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Signs that your business may scream, ‘I’m cheap!’

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

People assume that your public image matches the product or service you’re offering. How else could they gauge your quality if they don’t know you? The visible image should reflect the invisible. If you have a cheap or unprofessional image, the public will assume your product is likewise cheap and unprofessional. That’s not a good scenario if you’re trying to sell high quality. Here are some of the ways your professional business is accidentally screaming, "I’m cheap!" despite your protestations to the contrary.

Designing for celebrities: How career and technical education teachers…

Sheilamary Koch Education

Teaching any subject is tough these days. But imagine the effect of remote and hybrid learning on woodworking and other career and technical education (CTE) classes. As industrial arts teacher Tim Zavacki puts it, “You can’t exactly send bandsaws home with kids!” Here’s how teachers have kept student motivation high and even discovered silver linings as they maneuver within whatever parameters their schools are operating under.

Skilled trades report highlights significant job opportunities

Terri Williams Construction & Building Materials

Millions of Americans have either lost or are concerned about losing their job during the pandemic, and businesses large and small have closed this year. However, skilled trades in home services is a small business sector that is actually experiencing a labor shortage. HomeAdvisor released a new skilled trades report that found skilled home trades businesses present an opportunity for entrepreneurship — and 71% of workers in this industry believe there is a job shortage. We spoke with Mischa Fisher, chief economist at HomeAdvisor, about the report.

Tips for promoting a more civil workplace

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges for everyone, including employers. Aside from the worst pandemic in a century and an inordinate number of natural disasters, social and political tensions seem to be at all-time high. These tensions flooded the workplace like a tsunami and employers are trying to figure out how to return civility and respect to the workplace. No "secret sauce" or "magic pill" exists for creating and promoting a civil and respectful workplace, so the purpose of this article is to outline a few action items for helping employers get on the right track toward a more civil workplace as soon as possible.

The right questions to ask at board meetings

Robert C. Harris Association Management

The board is convened for the purpose of governance. However, meetings often deteriorate into administrative discussions and committee work. When you think about it, convening leaders can be costly. The average number of directors is 15. Few directors come with governance experience. While they do their best, some find it easier to dwell on tactics, history, and personal business, rather than being visionary leaders. Asking the right questions can go a long way towards meaningful outcomes.

The smart strategy that’s helping women become CEOs

Gail Short Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Recently, Fortune Magazine reported that women made the biggest gain ever in capturing CEO positions this year. Thirty-seven chief executive officers on the Fortune 500 list for 2020 are women. However, the number is still puny compared to men. The problem is that public companies tend to hire CEOs with prior CEO experience. That puts many women at a disadvantage since, unlike men, they are less likely to have CEO experience. But in a study published in the Harvard Business Review last year, two researchers reported that for many women, the path to becoming CEO may lie with serving on corporate boards.

Survey: Workplace rivalries are on the rise

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The pandemic has created separation among work teams, but it has also created an increased level of competitiveness as well. According to a new report by global staffing firm Robert Half, 28% of professionals in the U.S. say that workplace rivalries have increased compared to a year ago. Younger workers were more likely than older workers to say that workplace rivalries have increased, and men were more likely than women to report a rise in competition levels.

A look at the benefits of getting an MBA

Amanda Kowalski Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In business, sometimes it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. You work hard, but so do a lot of your co-workers — and they are looking to get ahead just like you are. Maybe an extra degree will push you over the top for that promotion. According to U.S. News & World Report, the National Association of Colleges and Employers say that the average starting salary for Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduates is $79,043, more than $20,000 higher than those graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business. And it’s not just the first year that salaries are higher for MBA grads. The returns multiply over time like any good investment.

Plan for 2021 looking on the bright side

Lloyd Princeton Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Mostly sunny with intermittent clouds and showers. That’s my forecast for 2021. It may seem overly optimistic at the moment, what with talk of more shutdowns in the weeks ahead and the standoff in Washington. I am confident, however, that this too shall pass, the ship will get righted, and we will enter calmer waters as the new year gets underway. Having gone through so many months of uncertainty and reversals this year, why should I expect the situation will improve in the next? Despite the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in many countries, we are making progress on preventing and treating the virus as well as on producing an effective and safe vaccine.

4 AI startups that you should know about

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

There’s a good chance that you’ve heard about how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the world forever, but you might not be aware that AI startups are already gaining traction. Artificial intelligence will eventually change every aspect of our daily lives, even if some might downplay it as another technological trend that they don’t know much about. Some of these AI startups are focused on improving the healthcare sector, while others might help companies communicate and engage with customers better than ever before. Here are some AI startups that you should know about.

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