plugs

Arguably, it is the most efficient when it comes to blocking extremely harmful sounds. You can purchase them through hearing healthcare professional. A reliable professional will first take an impression of your ear for a custom fit.

3. Reusable plugs

It is a less costly way that makes sure you are always prepared. In that case, it is easy to clean them for later use. At times they can be corded or non-corded.

4. Disposable Noise plugs

They are the best when you use them occasionally, but if you plan on wearing them often, just invest in a reusable pair. They must be discarded after every use since they are made from foam material.

It is not that easy to fit good PPE earplugs, but there are tips a trainer need to know so that they can train efficiently. Here are some of the most crucial tips you can’t ignore.

Prepare the earplugs

Though many types of earplug do not require protection, it is an essential part of getting full protection from earplugs. Using clean water, put the whole earplug into the cylinder. Roll with the fingers on one hand, but you can use two hands if the cylinder is very tight.

If they have been rolled well, they will become longer and stiffer. For this reason, it is much easier to make its way around the first bend of the ear canal.

And if you are in one in one training, consider rolling down foam earplug with one hand though you can also employ two hands. This will force it to glance off the fingers and go past your hands. Whether you use two hands or not, move it for replacement.

Open the ear canal

In most earplugs, the more you open the ear canal, the easier to achieve a proper fit. Get over your head and put on the top of your ear. This will easily open your ear canal. In most cases, pulling back and down open the canal best. However, some may open fully by just pulling out on the ear.

As for now, there are a couple of methods that help every user to learn the most efficient way to pull their ear open. Always make sure you have looked at both ears since many are different.

Also, you can take a picture of the ear canal at rest and then open their canal. The first bend in the ear canal is near the opening before the ear canal has been fully opened.

Insert the earplug

So that it can turn to be more effective, they need to be inserted with caution into the ear canal. After you have prepared the foam earplug, insert quickly so that you can get adequate attenuation. Your work will be made much easier when you properly open the ear canal.

Earplugs which are plugged too close to the ear canal are not effective and are known to cause Occlusion Effect. It is simply the amplification of the ear canal.

Checking the fit

Here are ways you can use to verify whether the earplugs are well fitted.

Acoustic check. You can attest that a hearing protectors become effective when it achieves an acoustic seal in the ear canal. It will significantly reduce noise levels. They should be blocking noise such that even if you cover your hands there shall be no significant change in noise level

Visual check. As long as you are not a blind musician. The only thing which should be visible is just the tip of the stem. No flanges should be outside the ear canal. An earplug that is visible from the front is a clear warning of poor insertion.

Subjective fit testing. Recently some tools have been developed such that they allow accurate measurement of real-world attenuation. This helps workers verify the protection offered by earplugs. One of the methods which have gained popularity is inserting into specially modified earplugs.

Having the best idea or the latest technology is not enough for the modern marketplace. No matter how innovative your company is, without the correct business practices in place, your product will fail. The tech sector, in particular, is littered with stories of people and companies that tried and failed, in spite of having a better idea or product.

It takes more than having a good product to make a great business, it is how a business operates that makes it great. It’s not always what you do, it is the way that you do it. If you want your business to excel, you must empower yourself with the knowledge you need to handle anything the financial world throws at you. The best way to master your business is to become a Master of Business Administration.

Taking Control

Far too often, young businesses falter early because they are not equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter the marketplace. In every sector, competition is unforgiving and eager to capitalize on early mistakes. By earning a degree in business, you learn these mistakes in an educational setting. Decades of business wisdom have been condensed into workable education programs so that you can approach the market with confidence.

Investing in Yourself is Investing in Your Business

By taking the step to educate yourself in business practices, you are making an investment in yourself and your company. By studying for an MBA in finance online you can balance your education with your existing commitments and earn as you learn. It is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to develop their business alongside their studies, using their product as an example in coursework and utilizing their tutor’s experience to solve problems.

One of the many advantages of studying online is the flexibility it offers, while still giving you access to highly qualified and experienced tutors and all the resources a college has available. Many programs also offer mentorship and networking events that can lead to all kinds of opportunities for your business.

Get the Recognition You Deserve

Having an MBA is more than a qualification, it is a membership to the business fraternity. As well as opening up opportunities to you personally, having an MBA at the helm of your business also brings recognition that your company understands good business practices. So much of business is based upon trust and having an MBA lets your colleagues, customers, and competitors know that you and your business are legitimate and can be relied upon to operate professionally.

Learn Skills That Pay Bills

Earning a Master of Business Administration will teach you about more than just business and finance. Leadership and decision making are invaluable skills that you will be able to apply to many aspects of your life. Learning about accountancy and people management can seem mundane, but these are integral parts of a business that also offer something to your personal life, helping you to balance your own finances and strengthen your personal relationships.

Network to Get Work

One of the quickest routes to success is through networking. All too often, businesses find that it wasn’t what they knew, but who they knew that made the difference. Higher education comes with an in-built network of experienced tutors, eager colleagues, and alumni already succeeding in the marketplace and looking for the next investment to make.

With hard work and dedication to your tasks, you can start building your reputation, and your company’s reputation, from your first day. The relationships you build through your degree will last you for your entire career and offer you and your company opportunities for collaboration and co-development that other programs cannot.

The difference an MBA can make to a company is well-documented. It can bring the latest business theory to your company and teach you the good business practices you need to operate effectively. The recognition that comes with an MBA should not be underestimated either. Every tech company you admire started with a clever idea but that idea could not have been developed without the knowledge that comes with an MBA.

To be able to meet investors with confidence, to hire employees effectively, and to operate with fiscal responsibility there is no better option than a Master in Business Administration degree. It encompasses all aspects of the functions of business that you can then apply to your company and your product. You can go to the market with the confidence and knowledge needed to excel.

Having little to no experience in managing a business can be a hindrance to your professional success. You can only get so far without strong business acumen.

That is why many people are now recognizing the importance of taking their education further with either a doctorate or at a minimum a masters.   This step may seem daunting to the budding entrepreneur who has achieved a lot without a bachelor degree, and may question the need to do a masters.

Pursuing a higher level of education either immediately after your degree or later on can open up a lot more networks, provide confidence among your peers and career opportunities in the world of management.

Below are some of the great benefits when you take an MBA online:

Fully Accredited Programs

When it comes to getting an MBA, you need to make sure that it offers accredited courses. Compared to traditional courses, online MBA programs take less time in order to complete all the credits. So you can get relevant education online without the hassles of on-campus schedules.  This is a great option for people already in business who are time poor and need to study etc in their own time.

Acquire the Current Skills

Employers now look for potential candidates with the right skills and the initiative to take on things. Top performers usually have an MBA degree, mostly from an online school. Classes receive their diplomas right on time while they are taught relevant information that can help them transform their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

In your occupation, especially if you’re the business owner, acquiring a greater skill set, as well as filling in the gaps, in areas of the business you’re not good at nor studied can only add value to you and your business.

Flexibility and Relevance in Today’s Professional Needs

Online programs provide forward-thinking management learning that professionals need today to meet the challenges of business in a global economy.

Also, as mentioned earlier, the flexibility of geographic freedom and traditional academic schedules is what’s required by so many people in work. Employers are usually collaborate with workers engaging in extra study especially with flexible digital programs, so the work required can be done on a part-time or full-time load.

Familiarize New Technologies

Unlike on-campus programs, online programmes use more new technologies. This is because getting an MBA online requires all the work i.e. completing lessons, doing assignments, and completing tasks, etc. all done online.  Therefore you’ll become an expert user of computers and other devices in the pursuit of furthering your learning.

Develop Great Communication Skills

Since you will need to communicate a lot online in order to complete your course, you will also develop your written communication. Through daily practice, you can improve how you articulate your thoughts, and points of  view, in words, and to a level required in your future real job.

And for all those entrepreneurs who favour speaking over the written word, studying this way is sure to up your skill level emphatically.

Study Anywhere, Anytime

Whether you’re in Canada, sitting in your couch, home office, or a coffee shop, you can pursue your online MBA course until completion. You only need to attend online meetings, submit assignments, and complete your tasks to get your diploma. It’s very convenient especially if you work at the same time.

Getting ahead even if you haven’t taken the traditional educational path to get where you are in your business is doable with this style of study.

Business is one of the reasons people around the world are employed today. Thanks to entrepreneurs of both small, medium and mega-sized businesses, professionals from a range of different backgrounds are able to come together and use their skills and talents to help grow businesses.

The good thing about business is that there is a range of different career paths you can follow that would likely fit into any business, no matter what the business niche is. With that being said, here are 6 career options for anyone who has a passion for business.

1. Entrepreneur

To begin, one of the most common routes for business lovers to follow is becoming an entrepreneur. This is where you get to establish a business of your own and put your plans in motion. Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t the easiest route to follow, but it can definitely be one that is regarding. If you’re wondering what it takes to become a business owner, find a few steps below.

• Choose a Niche: There are a million and one businesses out there that you could start, so choosing one would be the first step to take. You may be wondering how you’re supposed to narrow down your options when you have so many, but it boils down to interest and profitability. You want to start a venture that is relevant as well as one that you have a passion for.
• Do Research: Research is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to business. You want to know that you have the competence needed to take the right business-related steps moving forward. There are so many resources out there that can give you insight into how to run a business, what steps you need to take and the tools you’re going to need along the journey. It’s left to you to make use of them and use it to get ahead.
• Build a Network: If you’ve never needed a network before, when you become an entrepreneur you’re going to need one. It takes people from different walks of life to help you grow your business, so begin making long-lasting connections. You can do this both on and offline and remember to add just as much value as you intend on taking.

2. Statistician

If you’re someone who prefers the stability of formal employment and would rather contribute to a growing business as opposed to run one, then consider becoming a statistician. This is an ideal job if you happen to be good at mathematics and enjoy dissecting data.

In order to do well in this career, you’d need to complete a bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, economics or computer science. Once you’ve done this, the next best course of action would be to get your MS in statistics online from Michigan Tech or any other reputable institution. After doing this, you could decide to get further education or go right into getting work experience and looking for job opportunities.

As a statistician, your job would likely consist of applying your knowledge to design surveys and experiments, collecting, processing and analyzing data, as well as analyzing and interpreting data.

3. Business Analyst

Another role to consider in the world of business is becoming a business analyst. This is apparently one of the most searched jobs in America and has been on the list for top jobs. To venture down this path, you’d need to first decide what field you want to apply your skills in, whether it be insurance, health or finance. As a business analyst, your job will be to spot barriers to progress and find ways to overcome them.

In order to become qualified, acquiring a degree in computer science, information technology or accounting would be ideal. You could then progress to start with an entry-level position as a business analyst. To strengthen your position, you could get certifications from places such as the International Institute of Business Analysis, The Institute of Management Consultants, or The Chartered Institute for IT.

4. Management Consultant

If you’d rather do something more flexible in the business world, you should consider becoming a consultant. In case you’re wondering what this means, you’re more or less a problem solver for complex business structures out there. You’ll be essentially helping organizations improve their overall performance and operations.

Some core skills that you’re going to need is analytical skills as well as strong communication skills. In addition to this, listening skills and relationship building are equally important. A lot of your time will consist of analyzing data and then putting together a story as well as recommendations for your client.

5. Accountant

If you happen to be good when it comes to numbers, then you should consider becoming an accountant. Almost every business needs one, meaning you would play a relevant role in any type of organization. The journey to becoming an accountant consist of getting a degree and then becoming a certified accountant.

Business can be so exciting, especially as you’re able to contribute to growing a thriving business. Every little contribution counts, so it’s about developing your skills and gaining experience so that you can use it to develop your career. As an entry-level accountant, you can make anything from $26-$44 per hour, and there is always room for growth.

6. Social Media Managers

 In the 21^st century, social media managers play a major role in the growth of a business. If you are skilled in that area, then you should find an abundance of opportunities in businesses who are looking to make their online presence more pervasive. As a social media manager, you should be somewhat tech savvy, be able to use a range of different tools and know how to build a community online. You need to be able to give your clients or employer results and show how social media is positively impacting their business.

The good thing about being a social media manager is that you could decide to be self-employed and get your own clients or work with a business as an employee if you’d prefer that.