Why it’s important to be informed of common HR violations and their consequences
After nine successful seasons, NBC’s “The Office” called it quits earlier this year. Catch an episode in syndication, though, and the administrative missteps of Dunder Mifflin’s branch managers and the valiant efforts of the paper company’s downtrodden HR guy to counsel his misguided bosses will still leave you laughing. HR mishaps and insensitive gaffes make […]
What it takes to have maximum clarity with your communications
Communication style conflicts can have a powerful effect on the activities within a corporation. When we communicate, we are either building or breaking down relationships with individuals who are part of our working teams. In the business environment, management problems are more frequently interpersonal problems than anything else. If we can become more sensitive to […]
Building a culture of productive risk-taking
The truly wimpy have already written off this article because they are afraid of risk, so you are likely already beating them in the marketplace, or soon will be. Investment is risk, innovation is risk, creativity is risk, growth is risk. These are things that organizations and leaders say they want to include in their […]
What they really want from vendor and supplier relationships
So much of sales and marketing is understanding what customers really want and need from vendors and suppliers. Many times we feel that in order to obtain loyalty we need to invite customers to play golf, have open houses or entertain them over dinner or at sporting events. While these actions certainly reflect an investment […]
Fay Sharpe LLP: Why your U.S. patent won’t help you overseas
Some mistakenly believe that U.S. patents travel the world with universal protection, but countries work independent of each other when granting patents. That is why, when conducting business internationally, it is important to understand how intellectual property protections are procured in each country. According to the Paris Convention, a treaty signed by the U.S. and […]
Build it and they won’t come: marketing’s new audience-building imperative
Tell me if this sounds familiar. Your marketing team has a great idea for a website, video, mobile app or other piece of groundbreaking — dare I say, potentially viral — content. You love the idea, green light it, and a lot of people spend a lot of time and money getting it just right. […]
Why technology adoption is a must for service and skilled trade businesses
Companies that at one time thought they were immune from technology innovation now must decide when, where and how to incorporate such advancements to meet ever-growing consumer expectations. Evolving to meet customer needs and demands in order to retain and attract buyers is essentially the bottom line for all successful businesses — and today that […]
Being a newshound isn’t just a hobby for Mike Thompson, it’s his way of keeping Montrose Auto Group at the forefront of success
Mike Thompson was going through the most difficult time in his career — he was spending a lot of time trying to keep Montrose Auto Group employees calm during the 2008-2009 recession. “People were panicking around the country,” he says. “Nobody in our government leadership was really out there with confidence, reassuring the people that […]
John Wells launched a cultural revolution to sustain the bottom line and the environment at Interface Americas
Carpet made from discarded fishing nets? It may sound far-fetched, but not to John Wells, president and CEO of Interface Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Interface Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet tile. The company recently launched an eco-friendly collection made exclusively from recycled Philippine fishing nets, thanks to a newfound penchant […]
Steps to help your product stand out from the crowd
In an emerging, oversaturated IT market, differentiation is key to survival. For instance, it is estimated there are nearly 1,000 electronic health record options available in the U.S. In order for a software company to prosper in a competitive market, it must include these areas: It should have an innovative product offering that’s affordable and […]