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The humble board member
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementIs there one quality that is most respected among board members? A quality that supports continuous success? Something that enhances a culture of trust? Humility is the trait that best positions a director for sustainable effectiveness on a board. "When you step into leadership, success is no longer measured by your ability to do the work, but by your ability to set the stage for others to do the work," offers Heather Breen, director of governance, planning, and engagement at the San Diego County Bar Association.
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Little white lies can add up to destroy your credibility
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe tell little white lies to make our lives easier, to get ahead in business, to sell a product, to disguise our ignorance, to give ourselves some leverage in a relationship, and to avoid any confrontation. Everyone tells little white lies. They don’t hurt anyone. Don’t they? A customer relayed to me that her previous travel advisor had advised her to take a taxi from the train to the dock to catch her ferry. Many euros and a half-hour later, she discovered the cab driver had simply driven around the block because her destination and arrival point were one and the same — just a different entrance.
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How to quickly improve Facebook ads this holiday season
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingUh-oh! After months of planning and crafting, is no one unwrapping (err… clicking) your Facebook ad? Well, luckily, you don’t need to return it for something better. In this case, a few minor tweaks can make all the difference. Or if you have the time, do some A/B testing, which entails changing one variable at a time to see what’s moving the needle. Without further ado, here’s the five-step check to perform to make sure your Facebook ad is just right.
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4 ways to save money on bulletins today
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityChurches thrive on information. Each ministry has lots of information to provide and, we hope, our members actually want to discover ministry information to use. The problem? People today are very fragmented in the ways they want to receive information. Some want it by text, some by email, others who want to go to the website themselves, scan social media, or those who still trust the bulletin or newsletter. People seek information from a trusted source so, because our churches have honed our bulletin process to a science, the bulletin tends to be the go-to place for "everything."
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Culture and L2 learning
Douglas Magrath EducationA positive view of the target culture makes learning the language easier. It helps if the learners identify with the people whose language is under study. Culture and language go together. Cultural understanding is essential for both learners and teachers. Language learning is easier if one has a positive attitude. The instructor cannot be an expert on every culture but should be aware of some of the more common areas of potential conflict. In this article, I will look at some aspects of the cultures of individual countries.
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The connection between employees and your company brand
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI recently met with a prospect who told me about his grand plans to grow his business. I listened intently while he described his vision. Surprisingly, he never mentioned his people. When he was done speaking, I responded by saying, "A brand is nothing more than a promise. What if your people can’t deliver on your promise?" He looked at me for a minute, and then quickly realized it was going to take more than a plan to hit his key metrics. Are you in a similar situation — grandiose plans and no specificity regarding how you are going to achieve these numbers? If so, read on.
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How to build a better meeting
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMeetings are an essential tool in the work your team does, of course — but are you running yours as productively as you can be? You could likely improve the way you plan, conduct and follow through on the important points you and your staff members are covering. But how do you know where to start? Use this new research to step up your game — and boost your company's productivity and profits.
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6 steps to data-driven transformation
Nir Kaldero Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe’re now well into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The First Industrial Revolution was about steam and railroads, the Second about electricity, and the Third brought about by the internet. AI, the basis of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, will completely change the way business is done and companies are run in the next five to 10 years, just as the internet has done. Even if you feel ready to turn your organization into a data- and model-driven enterprise, you may be unsure where to start. The following six steps are derived from my work with enterprises across various industries that have transformed successfully and can guide you in your own transformation journey.
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Dealing with political differences at the dinner table or at work
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIt’s post-midterm election season and the holidays; the time of year when people tend to socialize more. Common questions are, "How do I deal with differing politics at the dinner table?" and/or "How do I deal with political differences at work?" It would be easy to say, "Just don’t talk politics." This isn’t so easy when you and the people who disagree with you feel very strongly about what you believe in. There is an inclination to want to share your views and even assume everyone agrees.
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4 tips to ensure that your company’s open enrollment is a success
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployee benefits are typically 32 percent of total compensation costs, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). During the open enrollment period, employees can select new benefits or change their benefit options. However, they don’t always understand the enrollment process or the importance of selecting certain benefits. Below are four tips to help ensure that your company’s open enrollment is a success.
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