One of the most agonizing decisions that a business owner has to make is deciding when to hire a new employee. It’s a huge risk! You’re bringing on additional salary, you have the cost and distraction of the search, there’s training the new person… And what if they don’t work out? It’s a difficult process…
The world of podcasting is exploding. Every day, smart people put up excellent material that informs and, if we’re lucky, entertains. Interviews with the best and the brightest are available on practically any subject, in any field. Whatever your interest, there is a podcast out there to engage and enlighten you. But if you’ve never listened to…
The turning of the calendar from one year to another is traditionally a time to wipe the slate clean and start new. We make resolutions, we attempt to remake ourselves, it’s a new year — anything is possible. So as we head into the holidays where many of us will spend some time away from…
‘Tis the season for gluttony! Business owners are some of the biggest culprits of gluttonous behavior during the holiday season. Constant ads fill inboxes, TV shows, websites, and mailboxes as businesses try to end their year on a high note. But it is precisely this time of year that business owners can really benefit from…
I wake up late because my iPhone is stuck in “Do Not Disturb” and with my first step out of bed I step on a Transfomer. Ouch, that hurts! It’s raining outside and I can’t find my car keys. I reach down to pick up my briefcase and spill my coffee all over the floor….
When you are in the client services business, whether it’s a professional service firm (lawyer, accountant, consultant) or a creative services firm (marketing, advertising, PR, web design. etc.), you make your money by serving clients. You need to diagnose a client’s needs, educate and advise them so that they agree with your diagnosis, then engineer a…
Personality profiles, personality types, and personality tests are all instruments that can be used to predict how a person might act or what type of environment a person might be most suited to. This information can be very helpful in quickly getting to know someone so that you can facilitate team building and communication with…
Take a deep breath In a typical day there are a variety of potential triggers that might get my blood boiling… My daughter texts me as I’m trying to get out of the house in the morning about a ride she needs that night. I get an email from my team member about their (now…
When starting your small business, you should be aware of the impact Human Resources can have on everything your company does. HR is responsible for supporting the business by handling hiring, firing, and classifying employees, as well as investigations. Some of the most common HR problems for all businesses but especially new businesses, include: Recruitment…
You’ve probably heard a lot lately about this idea of employee engagement. There are some scary statistics being thrown around; two-thirds of workers are less than fully engaged in their jobs (Aon Hewitt, 2013) with 18% “actively disengaged” (Gallup, 2013). I know when I read those stats I think, “Well, big businesses are like that….