Tag Archive | "Trends"

One of primary reasons Americans forfeited two vacation days on average was their heavy workloads. Although companies reported that employees were 22% more profitable in 2011 than 2010, many employers are also realizing that less-stressed, rested and happy employees result in higher productivity and retention rates.

College students across the county are rejoicing: after several years of reduced post-college career opportunities for the emerging workforce, the college graduate class of 2012 has more job prospects. Companies across the country are trying to gobble up the brightest and most creative minds in the graduating class through company branding, perks and outreach strategies. The War for Talent is back on.

Tweet Many of us will gather ’round this weekend, taking in this year’s ultimate football game, enjoying the company of friends and loved ones as we scream in delirium and chest-bump in celebration. And while many of us will watch this Sunday’s championship contest, few of us will understand the cryptic lingo of the announcers, [...]

One of the best investments you can make as a manager, executive, or business owner is in making your employees successful. Companies focused on making their employees happy and successful are more innovative, productive and create exceptional customer experiences. Put simply, happy employees make happy customers. A sure way to make your employees successful is to provide them with consistent, direct and real time feedback. It’s also a great way to reinforce a culture of excellent customer service and keep your employees engaged.

The recently-announced 2012 list of The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America proves once again that great companies understand employee engagement — and how to cultivate it — consistently. This conscientious approach to talent management explains why some companies make the list year after year. To learn more about what it takes to be chosen, we spoke with Amy Lyman, co-founder of the Great Place to Work® Institute and author of The Trustworthy Leader: Leveraging the Power of Trust to Transform Your Organization (Wiley, 2012).

While most of us aren’t suffering from triskaidekaphobia, there’s something about Friday the 13 that arouses just a little bit of fear, and we’re not talking about Jason Voorhees’ hockey mask. It’s just that superstitions are deep rooted in our collective consciousness, and while we know it’s silly, most of us probably avoid walking under ladders or cracking mirrors, since, as superstitions go, it’s probably better to be on the safe side. We know better, and yet, like saying “Bless You,” sometimes old habits are hard to break. No where is this more true than the world of work, where so many of us do what we do, again and again, simply because it’s what we’ve always done.

In 2011, the digital landscape underwent a significant shift that will have profound effects on business in 2012. The challenge is that hardly any business leaders noticed. That’s not their fault however. Although the impact of technology on business and consumer behavior was widely reported, in-depth reports on what to do next or how this will affect their business specifically were scant at best. What the social media gurus aren’t telling you is that the landscape for business isn’t changing because of social media, it’s changing because consumer expectations are evolving.

while we might not be signing offer letters with seven zeroes, we know that, like the Lakers, we can’t do anything but accept the decision, move on and continue to utilize our professionalism and experience to go for the championship with the talent cards we’re dealt. Of course, if you can’t have Kobe Bryant running your floor, here are some articles to help your front office pull together a winning team.

Don’t sell any deal until you know what can and should be sold. Listen with your ears instead of your mouth, and don’t interrupt. Also listen with your body and your mind. Challenge your assumptions and take note to see what’s missing. After you listen be Sherlock. Prepare to respond to questions that you do not want to answer. Prepare to say no and explain why. Provide solutions, not just problems. Remember that how you say something can have more impact that what you say.