When you glance at your calendar for the upcoming work week, are meetings taking up the bulk of your time? While meetings are integral for collaboration, idea generation, and...
In the employment world, there is a persistent narrative today that “no one wants to work anymore.” The truth is people do want to work—perhaps more than ever. What they’re...
High rates of employee turnover are detrimental to any company. Employee retention is vital to keep a business running smoothly. Here are three proven things you can offer...
When an employee is hired to fill a specific role, it’s common for them to utilize the same set of skills each day while completing their responsibilities. However, they likely...
You may not expect it, but employer volunteer programs are one of the most effective ways to improve productivity, increase the skill set of your employees, and improve...
Employees are feeling more stressed than ever and it’s clear that their stress has an impact on the corporation they work for—regardless of if the stress comes directly from...
It should go without saying that anyone can be a leader, but what separates a strong leader from a weak leader warrants some attention. When we think of leadership we may...
In today's competitive business landscape, retaining top talent has become a strategic imperative for organizations of all sizes and industries. The cost of turnover, both in...
In today's fast-paced and demanding work environment, burnout has become a significant concern for both employers and employees. The persistent workload, constant connectivity,...
As an employer, it's important to acknowledge that attracting and retaining top talent requires a comprehensive approach beyond offering unlimited time off. Although this perk...
When it comes to any successful endeavor, as a business, you want to make sure you have the right team. While business success can be measured by numbers, results are driven by...
Employee burnout is impacting the American workforce now more than ever before. According to the American Psychological Association, in 2021, 71% of workers said they felt...
The Great Resignation began in early 2021 and is an ongoing trend in the working world. After Covid-19, employees continued to redefine their priorities, and in turn, companies...
As a manager, employer, or boss, it’s important to remember that respect is a two-way street. We often think of respect as going in one direction: upward. Workers respect...
An apprenticeship is an accessible job training approach that benefits both the employer and the employee. Unlike an internship that lasts a few months, weeks, or a semester,...
As one of the first generations to grow up with the internet, in a world drastically different than their parents and grandparents experienced, Gen Z has a unique perspective...
Any good relationship is built on trust. You trust that your pharmacist dispensed the right prescription. You trust that the vegetarian restaurant isn’t serving meat. And you...
When we think about leaders in the workplace, we might immediately think of people with “leadership” titles: boss, manager, CEO, supervisor. We don’t necessarily think about...
Onboarding is the process of integrating new talent into your workplace. The way you integrate new talent in your workplace can really define company culture and set the stage...
Just because remote employees aren’t physically present does not mean they should be left out of company culture, team-building, and important conversations. As a leader, if...
Friendly people are more enjoyable to be around. Especially in the workplace, everyone can count on that individual to lend a helping hand with a team project or provide their...
Bringing your pet to work is a new topic that comes to mind this year. Employees that became pet parents are returning to the office and pets are now home with their owners...
Diversity of thought is the idea that there is more than one way to think about something. Everyone interprets and interacts based on their unique identity, personal...
Soft skills are difficult to pinpoint and hone, but if you want be the best manager you can be, focus on the soft skills that every manager should have. Here’s three of them to...
As a hiring manager you know better than anyone what it takes to be successful for the job you’re hiring for. You know the ins and outs of this position and you know what each...
One of your employees has landed a new job elsewhere. In other words, they will approach you soon about resigning. Despite your desire to have your employees stay with you for...
In a perfect world, employees would work at one job and climb the corporate ladder until they reach retirement. We aren’t in a perfect world though and employees quit, take...
There is plenty of daunting news to go around in this economy. There are, without question, going to be a number of businesses that have to make hard decisions in order to...
Today’s workers can be hard to hold on to - with emerging opportunities due to the rise in technology and new start-ups, job hoppers are on the rise. A job hopper is...
Diversity may be measured as hiring teams find ideal candidates to create a team that fits the bill. But inclusion, that’s a little more challenging to gauge. Inclusion is more...
There’s no doubt about it: COVID-19 has changed an immense amount about the way our economy works. Employees are working from home at a never-before-seen rate, and companies...
There are various reasons why employees may leave a job and they’re not always going to be bad, which is why it’s important to maintain a professional relationship with them...
The COVID-19 pandemic feels like an ongoing battle. Fear and anxiety increase as normal activities, like grocery shopping, now require people to suit up in protective gear,...
As an employer, you hand-pick the most qualified employees for the job, but there will always be room for potential improvement. Your employees may work for financial...
Losing valuable employees can be a major problem for employers, but luckily there are various factors that can be identified and improved upon in order to bolster employee...
After doing the work to seek, interview, hire, and train the best possible candidate for the job, it would be frustrating to see them move on to another company. You’ve put in...
According to leadership expert Roger Dean Duncan, "Conflict is inevitable. Combat is optional." Take this motto to heart as you deal with people on your team who have...
Office friendships make the workday more pleasant and productive, but when you're the boss, close relationships can cause problems. While it's possible to be friends with your...
When disgruntled employees turn to the media to discuss workplace problems, it is not likely to go well for your company. Avoid this situation by creating an open-office...
Workplace conflicts are bound to come up when you collaborate with people of various personality types. Burying your feelings may work for a while, but voicing your concerns is...
It's natural for professionals to want to make other people happy at work, particularly when it comes to bosses or superiors. When your tendencies as a people pleaser start to...
Earning a leadership role can uncover your worst insecurities. Instead of being proud of your accomplishments, you might question your abilities and hope no one notices that...
Negotiating at work is essential, especially when it comes to compensation, scheduling or work capacity. Managers need to be able to have calm, professional discussions with...
Believe it or not, your career is a lot like golf. You must get your swing down consistently to be successful, which means you have to deliver good results regularly in order...
Employee flexibility is more than just a buzz word flying around the labor market. Giving workers more flexibility is a way to attract and keep top talent. Keep this in mind as...
When you discover you have a frustrated team on your hands, you need to get to the heart of the matter quickly before morale plummets. Unfortunately, a technological solution...
When business leaders set out to change an organization, they rarely think about changing themselves. Leaders are too focused on the money it takes, the talent they need and...
If employees are experiencing workplace burnout, it might not be because of high stress at work or a feeling of always being behind. It might be due to loneliness. More social...
Several high-profile companies faced leadership crises at the top during the first half of 2017, and these crises bring to light the issue of CEO tenure. How long should...
Being a good leader who drives results doesn't mean you need to sacrifice employee engagement. In fact, according to a study reported in the Harvard Business Review, the best...
For managers, the quest for a great company culture is a continuous endeavor. When you're looking to improve morale and build a better workplace, consider creating a volunteer...
While it is never acceptable to shame or degrade your employees, the temptation to smooth over situations that make you angry can actually hinder your performance and your...
A supportive work environment is essential to retaining quality employees and keeping productivity high. In a supportive culture, workers feel safe and valued, and this makes...
If you've been managing employees for a while, it's pretty likely you've experienced one or two, or even more, high-maintenance employees. If you're not sure how to identify...
As a manager, how you shape your workplace environment can significantly impact employee morale, productivity and profits. A strong company culture is the backbone of a...
In a highly competitive labor market, there are plenty of people with a lot of talent to go around for just one position. However, finding a person who is the right fit for...
As in life, the workplace is littered with potential fights and arguments. It's tempting to push your strategy or viewpoint, particularly when the evidence is in your favor,...
Learning how a new business works is difficult enough. Then, rapid growth occurs as the startup takes off, and managing new employees, more customers and more products becomes...
Doubting yourself is often the beginning of self-discovery. It's certainty safe and comfortable, but you achieve greater levels of success when you accept change and explore...
It is common when managing employees to want to maintain a level of authority. As a leader, though, it is not unusual to experience self-doubt. You may question whether or not...
Since 1909, International Women's Day has occupied March 8 on the calendar, commemorating the movement for women's right. In 2017, however, many women nationwide took the day...
As you look to grow your company's market share, revenue and profits, don't forget to take into account the cost of compromise. In this case, compromise doesn't mean finding...
For busy business managers, a professional Twitter account can feel like just another task to add to a long to-do list. The extra work is often worth the time, however — in a...
Managers look at multiple factors when deciding whether to hire a job candidate, but finding the perfect fit for the company and position in question takes top priority. Even...
Fear is the enemy of workplace innovation. Workers and businesses often suffer from fear of failure, of financial loss or public embarrassment, just to name a few. There's no...
If you don't take care of your customers, someone else will. The success of your business relies on excellent customer service, so it's crucial that all employees make clients...
Incompetent bosses are a staple of American pop culture, and their portrayals as clueless toadies and insecure bullies may be surprisingly accurate. Companies frequently award...
For management professionals, challenges are part of the game. Whether you're dealing with project delays or economic downturns, the way you face challenges impacts the...
Age diversity brings a vast knowledge base that can make your company better at developing in-demand products and services. However, unlocking this potential means rising above...
In the vast majority of organizations, social diversity programs and inclusion programs fail. The reasons behind these failures is usually the same: diversity programs are...
The American manufacturing industry has been in flux in recent years thanks to renewed government and consumer interest in domestically made products. This sudden spotlight has...
A strong labor market in early 2017 means keeping top talent is more important than ever for companies seeking a competitive edge. Employers, managers and HR professionals...
Building an effective team requires managers and employers to focus on innovative employee recruitment strategies that attract professionals committed to the company's mission...
In the average office, it's not uncommon to see employees handling personal business or procrastinating with non-work activities while on company time. While most employers...
Dozens of the world's most successful companies find dedicated and loyal CEOs by growing leadership from the inside. Your company could be next to follow the examples of GE,...
Employers hire teams of people to make company objectives easier to accomplish, but managers often undermine this goal by hoarding all the work. If you're stuck in a cycle of...
The passions that drive your employees are as diverse as your workforce. Knowing how to motivate employees is one critical element to accomplishing the company's goals, whether...
Whether they supervise you, report to you or work with you, negative employees can zap your energy and destroy your motivation. Their toxic attitudes seep into the company...
Company values are the foundation of successful business operations — they guide strategic decisions, help shape corporate culture and provide meaning for your employees....
From your first shaky steps in infancy to your first management role, every skill in life requires learning and practice. Leadership development is no different, and employers...
You might think the words "manager" and "leader" are used in the exact same way, but the differences between the two roles can differ greatly. When you think about trying to go...
There's nothing wrong with a little bit of workplace competition as long as it doesn't get out of control and cause negative feelings and stress. The key is to focus on...
Retail giant Amazon.com is trying a new employment method. The company announced in 2016 that it has created entire teams of employees who have part-time, flexible schedules....
Technology use in the workplace is a double-edged sword — it's essential for productivity, but it can also be a distraction. To be successful, managers must identify and...
Managing the office know-it-all is a task that puts stress on even the best team leader. Whether that know-it-all is a bona fide expert in his field or a wannabe pretending to...
Your company spends valuable time, effort and resources to hire quality candidates; it should be a priority to keep your employees happy so they don't look elsewhere for a job....
Effective team leaders generally display a variety of personal and professional characteristics that naturally encourage others to follow them, such as confidence, integrity,...
Employee training is costly and time-consuming, and when your company is struggling, it can be tempting to get rid of educational programs and allow workers to learn as they...
The members of an intergenerational workforce often have dramatically different needs, experiences and communication styles — factors that present a challenge for managers who...
The hiring process can be challenging for businesses and job seekers alike. You want a great employee that shares your company's vision, but wading through hundreds of...
The workforce is rapidly changing as millennial workers impact the modernization of business processes. Your company may benefit significantly from the innovative ideas and...
It's difficult for management professionals to avoid public speaking. Between client presentations and industry conferences, you're likely to find yourself standing in front of...
As the workforce continues to change and evolve, managing millennials has become a primary focus to ensure next-generation leaders are ready for the challenge. Although some...
A strong company culture is key when creating a positive work environment, but remote workers often receive little benefit from offices with great working environments....
Business leaders, managers and supervisors should pay attention to the state of DevOps, especially in the tech industry. DevOps gives companies opportunities to improve many...
Office politics play an inevitable part of the professional world. Competitiveness, flattery, gossip and power struggles can all affect employee performance, productivity and...
Successful companies recruit business leaders who can take charge and develop beneficial policies without criticizing their predecessors. Badmouthing other professionals shows...
More and more companies are strategically implementing employee wellness programs as a management strategy. In 2015, 80 percent of companies offered educational information and...
As a hiring manager, you are given the important task of hiring employees who possess the necessary skills and experience for open positions. However, it can be challenging to...
Successful leaders have certain characteristics that make people want to follow them. Historical figures, world leaders and CEOs are all examples of people who exhibit certain...
Environmental distractions and procrastination can quickly kill your focus. Whether you're bad at multitasking or easily sidetracked by Internet memes, you can train yourself...
Whether an office bully intimidates co-workers with emotional, mental or physical abuse, the result is detrimental to the organization. Even if you don't see it or aren't a...
Businesses succeed and fail largely due to how they respond to changes in the marketplace. Firms that remain relevant to customers survive; otherwise, competition that adapts...
Women in leadership roles have just as much — if not more — to offer a company as their male counterparts. Despite an equal aptitude for overseeing teams and organizations,...
When companies lose employees, they also lose invaluable job knowledge and all the money and other resources that went into recruiting and training that worker. Employees leave...
You've heard the adage: "The only constant is change." Thanks to technology and a fast-paced working environment, things at the office may shift faster than you like. You do...
The basic job of every leader is supervising a goal from point A to point Z. Good managers care about making performance adjustments at each step, while bad ones charge ahead...
The secret to good leadership at the office is difficult to definitively describe. When experts use qualitative terms — such as charismatic and brilliant — to determine if...
Effective communication is the one factor that likely lies between you and higher satisfaction amongst your employees. In order to offer your employees the most optimal working...
The Equal Pay Act stipulates that men and women must earn the same amount for doing the exact same work in the exact same working conditions while holding similar positions....
Women make less than men in the United States over the course of an entire career. Sometimes, women make career choices — such as going into fields that pay less or reducing...
The gender pay gap refers to the difference in wages between men and women. President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 to prevent pay discrimination against...
By 2020, American tech firms may need as many as 1.2 million people to fill computer-related positions. The skills needed for these jobs are very specialized, and some require...
The gender pay gap made headlines during the Obama administration when the president, citing statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, noted that women made 77 cents for...
An effective meeting offers employees and managers opportunities to establish goals while evaluating the systems already in place, but the time spent traveling to and from...
Does decision spin affect your organization's productivity? Decision spin is a state where decisions are passed continuously between managers, workers, bosses and other groups...
A new year is an ideal time for companies to re-evaluate their management strategies. A key component of successful management involves inspiring and motivating employees....
Rising to a position of authority doesn't transform a person into an all-knowing guru, but the knowledge gained throughout a career can produce a good leader. Whether a leader...
Business meetings have a reputation for being boring and unproductive. A recent Igloo Software survey of office professionals found that approximately half of all employees...
The job market has changed significantly as Generation Y focuses on career exploration. As a result, managing millennials has become a top priority for managers. Find ways to...
As millennials flood into the workplace, hiring managers are seeking to recruit and retain the best of the best. Employers who are better equipped to understand millennial...
Now that most businesses have access to Skype, cloud-based storage services and other tools, hiring remote employees is more practical than ever. Allowing employees to work...
Business meetings take up a lot of time, but they aren't always productive. If you manage several people, you need to know how to run meetings that get the point across without...
Although millennials are still somewhat of an enigma to employers, there are some new kids in town: members of Generation Z. These potential employees, born between the...
With a new generation of workers comes a new set of challenges for managers and organizations. Millennials are different than their predecessors; successful supervisors should...
As a manager, you deal with change on two ends of the spectrum. You have to keep your bosses happy while maintaining a good rapport with your team. Changes may appear...
Working with a bad boss is terrible for morale and makes it difficult to stay motivated at work. If you are lucky enough to have a great boss, it's much easier to focus on your...
Mistakes are inevitable in business, whether you're a CEO or a low-level manager. The way you react to situations defines you as a leader. Learning from leadership mistakes and...
It's not always easy to find the right employees, especially if you need workers with a unique blend of technical skills and personality traits. Once you find the right people,...
Almost every company has a few high performers or employees who seem to excel at everything they do. In most cases, high performers are not superstars because they are smarter...
It is common for employees to adopt a workplace personality when stepping into the office. In fact, ongoing research by the Deloitte University Leadership Center for Inclusion...
Constructive feedback is your secret weapon to inspire employees to continually learn and improve, but they have to be open to your suggestions. If you set a condescending...
Managers should avoid firing an employee if there is a chance of committing a grievous error. Firing an employee can be a stressful moment for any supervisor, but a manager has...
You might think that your career progress is determined by your skills and qualifications, but attitude can be an even more important factor. Keeping a positive attitude in the...
For management professionals, childish behavior can be the scourge of the workplace; it sabotages productivity, undermines team-building and creates problems between...
A young workforce of diverse talent is on the verge of joining the professional world, and business owners who want to attract and keep capable employees have to adapt their...
Managers face many challenges as they attempt to hire the right individual for a position. A new hire can make or break a team, with the supervisor often having final say in...
A Harris Poll conducted in 2015 notes major communication issues that keep managers from becoming effective team leaders. As many as 63 percent of employees want bosses to...
Workplace challenges are inevitable. Managers sometimes have little to no control over these conditions when they occur, but overcoming challenges helps to build character and...
Successful leaders exhibit key behaviors that foster teamwork, cohesiveness and collaborative efforts, and they have the drive to make everyone on the team better. The best...
Employees rely on great managers to serve as examples. Leadership qualities are essential when you're climbing the ladder and seeking to motivate and inspire employees. Focus...
A good relationship with your boss is key to setting your career on the fast track and increasing your chances of being promoted. Developing this relationship means being a...
Regular team meetings allow managers to ascertain what everyone in a group brings to the table for certain projects. These sessions also give bosses time to gauge people's...
Diverse and flexible work environments focus on embracing differences, talents, input and skills as part of the company culture. It is inevitable that companies have employees...
When you’re limited by the number of hours in your workday, it can feel impossible to complete all your projects by their deadlines. Add in fewer resources, an increased...
The adage "Don't sweat the small stuff" may be sage advice for a manager at any level of business. However, the reality is that many tiny aspects of an employee's demeanor can...
Management teams often explore strategies to produce productive employees and enhance morale. One strategy that has been successful for many companies is hiring remote workers...
Negative employee behaviors can taint the company culture and dynamics of the office. Managers expect professional and courteous behavior from employees, but when the morale of...
Workplace diversity continues to be a buzzword among managers and recruiters. People from different backgrounds help companies maintain strong ties and interactions with...
At some point in your career, you are likely to witness the effects of drug or alcohol addiction in the workplace. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and...
Many managers wonder how they can develop a team of productive employees. If you are attempting to find ways to make your workforce more effective, start from the ground...
What traits are companies looking for in future employees in this ever-changing workplace landscape? Many assume that a solid education is what employers deem most important...
More and more American companies have come to realize that the health of their employees should be a priority. Some firms offer workout equipment, healthy food at the office,...
For most businesses today, the administrative assistant serves as the backbone of the office, supporting every role within the business. While an administrative assistant may...
Managing remote workers requires a different skill set than working with traditional employees. The lack of in-person communication and oversight can make it difficult for...
A project manager oversees a team responsible for planning, developing, implementing and completing one specific project for a company. Combine this type of team leadership...
Managers constantly try to improve employee productivity, as the more you get out of someone's work, the more efficient your office becomes. Restricting someone's Internet...
Administrative assistants need to be highly organized and professional with excellent communication skills. They often function as the backbone of the office, ensuring that...
From Ronald Reagan to Winston Churchill, great leaders throughout history have convinced their followers to work towards a single vision thanks to their ability to put their...
Many managers wonder about the outcome when it comes to handling decision-making responsibilities, so they take extra care to make the proper decisions and perform well....
Managers must motivate and maximize employee performance to improve profits and productivity. Underachieving employees can pose a challenge for managers who must meet goals...
The issue of tattoos at work tends to spark a lot of controversy. Many employers worry about employee tattoos conveying the wrong message to clients and vendors, while...
You earned the promotion from entry-level worker to middle management after putting in long hours of hard work and consistently walking the company line. The new manager...
For management professionals, apologizing at work can feel like a minefield. A poor choice of words or the wrong tone can make the problem worse, particularly in high-profile...
Many employees don't speak up about their abusive managers because they worry human resources won't take their complaints seriously. Unfortunately, research shows that abusive...
As a manager, you have the tough job of balancing the needs of the business with the needs of your direct reports. Employee depression is a serious issue that impacts the...
In January 2015, representatives from Anthem discovered the company had been cyberattacked by hackers, exposing the personal information of up to 80 million Americans. The data...
Exceptional leaders exhibit leadership behaviors that are often difficult to describe, but most employees recognize when they are working for a boss who knows how to manage in...
Delegation can be a difficult task for management professionals who are deeply invested in the success of their businesses. It requires a tremendous amount of trust,...
Meetings have their place in business, but many companies go overboard with meeting scheduling. Too many meetings can eat into your valuable time, making it impossible to...
When you are promoted to a management position, your co-workers become your employees, and your goals and responsibilities experience a sizable shift. It is important for other...
It's no secret that employee morale is an essential determining factor of productivity and profitability. An unhealthy management culture can derail how an employee performs,...
For most professionals, attending meetings is a necessary part of corporate life. In fact, Rachel Silverman of The Wall Street Journal reports that executives spend about...
If you are responsible for managing employees, what you don't do is just as important as what you do on a daily basis. A great boss strives to recognize workers for their...
Successful leaders create thriving businesses. Like championship chess players, owners and CEOs must put strategies in place to expand their businesses, make a positive impact...
Telecommuting is no longer a unique occurrence; according to research by Global Workplace Analytics, teleworking grew by more than 70 percent between 2005 and 2012. For...
Many companies conduct meetings in the same old manner, but a number of them fail to orchestrate productive meetings that get the job done. Consider some ways that you can host...
You don't need to reinvent the wheel to become a successful leader. Instead, look at the common traits that other leaders have to help you determine where you need to improve....
Entrepreneurs start with an idea and turn a particular passion into a money-making reality. The entrepreneurial creativity that drives business owners to live out their dreams...
With so much pressure to land a job surrounded by tough competition and to perform well at work, both job seekers and employees are wondering if they should tell a white lie or...
It is no secret that great managers can lead a company to a prosperous place. If you want to be an excellent manager, follow these techniques to make yourself and the workforce...
With corporate retreats, there's rarely a middle ground — it is usually a success or a failure. Long lectures, forced creativity and poor planning can leave participants bored...
When you think of talent, you probably see images of well-known musicians, sports stars and the silver screen rather than business leaders and top-notch office performers, but...
In the face of deadlines and crises, you can all too easily to slip into a negative, threat-driven mindset at work. The build-up of negativity over time can damage corporate...
Employee loyalty relies on clear, concise and transparent communication between managers and subordinates. Secure dedicated and motivated employees with employee retention...
More and more technology companies rely on freelance labor to deliver services to consumers. The Great Recession sparked a crush of on-demand workers within America's labor...
Every employee, manager and CEO tries to have a work-life balance that fits his or her needs. Workplace flexibility, family time and more days away from the office represent...
Too often, when managers and leaders think about employee engagement, the focus surrounds monetary rewards. Employee retention and engagement, though, is about more than just...
Without careful preparation and meeting execution, an office meeting can be a stressful time for everyone involved. You can execute a successful office meeting by using a few...
With obesity levels rising, and the amount of time workers spend in front of a computer climbing as well, many employers are stepping up to initiate change by encouraging...
Employee retention has become a top priority for corporations leaning toward developing the full potential of their new hires and existing workforce. Strategies to engage...
Directing remote employees can be a challenge for any manager. Fortunately, you can be an excellent manager exerting a positive influence on your employees, even from a...
Middle managers face many hurdles at the office, ranging from unhappy bosses to unruly employees — and everything in between. When a project fails, middle management may be the...
In the wake of the January 2015 Al Qaeda attack that resulted in the deaths of 11 journalists at the offices of Paris weekly Charlie Hebdo, a wave of anti-Muslim sentiment...
An effective manager leads by example, motivates employees with intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and shows gratitude for each employee's contribution. Leadership strategies are...
Business lobbying groups sometimes argue that increases in the federal minimum wage lead to lower profits because large companies cannot afford to pay thousands of employees...
A great manager has the power to transform a workforce and lead his team effectively. Consider some of the skills and actions that an excellent manager uses daily to lead...
Some managers erroneously believe that shame-based management is effective, but there are far better management approaches. Although shame-based management forces some...
A common opening line of a job posting reads, "Requires a bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years of work experience." A cursory study of job advertisements on various...
A little workplace gossip might seem harmless, but it has the power to ruin relationships and hurt your company's reputation. When employees spread rumors, other employees tend...
A business model should clearly define the desired company culture. When hiring executives and managers, the best candidate should model the characteristics of the culture,...
Leaders face challenges on a daily basis. However, with a faltering economy and uncertainty within profit margins, leaders face an even bigger responsibility to trudge forward...
Every December, around the turn of the new year on the civil calendar, prognosticators preview the upcoming year by predicting what will happen in entertainment, geopolitics,...
Psychologists frequently use the phrase "retrain your brain" to help you reconsider scenarios and situations in your mind. The process works for dieting, smoking, breaking bad...
Workplace distractions can become the enemy of efficiency in the workplace, and a distracted manager is more likely to neglect his employees and fail to meet company goals....
Often, meetings are seen as a necessary evil around the office. A poorly organized meeting is frequently a waste of time and resources, one which results in very little...
Distractions in the workplace, both internal and external, can easily derail your progress and the company's growth. Manage your projects and overcome procrastination with...
Millennials, the generation born after 1980, are currently in the workforce, and their numbers continue to grow as they age into the majority of the workforce. Some managers...
The strength of a startup business lies in how well the company delivers a very specific and unique product that no one else has on the market. Trying to create a product with...
By nature, all human beings have flaws, weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but leaders often feel the need to project an image of unassailable strength. Managers who accept and...
Employees can easily become distracted by small talk and the latest raging debates about current events. While you want to encourage comradarie among your workers and that...
Demand for big data specialists is rising, according to predictions made by the executive search firm CTPartners. Professionals who have experience working with big data are...
As a manager, it is important to have control over your emotions to maintain stability and give wise direction to others. However, bringing your emotions to work can be good or...
Many times, a job seeker will inflate his resumes with skills he does not have in order to appear more qualified and secure a position. Often, this deceit is not discovered...
There is no doubt that the work environment is changing, and that means professionals have to adapt the way they work. Technology is playing an increasingly sophisticated role...
For people with a fear of or inexperience with public speaking, a professional presentation can feel like an impossible obstacle. If you have trouble putting together a...
Motivating employees is a crucial part of keeping morale up and maintaining productivity. When you're in a management position, your job is not only to give orders. You must...
From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, Americans indulge in one treasured holiday ritual after another. With all of the fun happening outside of the office, it can be a challenge...
As research continues to show the long-term health dangers of sitting for extended periods of time, more professionals are finding ways to get moving during the work day. One...
A manager who has to deal with egotistical employees may find it difficult to successfully manage them in any type of work environment. Finding the best way to handle a prima...
Every manager has faces instances of extreme pressure at work. Meeting difficult work goals or facing escalated situations can create a stressful work environment for everyone....
It is difficult for any business to find and secure the top workers on their team. However, some great employees end up leaving one company for another if they are not...
Hiring and training a new employee is an expensive and time-consuming process; if the successful candidate doesn't work out, the company is out a considerable amount of time...
The holy grail of business managers is to motivate their team to be the most dynamic, productive and unstoppable force on planet Earth. Employee teamwork that leads to better...
Being a boss is often a thankless job, one that not all employees are willing to take on. An excellent boss ensures efficiency and efficacy at every level of the company,...
More businesses than ever are turning to desk-sharing as a way of keeping overheads down. However, some organizations claim that desk-sharing is about more than just cutting...
Making friends at work may seem like a trivial pursuit, but work friendships actually have a substantial impact on your work life. More than 80 percent of American workers...
Fear and worry can sabotage productivity among workers, even when the economy is strong. For management professionals, it is often challenging to identify the source of a dip...
As the idea of apprenticeship gains popularity in the United States, companies are beginning to consider them as a potential way to bridge knowledge gaps in the skilled labor...
Administrative support staff is crucial to the day-to-day operation of a business. The right person can streamline the office workflow and increase productivity. By...
Managing a shy employee can be a challenge for managers, particularly those who are outgoing and gregarious. Taking the wrong tack can push the person back into his shell and...
Critical thinking can be defined as the ability to meticulously examine evidence and use fair-minded reasoning to solve problems and make better decisions. Consider the various...
In order to maintain a healthy and productive working environment, workplace supervisors need to concentrate on preventing workplace absenteeism and problems with employee...
Hiring a new employee is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. When a new hire doesn't work out, the resources you invested in the hiring process are essentially lost. By...
When you begin your search for the right candidates for customer service positions, it can seem like a perplexing task. Today’s world of customer service involves more than...
If you feel there is a lot of negativity in your workplace or that your employees are lacking in ambition, motivating employees can be a key factor in improving workplace...
Employees are essential to businesses, but too many managers don't use employees to their full potential. Many managers have an autocratic management style where they make...
When you are running a small business, your employees are crucial to your business's success. If you do not know how to recruit and keep employees, you are likely to experience...
It can be difficult to be successful in business without strong professional relationships with your co-workers and your clients. Make sure that you get along with the people...
There are several advantages to involving employees in the decision-making process. It shows them that you value them as part of the team, and it gives you a variety of...
Making employees feel like they have real value to a company can be difficult, especially on a budget. However, appreciated employees often are more productive and do more to...
More businesses are turning to virtual teams to get the job done and enable employees to work on projects from home. As a supervisor, managing a virtual team has it own...
Effective management is always necessary, and a great manager can help make a company a success. Managers hold the power to cause disarray, create harmony in the workplace and...
Several industries face looming labor shortages due to retiring baby boomers and lack of a sustainable workforce. Health care, construction and manufacturing have plenty of job...
In the process of doing business, many companies focus exclusively on output and profits often at the expense of fun and creativity. If your office feels stifled or negative,...
The name "chief" indicates the head or most important aspect of something. While there are many elements of a company that are important and essential to its success, there is...
Happy workers at the office are essential for maintaining a good, professional environment. Yet, several workplace myths may be counterproductive to keeping people happy in...
Unemployment is a tough pill for anyone to swallow. Professionals are constantly looking for work in an environment plagued by sticky wages and decreased demand in labor....
Despite assertions to the contrary, Americans work less than they think, sleep more than they realize and have at least 40 hours of free time per week. A new American Time Use...
Managing people is a challenging endeavor, especially for new managers. If you've been newly promoted to a management position, you need to know the common mistakes that rookie...
Big data is revolutionizing many industries, from retail to real estate. However, big data alone is not a magical solution to business problems. Users of big data need to use...
A new survey recently showed that one third of small businesses say they could not survive without mobile apps. AT&T’s survey revealed that small businesses in particular are...
From the work-at-home entrepreneur to the big, multimillion-dollar companies, company blogs have become a staple in today's business world. Often, consumers turn to company...
As the nation grows more diverse with each passing year, employers are taking note. No longer is the subject of diversity confined to the walls of the human resources...
Cloud computing has recently garnered a great deal of interest. Numerous individuals, small companies and huge corporations have already switched over to cloud computing...
Virtual teams, while advantageous for companies and employees, often present a challenge for supervisors. Managers often struggle to find ways to create cohesion and strong...
Many employees submit new ideas to their supervisors, but their thoughts often fall on deaf ears. Do not be a manager that lets outstanding ideas that could benefit the company...
From tossing coins to checking the patterns made by the dregs at the bottom of their cups, individuals rely on a plethora of methods to guide their decision-making processes....
When changes initially start to take place within an organization, many managers and employees start to panic under the pressure. Learn how to hold the fort down and manage...
In this wireless world, mobile apps are becoming a business' best friend, allowing small business owners to manage their finances, store important documents or take timely...
For great leaders, emotional intelligence can be a deal breaker. Without it, it is difficult — if not impossible — to motivate and inspire employees. By understanding how...
Consulting is a great field to get into for professionals who aren’t keen on conforming to someone else’s work ethic or schedule. Starting a consulting firm is the epitome of...
In the business world, anonymous feedback, known as 360 degree feedback, given by peers and managers is becoming more and more popular. Peers review each other anonymously to...
Keeping a busy company running efficiently requires a dedicated team of driven workers. In your own office, you are bound to recognize those who truly go above and beyond the...
Because of the similarities between “project” management and “program” management, it's a common mistake to confuse the two types. However, program management is very different...
It’s not uncommon for professionals to come up against an ego every now and then when problem solving. Because most employees and managers are required to have some college...
Finding the best candidate for an open position starts with asking better interview questions. The Department of U.S. Labor and Statistics estimates that hiring the wrong...
If you are a bad micromanager, letting go of the reins can be difficult. However, if you don’t back down from your employees, you can push them out the front door. Release the...
Myths about leadership can be pervasive, even among people in leadership positions. These misconceptions can inhibit performance and prevent you from developing the skills that...
One of the best ways to connect with others in the workplace, whether you are in management, sales or a support position, is to ask questions honestly, wanting to hear the...
It is fairly easy to request employee feedback on a project or initiative. It is much more difficult to get honest feedback. Employees often feel obligated to speak positively...
Leaders, like all professionals, are subject to failure. When you are in a position of power, your shortcomings can have a widespread effect on your employees and the company...
Leaders are an essential part of any company, helping to expand its horizons through new ideas while leading team members down a productive path. Meanwhile, supervisors help to...
Entrepreneurs are crucial to maintaining and growing the economy. This is true on a local level and remains true when considered globally. Entrepreneurs create employment,...
All too often, business powers forward, through meeting after meeting, with employees doing their jobs the way they have always done them, giving little thought to the future....
The best managers know that it is their job to provide an environment in which their employees do their best work. This means that, in addition to setting clearly defined goals...
Whether you are praising exemplary workers or correcting poor ones, giving feedback to employees is an important part of being a great boss. Learn how to give feedback to...
Changing employee behavior is no small undertaking; in fact, according to "The Financial Post," about 70 percent of change initiatives are doomed to fail. Given the high...
Leaders in the business community constantly find themselves looking for fresh ideas, and the realm of game theory is exceptionally rich with opportunities for exploring...
Company leaders often find themselves stepping down for a variety of reasons. Some want to hand over the reins before they are forced to by health or market conditions, and...
Every business needs both leaders and managers to succeed. However, as much as people might like to believe in the charismatic and visionary leader who can also manage the...
A company's office culture plays a big role in everyday operations, affecting everything from hiring to employee performance. If the culture in your office is unproductive or...
Planning, organizing and coordinating are the textbook responsibilities of any manager. There is one additional skill, however, that can take a manager from routine to...
A key complaint in the workplace today comes from employees who feel their bosses do not trust them with key information or tasks. Employees want to know what is coming down...
Hard bargainers can make any professional negotiation more challenging, particularly if you aren't prepared to deal with them effectively. With these tips, you can get through...
General Motors has not been having a good month. The company announced recalls related to air bag failures in early June 2014, and on June 25, asked dealers to stop selling all...
In a management position, it is easy to get comfortable and complacent over time. In doing so, you may miss valuable opportunities or fail to notice issues before they become a...
Whether you're an experienced supervisor or a first-time manager, it's easy to fall prey to common management mistakes. No matter what your position, there is always room for...
For business leaders, professional failure is a crucial step on the path to success. As a manager, failed projects and ideas can be hard to take, particularly when they happen...
As World Cup fever sweeps the world, many managers are taking note of team and event strategies. By paying attention to the mistakes and successes of the world's best soccer...
As your company grows you may find yourself having to hire managers to help run your business. This can help lessen your workload tremendously. Unfortunately if you're not...
While it may be daunting on the surface, you only need a little initiative to learn the ropes of modern office management. The most important thing to remember is that managing...
Learning when to lead and when to follow is one of the most important parts of becoming a manager. Many people start their first management position understanding they are...
For many people, professional networking feels forced and uncomfortable. In industries where who you know is as important as what you can do, however, networking is a crucial...
In order for any company to remain competitive and efficient, it must work to retain its employees. Low employee turnover not only keeps business running smoothly, but also...
The conclusion is a crucial, but often ignored, component of a professional presentation. Many professionals tack on a presentation conclusion almost as an afterthought,...
Constantly micromanaging your team is a waste of time, and it creates a stressful work environment. It’s imperative to your team’s success that you learn how to relinquish...
Too many business owners and managers believe that working hard is the only way to get things done right, but this is not the case. You can learn how to work smarter by taking...
It's undeniable that social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have taken the world by storm in recent years. Most people use these networks in personal time but...
Green work spaces benefit employees and companies by increasing focus, productivity and illness-recovery times of personnel. Likewise, the introduction of plants in an office...
When employee discipline must be memorialized through a formal written warning, the disciplinary warning form must contain adequate background information, an accurate...
Business process management views every business as a series of processes from product development to advertising to sales. The model also includes support processes, such as...
Organizational change management is the process of planning and implementing a change to a company or organization. Organizational change managers oversee everything from a...
Knowledge management involves the creation, capture, protection and shared use of organizational information to benefit your business. With an increasing amount of information...
For managers, management and leadership are both crucial skills. The two concepts are frequently understood to mean the same thing, an unfortunate mistake that leads to a...
As a manager, managing change is just as important as managing people. If you do not learn how to introduce change, bring team members on board and create both cohesion and...
For many managers, it is impossible to stop working when the clock strikes five. Instead of wasting your evenings and weekends hunched in front of a laptop or worrying about...
Many managers struggle to keep star employees challenged and happy over the years. The end results are worth the effort, because high-performing employees can serve as a...
Women now make up the majority of the labor force, including part-time and full-time employment. As a productive part of the workforce, the sheer volume of women in the...
To outsiders, successful entrepreneurs sometimes seem like the wizards of the business world. They teeter precariously on the brink of catastrophic failure one day, only to...
Hiring managers are quick to pull out checklists, formulate informative interview questions and compare resumes against the ideal job criteria when working to fill company...
After putting a lot of time, effort and money into hiring high-quality employees, it is important to exert just as much effort on retaining employees. The foundation for a...
In the last several years, business professionals have been buzzing about Big Data. It has reached fad status, which leads some to believe that data-driven business decisions...
Every professional wants to feel like an irreplaceable part of an organization, but increasingly advanced technology may eliminate the need for human workers from various...
An environment of trust is crucial to building a healthy work place. Workers who feel unheard, unrecognized or misunderstood provide lower-quality work than those who feel...
Managing a multigenerational team isn’t easy. There’s often a clear divide between younger and older employees. Opinions differ on everything from work-life balance to company...
When you send out a status report, you want to include information that is both relevant and easy to understand. If your status report includes too much information or is...
Running a successful business places a myriad of responsibilities on your shoulders, but developing an effective management style is perhaps the single most important priority....
Running a successful business demands harmony among the members of the company's teams. Whether you find that your managers butt heads continually, or you notice tension among...
One of the best ways to establish consistent improvement in an organization is by instituting feedback loops. Feedback loops improve productivity by providing staff with a...
You have found you have some free time between meetings throughout the day or before you're ready to leave, but you aren’t sure what to do. Instead of wasting your time...
One of the most important qualities in a business leader is inspiring workers to do their best. Whatever your industry, this management skill applies across the board. Giving...
There are a lot of powerful arguments for employees to work from home. In fact, many professionals rely on their home offices for days when they simply cannot make it in to...
If you frequently experience stress in the workplace, you understand the immense challenges this situation creates. When stress accumulates, you no longer think clearly and may...
In the business world, you can either adapt to changing technology and embrace change or become another statistic. The fact is, businesses with high levels of online...
More and more companies are requiring heavier workloads from fewer employees. While this approach certainly keeps costs low and efficiency high, employee burnout does not do...
Most people of faith in America are able to pass their entire career without religion coming into conflict with their jobs. However, for some, the dictates of their religion...
It is an unfortunate fact that the average business meeting is typically characterized by words such as "boring," "long" and "unproductive." While meetings are an essential...
When modern business meets religion, complex issues arise. When business professionals are able to collaborate effectively, regardless of their religious backgrounds, then the...
Entrepreneurship has long been heralded as the quintessential American dream. What's better than owning your own business? Answer: owning a successful, long-running business....
There are a myriad of reasons why quality communication skills are imperative for modern business leaders to possess. Business leaders that possess poor communication skills...
For managers, project status reports are a double-edged sword; though they provide valuable information about the progress of a project, the resulting picture is often...
The management skills required of modern supervisors have changed significantly over the past decade, largely in response to new devices, programs and communication options. As...
Vladimir Putin, who first served as Russian president from 2000 to 2008 and has won the 2012 election for another term, is known for ruling with an iron fist. Putin may not be...
Bad meetings are common in many offices and easy to pick apart, but good meetings are paramount to business and are harder to define. Effective meetings capture and hold the...
When you have a tough project ahead of you, it can be difficult to stay motivated and focused. When you are the boss and have to boost employee motivation as well as move the...
Inflated egos can create more turmoil and make problem solving in the workplace more difficult for everyone. Do not allow big egos to get in the way of genuine productivity in...
Over the past several years, the business world has increasingly focused on the elusive concept of creativity. Corporations seek creative thinkers in their hiring ads. Managers...
To make your job search more successful, your resume needs to highlight your skills and experience and to demonstrate what makes you an ideal applicant. Your resume must also...
The first impression is everything when you meet someone. This is especially true when you are networking at a business function. That first impression can land you a job or a...
Truly great leaders are supported by the finest employees. However, finding great employees goes far beyond hiring people with a winning resume. No leader can do all the work...
Everyone has a natural management style, but it's usually only effective part of the time. What works for some employees won't work for others. It's important to stay focused...
As the name implies, a management consultant advises a company or organization on the best ways to manage and operate based on the company's individual needs. These consultants...
Companies spend a great deal of money in marketing strategies to woo business contacts in. The next step is to keep in touch with these hard-won clients by contacting them on a...
There are a wide variety of social media platforms that are available to utilize for your business. It's important to know what these platforms are and what they can be used...
To be successful with your business startup, you need to find ways to save money for your endeavor. One of the top reasons new businesses fail is insufficient startup capital,...
Good leaders demonstrate a variety of skills. They are often goal oriented, passionate, focused, confident, intelligent, inspiring visionaries who can coax the best out of...
Executives spend approximately one-third of their work time in meetings, reports Rachel Silverman of "The Wall Street Journal." Unfortunately, running a meeting isn't always a...
Being a manager is a stressful position because everyone expects you to have all of the right answers. Part of your manager responsibilities is to direct others. Some think you...
Giving feedback is one of the most important jobs you can perform as a manager. Without feedback, employees may not be aware when they're doing something wrong—or right. They...
Operations analysts, sometimes called operations research analysts, are problem solvers by nature. They use mathematics and a variety of other tools to identify opportunities...
Creative destruction is a concept defined by Joseph Schumpeter in 1942 that was derived from the theories of Karl Marx on capitalist development and the business cycle....
A management consultant is someone who works closely with businesses to help them improve their performance, increase efficiency, identify problems, and offer solutions....
Managers are always trying to find new ways to increase employee productivity, but not all tricks or tips are appropriate for every workplace. One way to get more out of...
Many people are familiar with the basics of promoting a company's products and services, but they are not as adept at promoting themselves. Building a personal brand is...
After you've worked in the business field for several years, it's likely you have valuable job skills that would translate well to any industry. If this describes you, then a...
A good leader leads; a great leader inspires. History is filled with leaders who helped shape the world into what it is today. Nelson Mandela embodied patience and...
What do business entrepreneurs and con artists have in common? They both make money by selling people on a dream or an ideal, except that what the entrepreneurs try to sell has...
Leadership and business acumen are skills that are easier shown than told, so how can your manager resume create confidence in potential employers? One way to show your...
For experienced business and management professionals, it is natural to have a lengthy resume. If you are about to embark on a job search, however, it pays to spend time...
Twitter can be a valuable business tool, but only if you have enough followers. By making an effort to add more Twitter followers, you can increase the visibility of your...
For managers, team productivity is a crucial concern. If your team members are having difficulty meeting their goals, roadmaps and better planning can help you increase...
Business decision making is a serious affair: the decisions you make can affect hundreds or thousands of employees, customers, and shareholders. That's why certain...
Managers and entrepreneurs face many important decisions during their careers. Deciding when to give up on a project, business, or other important goal isn't always easy, but...
Recently, Facebook released Facebook Paper, an app that gives users a new way to use the social media service. Paper, which uses a new interface and integrates advanced...
In the workplace, it is natural to develop a certain level of vanity about your accomplishments and experience. For managers, however, an inflated sense of pride can be a...
For managers and business professionals, following through is crucial. When you consistently deliver on your promises and declarations, you create a reputation for reliability....
Business leaders and managers rely heavily on their personal drive to produce results. Business motivation takes many different forms and can come from a variety of different...
Recently, Microsoft announced the selection of its newest chief executive officer after an exhaustive six-month search. During the search, many business insiders wondered...
For business professionals, attire is a crucial element. Your colleagues and contacts will automatically draw conclusions about you based on your appearance and business...
When the Great Recession hit in 2008, lots of automakers, including the Ford Motor Company, took big hits. Ford had been hurting for several years before the economy went sour,...
Business owners and managers alike understand the importance of meetings. Productive meetings are a great way to solicit feedback and disseminate information. They help you...
SHOP exchanges, which allow small businesses to purchase insurance plans for their employees under the Affordable Care Act, have shared many difficulties with the main site at...
Retail businesses and the entertainment industry alike share a focus on creating apps for mobile devices. Mobile design philosophy has much to teach business owners and...
Business owners, executives, and managers constantly evaluate the effects of form vs. function in their organizations. From initial business startup to continuing operations,...
Over the past several years, Netflix has made multiple game-changing moves that shook the entertainment industry. By researching the changes to the Netflix business model, you...
For many leaders, the most difficult part of managing projects is refocusing the team when it gets out of control. This is particularly true for new managers or managers who...
Productivity, growth, and potential: three familiar management buzzwords designed to drive prosperity. Those three words also pop up frequently during work performance reviews....
When you are busy with everyday management responsibilities, it can be difficult to keep up with advances in business technology. Despite the speed at which new technologies...
In most companies, the success of a manager depends entirely on the success of the team. As you hire employees for your business team, you must find the size that works best...
Nudging a project onto the right path takes a bit of finesse. The most critical project management skills deal with leadership and organization. Hesitating to make executive...
It's back to work for many people, and everyone's still remembering the food at Christmas and how much they enjoyed being off work for a while. Unfortunately, this doesn't do...
Many business professionals make the mistake of searching for a job without having a plan. Instead of picking random job search strategies and using them to find employment,...
For most management professionals, presentations are an unavoidable aspect of business. If your presentations are tired or stale, a piece of updated business technology may be...
In a tough economy, job hunting can be a tedious process, even for management-level professionals with years of experience. By tailoring your resume to each job and writing a...
If you—like many members of the US workforce—are planning to change jobs in 2014, now may be the time to check out your options. If you're not sure where to start looking, a...
The recent security breach experienced by Target over the holiday season has brought the issue of information systems security into public discourse. Between alleged spying by...
Finding the right candidate for an available position can be time consuming and difficult, particularly if you encounter numerous well-qualified applicants. The interview...
If you're getting ready to search for management jobs, you're probably hearing all the usual job-search advice: update your resume, be prepared, and apply to multiple postings....
If you think your job only affects your bank account, you are sorely mistaken. Your job affects your stress level, productivity, physical health and overall happiness....
Teaching employees how to stay focused at work can be one of the hardest parts of being a manager. Other tasks—training sessions, seasonal reports, and enormous mail merge...
In general, customers are more willing to try a product, service, or company if it has been recommended by someone they trust. A professional recommendation from a client,...
You'll come across quite a few job application tips when you're looking to take the next step in your management career. For a manager, however, there really is only one...
When it comes to measuring the success of a business, profits are just one possible metric. Another crucial factor with the potential to affect your future success is customer...
Conducting a first-rate job hunt on a shoestring budget can be challenging, especially if you're searching for business management jobs. To get the job of your dreams, you must...
Experts have identified several different management styles, but many people have traits of more than one style, making it necessary to ask for feedback from subordinates,...
The start of a new year holds great symbolic power, making it the ideal time to set new goals. Without an action plan, however, it is easy to fall back into old habits. By...
In the professional world, relationships can be a make-or-break factor. Great relationships can make it easier to close deals, handle problems, and collaborate on projects....
Most resume tips given by experts focus on the type of information you should put on your resume. To make the best impression with recruiters and hiring managers, you should...
When meeting people, you have just one opportunity to make a great first impression. The impression you make during your first meeting will likely stick with new people for a...
Mobile applications make it easier to identify good job opportunities and submit your application materials, but a mobile job search should not replace your use of desktop...
Management professionals looking for work in today's market are likely to discover that the tradition of newspaper classifieds and hand-signed applications is already behind...
One of the best job search tips a management professional is likely to encounter these days involves focusing a job search on better prospects. There are two schools of thought...
Managers and business leaders have a variety of different decision-making tools to bring to bear when they need them. These tools may include cognitive checklists, resources...
Management books are good choices for gift giving during the holiday season. The management tips they offer are helpful, and they are almost always appropriate for giving to...
Whether you're working in retail, publishing, or any other industry, certain times of the year are extremely busy, and it can be hard to know when to take a break. However,...
According to the National Statistics Council, over eleven million business meetings are held every day, and over a third of total employee work time is spent in meetings. With...
When considering candidates for job openings, employers are searching for candidates with skills that will benefit everyone. Some of those skills include teamwork, leadership...
Do you have trouble telling others that you can't take on a new project? If so, you aren't alone. Many people have a difficult time saying no to people, especially if that...
Business leaders and management alike understand how the use of common business strategy elements can give them an edge in their markets. Traditional methods of thinking often...
The US healthcare website was supposed to make it easier for people to compare insurance plans and sign up for coverage. Unfortunately, the website experienced serious...
Successful business leaders are always looking for new ways to motivate employees, and it's not hard to see why. A motivated workforce will improve productivity without any...
Americans have struggled to recover from the impact of the recession that took place in 2007 and 2008. Fortunately, the US economy is showing some signs of improvement,...
For managers and business executives, presentations are unavoidable. They happen at all levels of business and involve all types of audiences. If your presentations are not...
Businesses of all sizes require funding from the start to purchase key items and provide a cushion during a potentially lean launch period. Many companies have turned to...
Managers and business owners can learn quite a bit from the process of technical writing. Technical writers take complicated instructions, such as those required to operate new...
It's easy for managers and business owners to claim to be leaders. Working with a team and owning a business may make you seem like a leader, but more than lip service is...
The recent government shutdown has taught the world a few things about politics in Washington. It has also scared more than a few institutional investors with the horrifying...
An emotional intelligence quotient, or EQ, is a measurement of the ability of a person to empathize and respond to emotional stimuli. This quotient rises when a person is truly...
For many managers, meetings have a way of going off topic. Long meetings are not always effective meetings, and they often frustrate employees and decrease productivity. When...
As a manager, you need to make decisions and act on the behalf of your team, which is what Congress is supposed to do for the citizens of the United States. However, as a...
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is designed in part to simplify the process of purchasing individual insurance. If you're pursuing self-employment and have a...
Management can be a tough role to fulfill effectively: entire sitcoms and countless movies have been dedicated to terrible management strategies. Voodoo dolls aside, bad...
An administrative assistant is essentially your liaison to the world. While hiring someone who has completed executive assistant training is a good idea, it's more important to...
In many businesses, managers strive to fill positions so that their headcount doesn't fall below a certain minimum, but it seems that this is rather unproductive. Business...
Negotiating is arguably the most important part of managing a business. Mastering negotiation strategies will put you ahead of the game for everything from setting employees'...
With business profits seeing some recovery following the general economic downturn, you might think it's more positive than negative on the financial front these days. You may...
If you manage a team or run a business it's important that you dress, behave, and speak properly to maintain a professional image, especially if your job involves public...
Business ideas are easy to generate. What's more challenging is separating the ones with merit from the ones that sound good but are ultimately unachievable. Here are a few...
Most companies avoid entering political conversations, preferring to remain noncommittal for fear of losing customers. Sometimes, though, circumstances force business owners...
It takes many different types of people to lead an organization, and finding the right fit for the job is rarely easy. Management professionals run the gamut from intelligent...
There's a new technology that's finding itself more and more at home in today's world. The Internet of Things is, as a concept, the logical next step in the information...
Leadership skills are essential to a smoothly run organization. No matter how flat the organizational chart or how democratic the workplace culture, leaders will always emerge...
Many companies use freelancers to get work done without paying additional employment taxes or providing employee benefits. This approach has many benefits, but it can be a...
Social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook are both a blessing and a curse for HR professionals. With the right social media policy, you can use these tools to attract...
The scandals at Enron and WorldCom generated a lot of bad publicity, forcing many managers to pay more attention to business ethics in the workplace. Although the chance to...
As the labor market improves and job opportunities increase, more and more dissatisfied workers are quitting jobs in their fields to pursue greener pastures. Confidence in the...
After eighty years of owning The Washington Post, the Graham family shocked the newspaper industry when they announced they were selling the paper to Jeff Bezos for $250...
A top priority for many organizations is to identify and develop leaders. Demonstrating strong leadership skills gets you noticed, creates opportunity, and enhances your...
It's common for business owners to become overwhelmed with trivial tasks throughout the day. However, when the busywork monopolizes the majority of your day, it's hard to...
Last year, Marissa Mayer rocked the business industry when she left her job as vice president of Google to become the CEO of Yahoo. Since then, the female CEO has graced the...
With football season in full swing, people are monitoring their fantasy football teams closely, hoping to win money. Business owners and managers have debated over whether...
Much like the invention of fire, the development of speculation practices in the modern economy has put a powerful, but potentially very dangerous, tool into the hands of...
Internships have become essential for many professions. However, because internships aren't typically paid positions, they're unfeasible for many people. According to...
In the past, people generally worked in one career for their entire lives. Today, workers are changing things up and switching industries midstream. If you want to take your...
Jeff Bezos has never been about doing things the typical way. The founder of Amazon.com built his business on unconventional business practices and a management strategy that...
Although social media websites have been around for several years, companies are still struggling to figure out how best to use these platforms to promote their businesses and...
Small-business confidence is a major bellwether used by economists and industry professionals alike to determine the overall health of a market. When small-business owners are...
For years, the MBA degree has been a hallmark of excellence for people in the competitive business field. If you want to build upon your experience in this field, you might be...
You're ready to start brain-storming sessions and adopt your favorite process improvement initiative to tackle the latest set of problems in your company, but you don't have...
The value of a college education is a major topic of discussion in today's modern market. Managers and business owners who have obtained degrees can speak to the advantages the...
A good manager knows that trusting your people and delegating responsibilities is a crucial management strategy. This holds true for large and small companies. Delegating...
Whether you've just graduated with a degree that gets you a foot in the door for a management position, started your own business, or clawed your way through the ranks to where...
Effective communication skills are essential for managers at all levels of an organization. Whether you are generating ideas with a group of employees or explaining a new...
When several automotive companies announced plans to open new factories in Michigan and other states across the country, people cheered. Once those job seekers learned that the...
Many companies are attempting to cut labor costs by hiring freelance workers instead of full-time workers. This reduces the cost of benefits and eliminates the need to purchase...
David Bloom of "Harvard Business Review" reports that 20 percent of the American population will be at least 65 years of age by 2050. This means seniors will make up a greater...
Michael Lewis is a retired business executive who writes about careers and tips related to personal finance topics on the Money Crashers blog. From time to time, many workers...
If you expect to advance your career, it is essential that you understand how to ask for work references from your colleagues and supervisors. You should also understand how to...
The first introduction to a candidate is the resume. Recruiters may look at hundreds of resumes for a single position, looking for the right skills, experience and education. ...
The Gallup State of the American Workplace report gives managers and executives the insight they need to develop policies and programs to increase employee engagement. The most...
Moving into a leadership role is a challenge no matter how many years of business experience you have. That is why it is so important for experienced business professionals to...
According to reports from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, almost half of recent college grads were underemployed by the end of 2012. Business graduates are among the...
If you want to use social media to promote your business, you must learn the best social media tips to incorporate into your strategy. One of the keys to success is making your...
Whether you have just completed a master's degree in business administration or an undergraduate business program, business networking is one of the most important skills you...
Your first job experience is the one that will set the stage for your career. It may also be the first time you have to deal with a boss, so how you handle yourself can affect...
When you've been working in management for a while, you realize that businesses tend to have set ways of doing things, and these processes are often used to ensure that all...
Gathering customer data can help you improve your business in several ways. By analyzing data from your customers, you can learn what your customers like or dislike about your...
Managing a business isn't easy--especially if you're managing your business without help. Unfortunately, if you've been maintaining a business for a long time, it can be hard...
Some manager traits cannot be taught, so it is important that you have certain characteristics if you expect to be successful. Being earnest is not a management skill, but it...
Professionals in business management push mentorship and training; there's a lot you can learn from those who've gone before you. Turns out, there's also a lot to learn from a...
Workforce management requires the ability to communicate and motivate employees of all ages and backgrounds. However, some managers are now at a loss when it comes to handling...
Management professionals come across a large amount of business jargon and numerous buzzwords over the course of their daily work. Many management strategy elements can be...
If you're a recent business graduate, you've probably got that confident, fresh-out-of-college vibe. You feel like you're ready to enter the workforce and start contributing,...
You've probably heard the buzz about social media as a form of advertising; Facebook and other sites are great for engaging your customer and getting word out about your brand....
When new graduates come into a company, experienced professionals often take little or no notice. After all, new employees are usually inexperienced and green, which can make...
“College degree required.” “College degree a plus.” These phrases are often included in job descriptions and job postings. A college degree has long been the...
For new professionals, the business world can be overwhelming. If you are searching for guidance and advice, a mentor can be a valuable resource. The right business mentor can...
As a savvy businessperson, you know the importance of investment. Without adequate financing, your company may not achieve its goals, and you may have difficulty expanding,...
The impact of global business growth on companies is both positive and negative in scope. On the one hand, emerging markets and the easy reach of the Internet offer...
When it comes to giving out high-level job titles, many managers fall into one of two camps. Some believe that certain job titles should only be given to employees who have the...
The need to improve writing skills is not limited to those who work in the publishing, journalism, or communications industries. Almost every business and management job...
Human resources professionals handle a variety of responsibilities, from hiring new workers and conducting training sessions to coaching employees and managing benefits. Team...
According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 47 percent of the companies founded in 2005 were still alive in 2010. Although venture management experts...
For many businesses, a virtual office is a cost-effective way to bring together talented people from around the nation or the world. Virtual business management doesn't require...
Your company is likely to rely on its management professionals to make clear and impressive presentations. Knowing how to make a presentation is a key management skill....
Many companies are turning to process management software to help deal with the many procedures businesses use in day-to-day operations. As a manager or business owner, it...
Companies just like yours are adopting new ways of accepting currency every day. Online currency trading methods, such as PayPal, have become commonplace for businesses that...
Every ship requires a clear destination before it sets sail, and your company should rely on a solid business strategy to provide the method for reaching the destination that...
Learning how to effectively listen to your clients is an essential step in building relationships with customers. It can also help you create better marketing campaigns,...
In uncertain economic times, many people may only think of their own best interests. This strategy is self-serving and should be discouraged by management interested in helping...
Can exposure to too much complaining really make you dumb? Will listening to someone complain over time alter your attitude and make you negative as well? According to an Inc....
As a manager it would be nice to be able to tell your staff exactly what to do and have them go off and do it. Of course it would be nice but it isn’t going to happen. Every...
“What would you do on your first day on the job?” That was a frequent question I asked applicants for management positions. The first day on the job is tough for anyone, but...
In this world where Facebook is so popular, it seems everyone “likes” everything we do; unfortunately that does not always transfer over to our job. It is still common place...
Being a great manager is something that anyone in that position aspires to, but to become one requires more than just possessing the right degree or the necessary years of...
Managing hourly employees poses a number of challenges for today’s employers. Hourly employees are not driven by the same goals as those working on salary or commission. They...
I just finished reading one of the posts by my co-blogger friend here at Nexxt, and was shocked at the utter craziness that goes on in the name of “rules.” The article I speak...
As an executive in a small company, I have seen a lot in my time. It’s a trite phrase, but never was a truer phrase said. As I wrote before, there are some dos and...
I saw a title flash by while on Facebook this morning. You know what I’m talking about. The little ads in the right hand column that flash on and off for a few seconds and...
As a manager, it is important that you live by the same rules you insist those under you adhere to. Respect is earned, and a manager that works on a double standard rule is...
Whenever you walk through the accounting department you notice some members of your staff waiting in line at the coffee maker looking like they hope one more cup of coffee will...
Let me give you seven rules for good management. These come from personal experience. It requires remembering that as a boss you’re in a management role. First off,...
In any office or workplace, there are a variety of people and just as many leadership styles. It's important for a good manager to recognize that there are many people in their...
You know, you may be managing and not even realize it. That thought hit me when I noticed my yard guy mowing my grass. He’s an employee. He does a job for you and gets...
The integration of new talent, whether promoted from within or hired from outside the organization, represents a critical career inflection point for the new employee. Too...
Emails are quick ways to send information. But depending on how they’re worded, they can send the wrong message that offends employees and lowers morale. We’ve all heard...
Even if you run a good company and treat your employees fairly, there comes a time when an employee hands in a resignation. The reasons they resign could be one of many. They...
With your job as a manager, how do you handle political opinions and discussions that are being undertaken in the workplace? You walk a fine line between allowing your...
We hear a lot about transparency being the new buzz word for politicians, companies, managers and partners. Transparency depends on disclosure, and while it may help you get...
Do you have a BFF? For those of you living under rocks since Facebook was invented, BFF means “best friend forever.” That acronym is everywhere—every sitcom, reality show,...
They trail into work a little after the other employees have punched in, coffee in hand with “Star” emblazoned on the cup. They give a regal nod to their coworkers as they...
Typically in these blogs, I give advice for people who are looking for jobs or I talk about ways to be a better employee. The thing is, many people work at jobs where they are...
A lot of businesses now have employees that work from home. Some of those employees may not even be in the same state as the business or office they’re working for. How, as a...
Sure, moving up to a senior management position has its perks—a bigger paycheck, better stock options, more power and prestige, even a better parking spot. But are the perks...
You may be surprised at what makes up a bad manager. It isn’t just someone who yells all the time but much more. Let’s take a look and see if you re guilty of any of these...
Motivation isn’t a philosophy or a belief. It’s an action. Whether it is something you do or how you interact with others, motivation is real, animated and...
When you're in charge of a team of employees, finding meaningful ways to motivate and recognize them for their hard work is important. Especially these days when so many people...
by Alex A. Kecskes If you’ve recently been promoted to the position of administrative manager, no amount of schooling can prepare you for “battling in the trenches” of...
Image via Wikipedia How to keep your employees from succeeding. Everyone who manages a team wants to help their employees innovate and think outside of the lines. Some of...
How to deal with an employee performance issue. When you're responsible for the performance of a team, one of the more difficult jobs is handling an employee who isn't pulling...
In Dealing With Employee Theft, Part 1, we talked about how to tell if your employees are stealing from you and how to prevent it. In Part 2, we’re going to talk about how to...
When some business owners and corporations start looking into mentoring programs, there is some initial confusion about what mentoring is. One of the biggest confusions that...
Hiring new employees is a very different experience for different companies. In some cases, there are challenges because of diversity issues and cases in which there are...
by Alex A. Kecskes Wal-Mart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart reported a net income of $13.6 billion on $404 billion of...
by Alex A. Kecskes One of the biggest challenges faced by many of today's administrative managers is how to effectively manage creative people. Task oriented managers...
Being a manager and effectively managing your employees can be a tough task sometimes. How do you go about it and not have a mutiny on your hands? Here are a few tips that I...
by Alex A. Kecskes The world of business increasingly knows no borders. Wal-Mart-China is expanding by leaps and bounds. And McDonalds is adding franchises all across...
Now that the job market is starting to recover, employers are starting to worry about retaining their best employees. For the past couple of years, employers were able to get...
by Alex A. Kecskes Cobbling together a loose group of employees into an effective team can pose a challenge for any administrative manager. But in today's hyper competitive...
by Alex A. Kecskes Whether you like him or not, Don Trump has achieved a level of success many executives only dream of. A master of real-estate investing, his advice to...
by Alex A. Kecskes In this economy, many companies have downsized to bare bones staffing levels. That means that when a big job or order comes in, administrative managers...
Years ago my boss called me into his office and wanted me to revamp the employee orientation program and develop a training program for existing staff to boost morale and lower...
by Alex A. Kecskes Just about every office has one. An employee who is loud, intimidating and often obnoxious. They're often hard to get along with and generally make life...
Part one of this comprehensive piece regarding employee evaluation covered the “dos and don'ts” to be used prior to the evaluation actually taking place. In order for the...
by Alex A. Kecskes In these stressful times, it's sometimes a good idea to relax and just let off some steam at the workplace. Parties, get-togethers and social functions...
By Randy L. SnyderAre you getting "red flags" via "hidden meanings" of undue criticism from management?Management, are you wary of how to properly implement or refine an...
There’s an old saying in HR: “People quit managers, not companies.” The idea is that poor relationships with managers are a leading cause of employees quitting their jobs –...
by Alex A. Kecskes Managing hospitality employees can be a challenge. Treating your employees well and managing them with skill and compassion will reflect how well they...
One of the most important tools you can possess in being an effective manager is your presentation skills.Far too often the skill of speaking in public is overlooked. It is a...
Are you searching for future leaders in your organization? Before advertising a new position, look within the office walls first. With attention to mentoring and leadership...
There has been much printed, verbally communicated and conveyed regarding Goal Formulation and achievement! The key to effective goals, however, is the manager or leader of the...
It’s my opinion that today’s “best” practices of leaders not only fail to resolve the problems they’re meant to resolve or achieve the results they’re meant to achieve, they...
The landmark Ipsos Loyalty Study, the largest study of loyalty ever conducted, found less than 30 percent of US employees say they are loyal to their company. Only about 25...
The VP of Operations still had no idea how to plan for 2009. Communication from the top was as clear as mud. The company budget was supposed to be finalized by year's end --...
Almost everywhere we turn, trust is on the decline. Trust in our culture at large, in our institutions, and in our companies is significantly lower than a generation ago....
Employee retention is essential to maintain customer relationships and minimize recruiting and training costs. The keys to employee satisfaction and retention are founded on...
By Rich Milgram, CEO, Nexxt, Inc. I recently read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer referring to comments, made by Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins (MVP 2007),...
A business organization is as good as the way it manages its employees. An employer requires comprehensive policies and procedures to enable the employer to fulfill its...
Over the past five years, as iContact and Virante have grown, I've learned a lot about managing people. A business amounts to little without the people behind it. The two most...
The holidays are quickly approaching! Yes it’s the season of togetherness and joy but it can also be a very stressful time inside and outside the workplace. We have to worry...
At the end of every fiscal year companies tallying up their scores to see how they’ve finished. Unlike the game of golf having the highest score is cause for celebration, being...
Successful leadership is not just about having objectives, devising plans, enforcing rules, developing relationships and executing ideas; it’s also about knowing who you really...
Benefit from the Hawthorne effect. This is a phenomenon first noted way back in 1924—several years before the era's leading "can-do" guru, Herbert Hoover, led the nation...
Many managers extol and even demand teamwork then set up situations, which destroy any possible team spirit. Tip: Don't expect team players, if you haven't made it a team...
For most people, work is a job. For leaders, it's much much more. Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, conducted an employee satisfaction survey when he was chief...
If you are honest, delegating effectively is probably one of the toughest challenges you face and you are not alone. Managers in all types and size of business avoid...
What is corporate culture? A commonly accepted definition of corporate culture is the personality of an organization. Put in concrete terms, the corporate culture is "how...
Leaders, consultants and managers must be competent in at least thirteen domains to even begin effectively managing creativity and innovation. Part 1 of Managing Creativity and...
The performance review is the most powerful tool in a manager’s bag to improve productivity. The goal of performance appraisal is to establish clear expectations, reinforce...
What makes top performers leave? It’s initially thought that it’s for more money or better benefits. But the truth is that it is usually because their managers chase them...
Nearly all managers inadvertently treat their employees in a manner that leads to less than desirable performance. Several leaders experience difficulty delegating duties....
While working for many years in the banking and healthcare industries, I noticed that many managers and supervisors detest writing performance appraisals. How do I know they...
When three leading magazines (Harvard Business Review, Business Week, and Training & Development) all have cover stories about talent management the same month, it is safe to...
In most cases, part-time employees present a special challenge when it comes to motivation. They do the “grunt” work, have little career choices, are often focused on other...
One of the biggest contributors to poor management performance, bad decisions, hiring mistakes, and a whole host of other problems is ego. Everyone has an ego. It is a...
We like to think that we know our audience pretty well. Ranging from presidents and CEOs to HR professionals to supervisors and front-line employees to consultants and...
Ask any group of managers if they view themselves as an elite within their organization and you can be sure they will deny it. You'll hear comments such as: "I have an...
“You’re Hired!” Have you ever said these words to a job applicant then come to regret them? If so, you’re not alone! Your long time assistant is complaining because the...
Some employees are true self-starters and seem to motivate themselves to excel. But even with your highest flyers, there could be times where he or she hits a funk and needs...
After you hire your ideal candidate, the goal is to not only fulfill the immediate needs of your company but to have that person stay at the company for many years. The time...
Mistake #2 That Small Business Owners Make: They don’t communicate with their clients on a regular basis. Imagine if you will, a bright, red telephone in your...
Despite all the trendy rhetoric about the importance of people, leadership, and values, far too many managers treat people in their organizations with about as much care and...
Do you ever feel like you are babysitting at work? Your 2 year old at home is well mannered than this! It is time to scream, but you have to maintain your cool because you...
In the hard-nosed world of managing organisations, people management is often seen as the soft side of management. Whilst considered as positively contributing to performance...
You get your clothes cleaned when they’re dirty. You pay your bills each month. You see your doctor once or twice a year. You send cards to family-members at each birthday. So,...
Effective management leads to a happy and productive workforce and low staff turnover. Ineffective management has the opposite effect - unhappy, unproductive staff and very...
There are really only two major management styles: authoritarian and democratic. Every other style of management, whether it's termed coaching, parenting, team-building,...
Just how prevalent are politics in today's companies? It depends on whom you ask, according to two recent surveys. More than a third (36 percent) of employees polled said the...
The first few weeks on the job for a new employee can have a strong impact on his or her long-term job satisfaction. This is the time when the employee establishes attitudes...
Applet code: Cross-functional teams are becoming increasingly prevalent in business today because of their role in enhancing efficiency. But managing a group made up of staff...
Managers today may need to "widen" their open door policies, especially as the pace of business accelerates. In a recent nationwide survey of chief financial officers (CFOs),...
The Old Way – Command and Control Although workplaces and management styles have come a long way in the last decade, the command and control style of management behaviour...
Corporate management positions offer considerable money, benefits and security, but the downside of the corporate lifestyle can drive some managers to head for the nearest...
Teena Rose is a columnist, public speaker, and certified/published resume writer with Resume to Referral. She's authored several books, including "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer"...
Team-based project work is a common practice in today's workplace. Two heads are better than one, the saying goes, and many companies think the more heads working on a project,...