Asynchronous work.

I like the idea of learning something new every day, or at least every week. It's one reason that I listen to podcasts. On Wednesday, a business trends podcast I listened to discussed the trend in asynchronous work (AW). What is AW? Well, I’m glad you asked. It is the idea that employees are tied to productivity and goals and not work hours. The guest on the podcast, a CEO of a Fortune 100 company, was saying that because so many of his employees have moved to hybrid or remote work, they no longer require employees to work set hours or offer slotted time off. 

They tie employee compensation to goals and productivity targets. Basically, you are salaried, and the company will pay you a set wage every week no matter when you work – so long as you hit the targets and deadlines. If you want to work from 5 to 11 a.m., take the afternoon off, resume work at 7 p.m., and work until 11 p.m., go for it. Need a day off? Take it, you’re salaried, so we pay you the same either way. 

The interesting thing is that you trade a few things off. The company requires that you use Slack and/or other collaboration tools so your work is publicly available to everyone in the firm. If you’re unavailable, a collaborator or colleague can see where you’re at and not be held back on their work. They also note that you must find alternative means to build trust and collaborate with co-workers.

As someone who works in the customer service sector, this isn’t a natural thing to grasp, but I have friends who work in fields where this is natural.

Speaking of podcasts, I’m enjoying Slate's “One Year” podcast, which examines a year at a time, with six episodes looking at news, cultural, and social impacts of that particular time. They’ve done 1942, 1955, 1977, 1986, 1990 and 1995. I've listened to all so far except 1990. I have also enjoyed Wondery's "Business Movers" podcast, which reviews business decisions that corporations have made that impacted the larger world. New Coke was a great deep dive, as was a look at the DeLorean.

P.S. Do you like to read? I recently learned that the Dover Public Library has a (friendly) book reading competition with the Rochester Public Library through March. You can participate by clicking here and selecting the “Idita-Read 2024: Dover vs. Rochester” challenge, and then logging your reading time.

Have a great weekend,

Christopher G. Parker, AICP

Deputy City Manager: Development and Strategic Initiatives

Business Resources

By Reid Bickley,

Business Development Specialist

Leveraging AI for Your Small Business

This week, I had the opportunity to dive into an area that's rapidly becoming essential for small businesses seeking a competitive edge: artificial intelligence (AI). The motivation for my interest was a seminar titled, "Boost Your Business with AI: Unleashing the Power of Basic AI Communication for Optimal Results!" hosted by the Center for Women & Enterprise. Due to the nature of my job and assisting small businesses, I'm always looking out for tools and strategies that can propel small businesses forward and help them have a competitive edge over larger entities in their industries.

The content of the seminar was informative. AI is rapidly becoming a necessity for business success. The potential of this technology extends far beyond automating routine tasks like social media posts. It's about harnessing a tool to elevate every aspect of your business. From crafting engaging content and conducting detailed market research to writing precise job descriptions and organizing effective marketing campaigns. 

The seminar's guest speaker was Suzanne Guzman, a SCORE Mentor, Certified Prompt Engineer, and author of, "AI Empowered: The Non-Techie Business Owner's Guide to Leveraging ChatGPT." She shared insights into how businesses can use AI effectively, outlining an easy-to-follow approach to interacting with AI, which involves specifying the role of the AI (e.g., marketing expert, business manager, content creator), defining the task at hand (e.g., generating an article, business plan, social media post), and choosing the desired output format (e.g., table, report, post with emojis).

Some of the best takeaways from the seminar were:

1. Treat interactions with AI as conversational.
2. Be precise in your requests to avoid vague responses.
3. Be open to refining AI-generated outputs.
4. Ask clarifying questions to ensure the AI fully understands your requirements.

As AI continues to evolve, its potential to transform small businesses is endless. For those eager to integrate AI into their business strategy, I recommend checking out a few video resources like the AI Powered Prompt Engineering: A How To Guide or Beginner's Guide to AI for Small Business. Embracing AI is not just about staying competitive; it's about reimagining what's possible for your business.

Upcoming Event

Calling all current or potential small business owners in the Tri-City area! Don't miss out on this incredible in-person event designed just for you. The Tri-City Lending Expo for Small Businesses is your one-stop shop for all your lending needs. Meet with local lenders and financial experts who want to help you grow your business.

Get valuable advice on securing loans, managing your finances, and finding the best funding opportunities. Discover new resources and networking opportunities to enhance your business. Don't miss this chance to take your small business to the next level. Mark your calendars for the Tri-City Lending Expo for Small Businesses!

Register for the event by clicking here.

Question of the Week

The Office of Business Development is asking a “question of the week” to get your feedback on topics related to our local business community!

This week, we want to know:

Have you ever used generative AI as a tool in a professional capacity?

Let us know here: https://polco.us/madn8w

Here are the results from last week's poll, which asked "Do you think that public Wi-Fi would be beneficial in under-activated downtown areas like Waldron Court?"

Dover Download podcast: Your guide

to what's happening this week

In the latest episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Sean Clancy, the Assistant City Manager for Economic and Community Development for the City of Portsmouth. Clancy discusses his role in promoting Portsmouth's diverse economy, which includes manufacturing, service industries, arts and culture, and a vibrant nonprofit community.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and by clicking here.

Business Event Happenings 

Looking for something in Dover? The Office of Business Development continues to update the community calendar to cover all the amazing Dover business events.

Click here or on the calendar below to find more community events!

Click here to add your events to the community calendar.