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Make your team’s one-on-one communication more effective
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAs a manager, you know how to take control of your group's dynamic in a meeting and draw the most fruitful comments and ideas out of your employees. Yet, when you observe your workers collaborating on their own, you might have noticed that their direct communication isn't as sharp. How can you help your staff members get their points across to each other, making for better project outcomes? It's easier than you think. Call a "communication cleanup" meeting and stress the following research-driven points.
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US economy adds only 20,000 jobs in February; unemployment falls to 3.8…
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe federal government’s February jobs report shows that payroll employment rose 20,000 last month, a sharp departure from the 311,000 new jobs added in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. February’s unemployment rate of 3.8 percent compared favorably with 4.0 percent in January. "One month does not make a trend," says Elise Gould, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. On that note, job growth averaged 186,000 over the past three months. "One reason for the February weakness was harsh weather, depressing job growth in construction, hotels, and restaurants," according to Gould.
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How to avoid getting sick on your next vacation
Catherine Iste Medical & Allied HealthcareVacation can be that wonderful carrot, dangling out in the future. Blocking the time off on the calendar, making reservations, and other acts of preparation can add little boosts of positivity to dreary days between now and then. For some of us, it inspires cleared inboxes and finished projects, too. Unfortunately, many of us end up sick on our well-deserved breaks. Here are a few reasons we end up under the weather and some ways to get us back out enjoying it instead.
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Diminishing Arctic ice opens trade routes, commercial possibilities
Michelle R. Matisons Distribution & WarehousingWhen it comes to predicting the Arctic’s future, we are all "skating on thin ice." Recent data taken from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's annual Arctic Report Card shows that, by 2018, the Arctic Ocean lost 95 percent of its "oldest ice." This melting produces warmer temperatures because thick ice coverage keeps ocean water from absorbing the sun’s heat. While ice melts, dollar (and ruble) signs accrue, and new ice-free navigable waters open up trade routes, extend commercial fishing possibilities, and make global energy markets more competitive — to the dismay of clean energy advocates everywhere.
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Who makes the first offer?
Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield RetailWhen it comes to commercial leasing, who makes the first offer on a property for lease? The answer might surprise you! We strongly urge commercial tenants to leave that first offer to the agent or the landlord. The reason is simple. Once you have made that first offer, you will have shared your interest in a commercial property. By showing your cards (as you will) to the agent, you will have committed yourself to this commercial leasing deal. Once the agent’s first offer has been made, you have a number of options.
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Curbing mission creep and micromanagement
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementMission creep and micromanagement are disorders of a board. The symptoms and cures are different. Both create disruption in an organization. Mission creep is not a disparaging characterization of a member of the board. It is the process where a gradual shift in purpose occurs, with or without awareness. Micromanagement is a style where a manager or board members monitor employees too closely. It has a negative impact on staff when employees feel they are not trusted and are being evaluated by the board.
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Travel2020: What’s luxury got to do with it? Behind star ratings…
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementForbes Travel Guide can tell you something about luxury in hospitality. CEO Filip Boyen, who came aboard last year as the leading face of Forbes Travel, has worked in hospitality for some 30 years, starting out as a junior chef, working his way up through the ranks with Orient Express Hotels and Belmond, and later with Small Luxury Hotels of the World as CEO. After joining Forbes Travel Guide in July 2018, he became a go-to person who, when asked to define what luxury means, just might have some answers.
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How to organize a conference that provides lasting value
Simma Lieberman Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAs much as I enjoy meeting new people and connecting with old friends, I don’t have time or energy to attend conferences that rehash the same ideas or leave me exhausted and wishing for a bar of chocolate to make me feel better. But not all professional development conferences are equal. Some conferences are showcases for mediocre speakers, not a lot new information and boring workshops. Other conferences provide opportunities for learning, transformation and growth. The Watermark Conference for Women on Feb. 22 in San Jose, California, was an example of the latter.
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Safety tips for real estate professionals meeting with buyers or showing…
Terri Williams Facilities & GroundsIn 2018, 67 percent of real estate professionals experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information, according to the 2018 Member Safety Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In fact, 28 percent of respondents reported that they feel unsafe every few months. According to Mark Leetch, senior risk control consultant at CBIZ Inc., this is a very real problem. "Realtors face the exposure of sexual assault, robbery, and even being murdered," he says.
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Don’t let these ‘terrible 10’ mistakes sabotage your…
Fred Berns Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn today's competitive business environment, it's vital for business owners to recognize the most common roadblocks to their success. Every year, these obstacles derail too many small to mid-sized companies too often. At best, these issues create temporary detours. At worst, they can be career killers. Here's a "terrible 10" list of success saboteurs, and some tips on how to overcome them.
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