Kelly Borth: First impressions matter — Strengthen your brand with a credible, quality website
As anyone in business or sales will tell you, first impressions are everything. Initial judgments are made within four seconds, and finalized within 30. As business owners, we’re concerned with the image we’re sending our target markets, how employees represent our companies and how potential customers perceive our offices or stores. Studies have shown that […]
Quality dialog with employees: Communications strategies for a productive workplace
Effective communication is a vital aspect of the employer-employee relationship regardless of industry and geography, says Renay Gontis, communications coordinator at JRG Advisors. “The opportunity for quality dialogue demonstrates to employees that they are valued by the company. Conversely, a lack of value placed on communication can make them feel underappreciated, fostering discontentment and low […]
Do HIPAA privacy laws apply to your business?
Many business operators know that the federal privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) apply to health information maintained by “covered entities,” such as health care providers and health plans. Fewer know that new regulations, effective September 2013, expand the scope of direct responsibility for compliance. Now, HIPAA rules directly apply to “business […]
Jay Nisberg: To improve one-to-one communication, determine your colleague’s navigational style
One-to-one communication problems often can be resolved by understanding your communication style through the styles of others. Effective managers do this to make other people understand them, be receptive to ideas and lessen their resistance to change. The work of psychologist Carl Jung offers a framework that managers can adopt to improve communication. Jung found […]
Janet E. Jackson: Uniting leaders — Creating a collective impact within your community — or business
I am fortunate to serve as the president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest United Way organizations, and I spend a lot of time working to inspire and motivate my team. But I have a much larger role: To help educate the Central Ohio community about huge issues that keep people from thriving, […]
How to navigate the implications of doing business abroad
As technology continues to make the world seem smaller, more U.S.-based companies are looking overseas for untapped opportunities. International expansion has traditionally been undertaken primarily by large, multi-national companies. Today, small, private companies are increasingly venturing outside the U.S. But seeking overseas opportunities comes with a different rulebook. What are the hazards and pitfalls that […]
How to bridge the succession gap when your kids are too young to take over
A 52-year-old businessman has sole ownership of a business and his wife takes care of their home. They have three children, ages pre-teen through early college. One or two of the kids have voiced an interest in working in the business, but the businessman realizes his children won’t be ready to take his place, even […]
Why businesses need to understand how policies affect employment laws
Many businesses assume that employment at-will means the employer can terminate the relationship at any time. While the default assumption is that employment is at-will, some actions taken by employers can create an implied-in-fact contract. “That’s where employers can often get into trouble with a disgruntled employee. At-will employment allows the employer to fire an […]
Shani Magosky: Imagining family-friendly places to work in the state of Florida
We can always count on Northern California to generate a good debate. On one hand, we saw Yahoo eliminate work-from-home arrangements last year, and on the other, the city of San Francisco passed the Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance on Oct. 8. Essentially, this ordinance and a similar law recently passed in Vermont grant employees the […]
David Lopez found a better way to deliver a much-needed service with Dental Fix Rx
Four years ago, David Lopez found his calling. A striving Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur, Lopez came across a unique opportunity: a mobile dental equipment repair company. With a strong background in franchising, Lopez, who was looking for a recession-proof business model that could offer a high return on investment, knew he had found what he had […]