Management

The Problem with Management  by David Brewster

In spite of the abundance of management theories, managers are working longer and harder and with little to show for it. David Brewster draws some important lessons from the Tour de France cycling championships in how to harness the power of your team to achieve outstanding business performance.

How Psychology Can Help You Be a Better Manager  by Leslie Allan AIMM MAITD

Novice managers often struggle to get the best out of their people because they labor under a one-dimensional view of what motivates their employees. In this article, Leslie Allan illustrates how a little psychology can return huge dividends.

When Business Becomes a Battlefield  by Graham Yemm and Bruce Hoverd

We can all under-estimate the importance of communication and interpersonal skills. As a result we do not think about them, we just "do". What are the consequences of the lack of thinking? Potentially the miscommunication leads to aggression, poor morale and other problems. This article looks at some ways to overcome this issue.

Fear Factor  by Nancy Snell

Fear of change and the unknown is a destructive force that can consume workplaces and degrade the performance of our companies. As leaders, one of our most important jobs is to ensure that fear does not take root. Nancy Snell shows how to dispel fear in the workplace with direct and clear communication.

Business Systems – Not Just for Big Business  by Michael Clark

When I mention business systems to you, what comes to mind? Do you think of an IBM mainframe computer sitting in a big room in the middle of your building? Do you think of expensive, highly specialized software? That’s what many small business owners imagine. And they think it’s not for them. If that’s what you think, you’re only half right.

Training Employees: Stop Wasting Your Money  by Leslie Allan AIMM MAITD

You send your people on expensive training courses. Yet your business performance does not seem to improve. Your problem may lie in how you look at training. This article considers two popular views of how training works. Hold the outdated view and you will continue to lose money on training. Act on the enlightened view and your business and people will prosper. Which view do you hold?

The Most Important Management Skill  by Terence Traut

Terence Traut draws from interviews, research, and extensive experience to consider from a range of important management skills which is the most critical for today’s manager.

Keeping Your Business Simple – A Key to Long Term Success
   by David Brewster

Business owners and managers are working longer and harder - and in an era when we are all talking about the need for work-life balance! In this article, David Brewster highlights five key interesting and practical ways that you can achieve business success whilst maintaining your real quality of life.

How to Make a People Place of Your Organization  by Karin Syren

In today’s organizational environment, the term job security has become an oxymoron. There seems to be little security and often little time for real investment in people. Too much to do, too little time and capital along with too many qualified candidates combine to create a culture of “throw-away” employees. But is this really the most time-saving or cost-effective approach and what of long-term organizational stability?

Use Job Aids to Improve Your Business Results  by Leslie Allan AIMM MAITD

Employee productivity, efficiency and work quality can be improved significantly with the right job aid. In this article, Leslie Allan reviews ten types of job aid and how they can take your business operations to the next level.

Recognition by the Happy Wanderer  by Chris Herrmann

Curiosity is the real key to uncovering performance that deserves recognition. Managing by wandering about (MBWA) is a technique first recognized in the 1980s and is in itself a form of employee recognition. By getting away from behind your desk on a regular basis you will find yourself being drawn towards areas of the business you might not otherwise visit.

Awareness and Mastery – Two Essential Keys to a Successful Small Business
   by Michael Clark

You will hear managers complaining that their employees aren’t productive, don’t listen and just can’t consistently get the job done. Michael Clark’s employees are focused, do what he asks of them and work hard. In this article, Michael will share what it is he is doing that is different from the rest and what this can teach you about running a successful small business?

Basic Management Skills  by Chris Thomas

Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60 percent of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this and at such little cost.

Top Ten Questions About Customer Service and Business  by Derek Williams

Get answers to the top ten questions about how to use customer satisfaction to drive your business profits.

Where Have All the Honest Managers Gone?  by Bob Selden

Is honesty missing from management today? Does honesty have any impact on employee morale, productivity and employee turnover? Find out the latest research results and how a manager can apply these results on a day-to-day basis.

Maintaining People Places and Retaining Staff  by Karin Syren

It should go without saying that there is no better way to maintain a carefully created People Place than to hang on to your existing loyal producers. Unfortunately, not nearly enough emphasis is applied in this area.

How a "We" Culture Can Raise Your Organizational IQ  by Nancy Snell

No work is more important for a leader than creating an environment in which all team members can contribute. That raises the collective IQ of the company and pays dividends as the business gleans ideas for new strategies and improved processes from all over the company.

Leading Knowledge Workers: Avoid These Five Deadly Leadership Sins
   by Faith Ralston

The average employee is delivering only a fraction of that which they are capable. Avoid these five deadly sins and you'll capture knowledge workers' discretionary energy and build enthusiasm into a top performing team.

Providing Direction - Stop Your People Guessing What You Want
   by Paul Phillips

Most people know what takes up their time at work - but they are not often sure it is what the boss wants or the business needs. Properly constructed job descriptions can provide that final link between corporate direction and the individuals working to make it happen. The secret is to have them focus on the end result required by the job, not the tasks and activities required to achieve it.

Meetings

Efficient, Effective Meetings  by Bruce Taylor

Most professionals report spending between 15 percent and 30 percent of their time in meetings. How about yourself - do you know the inside of the conference rooms better than you know your office? And of the time that you spend in the meetings, how much of it is really valuable to you, and how much does it cost?

Drive a Tight Agenda, Don't Let It Drive You  by Lonnie Pacelli

Meetings can quickly get out of control and ruin your day, often because of a poorly thought out agenda. Here are some useful tips for developing and managing an effective meeting agenda.

Five Reasons to Make Meetings More Fun  by Kevin Eikenberry

The average person spends more time in meetings than they’d like to. The average manager spends the majority of their workday in meetings. Given these facts, shouldn’t meetings be more fun?

Nineteen Timeless Tips to Keep Meetings Short  by Deborah Torres Patel

Thorough meeting preparation alleviates anxiety. Good planning guarantees that meetings are relevant, don’t overrun and aren’t held back by uniformed, boring or disinterested attendees. Follow these nineteen timeless tips to keep your meetings on track and on time.