Mark Scott – Why the recipe for primo customer service recommends employees just be themselves
When California Pizza Kitchen head G.J. Hart arrived on the scene in 2011, he found a number of issues he wanted to address. One of the first items on his list was the structured approach his team took toward serving guests in the restaurants. CPK developed a series of steps for servers that started when […]
Mark Scott – Why it really is the thought that counts and the commitment that seals the deal
Have you ever made a promise and failed to keep it? Of course you have, you’re human. That doesn’t make you a bad person, assuming it was not your intention to deliberately deceive the person or people to which you made the promise. But sometimes in our zest to please others, we don’t always think […]
Sue Parks – Why a strong wellness program will save your business more than money
I went to a talk on corporate wellness the other day. The speaker was a physician who had led the corporate wellness efforts for a large company. The organization spent $150 million annually on health benefits for its employees. She asked for $400,000 to run a wellness program. The powers-that-be only asked about and challenged […]
David Hankin – Why it's essential that you honor the good – and the bad – as you move into the new year
The “opening bell” for 2014 has rung and the new beginning it represents demands a conversation between company leadership and individual contributors — a conversation to celebrate the achievements of 2013 and look forward to 2014. At the Alfred Mann Foundation, we have found the all-hands meeting effective in not just delivering a consistent message, […]
A trusted resource: Elmer’s Products solidifies itself as a brand of choice for the education community
Elmer’s School Glue is synonymous with education. We all remember buying school supplies in the fall and packing the iconic white bottle with its orange cap in our backpacks. “Elmer’s has been a staple in schools for many years, and we’ve been asked, ‘How do you make glue?’ many times,” says Terri Brown, director of […]
Anthony Margida: How thinking like a startup is good for business
The nation is officially in the midst of economic recovery, albeit without the substantial job growth we had all hoped for. Those that stayed in business throughout the “Great Recession” likely survived by adopting lean practices and “Six-Sigma’d” their business to the ultimate in efficiency. The problem in continuing with the efficiency approach is that […]
How VoIP can be designed to fit the unique needs of different industries
Regardless of its size or sector a company works within, all businesses have certain common threads. For instance, the need to communicate effectively and efficiently — both internally and externally — is something every business deals with. However, it’s also important to note that every business has a unique communication DNA. A phone system that […]
How to insure against employment practice disputes
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of claims filed against employers arising out of employment practice disputes. Many claims have no legal basis, but employers are still forced to defend themselves — spending time and money. “Businesses are more likely to have an employment practices claim than a property claim,” […]
How to take proper precautions when buying real estate
The environmental due diligence process can be time-consuming, which is why buyers should get started early when entering into negotiations to purchase property. “Depending on when environmental due diligence begins, environmental issues might not be discovered until close to the end of the deal. That could result in a transaction not closing for months after […]
How to avoid running afoul of the IRS’ changing direction
The IRS is always evolving, remaking itself about once a decade. At the end of the 1990s, the IRS underwent severe Congressional scrutiny that resulted in the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1997 and two Taxpayer Bill of Rights to reign in the agency. The IRS lost the power to seize property without due notice and […]