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Improve your writing: Avoid nominalizations in your proposals

Maryann Lesnick Civil & Government

One of the best ways to improve your writing is to use active verbs instead of nominalizations. What is a nominalization, anyway? A nominalization is a verb converted into a noun. Nominalizations come in two forms. Those that have endings such as -ment, -tion, -sion, -ing, and -ance, and those that link with verbs such as achieve, effect, give, have, make, reach, and take. For example: "The last step is the collection of data for the monthly report," is longer and less clear than: "The program manager collects data for the monthly report." Eliminating a nominalization often reveals passive voice and enables you to correct that as well.

Taking 10 minutes to escape a rut

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Whether it has been a frustrating quarter or the job itself is not as interesting as it once was, as leaders we all face times that challenge our ability to be inspiring. Yet, our teams and organizations depend on us to bring our best regardless of challenges. While it does not work to pretend to be perfect, it does work to have tricks up our sleeve we can easily pull out when needed. Here are a few simple ways to get out of a rut and back into the leadership groove.

Professionalism in risk management

Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Are you a "risk professional"? How do you know? Do you use the services of "risk professionals"? How can you tell they’re really professional? This article provides 10 criteria that risk practitioners and their clients can use to determine whether the risk services being offered can be described as "professional" or not. Before you start your next risk engagement, as either the provider or receiver of risk services, consider how you would answer these questions.

Chasing squirrels at the board table

Robert C. Harris Association Management

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it dozens of times at board meetings: "I just have a question." I observed it at a meeting recently. The offending director may or may not have realized what she was causing. Without being recognized by the chair, she said, "I just have a question." She followed her question with what seemed to be a personal opinion. For example, "Have we ever done it this way? I think if we change our approach and use new technology we will get better engagement." Directors have a duty to ask appropriate questions at the right time. But they should not hijack the meeting.

Data visualization: 3 steps towards success

Josh Jones Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Data visualization means giving numbers a visual context and extends existing concepts, such as business intelligence and analytics. Someone (wisely) decided that the interesting bits (outliers, trends, etc.) are better seen not as black and white numbers on a spreadsheet but as graphics made of colors, lines, and shapes. Have you ever heard the adage, "You first eat with your eyes?" Beautiful food is more appetizing, which is why fancy restaurants spend so much time making their meals more visually appealing. Data is no different. Displaying it visually can do wonders for getting your point across. That’s what data visualization is all about.

Do you have a crisis management plan for the inevitable social media car…

Terri Williams Marketing

It took years to painstakingly build your company’s brand, but it can be destroyed in an instant. One bad online post or conversation is all that it takes. From employees forgetting to switch from company to personal accounts before they start a drunken rant, to having a Twitter account hacked, to laying off employees and forgetting to change passwords, to one irate customer who has not received the expected level of support from customer service, social media is a ticking time bomb for companies of every size and in every industry.

6 tips for a successful telecommuting arrangement

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Telecommuting takes many forms, including remote workers, virtual employees, multisite employees, or those who are just considered "working from home" — all terms used to describe an employee whose primary work is conducted away from your primary worksite. No matter the form, telecommuting has many benefits for both businesses and employees. Despite the positives, telecommuting creates unique management challenges. Launching your workers away from the home base takes thoughtful preparation, and you can take some simple steps to minimize the legal risks created by telecommuting employees.

How to determine if now is the right time to quit your job

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

I was speaking with an executive the other day who told me he was thinking about quitting his job. I asked him why he didn't just do that. He explained that occasionally he had a few good days where he enjoyed coming to work. Making a life-changing decision like quitting your job doesn't come easy, especially when you've reached the top of the organization. Take it from me. There will never be the perfect time to quit. But that doesn't mean you should remain in your current situation. Here are six questions to consider when evaluating if the job you have is worth continuing.

The link between feedback style and culture

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Which one is more like your workplace? Option 1: Annual review time is like Christmas: employees count down the days, HR plans a party to celebrate, and staff look forward to the meaningful feedback and rewarding exchanges that occur during the review meeting. Or, option 2: Annual reviews are dreaded as a lot of work for managers and a demotivating experience for staff that culminates with an awkward conversation and an inevitable disconnect in promotion and raise expectations. In either case, the one thing both situations underscore is the significant impact reviews can have on the work environment.

Make your team’s one-on-one communication more effective

Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk Management

As a manager, you know how to take control of your group's dynamic in a meeting and draw the most fruitful comments and ideas out of your employees. Yet, when you observe your workers collaborating on their own, you might have noticed that their direct communication isn't as sharp. How can you help your staff members get their points across to each other, making for better project outcomes? It's easier than you think. Call a "communication cleanup" meeting and stress the following research-driven points.

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