-
Returning to in-person governance
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementAssociations adapted their governance processes during the pandemic. Moving from in-person to online board meetings were significant changes that proved to be effective. However, resistance occurred. Some boards postponed important business, preferring to wait for in-person meetings. A few directors were described as leery of online meetings, believing that the important work had to be conducted face-to-face. In-person meetings are resuming. Directors are assembling inside the boardroom, picking up where they left off. For directors returning to the boardroom, remember these fundamentals to improve results.
-
8 questions every aspiring business owner must ask
Patrick Burke Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDo you have what it takes to own a business? Your first answer might be that it depends on the market, but that's only part of the story. So is thinking it depends on your product. The bottom line is it depends on you. If you don’t focus on your own drive, abilities, and tolerance for stress and uncertainty, you’re missing a key part of the equation. And if you start a business without really finding out if you should, you’re making a grave mistake. Say you've got a great idea. You've got a niche service. You've done the research and there’s space for you to grow a company. Before you start looking for a storefront, look in the mirror — by asking these eight simple but vital questions of yourself.
-
Is your local landing page helping or hurting your business?
Brian Wallace MarketingYour local landing page is one of the most common ways a local consumer will be introduced to your business — if your landing page has all the right elements to attract their attention. In 2019, 90% of consumers searched the internet to find local businesses, and this avenue of interaction has become even more important since the pandemic began. In order to successfully get noticed in a search and gain enough interest to attract actual customers, there are several things your landing page needs.
-
How to build a board development committee
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementNearly every organization has a nominating committee. Its task is to prepare a slate of candidates for an election. Some committees are diligent about their task, seeking nominees, vetting them, and submitting a slate. Others are just happy to find persons to accept seats at the table. Organizations are transforming nominating committees to have a year-round purpose. They are changing the name to the Board Development Committee (BDC). Usually, a nominating committee disbands after proposing the slate of candidates. The BDC has year-round responsibilities.
-
How to measure employee productivity fairly and consistently
Grace Lau Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementProductivity is an interesting concept. While the ability to work from anywhere has its perks, many of us also feel that it has altered our productivity levels compared to the days of working in an office. It can be hard to track productivity consistently and fairly. It’s all too easy to favor certain employees for particular tasks, or to only track productivity intermittently — when there’s a performance review coming up, for instance. If you track productivity intermittently, you won’t reap the full benefits and you could alienate some employees along the way. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can follow to ensure that you're measuring productivity the right way.
-
4 steps to empower yourself to accomplish your goals
Rob and Steve Shallenberger Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementPeople who have a sense of direction and purpose feel empowered. Yet only 10% of people have written professional and personal goals. Imagine how great it would feel to take all your good intentions and make them a reality. In other words, to get laser-focused on the things that matter most — and have the motivation to actually do them! To set your own roles and goals, follow these four steps.
-
7 ways to create quality culture in your organization
Felix Zoot Billson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIs it possible to achieve a true quality culture in your organization? The simple answer is yes! To do this, however, you must first understand what quality culture is. Quality culture is a working behavior or collection of behaviors encompassing every employee within a company. It is a way of working where employees strive for the best at every level. Having a strong structure in place is essential for creating quality culture. Being flexible within that structure is equally important. Establishing your company’s best practices is the perfect place to start.
-
Why 88% of businesses don’t onboard effectively — and how to be…
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn the race for talent, attracting the right employee is only part of the equation. Companies also need to retain their best workers — and keep them engaged. Onboarding can play a major role in retaining talent. However, a Gallup report found that nearly 88% of organizations don't onboard well. According to Keith Kitani, CEO of GuideSpark, there are three specific reasons why organizations don't succeed with onboarding: Overloading employees, communication fatigue, and inconsistent application. We asked him to explain how these problems can hinder the onboarding process, and how organizations can overcome these challenges.
-
8 tips to expertly communicate with difficult clients
Jessica Day Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhether you work in small business e-commerce, as a freelance copywriter, or as a construction contractor, there’s some form of client relationship in every sector. As with any relationship that can come under a little pressure, sometimes client communications can also get a bit frosty. There are a few tips and tricks to make your client relationship sail smoothly from the get-go — and how to deal with it when there's a bump in the road. This article will take look at eight tips to ensure you have expert communications with even the most difficult of clients.
-
Infographic: How to protect your intellectual property
Mike Floeck Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe world is increasingly interconnected and ideas are accessible at the blink of an eye, which also means your ideas are more vulnerable to theft than ever before. Your ideas are considered your intellectual property, a term used to define any creative capital owned by a business or an individual. Music, artwork, photography, and more are all forms of intellectual property that need to be protected. For businesses, intellectual property also includes logos and artwork, names, slogans, and unique text that are elemental to the business' success.
All Association Management Articles