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New advocacy group launches to help America’s small businesses
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementPolicymakers, beware. Small Business for America’s Future (SBAF) is a new advocacy group, evolved from Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform. Why? Look no further than the performance of Congress and the White House as the COVID-19 pandemic hammered mom-and-pop shops with a crash in consumer demand across the U.S. SBAF surveyed 1,200 small business owners whose responses show the damage as Capitol Hill dithered. For instance, 53% of small business owners have increased debt during the pandemic.
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The metrics guiding nonprofit recovery
William D. Pawlucy Association ManagementWhat are the signs or metrics for recovery, and how do we take this information and make good business decisions? Business Insider recently published an article with five charts showing a potential economic recovery. What do various factors mean for a nonprofit organization’s recovery, and how can it take action? I think there are several areas to concentrate on.
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The best ways companies can use technology to interview and hire virtually
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCOVID-19 has caused significant disruptions in most business operations. However, companies are beginning to return to the new normal, which includes resuming their hiring plans. Gone (at least temporarily) are the days of forcing applicants to fidget in the lobby, evaluating their appearance from head to toe, and analyzing the firmness of their handshakes. However, technology can help companies streamline the interview process and provide a more effective way to onboard new employees.
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Change happens, so explore your possibilities
Lloyd Princeton Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementChange and uncertainty often go hand-in-hand, and right now, most people are experiencing a little (or a lot) of both! When change occurs, especially so abruptly, it can be disorienting, even alarming. But change can also be liberating, freeing us from our habitual way of thinking about things and forcing us to reconsider the path we’ve taken and our options for the future. If your professional prospects seem less bright at the moment or especially if you need some guidance, now can be the perfect time to explore "what if?"
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Preparing your association for the second wave
Bob Harris and Dot Miller Association ManagementWe are hopeful there will be no second wave of the coronavirus, or that mitigation will reduce its impact. Associations must prepare. Are we taking advantage of what we have learned in the first wave to position the organization for crisis? The purpose of this collaborative article is to identify improvements made by associations, to adopt the enhancements, and to prepare for the uncertainties.
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Why you should be careful categorizing COVID-19
Bob Johansen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe are facing a novel coronavirus. Novel means new. New means that old categories are suspect. Categories coerce. You must think across a spectrum of possibilities and risk — not force-fit something we don't yet understand into old categories we do understand. Categories channel us toward certainty, but away from clarity. Here's what you can do to thrive in the post-outbreak scramble.
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How to avoid COVID-19 scams
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCOVID-19 has led to a loss of life, decimated the economy, and instilled uncertainty and fear. Unfortunately, those aren't the only negative effects. The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning regarding numerous coronavirus scams, which have the potential to cause even more financial woes among consumers. And Self Financial, a credit-building company, recently published a comprehensive list of current COVID-19 scams.
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What benefits do employees want the most?
Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementPrior to COVID-19, healthcare coverage, paid time off, and retirement plans often ranked as the most desired benefits among employees. During the pandemic, these benefits — while still highly valued — have experienced distinct changes. For example, what employees want in healthcare benefits has taken on new meaning.
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10 ways to start promoting equity and stop racism
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI've worked in diversity, equity and inclusion for over 25 years. Because of my work, I get calls and emails every day from non-black, mostly white people who want to know what they can do end racism and inequality, particularly in the workplace. The people who contact me range from hourly employees to clients who are CEOs of corporations and executive directors of nonprofits. In response, I decided to put together a starter list of actions. Below are 10 basic actions you can begin taking.
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How to back the strategic plan with resources
Bob Harris and Leonard Toenjes Association ManagementThere is a saying, "Put your money where your mouth is." It means if you have an idea or plan, it should be supported by resources. Without aligning resources any plan is unlikely to succeed. In associations, resources include time, finances, committees, leaders, and staff. A strategic plan is a roadmap for the board. Sometimes it is called the board’s GPS: goals, priorities, and strategies. Let’s use travel planning as an analogy.
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