Recent Articles
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3 simple New Year’s resolutions for church staff
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityWe're near the finish line of 2020, with everyone ready to bid this chaotic year adieu. As we try to shake off a rough year, it's time to look ahead and consider how to start 2021. While COVID-19 isn't fully behind us, we can still take a few actions to make this new year better than the last.
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How will the new administration affect gun laws?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe pro-gun lobby and its detractors each have strong opinions about the issue. America saw a massive spike in gun sales just before the elections. Americans have bought a record 17 million guns this year. Something is different about 2020, though. There has been an onslaught of new or first-time gun owners. They were more active before the elections, with plans to arm themselves if the elections got turbulent. Then there is the pandemic to blame as well.
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‘Lean’ into office productivity the right way
Sean Fields and Dr. Michael Sanders Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAlthough lean is generally considered a way to streamline manufacturing, it’s also useful for tackling inefficiencies in the office. By upgrading the front end, lean also prevents downstream problems that are a result of mistakes in the office. Given this, one might think that substantial gains would be a lead-pipe cinch when lean practices are introduced to an office. However, when these efforts get underway, disappointment often follows. The good news is that attacking the causes for the letdowns makes a remedy possible.
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How to buy beauty: Here’s how to shop all 7 categories
Elizabeth Donat RetailDecember is an exciting and festive time of year filled with wonderful buying opportunities in the beauty space. With so many amazing promotions, gift sets and sales, how does one decide where to even start? When you are shopping for yourself or those lucky recipients on your list, focus on the seven beauty categories.
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Supporting rural students during remote learning
Brian Stack EducationAfter nine months, the impact that the pandemic is having on our nation’s most isolated and rural communities continues to rise. With rising cases, the pandemic has forced many schools into extended periods of remote programming this holiday season. In rural communities that often already have equity gap challenges to overcome, this simply does not help to make things better.
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Managing executive sessions
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementJust before adjourning, the elected president said, "I'm going to ask everyone except board members to leave so we can meet in executive session." An executive session is a closed-door meeting when guests and staff are excused. The intent is to give the board space to handle sensitive or confidential issues. In Canada it is referenced as an in-camera meeting. The similarity of the phrases executive session and executive committee often creates volunteer confusion.
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10 holiday gift ideas for busy executives
Terri Williams RetailFor most busy executives, work hasn’t slowed during the pandemic, in fact, it’s likely to have increased. A study by Bupa Global, an international health insurer, found that 8 out of 10 business executives have experienced fatigue, disturbed sleep, and a host of other pressures as a result of COVID-19. So, when considering holiday gifts for these busy execs, consider items that can make their work — and lives — easier.
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Keep your distance, but maintain personal relationships
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesJust when it looked like remote working had hit its peak, employers are again facing the possibility of workplace closures as cases of the coronavirus surge throughout the country. Many businesses, though, including interior design, depend on teamwork and close personal interaction with customers for their success. While health and safety have to be a priority, they also need to have a strategy and protocols for meeting in person.
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Believe it or not, 2020 had its good points
Bob Kowalski Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe can all agree that 2020 will go down as one of the worst years of our lives. Or, at least we’re hoping that’s the case. Many people can herald personal accomplishments, such as marriages, babies, career advancement, or even something like buying a new car or adding a pet to the family. But collectively and in the grand scope, 2020 has plenty of pitfalls. I come here not to bury 2020, but to praise it. Believe it or not, we can find some good points about a forgettable year that we won’t easily forget.
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The meaning of the healthcare podcast revolution
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen podcasts began appearing around 2004, capitalizing on the presence of MP3 players like the iPod, little did we know that they would eventually become a driving force in the wider culture, let alone in healthcare, nursing, medicine, and related fields. Podcasts have emerged as a leading technology for disseminating opinion, entertainment, and information. Through the expanding podcast sphere, laypeople and professionals are leveraging the power of digital audio to create content covering most every aspect of human endeavor.