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Be positive to solve a tough business problem
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhen you're trying to decide how to put out an emergency fire before it torpedoes a key project, your emotional state is probably not at its most upbeat. Yet, making the conscious effort to reject any feelings of pessimism about your situation is actually your best shot at a successful solution. It's not just wishful thinking — science shows that a positive attitude has a powerful effect on making the right choice when meeting an important challenge.
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Leading board meetings with intent
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementIs it possible to attend a meeting of a board of directors and not really know why one is present? Some directors don’t review the agenda in advance although it is the outline of work to be completed. Other directors might attend the board meeting for the wrong reasons. They show up because it is a good time to connect with colleagues or to gain insider information for their own interests. The best approach to attending board meetings is be intentional.
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Labor Dept. rules expand AHPs, in further blow to Obamacare
Seth Sandronsky Healthcare AdministrationThe Trump administration’s Department of Labor on June 19 issued a final rule that lets groups of small businesses offer Association Health Plans (AHPs), which are health insurance plans that sidestep some provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. "Every American should be able to get comprehensive health care coverage they can afford, and we support the goal of increasing competition and choice in ways that improve affordability," said Kristine Grow, senior vice president of communications for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a national trade association, in a statement.
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How to create a plan with a predetermined deadline
Deborah Ike Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIdeally, when you receive an assignment as the project manager for a new effort, you have the opportunity to create a project plan based on the tasks required to complete the work and how long it will take to complete those tasks. That should result in a project plan with a realistic deadline based on the resources already on hand. However, this ideal situation doesn’t always happen. In fact, I’ve rarely experienced this option. Here are a few tips on how to proceed when you already have a deadline.
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How leaders can find a ‘work spouse’
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWork spouses have been proven to further success, productivity and fun on the job. Having a colleague with whom you can joke, commiserate and confide with can make or break long days or rough quarters. However, the success of the work spouse relationship is based on the understanding that the two of you are equals. So how do leaders reap the benefits of work spouses when their options for befriending equals are nonexistent or extremely limited?
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New ways to become a more inspirational leader
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEvery manager's goal is to spur his or her team members to do their very best work — and a truly great leader does this through example. The best way to do it? Understand which attributes make a leader truly inspirational, and cultivate these positive traits within yourself. To make this task easier, use the following research-based tips for strengthening your leadership abilities easily and effectively.
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Is your board getting bogged down? Take back control
William D. Pawlucy Association ManagementYour board meeting is stuck and your three-hour agenda is in jeopardy. What do you do? Rather than allow panic to set in, take a deep breath and refocus. Keeping a board on track during a meeting is an art form, and even the best facilitator sometimes needs other tools to control a board that has gone "off the rails." Here are five tips that can help you get your board meeting back on track.
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Is it possible to enjoy work every day?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhile I was inclined to say no to this question, I have been proven wrong. After asking it in the varied offices of several different clients, I was greeted with a variety of tips, tricks and methods for enjoying the time we spend at work. First, there is something very deliberate about the word enjoy. It does not imply being happy about everything. In fact, as a line manager pointed out to me, one of her favorite things about her job are problems.
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How to balance accountability and remote work in small offices
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementSmall offices often reap the biggest benefits from remote work options. Yet, many leaders of small teams are hesitant to allow employees to work from home for two reasons: inability to maintain the same level of accountability and perceived fairness between those allowed to work from home and those that are not. Here are a few simple steps to address those concerns and balance accountability with remote work options in small offices.
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Improving knowledge-based governance
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementBeing asked to serve on a board is exciting. It is an opportunity to learn and demonstrate leadership skills, advance a cause and join a team. But the excitement wears off as the responsibilities for governance take over. A knowledge-driven board improves outcomes. Good board members base their deliberations on fact. Decisions guided by groupthink are to the contrary. That’s when the enthusiasm of the discussion drives voting.
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