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Handling inappropriate questions

Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Shock. 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.

Better meetings through technology: Will AI deliver us magical meetings?

J. Elise Keith Business Management, Services & Risk Management

"My goal is to make sure no one ever has to write meeting notes again." I’m talking with a product manager working to perfect automated call transcription. I find the idea both exciting and problematic. Fully automated transcription is just the first step towards a grander vision. As an AI enthusiast told me, "Notes are just the start. Consider — what if AI could make sure the meeting goes well in the first place? What if an AI agent kept the discussion on track? What if it knew how to help a group resolve a conflict? That day may not be too far off."

Why you should make more Instagram stories — and how to improve them

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Last September, Facebook accounted for 16.5 percent of all digital content consumption. This September, it was only 14.3 percent. While a 2.2 percent drop doesn’t sound dire, or even all that bad, its implications are enormous. That equates to each Facebook user reading, on average, 20 percent less content, estimates Pivotal’s Brian Wieser in a Fast Company article. Right now, Facebook is a tough place for brands. Instead, go where the getting is good — Instagram Stories! Because the people are aplenty, it's cheaper to reach your audience.

Get long-term employees engaged in open enrollment

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The volume of communications, details and information thrown at us during open enrollment can be overwhelming. It is so much easier to check out and keep the same benefits than try to wade through it all. And if we have worked at the company for more than a few years, we often assume we do not need to engage because we know it all already. That is a mistake. Getting and keeping employees knowledgeable about their benefits is a great retention tool. It is also a regular reminder of the value the company places on them.

Boost patient safety at your hospital by reducing little-known risks

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

As an administrator, patient safety is a top priority — and you no doubt are on top of as many established health risk elements as you can be. Research has shown that little-known environmental risks can be surprisingly detrimental to patients' welfare, however. How can you cut these potential hazards before they become bigger problems? Use the following science-driven info to recognize and reduce risk.

Hello? Is anyone listening? The perils of not paying attention

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

A lecturer spends 15 minutes detailing how their business is different from a competitor, and invariably, an attendee raises his hand to interrupt with a burning question, "But can you tell us how you’re different from a competitor?" Huh? Where has this person been for the last 15 minutes? Why waste the lecturer’s time and irritate other attendees who have been listening? I encounter one-sided phone conversations, in-person conversations, emails, voicemails and lectures daily. Even those automated voice robots aren’t listening!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday joined by a travel companion

Katherine Radin Retail

Perhaps the official start to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday has long served as a chaotic day of consumerism to follow Thanksgiving. However, a recent survey by OpenX and The Harris Poll showed that, this year, shoppers are skipping the day altogether. Given the current state of brick-and-mortar retailers, it seems that retailers may have to rethink their Black Friday strategies in the years to come. But it also appears that a new discounted shopping day is on the horizon, reflecting current consumer behavior.

Uncertainty reigns in latest Brexit developments

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

Heavy is the task for British Prime Minister Theresa May of the Conservative Party. She is trying to helm Brexit, a June 23, 2016, referendum that voters approved for the U.K. to exit the 28-member European Union, an economic and political partnership. "The draft was the best that could be negotiated," May said of the brokered exit agreement draft struck with the EU. Dissidents disagreed with her assessment of the draft, which is hundreds of pages long, including many in her own party.

Direct-to-consumer company wrongly claims ADA approval in recent social…

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

No one was smiling last week when an Instagram post attributed to SmileDirectClub — a direct-to-consumer clear aligner company — falsely claimed approval by the American Dental Association (ADA). Oops. Cue the frowns. Lots of serious, brooding frowns. Especially over at SmileDirectClub. And a few at the ADA. The incorrect statement was made in an Instagram post the week of Nov. 5. Only trouble was, the ADA was watching.

Has your business explored new ‘channels’ the way Hallmark…

Bob Kowalski Marketing

At this time of year, we’re likely to bump into someone who’s hooked on the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies. For many people, those annual holiday airings are the basis for their awareness of Hallmark. The greeting card company is a great example of extending its brand through multiple channels — literally, including TV, streaming channels and this year: a branded satellite radio channel. It shows how a business can grow by exploring unexplored — and seemingly unrelated — avenues. So where can you take your company following Hallmark’s example?

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