The following typical staff meeting statistics were compiled from a Survey conducted by GroupSystems :
The typical staff meeting is 50 minutes
- 16 minutes wasted on inefficiencies
- 59% do not take meeting minutes
- 68% said input from meeting is used rarely or not at all
- What can you do about it? (continue…)
Why do I get a cringe down my back when I hear the phrase team building day spoken by a manager or supervisor? Probably because I’ve seen so many of these well-intentioned events go horribly wrong. Or worse still, I’ve seen groups of very intelligent individuals walk away thinking “what the…?” then return to work without giving the day, or its lessons, another thought. (continue…)
I often ask participants at my workshops if they know the meaning of the word “synergy”. Depending on the make up of the group, I get a variety of answers. Invariably, most people will say they know the term, they’ve heard the term, and it’s got something to do with teams and team work. But trying to coax a more detailed definition is a waste of time. You see, most people understand that synergy is something that teams need. It somehow makes them better teams. But what it is and how it helps to improve teams is often a mystery. Just one of those things that is. (continue…)
Meetings are often considered the number one time waster at work (according to time management surveys). They are often poorly planned, poorly run, and don’t achieve anything. To make it even worse, we have to put up with “the participant from hell”. You know who I’m talking about. You probably sat next to one at your last staff meeting. Check out the following list and see if anyone you know is on it. I’ve included some tactics that might help you handle the “participant from hell” without losing your cool. (continue…)
Can’t cope with the e-mail overload? Having nightmares about e-mails stalking you through the corporate jungle? Waking in the middle of the night with the sweats because you accidentally sent that dirty joke to your boss instead of your work mate?
Don’t despair! Here are 10 tips that will restore your sanity, improve your reputation as a professional communicator and put you back in control of your mail. (continue…)
If you listen to the business news a lot, then you may have encountered the term “outsourcing.” This refers to companies who turn to offshore skilled workers to do work for them. This can save companies money, since they spend little on labor cost, and pay workers only for the work produced.
There are different outsourcing companies, and believe it or not, you can work for them. Whether the companies are based in Europe, Asia, or America, you can communicate with the company via (continue…)
It amazes me how popular team building seminars have become. Most major companies and organizations have turned to team building professionals at one time or another to get greater results from their employees. But, team building is not just for large companies, it works just as well for the small business entrepreneur. I’d like to focus on a couple of key points that will help you decide, as a big or small business, if team building seminars are right for you. (continue…)
Job performance is considered ineffective when productivity is below a standard considered acceptable at a given time. Most instances of poor job performance are attributable to a small proportion of the work force. Ineffective performers consume considerable managerial time and drive the overall company performance backwards.
The causes of ineffective performance can be rooted in the person, the job, the manager, or the company. Usually ineffective performance is caused by a combination of several factors as Durbin states. He discusses the model of control, in order to (continue…)
The success of any business relies on the profit they pull in every year. To guarantee this profit is the highest it can be, appropriate financial management measures must be put into place. Controlling business costs is essential; after all you don’t want to spend thousands on a high-cost range of equipment when cheaper, simpler equipment will be just as effective. All of your business costs can be (continue…)
As a Certified Public Accountant, I work with my clients’ banking and business records all the time. As a mom, I handle my own family’s banking, credit card and other financial records. In both capacities, I have learned how important it is to safely retain financial records. If you have ever applied for a loan or been through a tax examination, you also know the need to have adequate records. But what are adequate records and how long do you need to keep them? (continue…)
