Open Mic

Secrets to Managing Your Time Better

By Patrick Forsyth Thursday May 27, 2010

Time management is a crucial skill. It can enhance productivity, allow you to focus on priorities and ultimately act directly to improve the effectiveness of individuals and the profitability of the firm. So why isn’t everyone an expert at it? Sadly, managing time is difficult. There is no magic formula and circumstances — and interruptions — often conspire to prevent the best intentions from working out.

The Talent Coach

Hiring Mistake #2: Superficial Interviewing

By Barry Deutsch Thursday May 27, 2010

Interviews are terrible predictors of success. Most CEOs and senior executives tend to accept whatever the candidate claims as their achievements and accomplishments as the given truth. In our workshops and management training programs, CEOs and senior executives agree that embellishment and exaggeration is somewhere slightly north of 100%. Since most interviews don’t come close to getting to the truth, they are a waste of time in being a useful tool to predict future performance or success.

Must Read

Today in Small Business: 5 Reasons Smaller Is Better

By Eric Reyes Thursday May 27, 2010

Ways your small business beats out large ones. You think you can't compete with the larger companies in your market, but Skip Reardon at MyVenturePad says there are at least five advantages to being small. Decision-making, for example, happens way faster. A small company also has more customer intimacy and can close a sale better because more of your whole team actually deals directly with the customer.

Workforce Trends

What BP's Oil Spill Says About Management Today

By Ira Wolfe Thursday May 27, 2010

How many experts does it take to cap a leaking oil well? Answer: apparently, more than we have available. The month-old environmental disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico highlights a core problem companies (and societies at large) face today: the inability of most people, including the experts, to keep pace in a fast changing, dynamic marketplace and to respond effectively when conditions are complex and ambiguous. I've been forecasting this crisis for years.

The Health Care Maze

An Unusual Opportunity for Small Business

By Bruce Phillips Thursday May 27, 2010

Here's one of the more bizarre (and promising) business ideas: start a marijuana dispensary. More jurisdictions are moving toward allowing the sale of cannabis for medicinal purposes in the decade since California legalized the drug. Most recently, the city council of the District of Columbia approved marijuana sales.

Power Performance

10 Reasons to Be Grateful for the Recession

By Jay Forte Wednesday May 26, 2010

Dear Recession, I know many people are upset with you. I am not surprised. You have made things tough for many organizations. But at the same time you have made us better. So here are 10 things I want to thank you for:

Vistage CEO Solutions

Simple Tools for Assessing Employee Performance

By Paul Diamond Wednesday May 26, 2010

We all are having to do more with less. One way managers are improving worker productivity (and, hopefully, profits) on a limited budget is through "talent assessment tools." These are essentially interview techniques that are designed to measure how well an employee or a job candidate fits a role or her ability to solve problems in constantly changing conditions. Assessments are highly useful when you’re, say, restructuring a department or hiring.  

Must Read

Today in Management: Interview Questions You Should Never Ask

By Eric Reyes Wednesday May 26, 2010

Interview question that seem innocuous (and legal) — but aren't. We all know you can't hire based on race, religion, sex or national origin. But this means you've got to be careful about the questions you ask prospects, notes Pat Hill at AllLaw.com. Off-limits: when did you graduate from high school? Do you have any children? Are you married? What country are you from?

Must See Video

Small Business Beware: How to Avoid Insurance Scams

By SBTV Wednesday May 26, 2010

Thousands of small businesses are targets of insurance crooks. In this video from Bizmore partner SBTV.com, experts tell you what to watch for to avoid being ripped off.

Open Mic

How to Cut Costs and Conserve Cash

Wednesday May 26, 2010

Has your budget been slashed? Join the club. Now it’s up to you to find ways to do more with less.