MultiBriefs - Your source for industry specific News Briefs

Integrate coding challenges into your proposal strategy

Brenda Crist Civil & Government

Proposal professionals can expect to see an increase in "coding challenges" added to Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements. Government and industry are using coding challenges to either down-select offerors as an entry or final review gate after they submit a proposal. Coding challenges are tests sent to evaluate the offeror's ability to build a minimal viable product (MVP) or web-based app to respond to a set of requirements. If government and industry do not create their own challenge, they may use one on sites like CoderByte or HackerRank.

Study: Higher risk of depression in women who work long hours

Dorothy L. Tengler Mental Healthcare

Working women face challenging stressors involving both their family and professional lives, juggling roles as a wife, mother, and earner. For women who work more than 55 hours a week, however, these stressors increase the risk of depression. According to a recent observational study, those who worked for all or most weekends had 4.5% more depressive symptoms compared to women working only weekdays. For men who worked all or most weekends, 3.4% had more depressive symptoms compared to men working only weekdays.

5 ways to feel less isolated at work

Lisa Mulcahy Mental Healthcare

Do you feel less than connected to your co-workers on a personal level? It might not be that you don't have things in common with them. Feelings of isolation might be caused by behavior you routinely practice but don't even recognize as a problem. Don't just accept feeling alone in your cubicle — use these science-driven tips to feel better physically and emotionally.

The case for being uncomfortable

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

You get comfortable with your comfortable furniture, comfortable house, comfortable job, comfort food. Comfort zone. Why all the emphasis on comfort? When you're comfortable, you don't have to exert yourself physically or mentally. There are few decisions to be made; there's a familiar routine that demands little of you. There is security in the rote. Or is there? What some perceive as security can be an illusion.

3 simple ways to diversify your recruiting

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Realizing the importance and value of having a diverse team is not difficult. Instead, the challenge for many firms is where to start. For organizations with no HR or no history of doing anything other than posting on LinkedIn or seeking referrals, it can seem like a daunting task. In other cases, it is a mindset riddle: how do you ask a nondiverse team to implement diversity? To avoid analysis paralysis, here are three simple ways to begin to diversify your recruiting.

Video: What’s the difference between a school counselor and a guidance…

Angela Cleveland Education

In the past, the title "guidance counselor" was used to describe counselors working in a school. Their role was primarily focused on "guiding" students to post-secondary education and scheduling. Their days were filled with tasks like sending out transcripts, writing letters of recommendation, etc. The title "school counselor" today recognizes that counselors address the needs of the whole student. They are proactive, data-informed leaders in the school community. Watch this video to learn more about the difference in roles.

Are e-consults right for your practice?

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

Studies show that referring a patient to a specialist can often be a stressful and time-consuming enterprise for a primary care physician. Not only does that PCP have to identify the correct doctor to refer to, he or she must then, in many cases, set up a meeting to discuss the patient's case. What's the latest high-tech solution to save this kind of effort and energy? Electronic consultations, often called e-consults or e-referrals. The process works this way: a PCP who needs to ask a specialist about a specific patient's care — such as a symptom that needs to be discussed — emails a specialist. Then, the PCP and specialist discuss the patient's situation through messages.

4 quick tips to using webcam technology to increase your influence

Stacey Hanke Business Management, Services & Risk Management

There is power in making a genuine connection with others. When coming face-to-face with those we work with, lead or service, we create a stronger bond and deeper connection. If you’ve ever gotten to know a client or co-worker over the phone, only then to later meet them face-to-face, you will understand. The relationship heightens and becomes more personal. Technology has gifted us with webcams. Now, with the simple push of a button, we can get face-to-face with others, no matter where they are in the world, and deepen our relationship in a way not possible before.

The power of personal promotion

Fred Berns Marketing

If you've been in business for a while, you're probably pretty good at what you do. And, chances are, you're committed to becoming better. Great! But if you're like many business professionals, you're not as good at telling others how good you are. You may, in fact, be your own best kept secret. Not so great. The problem with that is this: it doesn’t matter how good you are if you're the only one who knows. The most important sale you'll ever make is the personal one.

How to alienate the board at your first meeting

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Want to make a bad impression as the newest member of the board of directors? Learn from these mistakes. For example, miss the first two meetings. Then, when you do show up, tell them you read that the bylaws permits two "unexcused absences" so you thought you'd take them at the start of your term. Also, arrive 45 minutes after the meeting starts and ask the chairman, "Would you mind recapping what I missed so I can get up to speed?"

Industries