In my previous post, I shared how I cautiously stepped into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) for business—and how my small tentative step evolved into a journey toward efficiency and innovation. Anyone who knows me, knows I love efficiencies! Since I...
Let’s be honest—artificial intelligence (AI) can sound a little intimidating. I’ve watched The Terminator and iRobot more times than I care to admit, so when AI first became a buzzword, I avoided it like the plague. That was until I was sitting in on a...
If you are like most small business owners, you wear many hats. You are the CFO, the CMO, the CTO, the COO, the CEO, and the intern. In the day to day of running a business, it’s easy to get lost in the hustle. As businesses grow, they add staff, they add...
Workplace gossip might seem like harmless chatter at first glance, but it carries hidden costs that can undermine your entire business. From eroding trust to killing productivity, gossip is a distraction that no successful company can afford. Let’s dive into the...
Who doesn’t need to work more efficiently? I know there are days I am a Rock Star and use my time wisely. There are other days where the distractions win, and I end up watching videos on how to paint an old piece of furniture. (Like I could EVER do something like...
When I teach leadership skills, regardless of the leader’s skill level, I begin the class with an overview of leadership styles. Because the business and organizational landscape is always changing, understanding various leadership styles helps improve team management...
Many of my fellow business owners struggled through third quarter. Revenue was lower than usual, the temperatures were higher than normal, and production was stalled. I have been asked time and again to create strategies that can turn around these trends (and...
As businesses approach the fourth quarter, (WHAT?!) you will hear repeatedly that is a smart business practice to prepare for a strong finish to the year. We know that. But how do we do it and what should we focus on? Here are some ideas to get you started with...
As I sit here staring at the calendar, I am surprised, although I shouldn’t be, when I turn the page and see “September” across the top of it. Really? Did I just say September? Before you know it, we will be drinking pumpkin spice lattes (don’t hate, they are my...
I “grew up” in corporate. I started there early and was molded by the professionals around me. They helped me polish my behavior, my language, and even my appearance. Looking back, I can’t say I agree with everything I was told to change. I can say that I appreciate...
Summer officially began on June 20th this year, but any business owner knows that summer really began when school let out the end of May. The Phoenix heat has set in by now and the air conditioners are running non-stop, and people are finding cooler places to...
One of the corporations I worked with in the 2000’s decided they wanted to transform all their leaders into Servant Leaders. It wasn’t a new concept, as servant leadership had been around since the 1970’s. But the new CEO had just “read a book” and decided it was the...
Here we are in May – the time for graduations, weddings, sports tournaments, and Memorial Day. The time when my schedule can seem overwhelming and non-stop. Mostly because the personal invades my professional time. Why when they overlap does my stress level spike? A...
Because of the FLSA ruling, I have been asking my clients the same questions repeatedly. Do you have employees who are currently on salary? Is their salary less than $58,656 annually? What are their job duties and title? Do you know about the new DOL (Department of...
One of the most overused and underexplained leadership concepts is that of “Lead by Example.” It should be self-explanatory yet in every one of my leadership workshops I have new leaders who are brave enough to ask questions on this concept. “Does this mean I have to...
An HR leader recently called me to bounce some ideas around regarding her leadership team. As she began to describe their struggle with specific situations, I realized there was a solution they hadn’t tried yet. It wasn’t accountability, or goal setting. Instead, we...
Whenever I teach a workshop on communication I start with the concept of trust. Why do I begin with the concept of trust? Because without trust, communication is superficial. Think about it --if your communication, as a leader, is shallow or non-existent, your...
The new I9 form has been the talk of the town for a couple months now. It was announced on July 21st that the new form should be used as of August 1, 2023. So why am I just now bringing it up? Because the grace period ends on October 31st and employers are required...
The performance review systems of the past will not survive—nor should they. They were built for a workplace that no longer exists. Performance reviews must evolve with the changing workplace. Younger generations of empowered employees and the continuing proliferation...
We all know that accountability in the workplace is one of the driving characteristics of high-performing teams and offices. If accountability isn’t part of your company’s culture, you will struggle with employee performance and engagement. Plus, if employees can...
Most people I have met, managed, and worked with want to be appreciated. They want to be appreciated for their hard work, for hitting a production goal, or for contributing to the company’s success, for showing up on time, and for being a decent person. Even the...
Like many of my friends and clients, I am a corporate refuge. I spent years in the corporate world, and in that realm, the HR team was the core of the business. It served as the first touchpoint candidates encountered when applying for a job, it was the heartbeat for...
In today’s competitive, diverse, and fragmented workplace, conflict happens.Different people, with different work styles, personal and professional needs, are bound to clash about what to do and how to get it done. There’s no need to fear conflict, resolved...
If there is one thing the last few years taught us, it is how to be flexible. Now when someone has to reschedule it isn’t a big deal – we accommodate and make the adjustments. For us introverts, sometimes it is a blessing, sometimes it is putting off the inevitable....
During my years in Corporate America, I didn’t give it a second thought when my offices had a birthday party for a team member. As my offices grew, we changed the ritual to once a month (from everyone celebrating individually), but the balloon, cake, and card were...
Welcome to Spring 2023. Yes, I said Spring. While the rest of the country digs out from yet another snow storm, we are truly blessed to live in the Southwest, with its warm days and cool nights (although it has been cooler than normal for us!). It is the land of the...
I was lucky and I had an office to hide in during the pandemic. However, for many of my clients, remote work is here to stay. Yes, working from home has become the norm. When the pandemic started, I reminded businesses that it was important to maintain a healthy...
As we approach 2025, significant changes are on the horizon for employers and employees alike. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a rule that will substantially increase the salary thresholds for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act...