I'm sure many of you are engrained in March Madness. Even if you are not a big basketball fan like me, it is still all around you.

But I think there is another kind of March Madness. I'm seeing it and hearing it every day as business picks up. It is great to see organizations, managers, executives and their staff getting busier and busier. With that comes the need for all parties to pick up their pace, work smarter and faster, respond quicker, and keep things moving at a record pace.

One big challenge is that while business is picking up for everyone, it is not at a point where salary increases will be given this year. I've spoken with some executives who have said, "We need more out of the staff we have because we absolutely cannot hire this year; and we can't give raises."

I'd like to help you understand this predicament because I have been on both sides of the desk. More importantly, I want to give you some tools to use this week. I understand as an x-employee for 20 years that when you do a great job and give (what you think) is your all, the best compliment is an increase in your paycheck. I get it! As a business owner and business executive, I understand that when profits are way down and sales are not flowing in, you have to be financially smart. If you do not think "lean" in every aspect of the business, you eventually have to cut staff.

Here are some tools to help you manage better and still provide good customer service:

• Look at your work with a question mark; not a period. This is my life and work philosophy. When you look at work with a period, that means: good enough, there is no other way, this is the best way or best answer, stop, the end. Your subconscious will not work to find new answers when you haven't asked it. When you look at your day with a questions mark, you are asking questions like:

How can I do this better?

How can I streamline this process?

Is thee a smarter way to approach this project?

What other resources can I use to make my life easier?

Who do I know that can help me? Save me time? Share their expertise with me?

When you plant a question mark in your subconscious, you will eventually find the answers because your subconscious just finds them naturally. You may get the answers while dressing for work, walking past something in the store, seeing a billboard, hearing something even at church.... it's amazing when the answers will come to you. The best part is they come naturally; they are not forced. Some of your best ideas will come when this happens.

• Use your time wisely. Little time wasters add up to hours in a day: 2 minutes here, 3 minutes there, 5 minutes of chit chat, etc.
• Give clear directions and state your expectations to others so they can give you what you need in a more timely fashion.
• Network with your peers to brainstorm on setting office standards and how to save money.
• Think outside the box.
• Promote your good ideas. Speak up!
• Collaborate! Collaborate! We have worked very hard in our office for the past year to work as a team and assist and help each other understand our roles, how to assist each other, and especially combine all our good ideas to achieve the best possible outcome.

Wishing you a great week! You can do this.

Joan Burge