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A strategic plan dilemma: Organizational infrastructure

Robert C. Harris Association Management

A strategic plan guides the board, communicates value to members and empowers the staff. Most have three to six goals. The dilemma is whether to include anything about the infrastructure in the plan. Infrastructure is internal, focused on governance and management. It would include technology investment, leadership pipeline, professional staffing, and financial resources. Without infrastructure, the other goals cannot be advanced.

What ‘business ghosting’ says about your leadership, and why…

Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk Management

One would think that during this time of COVID-19, work from home, and high unemployment that people who have the title of "leader" would make an extra effort to be kind and caring to their employees and other people with whom they come in contact. While I’ve seen some amazing leaders who practice that kindness, caring and respect for others, there is another group of people who have the title of leader but whose actions are just the opposite. For them, they practice what I call "business ghosting."

5 digital marketing strategies to plan as the pandemic begins to shift

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

As we look ahead to 2021, it's time to start proactively planning campaigns, launches and revenue growth — and feel some much-needed optimism. A stat to get you started is that 57% of surveyed small business owners say that they are optimistic or extremely optimistic about the future of their businesses, according to the 2020 Facebook Small Business Report. So, there are customers out there who will be eager to purchase your products and services, and partners waiting to work with you. What steps can you take now to facilitate this as soon as we move into safer times? Try these five clear, concise steps:

The tricks online retailers use to promote impulse shopping

Gail Short Retail

For online retailers, the goal is not only to get customers to buy. It is getting them to buy more. Even on impulse. "Impulse shopping involves making unplanned purchases with little deliberation that’s typically associated with feelings of guilt or regret afterward," says Sarita Schoenebeck, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information. For many Americans, impulse shopping is pretty common, according to a recent survey by the research firm DAC. The survey shows that 88% of Americans admit to impulse buying, spending about $81 on average every time they shop.

Nearly 4 in 10 workers suffer from video call fatigue

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

One advantage of working from home is the absence of unproductive, time-consuming, in-person meetings. For a while, video conferences were rather interesting, and they gave workers a sense of connection with team members. But now, two different reports reveal that employees are growing weary of video communication as well. According to a Robert Half survey, 38% of respondents say they’ve experienced video call fatigue. The Owl Labs/Global Workplace Analytics State of Remote Work survey reveals that 44% don’t find it necessary to get dressed up for a video meeting, which is a good thing. However, 70% believe there should be a day each week without any meetings.

How to manage a negative employee

Amanda Kowalski Business Management, Services & Risk Management

You could give every employee in the office a bonus, an extra week off and a party to celebrate — but there would still be that one guy who would find a reason to complain. Almost every manager has run up against a negative employee at some point in their careers. Even the best employees can have an off day, but when someone on the team is consistently complaining, the manager needs to deal with the situation before it spreads, brings down the company morale or productivity, causes other employees to leave or damages relationships with clients. So, what do you do?

How concerning is it when contactless self-service pushes people out of…

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

COVID-19 has accelerated a few foreseeable changes that the service industry expected for the future. For example, more consumers have wanted delivery service since the pandemic hit in March. Restaurants, hotels, airlines, retailers, and shopping malls have extended their current contactless self-service offerings through mobile apps, kiosks, facial recognition, and palm recognition technologies. To embrace the growing demand for delivery and contactless self-service, many fast-food chains also introduced new restaurant designs, featuring double- or triple-drive-thru lanes, conveyor belt delivery, and food lockers for pickup orders.

Visual breakthroughs in social media marketing to take advantage of in…

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

As a digital/social media marketer, you know that innovation, especially in the time of a pandemic, can be a true asset when it comes to retaining your brand's customers and gaining new ones. Key elements you can use to ensure engagement across your platforms include exciting, fresh visual tools. From emerging technology to new angles in visual content design, there are a range of visual advertising enhancements that can help boost your brand's sales and sustain your profits throughout 2021. Here are five specific visual breakthrough areas you and your marketing team can use to best advantage.

‘Lean’ into office productivity the right way

Sean Fields and Dr. Michael Sanders Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Although lean is generally considered a way to streamline manufacturing, it’s also useful for tackling inefficiencies in the office. By upgrading the front end, lean also prevents downstream problems that are a result of mistakes in the office. Given this, one might think that substantial gains would be a lead-pipe cinch when lean practices are introduced to an office. However, when these efforts get underway, disappointment often follows. The good news is that attacking the causes for the letdowns makes a remedy possible.

Managing executive sessions

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Just before adjourning, the elected president said, "I'm going to ask everyone except board members to leave so we can meet in executive session." An executive session is a closed-door meeting when guests and staff are excused. The intent is to give the board space to handle sensitive or confidential issues. In Canada it is referenced as an in-camera meeting. The similarity of the phrases executive session and executive committee often creates volunteer confusion.

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