Best Practices

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” William Shakespeare Have you ever wondered about the incredible power of human interactions? You know, those moments when some people effortlessly make a lasting impact while others find it hard to connect? Well, get ready for an exciting journey as we explore …

Continue reading “7 Impression Management Examples to Win Hearts (+When Can It Go Wrong?)”

“Just be more confident” is probably some of the best and most frustrating professional advice you’ll ever get. If only it were that easy! Yet an authentic and healthy sense of self-confidence can be the driver of many things we aspire to at work. Speaking up in meetings. Getting picked for interesting projects. Getting leadership …

Continue reading “Want to be more confident at work? Here’s how.”

Have you ever shared what you thought was a great idea and were surrounded by naysayers? Maybe it was for an innovative product or a new marketing campaign. And the responses all sounded a little bit like: “Hasn’t that been done?” “I just don’t see the point.” “What we have now is working, so why …

Continue reading “Steps to Write A Business Case, With an Example”

Why do some meetings really move the needle, while others feel like a colossal waste of time? There’s obviously more than one answer to this question, but more often than not the effectiveness of a meeting is determined by something as simple as its minutes. Fundamentally, a meeting is a powerful method to move things …

Continue reading “Capture the Essentials With Concision: How to Write Meeting Minutes (With Examples!)”

Does your team keep running into the same challenges over and over again? Maybe it’s a struggle to come up with fresh ideas or think outside the box on your current project. That’s where ideation techniques come in. Ideation is the third step in the design-thinking process, where the main focus is to generate new …

Continue reading “11 Ideation Techniques that Go Beyond Brainstorming”

Picture this: You step into an elevator, and there, standing next to you, is the CEO of a company you’ve been dreaming of working for. You have approximately 30 seconds to make an impression and sell yourself as the perfect candidate for the job. What do you say? If your first thought is “Uh-oh,” rest …

Continue reading “Elevator Pitch Examples: Crafting Your Perfect 30- Or 60-Second Pitch”

Let’s talk about the entrepreneur’s greatest rival. Whether scratched into a notebook or ticked off with a task management tool, almost all of us face the same problem: the to-do list that never ends. That’s because there are always new ideas for an entrepreneur or business owner! Processes that could be improved. Automations that would …

Continue reading “Scary to-do list? Here’s how to prioritize tasks at work.”

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut at work? Are you struggling to achieve the success you know you’re capable of? You’re not alone. Many people find themselves held back in their careers by bad habits that they can’t seem to shake. But the good news is that these habits can be …

Continue reading “13 Work Habits for Career Success: It’s Easier Than You Think”

If you’ve ever been part of a project team, you know how crucial it is to keep track of the tasks that need to be completed. And that’s where backlog management comes in. Backlog management is the process of prioritizing and organizing the list of tasks that need to be completed, known as the backlog. …

Continue reading “Mastering Backlog Management: Insider Tips and Strategies for Overcoming the Toughest Challenges”

Welcome to the world of action items – the backbone of any project, the key to getting things done, and the difference between success and failure. Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or a novice entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard the term “action items” being thrown around a lot. But what exactly are they? And why …

Continue reading “Action Items 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Task Management”

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? If you want to be successful in the workplace, it’s not just about working harder – it’s about working smarter. And one of the best ways to do that is by adopting the top work habits that successful people swear by. In this article, …

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First dates certainly aren’t the only time you may find yourself stuttering, stammering and flustering for words. Providing constructive feedback in face-to-face conversations can be every bit as awkward, and the stakes are just as high. Everyone has blind spots. It’s easy for someone to lead an unfocused meeting, to deliver a presentation that fails …

Continue reading “I Don’t Know How to Put This: How to Give Constructive Criticism (With Examples!)”

It’s easy to relish excellence when we see it. Not a few of us watch the Super Bowl just for all those creative commercials that reel us in, inspire us and make us laugh. Or we might have made a memorable trip to an iconic building that captures the soul of a city, such as …

Continue reading “How to Give a Project Liftoff With a Creative Brief”

Mindfulness, it’s a word that’s been cropping up more and more lately. You see it on bumper stickers, in self-help books, and even in the business section of your local bookstore. Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. It’s about living in the present instead …

Continue reading “9 Mindfulness Books for Project Managers: Becoming Hyper Focused & Effective.”

Do you have a fabulous idea for an app, but find yourself overwhelmed thinking about putting all the pieces together? Or maybe your company’s blog is hopelessly outdated, and not converting leads, yet all the alternatives seem too complicated to take on. Everyone becomes flummoxed by technology at times. There’s so many options, and constant …

Continue reading “How to Choose the Best Tech Stack (Even if You Don’t Know What That Is)”

Now that it’s clear that freelancing is here to stay, it’s time for companies to start adapting. If you’re looking to hire talented freelancers, but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about hiring a freelancer. Freelancing defined A freelancer is a …

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You know that there are a million things that can go wrong during a project, and mismanaged emotions are frequently at the core of many of them. Emotional upheaval can quickly undo even the most carefully laid plans when employees or customers are unable to meet deadlines or are dissatisfied with the ultimate product. To …

Continue reading “Emotional Intelligence in Project Management: Why it matters.”

Now, more than ever, the bulk of our personal and professional communication is happening through a screen rather than in person. Whether it is an email or instant message, it is important that we effectively communicate our messages. Challenges of Written Communication There was a day when you met regularly and in-person with your team. …

Continue reading “How to Improve Your Written Communication Skills at Work”

Are you preparing to run a management review meeting? If so, it’s important to know what’s involved and how to make the most of it. In this post, we’ll walk you through the basics of planning, organizing, and running a management review meeting. We’ll also share some tips along the way on how to make …

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While this isn’t a new problem, it does appear to be one that’s gathering a head of steam. More than ever before, employees are reluctant to participate at meetings. This can be from a place of fear, uncertainty, disinterest, and many others. In this post, we’re going to share a host of ways to better …

Continue reading “How to Increase Participation in Meetings – A Guide For Managers & Leaders”

Well-implemented dynamic pricing algorithms have the potential to increase your profits by double-figure percentages. The bigger the company and the more products, the bigger the impact. Recent technological advances have made dynamic pricing more accessible and, therefore, more widely deployed than ever before. But it’s not without risks. As much as these strategies can boost …

Continue reading “Maximizing Profits: Why Dynamic Pricing Algorithms Are Here To Stay”

Today’s meetings are frequent, lengthy, and keeping things on track can be hard for anyone to manage. Meetings are key to progress, whether you’re trying to impress a client and win a contract or plan for your business’s future. Without them, decisions don’t get made and viewpoints aren’t heard. Have you ever been in a …

Continue reading “Meetings Getting Derailed? Here’s How to Keep Things on Track”

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” ~ Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of …

Continue reading “Why Are Secondments Important? Some Key Advantages and Disadvantages”

In most workplaces, disagreeing with your superior always comes with an element of risk or fear. More importantly, doing it in a constructive and non-condescending way can be pretty complicated. However, despite these challenges, learning to stand your ground and disagree in a respectful manner is an extremely valuable asset we should all master. In …

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None of us likes to be unheard or dismissed at work—to have our views undermined and brushed off. Unfortunately, that’s the case for lots of people in the modern workplace. On the bright side, changing the way your colleagues treat you isn’t really that complicated—a little assertiveness will definitely improve things. Learning to stand up …

Continue reading “A Simple Guide to Assertiveness in the Workplace”

Most of us have found ourselves in this odd situation where we strongly disagree with a colleague’s statement, but when it comes to speaking up—we just sit there. Giving your honest opinion and defending your boundaries at work isn’t exactly an easy thing to do. Many people don’t like being in the spotlight of disagreement, …

Continue reading “Why You Should Start Speaking Up at Work ASAP”

In the Greek myth “Sisyphus,” the crafty and power-hungry Sisyphus tries to cheat death and life forever. In retaliation, Zeus curses him with the punishment of eternally pushing an immense boulder to the top of a hill, only to have it roll all the way back to the bottom, where he resumes the exhausting task …

Continue reading “10 Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Change in an Organization”

Do you keep an umbrella in the back seat of your car? That is such an awesome fix for those times when you pull into a parking lot just as it starts to pour. But an umbrella certainly doesn’t stop rain from falling (if only!). It simply lessens its impact on you. We face risks …

Continue reading “A Stitch in Time: How to Use Mitigating Controls in Project Planning”

If a genie granted you one wish, what would you ask for? To retire at 40? A second home in Hawaii? What if he granted you three wishes? Since this is just fantasy, let’s go ahead and dream really big…..imagine you had ten! Chances are, with ten wishes, you’d be tied up in knots, flummoxed, …

Continue reading “How to Use the MoSCoW Prioritization Method in Agile Project Management”

Just when you thought that your note taking days were over when you finished school, you enter the real world and realize that note taking is a critical and important skill in the workplace. Like any skill, you can become a better note taker with a little bit of practice and a couple great tips. …

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“Pst! He isn’t paying his child support!” “Pst! Did you hear what happened last week? This project’s getting scrapped.” “Pst! They’ve been together a lot lately. That can only mean one thing…” Wink, wink. It’s easy to spot workplace gossip. People speaking in hushed tones at the end of the hallway, or ending conversations abruptly …

Continue reading “The Truth About Trash Talk: How to Deal With Gossip in the Workplace”

As project demands increase, fast-tracking strategies have become a highly desirable addition to project management teams. We’ve all felt the pressure of a project falling behind schedule and scrambling to get it back on track. However, it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of fast-tracking in project management before you decide if this strategy …

Continue reading “Advantages And Disadvantages Of Fast Tracking. Is It Right For Your Next Project?”

Email marketing is at the heart of business growth because connectivity is now the largest driving force for many company’s success, whether it be online sales, podcast listeners, or masterclass participants! This has created a high demand for precise and achievable email campaign goals to keep your audience up-to-date and engaged with your offerings. Creating …

Continue reading “SMART Goals For Email Marketing With 10 Actionable Examples!”

Communication is the bedrock of successful teamwork. However, it’s not as straightforward as giving employees instant messaging tools or scheduling lots of tasks on a pretty Kanban board. Communication is a culture as much as an action. We all know this from experience. The teams with the best communication almost always get the best results, …

Continue reading “Using Collaboration Tools to Transform Communication Within Your Teams”

Do you have those friends who can’t seem to go anywhere without complaining? They’re aghast by the sauciness of a waitress, the carelessness of a driver, the incompetence of the lady at the salon. And they’re always receiving freebies and coupons on account of the treatment they’ve had to endure. But let’s be honest. It …

Continue reading “In a Tangle? How to Be the Solution, Not the Problem”

It’s easy to fall into a marketing rut. Especially if your company is doing well and you’re not seeing the desired results from your efforts. You might be tempted to blame the algorithm changes on social media, or the saturation of your industry. But more often than not, it’s simply that your marketing strategies need …

Continue reading “6 Ways To Immediately Build & Improve Your Marketing Strategies: Make Sure The Work Your Team Is Doing Aligns With Strategies For Overall Effectiveness.”

More and more businesses are turning to India to supplement their workforce. However, once they overcome the challenge of finding remote workers, they’re confronted with a new obstacle–how exactly do you send money to India? Fortunately, we’ve got the answer right here! In this blog post, we’ll tell you what you should consider before sending …

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Do you remember those ball cages they used to have on the playgrounds at fast food franchises? You’d jump into a pool of colorful plastic balls, then sink helplessly until nothing but your arms and legs showed above the surface. Navigating conflicting priorities feels a little like one of those pools. It’s a sinking sensation, …

Continue reading “When it’s All on the Front Burner: How to Deal With Conflicting Priorities”

Sales has always been a demanding job. Success requires a unique blend of resilience, constant motivation and charming personality. While currently underutilized, one of the most powerful tools at any salesperson’s disposal—for helping them achieve more success with a more sustainable work life—is mindfulness. Great salespeople have to engage with their own emotions on a …

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The allure of creating a paperless environment in the workplace is too hard to resist. Relying on paper is outdated and has a negative impact on operations as well as contributing to deforestation and global warming. Companies need to adapt to digital to stay competitive and agile. Its effects can be felt throughout the business …

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Yes, we get it—you’re not lazy…You’re just phlegmatically innovative! It’s just like when I had a long stick beneath the bed to turn off the light so as to not have to stand up. Or maybe it was just me? Anyway, being a couch potato won’t make you the lean, mean, and productive working machine …

Continue reading “How to be Productive: The Ultimate Daily Checklist”

Practicing good time management is one the most important soft skills that you can have in the workplace. It ensures increased productivity, high-quality work, improved confidence in one’s ability to do the job efficiently, and on-time delivery of time-sensitive assignments. Ultimately, you can meet your professional (and personal) goals and achieve worthwhile success when you …

Continue reading “Why Time Management Is Considered a Soft Skill That Can Change Your Career Trajectory For The Better”

The corporate world is changing in response to the new sets of values held by the current generations making up our workforce. We once prided ourselves on our ability to multitask, and took it as a sign of higher thinking, with many considering it a highly desirable skill to market to potential employers. Now, workplaces …

Continue reading “Mindfulness Or Multitasking: Which One Is Better?”

Conventional wisdom says that creativity is a key driver of successful advertising; that capturing the attention and imagination of the people is the most effective way to drum up engagement and sales—but is that true? And if it’s so important for success, why aren’t all ads bursting with creativity? Many of us hear the word …

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Many of us have this notion that creativity is all about adopting a Zen state of mind. Oscillate your mind in synchronization with the universe and brilliant ideas will spontaneously appear in your brain. And sometimes that happens! But usually…well, there are simpler and more effective ways to spark creativity. Creativity is how our brain …

Continue reading “How to Spark Creativity: A Guide to Unleashing Your Creativity at Work”

After the last 2 years, it’s understandable that people are struggling to practice gratitude or even find things to be grateful for. It seems like the world is on fire but there are ways to initiate the process of making space for gratitude. For starters, you are reading this article on some kind of smart …

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Everyone knows a procrastinator… or maybe you are the procrastinator that everyone knows. Merriam-Webster defines procrastination as intentionally putting off doing something that should and can be done. The key to procrastination is that you have the means to do the task but you are intentionally choosing to delay for a number of possible reasons. …

Continue reading “Purposeful Delay: The Art of Procrastination and How You Can Benefit From It”

Mindfulness is a very elusive concept—some people say that practicing it’s more complicated than it appears, more experienced meditators say it’s much easier than people think. The beauty of investing time in mindfulness exercises is that you’ll benefit significantly from them, even if it’s your first time meditating. People get really worked up during office …

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When you work with a team from different backgrounds and experiences, interpersonal issues are unavoidable and may require an indirect conflict management strategy to find a resolution before the issue completely disrupts the group’s morale and efficiency. Whether the employees try to take a more direct approach and resolve their communication problems on their own …

Continue reading “How To Successfully Implement Indirect Conflict Management Strategies That Effectively Resolve Disruptions In The Workplace”

On any given day, there are over 300 BILLION emails sent. Some days, you feel like half of them are sitting (unopened) in your inbox… Emails became a popular method of professional communication in 1996 and, within a year, about 10 million people had email accounts. By 2001, just about every business was making use …

Continue reading “10 Tips To Achieve Inbox Zero”

Miscommunication. According to The Oxford English Dictionary, miscommunication is: “A failure to make information or your ideas and feelings clear to somebody, or to understand what somebody says to you.” And it’s everywhere. It’s in the “he said, she said” of relationships. In consumer relations. In work teams. We don’t even need dialogue to miscommunicate. …

Continue reading “10 Steps on How to Avoid Miscommunication at Work”

Have you ever felt like you don’t really deserve your achievements? Or maybe that you just got lucky to be in the position you’re in today? Oh, here’s another one—perhaps you’re afraid that your colleagues will find out that you’re an imposter enjoying the benefits of an unfairly earned role? These are common signs of …

Continue reading “7 Things to Quickly Overcome the Imposter Syndrome”

Flow State can also be described as this feeling of deep concentration and high productivity being “in the zone.” You’re beyond distraction, riding a wave of steady creativity, and pouring your whole mind and body into the task before you. You’re beyond the perception of time — completely absorbed in your task, blocking out all …

Continue reading “How To Induce Flow State For Heightened Performance”

You need a graphic designer for just about everything. Branding, marketing, and communications all need designs to connect with customers. Depending on the size and scope of your projects, you may need new designs made regularly so it’s crucial to know how to find great designers. A graphic designer needs to understand your brand strategy …

Continue reading “11 Websites To Find Incredible Graphic Designers and How to Hire Them”

We all know how hard it is to run an engaging meeting. To many of us, this seems like a strenuous task. Where do you even start? Do you have to behave differently? And what about your colleagues that are on the shyer side—how do you motivate them to participate? Fortunately, we have an answer. …

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Working for yourself has a lot of allure. Setting your own schedule means you can start the day at 10 am without worrying about a punitive boss, or, on a whim, shut down the computer and hit the fairway for the afternoon. Right? Well, for many, unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the case. The to-do list …

Continue reading “How a Virtual Assistant From the Philippines Gives You the Lifestyle You Crave”

Have you ever shown up to a potluck with a liter of soda and a bag of chips, then helped yourself to a plateful of baby back ribs? Or participated in a book group discussion without having read the book? If we’re honest, we do things like this every day. These are examples of a …

Continue reading “Tired of Slackers at Work? The Secrets Behind Social Loafing: and What to Do About it”

“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make” – Les Brown Self-limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns are interrupting your day and hijacking your mind more often than you’d like to believe… A recent study by Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario has led researchers to estimate that each person experiences an average of 6200 …

Continue reading “How Limiting Beliefs Are Holding You Back (And What You Can Do To Change Them!)”