Business Management Articles For Entrepreneurs & Small Business OwnersStaff Retention: Top 10 TipsThe ‘job for life’ is not a term often used now, but employers need to consider the importance of employee retention as it affects turnover, productivity and the business’s long-term success. Here are some tips to help you keep your staff: Recruit the right people It seems a simple thing, but so many companies stumble […] Inside The BoxThinking “outside the box” or “coloring outside the lines” is a popular idea in the business world today. People and organizations are told to think outside the box or color outside the lines as a way to stimulate creativity when they need to solve problems like streamlining production, establishing a new product, or developing a […] Problem Centered MarketingThe Psychology of Word of Mouth Advertising Are you wasting precious marketing dollars talking about your benefits, features and solutions? Are your marketing efforts less effective than they could be? Your Target Market Determining your marketing target is the most difficult and most rewarding thing that a business or organization can do. The million-dollar question […] Emile Zola’s 1883 Guide to Modern Marketing TechniquesLiterary and Human Rights students will remember Zola for his defence of Alfred Dreyfus when the French Army was convicted of treason solely because he was Jewish. But he had a second important contribution to the world which was the documenting of Parisian marketing techniques in his novel “The Ladies’ Paradise”. And America’s early fascination […] Managing Under Conditions of UncertaintyMost smaller enterprises grapple with mapping out future possibilities. All too often companies become wedded to a single outcome without really understanding the full range of possibilities they face. From our client experience, one way of dealing with an uncertain future is to consider a number of futures through a scenario planning exercise. One then […] Tough Times Never Last, Tough People DoRising food and fuel prices, unprecedented home foreclosures and a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar are current causes of consternation for economists and consumers alike. Business owners, too, are concerned about what declines in profitability may be in store. While some of the greatest minds continue to debate the length and depth […] Be a Better Manager by Using PsychologyMany managers and supervisors struggle to get the best out of their employees. Do you have difficulty understanding why your workers behave the way they do? Sometimes this is because managers mistakenly assume that everyone is like them: “I like a lot of detail, so everyone else must as well”. And when an employee turns […] 15 Critical Leadership Traits Needed TodayIn today’s tough business climate, managers and executives are becoming obsolete and are being replaced by leaders. The new manager/executive must be an expeditor and leader rather than an order giver and manager of people. In this article, I have documented what I have found to be the leadership skills and abilities that are valued […] Four Time Tested Tips to Business Economic SurvivalThese time tested techniques will do much to enlighten you to discover “hidden information” and relevant data as you prepare your 2008 Year-End Income Tax Returns. Whether you are a C Corporation, S Corporation, in Ministry, an LLC or LLP, Partnership or proprietorship looking beyond the numbers is the best way to discover critical and […] How to Even Out the Peaks and Troughs in Your BusinessDo you ever get times in your business where you’re really busy and then other times when you’re really quiet? Annoying isn’t it and frustrating? Wouldn’t it be much easier if you had business constantly coming in and never faced the really quiet times? Well, let’s see if this situation sounds familiar to you. One […] Corporate Communications It’s All About Delivering ValueOver the years hundreds of highly respected professionals, analysts and educators have developed comprehensive and sometimes complicated descriptions of public relations and corporate communications. There have been heated discussions regarding the separation of public relations from advertising, public relations from marketing and the role public relations should play of the organization. What is most counter-productive […] Process Mapping: Ten Tips for SuccessI see many organizations, both large and small, continue to communicate fragments of important policies and processes to employees through one-time emails and the like. This could include a new purchase authorization policy or a new data entry procedure. Expecting employees to forage through past emails and other transitory type documents only leads to wasted […] Book Review – Manager’s Desktop ConsultantDo you find yourself struggling with how to deal with people problems at work? If so, Manager’s Desktop Consultant: Just-in-Time Solutions to the Top People Problems that Keep You Up at Night is a worthy addition to your library of business books. Written by organizational development experts Louellen N. Essex, Ph.D. and Mitchell E. Kusy, […] Strategic Planning in Troubled TimesStrategic Planning for Owners and Managers All companies are facing challenges as the country faces the most serious economic times in recent history. Take time now to sit down with your team. For large companies, this might mean your department heads and partners; for smaller companies, your bookkeeper, and your salesperson. Don’t forget outside advisers – […] The Absence HeadacheThe glitz and glamour of all the Christmas and New Year festivities are now over and summer is a long way away – have you counted the cost of the festive cheer? For many employers, January is a hard month to get through and absenteeism has a direct impact on your bottom line. Have you […] Marketing In A Poor EconomyThere is no escaping the reality of the economy. These are not good times for most people. Many individuals and businesses are suffering. However, in spite of that, many online businesses are still doing well. Online shopping was up over shopping in traditional retail stores (Cyber Monday was up 15% over the previous year). People […] Is Your Workplace Safe?Have you taken the appropriate steps to make sure that your workplace complies with all necessary OSHA regulations? As an employer, you have a duty to make sure that you are providing a save working environment for your employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has very specific regulations and standards, and it’s your responsibility […] Telephone Etiquette Tips for ProfessionalsEvery time that your business telephone rings, there is an opportunity to build or damage a customer relationship. When an existing or prospective customer calls your company, the way that you address him or her plays a major role in whether or not the outcome of the conversation will be positive or negative. No matter […] The Importance of Disaster Recovery Plans for Small BusinessesDisasters can strike any time or anywhere, and they can impact businesses of all sizes. Small business owners who think they don’t need disaster recovery plans are likely to find themselves struggling to recover in the event of a natural, economic, or other type of disaster. Why Disaster Planning is Important Disasters can strike any […] Project Management Training that Fits Your ScheduleDo you want to learn more about project management? Are you interested in preparing to sit for the PMP certification exam? Many people whose jobs involve project management want to further their skills and knowledge, a well as earn the PMP credentials that will help them stand out from others who work in the profession. […] |
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