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Negotiating commercial leases: Trade free rent for cash

Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield Retail

For many commercial tenants, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized salespeople. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, here are three money-saving tips.

2 simple steps to handle stupidity

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Sometimes it is difficult to escape stupidity at work. Whether it is an irritating co-worker, a micromanaging boss or just a case of the Mondays, foolishness can be lurking in the next meeting. Instead of seeking revenge, harboring bad feelings or letting an otherwise benign but annoying behavior derail a good day, handle stupidity with these two simple steps.

Managing risky stakeholders in 3 dimensions

Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Stakeholders can pose a real risk to our businesses and projects — at least some of them can — and managers and their teams need to be aware of this so they can take steps to control the risks that arise from risky stakeholders. As with all "uncertainties that matter," stakeholders present both positive as well as negative risks, and we need robust ways of identifying which stakeholders offer opportunities, and where potential threats might lie.

Hiring for now vs. forever: Filling a need

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Not every employee is a forever employee. Some hires are perfect for different times in the organization. The key is to hire the right employee for each business phase. This two-part series will explain the difference between for now and forever employees and how to tailor the hiring process to capture the most appropriate candidates.

Enforcing anti-discrimination policies in the workplace

Nicolette Penner Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The protection of LGBT workers against discrimination has been a gray area in the workforce ever since the Department of Justice filed an amicus brief declaring that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not cover "discrimination based on sexual orientation." Although certain states have passed laws protecting LGBT workers, sexual orientation is not directly stated in Title VII, which protects individuals' race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability from discrimination.

Employee education may be the best medicine for healthcare costs

Cait Harrison Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Open enrollment season is here, but not all employees may be thrilled about signing up for next year's health plan when costs continue to go up. In a new survey by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 79 percent of employees reported rising healthcare costs in 2016, which was up from 69 percent in 2015.

3 ways leaders can improve open enrollment

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

As leaders, we may be thrilled that we are not the ones leading open enrollment. Most of us barely have the interest or patience to handle our own coverage questions, let alone blow up balloons, coordinate events, and stay late to help others figure it out. Yet by leaving open enrollment up to HR or the brokers, we are missing an opportunity to reinforce a positive culture. Here are three simple, yet impactful, ways leaders can improve open enrollment.

A niche can make you rich, so start specializing now

Fred Berns Marketing

You may not be well-known in the business community, but that doesn't mean you can't be a business celebrity, and a wealthy one at that. Your shortcut to fame and fortune may be as simple as identifying a niche market, and becoming a specialist in it. Niche marketing entails targeting and focusing on a specific segment of an industry, one that is overlooked by other companies. That oversight leaves you with an opportunity to provide products and services that are otherwise unavailable.

Diversify to grow your revenues

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Interior design business activity has improved in recent months. My wish for you is that you have a prosperous final quarter as we enter the fall design season. However, many designers are not benefitting from the increase in demand, or they may be getting more business but are not realizing the revenues or profits they had hoped for at the beginning of the year. If you are one of them, it may be time to think about diversifying your revenue strategy.

How can employers prepare for an active shooter in the workplace?

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Recent workplace shooting incidents across the country have caused many employers to realize that they need a contingency plan in case they have an active shooter situation at their work site. To protect your workforce and avoid liability under various laws, you should work with your management or security advisers to identify and develop an appropriate workplace critical incident protocol or plan.

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