Business Tips

Some may find baking stressful – stressed is desserts spelled backward, after all – but one way to make treats for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day is with no-bake recipes.

Across the world and right here in the United States, many companies are beginning to understand the benefits of valuing employee happiness as much as the bottom line. More businesses are creating work environments that focus not only on getting the job done but also on taking care of the physical and emotional needs of employees.

The ever-growing number of media platforms mean endless ways to reach audiences. The message, however, still must be personal, according to Sarah Evans, founder of Sevans Strategy and opening keynote at the recent Public Relations Society of America’s statewide conference in Tampa.

PRSA has some great advice:

Most people think change is hard. In business, whether it’s a process change or cultural shift, managers are frustrated with the speed and success of change within organizations.

The sting of rejection doesn’t hurt any less in the professional world than it does in your personal life. Being rejected at work can feel like a breakup. Maybe you were passed over for a promotion or had one of your ideas shot down by a manager.

Don’t be so formal, write conversationally, find your voice – you’ve probably heard it all before.

Everything slows down as the summer months approach. People take vacations, offices close early in the day and everyone moves at a more leisurely pace … but that doesn’t mean your business has to suffer.

Do you run from speaking in public? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Fear of public speaking is extremely common, but if you heed the following five tips, you will be able to orate like a pro:

Have you sat at your computer or a blank sheet of paper for hours on end trying to begin your next story? Perhaps you need to implement writing exercises to get your thoughts and brain warmed up.

Developing the perfect pre-work routine can help maximize your daily productivity. Start this week by implementing the following routines:

Saying sorry has become a habit these days, but over-apologizing at work can undermine your confidence and credibility. Here are fixes for three common scenarios:

Financial knowledge is no joke. No matter who you are, what you do or where you’re trying to get, The Establishment OK is here to help you build a better understanding of money.

Almost everyone likes a person with a good sense of humor. Studies even show humorous people are more successful and are more likely to be in positions of influence.

I’m a naturally curious person, which can lead to wasted time going down internet “rabbit holes,” where one topic connects to information on a dozen or more fascinating subjects that I can’t help but be interested in. Sound familiar?

If you think that going green at work is difficult, think again.

Do you get inundated with emails and often miss or completely lose important communications? Start cleaning up your emails today.

There are many mistakes to be made when designing, but here are a few that may be less obvious.

If you want people to engage and talk with you, ask better questions. We all know that the answer to “How was your day?” will typically be “fine.” Ask a more open question.

It started with passion. Then the idea. Now you even have the whole business plan with all the details addressed. What you likely do not have is the money. A business pitch competition could possibly be just the thing to get your startup truly started.

Procrastination: we’ve all dealt with it at some point. But did you know it goes deeper than just putting off a task? In our minds, each task falls into one of four categories: expectancy, value, time or impulsivity. Or in layman’s terms, we don’t care, we’re not getting the wanted results, our time is too valuable, or we’re just downright impulsive.

Most of us spend lots of time with our co-workers. What could you do differently to be a better one? Sources from human resource blogs to Reader’s Digest offer tips on how to be a better co-worker.

Cyber security threats are out there every day for businesses, regardless of their size. That’s why business owners should lead by example and teach employees how to protect confidential information, like company finances.

Life itself is already stressful enough. With never-ending work calls and personal worries, it’s nice to wake up relaxed and ready to take on whatever gets thrown your way.

Three must-have necessities for today’s working mom:

How many times have you clicked or read an email just to get that unread number to zero? You just wasted a microdecision on opening an email, reading it, and not doing anything with it.

Sharon Hill worked at IBM when a company-sponsored meeting on etiquette gave her a business idea. Hill started hosting seminars internally at IBM and outside the company.

Spring is in the air and that means it’s time to freshen up your office surroundings. Clutter-busting tips include:

Video is by far the fastest growing marketing tactic in use today. So, what do you need to know to create an impactful corporate video?

Is it getting harder to focus at work? Computer notifications, phone alerts and our growing habit of responding in real time to any communication makes concentrating nearly impossible.