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Green-collar jobs in the spotlight

Michelle R. Matisons Facilities & Grounds

When referring to occupations, the word "collar" usually refers to class/income or gender designations. "White collar" is used for professional jobs, "blue collar" for manual labor/working-class jobs, and the phrase "pink collar" is used for fields predominantly occupied by women, such as teaching and nursing. But there’s a new collar color on the horizon that cuts across these class and gender distinctions. "Green collar" jobs include any occupation related to environmental issues: the category encompasses lower-wage solar panel installation positions all the way up to high-paying research and executive positions.

The case for being uncomfortable

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

You get comfortable with your comfortable furniture, comfortable house, comfortable job, comfort food. Comfort zone. Why all the emphasis on comfort? When you're comfortable, you don't have to exert yourself physically or mentally. There are few decisions to be made; there's a familiar routine that demands little of you. There is security in the rote. Or is there? What some perceive as security can be an illusion.

3 simple ways to diversify your recruiting

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Realizing the importance and value of having a diverse team is not difficult. Instead, the challenge for many firms is where to start. For organizations with no HR or no history of doing anything other than posting on LinkedIn or seeking referrals, it can seem like a daunting task. In other cases, it is a mindset riddle: how do you ask a nondiverse team to implement diversity? To avoid analysis paralysis, here are three simple ways to begin to diversify your recruiting.

Travel2020: Stressed sleepers gain no peace on the road

Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

A global study commissioned by IHG Hotels & Resorts has confirmed that lack of sleep is a primary concern for travelers, with 80% stating they have trouble sleeping when traveling away from home. Indeed, the National Sleep Foundation’s annual Sleep in America poll found that only 10% of American adults prioritize their sleep over other aspects of daily living such as fitness/nutrition, work, social life, and hobbies/personal interests. The findings from the IHG survey revealed that the average business traveler loses around 58 minutes of sleep each night when staying away from home.

3 ways conferences can accelerate your career

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

It’s conference season! Think again if you think the best things about conferences are the goody bag and '80s flashback night. Conferences can be an incredible opportunity to accelerate our careers. Here’s how. For example, while not exactly a relaxing vacation, conferences are paid time away from work. Time away from work provides a break from our routines. This simple but significant change is a great first step to refreshing our perspective.

5 strategies for better construction cash flow

Aki Merced Construction & Building Materials

"Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is king." This oft-repeated adage has stood the test of time for a good reason. It is the principle that guides business owners on the importance of cash flow. No matter how successful you are in promoting your business and closing sales, operating with a negative cash flow can severely impact your operations. Here are five strategies that you can use to manage your cash better and maintain a positive cash flow.

4 quick tips to using webcam technology to increase your influence

Stacey Hanke Business Management, Services & Risk Management

There is power in making a genuine connection with others. When coming face-to-face with those we work with, lead or service, we create a stronger bond and deeper connection. If you’ve ever gotten to know a client or co-worker over the phone, only then to later meet them face-to-face, you will understand. The relationship heightens and becomes more personal. Technology has gifted us with webcams. Now, with the simple push of a button, we can get face-to-face with others, no matter where they are in the world, and deepen our relationship in a way not possible before.

The power of personal promotion

Fred Berns Marketing

If you've been in business for a while, you're probably pretty good at what you do. And, chances are, you're committed to becoming better. Great! But if you're like many business professionals, you're not as good at telling others how good you are. You may, in fact, be your own best kept secret. Not so great. The problem with that is this: it doesn’t matter how good you are if you're the only one who knows. The most important sale you'll ever make is the personal one.

How to alienate the board at your first meeting

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Want to make a bad impression as the newest member of the board of directors? Learn from these mistakes. For example, miss the first two meetings. Then, when you do show up, tell them you read that the bylaws permits two "unexcused absences" so you thought you'd take them at the start of your term. Also, arrive 45 minutes after the meeting starts and ask the chairman, "Would you mind recapping what I missed so I can get up to speed?"

Deloitte survey recommends focusing on extended enterprise risk

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

According to a new Deloitte survey, 90% of respondents rely on third parties for some part of their business, and 70% have a moderate to high level of dependency on external entities that might include third, fourth or fifth parties. However, it appears that companies aren't holding these external entities to the same standards: almost half of respondents said their organization had an external entity risk incident within the past three years. What are some of these extended enterprise risks, and how can they be mitigated?

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