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Top US manufacturing cities in surprising locales but still vulnerable

Michelle R. Matisons Manufacturing

What do Wichita, Kansas; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Battle Creek, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; and even Portland, Oregon, all have in common? A new report on U.S. manufacturing jobs by Chicago's Digital Third Coast can answer that. They are all part of a manufacturing shift towards smaller U.S. cities. The report, culled from Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau, analyzes 236 cities in four general categories: total manufacturing jobs per 100,000 people; year-over-year growth; median income for the manufacturing industry; and median housing cost. Wichita, Kansas, tops this list.

Saying no when you think you should say yes

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

I was on vacation last week and reluctantly dragged myself through a museum because others told me that this was something I couldn't miss. If you've ever attended an event because you were told you must go to or ate at a particular restaurant because everyone else was going, then you know exactly how it feels to do something out of obligation. Of course, no one was holding a gun to my head. I could have chosen to spend my time elsewhere. I see the same type of behavior with clients that I work with.

Why it might not pay to be a night owl

Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied Healthcare

Love staying up late to catch up on extra work? You may think you're a natural night owl — but you could be hurting your overall physical and emotional health. Intriguing research suggests you might want to flip the switch on your schedule to improve both your work and personal lives. For example, a study by the University of Surrey in the U.K. found that night owls have a 10 percent higher risk of dying sooner than people who go to bed early in the evening. How come?

Women leaders: Helpful steps to getting your first board seat

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Getting on a board is a boon for any leader. It helps propel professional growth, provides insight and perspective for companies, and advances the interests of the organization of the board on which they serve. It has been proven to increase the likelihood they will be promoted and that they will benefit economically as well. Everyone wins. Yet the percentage of women on boards is woefully low. While specialty organizations and recruiting firms are trying to address these needs, there are a few helpful steps women leaders can take right now to help themselves.

Credit this: Big banks step up loan approvals to small business owners

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Big banks, those with assets of $10 billion or more, are feeling the love for small businesses. Loan approval rates with large banks rose in February versus January, according to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index. "Overall, the cost of capital is relatively low," said Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora, in a statement. "Small businesses are looking to secure funding, and for many companies, recent financial performances have made them creditworthy borrowers." Biz2Credit's monthly research comes from over 1,000 small business credit applications on the firm's online lending platform.

5 sales-boosting strategies you’ve never tried — but should

Lisa Mulcahy Retail

As a retailer, you want to keep your sales environment as fresh and as customer-friendly as possible — and the most surprising details can have a big positive impact in helping you do it. Want to give your sales a fast and easy boost? Science has you covered. Try the following research-proven tips to positively influence your customer base and move that merchandise like never before.

4 ways you are apologizing wrong

Stacey Hanke Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Apologies are something we love to receive and hate to give. They are especially tough as a leader. They require a great deal of humility, which challenge your pride and ego. They are an open admission of failure and wrongdoing, but when delivered with sincerity, they hold power with your team. Unfortunately, too many leaders give superficial apologies loaded with excuses and blame. Here are four ways you are apologizing wrong and how to make sure you don’t make these mistakes in your next, "I’m sorry."

Are you being served? What about your customers?

Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Who do you know who would purposely understaff an airport rental car location at a major resort locale so customers are kept waiting for two hours for pre-reserved, prepaid rental cars? When would you set up an interactive voice-response system so confusing that customers are forced to spend long periods of time to navigate their way into the right queue — only to then be disconnected? Not many of us would ever want those things to happen to the customers of our businesses. And yet, much too often, they do.

The real truth about learning

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

I was recently asked to coach an executive who was having a difficult time assimilating into her new leadership role, even though her company had invested a ton of money sending her to an executive leadership program. She confided in me that she could barely recall what she had learned six months ago. I'm not surprised. I'm going to let you in on a secret that will save your organization millions of dollars a year. Real learning takes place in real time. Think about it. You can't learn how to ride a bike by reading a book or attending a two-day session on the theory of bike riding

Tips for onboarding new employees

Deborah Ike Religious Community

For many churches, by the time you're able to hire someone, you're already feeling the strain of not having anyone in that role. While it's tempting to toss a mile-long to-do list at a new employee as soon as he arrives for his first day in the office, that's not going to set him up to win long-term. Instead, it's best to complete an organized onboarding process for each new team member. Here are several steps to consider when planning to get a new employee fully on board.

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