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Little white lies can add up to destroy your credibility
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe tell little white lies to make our lives easier, to get ahead in business, to sell a product, to disguise our ignorance, to give ourselves some leverage in a relationship, and to avoid any confrontation. Everyone tells little white lies. They don’t hurt anyone. Don’t they? A customer relayed to me that her previous travel advisor had advised her to take a taxi from the train to the dock to catch her ferry. Many euros and a half-hour later, she discovered the cab driver had simply driven around the block because her destination and arrival point were one and the same — just a different entrance.
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How to quickly improve Facebook ads this holiday season
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingUh-oh! After months of planning and crafting, is no one unwrapping (err… clicking) your Facebook ad? Well, luckily, you don’t need to return it for something better. In this case, a few minor tweaks can make all the difference. Or if you have the time, do some A/B testing, which entails changing one variable at a time to see what’s moving the needle. Without further ado, here’s the five-step check to perform to make sure your Facebook ad is just right.
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The HR-friendly guide to holiday parties
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWork parties can be like mandatory fun. In many cases, more employees would choose to have the extra time with their families, to do errands, or just rest instead of spending more hours with co-workers. And in many cases, parties can be expensive and counter-productive for employers. Instead of missing the mark with what should be a happy celebration, follow these simple steps to set the stage for a fun time.
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The connection between employees and your company brand
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI recently met with a prospect who told me about his grand plans to grow his business. I listened intently while he described his vision. Surprisingly, he never mentioned his people. When he was done speaking, I responded by saying, "A brand is nothing more than a promise. What if your people can’t deliver on your promise?" He looked at me for a minute, and then quickly realized it was going to take more than a plan to hit his key metrics. Are you in a similar situation — grandiose plans and no specificity regarding how you are going to achieve these numbers? If so, read on.
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How to build a better meeting
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMeetings are an essential tool in the work your team does, of course — but are you running yours as productively as you can be? You could likely improve the way you plan, conduct and follow through on the important points you and your staff members are covering. But how do you know where to start? Use this new research to step up your game — and boost your company's productivity and profits.
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Dealing with political differences at the dinner table or at work
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIt’s post-midterm election season and the holidays; the time of year when people tend to socialize more. Common questions are, "How do I deal with differing politics at the dinner table?" and/or "How do I deal with political differences at work?" It would be easy to say, "Just don’t talk politics." This isn’t so easy when you and the people who disagree with you feel very strongly about what you believe in. There is an inclination to want to share your views and even assume everyone agrees.
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4 tips to ensure that your company’s open enrollment is a success
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployee benefits are typically 32 percent of total compensation costs, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). During the open enrollment period, employees can select new benefits or change their benefit options. However, they don’t always understand the enrollment process or the importance of selecting certain benefits. Below are four tips to help ensure that your company’s open enrollment is a success.
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A project-driven membership model
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementMembership models are evolving. This article is about a unique dues model in a Ukrainian association. But first, the background in the U.S. Most associations rely on dues for half of their budget. A handful have dropped their dues entirely, surviving off of access fees for benefits, programs and services. This opens the door to serving 100 percent of the marketplace as opposed to "members-only." Though they dropped the concept of dues, they retained a mechanism to allow members who want greater access to be "investors."
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Do’s and don’ts: Holiday gift-giving at work
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementNo good deed goes unpunished often holds true when it comes to holiday gift-giving at work. Instead of stressing about the cost, etiquette or unspoken rules around gifting this season, follow these simple steps to avoid the most common mistakes. For example, don't give gifts to the boss, someone else’s boss, the boss’ boss or anyone, in general in a higher position. When employees give gifts to other employees in roles above theirs, it creates the impression they are trying to gain favor.
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Handling inappropriate questions
Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementShock. Horror. Disbelief. These are the reactions we have when asked an inappropriate or uncomfortable question. These include questions like, "How much did you spend on your last vacation?", "What brought on your sudden weight change?" or "Are you dating?" Questions like these are not just inappropriate, they are intrusive. Most often our goal is simply to bring the conversation back onto neutral ground gracefully and tactfully. Below are some guidelines and some suggestions for doing just that.
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