Michael Levitt's Blog, page 57

4 Tips For Parenting Teenagers

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It's no secret that puberty is a tough time in any girl's life. Change has never been easy, and it can be downright confusing and overwhelming when it comes to your body. The following post will guide you on how to navigate the changes your daughter may experience during this pivotal stage of her life. Your daughter's body is rapidly changing during her teenage years. While there are many positive changes to anticipate, your teen will likely need some assistance dealing with her new moods and bodily functions.

Your teen may not feel like herself when these changes happen or know how to explain why if something feels off physically, so it's up to you as a parent to help guide her along during this difficult stage in adolescence. When your daughter hits this stage, you'll need to ensure she's getting all of her questions answered by someone who understands what she's going through.

Body Changes

As your daughter's body changes, it may be helpful to note the following things that are likely to happen. First, she will get curves in places where there were none before. For example, while her hips and thighs might have been slim and at one point, they may begin getting wider due to an increased amount of fat storage which is entirely normal during puberty. Also, if you haven't already noticed this yourself, pay attention the next time she wears a pair of shorts or a vest. Looking under her arms or on her legs for any signs of sprouting hair or ingrown hairs can also help determine when these physical changes start happening because other bodily hormones are beginning their work too!

At this stage, you must ensure open communication with your daughter, as this is when visible physical changes start taking place.

Sizing Up Or Down

Needing to size up or down on their bra while going through puberty is typical for most girls. However, puberty and the changes that come with it can be a confusing and scary time in life.

Sometimes it is necessary to replace her old bra with a new one. It may be because the size of her breasts has changed, or perhaps she has gained a bit of weight and now needs additional support for the girls up top. Knowing her bra sister sizes is essential information when purchasing a new size bra!

Personal Hygiene

Good personal hygiene habits begin at a young age. The earlier you instill good practices into your daughter, the easier it will be to maintain them later in life. Personal hygiene as a young woman is super important, and as your daughter begins to become a young lady, she may need help with this. Girls will start to notice body hair growing in new places, or maybe they'll even be a little itchy down there due to new hair growth or ingrown hairs, which can be uncomfortable for her, so you should explain the importance of keeping it clean down there.

Equally, early signs of puberty like increased sweating or pimples could lead girls to think that something is wrong, but these are often just side effects of hormones changing their bodies. There are many changes that a teenage girl's body goes through, and ensuring excellent personal hygiene so that nobody else is aware of these changes, will minimize the awkwardness she may be experiencing about her changing body.

Understanding Emotions

During puberty, a young woman's hormones and emotions will be all over the place! Therefore, ensuring open communication with your daughter is an excellent way to prepare for life changes. In addition, it's important to develop better ways of coping with the overwhelming feeling these emotions bring, such as going outside and listening to music or taking a walk around the block instead of staying locked in her bedroom alone.

Be aware that these feelings will most likely stay with her throughout adolescence into young adulthood. Don't be afraid if it feels like they've gotten worse; everyone goes through their own personal struggles during this time! Knowing what helps can help her get out from under all the pressure. Share how someone else helped you find relief so that your daughter knows there are many other options available too!

In conclusion, both boys and girls go through puberty and will both equally need your love, support, and openness on the topic of puberty. The changes experienced can be scary, but giving your children advice and a listening ear will ensure that they don't feel alone.

How to Properly Get Rid of Different Industrial Wastes

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For many businesses, understanding how to properly get rid of different industrial wastes is just as important as connecting with your target market. Whoever generated the waste is legally responsible for making sure they dispose of it properly.

Industrial waste is any substance created by industrial activities with no use for them anymore. It’s vital to dispose of it correctly to help protect employees, surrounding citizens, and the environment. These are the main types of waste and what to do with them.

SolidWhat Is it?

The minor toxic wastes include items like dead animals, food, wood, electrical components, scrap metal, plastic, non-recyclable trash, paper, and packaging materials. These tend to be the result of commercial production.

How To Get Rid of It?

Luckily, other industries can reuse or repurpose these unneeded materials. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. For example, one company might only use coconuts for manufacturing coconut oil or milk commodities. However, they can sell their byproducts to the agricultural industry that utilizes coconut husks to make hydroponic growing mediums.

LiquidWhat Is it?

Using large amounts of water is typical for everyday operations at many facilities. For instance, water helps clean equipment. In factories, workers might mix water with other products, sometimes even radioactive waste. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal, managers still need to learn how to properly get rid of different industrial wastes found in water.

How To Get Rid of It?

It can be disastrous if liquid waste pollutes nearby watersheds or groundwater. To prevent this, companies create wastewater treatment facilities adjoining the main manufacturing facilities.

Toxic, Hazardous, or ChemicalWhat Is it?

Many companies produce waste that is flammable, lethal, or corrosive as byproducts of their operations. Businesses like hospitals, factories, and various manufacturing or refinery units carry out processes that can significantly affect all life.

How To Get Rid of It?

Finding a hazardous waste specialist is the only paradigm to deal with these substances safely. They can also help business owners navigate the strict landscape enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

With all the waste produced, business owners need to ensure they properly dispose of it. Each company is responsible for handling its destruction. Find a waste specialist if you need advice on your specific circumstance or to schedule a pickup.

9 Tips For Improving Energy Efficiency At Your Workplace

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Some businesses or industries are more energy-intensive than others. Despite this, energy needs to be consumed reasonably. This helps the business manage costs and lessen its harmful impact on the environment. A study proposed that several small, medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have reduced their energy consumption by upgrading equipment. So, how can you make your business more energy-efficient? Here are some tips for improving your workplace energy efficiency.

Leverage natural lighting 

By leveraging natural lighting, you can make your workplace more energy-efficient. Encouraging employees to draw up blinds and window coverings during the day helps your business save up on energy costs you would have incurred at the time. Studies have shown that you can save up to 75% of your energy consumption by allowing more natural light in your buildings and reducing cooling expenses. Not only does this help your business save energy, but it also plays a positive role on your employees. The warm rays from the sun provide them with energy and exposure to healthy amounts of sun rays. It also prevents issues associated with working in a poorly lit room, such as moodiness or deteriorating eyesight. 

Switch to energy-efficient lighting

Switching to energy-efficient lighting like LED bulbs can save you up to 80% on lighting. However, a simple switch would not be enough to enjoy the benefits of being energy-efficient. Suppose you switch to energy-efficient lighting, but lights are left on, even in rooms that have no one in them. In that case, you would be driving your energy costs up, which defeats the purpose. Therefore, it is also important to implement measures to ensure these lighting solutions are beneficial. Consider installing some occupancy sensor monitors to automate your lighting controls. Focused lighting can help your energy-saving efforts by focusing on only a specific area rather than your entire room.

Assess your HVAC system

Gaps and holes in your doors, windows, and walls can cause either heated or cool air to escape from the room. This can cause your HVAC system to work extra to keep the room at desired temperatures. Unfortunately, the extra work means higher energy consumption. Therefore, it is practical to assess various "air exit" points and fill them up. You can also introduce other strategies, such as automatic doors to reduce the heat escapes if you have many footfalls in and out of the office. You should also assess your HVAC systems to ensure they are in good condition. 

Perform an energy audit

You can perform an informal audit or hire a professional electrician to perform an energy audit of your workplace. Although doing this yourself may help your business save money, an expert energy auditor can identify any leaks in your workplace and make appropriate recommendations to save considerably more. It can also help to keep track of your energy bills to create an energy-efficient workplace policy. Check your energy progress every month and implement more energy-efficient strategies in energy-consuming areas. As an employer, you have to take responsibility to improve your workplace energy efficiency. However, don't forget to involve your employees as they play a crucial role in creating a workplace sustainability culture.

Encourage flexible schedules

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Flexible working schedules like scheduled days for remote working or a shift system can significantly reduce the office's energy costs. Many businesses chose these flexible working schedules from the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic and saw great results. Due to this, among many other reasons, research has shown that these options are here to stay. Implementing a flexible work schedule means you spend less on catering to the needs of your employees at the workplace. Your business will save more on electricity, heating and cooling, and other expenses. Likewise, your staff saves time and money, making them more efficient and productive. It's the perfect win-win situation. 

Invest in energy-efficient solutions

The running cost for your old printers and fridge can be a significant drain on your energy bills every month. It is helpful to invest in appliances and equipment with high energy ratings while matching your business needs. This way, you wouldn't have to pay any extra to keep them running. For example, you wouldn't need to purchase too big fridges for your workplace when one should be enough for your small business. You may also want to consider upgrading your commercial garage doors enhanced with strength and energy-saving abilities through UV protection and better insulation.

Go green

Whether running a fast-food restaurant or a multinational business, you need to make your business eco-friendly. 'Go Green' can perhaps be the buzzword today, yet it can be helpful to take appropriate steps to embrace the culture. In addition to the several benefits like creating a sustainable environment, reducing and improving overall workplace efficiency, adopting a green culture means syncing with the environment and ensuring reasonable and optimal use of your scarce resources. Additionally, your business can enjoy some tax and legal benefits, including credits, rebates, and other incentives from the government for its green efforts.

Turn off electronic appliances when not in use

It is vital to switch off all electrical appliances when they aren’t being used. This saves you energy costs and can help prevent mechanical devices from failing and causing major fires when nobody is in the workplace. Additionally, consider unplugging any devices after turning them off as it could draw some energy. The US Department of Energy has indicated that, on average, 75% of the electricity used in home appliances is consumed when electronics are not in use. However, the workplace isn't any exception.

Install solar panels

Installing a solar panel together with a hot water system can be one of the best energy-efficient investments your business can make. The cost of installing a solar panel can be expensive in the short term. However, it is more cost-efficient to generate your power. If your business is located in a sunny area, you can consider reselling unused energy to local businesses and, if possible, to the grid for credit on your electricity bill.

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Although these tips should help you save energy in the workplace, it would be best to involve everybody in building an energy-efficient culture, especially when it isn't a top priority. Employer engagement is crucial for achieving this in the workplace.

Overlooked Tips To Help You Host a Successful Business Event

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If you are looking for some tips on how to plan and host a successful business event, then you have come to the right place. You will understand what you need to make an event successful, where you should hold your event, how much it will cost, and more.

Hire an Event Manager

Planning an event is hard work. From picking a suitable theme to deciding what food you will serve, it's easy to overlook things when you are so involved in ensuring everything else falls into place. To ensure your event runs smoothly, consider hiring a professional event manager to cover all those tiny details. Details that may not seem all that critical, like getting sturdy and colorful tents and moto canopies, but will make a big difference when your event is over.

Hiring an event manager will relieve you from worrying about what happens behind the scenes at your event. Whether it's making sure the right people are in attendance or booking a venue with all the necessary amenities, a professional event coordinator will have your back.

Use the Best Banners

The suitable banners can make your event look more professional and attract attendees. In addition, they serve as a powerful marketing tool for announcing an upcoming business conference or convention, so it is essential to choose the design carefully. 

Pay Attention to Services

Attend the weather forecast, choose a convenient venue to get to, and ensure there's plenty of parking. If you are hosting an outdoor event in bad conditions such as rain or humidity, it might be worth considering renting tents for your guests. 

You should also attend to food & beverage services offered by venues since this can make or break your event. It is also good to pay attention to the number of bathrooms and changing rooms if you have a large group attending.

Allocate Responsibilities

Research shows that businesses are always looking for ways to improve their performance. For example, when your business is hosting an event, whether a conference or seminar, you want everything to run smoothly and be as successful as possible.

Always Have a Plan B

The best-laid plans sometimes go awry, so it's essential to have a backup plan ready in case something goes wrong.  For example: if you're planning an outdoor event and the weather turns bad, try moving indoors or rescheduling for another time. 

If your speaker gets sick at the last minute and can't make it, have a backup plan in place to fill their time slot. Don't leave attendees at the event with nothing to do; they'll feel disappointed that you haven't planned well for them or your business.

Choose the Best Communication Channel To Alert Audience

Email is the best way to alert your audience if you have a few recipients, but it may not be as effective in reaching everyone when sending out more significant quantities. If many people are interested in attending, social media is the best way to get a large audience. Social media platforms are great because you can share with everyone you know, so your message reaches even those who may not have received an email or phone call.

Conclusion

Don’t forget to thank your guests for attending, even if it was a tough crowd. It is an essential step in the relationship-building process, and they will appreciate the acknowledgment for coming out of their way to support you. In addition, if they have been helpful throughout the planning or event stages, consider sending them a small token that reflects your gratitude.

It's Time to Become Your Own Boss

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Looking to become your own boss? You’re not alone. In the past, working for yourself was relatively uncommon. The majority of people were employed and worked for small businesses, major corporations and everything in between. But the pandemic has switched many people’s attitude towards work and generating an income. Many were let down by companies that were supposed to support them. A lot of people lost work, as companies collapsed. Others were made redundant. It’s not all too surprising, then, that more and more people are looking to take more control over their careers and income. Here are a couple of options that you can take to achieve this.

Investing in a Business

Not ready to set up a whole business yourself? You could always invest in a business that is already up and running. It could be that a company selling investments asks you to take a look at all our locations or you gain interest in a franchise. Investing in a business is a good way to earn money without having the huge commitment and costs of setting up entirely by yourself.

Freelancing

The first, and perhaps easier, option that you have when it comes to working for yourself is freelancing. When you freelance, you will work for yourself. Rather than heading into work and being given set tasks to undertake, you will, instead, build your own relationships with different clients and you will complete projects on their behalf. There are countless perks to this. Because you’re not permanently committed to one company, you get to choose who you work with, what projects you will take on, how much you charge for them, when you want to take time off, what hours you want to work and where you want to work from. Flexibility and more freedom over your life can prove highly beneficial all round. Steps you will need to take to become a freelancer include:

Registering as self-employed - this will let the government know that you will be working for yourself, collecting your own taxes and filing your own self assessment at the end of the fiscal year.

Finding clients - advertise your services well. You may want to create your own website to achieve this. You might want to browse jobs boards for freelance positions. You can post on platforms such as LinkedIn.

Managing your time - one of the key challenges of being self-employed is managing yourself well. You can’t afford to procrastinate or be lazy. You need to be driven to get your work done, as your income will rely entirely on completing projects, getting good reviews and feedback and encouraging repeat orders from happy clients.

Set Up Your Own Business

Then, we have the option of setting up your own business. This will take a lot of hard work, determination and investment. But it could all pay off massively. Some key areas to focus on when attempting this include:

Product or service development

Market research

Manufacturing

Product testing

Pricing

Packaging

Branding

Advertising

Marketing

As you can see, there are a few different options when it comes to becoming your own boss. Hopefully, some of those outlined above will come in useful for you and suit you well!

How Can A Company Car Help Your Business To Make Money?

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It’s not uncommon for businesses to provide benefits like cars to their employees. This sort of option will usually lower an employee’s salary, essentially enabling them to cover the costs of their car without having to pay for it directly. Of course, though, why exactly is this so important to businesses? To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the key factors of a company car that can help you to make extra money. This process is easier than you might think, especially with so many businesses offering company car leases.

Attracting Employees

The benefits that come with a job can dramatically impact the type of applicants you get for it. Those looking to secure jobs that come with perks like company cars often take their applications more seriously, and it is more likely that you will have good candidates apply if you are using this sort of lure. This makes it easier to improve your services and offer something that will make your customers happy, increasing your earning potential with very little work involved.

Expanding Reach

Alongside attracting good employees, providing them with company cars will also make it possible for them to travel long distances for you. This makes it easier to attend meetings and other events, while also giving your employees the chance to travel further to get to work each day. This serves the benefit of both attracting good employees and giving them a chance to do their job just about anywhere. This is ideal for businesses that are embracing modern tools like video calling systems.

Employee Motivation

Company cars don’t only attract employees when they’re looking for a job; they can also provide everything you need to motivate your team when they are at work. Most people will want to keep their company car, and this is something that can help to drive them through each day at work. This can make it well worth taking the time to consider the employees who are allowed to use company cars.

Making Sales

Finally, as the last area to think about, it’s time to consider what will happen to your company cars once they reach the end of their lives. Many lease agreements will allow you to keep the cars you have been using, and this means that you can look at cash for cars services to get something back for them. This won’t be anywhere near their original value, but it can still be a good way to squeeze one last benefit from the company cars you use.

With all of this in mind, you should have a much better idea of why businesses offer company cars to their employees. This sort of benefit can be great for just about anyone, though you need to make sure that you aren’t spending too much on it.

Creating a More Eco-Friendly Lifestyle For Your Household

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In today's world, it is essential to take care of the environment. One way to do this is with a more eco-friendly lifestyle for your household. This can include using sustainable materials like bamboo flooring and clotheslines instead of paper towels or clothes dryers. It also provides recycling as many items as possible, including electronics and plastic bottles. All these efforts will help make our planet healthier.

1 Consider Buying Eco-Friendly Packaging

One way to take care of the environment is by buying eco-friendly packaging for household items. For instance, if you buy a new TV or computer monitor, it may come in an environmentally friendly cardboard box that can be recycled with other paper products such as newspapers and magazines. You should also recycle any Styrofoam packing peanuts used inside this package when opening up your purchase. This material will not decompose at sea, so it must go into recycling bins instead of landfills, contaminating soil and water supplies over time. In addition, you can choose to purchase food in ceramic or glass containers rather than plastic packaging whenever possible.

2 Get Electricity from a Solar Farm

In addition to eco-friendly packaging, you can also get power from a solar farm. Your city or county may have one of these facilities. The energy they produce is sold to your local electric company and then redistributed as part of their overall grid system that provides homes like yours with electricity. You will save money on your monthly bill if you use less electricity than average because this option lets you pay wholesale rates instead of retail rates for all the kilowatt-hours (kWh) used in your home over time.

3 Reduce CO2 From Transportation

Another way to cut down on Carbon Dioxide emissions is by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced from transportation. One easy way to do this is with a new, high-mileage hybrid or electric car that uses less gas than older models would have used over time. You can also consider biofuel, it's been scarce, but with large-scale projects by Geoff Hirson, it might just be possible in the near future. Again, you could also use clotheslines instead of dryers to save energy and reduce CO₂ emissions.

4 Reuse and Recycled Products

Another way to make your home more eco-friendly is by reusing and recycling products. For instance, you can buy clothing made out of recycled plastic bottles. At the same time, electronics like TV sets should be disassembled at a local e-waste facility where toxic materials are kept separate from other items that can be safely recycled or reused for their metal content. You may also want to get rid of paper towels in favor of reusable rags, so fewer trees need to be cut down every year to provide this household item.

Making your home more eco-friendly will not only allow you to feel good about doing what is suitable for the planet but can also save you money over time.

How To Improve Your Company’s Inventory Demand Forecasting

Implementing inventory demand forecasting strategies and models can inform many of your company’s decisions, from what you ordered, what you stocked, and who is available to ensure the process goes smoothly. Intuition can only go so far as to predict what customers look for, and even the best sales teams can’t stay ahead of every trend. Here are some tips on how to improve your company’s inventory demand forecasting and set your business up for a more successful quarter.

Experiment With Forecasting Models

There are several forecasting models available to businesses, each effective in its own right. If the model your team relies on doesn’t feel right or isn’t producing accurate results, spending a few weeks trying other models may help. Though there is no one correct way to forecast demand, as each business, industry, and region is unique, understanding multiple strategies can help you adopt elements of each. You can choose the ones that seem successful and formulate a strategy able to serve your company.

Consider All Factors

Inventory demand forecasting requires a business to try to predict the future, which is inherently impossible. One thing that makes it so difficult is attempting to understand every element of why customers are looking to buy on any given day. Your team may benefit from taking a step back from their current strategy and thinking about the existence of each product on a broader scale. Thinking about seasonal demand factors, the ongoing advertising campaigns of the product, and even a product’s lifespan helps you create a more accurate strategy for the next order.

Rely on Metrics and Software

The people who do the day-to-day labor in warehouses and on the floor are undeniably an essential asset any business has. However, to err is human, so putting the entire responsibility of inventory management on your team’s shoulders is bound to lead to dead stock or product shortages.

Bringing inventory management software into the picture takes the pressure of monitoring and ordering products off your team members, so they can focus on growth when it comes to inventory. The software you choose to implement should provide you with many insights, from analytics that provide more accurate models to price modeling and tracking errors.

Understanding how to improve your company’s inventory demand forecasting, like many business changes, may not have immediately apparent results. Each strategy needs to be tweaked over time to be as beneficial and accurate as possible. However, by prioritizing demand forecasting now, you can set your business up on a more successful path for the future.

Top Workplace Safety Tips for Machinists

Trained professionals not only operate machinery but also know the tooling and materials necessary to keep said machinery running at peak performance. The best machinists, however, understand the dangers of their profession and how to keep themselves safe. Here are some top workplace safety tips for machinists to be aware of.

Machine Guarding

In accordance with OSHA guidelines, machinists will need to establish the proper safeguards depending on the machinery they’re working with. This prevents any workplace accidents and thus reduces the liability a machine creates. When working with industrial machinery, there will always be some way an employee could have their limbs cut, smashed, or experience other damages if they’re not careful, so machine guarding helps account for human error and carelessness.

CNC Machine Etiquette

When operating CNC machinery, there are some rules of “etiquette” that an employee should follow in order to maintain their safety and the safety of those around them. For instance, while many machines come with interlocks to protect the user, many others do not. So, if you need to get into the inner workings of a machine, you should always wait until the machine has stopped and shut down entirely before opening any doors. Failing to do so may lead to catastrophic events – from grievous bodily harm to the destruction of the machine.

Furthermore, machinery should be regularly cleaned and maintained after use. Rather than waiting for a problem to occur, machines will last a lot longer and be a lot safer if they’re well-maintained from the start. Preventing a buildup of grime, dirt, and more will lessen the chance of malfunction that could potentially harm a machinist.

Avoid Altering the Tools

While it may be tempting to opt for cheaper tools, one of the biggest workplace safety tips for machinists is to avoid altering the tools, as dictated by CNC operator manuals. Cheaper tools create a greater likelihood of either the tools or parts of a machine breaking – creating an all-new hazard that will both degrade the machinery and potentially harm employees. Never skimp on equipment and always follow the advice of a machine’s operator’s manual.

Using Proper PPE

Of course, it’s always important to highlight just how necessary personal protective equipment is. While it may feel inconvenient or cumbersome, enforcing good PPE practices will reduce liability for employers and ensure employees are prepared for any situation that may occur. You never know when an injury or malfunction will occur, so why take the chance? Ensure every single employee has all the necessary gear and that it’s in good condition.

Overcoming The Big Challenges When Scaling Your Software Development Business

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Scaling a business is always a challenge but it's particularly difficult for software development companies. There are a lot of different teams and complex processes involved with software development and as the business grows, things can quickly get complicated. If you don't plan for expansion and scale your team in the right way, organization will suffer and new applications that you develop will be plagued with bugs and user experience issues. It can also cause some serious problems with budgeting, and if you don't manage your finances properly during a period of growth, your business will be at risk.

This is a common problem that new startups face. When they are working with a small team, they have clear organizational processes in place and everything runs smoothly. But as the workload increases and they attempt to expand the business, everything falls apart. If you run a software development company and you are looking into options for growth, here are some important tips to help you successfully scale your development team. 

Define Your Goals For Expansion

The first thing you should do before scaling your team is define what goals you would like to meet by expanding the business. For example, are you planning to create more new products or improve the existing ones? Do you have a plan to enter a new market or expand your geographical reach? These are just a few examples of goals that you might have, and as soon as you define them, it will be easier for you to understand what kind of resources need to be added to the team. 

When defining your goals, you also need to create a clear picture of your company values. Your business will change a lot during this expansion period and it's important that you don't lose sight of your overall values. For example, if you value excellence and quality above all else, it might not be a good idea to grow your team too much. If there are more people involved with the development process, chances are that some mistakes will slip through and you can never be sure if new hires have the same values as you do.

Define Your Metrics For Measuring Success

After defining your goals for expansion, you should create metrics which will help you measure success. This is especially important when it comes to the financial side of things. If you don't have any clear numbers that can show your overall success or if you don't know what improving efficiency looks like, there's no way of knowing how well the company is doing.

Creating these metrics before scaling your team will also be very helpful during the process itself. You'll always know where you stand and whether or not adding new people would improve efficiency. It's important that all employees are aware of these metrics as well - this way everyone will understand why certain decisions are made and whether they are good for the business in general or not.

As you grow, you can use these metrics to ensure that you are on the right track and you are meeting your goals for expansion. Without metrics in place, it's easy to invest time and money in strategies that are not helping you meet your eventual goals. 

Determine The Optimum Team Size For

The optimum team size for your business depends on the kind of tasks that you are looking to achieve during expansion. If there is a lot of work to be done, it's best if you hire more people, but if most of the team is already busy with current projects, adding new hires might not be worth it. It's important that every decision regarding this matter is driven by data and metrics because hiring the wrong type of people can have detrimental effects on your company. 

To determine whether or not expanding your team is actually beneficial for you, you need to break down all project-related processes into different stages - including development, testing and implementation. During each stage of this process, define what kind of resources are needed in order to ensure optimal results. 

It is important to note that a bigger team does not necessarily mean improved output. Larger teams bring more management challenges with them. So, only expand your team when absolutely necessary and focus on skills and expertise as opposed to the number of people on the team. 

Invest In The Right Technology

One of the most important things to consider when scaling your team is the technology involved in this process. If you do not invest enough time and money into choosing the right tools, it will be very difficult to expand your business properly. You should choose a scalable development platform that can easily grow with your company and employees.

Automated testing tools are one of the best investments you can make at this stage. As you start developing more complex software with larger teams, the likelihood of mistakes and bugs increases. If you don't pick up on these bugs and eliminate them before the software is released, the user experience will suffer and you will have a lot of unhappy customers on your hands. Applications like testRigor can automate a lot of your quality assurance (QA) and testing tasks. This allows for increased productivity in your QA team and reduces the chances of mistakes. Pre-release testing is one of the most important elements of the software development process, so make sure you invest in the right tools. 

You should also look at different project management tools. It's vital that you ensure all teams are working on schedule and everything is well organized. This becomes more difficult as the business grows but the right project management tools can help you keep track of all of the different processes. 

Develop Better Communication Tools

Growing your team also means growing the communication channels. It's important that everyone is able to communicate with each other and share ideas as efficiently as possible - this is something you should always consider when developing new applications. When multiple teams are all working on different aspects of the project, they need to be able to collaborate and communicate properly. 

There are some excellent tech tools that can help you improve communication between teams, like live chat.  When people are communicating via email, things can slow down considerably. We have all experienced email overload and live chat is a great solution here. Team members can communicate instantly and get a response right away, so there are no delays. 

Hire The Right People

As your team grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage everything. As a result, you need to hire the right people and be strict about their skills and expertise. You should try to avoid hiring "warm bodies" because your company's future depends on its employees. Only hire developers who are experienced in the technologies you use and have excellent programming skills. Be sure that they can work well with others too - communication is an important skill for almost everyone in the software development field so look for these people specifically during the hiring stages. 

When expanding a team, a lot of managers make a mistake by thinking they can teach new skills along the way instead of choosing new hires based on their expertise from the start. This usually results in longer development times and unsatisfactory results. In the future, once the business is more established, this is a good strategy because it helps you build a more effective team and reduces employee turnover. However, during a period of expansion, you need experienced people that can step into the role right away. 

It's also important that you hire an experienced management team to oversee projects. This is the only way to ensure that everyone is working on the right tasks and you aren't wasting money or time by hiring more people than necessary.

If your application development team continues to expand, you may eventually reach a level of saturation where it becomes difficult to manage everything. At this stage, you need to consider scaling up instead of out - meaning, instead of adding additional resources for each project, you bring in an almost entirely new team using remote workers. This can be an effective way for startups with limited funds to scale quickly without adding too many costs. 

Keep Track Of Your Finances

As your company grows, you need to keep track of your finances. Expanding a team is one of the most expensive parts of software development so it's vital that you track your expenses and receive value for every dollar spent. Whenever making a new hire or investing in technology, always calculate the return you are likely to see on that investment. If you don't track every penny you spend and ensure that it is actually adding value to the business, your overheads will quickly get out of control. 

Scaling a software development business is always a huge challenge and there are a lot of things that can go wrong along the way. However, as long as you keep these things in mind, your business will flourish.