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Why every organization needs a salary structure: A simple step in the right…
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhile the causes of fair pay issues vary, implementing a salary structure is a simple step that can help any organization prevent and address a number of problems. In its simplest form, a salary structure is a written plan that reflects all the positions within an organization with their corresponding salary range In part two of this article series, we will review what a salary structure is and how it can be a simple step in the right direction for any size organization.
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Help your employees use their smartphones more productively
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA smartphone can be an incredibly helpful tool in helping your employees get their work done better and faster in many ways. Or...not so much. As a manager, you want to encourage your workers to engage with their technology in ways that benefit their productivity and avoid becoming distracted by their devices in ways that can affect your bottom line. So how do you do this? Use these science-tested tips to encourage great results.
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How to steal talent without going to jail
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCompanies are pulling up stakes and moving their headquarters to major metropolitan locations. I can assure you, they are not doing this for the view. They are coming for talent. Amazon's recent search for H2 is a perfect example of this. Many companies sighed in relief when the news broke that Amazon had chosen a location that was nowhere close to their headquarters. This relief is only temporary. Many companies are desperate for talent and will do just about anything. Here's my advice on how to steal talent without going to jail.
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Who blinked? Business lessons from the recent government shutdown
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOn Jan. 25, the nearly five-week partial government shutdown was resolved when President Trump and Congress agreed to reopen the government — at least for the following three weeks — in spite of leaving the issue of border security still open. It was Winston Churchill who first said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste." As government employees return to work and most daily functions return to normal, what can we as business people learn from this debacle and take back to our own organizations?
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Why every organization needs a salary structure: Understanding the problem
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDoes any organization really intend to discriminate against women and people of color by systematically underpaying them? Hopefully not; yet it is happening across organization size and industry. Part of the problem is that even well-intentioned organizations do not realize their internal systems may support unfair pay practices. This two-part article will explain the practices that may undermine fair play and how salary structures are a simple step to prevent and address underlying issues.
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Build upon the mission
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementEvery nonprofit has a mission or a statement of purpose. It communicates the organization’s reason for existence and public benefit. Discussions and decisions are framed by the mission. The best are distinctive, memorable and easy to recite. While the mission can stand alone, there are five documents that easily build upon and enhance the impact of the organization. This article contains a sequence of documents that can enhance the mission:
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Bust these 5 bad work habits for good
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementNew year, new you — that applies just as strongly in your work life as it does in your personal life. As a manager, you want to set a good example for your team members who take their cues from your work style and philosophy. Are you making this happen? If not, it's easier than you think to break bad habits that may be holding you back from doing your best work — and inspiring your staff to do their best work. Check out the following list of common behaviors you'll want to change.
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How story-sharing creates connections and empathy in organizations
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementGrowing up in the Bronx before the internet, we spent a lot of our recreational time "hanging out" on street corners with other people telling stories. It’s how we got to know each other, and it kept us busy. Sharing stories built trust, connections and long-term friendships. When new people moved into the neighborhood everyone wanted to know their story. But when I entered the workforce, I remember my manager telling me on my first day, "Leave your personal life at home, and just do your job." That thinking is no longer the accepted norm as more organizations realize how important it is to build relationships inside the organization and to develop relationships with customers.
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If you only have one HR position, make it an HRBP
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOne of the most common paths into HR is accidental. An ambitious employee takes on the task of general admin or reception. In the course of interacting with clients and employees, she becomes a trusted listener and learns a variety of perspectives on the business. Her ambition means she can get her normal work done and steps in to help others whenever she can. Fast forward 18 months and she is the de facto human resources person in an office manager role. As an HR professional, I believe this is where the system can breakdown. To maximize in-house talent and get the perfect blend of customized, progressive HR programs, make your one HR position an HR business partner (HRBP).
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Technology improves the consent agenda
Wil Riley and Bob Harris Association ManagementThe consent agenda is a tool to facilitate more effective board meetings. Adding technology to the concept improves ease of use and impact. In today’s fast-paced world, we must respect volunteers’ contributions of time and talents. It will be difficult to convene a quorum if directors feel the meeting wastes their time. It is especially problematic when so much of a meeting is used for reporting: listening, reading, discussing and approving. One wonders how the board gets to the essential business of mission and goals if reports consume most the time. A consent agenda may be the solution, technology may be the mechanism.
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