Recent Articles
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After the planning retreat: A strategic plan without implementation is…
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementBoard retreats create enthusiasm. Ideas are written on a flipchart and groups make recommendations. The result is a menu of priorities. Everybody feels good about the time they spent creating an envisioned future for the organization. Soon after the exercise, the daily tasks become the priority. The ideas get placed in a drawer to collect dust. Later in the year you might hear a volunteer ask, "Whatever happened to our strategic plan?"
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What is the long-term prognosis for telehealth?
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareDuring the rush of COVID-19’s onslaught in March and April, health systems attempted to scale up and survive, so they invested in telehealth technology, according to a report from the Center for Connected Medicine and KLAS Research. Despite the meteoric rise of telehealth services during the quarantine, these same health systems are wrestling with how they will make long-term use of the technology when the pandemic winds down. Per the report, health system leaders who adopted telehealth want to improve integration, infrastructure, and security in the years ahead and focus on long-term telehealth decisions.
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Picking up after an unsuccessful college experience
Dan McManmon EducationFailing in college as a teen or young adult with learning differences is a stressful time for the entire family. Parents have already invested countless hours obtaining a diagnose and related services, attending and advocating at IEP meetings, securing accommodations, creating transition plans, planning social time, dealing with legal matters, and much more. The student may experience failure internally and become depressed or anxious about their future. When things don't go as planned at the college level, it's a good time to step back and look at the alternatives.
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Infographic: How mask waste is hurting the planet
Maggie Kimberl Waste Management & EnvironmentalMasks have become a part of our daily lives. However, little thought often goes into their sustainability and where we get them from, resulting in mask waste. By one estimate, they will contribute 120,000 metric tons of waste in the U.K. alone by next year. This infographic outlines the problems with disposable masks as well as the benefits of reusable masks, especially those made from renewable resources.
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Isolation is terrible for your health. How should you keep healthy and…
Amanda Kowalski Mental HealthcarePeople have been spending a lot of time alone during the COVID-19 pandemic, with entire countries shutting down for months. Since then, exposure to the actual virus has sent millions back into quarantine for self- or government-imposed isolation. And the second wave may be underway, health authorities warn. For some people, being alone is a dream come true or not that much different than their normal routine. But for most, self-isolation has been a shocking new reality and, in some cases, has led to depression and suicide. Even before the pandemic hit, researchers knew that loneliness and social isolation were serious health threats.
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Avoid unnecessary layers of governance
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementRestaurant menus offer ways to enhance a plain hamburger. Would you like cheese? Want to add tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and pickles? Smoked bacon is tasty. Don’t forget ketchup and honey mustard. The more add-ons, the messier the burger. Does your governance model resemble a stacked burger? Have layers been added that require a bigger board, lengthy processes, unnecessary filters, or stifle progress?
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A complete list of 22 cybersecurity tips every user must follow: How many…
Oliver Noble Science & TechnologyDid you know that approximately 6.85 million accounts get hacked every day? This is 158 accounts per second! Even though the statistics are shocking, every user can avoid the risk of becoming a target just by following the right cybersecurity practices. Repetition is the mother of learning, so it’s a good idea to go over the things you think you already know. This list includes 22 key tips every computer and internet user should follow to protect themselves from becoming a victim of cybercrime.
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4 COVID-19-related changes that could outlast the pandemic
Amanda Ghosh Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCOVID-19 is changing the landscape of daily life. While some changes are minor and easy to adopt, changes like working from home create significant shifts in our social lives. Masks, virtual learning, ghost restaurants, and increased use of hand sanitizer are just a few of the pandemic-related changes that could stick around after the health crisis ends.
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How hard do you make your customers work to buy something from you?
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementYou’ve invested time, energy, and significant money to establish your business and promote it to the public in an effort to sell your goods and services. All you need now are customers. But at this point, how hard do you make these potential customers work to buy your products and services? By your actions and oversights, are you effectively telling your prospective customers that you don’t really want their business? I've encountered business owners who virtually tell customers to "go away; I don’t want your business," and then are surprised when customers do exactly that.
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Why phased-in marketing is the right way to resume a top-selling product…
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingAs a marketer, you have no doubt needed to proceed with caution when it comes to product messaging during the pandemic. As the pandemic continues, however, consumers will want to refocus their attention on your top-selling items again out of need, the ability to spend a bit more, or for a much-needed impulse buy. How do you reposition these products in the marketplace delicately, fairly and appealingly? A phased-in marketing approach, in which you gradually reintroduce these products into your content across your platforms and on your website, is the smart way to go.