Locations

Here is a list of locations that all OfficeKey members have access to:

BLUE ASH

Westlake Center
4555 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 650
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Directions

DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI

Scripps Center
312 Walnut Street, Suite 1600
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Directions

HYDE PARK

Rookwood Tower
3805 Edwards Road, Suite 550
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Directions

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Turfway Ridge Office Park
7310 Turfway Road, Suite 550
Florence, KY 41042
Directions

WEST CHESTER

Union Centre
9078 Union Centre Blvd,
Suite 350
West Chester, OH 45069
Directions

Blog

"How to BE a Great Networker"

Five Tips for Networking Success

tips-for-networking-300x300One piece of advice that you’ll often get as a small business owner or leader is to network. And, that is a great piece of advice if you follow it. But, to make it work, you actually have to “be” a networker.

What does that mean? Often, people will join a networking group or event and show up once and expect the magic to just happen – that contacts and business will just come flooding in. That won’t work. To “be” a star networker, = follow these steps:

Be in Attendance

They say, “80% of success is just showing up.” This is very true in networking. We all have busy schedules but to be a successful networker, you have to make the time to regularly attend your networking groups and events. Strive for perfect attendance. If you have a conflict you just can’t avoid, send a coworker in your place.

Be Active

Once you make the time and commitment to attend networking events, the next step you need to take is to become an engaged participant. If you just stand in the corner or sit enjoying the snacks and drinks, you’ll never make the connections that will help you grow your business. A wallflower rarely gets asked to dance. Make an effort to meet and talk with a new person at each event.

Be Likeable

At the risk of sounding obvious, make every effort to be likeable. Friendliness goes a long way in networking. Make yourself approachable and be the kind of person to which others enjoy talking. Try to find common interests and topics to discuss. Don’t make every conversation revolve around your business, but rather show interest in what the other has to say and ask questions about their line of work, family, hobbies and more.

Be Helpful

Everyone knows that the reason people join networking groups is to expand their connections and ultimately grow business. However, you should approach networking with the Golden Rule as your guide. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Do whatever you can to help someone else out, whether through an introduction, sharing a helpful tip or tool or referring a customer. When you help others, that goodwill tends to come back round to you tenfold.

Be Intentional

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there. You need to go into your networking meetings and events with your end goals in mind. What is it you would ultimately like to accomplish, learn and/or contribute? Are you just interested in gaining customers? Would you like to meet like-minded people? Are you looking for an opportunity to gain leadership experience? Networking groups can provide all of that and more, but you need to set your intentions and follow through to make them happen.

Follow these tips and you can become an outstanding networker!

About Dimalanta Design Group

DDG functions as your off-site, adjunct marketing department. We partner with you to provide up-to-the-minute, multi-channel solutions in this fast-paced, media-hungry world. As a branding and marketing firm trusted by over 200 clients in a variety of industries, we’re well-versed at connecting customers with unique messages that prompt action in a world crowded with competing voices.

Whether we’re consulting on the effectiveness and consistency of your brand or designing a new logo, sales brochure, public relations campaign or website, we’re one marketing firm that makes certain that your message is never lost in the crowd.

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"Where are You Holding Your Important Meetings?"

The Alternative to Coffee Shops for Important Meetings

meet-at-a-coffee-shop-150x150

Have you become used to meeting your clients and/or prospects at a coffee shop or out to lunch?

Perhaps you think you can’t afford an office and meeting at restaurants is a cost effective way to run your business. Take a look at these reason why public places might not be the best place for your important meetings:

Do you feel obligated to make a purchase?

It’s worthwhile to consider the monetary cost of meeting at a coffee shop. If you hold six of your important meetings a week at restaurants and you spend an average of $10.00/meeting (if you purchase your guest’s drink or meal also) you are spending around $240/month, not including driving time to random locations.

is-someone-listening-150x150What about the cost incurred by the environment?

Privacy is a serious issue these days. Are you asking your client or prospect for personal information?

Did you consider the person you are meeting?

You might be perfectly comfortable holding important meetings in a bustling café but someone else may not.  Worse yet, if that’s the case they may not even tell you.  Or perhaps you invite someone for coffee but he/she isn’t a coffee drinker.

Is this meeting location a comfortable place to have a conversation and not get interrupted by others?

Is it good for your business when there’s always a chance that a whiny 2-year old could happen to be sitting within “Cheerio-throwing” distance of you?

Is the atmosphere and technology at this meeting place up to par and secure?

You have very little control over what is going on at a public meeting place. Restaurants were not built primarily for important meetings. They don’t have the proper set up for a productive meeting, like conference tables, whiteboards and HDMI hook up.  What if you could meet somewhere that was designed specifically for meetings?

There is another option besides meeting at random coffee shops and when you are ready to move to the next level a shared office is an excellent alternative to camping out in a coffee shop.

A shared office provides:

  • One address (or more) for you to meet clients and prospects, which will cut down on eating out and driving expenses
  • Private areas so you don’t have to worry about keeping your guest’s attention or compromising confidentiality during important meetings
  • Essential technology like Wi-Fi, flat screens, & video conferencing that work well and are readily available
  • Free coffee and water
  • Quiet, individual work spaces
  • A kitchen area with a refrigerator, sink, microwave and basic dining needs like paper plates and napkins
  • Standard office supplies available for purchase
  • A comfortable environment to call YOUR SPACE
  • Friendly faces (other clients and the reception staff) who know who you are

Coffee shops and restaurants are great place to have a friendly meeting, but when you are growing your business, having a professional office for your important meetings can make a huge impact on your growth. It sends the message to your clients that you are serious about your business and will give them confidence in working with you. If you have any questions, we are glad to give you tour of our shared office space. 

"One Way to Reduce Stress: Curb Smartphone Use"

3 Tips: How to Reduce Stress caused by Smartphones

Our Key Connections Speaker for July was Dr. Frank Wood. Dr. Frank’s specialty is thriving with stress. Everyone has stress, right? In his presentation, Dr. Frank brought up some interesting statistics about smartphone use:

Reduce the Stress of Smartphone AddictionOf all smartphone users…

58% check their phone every hour 

54% check their phone in the middle of the night 

39% check their phone in the restroom

30% check their phone while dining with others

Dr. Frank gave some useful tips for creating healthy mobile phone boundaries that will reduce stress and have a positive impact on our daily routines and our relationships:

1. Use a 2-part Map to help understand what is causing stress. A two-part map is a tool that encourages understanding stress differently. It is possible to disconnect from stress and deal with it in a healthy way:

The first step is to write down on a clean sheet of paper what is causing stress.

Then write down the immediate thoughts associated with that stress.

The next step is to turn over the sheet of paper write down the same topic and take a couple minutes to become more conscious of our surroundings, gravity, space, sounds, the floor, the scent, the air.

Then write down thoughts on the same topic.

This 2-part mapping exercise encourages relaxation and allows for an unfiltered view of what is causing stress.

2.  Tap into our senses to become more focused and make better decisions. When we make decisions based on stress, the result is often regret, but when we take a moment to tap into our senses before making decisions, our decision making is clearer. Do we pick up the phone because it is ringing or because we really need to pick up the phone?

3.  Understand the “almost moment” to be one step ahead of our habits. Sometimes we make decisions based on habits. The “almost moment” is the very moment when stress sets in. At this moment,  thoughts, emotions and body tension cause pressured or reactive behavior; being conscious of this helps reduce stress by setting better boundaries. Becoming in tune with the “almost moment” encourages good decision making.

Dr. Frank Wood, Thriving with StressDr. Frank’s presentation was very helpful for understanding thoughts, emotions, body tension and how to reduce stress associated with smartphone use and decision-making. Smartphones are a part of our lives, for sure, but we can make good decisions about when we need to look at and answer them.  To learn more about Dr.Frank and his methods for reducing stress, check out his website.

"5 Ways to Achieve Work Life Balance"

work-life-balanceDr. Seigler, DC and his team have been at OfficeKey in West Chester since 2011. Their mission, at The Living Proof Institute, is to address the root cause of health issues and restore their clients’ health and vitality. Through partnering and education they provide to their clients the tools and direction to live extraordinary lives.

We asked Dr. Seigler about work life balance and he was eager to share his knowledge on the topic. In his blog he addresses what individuals as well as employers can do to reduce stress and bring more balance to the daily grind.

To read the blog visit his website. We also invite you to share your thoughts on work life balance. What have you done to bring more balance into your life?

 

 

"9 Practical Tips for Planning a Meeting Successfully"

Planning a Meeting?

With over 250 companies regularly using OfficeKey,Planning a Successful Meeting we have learned a lot about meeting preparation. Each company has its own priorities, but some elements are typically the same when planning a meeting. Here is a list we have come up with that will help you plan a successful meeting:

1. Choose the optimal location – Sometimes being centrally located or easily accessible may be the priority when planning a meeting.  Other times it might be more important to choose the location that is most impressive to your guests.  Select the location that will work best with what you are trying to accomplish.

2. Plan the space well – When planning a meeting, consider the number of people and the size of the space; having too much room can make the room seem empty and having too little room can disrupt productivity. If your meeting will include just a few people, don’t use a large boardroom or presentation room. However, if you are unsure, plan on the higher side of the range. If necessary, it is easier to move to a smaller space than a larger one.

3. Reserve your room – Do this as soon as you have a good estimate of the number of attendees. Room sizes and times can always be changed if needed.

4. Allow adequate time – For a larger group, a good rule of thumb is to have the room 15-30 minutes before the official meeting start time. And depending on the scope of the meeting, it is often helpful to build in some extra time after the meeting as well. How much material will be covered? Make sure you have set aside enough time during the meeting to go over everything you need to cover.  Also make sure you leave time for discussion and questions.

5. Arrive early – It is likely that someone in your group will show up as much as 15 minutes early so be sure to be there when they do. If there is a presentation or any equipment that needs setup, it is advised to show up with plenty of time to do so. Even being in place 30 minutes before can create much more stress than necessary if you are up against the clock. Being in place at least one hour before allows for plenty of time to work through any setup procedures.

6. Have equipment readyDecide, while you are planning a meeting, what kind of equipment will be needed: projector, HDMI, Wifi, etc. Communicate that to the staff of the facility. Confirm what is on site and if there is anything that needs to be brought the day of the meeting. Test all equipment before hand. And again, being in place an hour before gives you time to set everything up and work through any issues prior to your guests arrival.

7. Prepare other non-technical materialsPrint handouts ahead of time. Put in requests for whiteboards or flip charts (also remember to take a photo of any good notes at the end).

Plan a Successful Lunch Meeting8. Have refreshments for your attendees – Depending on what time the meeting is, have the appropriate refreshments. If you are planning a  meeting around lunch time, you may want to arrange a catered lunch. Having water, coffee, mints, light snacks any time of day is ideal.

9. Have a clear agenda – Present the agenda at the outset of the meeting (or possibly ahead of time) and define the time being allotted to each topic. If you are leading the meeting perhaps assign another attendee to help you keep track of the time.

10. Follow up – Have you given everyone a way to stay in touch or ask questions? Welcome everyone to reach out in way that make sense to them personally. Phone, email, text or even in some instances social media are all ways to encourage everyone to stay in touch.

There are many items to consider when you are planning a meeting, but these ideas should help you get started. Good Luck!

"May Key Connections Lunch – UC Academic Internship Program"

Internships and Co-Ops

Internships and Co-Ops

Each month OfficeKey hosts a lunch open to all clients called Key Connections. It allows those sharing the office to meet each other and build a stronger sense of community, while enjoying some good food and listening to a guest speaker present on a relevant topic.

On May 6th at our West Chester location, OfficeKey was honored to have Paula Harper speak at the luncheon. Paula is the Manager of Job Development of the Academic Internship Program at the University of Cincinnati.

Businesses of any size can benefit from these programs and it is good to know what’s out there. Several OfficeKey clients have taken advantage of this great resource and hopefully others will do the same. Paula explained that there are four primary types of experiential learning opportunities for UC students:

–Co-op
–Academic Internship
–Service Learning
–UC Forward

The co-op program consists of alternating terms of full-time academic study with working full-time. It is a five year commitment with no summers off. By graduation, each student will have about one and a half years of experience. All engineering and DAAP (College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning) students are required to go through a Co-op program. Business students have the option to choose a Co-op program or take part in an academic internship.

The Academic Internship Program which Paula oversees is open to students across all fields of study. It is comprised of a two term sequence with one term devoted to study and the other to a work experience. The work portion requires 225 hr of work over the course of the term. Or an average of 15 hours per week. They can be paid or unpaid (if it’s a non-profit) but the paid positions are likely to attract more candidates.

Service Learning is a specially designed learning experience in which students combine reflection with structured participation in community based projects to achieve specified learning outcomes as part of an academic course and/or program requirement. Students do not get paid in this program because the goal of the program is to learn through service to the community.

Finally, UC Forward is a newly created program designed to foster cross-college courses that unite faculty and students from different colleges with stakeholders outside of the university; with a focus on developing new ways to tackle real world problems. The thought is that students should be able to put into action the things they are learning in the classroom, with the expectation that it will develop skills that can’t be taught in a lecture.

Students are available 3 times a year; January to May, May to August, and August to December. Arrangements are typically made at least one semester ahead so if interested plan accordingly. For more information click on the links above or contact Paula Harper at [email protected].

"Guest Blog: First Impressions from a New Subscriber"

OfficeKey is an interesting name because, although I don’t have one physical “key” to get in, I feel like I have a key to the city.

Shared space makes so much sense; with more and more people going into business for themselves, sharing work space allows small companies to run as smoothly as big companies do, AND that big fancy board room gets a lot more use!

Meeting Space:

Last week while I was planning meetings with potential clients, I asked all of them where they would like to meet. I was able to quickly get meeting space in Hyde Park, Blue Ash and West Chester to accommodate them. Even though I had never had meetings in any of these buildings, I was able to walk in, find the meeting areas and get started quickly. The staff greeted me pleasantly in each location, as if they knew me.

Equipment:

The monitors in each room easily acknowledged my laptop, which made viewing web pages and getting ideas a lot easier than looking at a smaller screen. When I had any technical difficulty, the staff jumped up and helped me, without question. I have been so impressed. The Wifi is so easy to access and always works well, unlike the free wifi at restaurants, which only works half of the time.

collaboration

Open Workspace:

I have already used the open work space areas several times. I have a home office, so I am usually there, but this space is awesome for getting work done. The desk space is ample and the chairs are comfortable. There are enough outlets for all my chargers and others working are pleasant and respectful.

chair

I love being able to stay behind after my guests leave. I used to have meetings at Starbuck’s or Panera, but now I can plan on meeting at OfficeKey and eliminate driving from one meeting to another.

The Amenities:

The kitchen is clean and organized. I brought some left overs from lunch and put them in the fridge; it was awesome being able to leave them there and not have to take it home in my hot car. When I came back Friday they were there waiting for me. (At home someone would have eaten them.) There is bottled water available for my guests and myself and coffee, if I need a little energy.

Thank you, OfficeKey!

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