In the art world, painting by numbers is not a best practice. But in the business world, nothing provides a clearer snapshot of what’s going on inside a business like the numbers. Thanks to the ease of metrics software, the calculations that paint a picture of what’s working well and what could be better have [...]

In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of what we used to know even two years ago isn’t necessarily true in today’s changed business climate. How many outdated ideas do you have about the employment world? Read each question in bold to decide if you think it’s true or false before reading the answer below.

Employees [...]

There’s no denying that occasional, unexpected rewards from management can really lift a group’s spirits. Thoughtful gestures such as a surprise lunch together, tickets for an event that can be shared later with a spouse or a snazzy new espresso machine for the office speak louder than words for saying, “We appreciate you.”
When budgets were [...]

Like many of the best things in life, trust really is free. Doing without it, however, will cost you dearly, especially in business. What’s at stake is productivity, innovation, and ultimately, profits.
High functioning teams share goals that drive day-to-day activities. Their mutual self-interest greases the wheels of collaboration, but trust is the solid ground they [...]

By Bill J. Bonnstetter
Forward-thinking companies are taking on-boarding of new employees seriously, because it’s one of the best ideas to be refined in recent years. A superior on-boarding process initiates success in two areas: retention and performance. However, reaping the rewards of a comprehensive on-boarding program requires that you absolutely must make sure you use [...]

Cultivating promising employees who are already within the organization makes good business sense. Every company needs a plan for moving high potential employees into superior performers. It’s a process that shouldn’t be allowed to fall through the cracks, but with front line managers busier than ever, it might.
Supervising a team used to be the bulk [...]

Moving at high speed, trying to get more and more done. Thankfully, economic indicators show us headed toward blue skies again.
Have you been running around the same bases week after week, assuring that the essentials are under control? The urge to concentrate exclusively on crucial, immediate concerns can be overwhelming, but it’s a mistake that [...]

Many of us feel pressure to be everywhere at once, but it’s not necessary to be an expert at everything. Resourceful leaders make efficient use of all the assets available, especially the most cost-effective ones. What resources are already on hand? There may be untapped talent among the staff you have now.
Staffing starts with recognizing [...]

It was a dark and stormy economy, and all across the landscape companies competed to attract and retain the top producers who could turn around their numbers…
Here’s the story of how one company is leveraging their employer brand to grow revenue and staff in 2010, while another has unwittingly let income slip away with fleeing [...]

Keeping a firm grip on every budget dollar continues to be crucial in the challenging business landscape of 2010. Until recent glimmers of improvement in the economy become a reliable upward trend, employers must produce more with fewer staff. Being part of a strong recovery will require three crucial accomplishments: retention of superior performers who [...]