How to talk so your boss will listen (and listen so your boss will talk)
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How to talk so your boss will listen (and listen so your boss will talk)

The meeting’s over and you are gathering up your stuff. As you review the meeting there’s a pit in your stomach: did we accomplish anything here? You came in to get clarity on your project’s priorities and you left more confused than ever. On top of everything, you sensed from his body language that your…

5 Employee appreciation ideas you wish you thought of before
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5 Employee appreciation ideas you wish you thought of before

Buying gifts for employees is often more difficult that figuring out what to buy your in-laws for birthdays or the holidays. So how do you figure out how to show employees your appreciation for their hard work? I’ve got a few employee appreciation ideas that’ll knock ’em out of the park. Let’s start counting down…

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Social media policies for employees: what’s cool, and what’s not

Social media has made some work boundaries a little blurry. We’ve talked about whether or not it’s okay to friend your employees on Facebook in the past, and this time we’re talking about social media policies. When it comes to social media, employees want to know how do you keep your personal life personal, and professional life…

Does listening to music at work improve productivity? Here’s 8 compelling reasons why it does
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Does listening to music at work improve productivity? Here’s 8 compelling reasons why it does

Brad and I wrote a little while back about wearing headphones at the office.  He noticed I was wearing them more often and we had some issues when he would try to get my attention. So we shared about it on LinkedIn, and it generated a storm of comments from people with polar opposite views — either they…

How to communicate with your boss (and get what you want)
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How to communicate with your boss (and get what you want)

So, let’s say you’ve been working for a company for a while, and you really want to find a way to accomplish some new tasks or take on new roles with your position. You’re ambitious, hungry, and ready for a challenge. But that means figuring out how to convince your boss that A) You’re ready…

Employees missing deadlines? Here’s how to make it stop!
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Employees missing deadlines? Here’s how to make it stop!

Missing deadlines is a common occurrence in the world of small business. No one is to blame (or everyone is to blame) and there are no real consequences — until the owner wakes up one morning and says, “Hey, weren’t we supposed to be finished with this project by now? What happened?” There are plenty…

5 books every account manager must read
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5 books every account manager must read

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…