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10 holiday gift ideas for busy executives
Terri Williams RetailFor most busy executives, work hasn’t slowed during the pandemic, in fact, it’s likely to have increased. A study by Bupa Global, an international health insurer, found that 8 out of 10 business executives have experienced fatigue, disturbed sleep, and a host of other pressures as a result of COVID-19. So, when considering holiday gifts for these busy execs, consider items that can make their work — and lives — easier.
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The meaning of the healthcare podcast revolution
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen podcasts began appearing around 2004, capitalizing on the presence of MP3 players like the iPod, little did we know that they would eventually become a driving force in the wider culture, let alone in healthcare, nursing, medicine, and related fields. Podcasts have emerged as a leading technology for disseminating opinion, entertainment, and information. Through the expanding podcast sphere, laypeople and professionals are leveraging the power of digital audio to create content covering most every aspect of human endeavor.
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Hindsight is 2020: Putting the year in perspective
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAdmit it. If two years ago someone had walked into your office with a movie script containing half of the things that happened in 2020, you would have laughed them out of there. Or perhaps suggested they needed psychological help. None of us saw this coming. Yes, the infectious disease experts warned we should be on the lookout for a viral pandemic, but they couldn’t tell us how or when this would arrive or the impact it would have on our society. Now that we’re getting close to the end of this tumultuous year, what learning can we take forward for the future?
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How to create an effective training video for your employees
Sunny Dhami Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementVideo has long been a critical part of educating employees. This term might remind some of grainy 1990s VHS videos, but actually, 76% of employees today believe video is an effective learning method. Nowadays, though, there are more advanced ways to make great training videos for your workforce, helping you educate your workforce and boost employee satisfaction using your education program. You can deliver these videos in person or remotely. In this article, we’ll give some advice on how you can make those videos most effectively.
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Why traditional marketing is broken (and 5 ways to fix it)
Jim Ewel MarketingThis should be the golden age of marketing. We have more tools at our disposal to implement and measure marketing, and, until the pandemic hit, advertising budgets were at record levels. Even with the pandemic, budgets are only down by roughly 5%. But ask any CEO whether he or she feels that marketing is delivering record levels of business and customer value, and, for most business leaders, the answer is a resounding no! So, what’s wrong?
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Utilizing principles from ‘The Art of War’ in your business
Victoria Fann Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementBeing a business owner in 2020 has been extremely challenging. Many businesses have not survived. Others have pivoted. Still, others are hanging on by a thread. Perhaps it’s time for some advice from an ancient master of strategy, Sun Tzu, the author of the 5th century BC book, "The Art of War." What does war have to do with business? In times like these, everything. Many of the rules businesses have lived by and depended on have disappeared, having been replaced by the constantly shifting sands of mandates handed down by government officials. What advice would Sun Tzu give us all these centuries later? Here are some principles from his timeless book that may be helpful.
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The cure for pandemic fatigue in your organization
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCOVID-19 cases are surging across the U.S. and in many other parts of the world. Even as the prospect of effective vaccines gets closer and closer, hospital ICUs are overfilling, leading to round after round of restrictions and shutdowns in many locations. One thing is for certain: We’re tired of all of this. We want to be able to move freely — to eat in restaurants, gather at sporting events, and celebrate holidays with families. But to quote the Rolling Stones, you can’t always get what you want — unfortunately. From a business perspective, we need to keep our organizations focused and on track. As we approach the end of the year, here are a few considerations to keep in mind.
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5 communication knowns about 2021, the year of unknowns
Mark MacDonald Religious Community2020 has proven that the only consistency in life is that we should expect change. And our definition of "change" certainly broadened in the last 12 months! Looking to 2021, we know that we don’t know. It’ll be a year of unknowns. After working 30-plus years in communication, here are five things that we do know, though. And if these are understood intrinsically, as God unfurls 2021, we’ll be more prepared than we were during 2020.
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The 5-step website audit to maximize your business
Jon Schickedanz MarketingThe COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to reevaluate the way we do business. With offices and storefronts shuttered, a company’s website or app is no longer just a complement to the brand. Often, it is the brand. To make your website a true extension of your business, it’s critical to understand what your brand stands for first. Before you spend any money or time to improve your digital footprint, try this five-step audit to clarify your brand’s mission, vision, values, character, and experience.
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But I’m just a volunteer
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementNothing is more deflating than to hear a member of the board say, "You don’t understand, I’m just a volunteer." Volunteers are afforded opportunities to make a lasting impact. Through their passion and ingenuity, they can affect standards of excellence, quality of life, and the success of people, businesses, and communities. Sen. John McCain described the importance of volunteering, "Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone."
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