Quarter four is upon us. The goals that were set back in January should be revisited now to avoid unfortunate end of year surprises. Be flexible. Some of the goals identified in January may not be such a priority now, whereas others may be more urgent. Now is the time to prioritize, determine what needs… Read more »
Social media is a major driver in marketing success. The opinions of customers who have direct contact with your company matter. Anand Subramanian of Harvard Business Review writes that branding efforts often overlook the key component of customer service. A company may develop a brand idea that includes a logo, slogan, an advertising campaign, even… Read more »
Business culture dictates that, when a problem occurs, a meeting is required to discuss the course of action. While a meeting can provide consensus, obtain input and knowledge from different perspectives, and is a vital part of effective communication, there are many cases where a meeting can hinder progress, add unnecessary bureaucratic functions, and waste… Read more »
When evaluating their hiring strategy, Automattic, the company behind WordPress, realized that a person’s effectiveness is best assessed through practical, on-the-job evaluation. Therefore, the company hosted “try-outs” for candidates where the person would be paid to work on a real project for a period of time – several weeks in many cases. This strategy proved… Read more »
Interviewing candidates requires preparation, knowledge of the job requirements, and careful question selection. However, for a hiring manager charged with conducting a last minute interview, a checklist of certain items can ensure a productive experience that achieves the main candidate assessment objectives. Lynda Bassett, a contributing writer for Monster, reminds the interviewer that candidates are… Read more »
A study by Glassdoor revealed that only one in five employees considered perks such as a free lunch or casual dress as the most important benefit at work. Not surprisingly, 76 percent considered medical benefits or vacation and sick time more significant. However, employee perks can lift spirits and renew a sense of commitment. Some… Read more »
The summer especially is a time when motivation can wane in the workplace. A study by Captivate, a leading digital media company, showed a decrease in productivity of 20 percent at this time of year. Staff can be distracted, stress compounded, and absences more prevalent. With the right policies, however, the summer can be a… Read more »
The secret to attracting and keeping talented staff is to engage and motivate them. Bob Kelleher, author of “Louder than Words” suggests that motivation comes from leaders and managers. Leaders must be culturally aware of the benefits of a diverse workforce and be willing to meet employee needs by offering benefits such as flextime and… Read more »
According to Jack Stack, CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation and business advisor, playing games is a natural activity and serves to exercise an individual’s desire to compete. In an interview conducted by the Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship, Black describes his early experience in corporate America and his increasing frustration with an unimaginative workplace. He suggests that a stimulating… Read more »
Many companies successfully navigated the recession of 2008 by increasing their use of contingent and temporary workers. The flexibility that contingent staffing provides allowed companies to respond to fluctuating productivity demand with sufficient skilled human resources. According to a study by Randstad, 66 percent of employers are hiring contingent workers and over 20 percent plan… Read more »
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