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Newsletter Archive

How to Build an Advisory Board to Protect and Grow Your Company

September 28, 2023

How to Build an Advisory Board to Protect and Grow Your Company Harness expertise, gain accountability, and unlock strategic wisdom from board members who have already been where you aim to go. Photo: Getty Images Kent Lewis, an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member in Portland, Oregon, is the founder of pdxMindShare, an online career community focused on Portland … Continued

6 Strategies for Futureproofing Your Team and Navigating the Next Crisis

September 28, 2023

6 Strategies for Futureproofing Your Team and Navigating the Next Crisis Don’t let the recent multiple crises cause you and your team to become stressed and dysfunctional. Photo: Getty Images Most companies I work with, like yours, are still reeling from the effects of Covid-19, the rise of inflation, and talent shortages. They are rightly … Continued

Harvard Research Shows Using 1 Word Dramatically Increases Your Ability to Build Consensus and Buy-In

September 28, 2023

Harvard Research Shows Using 1 Word Dramatically Increases Your Ability to Build Consensus and Buy-In Swapping one word for another changes the nature of the conversation, and its outcome. Photo: Getty Images Some people are unusually persuasive. They influence — in a good way — the people around them. They make people feel a part of … Continued

How to Unlock Your Business’s Growth Potential

September 28, 2023

How to Unlock Your Business’s Growth Potential Ten sources for continuous business growth. Photo: Getty Images The pursuit of business growth is a fundamental goal for every business. However, for investor-backed companies, particularly those supported by venture capital (VC) or private equity (PE) investors, this pursuit becomes even more critical. With investors seeking substantial returns … Continued

8 Mindsets to Keep You Calm and Productive Despite Increasing Demands

September 28, 2023

8 Mindsets to Keep You Calm and Productive Despite Increasing Demands You may think that multitasking is the answer, but it takes a terrible toll on your productivity and health. Photo: Getty Images Unfortunately, many of the business professionals I meet these days in my mentoring and consulting activities feel perennially stressed and out of … Continued

How Smart Leaders Use the 10x Rule to Clarify Everything in Their Business

September 28, 2023

How Smart Leaders Use the 10x Rule to Clarify Everything in Their Business This rule is a simple way to eliminate everything that won’t work and hone in on what will. Photo: Getty Images Are you tired of striving for consistent growth, trying to figure out a hundred different ways to grow your business by 10 … Continued

How to Deal With Customers Who Are Angry, and Prevent Others From Getting That Way? Use Emotional Intelligence

September 28, 2023

How to Deal With Customers Who Are Angry, and Prevent Others From Getting That Way? Use Emotional Intelligence Dealing with irate customers requires two qualities: transparency and empathy. Photo: Getty Images Inc.com columnist Justin Bariso answers questions about how to handle workplace and management problems using emotional intelligence. (Note: Some names have been changed.) … Continued

Your Customers Will Tell You Where to Focus, If You Let Them

September 28, 2023

Your Customers Will Tell You Where to Focus, If You Let Them Evite expanded the way it thought about the journey to parenthood to serve more people. Here’s what every brand can learn from its approach. Photo: Getty Images As brands plan for how to grow and include more people, a wonderful place to start … Continued

Once Is Not Enough–Why Repeating Is the Lesson You Should Keep Repeating

September 28, 2023

Once Is Not Enough–Why Repeating Is the Lesson You Should Keep Repeating We know the lesson, even believe in it, but we err in thinking applying it once is enough. Photo: Getty Images Lather, rinse, repeat. There’s an urban legend around these three words. The story goes that a few decades ago, leading consumer … Continued

Don’t Call Your Mother. Call Your Competitors First

September 28, 2023

Don’t Call Your Mother. Call Your Competitors First Rather than fear your competitors, find ways to cooperate and learn from them. Photo: Getty Images I’ve been friendly to my competitors throughout my career. I’ve habitually called leaders in my space to chat them up whether I had an agenda or not. And this is a … Continued

3 Crucial Factors to Manage Your Company’s Growth Without Losing Its Spark

July 19, 2023

3 Crucial Factors to Manage Your Company’s Growth Without Losing Its Spark How a fast-growing business can restore its entrepreneurial soul Photo: Getty Images As a business professor, I have studied organizations that range in size from startups with just a few employees to huge multinationals that employ tens of thousands of people. In … Continued

How To Be A Customer

July 19, 2023

How To Be A Customer Are there classes for that? Photo: Getty Images In my first career life, I was in some form of department store management. Everything from managing particular departments, operations manager and store manager. I’ve spent countless hours helping my associates deal with every customer type known to mankind. At one … Continued

4 Kinds of Worker Misery You Must Eliminate Now

July 19, 2023

4 Kinds of Worker Misery You Must Eliminate Now Spend time in workers’ shoes to see how your company keeps them from serving customers well. Photo: Getty Images Business leaders who walk in workers’ shoes are better than those who spend their days holed up in their corner offices. The reason seems clear: if … Continued

3 Things You Need to Know to Build a Strong Network

July 19, 2023

3 Things You Need to Know to Build a Strong Network It can seem a lower priority when you’re building your business, but a small-time investment here will pay off later. Photo: Getty Images The biggest misconception I hear about building and nurturing a strong network is that it takes a lot of time … Continued

How Can I Get Better at Spotting Talent?

July 19, 2023

How Can I Get Better at Spotting Talent? And three other tricky workplace dilemmas Photo: Getty Images Inc.com columnist Alison Green answers questions about workplace and management issues–everything from how to deal with a micromanaging boss to how to talk to someone on your team about body odor. Here’s a roundup of answers to … Continued

5 Ways to Better Manage Your Gen-Z Employees

July 19, 2023

5 Ways to Better Manage Your Gen-Z Employees This generation of young employees is different. Here’s how to work with them. Photo: Getty Images As a business owner and CEO, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented young professionals over the years. For the platform Apprentice, we’ve even done significant research … Continued

The Keys to Top-Quality Customer Service, According to 24 Business Leaders in the Know

July 19, 2023

The Keys to Top-Quality Customer Service, According to 24 Business Leaders in the Know They share their advice on how to hire the best CX talent, train your team to walk in your customers’ shoes, and offer support that goes above and beyond expectations. ILLUSTRATIONS BY ESTHER AARTS Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely … Continued

3 Innovative Ways to Build Brand Loyalty

July 19, 2023

3 Innovative Ways to Build Brand Loyalty Gaining a customer is a feat in and of itself. Keeping a customer, however, takes that initial effort plus innovative thinking. Photo: Getty Images Building brand loyalty is one of the most critical contributors to the success of any business in today’s highly competitive market. A loyal … Continued

The Owner Versus Employee Mindset

July 19, 2023

The Owner Versus Employee Mindset Some people just want to be employees. Photo: Getty Images In the early stages of a company, you want everyone on the team–from your front-line employees to your partners who own equity with you–to go above and beyond toward making the company successful. You hope everyone thinks strategically and … Continued

5 Steps to Take to Stand Out in a Rough Market

July 19, 2023

5 Steps to Take to Stand Out in a Rough Market Follow these steps and the market might not mean your startup will die Photo: Getty Images If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve surely noticed that the market is not exactly sympathetic to startups nowadays. You’ve been hearing a lot about layoffs in tech, … Continued

The Power of Connection: How Relationship-Focused Leadership Drives Success

July 19, 2023

The Power of Connection: How Relationship-Focused Leadership Drives Success Why leaders need to focus on relationship building now more than ever Photo: Getty Images Outcomes > hours. I hope to be able to convince you of this by the end of this article. Why? Because if you’re looking to create more reliable revenue in … Continued

The Power of Connection: How Relationship-Focused Leadership Drives Success

July 19, 2023

The Power of Connection: How Relationship-Focused Leadership Drives Success Why leaders need to focus on relationship building now more than ever Photo: Getty Images Doing this one thing changed everything about how I lead. I stopped thinking about leadership as a role with responsibilities and started treating it as a relationship. You’ve probably heard … Continued

Deepak Chopra: ‘We Need a Pandemic of Joy’

July 19, 2023

Deepak Chopra: ‘We Need a Pandemic of Joy’ At Inc. Founders House during SXSW, the New Age icon and entrepreneur offered advice on what makes a good company, and predictions on new business opportunities in wellness. Deepak Chopra at Inc. Founders House during SXSW in Austin. Photo: Dennis Burnett Amid the frenzy that is … Continued

5 Ways to Prepare Your Business Team to Tackle Any Market Change

July 19, 2023

5 Ways to Prepare Your Business Team to Tackle Any Market Change To survive and thrive in business today, you need every team member engaged and working together. Photo: Getty Images Many business leaders I meet in my consulting practice are frustrated by the challenge of getting their teams working together, increasing engagement, and … Continued

To Keep a Conversation From Becoming a Conflict

July 19, 2023

To Keep a Conversation From Becoming a Conflict, Understand and Interrupt the Pattern of Escalation There’s only one thing you need to do to defuse a conflict. Listening isn’t it. Photo: Getty Images Almost every interpersonal conflict follows the same pattern of escalation. Once you are familiar with that pattern, it’s easier to understand how … Continued

How to Create a Consistently High-Performing Team

July 19, 2023

How to Create a Consistently High-Performing Team Employee performance is an ongoing concern. Here are three areas to focus on if you want to build a team that can perform at a high level over time. Photo: Getty Images I’ve found that getting a team to perform well is a bit like maintaining my … Continued

How to Improve Key Areas of Your Business

July 19, 2023

How to Improve Key Areas of Your Business While every business has something that makes it unique, they all have similar features that can be streamlined with the right tools. Illustration: Getty Images Are you finding it tough to streamline your daily work processes, and that most of your business resources remain overworked … Continued

5 Ways to Promote Your Business Without Directly Promoting Your Business

July 19, 2023

5 Ways to Promote Your Business Without Directly Promoting Your Business Instead of shamelessly self-promoting, try doing this. Illustration: Getty Images As our social-media feeds and inboxes get busier and busier, our attention span decreases accordingly. None of us have time to spend following a company or a person who talks about himself all … Continued

Scaling Your Business Means Taking Risks. Here’s How to Make Sure Yours Are Calculated

July 19, 2023

Scaling Your Business Means Taking Risks. Here’s How to Make Sure Yours Are Calculated To maximize your chances of success, make sure the risks you take are the right ones. Illustration: Getty Images Taking risks is a natural part of being in business. The key to dealing with them is to make sure … Continued

7 Simple Steps to Creating a Productivity Tracker for Your Business

July 19, 2023

7 Simple Steps to Creating a Productivity Tracker for Your Business Work on the right things at the right time in your business using this simple method. Illustration: Getty Images It’s no secret productivity is a serious concern for entrepreneurs. You regularly set lofty goals for yourself and you’re keen on growing your business … Continued

5 Attributes of Team Members and Leaders That Often Limit Success

March 10, 2023

5 Attributes of Team Members and Leaders That Often Limit Success Unleashing your full potential requires that you recognize key attributes in the people around you. Photo: Getty Images One of the keys to your success as a business professional and leader is your ability to nurture relationships and select associates who have the attributes to … Continued

Beware of This Trap as You Map Out Your Goals and Growth Plans

March 10, 2023

Beware of This Trap as You Map Out Your Goals and Growth Plans Look out for compliments that are not aligned with who you are or where you want to go. Photo: Getty Images Have you ever received a compliment that once would have made you puff up with pride, but now feels like … Continued

You May Be Over-Coaching Your Team. Here’s How to Tell

March 10, 2023

You May Be Over-Coaching Your Team. Here’s How to Tell Here’s how to tell if you are at risk of self-sabotage. Photo: Getty Images As a business coach for more than 25 years, I can attest to the power of a good company wide coaching program. If done correctly, you can help your team … Continued

4 Simple Ways to Make Yourself Really Happy in 10 Minutes or Less, Backed by Harvard Research

March 10, 2023

4 Simple Ways to Make Yourself Really Happy in 10 Minutes or Less, Backed by Harvard Research An 85-year-long study reveals the secret to long-term happiness. Should you try it? Photo: Getty Images What makes you genuinely happy? There could be a wide range of answers ranging from closing a big sale or investment, reaching … Continued

Don’t Burn Out in the First Month of the Year

March 10, 2023

Don’t Burn Out in the First Month of the Year See 2023 as a marathon, not a sprint. Run it accordingly. Photo: Getty Images We are just about two weeks into the new year and I’m already noticing a trend among friends and colleagues: People are already feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted from all that there is … Continued

5 Keys to Learning From Business Setbacks and Achieving Long-Term Success

March 10, 2023

5 Keys to Learning From Business Setbacks and Achieving Long-Term Success Most business professionals experience failure and iterative learning before long-term success. How to improve the process. Photo: Getty Images After years of working in small businesses as well as large ones, I’m convinced that you shouldn’t expect to get it all right the first … Continued

4 Timeless Business Lessons To Improve Your Company’s Future Profitability, Learned From Studying Successes and Failures of The Past

March 10, 2023

4 Timeless Business Lessons To Improve Your Company’s Future Profitability, Learned From Studying Successes and Failures of The Past Now is the best time to analyze past successes and failures and apply what you find to drive profitability. Illustration: Getty Images Brooke Lively, an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member in Fort Worth, is founder and president of Cathedral … Continued

‘Gaslighting’ Is the Word of the Year.

January 12, 2023

‘Gaslighting’ Is the Word of the Year. Learn What It Is, How You Might Be a Victim, and How to Protect Yourself What exactly does gaslighting look like? Let’s break it down, and see how you can improve your emotional alarm system. Illustration: Getty Images Dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster announced its word of the year this … Continued

Why Everything You Know About Setting Goals–Including the Need for Setting Goals–Could Be Wrong

January 12, 2023

Why Everything You Know About Setting Goals–Including the Need for Setting Goals–Could Be Wrong Emmanuel Acho told Adam Grant he ‘hates goals.’ Instead, this is what he thinks you should do. Photo: Getty Images Tony Robbins says setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. Mark Cuban says effort is measured by setting goals and … Continued

7 Practical Steps to Healthy Competition That Keeps You Human

January 12, 2023

7 Practical Steps to Healthy Competition That Keeps You Human You can love your competitors and still win. Photo: Getty Images “Every week, I have lunch with a competitor,” Scott shared. “We catch up, talk about the market, even share trade secrets.” As head of a leading architectural firm in a highly competitive market, … Continued

Engage in Community Outreach to Thrive in Business

January 12, 2023

Engage in Community Outreach to Thrive in Business Effect change and inspire others with your work in the community and the community will return the favor. Photo: Getty Images The ability to thrive in today’s complex society requires entrepreneurs to embrace their social responsibility and engage in community outreach. The impact of social issues on businesses, reputations and community … Continued

How to Grab and Keep your Customer’s Attention

January 12, 2023

How to Grab and Keep your Customer’s Attention And why being quiet is more important in marketing today. Photo: Getty Images The world is busier today than ever before which means consumers are bombarded by marketing messages all day long. It also doesn’t help that the average attention span of humans today is as short as a goldfish. I constantly … Continued

4 Ways to Grow Revenue in a Downturn

January 12, 2023

4 Ways to Grow Revenue in a Downturn With fundraising all but out of the question, businesses must turn to their profits to fuel growth. Photo: Getty Images As the stock market continues to plummet and experts predict a recession that could last longer than average, fundraising is no longer a viable way to fuel growth for many startups. Instead, … Continued

What do today’s customers expect from in-store retail?

January 12, 2023

What do today’s customers expect from in-store retail? Shutterstock / Jacob Lund Sponsored content By Mood Media Mood Media, the world’s leading experiential media company, collaborated on a global research study in October with Miya Knights, a retail expert, author and publisher, to gain an understanding of the evolving customer expectations of physical stores. The survey focused … Continued

5 Keys to Learning From Business Setbacks and Achieving Long-Term Success

January 12, 2023

How to Know If You’re on the Right Track? Question Everything

October 26, 2022

How to Know If You’re on the Right Track? Question Everything You can’t discover what you really need to know about your product or service unless you interrogate your customers, suppliers, and manufacturers. Illustration by Gracia Lam Any founder interested in thriving over the long term needs to be addicted to innovation. I know I am. … Continued

Customers Are Expected to Pull Back on Holiday Spending. Here’s How to Adapt

October 26, 2022

Customers Are Expected to Pull Back on Holiday Spending. Here’s How to Adapt Shoppers are expected to spend less than they did last year, but some smart promotions can help you earn their dollars. Photo: Getty Images This holiday season, it’s all about quality over quantity–and flexibility over everything else. Shoppers are pulling back … Continued

Win More Customers by Avoiding These 7 Questions

October 26, 2022

Win More Customers by Avoiding These 7 Questions While there are a lot of right things to say during a sales conversation, there are also wrong things that could turn a potential customer away. Photo: Getty Images Sales calls can be high-pressure situations for a sales rep, as it can be difficult to hit … Continued

Solving the “Purpose Gap” between Executives and Workers

October 26, 2022

Solving the “Purpose Gap” between Executives and Workers There is a growing distance between how employees and top executives feel purpose is being activated inside America’s largest companies, according to a new study. Photo: Getty Images The Purpose Power Index is a first-of-its-kind research study to empirically rank companies based on public perception of … Continued

6 Super Effective Ways to Show Your Emotional Intelligence at Work

October 26, 2022

6 Super Effective Ways to Show Your Emotional Intelligence at Work When it comes to work effectiveness, emotional intelligence can matter as much, if not more, than IQ. Photo: Getty Images In the Future of Jobs Report, which the World Economic Forum published in 2015, chief human resources officers from global companies were asked what they … Continued

No Matter Your Company’s Size, Customers Will Hold You Accountable for Ethical Lapses

October 25, 2022

Survey: No Matter Your Company’s Size, Customers Will Hold You Accountable for Ethical Lapses A new report from ‘Harvard Business Review’ shows how a company’s perceived ethical violations can impact public opinion. Photo: Getty Images Companies of all sizes have a responsibility to do the right thing–according to their customers, at least. When … Continued

3 Tips for Improving Team Productivity in Hybrid and Remote Workplaces

October 25, 2022

3 Tips for Improving Team Productivity in Hybrid and Remote Workplaces Psychological safety is a critical factor in removing obstacles that hold back teamwork. Photo: Getty Images Improving team participation is a constant challenge for leaders, whether people are working together in the office or remotely. Many teams can suffer from “domination by the few,” where several … Continued

If Shoppers Pull Back, It’s Time to Target Premium Buyers

October 25, 2022

If Shoppers Pull Back, It’s Time to Target Premium Buyers Budget retailers tend to benefit when the economy hits a rough patch. But there’s also something to be said for re-targeting a higher-end audience. Photo: Getty Images As shoppers cut back on unnecessary expenses, some businesses are promoting their higher-priced goods and services. And no, that’s … Continued

How to Humanize a Brand

October 25, 2022

How to Humanize a Brand: 15 Best Tips for Humanizing Your Voice What’s the one thing business owners and their employees, partners and even customers all have in common? Well, at the most basic level, they’re all human. So why is it sometimes so challenging for businesses to showcase this in their marketing efforts? Perhaps … Continued

Sunday Scaries

August 17, 2022

Sunday Scaries: How they stole half the weekend and what you can do about it Have you ever found yourself reaching for the perfect, ripe tomato at your local Sunday farmers market, smiling and blissful, only to get hit with a sudden sense of impending doom out of nowhere? No, it’s not a bad piece … Continued

It’s Time To Rethink ‘Best Practices’

August 17, 2022

It’s Time To Rethink ‘Best Practices’ Best practices may be ingrained in your organization, but they may also be limiting your company’s potential. Adam Grant. Photo: Getty Images Almost everyone is thinking about the future of work and the new tools businesses will use. But less thought is given to the tools and strategies they’ll stop using. … Continued

5 Rare Strategies to Successfully Lead a Company During Tough Times

August 17, 2022

5 Rare Strategies to Successfully Lead a Company During Tough Times Here’s how to safeguard the workplace from becoming toxic. Photo: Getty Images A global pandemic, racial riots, the Great Resignation, the spread of gun violence, and now inflation and a recession. We have been caught in a cycle of uncertainty and upheaval for over two years … Continued

The Labor Shortage Is Only Set to Grow

August 17, 2022

The Labor Shortage Is Only Set to Grow. These Companies Think Apprenticeships Are the Answer Employers are struggling to find the skilled workers they need. Paid, on-the-job training could transform the workforce for good. The team at Multiverse. Photo: Courtesy Multiverse White collar industries are just starting to embrace the apprenticeship–and some businesses say it’s the future of … Continued

What Gen-Z Wants From Employers

August 17, 2022

What Gen-Z Wants From Employers: Skip the Flexibility, Bring on the Career Mobility Employers are struggling to find the skilled workers they need. Paid, on-the-job training could transform the workforce for good. Photo: Getty Images Money talks, but for some employees, it isn’t everything. In fact, some workers would be willing to take pay … Continued

5 Tips for How Your Business Can Help Save the Planet

August 17, 2022

Seth Godin’s 5 Tips for How Your Business Can Help Save the Planet The marketing mind behind the purple cow takes on climate change in the new book, ‘The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late.’ Illustration: Raymond Biesinger Seth Godin doesn’t care about your company’s coffee habits, at least not as they relate to saving … Continued

What role does social media play in the shopper journey?

August 17, 2022

What role does social media play in the shopper journey? Online shopping has become the norm. But how are consumers using social media throughout the shopping process? Social media and the shopper journey While shopping behaviors have been steadily transforming for decades, the past two years sped up the rate of change exponentially. Not only … Continued

The Value of Customer Delight

August 17, 2022

The Value of Customer Delight Incorporating customer delight may be easier than you think. But how should you measure the impact of delight? And how can you delight existing customers? Terry Vavra and Douglas Pruden discuss these questions and more as they comment on a recent article published in Quirk’s, “Measuring and managing customer delight.” … Continued

Covid Two Years Later: 6 Hard-Learned Lessons From Businesses That Survived the Pandemic

August 15, 2022

Covid Two Years Later: 6 Hard-Learned Lessons From Businesses That Survived the Pandemic These companies found new paths to profitability during the pandemic. Here’s how. Getty Images It’s been two years since the World Health Organization declared Covid a global pandemic and since then nearly every facet of business has been upended. While hundreds of thousands of … Continued

16 Types of Customer Needs (and How to Solve for Them)

August 15, 2022

16 Types of Customer Needs (and How to Solve for Them) Companies want to stay relevant and innovative and often look at other successful companies, hot industry trends, or new shiny products for inspiration. However, a vital component to growth is at every business’s fingertips — their customers. Yes, customers are the ones with the … Continued

6 leadership types you’ll find on ‘Ted Lasso’

August 15, 2022

6 leadership types you’ll find on ‘Ted Lasso’ The popular Apple TV show, now shooting its third season, is chock-full of leadership lessons. Here are some of the characters that deliver them. Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Nick Mohammed in “Ted Lasso” season two. [Photo: Apple] BY GWEN MORAN AND CARL PHILLIPS Warning: The following piece has many major … Continued

Welcoming Back Formerly-Retired Workers Can Help Remedy Your Labor Pains. Just Don’t Forget the Buddy System

August 15, 2022

Welcoming Back Formerly-Retired Workers Can Help Remedy Your Labor Pains. Just Don’t Forget the Buddy System How to make their reentry to the workforce as seamless as possible. The NBA isn’t the only organization plucking employees out of retirement. To contend with ongoing labor shortages, businesses are similarly tapping this vast source of talent. The onset of the pandemic hastened the … Continued

How to Change Other People

August 15, 2022

How to Change Other People In their new book, Leadership coaches Peter Bregman and Howie Jacobson, PhD describe their four-part formula for changing people’s minds. Image: Courtesy publisher If you’re an entrepreneur–or a leader of any kind–the ability to align and bring out the best in the people around you is your most important … Continued

3 Simple Ways to Manage Burnout, According to a Top Psychotherapist

August 15, 2022

3 Simple Ways to Manage Burnout, According to a Top Psychotherapist Employees aren’t the only ones suffering these days. Getty Images Entrepreneurs are no stranger to stress, anxiety and burnout. That said, some have better ways to manage those challenges than others. For some insight into how to help entrepreneurs negotiating this tricky terrane, Inc. tapped Paul Sheesley, a Washington D.C.-based psychotherapist, … Continued

How to Improve Your Communication Skills in 5 Simple Steps

August 15, 2022

How to Improve Your Communication Skills in 5 Simple Steps In the workplace, each employee may have their own tasks and targets, but together, you are all working toward the same end goal. But with so many different people coming together, there’s bound to be some friction on how to implement ideas and strategies best. … Continued

Workers Keep Resigning. Here’s a Novel Idea to Get Them to Stay

August 15, 2022

Workers Keep Resigning. Here’s a Novel Idea to Get Them to Stay Instead of relying on exit interviews for potentially illuminating information, business owners are connecting with their employees before they’re already out the door. To keep employees from leaving amid the Great Resignation, leaders need to start asking the tough questions–at the right time. … Continued

Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: Everything You Need to Know

August 15, 2022

Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: Everything You Need to Know Your employees know your business processes well. They understand your brand messaging and vision and feel a general sense of connectedness to your organization. Given this, many businesses choose to insource and have existing employees undertake new tasks rather than hiring freelancers or other agencies that don’t have an existing … Continued

Having a Terrible Day?

April 20, 2022

Having a Terrible Day? Turn Things Around by Doing These 5 Simple Things You can make a bad day better without a lot of effort My favorite book growing up was Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. It told the highly relatable and true story of the author’s young son … Continued

What Is Servant Leadership?

April 20, 2022

What Is Servant Leadership? Some choose to use a democratic style, where they make final decisions after getting input from team members. Some are individualists, focused on personal development and improvement, while others act as a coach that works to help employees develop their skills and build strong teams. Although different in practice, most leadership … Continued

5 Open Door Policy Examples

April 20, 2022

5 Open Door Policy Examples Whether they have an issue they want to be resolved or ideas they think would improve the company or better serve clients, employees just want to be heard. When you don’t create an open line of communication with your team, they may feel discouraged, leading to poor morale and ultimately … Continued

How to Use Porter’s Five Forces to Outmaneuver Your Competition

April 20, 2022

How to Use Porter’s Five Forces to Outmaneuver Your Competition Porter’s Five Forces is a model that identifies and describes the five economic forces that shape every industry. More specifically, it explains how these forces dictate every industry’s competitive intensity, potential for profitability, and attractiveness. Porter’s Five Forces has become a fundamental model that most … Continued

7 Google Q&A Best Practices For A better Customer Experience

April 20, 2022

7 Google Q&A Best Practices For A better Customer Experience No matter your size or industry, people are using Google to ask questions about your business. Do you know who’s answering? By leaving it up to the public, you’re risking your visibility and your credibility. When used correctly, Google Q&A can boost trustworthiness and create a … Continued

Here’s How to Talk About Fear at Work

April 20, 2022

The Ukraine Crisis Has People Rattled. Here’s How to Talk About Fear at Work Leaders don’t need to have all the answers in the midst of global uncertainty. But they do need to start the conversation. No bubble wrap required. Your workplace doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Amid global tragedy, anxiety and other emotions are … Continued

U.S.’s Cyber Agency Raises New ‘Shields-Up’ Warning

April 20, 2022

U.S.’s Cyber Agency Raises New ‘Shields-Up’ Warning, as the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Ratchets Up Reducing vulnerabilities and shoring up your crisis-response team is only your first line of defense. Former White House Information Officer Theresa Payton has additional thoughts. Getty Images As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold, experts are urging … Continued

Customer Service Is Free

February 24, 2022

Customer Service Is Free Most large organizations would disagree. They hire cheap labor to answer the phone. They install recordings to mollify people who are on hold for hours. They measure the cost of the call center and put loopholes in the warranty. When you see customer service as a cost center, all of these … Continued

How to retain valuable staff

February 24, 2022

How to retain valuable staff Employees are quitting at record rates. Here are some tips to retain the valuable staff you already have. Hiring and retention are at the forefront of employers’ headaches right now. With The Great Resignation of 2021, workers quit at record rates. Here are some ways to retain the valuable staff … Continued

Why Some Business Owners Want to Raise the Minimum Wage to Spur Economic Recovery

February 24, 2022

Why Some Business Owners Want to Raise the Minimum Wage to Spur Economic Recovery More than 20 states rang in 2022 with minimum wage hikes. Advocates for a higher federal minimum say it will boost spending and the economy. Getty Images A coalition of business owners is sweet on the minimum wage increases that kicked off … Continued

Your Workers Are Telling You It’s Time to Rethink How You Hire

February 24, 2022

Your Workers Are Telling You It’s Time to Rethink How You Hire A new report shows a real disconnect, and need for change Getty Images Last month the team at Indeed released their 2021 Hiring Trends Report. The report provided an effective follow up to their earlier piece on the Great Resignation which was referenced … Continued

Consumers still hungry for deals, coupons

February 24, 2022

Consumers still hungry for deals, coupons iStock Photo More than half, 60%, of shoppers are looking for more coupons, discounts and deals to offset higher prices across shopping categories such as apparel, groceries and dining. Nearly half (45%) are switching brands to save money, while 53% are shopping at multiple stores to find the … Continued

Persuasive Advertising: What It Is & How to Do It

February 24, 2022

Persuasive Advertising: What It Is & How to Do It What are some advertisements that live rent-free in your mind? As a millennial, ads that will always have a place in my heart include Britney Spears’ iconic run as a Pepsi spokesperson, the enduring”got milk?” campaign (which is ironic considering myself and many others now … Continued

What Are Interpersonal Skills? + 5 Ways to Develop Them

February 24, 2022

What Are Interpersonal Skills? + 5 Ways to Develop Them To succeed at our jobs, we often ended a wide range of skills, from simply communicating to in-depth product knowledge. Soft skills, like communication, fall into the category of interpersonal skills, and they are typically expected of everyone, regardless of the position you apply for. … Continued

How to Stop “The Great Resignation” From Tanking Your Company

February 24, 2022

How to Stop “The Great Resignation” From Tanking Your Company 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August of 2021 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August of 2021. That’s 2.9% of the country’s entire workforce. And while much of the conversation surrounding The Great Resignation has … Continued

Market research and voice of the customer programs

February 24, 2022

Market research and voice of the customer programs As both a consumer and customer experience (CX) consultant, I see far too many voice of the customer (VOC) programs that don’t understand the difference between market research and capturing customer feedback. The truth is, they are different. One isn’t better than the other – and both … Continued

8 Steps for Responding to Negative Reviews

February 24, 2022

8 Steps for Responding to Negative Reviews Negative reviews are a problem for companies in all industries. Such comments can damage your company’s brand, especially those that are inaccurate, biased, or from a competitor. Negative reviews can also be an opportunity to improve the business and customer experience, which is why companies devote time and … Continued

Climate change and sustainability weigh heavily on Americans

February 24, 2022

Climate change and sustainability weigh heavily on Americans Consumers who care about sustainability want to engage with brands that demonstrate that they share common values. Consumers care about sustainability. What does this mean for businesses? Editor’s note: Ron Ruffinott is VP, head of research solutions, Toluna. From remote work to travel and shopping habits, … Continued

Loyalty programs boosting visits, customer spend

February 24, 2022

Loyalty programs boosting visits, customer spend Photo by istock.com Loyalty programs can consistently boost site visits and spend by 18% to 30% per member, according to the Paytronix Loyalty Report released from Paytronix Systems Inc. Loyalty members spent an average of 6% more, per visit, than non-loyalty members in 2020, according to a press … Continued

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think

February 24, 2022

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think BY JESSICA STILLMAN, CONTRIBUTOR, INC.COM@ENTRYLEVELREBEL Getty Images If you’re looking for a slam dunk finding in the social sciences, you need look no further than the vast research on gratitude. Study after study shows counting your blessings makes you happier, more resilient, … Continued

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think

February 24, 2022

The Absurdly Simple Reason People Quit That No One Ever Talks About

February 24, 2022

The Absurdly Simple Reason People Quit That No One Ever Talks About Best-selling author and consultant Lindsay McGregor says we need to rethink how we motivate employees. Getty Images Why do people feel unmotivated at their jobs? Why might they decide to quit and look for work elsewhere? Because they don’t enjoy those jobs. That simple … Continued

Consumers plan to balance comfort and safety during 2021 holiday season

February 24, 2022

Consumers plan to balance comfort and safety during 2021 holiday season Study looks at consumer shopping behaviors during the 2021 holiday season. Author: Marshal Cohen Editor’s note: Marshal Cohen is chief industry advisor, apparel, at NPD Group. This is an edited version of a post that originally appeared under the title, “Holiday 2021 – a season of … Continued

6 Tips to Prepare for Another COVID Winter

February 24, 2022

6 Tips to Prepare for Another COVID Winter Continued caution over Covid-19, a supply-chain crunch, and a worker shortage point to a wholly different set of challenges for small businesses in colder climes. As temperatures start dropping, and the pandemic persists, businesses are girding for yet another Covid winter. But unlike last year, they’re better prepared … Continued

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better

December 17, 2021

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better Amid the Great Resignation and resulting labor shortage, technology may be your best bet at finding qualified candidates who will actually stay– as long as you use it the right way. Getty Images It might be time to let the computers take … Continued

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website

December 17, 2021

Are Your Compelling Offers Actually …. Compelling? Written by Pete Caputa Last month, at the internet marketing workshop we co-produced, we explained how to generate leads on a small business’s website. There are three components to a successful small business lead generation strategy. Compelling free educational offers available on the site. Well-designed landing pages that require the visitor to complete … Continued

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website

December 17, 2021

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website You know you’re a marketer when you’re sitting in traffic on the highway, it’s completely bumper to bumper, and all you can think about is “Why can’t I drive traffic to my website like this?” If you’ve struggled with driving traffic to your website, you’re not alone. … Continued

Do consumers read customer reviews

December 17, 2021

Do consumers read customer reviews? Do you read customer reviews before making a purchase online? I do. In fact, just last night I read dozens (yes, dozens) of reviews before purchasing a pair of jeans from an online-only clothing brand. And don’t even get me started on the number of reviews I read before buying … Continued

Organizational empathy: Creating a more customer-centric company

December 17, 2021

Organizational empathy: Creating a more customer-centric company Author: Jim Longo Editor’s note: Jim Longo is chief strategy officer at Seattle-based market research firm Discuss.io. It’s easy to become myopic in the world of business. Reducing customers to statistics and always eyeing KPIs is only natural; success lies in the numbers. Yet the more insular an … Continued

November 2017
Respond to all social media comments with one app from Mystery Shopper Services

September 2017
Training and marketing for people under 25 – How secret shops increase business

July / August 2017
Check Off Your 10-Point Mystery Shopping Success List

June 2017
How Much of Your Sales Revenue Are You Giving to Your Competitors Each Month?

April 2017
Crowdsourcing is an inexpensive method for gaining key data on a large scale

March 2017
A unique look at producing great customer service through the eyes of a professional baseball team guest manager

February 2017
Training and marketing for people under 25 – How secret shops increase business

January 2017
What we learned in 2016, and how we plan to turn it into helpful actions in 2017

November 2016
Respond to Social Media Reviews With Social Media Tracker

October 2016
Growing your share of brick-and-mortar business in an online world

September 2016
Secret Shops Help Entertainment Destination Train and Reward Large Staff

July 2016
Manufacturers Can Evaluate Retail Branding Strategy and Increase Sales With Secret Shop Programs