5 Steps for Avoiding a Technology Upgrade Disaster
There are amusing and horrific stories of the trials and tribulations associated with the transfer of technology, and the implementation of new systems and architecture. There are lessons that we can learn from those who have blazed the trails before us, and those who have been burned by the blaze. Get your fingers ready to count the five fundamental considerations for implementing new technology.

Best Practices of Great Service Companies
What characteristics do great service companies have in common? Most of them share common beliefs about the importance of culture, behaviors, people and relationships. Here are six points that define those companies' approach to service excellence.

Discover What Your Employees Really Want
Why is managing people so difficult for many managers? Why is it that they hate that part of their jobs? It's largely because they have no idea what employees really want from a boss. Read on to find out what it is your employees want and learn how you can give it to them >>

8 Ways to Deal with Difficult People
For leaders managing constant change, conflict is built into the very fabric of their organizations. When conflict is not dealt with well, it can create strained relationships and grow to sap the time, energy, and productivity of even the best teams. Here are tips for dealing with your most difficult people.

Smokers and Your Company's Bottom Line
Does your company have employees who smoke? Smokers not only endanger their own health; they can also cost businesses big bucks! Consider these reasons for promoting a smoke-free workforce >>

Beware of Legal Implications of Attempts to Curb Worker Smoking
Employers seeking to discourage employees from smoking by instituting bans on their off-the-job activities or imposing higher health care premiums for smokers, should proceed cautiously to ensure their actions comply with the law. Find out what you need to know to avoid becoming the target of lawsuits.

Share Your Business Plan for Success
Articulate and share the mission, purpose and goals of your organization with the people who work with you. This will give them a sense of belonging and connection to the big picture--and will empower and inspire them to give you their best. Learn the seven key areas that should be defined and shared with every employee.

The Right Way To Solve Problems
Every business has internal problems and the best businesses are constantly in a problem solving mode. Here are ten steps to solve problems so that they don't continue to happen.

Do You Have a Business Mindset?
In order to build the right small business infrastructure, you must think strategically -- that's having a business mindset. Here are seven examples of having a business mindset.

6 Ways to Succeed with Crankpots
The workplace harbors an abundance of crankpots--people who wouldn't know a smiley face if they saw one. Communication becomes difficult, and at times impossible. Consider these six ways to succeed with the disgruntled ones.

The Truth About Turnover
Are you about to lose one of your best employees to the competition? It's a good question to consider. Superstar employees are restless, ambitious achievers with big dreams. Find out what really motivates them to leave >>

Franchising Your Business
Ready to expand your business? Franchising is an attractive option for many businesses looking to grow, but it's not right for everyone. To find out just what kinds of businesses should consider franchising and learn what's involved, we spoke with franchise expert Ed Teixeira. Read the interview here >>

Are Your Employee Records in Compliance?
If the Department of Labor called and gave you three days' notice of an inspection, would you be ready? Would you even know what documents you were supposed to show them? Get prepared by finding out what the federal government requires in the way of employee recordkeeping.

The Impending Workforce Crisis
In the movie The Perfect Storm a small fishing vessel has the misfortune of encountering the worst Mother Nature has to offer. Just like this boat, today's employers are facing a combination of conditions just as threatening as this boat faced on the high seas. Find out how changes over the next decade will affect the available workforce.

How to Recruit, Screen, and Hire with Confidence
The words "I quit" may signify the end for an employee, but for an employer, the words can mean the beginning of a long, often painful process. Learn about the three things that make up an efficient and effective hiring process.

The Stress of Reaching for the Mouse
If you work at a computer all day, you've probably experienced pain of one sort or another from sitting at your desk and using your computer. In this article by licensed chiropractor Steven Jones, find out what you can do to prevent injuring your arms and hands while using a mouse.

7 Reasons to Register Your Trademarks - Now
Is your business or product name protected against others who intentionally or unintentionally use the same name? Could someone register a web site using that name and get away with it? Registering your trademarks has many advantages. Find out how you can benefit from registering yours.

Handling Controversial Media Questions
Have you found yourself in the middle of a controversy? The way you deal with the media will have a big effect on how your business weathers the storm. Here are some tips on handling  questions from reporters and interviewers.

Never, Ever Laying Off
Companies have been laying off employees since time immemorial. It’s never pleasant, but firms often believe that they have no option but to furlough some workers to curtail expenses. But do they, in fact, have a choice? Read more >>

Thriving Between a Rock and a Hard Place
As a manager, you have the opportunity to lead, supervise, mentor and motivate others - and your ability to do so effectively makes a huge difference to your company's overall success. But, statistics show that 50% or more of middle managers fail to achieve the expectations of those who promote them. Find out why and what you can do about it >>

4 Keys for Minimizing Employee Turnover
Workforce experts estimate that the cost of replacing a worker is 1.5 times the annual salary of the worker. To minimize your turnover costs and maintain a productive workplace, employers need to look beyond the salary and benefits. Here are four key areas to consider.

10 Sure Fire Ways to Fail as a Manager
In an effort to be less than constructive as a manager, here are ten sure-fire ways to alienate and demotivate your team on your change journey. Hit-or-miss approaches don't go far enough; this is your chance to use the best methods of corporate torture and humiliation developed by dictators, steamrollers and other "tough guy" bosses. Read more >>

Are You Making These Performance Appraisal Mistakes?
There are five big mistakes that managers often make when giving performance reviews to employees. This article tells you what they are and how to avoid them >>

Transform Your Organization from High Turnover to High Retention
Each year U.S. businesses spend billions of dollars recruiting and replacing their employees. But it doesn't have to be that way. Employees usually quit for one of five reasons. Learn what they are and what you can do about them.

Little Things That Make Employees Want to Leave
Small slights can generate big problems. Take the boss who impatiently drums his fingers as an employee pitches an idea. Or the co-worker who is left out of an email loop on a critical project. Find out how to identify and stop these "microinequities" before they harm your business.

6 Succession Planning Myths, Debunked
Succession planning is a hot topic these days, but according to surveys, not many businesses are taking it seriously. Here are six common myths about succession planning and the proof against them.

How and When to Delegate
As a manager, you're responsible for making sure your company or department gets its work done as efficiently and profitably as possible. So how do you decide which jobs to perform yourself and which ones to delegate? Find out here >>

6 Reasons You Should Consider Hiring Seniors
Older workers have gotten a bad reputation as being more costly and less productive than younger employees. But with a worker shortage forecast for the near future, many employers are reconsidering the value of seniors in their workplaces. Here are six benefits older employees bring to the workplace.

20 Tips for Project Success
What will it take to make your project successful? Get the top 20 steps to success and learn the 5 things to avoid in this excerpt from The Ultimate Guide to Project Management for Small Business by Sid Kemp. Read more >>

Make Your Customers Say "Wow!"
You know you need to provide good service to have satisfied customers. But if you want to win them over for life, you have to provide exceptional customer service. Read more >>

The Great Computer Crash
What would you do if your computer crashed? You've got a backup, right? And you just made it last week, so those contacts you just entered are safe... right? Read the story of what happened when this entrepreneur's computer greeted him with a blank screen.

Avoid Business Disasters by Breaking the Chain of Mistakes
Most business disasters are preceded by not just one but many mistakes. In this excerpt from Will Your Next Mistake be Fatal?, learn how to recognize warning signs and break the chain of mistakes.

Identify and Prevent Employee Theft
Employee theft is not uncommon in today's workplaces. And it's often the employee you least suspect that is the culprit. Here are tips on spotting and eliminating employee theft in your small business.

Select the Right Work Desk
The right desk can make the difference between a busy, productive day or a harried, disorganized one. When the time comes to replace your office desk, consider these important points in choosing the right work desk for your needs.

10 Questions to Grow Your Business
By now, you've set a working direction for the 2006 and established clear-cut objectives. Or maybe you're still trying to find time to plan it all out. Either way, asking yourself these 10 questions will help you fine tune your efforts and grow your business in the coming year.

Motivate Your Employees Without Spending a Dime
Retaining employees and motivating them to perform their best is a constant challenge for small businesses. These simple, low-cost motivation techniques can reduce turnover and energize your staff.

The Coming Labor Shortage: Fiction or Reality?
With the baby boomer generation quickly nearing retirement, many have proclaimed an imminent labor shortage. Yet others decry those warnings, leaving the rest of us with no clear understanding of how to prepare, if we even should. Details >>

Improve Collaboration and Cooperation in Your Workplace
Are you stymied by the collaboration void in your workplace? Wonder why, when you’ve struggled to hire the best and the brightest, tempers flare and productivity often grinds to a halt? Find out how put an end to defensiveness at work.

Surviving Survival
Has business been slow? Are you just hoping to make it through another year? Knowing how to survive during lean times is a valuable skill, but sometimes things we do in the name of "survival" can themselves bring about the end of a business. Read more >>

Silencing Workplace Windbags
As you see Susie round the corner to your desk, you try to look busy, pretending to make an important call. Susie, you see, is the office motor mouth. And, unfortunately, avoiding her doesn't usually work. So just what can you do to get Susie to be quiet without being rude? Here are 12 tips that can help.

Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur
Ben Franklin is the story of America’s first entrepreneur, taken from his own words, adapted for today’s business reader. It deciphers the colonial context of Franklin’s autobiography and clearly presents his observations and experiences in the business world in ways that modern readers can appreciate and apply. Read a review and an excerpt here >>

Love and Romance in the Workplace
Romance in the workplace is nothing new, and neither are the problems that can result. But not all workplace romances cause problems, and in many cases they actually improve productivity and morale. So how should your business handle this touchy subject? Here are some guidelines to consider >>

How Employers Can Save on Health Insurance
You no longer need a traditional employer plan to get good, affordable health insurance. Read this excerpt from The New Health Insurance Solution to find out how employers and employees alike can cut health insurance costs in half.

What Good Managers Must Do
Do your employees like and respect you? Do they look forward coming to work each day? Or do they secretly wish you'd get promoted out of their department while using the company internet connection to look for a new job? Find out why soft skills are more important to retention and productivity than most any other trait.

Avoid Hiring Failures
A new study shows that poor interpersonal skills and lack of motivation are among the top reasons why new hires fail. Asking the right questions during the interview can help you find out whether your applicants possess interpersonal skills and attitude that the job requires.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Temp
The use of temporary workers has steadily increased over the years. Would your business benefit from temporary help? To find out, check out these pros and cons of hiring a temp.

Tips for Successful Sales Training
Most people decide whether or not they like something within the first few minutes. This holds true with employee training as well. The success or failure of your training sessions may depend on the experience your trainees have in the first five or ten minutes. Here is what you can do to be sure your training is a positive experience from start to finish.

Small Business Hard Hit By Federal Regulatory Compliance Burden
America’s smallest firms bear the largest per employee burden of federal regulatory compliance costs, according to a recent study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Read more >>

Managing Employees: How to Reprimand
When you need to correct an employee, do you use the technique of "sandwiching" your reprimand between a compliment or pat on the back? Though it may make it easier for you to deliver your bad news, it doesn't work that well in changing employees' behavior. Find out why and what you should do instead.

Flexible Work Arrangements-Problems and Solutions
Employees love flexible work arrangements, and employers benefit from higher morale, lower absenteeism, and being able to attract better quality workers. But flex plans don't come without problems. Here's a rundown of the most common problems and the ways to solve them.

What Great Managers Do to Improve Retention
Creating a high retention workplace has more to do with good managers than anything else. Yes, you have to pay people well. Sure, you have to provide decent benefits. But first it begins with leadership. Improve retention and make your business a good place to work by following this five-step PRIDE model.

Managing Legal Costs: Five Tips for Businesses
The thought of being sued sends chills down the spines of most business owners. But a law suit doesn't have to mean the financial death of a thriving business. Follow these five tips for keeping your legal costs down.

Getting the Most from Attending a Trade Show
To get the most from attending a trade show, you have to a clear strategy in mind. This trade show expert has tips for what you should do before, during and after the show to be sure your trip is a success.

How Can Small Businesses Beat Healthcare Costs
Small businesses in America have watched health insurance costs increase while at the same time benefits have decreased. The cost of insuring employees can be a crippling burden for some businesses. Here are some tips for small businesses to reduce the impact healthcare costs have on their bottom line.

Small Business Drives The U.S. Economy
Small business drives the U.S. economy by providing jobs for over half of the private workforce. Moreover, the latest figures show that small business with fewer than 20 employees increased employment by 853,074 during 2001-2002. Read more >>

Business in China: A Wakeup Call
It doesn't matter what kind of business you are in -- whether you are a multi-national corporation, or a "mom and pop" business -- you will be affected by what is happening in China. China is like this huge vortex consuming both human and natural resources at an amazing rate. Read more about the booming Chinese economy and its effects on business in the US >>

Test Your Basic Writing Skills
Do you think you’re pretty good at spelling, punctuation and grammar? Many businesspeople do, but the truth is there are some common mistakes that nearly everyone makes time and time again. Take our quiz and see how you do.

Does Your Business Have the Write Stuff?
Poor writing says many different things about you and your business, not the least of which is that you don't care enough about your business to proof the words you use to represent it. Is that the kind of company you'd want to do business with? Here are a few tips to help you improve your business communications.

Book Excerpt: The Man Behind the Microchip
Hailed as the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford of Silicon Valley, Robert Noyce was a brilliant inventor, a leading entrepreneur, and a daring risk taker who piloted his own jets and skied mountains accessible only by helicopter. Read an excerpt from his biography, The Man Behind the Microchip, here >>

2005 Common Sense Guide to Reducing Employee Turnover
Finding, hiring and training employees is expensive and time consuming. If turnover is too high, it can suck the life out of a thriving business. Fortunately, employee turnover is preventable. Use these common sense guidelines to reduce employee turnover in your business.

What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Franchising
Do you ever feel like your business will implode if you aren’t there to watch over it? Are your days off interrupted with phone calls from employees or customers? Afraid to expand because you don't have competent management? Find out how the concepts of franchising may hold the answers to these problems.

Expecting the Unexpected Can Save Your Tradeshow
Catastrophes come from out of nowhere. Massive thunderstorms can knock out power and phone lines. An iffy meal at a local restaurant, and you have a staff member flat on their back with food poisoning. How do you prepare? Find out here >>

Survey Uncovers What Keeps Employees Satisfied
Nearly eight out of every ten employees are satisfied with their jobs and say benefits, compensation, and work/life balance are the most important factors to their overall job satisfaction, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s Job Satisfaction Survey released recently. Read more >>

Small Business Innovation Supports The Environment
By commercializing “natural plastics” made from renewable resources such as corn sugar, the innovative small firm Metabolix, Inc., based in Cambridge, Mass. is helping to improve environmental quality using a market-based approach.
Read more >>

The Answer to the Coming Labor Shortage
Despite a predicted labor shortage and the anticipated retirement of millions of working Baby Boomers, many companies assign employee development opportunities only on an informal basis according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)/Catalyst 2005 Employee Development Survey Report.
Details >>

Winning at All Costs
"Winning at all costs" may sound like good business advice, but it's not. Maybe your business idea just isn't going to fly and you'd be better off trying something else. Or maybe lowering your prices to beat the competition will cut into your profits more than your business can stand. Read more >>

Avoid the Sexual Harassment Time Bomb
Over 53 charges of sexual harassment are filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission every business day. What have you done to prevent sexual harassment in your workplace? Here are a few guidelines that can help.

SBA To Implement Women's Contracting Program
The SBA announced that it has concluded its review of a recently issued report on a study it received from the independent National Academy of Sciences and will begin the necessary steps to implement the Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Program in a manner consistent with the recommendations contained within the study. Read more >>

SBA Offers New Online Classes
New online business classes will be available for small businesses throughout the nation through a cosponsorship between the SBA and the Thomson Corp. (Ed2Go). Small businesses and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to enroll in three of Ed2Go’s most popular online educational courses at no cost. Details >>

Interviewing and Hiring Top People
Ponder for a moment the last person you hired. After you selected them, did they work out as intended? Or did they turn into somebody totally unlike what you thought when you interviewed them? Use these tips to interview and hire top people for the job each and every time >>

Recruit Your Way to the Top
A sales manager's primary responsibility is to recruit, train and motivate their sales force to achieve peak performance. Of these three vitally important tasks, recruiting is the least understood and by far the most challenging. Follow these guidelines for help hiring the right person for the job.

SBA Urges Hurricane Preparedness
With the six-month Atlantic Hurricane Season beginning June 1, the U.S. Small Business Administration is urging homeowners, renters and businesses to take steps to protect their lives and property before the storms hit. Read more >>

Are You a Technology Misfit?
One of the odd things about business is that decision makers are usually not decision implementers. The result is frequently staff resentment, and a true Technology Misfit in the organization. Here are ways you can fix the problem before your staff loses all respect for you >>

Why Your Employees Fear Training
Training sessions are there to help your employees do a better job and in the end benefit both you and the employee. But why do they seem to get so little out of them, and some actually fear the training? Get the answers here, along with four ways to create an effective training program.

Get to the Root of the Problem
Why is it so difficult to get to the real reason a problem exists? What is necessary to identify the root cause of a problem? Find out here >>

Small Manufacturers to Benefit from Regulatory Reform
Small manufacturers will benefit from regulatory reforms being considered by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) according to congressional testimony given recently. Details >>

SBA Names National Small Business Person of the Year
Marianne Sensale-Guerin of Gorham, Maine, who took over an environmental services company was recognized as National Small Business Person of the Year by President George W. Bush during ceremonies at SBA Expo ’05, the agency’s three-day conference celebrating National Small Business Week. Details >>

Quick Guide to Interviewing Applicants
Being your own boss sounds great in infomercials but also it means you’re the one who hires and fires when your business begins to bulge out of your extra bedroom. Here are some questions you'll want to ask when you interview, and a few you'll want to avoid.

SBA Names Businesswoman of the Year
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and CEO of the Carlson Companies, has been designated as the SBA Businesswoman of the Year. Details >>

Two Women, One Job
Job sharing - it's a nice idea, but can it work? And can it work for anything except clerical jobs? The answer is yes, and this excerpt from Enlightened Power tells how two women talked a financial institution into letting them share a vice president position.
Read more >>

33 Myths about Employees
Here are 33 traditional and voguish beliefs that, on the basis of their research, the authors of The Enthusiastic Employee say have little or no basis in reality. These beliefs, covering a variety of areas, are widespread and, when applied to the typical employee and work situation, are wrong. Read more >>

How to Build an Effective Sales Team
If you're in the position of hiring salespeople, you're probably tempted to hire the most outgoing, talkative candidates. But it's actually the somewhat less outgoing personality types that make better salespeople. Find out why >>

Mentoring and Baby Boomers
Young workers possess skills and savvy with technology that is hard to beat. As important as that may be in today's workplace, they lack the business experience and networks that baby boomers possess. Here's how businesses can make use of their baby boomer employees to help the next generation.

New Report Details Minority Business Dynamics
Minority-owned businesses expand, contract, and survive at rates that differ from non-minority owned business, according to a study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. SBA. The report tracks the success of minority-owned employer establishments that were in operation from 1997 to 2001. Read more >>

Online Registration Officially Opens for SBA Expo '05
Small business owners, entrepreneurs and others who would like to take part in the National Small Business Week celebration in April at the U.S. Small Business Administration's SBA Expo '05 can now register online to attend the event. Details >>

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners
Tired of working long hours and never getting a day off? Then it's probably time to bring in some help. Here are ten tips for hiring employees for your small business.

8 Steps to Selling Your Business and Cashing In
This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most will be small and mid-sized businesses like yours. If you, too, are thinking of selling, consider these practical steps for making the process go smoothly. Details >>

Creating a Friendly Work Environment
Which type of place do you want to work at: One that is cold and gives you a sense no one cares, or one that makes you feel good and appreciated? Money and benefits are important, but studies show in the long run the work environment--the feeling they get when they come to work--is more important in retaining and motivating people. Read more >>

SBA Seeks Comments on Size Standards
The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking comments from the general public on key issues relating to its small business size standards, the rules used by the SBA and other federal agencies to determine whether a business is small. Read more >>

Power Point Poison
Your Power Point presentation should help you get your point across, not replace your message. Make sure the focus of your presentation isn't just slick graphics and fancy charts, but you and what you're saying. Read more >>

Self-Employment Up Sharply Across Ethnic Groups
Self-employment rates for women, blacks, and Latinos have risen sharply since 1979, according to a study released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. During the period, self-employment rates increased across ethnic groups and gender. Read more >>

Top 5 Tips to Calm Cranky Customers
The holiday season may offer you your highest sales of the year, but you'll also have to deal with your most frazzled and frustrated customers of the year. Here are five tips you can use to keep them calm.

Exporting Not Easy for Small Businesses
Small business owners may not have the time and money to invest in overcoming barriers to exporting, suggests a study released at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Business Summit.
Read more >>

When and How to Expand
You’ve seen it a hundred times. A local store begins to catch fire. For years, it had one location and was high on word-of-mouth buzz for its quality goods. Suddenly the owners open two new outlets, then two more. A year later, all the stores, even the original one, are closed down. What went wrong? Read more >>

5 Ways to Build Morale
Working with the public can be a thankless job. But complaining to customers and coworkers is not the best way to deal with it. Use these 5 tips to keep your employees' morale high and good customer service will follow.

Top 7 Reasons to Write a Business Plan
Lots of business owners skip a crucial step to ensure the success of their companies – writing a business plan. This detailed overview of your company and its future is commonly overlooked - often because it’s a lot of work. Here are the top 7 reasons you should write a business plan and some questions to get you started.

Getting Voice Mail Returned
Do your voice mail messages go unanswered? Here are five reasons voice mail goes unanswered and what you can do to improve the likelihood that your calls are returned. Read more >>

Employee Training on a Zero Budget
There's a way you can train your employees without paying for training sessions or taking them away from their jobs. It's called "teachable moments" and it's a great way to utilize everyday on the job experiences to create a top-notch team. Here are six ways you can put it to work right away.

Electronically Apply for SBA's Business Development and Disadvantaged Business Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently unveiled a new electronic online application that will make it easier, faster and less expensive for small companies to apply for 8(a) Business Development and Small Disadvantaged Business Certification directly from the SBA's web site. Details >>

Building a Winning Team
Great champions have one thing in common: They know how to work as a team. The ABCs of Building a Business Team That Wins offers a set of simple, powerful rules to govern the internal behaviors of businesses and other groups. Read an excerpt from Chapter One here >>

10 Strategies for Selecting the Perfect Speaker
Today, more than ever, the success of meetings relies heavily on the strength of program content and presentation. Nothing can spoil a meeting more than hiring the wrong speaker. Use these 10 guidelines to avoid picking a dud.

Book Excerpt: Exporting America
For the first time in history, corporations are laying off Americans from well-paying jobs and replacing them with low-paid foreign workers. A recent study revealed that 14 million American jobs are now at risk of being outsourced overseas. Read more in this excerpt from Chapter 1 of Exporting America by world renowned journalist Lou Dobbs.

Outsource - Don't Employ
Outsourcing has a bad rap because it has been associated with jobs going overseas. Yet much outsourcing is a major improvement over employment for both the employer and the employed, and a good portion of the outsourcing now used by companies big and small is going to local contractors. Read more about the positive side of outsourcing from small business columnist Rob Spiegel.

Top 5 Reasons Why Strategic Plans Fail
Despite the hours invested in developing strategic plans, all too often they don't work. According to a survey, there are five main reasons that they fail. Learn what they are and improve your own success >>

Leading Your Workforce During Times of Terror
While no one knows when the threat of terrorism will end, one fact is indisputable: the out-of-control emotions of our employees will have an impact on our organizations. How can business leaders lead in the wake of this situation? Read more >>

Overtime Exemption Rule Pitfall for IT Staff
With the new overtime exemption regulations going into effect on August 23, your existing staff will be more aware of the criteria for an "exempt" position. Your IT staff is exempt, right? Better check these criteria to be sure. Details >>

Motivating Your Workforce
Money may attract employees to the front door, but something else has to keep them from going out the back. Reward and recognition programs can help you keep your workforce motivated. And, they don't have to break your budget to be effective.

7 Strategies for Planning Last Minute Meetings
Have you ever found yourself having to scramble to organize a meeting at the last minute? Use these seven survival strategies the next time you've got to plan a meeting with little notice.

Transform Your Sales Force
You've trained your sales team on a great new product and it's ready to sell. But out in the field, they just aren't promoting it. Sound familiar? It's a common problem among commissioned salespeople. Find out how you can get your sales force to do what you want.

Doing What Counts
How important is the work you're doing? What you do and when you do it are important to the success of your business or career.
Details >>

4 Steps to Disarming Your Biggest Legal Risk
Disgruntled employees are the biggest legal risk there is for most small businesses. But a few simple, consistent practices can keep your employees happy, productive, and keep you out of court.
Details >>

17 Tips to Bring Your Event to Life
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. Use these 17 tips to make your special event a success that won't soon be forgotten. Details >>

Resolving Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflict leads to decreased productivity, increased stress among employees, hampered performance, high turnover rate, absenteeism and at its worst, violence and death. Here are four steps you can take to resolve workplace conflict before it becomes a problem.

What's Bothering Managers?
Being given the job of manager or supervisor may seem like a dream come true, but along with the new job title and raise comes a whole new set of problems. Here are a few of the difficult situations managers must face along with six tips to help.

New SBA Size Standards for Labs and IT Businesses
Two new rule changes will help more small businesses in the information technology and testing lab industries qualify for small business contracting opportunities and assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Learn more here >>

Flexing Your Buying Muscles
Having the skills to be a great investor in your business inventory is what is needed to create "Buying Power." This knowledge of buying is what keeps retail business leaders in front of the competition. Read more >>

Creating Safe Workplaces
The Society for Human Resources reports that over half of HR professionals are at least somewhat concerned about workplace violence, according to a recent survey. And increasingly, employers are using background checks to help ensure workplace safety.
Read more >>

Excerpt: The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business
Think "What's your favorite TV show" is an odd interview question? You'd be surprised what you can learn about potential employees with unusual questions like these. Read more in this excerpt from The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business.

Tips for Teaching Seminars
Want to begin offering workshops (by phone or in person) to attract clients and maybe build another revenue stream? Here are seven tips for teaching a profitable and fun seminar.

Is Customer Service Training the Answer?
If you go to the doctor with a headache, do you demand a particular treatment before she examines you? Of course not! Well then, why do managers send their employees for customer service training -- before they know what the problem is? Read more >>

The Torn Manager
Managers often find themselves playing the role of middle-man because that is what they are... in the middle. So how do you represent the views of the upper echelon and protect the interests of those who work under you at the same time? Read more >>

Survey Reveals Economic Optimism for 2004
A survey of top executives, senior managers and human resource professionals hints at a shift in the “jobless recovery,” with executives reporting that their attention will be more focused on employee retention and recruitment in 2004 than on pressures to reduce staff or increase productivity with fewer employees. Read more >>

Time To Consider Cafeteria Benefits Plans?
The cost of providing healthcare to employees is becoming an ever bigger burden for small employers, and many are asking employees to foot bigger and bigger portions of the bill. One option some companies have found for reducing the bite is the use of flexible benefit plans, known as cafeteria plans. Here's why >>

More Employees Struggling with Elder Care
Research indicates that more people are caring for aging relatives, and that this often affects employee productivity. Employee expectations regarding elder care benefits have increased, and, as a result, most organizations expect costs for these benefits to increase in the next five years. Read more >>

Business Plan Maintenance
Do you think business plans are just for starting a business? Better think again. Business plans are about results, and here's how reviewing your business plan regularly will help you improve your business results. Details >>

How to Write a Job Description
Job descriptions are an important for attracting the right job candidates, helping employees understand their responsibilities, evaluating employees' performance, and much more. Here are tips for writing good job descriptions.

Balancing Too-Much and Not-Enough Work
What’s more stressful? A workload that requires a long stretch of 10- to 12-hour days? Or a slow and quiet flow of work that forces you to eat up your financial cushion? Both extremes are troubling  and both are common in the unpredictable world of business ownership. Read more >>

Employee Involvement Programs
Getting employees' ideas and getting their involvement is critical in our rapidly changing world. If your company is going to be competitive, it's mandatory to involve not just hands, but the ideas from everyone in your organization. Read more >>

Top 7 IT Project Problems and Solutions
The average IT project runs 200 percent late, 200 percent over budget and only contain two-thirds of their original functionality. Find out why, and how you can stop it from happening to your IT project.
Read more >>

How to Hire the Best
Your organization’s continued growth and success depend on making smart choices and hiring the best. Today’s economy is exploding with talent, allowing you to be selective about the staff you hire. Learn how to hire the best by developing effective hiring and selection skills. Read more >>

How to Give Employees Feedback
Giving feedback to your employees is essential to building a successful organization. Here are common feedback mistakes and ways you can correct them.

The Human Costs of Downsizing
Downsizing is never an easy decision. There is an inherent conflict between protecting the company’s interests and that of employees. This balancing act can be a real dilemma for an organization as it tries to insure its long-term survival, and its desire to protect the welfare of its employees. Read more >>

Debunking a Few Business Myths
Without a score card, we experience the current economic news as an onslaught of sky-is-falling doom and impending catastrophe. Yet much of the disturbing news may actually represent positive trends, and some of the encouraging developments may hold dark linings. Read more >>

Where Are the Jobs?
Corporate profits are improving and layoffs are slowing. Economists appear pleased, but many of your friends are still looking for work. If the economy is improving, where are the jobs? Find out here >>

Vacation Days
Paid time off, such as this week's Labor Day holiday, is a benefit nearly all employees in America receive. Here, in results from a survey conducted last month, are the average number of paid days off based on length of employment. Details >>

Are Your Employees Itching to Leave?
Most companies are anticipating increased sales in coming months and, as a result, increased hiring. That improved job market makes for more turnover among employees. Are yours ready to jump ship, too? Read more >>

Whose Job Is It?
Are all the divisions within your organization working toward a common goal? Or, are they each so focused on achieving their own compartmentalized goals that the organization has become unproductive and dysfunctional? Here's one organizational model and what to do about it.

Influences on Employee Turnover
Finding good employees is one thing, but getting them to stay is another. So just why do good employees leave? Uncover the reasons in this week's Quick Takes column.

Quality, Simplified
Have you ever wished there were just one business improvement model that would help improve performance in every aspect of your organization -- a unifying strategy from top to bottom? Well there is. And you can put it to work for you for free. Details >>

The Coming Worker Shortage
With the number of workers aged 55 or over expected to increase more than 47% in the next 7 years, there's a worker shortage on the horizon. What are companies doing to prepare? Read the surprising answer >>

Health Care Benefits Cuts
As a result of the weak economy and health care costs that continue to rise, employers are tightening their belts and reducing some benefits, according to this recent benefits survey. Details >>

When It's Cruel to Be Kind
Do you prefer to play the nice guy rather than directly addressing an employee's problematic behavior? If you are a leader in business, that attitude can be deadly. Here's why >>

Free Agents in the Workplace
Free agents are those employees who will quietly pack up their desks and go to work elsewhere rather than stay somewhere they are unhappy. So how do you manage a free agent in the workplace? Find out here >>

How to Raise Issues
Employees often won't discuss problems with managers for fear of being labeled as "negative" or "not a team player." Yet it's in the manager's best interest to be informed. Here are ways to facilitate communication rather than discouraging it.

Lifetime Value of a Client
The concept of client value requires a bit of guessing and new thinking. Find out why it should be important to your business and how you can go about calculating it.

The Perfect Store: Inside eBay
In this brisk, engaging chronicle of one of the most stunning success stories in American business history, Adam Cohen takes us inside eBay the corporation as well as into the community of eBay's passionate users. Read an excerpt here >>

Get Your Small Business Known
to Corporate and Government Buyers
How do you get your business name and products in front of the decision makers in government agencies and large corporations? One way is through the new Business Matchmaking conferences sponsored by the SBA. Find out more >>

Here Today, Here Tomorrow
Finding, hiring, and training new employees is costly and time consuming for businesses, yet many do little to stem the tide of high turnover. Read more >>

Conflict Resolution
Conflicts are inevitable, but the more we know about human nature, the more positive the outcome of a conflict might be for both parties. Here are seven tips for avoiding and resolving conflicts.

5 Keys to Building Quality
The only way to survive in our competitive world is by obtaining full customer satisfaction through the consistent delivery of high quality products and services. Learn how you can build quality in your company.

Taboo Words and Terrific Words
Ever presented a fantastic idea to your boss, just to have it shot down before you hardly finish explaining it? Here's how you can respond and keep your idea alive.

Micromanagement: Necessary Evil or Just Plain Evil?
Everyone hates to be micromanaged, yet managers continue to do it. Are you a micromanager, too? Read more >>

Principles of War
Even in war there are principles. Fighting a war involves careful planning and consideration -- much like running a business. Read more >>

Customer-Focused Mindset
Customer service often means dealing with angry, frustrated, or rude customers. Dealing with those customers effectively can often make or break a company. This article presents a five-step process for dealing with difficult customers.

Improving Employee Performance
Most managers have been in the situation where an employee’s performance is not meeting their expectations. Many times this poor performance has to do with a miscommunication or an employee not understanding the expectations of the job. Here's how you can bridge the gap.

What Clients Love
Tired of learning from your own mistakes? Learn from this author's, and the companies he studied. Read about it in this excerpt from What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business.

Fueling the Fire of Your Star Performers
You work hard to find your best employees, so don't let them get away! Use these tips to keep your star performers happy and motivated.

Motivating Staff in Times of Change
Keeping staff motivated in today's turbulent work environment is quite a challenge. Use this checklist from the new book Business: The Ultimate Resource to help your employees weather the storm. Click here >>

Federal Labor Law Posting Requirements
When you have employees, there are a variety of federal and state labor law notices you must post in your workplace. Find out about them here >>

Downsizing with Dignity
No one likes layoffs - not employees and not employers, but sometimes they're inevitable. Here's advice on the right way to handle a layoff so that the damage is minimized to both the company and its workers. Read more >>

Business Outlook Survey Results
How's business? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Will business improve? See what other small businesses are saying. Click here >>

Why Your Business Should Stay Small
Keeping your business small can, surprisingly, be beneficial to both you and your customers. Learn why bigger isn't always better. Read more >>

Surviving Post-Enron Reorganization - Part II
Building on the broad reorganizational strategies as outlined in Part I, the final segment examines five strategies for the work team as nucleus for grappling positively with disruptive change. Read more >>

Surviving Post-Enron Reorganization
Whether burned by the recent scandals or involved in a reduction in force, we still have employees hurting during this turbulent transition. Part I of this two-part series focuses on five micro and macro reorganizational strategies. Read more >>

Is Outsourcing the Right Move?
Use this checklist to look at the pros and cons of outsourcing and decide if it's right for your organization. Read more >>

Flexible Work Works!
In spite of all the talk about balancing work and family, most people feel they must choose between the two, resulting in high turnover in many workplaces. By creating a Flexible Work Arrangement, companies can keep good employees and not force them to sacrifice family life. Read more >>

First Steps to Counter a Crisis
Companies face crises all the time – product recalls, plant closings, a company leader making a poor personal decision. It's how you react once the crisis begins that affects whether your company will survive. Read more >>

Book Excerpt: The New Law of Demand and Supply
Throw out those B school text books. Forget everything you ever learned about supply-side economics. Discover what the real "new economy" is and what you must know to succeed. Details >>

Details, Details
If you own or manage a customer service business, the recipe for exceptional service boils down to the small details. Read more >>

9-11 One-Year Anniversary
The one year anniversary of the tragic events on September 11, 2001 will generate a roller coaster of emotions most of us are unprepared to deal with. Here are some suggestions for coping in your own workplace.

Break it to Them Gently
When you need to give bad news to a customer, it's normal to brace yourself for the worst. These ten techniques can make it less painful for both parties.

Business Email
Chances are, email takes up a big chunk of your day. Wouldn't it be nice if most of it was considerate and professional? Here's a checklist of what you should and shouldn't do in your business emails.

Overtime Liability
Unpaid overtime to workers who have been misclassified as exempt employees is a ticking financial time bomb just waiting to explode in the face of employers. Is your company at risk? Read more >>

Technical Support
Do you find your customers frequently calling you for support instead of referring to the documentation? Here's why.

International Standards Organization
Why should your growing business be concerned about ISO? For starters, because it can boost business. Read more >>

Employee Performance
When diagnosing problems with employee performance, don't waste precious time and resources on solutions that don't work. Instead, ask "why" at the outset and get to the heart of the matter.
Read more >>

Become a Great Boss
Did you ever have a great boss? Everyone should have one, but not enough people do. If you're a boss, or hope to become one, or have a less-than-great boss, then this is the book that could change your career-and your life. Read an excerpt here. 

It's Your Ship
In this book excerpt, Naval captain D. Michael Abrashoff reveals the management principles that shaped his ship, the U.S.S. Benfold, into a model of leadership as progressive as any celebrated in the business world. Read more >>

The Art of Meetings
There's more to a meeting than watching people squirm; we hold meetings for more purpose than because we're lonely, so why do our meetings fail? Details >>

Knowledge Management
Job procedures? Customers? Technologies? How much of your business knowledge is inside your employees' heads? What will you do if they leave? Details >>

Becoming the Best Place to Work
Demands on today's workforce are extremely different than they were even five or ten years ago. Businesses who want to make their workplace the best place to be can follow this five-step model.

Health Care Benefits
Despite rapidly rising health care costs, many employers provide generous health care benefits, according to a recent survey.

Dialing and Driving
Whether you agree or not, laws regulating cell phone usage are here to stay. Is your company policy adequate to protect you?

Why People Quit Their Jobs
There are many reasons why good employees quit, but most are preventable. Here are the top ten reasons why people leave jobs.

Porcupine Personalities
Managing the office know-it-all can be a challenge, at best. Yet these individuals often are very talented. Use these tips to reign them in and keep office morale high. 

God, Car Batteries, and Concern for the Family
The modern workforce is a stressful place. What has traditionally been considered "work" and what is considered "living" is becoming difficult to distinguish. Here's how one company built a more family-like work environment. 

Building a Winning Team
Creating teamwork is a challenging process, and not all groups work as a team. Here are 12 tips you can follow to build a winning team in your company.

Mistrust: A Bigger Problem Than Ever
The Enron disaster will have a greater impact than most people realize. Because of Enron, now anyone in a management position will have to work that much harder proving their trustworthiness. Here are some ways you can maintain trust in your organization. 

Create the Learning Organization
Work can be fun and fulfilling. To make that happen, you must first create a learning organization. 

Strategic Planning
One of the most common difficulties companies face in strategic planning is turning their vision into a reality. To transform your organization into the one you envision takes more than great strategy and implementation.

Improve Interview Techniques
A successful interview should determine if there is a match between the individual and the job. Here are several reasons why interviewing techniques fail. 

Boost Your Memory
Is your memory not what it used to be? Having a sharp recall can be as simple as finding ways to help jog your memory throughout the day. Here are 10 quick ideas.

Preventing Employees from Failing
Have you ever noticed what happens when you become unsatisfied with an employee's performance? Whether you realize it or not, you begin to create a "failure mindset" for them. Stop it before it starts.

Myths About Teamwork
Don't let these common myths about teamwork hold your company back. Debunk them and get your team on the right track.

Flag Protocol
Since the events of September 11, Americans have come out in droves to display the U.S. Flag. We need to be mindful of flag protocol, and remember to display our national banner in a way that shows reverence and respect.

Poor Employee Performance, Part 2
How can you increase employee performance, levels of involvement, desire for responsibility, interest, initiative, and attentiveness? When stepping up to the challenge of low employee performance, a plan is most definitely a necessity.

Taking Responsibility for Teamwork
Contrary to popular belief, teamwork is not just a group process -- it's a personal responsibility and skill. Today all work is teamwork, and the challenge is to get something done with others over whom you have no authority. Here are nine keys for working responsibly with others, excerpted from the new book "Teamwork is an Individual Skill."

Coping with Traumatic Stress
This "how to" guide from the Stress Doc highlights key questions and concepts as well as intervention strategies for understanding and responding supportively to individuals grappling with post-traumatic effects after Tuesday's "Day of Terror." 

Good Ideas Here
The best ideas to cut costs and improve productivity are not found in corporate board rooms. The best ideas are found with those who are closest to the work. They know what keeps them from doing their best. All they need is a system to get those ideas identified and implemented.

The New Frontier of Profits
Whether a fledgling Internet startup or an extension of a brick and mortar store, successful ecommerce sites all have one thing in common. In his latest column, Rob Spiegel takes a look at this trend among small business dot coms. 

Flexibility Equals Productivity
Many downsized businesses expect their remaining workforce to work the jobs of two to three people. If employers want to retain those employees, they need to provide a flexible work environment -- in spite of the economy.

Living Wage?
Some localities are starting to implement "living wage" rules. These living wages are rates far above the current minimum wage. What will be their impact? Take our poll then talk about the issue in the message board. 

Combating Workplace Violence
Reports of aggression and hostility in our homes, in our schools, and on our streets are all too common today. And, violence in the workplace has become a reality. One in four workers are attacked, threatened or harassed each year. With that in mind, we must implement training to counteract violence before it happens.

People Need to Feel Appreciated
Money may attract people to the front door, but something else keeps them from going out the back. That "something," more often than not, is feeling appreciated by their employer.

Add Pizzazz to Your Company Picnic
Does your annual company picnic need a little pick-me-up? Here are some ideas to add pizzazz without necessarily increasing your budget.

Creating Customer Service Instructions
What do your associates do when a customer walks in five minutes before closing to browse around, or returns something the same day they purchased it? Rather than hoping for the best, provide your employees with written instructions on how to handle such situations. 

Increase Productivity and Retention
With the belt-tightening of recent months, you are probably tempted to cut down on training and development. But if you want to retain your employees and keep their productivity up, you might want to rethink that position.

The Secret to Business Survival
If you read last week's feature, you know that your employees are the lifeblood of your business, and keeping them satisfied will help your business flourish. Here are the top ten tips for attracting, motivating, and retaining the right employees. 

Count on It!
Most business owners don't pay attention to the details that could help increase productivity. If you aren't paying attention to them, chances are your employees aren't either. Identify the key measurements and indicators that are most important for your business and then count on improvements in those areas!

Attracting, Retaining & Motivating Employees
There is an alarming crisis in America that could affect your corporation, agency or association -- a diminishing ability to survive. Downsizing and reengineering have not only cut out the fat, but also the employees that were once the lifeblood of your organization. Take the opportunity to flourish by paying your employees more than money!

Your Team Is Your Most Important Customer
The quality of your company's customer service should match the vision you see for your company's future. Don't miss the mark by forgetting what your most important assets are -- your employees! 

Building a $1,000,000+ Enterprise
Do you know what your single most important business asset is? Money? Employees? Credentials or knowledge? You might be surprised to find that it is none of these! Your mind is your biggest asset! If you want to build a $1,000,000+ business, you must employee these seven mindset principles.

Hiring the Right Employee
Labor is a huge percentage of your business expenses. With that in mind, are you hiring those who will improve the staff you currently have? How can you recognize the potential of a prospective employee? The answer could be right under your nose! 

Baby Boomer Versus Generation X
Many organizations are experiencing a retention problem. Could that be because the older workforce does not understand and manage Generation X workers properly? Management may have to take steps to change the status quo and build morale, encourage initiative and welcome new ideas.

Improve Your Interview Techniques
Will your interview techniques be successful in matching the right person for the right job? You wouldn't want to hire someone for sales who dislikes working with people, nor you would you want managers who don't know how to lead. 

A Legal Pitfall For New Tech Businesses
Do you know the law as it pertains to defective software? If you are the last known person to possess the faulty merchandise and over time you have lost track of the "evidence," you could lose your case if the client or insurer asks to see it. Details >>

Why Business Plans Fail
The recent highs and lows of Internet business has created a whole new set of challenges for investors who want to select ventures that are moneymakers. What specifics are venture capitalists, corporate investors and angel investors looking for?  

Four Steps to a More Successful Team
Successful management depends on working as a team. To attain that goal and keep the team strong, you must employ motivation, affirmation, inspiration and action. Read these four steps to keeping your management effective. 

Leverage Your Speaker!
Using a professional speaker to drive home a message can be very effective. It can also be a hefty investment. Be sure you get the most out of your event by following these tips.  

A Titanic Mistake
What can businesses, and dot coms in particular, learn from the sinking of the Titanic? You don't have to visit the ocean floor to appreciate the truths this disaster brought to light.

Air Force Contracting
Women in business: want to learn about contracting for the Air Force? In honor of Women's History Month, the USAF is sponsoring a focused outreach event to introduce women-owned businesses to the procurement process. 

No More Annual Reviews!
Is your company wasting time and energy with annual performance appraisals? Unfortunately, they just don't work, says one author. Read this excerpt to learn strategies that promote teamwork and empower your workers.

Yes, It's Personal
Chances are your employees are taking care of personal business on your time. Read the report findings. 

Women Who Run the World
Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men and becoming a major  force both in the traditional and the new global e-business marketplace. 
Click here for a look at the interpersonal habits that women have traditionally  been encouraged to cultivate and how absolutely indispensable they are in international business.

Office Space - What's Your Next Move?
Your business has finally reached a point where the basement is no longer an adequate office, and the family room is not an acceptable conference facility. What's your next move? Click Here for tips on selecting the right office space for you!

Making Your Suggestion Scheme Make Sense
Markets today demand greater innovation. To maintain an adaptable and responsive organization, you must develop a culture that actively solicits input from every level of your staff. Click here for practical ways to improve your company's suggestion scheme.

How to Attract, Keep and Motivate Today’s Workforce
In today's workplace, almost limitless job opportunities and less employee loyalty has created an environment where the business needs its employees more than the employees need the business. Click here for tips on retaining and motivating your work force.

It Pays to Help New Staff Start Right
Effectively orientating your new employees can pay back big dividends in staff retention, employee commitment and customer satisfaction. Click Here to learn more!

Here Today Gone Tomorrow: What's Different About the Workplace Today
Every industry in the nation wants answers on how to improve workforce retention and make their employees more productive. Find out about some of the most important issues related to employee retention.

Are Your Employees Surfing Instead of Working?
As companies become more reliant on the Internet for business uses, so too does the opportunity for employee abuse. Employees who previously wasted time in the break room are now wasting time on the Internet - for non-business usage. Discover the key issues employers need to be aware of in "unauthorized" Internet use by employees.

Love 'Em or Lose 'Em
They're your talented, committed employees, critical to your success. And they are the ones your competitors are trying to steal from you. Read these excerpts to find out how to get them to stay!

Tomorrow's Workplace
Reports show that future workplaces must welcome many lifestyles. Is your business ready?

Best Practices for Safety
Don't wait until it's too late! Read these tips on how to avoid workplace accidents.

Hosting Ideas For Office Parties
If the thought of organizing another ho-hum holiday event for your office, plant or store staff is making you wish the Grinch really would steal Christmas, here are some expert tips for turning your party from blah to blowout!  

Help Wanted! Good Attitudes Only Need To Apply
The hiring pool for small businesses in the future may be faced with a growing "good attitude" shortage. How can this be dealt with? Click here to learn more about how to elicit proper behavior out of whatever personnel are available.

The Importance of Having a Good Mentor
New employees may not feel comfortable asking their supervisor questions pertaining to their job, but a mentor can often bridge that gap. A mentor can guide a new employee by answering questions about basic routines, do's and don'ts, and various job responsibilities.

Stress Survival Guide for HR Professionals
In today's unstable, 24/7, "do more with less" corporate world, the role of Human Resources is more critical than ever. How does the HR Pro bridge the gaps between employees, supervisors and managers not to mention whirlwind technology without falling into the black hole of burnout? Have no fear; the Stress Doc is here with your stress survival guide.

Motivating a Workforce That Can't Be Motivated
You can't motivate someone who doesn't want to be motivated. BUT... you can create the right environment that will set the stage for motivation. Give employees the tools to feel competent in their jobs. First, you must find out what will motivate, and what won't! 

Reduce Your Risk
High tech businesses, as with most, bring with them a certain degree of risk. What you may not know is that a standard commercial insurance policy won't cover you for many types of damage unique to IT companies. Find out how to reduce your exposure and insure yourself for the rest! 

Change Happens.
Change is an inevitability in today's workplace. Accor