In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, image is described as “the character or reputation of a person or thing as generally perceived.” Within seconds of meeting you, based on a single observed physical trait or behavior, people will assume to know everything about you (Social Psychology by H. Andrew Michener, John D. Delamater and Daniel J. Myers). Furthermore, according to research by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, appearance...

Typical managers spend nearly 40% of their work hours in meetings, not to mention the time spent preparing (and recuperating). A survey of business leaders showed:• 33% of time spent in meetings is unproductive• 75% of the respondents said it is “almost essential” to have an agenda, yet they use them only 50% of the time• Only 64% of meetings achieve their intended outcomeA disciplined approach to making the most of meeting...

So how do you or your organization get up to $600,000 in state funds to underwrite the mission of your choice? Well, you have to ask for it, as any well meaning friend or relative will tell you. But how you ask is critical. Grant proposals have to sing -- and gain the attention of the funding source as surely as a mezzo-soprano reaches the upper balcony. Lots of frugal nonprofits have concluded that money spent on a profess...

I remember the moment I swore that I would always value my employees. It was the late 90s, I was the head of sales and my boss was sitting across the table. “Sales people are a dime a dozen,” he said. “I could replace anyone working here tomorrow and not miss a beat.” That told me everything I needed to know about my value to the organization and it didn’t take long before I left and started my own company.My boss’ thinking...

Human resources (HR) executives worldwide are being asked to do more with less, to enhance productivity while controlling costs, and to find new ways to increase profitability. At the same time, retaining qualified, motivated employees is as important as ever. How do you manage your day-to-day HR tasks while also transforming and leading human capital business strategy? With the right solution, you can shift your focus to y...

According to the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), over 75% of executives target mentoring as one of the key factors in their business success. ASTD states that mentoring programs create many rewards for the individuals involved, and for the organization as well. Mentoring programs contribute to employee retention, greater employee satisfaction and morale, increased knowledge, rewarding personal experien...

Forget what you heard about ¡§being one of the boys,¡¨ ¡§having it all,¡¨ and ¡§going for the jugular.¡¨ Here is how real women get ahead.Get In LineAccording to Catalyst¡¦s 2002 Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners, women fill less than ten percent of line positions held by corporate officers and just 5.2% of top earners at Fortune 500 companies are women. Is there a correlation? Absolutely. Half of women exe...

Think of a job description as a “snapshot” of a job. The job description needs to communicate clearly and concisely what responsibilities and tasks the job entails and to indicate, as well, the key qualifications of the job – the basic requirements (specific credentials or skills) – and, if possible, the attributes that underlie superior performance.Following is a quick look at the categories that make up a well-written job...

If you are looking for a job, writing a resume is one of the first steps you need to take. The goal of a resume is to get you in the door with prospective employers. And, you have about 30 seconds to grab the reader's attention. As the former Manager of Staffing for a Fortune 500 company, certified career counselor, and board member of several nonprofit organizations, I have reviewed thousands of resumes. Based upon my expe...

In the 1980s, after a $1 million dollar sexual harassment lawsuit against the government, I developed and conducted the first-ever training for federal employees. Fast forward thirty years and the workplace is still rampant with sexual harassment claims and lawsuits.In 2006, the largest sexual harassment lawsuit ever, at $1 billion dollars, was filed. The complaint cites lewd behavior and reduced opportunities for women who...