Small Business Toolbox

A library of business management info


Employee Reviews and Motivation
  • Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce
    04/07/2008
    Each generation comes with its own set of values, needs, attitudes and different expectations on communication styles and job requirements. The 35 and under tech-savvy generation feels less loyalty to a particular organization than Baby Boomers or those of the Silent Generation (62 and older); but they are also hungry for responsibility and flourish in environments where they can network and exchange ideas.
  • United We Stand, Divided We Fall
    03/03/2008
    The advantages of having people work together as teams still remain a critical element in building a positive work environment and high job satisfaction. In a rapidly changing world that values technology, speed and flexibility, teamwork unites individual efforts and is key for success, innovation and creativity.
  • Great Managers Create Pride to Improve Retention
    02/21/2008
    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. Whether you are the CEO or the head of the department, creating a great place to work where people have pride in what they do begins with you.
  • Keeping Employees Accountable
    02/06/2008
    If your small business employs more than one person, you depend on teamwork to get the job done. In fact, if one person doesn't pull his or her share of the weight, the entire team could fail. For that reason, it is imperative that employees be held accountable for their actions. Here are ways to make sure that accountability comes from the very top.
  • Service Projects for Your Small-Business Team
    12/20/2007
    As an individual in today's society, there are probably causes close to your heart, such as housing the homeless, feeding the hungry or raising money for cancer research. And as a small-business owner, you employ a group of smart, energetic people who might just be willing to take up a cause with you. You wouldn't want to force your beliefs and community efforts on them, but by stressing community involvement in your small business, perhaps you could get volunteers from your team to make an even bigger difference than you could alone.
  • Empowering Your Employees
    12/14/2007
    The term "empowerment" rose to prominence in the late 1980s and saw considerable use through the 1990s in conjunction with the total quality management (TQM) movement. Its use has been so widespread that the term itself has become a buzzword. We're told repeatedly that we must empower employees to enable them to make their best possible contributions to organizational success; we're told this as though it were something new, some late-twentieth-century discovery.
  • Keeping "Generation Y" on the Job
    11/16/2007
    The younger generation of employees--dubbed Gen Y--is arriving to the workforce in droves. And these 20-something employees, many freshly sprung from college, are causing some consternation for employers who, alarmed by their reputation for flightiness, are trying to figure out ways to keep them on the job for longer than a year or two. It may not be as challenging as feared-but only if businesses are willing to adjust their corporate cultures and take a more flexible approach in the way work gets done.
  • Empowering Employees
    11/07/2007
    Are your employees confident in their ability to do their jobs? Do they have the resources they need to do their work well? Or are they afraid of making mistakes and constantly trying to pass responsibility over to someone else? From superior customer service to a healthy bottom line, empowered employees will make your business stronger and more successful. The following tips will help you make sure your employees feel empowered.
  • Retain Key Employees With a Job-Sharing Program
    10/08/2007
    Are lifestyle changes prompting one of your key employees to scale back job duties? One way to utilize part-time employees and still get the job done is to institute a job-sharing program. Not only are these programs ideal for employees who can't devote 40 hours a week to the workplace because of lifestyle demands such as parenting and health issues, but these programs can also cut down on the amount of money your small business spends each year on salaries, benefits and employee training.
  • Let Mystery Shoppers Put Your Employees to the Test
    10/01/2007
    If your employees interact with customers, you may want to utilize a mystery shopping service. Mystery shoppers pose as customers and actually evaluate employees to make sure they're doing their jobs efficiently. They then report those results to management.
  • The Evolution of Employee Relations
    09/27/2007
    From the time when work activity became organized and one person first directed the work of others, relations with employees have continually evolved through three overlapping but separately identifiable management philosophies. These philosophies represent periods of time, stages or phases that overlap considerably and coexist in varying degrees among contemporary organizations. These management philosophies governing employee relations can be described as authoritarian, legalistic and humanistic.
  • Performance Review Timing: All at Once or Anniversary Date?
    09/17/2007
    Evaluation of employee performance has frequently been likened to budget preparation in that both are annual tasks that seem to come around far more frequently than once per year. Some managers' discomfort with performance review and budgeting is probably owing to two causes: these activities aren't encountered often enough for managers to become completely comfortable with them, and arising periodically as they do these demands on managers are often seen as intrusions on their regular work routine.
  • Polite Behavior: You Can Bring It Back!
    09/11/2007
    You can't change the impolite behavior of the world. But by practicing a few simple habits yourself, you can often change the behavior of the people around you—and dramatically improve the civility of your small business.
  • Taking Suggestions From Employees
    09/10/2007
    You're a savvy small-business owner with smarts, drive and determination, and you surround yourself with employees who possess those same qualities. So instead of always being the one to tell them what to do, why don't you consider opening up the floor to suggestions from them?
  • Twenty Ways to Motivate Yourself
    09/05/2007
    You've probably learned how to motivate your small-business employees and other people in your work and personal life. But sometimes, the one who may need the most motivation is you.
  • What Motivates Workers? Look to What Motivates You
    08/31/2007
    It's no secret that employee motivation is a constant concern of many managers. In considering what might motivate their employees to perform willingly and productively, some managers have assumed, usually erroneously, that the people who work for them are motivated primarily by economic motives, that is, by pay and benefits, while they themselves -- the managers -- are motivated mostly by needs of a higher order such as job satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
  • Saying No to Employees, Tactfully
    08/24/2007
    As an employer, you will face times when you'll have to say no to employees, whether you have to deny a raise request or an employee's desire to take a particular week off for vacation. The way you say no, however, can make all the difference in whether an employee stays motivated or ends up looking for another job.
  • Saving a Disliked Employee
    08/06/2007
    When an important member of your staff doesn't get along with coworkers, all of the talents that person brings to the job pale in comparison to the animosity he creates. This situation is common and can be disruptive for any size company, but it presents special concerns for small-business owners. They can't afford to lose a skilled employee or ignore the complaints of their unhappy staff who can't easily escape their irritating coworker.
  • Rewarding Employees for Healthy Behavior
    07/27/2007
    Healthy employees are not only good for company morale, they are also good for the bottom line. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that employers' losses in productivity when employees are sick are four times greater than the costs of medical treatment.
  • Using Third-Party Advice to Motivate Employees
    06/18/2007
    Most small-business owners have little trouble implementing small changes in the way employees handle things. Suggestions or policy changes in day-to-day operations are usually implemented immediately. Employees, after all, are always eager to please the boss.
  • Keeping Your Telecommuting Employees Effective, Motivated and Part of the Team
    05/25/2007
    There's a wealth of information in books and on the Internet about techniques of managing telecommuting employees. Topics not often considered, however, are how to keep telecommuting employees motivated and feeling that they are part of the company team.
  • The Pros and Cons of Employee Surveys
    05/15/2007
    The employee survey, sometimes referred to as an "attitude" or "opinion" survey, is one of several means owners have for stimulating upward communication. Some degree of structure is necessary for this formal channel of communication because you must prepare survey questions carefully and establish mechanisms for processing responses.
  • Encouraging Your Mission and Values in the Workplace
    04/06/2007
    If you're an established business, you probably have a mission statement written somewhere in your business plan. You may even have your mission statement emblazoned on the front of every employee handbook or framed in the lobby of your office. But when is the last time your employees actually talked about your company's mission statement?
  • Get Things Done: A Dozen Great Productivity Tools
    03/21/2007
    Want to boost productivity in your small business? Whatever you want to do--increase daily output, engage more customers, achieve higher results--use this potpourri of a dozen productivity-boosting tools to get started.
  • Getting Everyone in Your Company on the Same Page
    03/20/2007
    The term "getting everyone on the same page" is bantered around quite a bit these days. But what does it really mean, and how can a company use the concept to unite and focus employees?
  • Overcoming Barriers to Effective Delegation
    03/13/2007
    No other management practice receives as much verbal tribute and as little conscientious practice as delegation. Few managers will admit to weaknesses in this critical area; many firmly believe they delegate regularly. Yet many who believe they delegate well fall short of using this vital process to its full potential.
  • Recognizing Your Importance
    03/05/2007
    It has often been said that people are willing to make greater sacrifices when working for others than they are when working for themselves. In the case of a small company, workers and managers alike tend to become more dedicated to their work when they see others in the community benefiting from their efforts.
  • Stop Employee Dissatisfaction Before Problems Start
    02/13/2007
    Employee dissatisfaction is the forerunner to a number of problems that can be quite serious to a small business. These include employee turnover and the potential for financial abuse, such as theft, check fraud and embezzlement. It's vital for the management of a small company to recognize the signs of employee dissatisfaction before difficulties have the chance to manifest.
  • Preparing Employees for Change
    02/07/2007
    Most people resist change to some extent, but some resist more or less than others. Most people are automatically in favor of change only when changing is their own idea; any other change will meet some resistance simply because it originated with someone other than those who are expected to implement it.
  • Sixteen Ways to Be a Better Boss--Right Now
    02/01/2007
    Your employees are your most important resource. Without them, you can't sustain growth in your small business. With them, you can do almost anything--if you bring out their best through great leadership and supervision.
  • Performance Standards: What They Are and How to Use Them
    01/31/2007
    Performance standards are the next step logically following a job description. A job description says what must be done; the performance standards then specify how much must be done and how well it must be done. Standards are expectations of employee performance, and they are measures against which that performance can be evaluated.
  • Employee Consideration Is Equal to Customer Consideration
    12/28/2006
    In 2004, a University of California at Santa Barbara survey of nearly 900 MBA graduates from 11 universities in North America and Europe determined that more than one-third were willing to sacrifice some financial benefits in order to work for a company whose employers were caring and ethical.
  • Four Steps to Solving Your Problem
    11/30/2006
    How many times have you sat through meetings only to walk away wondering if your team could resolve any of the problems it faced? The ability of a team to identify and resolve problems is a critical skill. Many teams never learn how to do this. Those who do always outshine their counterparts.
  • Employee Recognition: What, Why and How
    11/15/2006
    William James once said, "The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated." Perhaps "craving" is too strong a term to apply to everyone, since the need for appreciation is less in some than others, but just about everyone shares the desire to be appreciated. If this need is not fulfilled at least to an extent, dissatisfaction can creep in, and productivity will eventually suffer.
  • Motivating Employees and Raising Morale in Your Workplace
    10/24/2006
    Ever wonder what you could do to boost the sagging morale of a group of workers? Or how you could help them become more motivated? Wrestling with these questions requires differentiating between morale and motivation and recognizing the factors that influence each.
  • Empowering Employees: Bringing Out the Magic in Your Staff
    10/17/2006
    "Empowerment" is one of the hottest buzzwords in business these days. You hear the term everywhere. Virtually any business leader would agree that empowerment is a good thing, but when you get right down to it, what does empowerment really mean? And more importantly, how does a leader or manager actually empower people on a day-to-day basis?
  • Independence Boosters: Nine Ways to Build Employee Confidence
    09/22/2006
    However skilled and ambitious your employees may be, their greatest value often lies in their self-confidence. Confident, independent people possess courage and eagerness--and they're strong self-starters.
  • Why Performance Feedback Is Crucial
    09/20/2006
    An anonymous but wise individual once said: "Good management is not only the gift of identifying talent, but the art of selective recognition of strengths and weaknesses, and the proper encouragement of the best in any man or woman." This statement alone, especially the latter part speaks volumes about the importance of feedback on performance.
  • Employee Coaching Cuts Job Incompetence
    08/25/2006
    A wise individual once said: People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be--not what you nag them to be. That simple sentence summarizes the primary purpose of employee coaching.
  • Boost Your Business by Minimizing Stress
    08/02/2006
    It's been proven time and time again: A stress-free worker is a happy worker, and a happy worker is a productive worker. So how do you keep stress down without hurting your productivity, all the while keeping everyone happy? It's not an easy balancing act, but here are some tips that may prove useful.
  • Crafting a Workplace Violence-Control Program
    07/27/2006
    Unfortunately in business today, violence in the workplace is on the rise. This steady increase is troubling in itself, and it becomes all the more frightening when we consider the highly random character of workplace violence. We know it can occur anytime anywhere, affecting anyone, with little or no forewarning.
  • Employee Appreciation: It's More Than Just a Paycheck
    07/03/2006
    Sure, you pay your employees twice a month. But beyond that, do they know how much you appreciate them and the work they do for your small business? Here are five ways (other than the all-mighty dollar) where a little bit of gratitude can go a long way with your employees.
  • Employee Handbooks Make Your Life Easier
    06/30/2006
    Any business large enough to have 15 or more employees should have an employee handbook. The number 15 isn't arbitrary; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which addresses equal employment opportunity and discrimination in employment, is applicable to private employers of 15 or more people. And this kind of employer also offers employee benefits, the need for consistency in benefits administration provides more reason for having an employee handbook to provide concise answers to many employee questions about benefits and to offer guidance on numerous important matters.
  • Spying on Yourself
    06/27/2006
    Through reverse secret-shopping missions, these business owners learn ways to improve their customer service.
  • The Fruits of Failure
    06/13/2006
    Failure is an option at PlumpJack Group, a San Francisco-based company that consists of several wineries, bars, restaurants and hotels. In fact, the best flops are rewarded with the company's "failure of the month" award.
  • Conflict Resolution: Six Secrets to Successfully Conquer Conflicts
    06/09/2006
    Do you ever hear these comments at the office? "Hey! Stop listening to my personal conversations!" "Quit taking credit for my work!" These are just a few of the different types of employee interactions that can create conflict and cause tension in the workplace. Such tension and turmoil among employees, if not quickly dealt with, can rapidly spread throughout the ranks and distract many from work-related duties.
  • Impress and Inspire Others Without Saying a Word
    05/26/2006
    When you walk into a room, do you see someone who stands out from the crowd? You may have not spoken to that person, but you watch as people are drawn to his or her positive energy.
  • Are Small Businesses More Family Friendly?
    05/26/2006
    An article in the June/July issue of MyBusiness, "The Lure of Small," explored why employees are leaving corporate America to work for small businesses. According to a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Center for Leadership, many women who have taken time off from the corporate world and want to return to work are finding more opportunity at small businesses.
  • The Lure of Small
    05/25/2006
    Ever feel second best when you're looking to hire a new employee? Compared to small businesses, large corporations have more money, name recognition and benefits to attract the best and brightest employees. But bigger doesn't always mean better.
  • Respecting Employees’ Time
    04/20/2006
    Every manager should occasionally ask, “What’s the true value of a manager? Why am I here? And why are the employees here?” Unless the manager is a worker as well as supervisor, the employees are the ones who serve the clients or customers and do the hands-on work. If the employees could do so by themselves, it would make no sense to have a manager. So what, then, can the manager contribute?
  • Cultivate Customer Satisfaction by Putting Employees First
    04/05/2006
    Ever encountered a clerk or cashier who muttered “Have a nice day” in a way that showed that he or she couldn’t care less what kind of day you had? You may have walked away feeling that the person who served you didn’t like his or her job, and that “serving” you was one small step toward quitting time. You might also have left with an unfavorable impression of the business, and if you encountered this behavior on your second or third visit, you might have taken your business elsewhere.
  • No One Is Born a Good Manager
    03/08/2006
    The desire to become a manager is usually inspired by wanting to expand one’s business skills, financial potential and career satisfaction. Moving into management is a big step because it means that day-to-day tasks change in a key way: No longer will an employee work primarily on his or her own. Instead, duties like interacting with others, working out time schedules and goals for them, conducting and attending meetings and inspiring and instructing others consume the workday.
  • Conquering Burnout
    02/09/2006
    It’s important to your success that you keep employees from experiencing burnout, but what happens when you fall into a rut? Whether personal challenges, business roadblocks or just boredom with everyday life are the culprit, anyone can go through a period of feeling unmotivated and disinterested in work. But when the boss becomes unmotivated, the entire business can suffer. Fortunately, if you’re suffering from burnout, there are a few things you can do to help yourself
  • Is It Time to Revamp Employee Communications?
    02/07/2006
    When it’s time to get the word out about training classes, company parking policies or holiday parties, are your employees getting the message? Here are some guidelines for improving employee communications.
  • Do You Look Forward to Starting Your Workday?
    01/27/2006
    From time to time, most people go through a period during which it’s hard to muster up enthusiasm for work. This is normal, and usually a vacation or a little time off reignites your passion. When weeks drag by in such a state, you may need to take a closer look at why you’re not looking forward to starting the workday.
  • The Fine Art of Criticism
    01/18/2006
    The need for criticism can’t be avoided; hardly anyone’s work or behavior is always perfect, and obvious shortcomings must be addressed. But criticism, even done properly, can be difficult for the critic and discomforting to the recipient. Done incorrectly, criticism can be hazardous, if not outright damaging.
  • Staff Infections: Three steps to eliminate poor performers
    01/11/2006
    The best way to protect your business from problem employees is to begin the employment relationship with clearly written procedures for documenting employees’ behavior--good and bad. Consistency is key. Employment discrimination suits often start when you treat workers in the same situation differently.
  • Keep Spirits and Productivity High After the New Year
    01/02/2006
    The holidays are generally a busy time for people personally and professionally, often requiring them to exert more energy than usual. While your business may benefit from that energy boost in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, employees can easily become burned out once the New Year rolls around. By following a few suggestions, however, you can keep spirits and enthusiasm high among your employees and stop the post-holiday slump from setting in.
  • Working With a New Generation
    12/26/2005
    If you’ve noticed that today’s young employees tend to be a different breed from those who came to work for you 15 years ago, you aren’t alone. Many business owners are both delighted and frustrated by the latest crop of high-school and college graduates.
  • Scheduling Evaluations: Different Approaches for Different Managers
    12/12/2005
    What’s the best timing scheme for performance evaluations? The two most common approaches are those suggested above: evaluating everyone at the same time each year or evaluating them on some recurring date, such as anniversary of employment. Each approach has its advocates and opponents among managers; each has its advantages and disadvantages.
  • A Safe, Sober Holiday Message for Employees
    12/09/2005
    During the holiday season, employers and employees get together frequently to unwind and celebrate. Typically, workplace parties involve plenty of food and drinks. If the drinks include alcohol, they can have unfortunate consequences.
  • Santa’s Guide to Gifts for Employees, Customers
    11/29/2005
    While there is no formula for finding the perfect gift for every business associate, here are some guidelines that can make shopping for one less stressful.
  • Performance Reviews: Tips for Effective Appraisals
    11/18/2005
    Performance reviews often seem like a mandatory exercise that provides little value to the employee or employer. However, a well-conducted performance review benefits both by improving communications and the employee’s effectiveness. If you need to fire an employee, performance reviews can provide important protection if the employee challenges the termination.
  • Forget Money, Focus on Praise
    11/17/2005
    A motivated employee is a productive employee, and productive employees can do wonders for a company’s bottom line. They provide exceptional customer service, which creates customer loyalty and results in increased sales. They also stay with the company longer, which decreases the costs of hiring and training new employees.
  • Fear or Opportunity: What Motivates Employees?
    10/18/2005
    Does your company have frequent employee turnover, or do employees tend to stay with your company for years? Do your employees support each other and think of themselves as a team, or do they backbite and claim credit for successes at the expense of others? The answers to these questions can determine if fear or opportunity motivates your employees.
  • Is Silence Really Golden?
    07/07/2005
    Keeping the lines of communication open with your employees is vital to your small business.
  • How to Design Practical, Useful Job Reviews
    07/05/2005
  • Properly Trained Employees Lead to Small-Business Success
    07/01/2005
    The California Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a survey of 100 of the most successful small businesses in that state. One of the questions was, what is the real key to business success? The most popular answer - properly trained employees.
  • Creating a Vacation and Leave Policy for Your Small Business
    06/14/2005
    Q: How do sick leave and vacation policies work? We will be starting a business soon and will be hiring employees. I want to get this right, right from the start. Thanks for your help.
  • Performance Problems: Don't Let an Employee's Poor Performance Affect Your Business' Performance
    05/20/2005
    Most employers recognize that on occasion the work performance of some employees falls below the acceptable level that they've come to expect. As an employer it's important for you to take action when you notice than an employee's performance has deteriorated.
  • Big Employee Perks on a Small-Business Budget
    03/29/2005
    You don't have to spend a million to make your employees feel like a million bucks. Fortune 500 companies might make headlines for the generous bonuses and exotic vacations that they bestow upon their star performers, but extravagant gifts don't necessarily lead to happier employees.
  • The Reality of Perception in Employee Relations
    03/08/2005
    A new manager arrives at the company and upon first speaking with the employee group says something like, "I'm a people person. My door is always open and I want to hear your ideas and concerns." A number of employees – except some who have heard the "door is always open" speech before – are encouraged upon hearing this, and they take the invitation literally.
  • How a Small Company Can Establish an Effective Employee Review Program
    02/08/2005
    For many employees, few words are as dreaded as: "The Annual Employee Review." But for small businesses, meeting regularly with employees in a formal review can be a relatively stress-free, productive activity that helps focus all members of the company toward common goals.
  • Preventing Employee Burnout Can Save Your Business's Productivity
    01/11/2005
    One of the main causes of burnout is the negative stress that often accompanies the feeling of being overworked. It manifests itself as a feeling of listlessness, sluggishness and disinterest in work that can lead employees to be less productive or even to look for a new job.
  • Help Your Community and Your Business Through Civic Service
    12/08/2004
    If your small business has not found a way to give back to the community through community service, you're not only missing out on a chance to help others, but you're losing an opportunity to boost your business's bottom line as well.
  • Send Your Employees a Safe and Sober Message This Holiday Season
    12/03/2004
    During the holiday season, the workplace is frequently a place where employers and employees get together to unwind and celebrate. Workplace parties typically involve plenty of food and drinks. If the drinks include alcohol, however, they can have unfortunate consequences.
  • Getting More Work Done With Less: Surviving the Busy Periods
    11/30/2004
    If you're like many small-business owners, there are periods of time when you are busier than usual. For retail-oriented companies, that time might be around the holidays. For accountants, that time is likely the weeks before April 15. While hiring additional employees would help you to get the extra work done, not all business owners can afford to do that. However, there are alternative ways to get more work done with less.
  • Using the Holidays to Increase Morale in Your Small Business
    11/09/2004
    As the nation’s companies begin to extend their payrolls, small-business owners will have to be more proactive when it comes to keeping their star employees happy. One way to do so is by adding some holiday cheer to the workplace, which can show employees how much they are appreciated and improve morale at the same time.
  • Stay Connected With Your Telecommuting Employees
    07/06/2004
    Telework, working remotely, mobile working, virtual office -- many different buzzwords are passed around the water cooler to describe employees that work outside your home office or store front.
  • How Private Are Your Personal Files?
    06/22/2004
    The majority of people who manage the work of others retain information about employees in their files. We’re concerned here with personal files; not personnel files which include the official employment records, but rather those files that a manager may use for retaining information about individual employees.
  • Minimize Mistakes of Others When They're Working on Your Projects
    06/07/2004
    Is everyone as busy as you are? You can count on it. As a result, they're likely to make mistakes, omissions and other foul-ups, even when they're working on your projects.
  • Eleven Low-Cost Ideas for Retaining Employees
    05/21/2004
    Unfortunately, valued employees are the most likely to find better opportunities. And even when many small businesses are doing well financially, they still may not be able to offer benefits packages and salaries that compete with larger companies.
  • Territorial Workers
    05/03/2004
    Many times a department manager or long-time employee can become so powerfully entrenched that they stifle new ideas within their department, or hinder operations between their department and others.
  • Opening the Books
    05/03/2004
    Here's an idea: let your employees see how much money your company makes each month.
  • Removing Employee Distractions
    02/10/2004
    While your employees may be hard workers most of the time, sometimes distractions get in their way of being productive.
  • Health and Wellness Programs Make for Happier, Healthier Employees
    02/03/2004
    If you haven't instituted a health and wellness program in your small business, you may be doing your employees and your company a disservice.
  • Simple Exit Interviews Help Reduce Turnover
    01/27/2004
    Exit interviews are often described as locking the barn door after the horse has been lost.
  • Increase Employees' Camaraderie and Skills With Mentoring
    01/12/2004
    Mentorship, the act of educating someone in a business or trade, is one of the most effective ways to teach key employees about the inner workings of the business.
  • Getting the Most Out of Staff Meetings
    11/19/2003
    Many employers dread holding weekly or monthly meetings because they think their employees may not pay attention, or even worse, may snooze.
  • Set Higher Work Standards
    11/06/2003
    One of the most difficult and most vital tasks for small business owners and managers is raising the bar on employee work standards.
  • Increase Cash Flow, Improve Productivity with ESOPs
    09/11/2003
    Giving employees partial ownership of a business can help rev up production and promote long-term employee commitment.
  • One of the Best Kept Secrets in Business Today
    08/08/2003
    What if I told you there's a communication approach whose benefits far outweigh the singular use of spreadsheets and reports showcasing data and statistics and lists of do's and dont's?
  • When Communication Matters: Say It With a Story
    07/21/2003
    Start using stories today at work. In no time you will also strengthen your communications and ability to influence.
  • Does Your Evaluation System Work?
    06/27/2003
    While employee performance evaluations and feedback can be very beneficial to the productivity of small businesses, they can also be detrimental.
  • Increase Work Quality With Financial Rewards
    06/20/2003
    There may be a way for your small business to offer financial incentives to employees who produce quality work, without losing money.
  • The Value of Performance Evaluations
    06/18/2003
    Regardless of your company's size, it is beneficial to you and your employees to measure and monitor achievement.
  • Why Do Employees Leave?
    05/28/2003
    It's a fact of running a small business that you won't be able to hold on to all of your good employees. But sometimes it's worth examining why they leave for other pursuits.
  • Motivate Employees to Take Pride in the Business
    05/14/2003
    How can an employer cultivate a sense of ownership in employees?
  • Reevaluating Your Dress Code
    02/18/2003
    Exactly when did casual Fridays turn into casual Monday through Friday?
  • How To Keep Employees Fully Involved During Crunch-Time Projects
    12/18/2002
    When a crunch-time project approaches, employee involvement should be maximized even before start-up.
  • Conducting a Yearly Performance Review
    12/04/2002
    It's wise for a business to conduct regular performance reviews of employees, in which each employee's performance is evaluated and commented upon.
  • Keep Employees Upbeat
    10/23/2002
    Every small business owner wants employees who are loyal to the company, take pride in their work, do their job well and have an upbeat attitude.
  • Providing Employee Criticism
    10/02/2002
    How do you give constructive criticism to your employees without causing them to be defensive?
  • Keeping Employees
    10/01/2002
    You have everything to gain from creating and maintaining the most positive work environment possible for your employees.
  • Are Your Employees Enthusiastic?
    08/21/2002
    In today's competitive business environment, a small business will have difficulty succeeding if its employees aren't enthusiastic. But how can you fire up employees?
  • Your Staff May Be Highly Talented, But Are Members Working As a Team?
    08/14/2002
    If the feeling of teamwork is lacking throughout your company, the owner or management should consider the following approaches to establishing a sense of camaraderie.
  • Incentives, Not Pep Talks, Motivate Employees
    08/07/2002
    For meaningful inspiration, vague pep talks are not as beneficial as presenting incentives to motivate every employee in the company.
  • Confronting Productivity Problems
    08/02/2002
    When it's determined that an employee is working too slowly, managers need to work with the employee to speed up his or her pace.
  • Make Sure All Employees Follow New Company Strategies
    07/31/2002
    Even the best innovations will prove ineffective when employees don't take them seriously.
  • Make Each Employee Responsible for an Area of Growth
    07/26/2002
    Most small businesses attempt to motivate employees by encouraging them to feel that they are part of a team. This does not give them specific goals for which they are responsible and will be held individually accountable.
  • Are Your Employees Terrified of Making Mistakes?
    07/18/2002
    If your employees are afraid of the consequences of making a mistake, your business will suffer.
  • Giving Employees a Pat on the Back
    06/19/2002
    Although critics of employee incentive programs argue that they ruin the work ethic, many businesses find that giving out awards can result in less absenteeism, higher morale, more productivity and lower employee turnover.
  • Benefits of Including Employees in Budget Decisions
    05/14/2002
    Many small business owners feel that trying to involve employees in high-level budget decisions is too time consuming. But few methods for increasing employee morale and enthusiasm are more effective and less costly.
  • Motivating Employees: A Cost-Effective Way To Boost Your Business
    05/10/2002
    Companies should consider a hidden resource for combating economic downturn: increased motivation of employees. Today's Workshop explains.
  • Do Your Employees Focus on Making a Profit?
    05/03/2002
    For a company to grow, it's necessary for staff to focus on making the company more profitable, not just on getting through each day by performing only the basics requirements.
  • How to Reward Employees Without Breaking the Budget
    04/09/2002
    Everyone likes to be rewarded. The very definition of a reward suggests that the person is special and is receiving recognition for being better than expected.
  • Are Your Employees Working Too Slowly?
    03/28/2002
    Today's Workshop, by Jeffrey Moses, offers a few suggestions for how to work with employees who continually work at a slow pace.
  • When You Have to Give Criticism
    03/28/2002
    No one likes to give or receive criticism, but in a business environment it is inevitable that managers will need to reprimand and criticize employees from time to time.
  • Use Positive Contacts to Improve Employee Relations
    03/28/2002
    Establishing a system to maintain consistent, positive contact with employees can help you prevent problems before they start.
  • Hold on to Key Employees Without Breaking the Bank
    03/28/2002
    For a small company, losing key employees can be a real determent, especially when significant time and resources have been invested in them. In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses discusses ways to keep key workers.
  • Can Work Be Fun During Tough Times?
    03/28/2002
    Experts say businesses that encourage employees to have fun at work are more productive than businesses that frown on any sort of levity.
  • Inspiring Creativity and Self-Sufficiency in Employees
    03/28/2002
    Owners often have a tendency to prescribe exactly how things should be done, limiting the creativity and effectiveness of employees.Today's Workshop discusses this idea.
  • Encourage Teamwork Through Innovative Bonus Systems
    03/28/2002
    By establishing policies that reward everyone equally for total sales, team efforts can produce tremendous results. Today's Workshop discusses this concept.
  • How to Keep Your Suggestion System Lively
    03/28/2002
    When you're looking for valuable advice about improving your internal operations, there's no one better to ask than your own staff.
  • Perk Up Your Employees and Applicants
    03/28/2002
    With the shrinking worker base nationwide, employers are always looking for ways to encourage employees to stay with the company, and to attract new applicants.
  • Home Away From Home
    03/28/2002
    Most families today consist of dual-working parents or single parents. While various groups may debate whether or not both parents should work, the fact is -- they do!
  • How to Encourage Employees to Take Responsibility
    03/28/2002
    A lament of every manager is that employees don't take responsibility for their own work, for their departments, or for the company as a whole.
  • Picnics in the Park...or Parking Lot
    03/28/2002
    Summer is an outdoor time. Unfortunately, most employees have to spend these sunny days inside until the workday ends in the late afternoon.
  • If the Shoe Fits
    03/28/2002
    An ill-fitting shoe pinches the toes and makes the whole body miserable. Similarly, an ill-fitting job makes the employee unhappy and the work product mediocre at best, substandard at the worst.
  • Make Working at Your Company a Lifetime Career: Part II
    03/28/2002
    This Workshop continues discussing the third of five key factors that help encourage employees to make working at your company a lifetime career
  • Make Working at Your Company a Lifetime Career: Part I
    03/28/2002
    There's nothing that solidifies a small company more than having a core of dedicated employees who have been with the firm for years .
  • What Do Your Employees Hear?
    03/28/2002
    Words can be like bullets, delivering psychological and mental devastation to the targets.
  • How to Evaluate Employee Morale
    03/28/2002
    For the ongoing well-being of a company, it is vital for management to foresee and take care of problems in employee morale.
  • The Team Spirit May Be Just What Your Business Needs
    03/28/2002
    When your company is suddenly faced with a large project, consider organizing key employees into a team.
  • Maximizing Employee Time
    03/28/2002
    Every business owner knows that time is money, especially employee time.
  • Investments in Employee Seminars Pay Off!
    03/28/2002
    Many small to mid-size businesses never think to offer employee training, but it can be one of the best and least-expensive investments you can make.
  • Huddle Up -- Staff Meetings Can be Fun (and Useful)
    03/28/2002
    How long has it been since you had a staff meeting? Does your entire staff meet each week? Once a month?
  • Understanding Employee Needs
    03/28/2002
    Each person is a highly complex individual with unique experiences and goals.
  • Holiday Spirit in the Workplace
    03/28/2002
    The "holiday spirit" is a broader concept that suggests a lighter attitude and more joyous involvement in routine tasks.
  • 10 Ways to Ruin a Holiday Party
    03/28/2002
    Holiday parties are supposed to be fun. The memories that linger after some parties, however, evoke embarrassment and resentment instead of fond memories.
  • Motivating Employees Through Recognition Programs
    03/28/2002
    From the employee's perspective, a company is a good place to work when its policies and practices reward good employees.
  • Share Your Enthusiasm With Employees
    03/28/2002
    To communicate your conviction in your business to staff members, make your message personal, memorable and fun.
  • The Emperor's New Clothes
    03/28/2002
    Fairy tales have stood the test of time because they teach important underlying lessons in human behavior.
  • Employee Evaluations Are Critical
    03/28/2002
    Want a recipe for a lawsuit? It's pretty easy: don't evaluate your employees, and then fire one of them.
  • Reduce Employee Turnover: Know the Value of Your Employees
    03/28/2002
    Finding good employees has become a major challenge for small and large businesses alike.
  • Employee Reviews Can Help Decide Promotions
    03/28/2002
    Today's Workshop explains how consistent review procedures can help in deciding who to promote.
  • Are You Asking the Right Questions in Your Employee Interviews?
    03/28/2002
    You can interview job candidates for an hour and still not know if they're the right fit for your company
  • Motivating Employees in an Economic Downturn
    03/27/2002
    Keeping employees motivated is key to any small business' success, but some business owners are finding the task more challenging amidst uncertain economic conditions and a tough business climate.
  • How to Keep Key Employees From Going Out on Their Own
    03/14/2002
    Is there any way to completely prevent employees from leaving and starting their own companies? Find out in today's Workshop.