INSIGHT: Construction Industry Outlook—Post-Covid Legal Trends

By: Joanna Horsnail and Casey Williams https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/insight-construction-industry-outlook-post-covid-legal-trends June 30, 2020, 1:00 AM Covid-19 has necessitated a rethinking of safety, supply chain, and technology in the construction industry. Mayer Brown LLP attorneys look at five trends in construction projects in the wake of Covid-19, with suggestions for how attorneys can approach these developments. Like most economic sectors, the construction industry has been […]

Considerations and Practicalities for Returning Employees to Work During a Pandemic

Article Link: https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2020/05/considerations-and-practicalities-for-returning-employees-to-work By: Erika Royal | Valerie E. Brown | Rachel C. Shim | Phillip M. Schreiber Uncertainty surrounding when employers might return employees to work has given way to uncertainty about how to do so. Employers who are considering reopening in the coming weeks will be faced with a dramatically different workplace and a worried workforce. As employers […]

5 Steps To Reopen Your Workplace, According To CDC’s Latest Guidance

Article Link: https://www.fisherphillips.com/resources-alerts-5-steps-to-reopen-your-workplace-according The Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC) just released guidance to assist employers in making decisions regarding reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides continuing to follow the recommendations issued by state and local health departments when determining the most appropriate actions to take, you should pay particular attention to these five steps. Consider Preliminary Questions Before Reopening According […]

Going Back to Work While COVID-19 Is Still Spreading

Article Link: https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/going-back-to-work-while-covid-19-is-still-spreading/ By: Laura Entis Many people in the U.S.—including doctors, nurses, bus drivers, and grocery clerks—have not stopped working throughout the coronavirus pandemic. But among the millions of others who have been furloughed or teleworking for a month or more, some are now being asked to return to work. That’s especially true in states such […]

5 Tips on Preparing for a Client Presentation

Article Link: https://www.ringcentral.com/blog/tips-to-prepare-for-a-client-presentation/ While many of us conduct a large portion of our daily business using computers and phones, in-person presentations remain an important component to successful selling. It’s still essential for business owners to know how to prepare for face-to-face time with prospective clients. Here are five easy ways to ensure that you’re confident and ready to go […]

Top 5 Construction Trends Impacting the Industry in 2020

Article Link: https://lpcorp.com/blog/top-5-construction-trends-impacting-the-industry-in-2020 Each year, innovations and issues emerge that impact the construction industry, and this year is no exception. While it’s just the start of the new year, we’ve listed a few of our predictions for areas of focus and attention across the industry in the coming year. If you operate a construction or remodeling business, stay mindful […]

6 Tips To Work From Home Successfully During Lock Down

Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancamillercole/2020/03/16/6-tips-to-work-from-home-successfully-during-lock-down/#4c14844d8bd1 By: Bianca Miller Cole I have been working from home since my first corporate job at Accenture in 2010 so I understand the expectations from a organisational and a personal perspective. But there are some of you out there who have never had to work from home and believe me, there is a way […]

Five Steps to a Successful Negotiation

By: Steve Bookbinder Typically, there are five general steps every negotiation process should have: Preparation and Planning Defining the Ground Rules Clarification and Justification Bargaining and Problem Solving Action and Implementation We will briefly expand upon each step and then provide three strategies you can leverage to enhance and personalize this process to your selling style and organization. Step #1: […]

How to Make your Office Safer for Everyone During COVID-19

https://robinpowered.com/blog/tips-office-safety/ By: Belynda Cianci In only a few short weeks, the emergence of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has created an unprecedented impact on the way we live and work. As the virus continues to spread across the United States, public life is increasingly shut down. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a ban on gatherings of more than […]

4 Tips for a Sanitary Jobsite

Article Link: https://www.buildgp.com/blog-post/4-tips-for-a-sanitary-jobsite/ Construction can be a dirty job, but it shouldn’t be a germy job. Here’s how to keep your construction sites from contributing to disease spread. Anxiety over the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has prompted a surge of communications from businesses to customers about their sanitation processes. In addition to frequent hand-washing and […]

7 Essential Tips for Working From Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Article Link: https://www.themuse.com/advice/coronavirus-work-from-home-tips By: Regina Borsellino In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time. Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a […]

Our offices will never be the same after COVID-19. Here’s what they could look like

Article Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90488060/our-offices-will-never-be-the-same-after-covid-19-heres-what-they-could-look-like By: Mark Wilson It’s hard to imagine now—as most of us are reading this in quarantine, with our feet propped on Costco boxes of spaghetti noodles—but we will one day have to go back to our offices. COVID-19 won’t be eradicated, and not everyone will be immune. But we’ll still be expected to sit at a […]

How to Avoid Burnout in the Middle of a Pandemic

Article Link: https://vitals.lifehacker.com/how-to-avoid-burnout-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic-1843322169?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Rachel Fairbank Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged stress. Given the nonstop barrage of stressors these past few months, many of us are probably well on our way to developing burnout, if we aren’t there already. “Burnout is chronic stress gone awry,” says Sheryl Ziegler, […]

San Francisco Area Construction To Restart May 4, But Safety Requirements Questioned

Article Link: https://www.enr.com/articles/49290-san-francisco-area-construction-to-restart-may-4-but-safety-requirements-questioned By: Erica Berardi Seven San Francisco Bay-area health officers are reopening all construction, effective May 4, under updated shelter-in-place orders. But new required safety protocols, in place of social distancing requirements, are prompting questions from firms and industry groups regarding the mandate for third-party, COVID-19 accountability supervisors. “Under the new orders, all construction projects will be allowed […]

Career Development: 5 Activities that Should Be in Every Program

Article Link: https://www.hrbartender.com/2019/recruiting/career-development-activities/ By: Sharlyn Lauby Editor’s Note: Today’s post is brought to you by our friends at Criteria Corp, a leading provider of pre-employment testing services. If you want to learn more about how pre-employment testing can benefit your recruiting strategy, check out Criteria Corp’s “Definitive Guide to Pre-Employment Testing”. I found this to be a comprehensive guide that I keep on the corner of my desk […]

8 Construction-Technology Innovations That Changed the Game in 2017

Article Link: https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/construction-technology-2017/ By: ANGUS W. STOCKING, L.S. On November 17, the UK’s Institution of Structural Engineers announced its 2017 Structural Award winners. The globe-spanning projects included a billowy football stadium roof in Bilbao, Spain; an adaptable, easily transportable stage structure for Adele’s 25 tour; and an elegant and seismically robust Bahá’í temple in Chile. As diverse as the entries are, they have an inventive artistry in common, stretching the […]

5 Digital Workplace Innovations to Attract and Retain Top Talent

Article Link: https://hrexecutive.com/5-digital-workplace-innovations-to-attract-and-retain-top-talent/ By: Amanda Osuna Workplaces have drastically changed over the last decade. Way in the rear-view mirror is the standard 9-5 cubicle setting. Quite often that environment has been replaced with open spaces filled with ping-pong tables, Nerf guns and staffers whizzing by on scooters. It’s all designed to help employees feel comfortable while building a work/life balance that’s friendly […]

Construction Technology is Reshaping the Industry

Article Link: https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/technology-reshaping-construction-industry By: Kendall Jones What do a pickup truck, a nail gun, a portable circular saw, a cement mixer truck, and a modern hydraulic excavator all have in common? The obvious answer is that they are all tools and equipment commonly found on construction sites today. Another correct answer would be that they are all pieces of construction technology that […]

10 Tips for Successful Employee Recruitment

Article Link: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-tips-for-successful-employee-recruiting-1918953 By: Susan M. Heathfield Finding the best possible people who can fit within your culture and contribute to your organization is a challenge and an opportunity. Keeping the best people, once you find them, is easy if you do the right things right. The ideas provided will help you with successful employee recruitment. These specific actions will help you with […]

6 Kids’ Spaces That Are All About High Design

Article Link: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/6-kids-spaces-that-are-all-about-high-design By: Kelly Dawson Spaces that keep kids in mind are usually more whimsical than others. They allow for more daring color palettes, seating options, and #clever details. But these kid-friendly zones often lean more heavily on smiles than style. When Cleo Murnane, creative director at Project M Plus in Los Angeles, was tasked with creating the space for Brella childcare, she and […]

5 WAYS TO EMPOWER EMPLOYEES WITH FUTURE SKILLS

Article Link: https://www.cornerstoneondemand.com/rework/5-ways-empower-employees-future-skills By: Chris Stewart With the onset of artificial intelligence and automation, the demand for a highly-skilled workforce dedicated to continued learning is growing. Though these tech tools have vast capabilities, employees need specific skills in order to engage with this emerging technology effectively. But many simply do not possess the necessary knowledge: according to a new report from Deloitte Insights, there […]

10 Best Designed Buildings in the World From Top Architects

Article Link: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/best-architectural-projects-article Building design at its visionary best engages, exhilarates, and inspires. It possesses a quality—almost indescribable—that embodies design ingenuity, connection to place, and, above all, imagination. But today’s architectural monuments aren’t meant only to be admired from afar. “It’s not about creating an icon, but shaping public space,” says Steven Holl, referring to the Linked Hybrid, the eight-tower residential-office-retail complex […]

5 Strategies to Improve Communication in the Workplace

Article Link: https://www.sandler.com/blog/5-strategies-improve-communication-workplace/ Let’s face it; communication is one of the most important issues in the workplace. Good communication helps everyone on your team (and you) to feel heard and understood, and as a result, everyone benefits from a positive, encouraging and successful environment. Conversely, ineffective communication brings about the opposite results. Ideas fall flat due to lack of follow-through. You […]

Biotechnology is changing architecture and urban design

Article Link: https://biodesignchallenge.org/themes/architecture Living things provide considerable opportunities for re-envisioning our homes and cities. Architects are exploring areas that including new biodegradable materials created by microbes, self-sustaining materials, and novel functions for plants and algae within structures. At the same time, living architecture presents novel ecological challenges, such as those associated with safely introducing new organisms and living materials into urban […]

6 Simple Ways to Improve Your Data Entry Skills

Article Link: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/data-entry-skills Data entry is an expansive field that has differing data entry requirements depending on the role, industry and company. If you work in a data entry job or are interested in a data entry job, you may consider learning how to develop or enhance your data entry skills. In this article, we discuss what data entry is, required […]

Five ways buildings of the future will use biotech to become living things

Article Link: https://theconversation.com/five-ways-buildings-of-the-future-will-use-biotech-to-become-living-things-120627 By: Misha Ketchell What if our homes were alive? I don’t mean smart homes with the disembodied voice of Alexa deciding the setting for your living room spotlights. I mean actually alive – growing, living, breathing and even reproducing. The idea might seem far-fetched, but in the face of a climate crisis, we humans need to think radically about […]

Improve Workplace Culture With A Strong Mentoring Program

Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nazbeheshti/2019/01/23/improve-workplace-culture-with-a-strong-mentoring-program/#1938343a76b5 By: Naz Beheshti Employees are happy, engaged, and productive when their individual needs and the needs of the organization are in sync. The extrinsic rewards of salary and benefits might be enough to get top talent in the door, but it will not be enough to retain employees or to bring out their best efforts. Employees reach their full […]

13 Weird, Surprising Architecture Facts You’ve Probably Never Heard

Article Link: https://www.archdaily.com/879764/13-weird-surprising-architecture-facts-youve-probably-never-heard By: AD Editorial Team The history of humans building shelters goes back over 10,000 years. Over this time, the human need to build was distilled into the profession of architecture, and in the process it attracted all manner of eccentric, visionary, and stubborn individuals. In light of both architecture’s long history and its abundance of colorful characters, it’s […]

Office design: what does the future workplace look like?

Article Link: https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/office-design-future By: Sarah Dawood Gone are the days of employees trapped in isolated booths, heads down with little social interaction. For many businesses, gone still is the ubiquitous open-plan style that followed. Instead, office design has shifted towards flexible working, with spaces to suit different needs, such as co-working and collaboration, socialising and private research. Research shows that people […]

7 things to discover about contemporary architecture

Article Link: https://bonestructure.ca/en/articles/7-things-to-discover-about-contemporary-architecture/ What exactly is contemporary architecture? It is usually defined as the architecture of the present day. As you can imagine, this definition can lead to confusion. One might think that any recently constructed building counts as an example of contemporary architecture, but this is clearly not the case. Contemporary architecture is based on a principle that is shared […]

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE

Article Link: https://n-o-v-a.com/blog/the-importance-of-technology-in-the-workplace/ By: Andrea Araujo Technology has grown to become an immense part of our personal lives and has reshaped the average workplace. People are interested in getting the most current technology whether it be the newest smartphone or latest car model. If we constantly want to update our personal technology, why should we not want to modernize our professional technology […]

5 Technological Advances Revamping the Construction Industry

Article Link: https://www.business.com/articles/technology-in-construction-industry/ By Joanna Furlong Wearables, robots, BIM, drones and rugged devices are changing things. It’s undeniable – technology encroaches in essentially every aspect of our home and work lives, and that applies to traditionally low-tech industries such as construction. Rapid advancements in technology and the increasing rate of adoption have led to safer and more efficient job sites, reduced costs, […]

Covid-19 Hiring Best Practices

As the days pass by the country learns more and more ways to maintain social distance and to combat the spread of Covid-19. Professional Recruiter Associates, is here to help our clients and candidates getting past through these times of turmoil. Here are some tips for interviews to maintain your work force and keep everyone comfortable. This turbulence will pass, […]

7 ways to build stronger leadership skills

Article Link: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneurial-skills/be-effective-leader/pages/leadership-skills-strategies-advice.aspx In turbulent economic times, building leadership capacity in your company is more critical than ever, says former BDC President and CEO Jean-René Halde. For Halde, the high rate of failure among small businesses in Canada can often be attributed to leadership shortcomings in key areas such as human resources management, strategy and “soft skills”—such as employee communication. “Leadership is […]

11 things to know before starting architecture school

Article Link: https://www.architectural-review.com/today/11-things-to-know-before-starting-architecture-school/8652512.article By: Phineas Harper Top tips for students of architecture about to begin their course: Tea vs coffee, power napping and when to ignore your tutor 1 Drink tea not coffee. Coffee is great for a sudden burst of energy propping you up during late nights on CAD but beware! The caffeine in coffee gets into your blood quickly […]

How to Show Skills Gained Outside of the Workplace on Your Resume

Article Link: https://www.ivyexec.com/career-advice/2017/skills-gained-outside-workplace-resume/ By: Chrissy Scivicque As a well-rounded professional, you likely have a great deal of talents and skills that were gained outside of the workplace. For example, maybe you’ve gained leadership experience while volunteering for your local charitable organization. Or perhaps you have a hobby that helped you hone spectacular technical skills. Whatever the circumstance, there’s no reason you can’t […]

10 helpful tips for construction managers

Article Link: https://www.letsbuild.com/blog/10-helpful-tips-for-construction-managers By: Letsbuild Background Finishing homework in school was always an achievement. Be it an hour before the school started or a day before the holidays ended. Finishing a project is an achievement in its own. This feeling goes on till the end though. When it comes to constructing a building or a house or any other project, […]

How to actually create a fun company culture

Article Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90465402/how-to-actually-create-a-fun-company-culture By: David Allen It has long been recognized that all work and no play is likely to lead to less productive, dissatisfied workers. As far back as the 1930s, management researchers such as Elton Mayo and Mary Parker Follett noted that aspects of human nature, such as relationships, were important motivating factors in the workplace. It was a radical departure from […]

The Elements of Great Workplace Design

Article Link: https://www.servicefutures.com/elements-great-workplace-design What makes a great workplace? A quick search on Google shows a combined global monthly total of over 50,000 searches involving the combination of terms “office”, “interior” and “design ideas”. Businesses and organizations all over the world are not only requiring a great workplace that can emphasize the brand values of the organization, but also one that maintains a […]

Six reasons why fun in the office is the future of work

Article Link: https://www.ciphr.com/advice/fun-in-the-office/ By: Barry Chignell Happy employees are healthier and more productive – so don’t overlook the importance of having fun in the workplace While most people, generally, would rather spend time with their friends and family than be at work, there’s no need for work days to be all doom and gloom. Investing time and effort into making your […]

7 Construction Industry Trends to Watch in 2020

Article Link: https://interestingengineering.com/7-construction-industry-trends-to-watch-in-2020 By: Christopher McFadden What construction tech trends should you keep an eye on in 2020? These 7 might be the most exciting. What are the current trends in the building market? We’ll expand on a few of these later in the article, but according to sites like ESUB, here are some of the most notable tech trends in the construction industry […]

7 Interview Tips That Will Help You Get Hired

Article Link: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-interview-tips-2058577 By: Alison Doyle Even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count, job interviewing never seems to get any easier. With each job interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don’t know. And, you need to stay upbeat and enthusiastic through it […]

10 Tips to Becoming Successful as a Design & Construction Company

Article Link: https://plusspec.com/10-tips-to-becoming-successful/ By: Andrew Dwight I have been designing and building for 24 years. Integrated Design & Build firms are a different animal to the traditional Client + Architect + Builder scenario. They are more profitable, but they usually have a larger staff ratio, which can be a bit of a handful and a trap for ‘inexperienced’ players. Essentially the […]

14 Quick Tips for Finding a New Job

Article Link: https://www.livecareer.com/resources/jobs/search/14-job-hunting-tips By: Margaret Buj Unless you are one of the lucky few who works in a high-demand career, finding a new job can be a challenging and frustrating experience. You can make the job search a bit easier on yourself if you use proactive strategies for finding a new job – and the tips for finding a new job […]

6 Business Tips for Architects

Article Link: https://aca.org.au/article/6-business-tips-for-architects By: Lindy Johnson How do you increase the value of your business and put your clients front and centre? Lindy Johnson shares six helpful tips. 1. Put your clients, not your peers, at the centre of your business Your existing and potential clients are key to the future success of your business. To attract the right number and type […]

5 Career Tips You NEED to Hear

Article Link: https://www.livecareer.com/resources/careers/planning/career-advice By: LiveCareer Staff Writer Ambitious workers are always looking for a great career tip that will help them grab the corporate ring. While the following tips aren’t your run-of-the-mill pieces of career advice, they’ll help you launch a successful, lucrative career. 1. Focus on professional success before looking for happiness in your career. It sounds weird to tell […]

5 Design Tips to Design like an Architect

Article Link: https://designerhacks.com/5-design-tips-to-design-like-an-architect/ As an aspiring architect, there are a lot of design tips you may have heard. Deciding which ones are the most important can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll go over the 5 best ones to get you designing like an architect! We’ll break down the elements of concept, alignment, scale, proportions, and finally, details. We’ll show you an example […]

10 Tips for Staying Happy at Work

Article Link: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/ten-tips-for-staying-happy-at-work By:Beverly West If you find yourself longing for greener work pastures, don’t immediately go looking for the first exit ramp off of your chosen career path. The Balance Team, which specializes in professional- and personal-growth seminars for administrative and executive assistants in Fortune 1000 companies, suggests these 10 tips for staying content at work: 1. Keep Personal Problems […]

8 New Construction Upgrades That Are Worth the Money (and 5 That Aren’t)

Article Link: https://www.moving.com/tips/8-new-construction-upgrades-that-are-worth-the-money/ By:Laura Mueller When you’re building new construction, you’re tasked with making a lot of decisions. The base price of your home is the cost of the structure plus all the standard finishes. If you’re planning to customize (and if you’re building a new home, you probably are), then you have to also factor in the cost of upgrades. Staying […]

12 Tips to Manage Workplace Stress

Article Link: https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/12-job-tips-to-manage-workplace-stress By: Ronda Suder How to work it out when it comes to stress at work. We will all hold a job, probably several, throughout our life. Per the 2016 Work and Wellbeing survey from the American Psychological Association (APA), one in three workers surveyed reported being chronically stressed on the job. Stress, especially chronic stress, has a major negative impact […]

Architectural Drawings: 10 Clever Plans for Tiny Apartments

Article Link: https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/tiny-apartments/ By: Eric Baldwin Architects: Find the perfect materials for your next project through Architizer. Manufacturers: To connect with the world’s largest architecture firms, sign up now. Living tiny has become the new living large. With the rise of the tiny house movement and expanding urbanization, designers and developers alike have turned their attention to tiny living. Balancing the bottom line with creative solutions […]

Commercial Building Construction Tips

Article Link: https://www.sustainableman.org/commercial-building-construction-tips/ By: SustainableMan The construction of a commercial building is a big project. The amount of time, money and money needed to complete it is immense; hence the need to get it right from the onset. Several factors require critical analysis and evaluation such as the financial implications of the project weighed against your capability. You also need to […]

Building a Great Gravel Road: 10 Basic Principles

Article Link: https://www.khplant.co.za/blog/article/building-great-gravel-road-10-basic-principles Building a gravel road takes planning, preparation and the use of specialised grading and compacting equipment. Ideally, you want a smooth, uniform surface that can handle heavy loads and heavy weather without breaking up. For highly detailed instructions and insights on how to build a gravel road, consider a guide such as: Gravel Roads: Construction & Maintenance Guide […]

7 Tips for Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

Article Link: https://www.inc.com/entrepreneurs-organization/how-to-build-a-positive-work-environment-7-steps.html By: Entrepreneur’s Organization Veronique James is a member and former president of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)‘s Arizona chapter and CEO of The James Agency, an integrated agency specializing in consumer advertising, public relations and digital marketing that has been honored locally and nationally for its excellence in workplace culture. We asked Veronique how she created a nurturing and inspiring workplace. Here’s what […]

5 qualities that make a great highway engineer

Article Link: https://www.matchtech.com/highway-engineer-qualities With a number of transformational highway projects underway, such as the A14 Improvement Scheme and the M1, M6, and M4 Smart Motorways, there are plenty of job opportunities for highway engineers in the UK. And whilst the skills-short engineering market makes it more candidate-led, that doesn’t mean employers are any less particular about the kind of highway engineers […]

How to Join Wooden Elements: 6 Tips to Build Safe and Strong Structures

Article Link: https://www.archdaily.com/928388/how-to-join-wooden-elements-6-tips-to-build-safe-and-strong-structures By Materials | Translated by José Tomás Franco Wood is a very easy-to-work material, allowing professional and amateur builders to manufacture simple objects and structures without major problems. However, when thinking about larger-scale housing or buildings, it’s important to take certain precautions that ensure good quality and good construction behavior. To this end, it’s essential to evaluate every project and analyze which […]

5 Tips to Building an Earthquake-Resistant Structure

Article Link: https://safetymanagement.eku.edu/blog/5-tips-to-building-an-earthquake-resistant-structure/ Natural disasters are sudden and dangerously powerful, making them a serious threat to communities nationwide. Professionals have learned to anticipate some like hurricanes, blizzards, and tornadoes, but others can still strike with no warning. Earthquakes of any magnitude can occur any time of the year with almost no indications. They can affect small remote areas, or destroy large […]

SIX BRIDGE-BUILDING TIPS THAT SUPPORT STRONG TEAMS

Article Link: https://www.cityu.edu/blog/six-bridge-building-tips-that-support-strong-teams/ By: Greg Price Picture yourself at work. You see yourself as a high performer, and you are happy where you work. You are confident in what you are doing, and you go beyond your role expectations. Do you picture yourself in this way? If this is how you picture your presence at work, you are experiencing a ‘safe […]

Constructing your own commercial building? 12 tips to build wisely

Article Link: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/money-finance/buy-lease-commercial-real-estate/pages/tips-new-commercial-builds.aspx Constructing your own commercial building involves an enormous investment of time and money, so you need to be sure it’s the right move for your business. Ask yourself whether such a project really suits your company’s needs. Do you need the additional space to accommodate more business or increase productivity? Or is your goal to boost revenues […]

9 Interview Thank You Letter Tips

Article Link: https://www.livecareer.com/resources/interviews/prep/thank-you-letter-tips By: Jason Alba Have you ever written a thank you letter? I imagine you’ve written a thank you text, or a thank you email, but have you ever handwritten a letter on paper and then mailed it to someone? Getting a thank you letter in the mail used to be more common, but now it’s something […]

10 Small Habits That Have A Huge Return On Life

Article Link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/10-small-habits-that-have-a-huge-return-on-life?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Darius Foroux Over the years, I’ve adopted many different “positive” habits. To me, a habit is positive when it improves the quality of my life. A lot has been written about forming habits. How hard it is? How long does it take? What’s the best way to break habits? How do we adopt new habits? […]

10 Tips for Business Email Etiquette

Article Link: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/10-tips-business-email-etiquette-173.html By: by Lisa McQuerrey; Reviewed by David Weedmark, MCSE Business email has all but replaced hard-copy correspondence, but that doesn’t mean this quicker approach to communication should be any less professional than its traditional counterpart. Business email etiquette may actually have more requirements than snail mail, particularly when it comes to utilizing email features such […]

7 Office Spring Cleaning Tips to Boost Productivity, Happiness at Work

Article Link: https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2019/03/7-office-spring-cleaning-tips-to-boost-productivity-happiness-at-work By: Gina Belli Spring cleaning isn’t just something to do at home. Your workspace deserves a little attention, too. And, office spring cleaning can help improve your performance at work and your reputation with your colleagues. The state of your workspace has a big impact on the way you do your job. You’ll save a […]

Why Some People Get Burned Out and Others Don’t

Article Link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-some-people-get-burned-out-and-others-don-t?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Kandi Wiens and Annie McKee Stress and burnout are not the same thing. And while we know that stress often leads to burnout, it’s possible to handle the onslaught of long hours, high pressure, and work crises in a way that safeguards you from the emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a lack of confidence in one’s […]

How to Take Notes While Reading

Article Link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-take-notes-while-reading By: Scott Young Note-taking is an incredibly powerful tool for learning. Notes extend your memories. I’ve explained before how writing can be seen as an external enhancement of your brain, allowing you to think more complicated thoughts and solve harder problems. Notes you keep, therefore, act to expand your memory. Notes enhance your focus. The […]

4 Tips for Effectively Communicating with Coworkers

Article Link: https://trackvia.com/blog/excelling-at-work/4-tips-effectively-communicating-with-coworkers/ By: Meghan Bassett Effectively communicating with coworkers is something you cannot afford to overlook. There are many things which can make or break the success of a company, and communication is certainly one of them. Despite the important role clear communication plays in the workplace, there are many employees that have not been trained in effectively […]

4 Employee Personality Types: Understanding and Managing Different Personalities in the Workplace

Article Link: https://www.elorus.com/blog/4-employee-types-understanding-and-managing-different-personalities-in-the-workplace/ By: Elorus Team Dealing with different employee personality types can be a struggle. Especially if you don’t know how to recognize their traits and weak points. Every person has a unique character. If you add cultural, religious and gender differences into the mix, things may get messy. This is especially true in the office environment, where […]

10 tips for surviving cold & flu season in your office

Article Link: https://blog.rotacloud.com/surviving-cold-and-flu-season/ By: Phil Kendall The days are getting shorter and the leaves on the trees are turning red. That’s great news for those of us with a soft spot for Christmas, but it also means that the dreaded cold and flu season will soon be upon us. According to the Office for National Statistics, coughs and colds […]

Four Things You Absolutely Must Do in Your Salary Negotiation

Article Link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/four-things-you-absolutely-must-do-in-your-salary-negotiation?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Pavithra Mohan Countless job seekers and employees still struggle with negotiating salaries and advocating for themselves. But let’s say you’ve worked yourself up to asking for a higher salary. You could still be missing out on perks that can further enhance your compensation package–and they may not be that far out of reach. “The whole […]

8 Tips For Effective Email Communication Article

Article Link: https://telephonedoctor.com/eight-tips-for-effective-email-communication/ By Nancy Friedman A recent report estimated that over 300 billion emails are sent each day! Spam messages are jamming in-boxes across the globe and the average business person now gets over 100 emails a day. While no one denies the obvious productivity gains we’ve realized from the efficiencies of email communication, many people find themselves […]

Stop Confusing Habits for Routines: What You Need To Know

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/stop-confusing-habits-for-routines-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Nir Eyal Habits are hot. Self-help articles extol the power of habits and books on the topic sell by the millions. Yet, like many pop psychology topics, the conventional wisdom about the effectiveness and application of habits is frequently outdated, misapplied, or flat out wrong. Building habits to change behavior the right way can be a wonderful tool […]

10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Build and Manage Great Teams

Article Link: https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/10-scientifically-proven-ways-to-build-and-manage-great-teams-wed.html By Jeff Haden No one does anything worthwhile alone, and that’s why we all want–scratch that–why we all need–to build great teams. But is team-building an art or a science? Great question–one I asked Gregory Ciotti, a Customer Champion at HelpScout, a company that provides email support software for SaaS and ecommerce, if he could answer. […]

4 Simple Tips For Making Your Workplace More Productive

Article Link: https://blog.markgrowth.com/4-simple-tips-for-making-your-workplace-more-productive-e089353fe909 By: Steven Spatz Here’s a corporate slam dunk: Ask 100 CEOs if they strive for a productive workplace. The response will be unanimous: Yes, of course. But what, exactly, do CEOs need to do to make productivity a priority — and to ensure their teams are as productive as possible? In short, you have to lead […]

4 Simple, Quick Fixes to Improve Your Typing Today

Article Link: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/improve-your-typing/ by TheDas Sometimes there’s nothing more frustrating than typing. Whether it’s hitting the wrong key during an online game, constantly messing up that one piece of coding, or even taking for-ev-er to finish that presentation due tomorrow, you wish there was an easy way to get better at typing. Well, simply put, there is. Typing is […]

3 Simple Strategies to Help You Work Well With Others (Even if You Don’t Like Them)

Article Link: https://www.inc.com/the-muse/how-to-improve-your-work-relationships-strategies-to-work-well-with-people.html By: Jaclyn Westlake Fact: Working with other people is hard. Even when you like them. And over the years, I’ve tried different strategies to improve relationships (or, at the very least, prevent myself from freaking out in people’s faces). But then, last year, I started going to therapy to deal with a situation outside the office. […]

Six Ways to Start the Year Off Right

By: Connie Certusi Article Link: https://www.allbusiness.com/six-ways-to-start-the-year-off-right-103151-1.html A new year inspires renewed energy and excitement for what could happen. It’s a fresh start and the perfect time to reflect on the past and plan for the future–to set goals and figure out how to meet them. We may already be a couple of weeks into January, but it’s not […]

Why Your Brain Needs Exercise

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-your-brain-needs-exercise/ By: David A. Raichlen & Gene E. Alexander In the 1990s researchers announced a series of discoveries that would upend a bedrock tenet of neuroscience. For decades the mature brain was understood to be incapable of growing new neurons. Once an individual reached adulthood, the thinking went, the brain began losing neurons rather than gaining them. […]

10 ways to… Prioritise your workload

Article Link: https://www.icaew.com/archive/library/small-business-update/10-ways-to-prioritise-your-workload The to-do list. Don’t keep it on different post-it notes or in your head — at the beginning of each day or week, write on a sheet of paper what you want to get done and by when. Rank tasks according to importance or urgency to plan your day and focus your mind. Review your workload […]

4 Strategies for Overcoming Distraction

Article Link: https://hbr.org/2018/08/4-strategies-for-overcoming-distraction By: Chris Bailey In the flurry of statistics that exist around personal productivity, there’s one I find especially alarming: The average person is distracted or interrupted every 40 seconds when working in front of their computer. In other words, we can’t work for even a single minute before we focus on something else. Sure, sometimes it’s […]

11 Tips for Surviving the Office Holiday Party

Article Link: https://emilypost.com/advice/download-11-tips-for-surviving-the-office-holiday-party/ We often talk about how much success in business depends on building strong, positive relationships. Relationships with clients and prospects are obvious, but equally important are the relationships with your co-workers and your bosses. At the holidays, you have one of the best opportunities to enhance relationships at work: the office holiday party. Follow a few simple […]

8 Tips on Giving a Presentation Like a Pro

Article Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/274646 By: Shawn Doyle As a professional speaker, I get many chances, as I travel around the country, to see other people give presentations. With professional speakers, the presentations are always well done and professional. And of course they should be; these people are professionals! But, sadly, I often see exactly the opposite with others: presentations that are […]

12 Tips For Staying Productive At Work Through The Bleak Winter Months

Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2014/01/07/12-tips-for-staying-productive-at-work-through-the-bleak-winter-months/#2a373d871212 By: Jacquelyn Smith Winter is in full swing. The days are shorter, darker and colder—and some workers will experience the “winter blues.” You might be more tired than usual, less active or unmotivated—and your level of productivity in the office may decline significantly. “People struggle with being productive in the winter for a number of […]

THE KEYS TO HAPPIER EMPLOYEES AND GREATER PRODUCTIVITY

by Donald sonn Whether you have a few employees or you have a large number, it’s important to understand the different personalities contained in your office. This can be a real accomplishment in large offices, Understanding workplace psychology will allow you to focus on managing your employees effectively. You might think that people go to work, do their job, come […]

Case Study 1

How we delivered the perfect hire when there were only 19 people in the US with the mandatory experience. Search Assignment: Expansion of our client’s e-commerce business called for a new Divisional Merchandising Manager with a very specialized skill set and some pretty unusual experience. Only about 2-dozen people in the US had the qualifications the hiring manager needed to […]

5 Reasons Why Office Design Matters

Article Link: https://madisonsquareportfolio.com/blog/why-office-design-matters/ By: Madison Square Portfolio Many companies overlook the importance of designing an office. Employees that work in a cubicle-filled office are working in an uninspiring environment where they are isolated. An office’s design should consider branding in order to portray the message and goals of a company. Why Office Design Matters How an office is designed […]

Article Link: https://www.inc.com/mark-suster/startup-board-meeting-prepare-plan-agenda.html By: Mark Suster Most board meetings are administrative updates that accomplish very little other than informing board members about the performance of the company since the last board meeting. That’s certainly one function of every board, but if your board is your “brain trust” and the people you can most use as a sounding board to help you make the toughest decisions in your company, and if it’s the one group truly privy to your most confidential information and your hardest choices, then it’s a shame if you don’t get more value. It’s also true that there will be tough moments in your company’s journey where you will want to be able to carry people behind the tough decisions you want. When people are problem-solving with you, they are more bought in, because they’re part of the solution. If they’ve only ever received updates, then don’t expect them to be bought into tough decisions when you inevitably have the board meeting where the news isn’t positive. If you buy into the argument that a strong board can actually help you then this post will lay out how to help you have more productive meetings by preparing properly in advance. Note: This is part of a broader series on Board Meetings. How Most Board Meeting Prep Works I’ve been sitting on tech boards for two decades, so I have some experience with what goes wrong. The following is a narrative, but if you have a lot of board experience I’m guessing this will sound all too familiar. 1. Board meeting gets scheduled. 2. Nobody thinks too much about it until a week or two before. 3. Management team has a last-minute scramble to pull materials together. 4. Management is super focused on its daily work of…winning customers, signing biz dev, shipping product…so this prep is a last minute “fire drill” and is seen as a slight distraction. If polled a week before the board meeting, a good number of founders would say, “I wish we could delay this meeting a couple of weeks” or “I really could do without having this board meeting at all.” 5. The board deck and financials arrive the night before the meeting. Investors who are traveling get to their hotels late at night. They decide to wake up early to read the materials. They quickly scan it before breakfast. They get reoriented with the numbers so that they aren’t caught off guard in the meeting. In-town board members also only scan it, because they, too, have morning meetings before the board meeting starts. Very few people turn up with a strong sense of “what we should be doing” or ready to lean into a productive conversation. 6. The financials were prepared by the VP of finance or CFO. The deck itself was produced by a committee of functional team leaders who were asked to do 5-7 slides each for an update. There are too many pages. It passes the weight test. No board member will truly read and be thoughtful about the entire deck, and no team can get through the entire presentation in the meeting. So at the end of the meeting, people will scramble to make the actual decisions with not enough time or consideration. 7. The law firm has done its job of preparing the stock option requests, board meeting minutes, and 409a valuations. These arrive at the same time, so given the choice of reading the deck and the financials or this stuff, the board members haven’t pre-read all of these materials. 8. The meeting starts. It probably starts late. The board goes through admin approvals. Nobody knows how many outstanding shares are in the company, so nobody knows what percentage Mary’s 22,475 shares is equal to. Admin time goes into figuring it out. The CEO asks for the board minutes to be approved from last time. Nobody readily knows what was discussed last time, but the minutes are high-level so nobody cares. One person has read them, so the board says, “If she’s fine, I’m fine” and they get approved. 9. Each section head reads his or her 5-7 slides. The CEO budgeted 20 minutes for each section, but the first three take 35 minutes each so we’re already behind. We do a deep dive on financials. We have a few debates in each function because that’s what people do; if you put up five slides on “what should we order for lunch today” the board will spend 30 minutes debating that. People debate the information you put in front of them. Never put information in front of people if you don’t want it discussed. There won’t likely be any cohesive, structured debate about the most important items in the company unless you put it in front of people or unless a board member with experience escalates it. 10. The board members race out because the meeting was running over and everybody has his or her next meeting. The board didn’t agree on much of substance, even if it was discussed. People are more or less updated. If the company is doing amazingly well, everybody leaves in a good mood. If there were setbacks, everybody starts to doubt but nobody says anything too substantive, because, well, no time was allotted for how to really make things better. This isn’t a narrative of every board or every board meeting, but it isn’t far off from many boards and board meetings. It should be your guide for what to avoid. This is what I might call the “inertia board meeting,” because if you don’t put time and effort into how to get the most value out of your board meetings beforehand , you are unlikely to get value on the day. How to Make Your Board Meeting Really Effective 1. Create a set of KPIs for how you manage the business. You should start with a strong set of key performance indicators (KPIs) for how you run your business that your executive team uses irrespective of board communications. I know that’s obvious, but I find that many management teams aren’t disciplined about how they measure success (other than standard financial reporting – and even that can be “seat of the pants” sometimes). Once you have KPIs for how you manage, you should run them by board members to find out if they think you’re missing anything. Make them do some work to agree what success would look like. Often, board members themselves don’t do the work to say “What metrics would we like to see?” Sometimes they don’t even know. Any great board member should tell you, “Please don’t create any performance metrics or materials that analyze the business that you’re not already creating for your own management’s use.” No great board wants you distracted with doing a whole bunch of financial analysis that is strictly for board purposes. If you develop a strong set of KPIs for how you manage your business and then develop a regular pack that the board is used to seeing, it shouldn’t require extra work to prep the quarterly board metrics pack. 2. Decide what your most strategic issues are. About six weeks before your board meeting you should meet with the executive team who attends or prepares for board meetings and agree what the most significant issues the company is working on. This can include: fundraising, product development choices, sales, marketing effectiveness, competition, business development, M&A…whatever. But what are the key issues management is grappling with? You can write this as a narrative in 3-5 key bullet points. When you have these identified, you can agree which items you think are relevant to the board. There are three tests whether this is relevant for your next board meeting: • “I need to disclose this item to the board so that they aren’t later surprised by it.” (It can be good news or it can be bad news – but it can’t be a surprise.) • “This is an issue that is bubbling up and I’d like to get my board’s input to make sure I’m thinking about it correctly.” • “This is something that requires board approval.” (An obvious example is an annual budget, and this usually is a large part of at least one of your annual board meetings. It can also be executive compensation, a big deviation from budget, raising debt, an RIF (reduction in force), etc.) 3. Create a short strategy/discussion deck. Create a 5-10 page presentation in your favorite presentation software on any key issues you are grappling with. It’s sort of a “primer” for the board, or as some CEOs call it, a “pre read.” This is a way to frame the issue you’re wanting to talk about. If you have some key metrics or financial figures that go with the pre-read, even better. Example: “We’re thinking about launching a new line of business.” • Our current product only has 30 percent gross margin. • We could raise price, reduce costs, or keep margin steady and sell more units. • If we raise price, we worry about competition since we have competitors already below our price point. • We can reduce costs, but it will take us 12 months to reduce the bill-of-materials. • We can stay steady, but given our customer acquisition costs we are concerned we won’t scale profitably. • We therefore would like to launch an adjacent product. We think it will have a 30 percent attach rate to our core product. Our adjacent product has 70 percent gross margins, so if we can get even a 20 percent attach rate, we can hold prices steady on our core product and increase total margin from 30 to 38 percent. This is all made up, but an example of what a single 5-7 page discussion deck might look like and what topic it might cover. Is this extra work versus just turning up at a board meeting and presenting financials? Sure. But it’s a great discipline, even internally, for solving your most important decisions. 4. Create a board agenda. I would create a board agenda in advance with particular focus on topics and time allocations. Be very specific and purposeful about how much time you plan to spend in each area. It surprises me how poorly most boards are about time management and how much time boards allocate to less important topics and get stuck rushing more important topics. The agenda should be purposeful. Think to yourself about the goals of the day, what is important to you and how much time you want to allocate toward it. If you start with admin (409a valuations, small stock option allocations, board minutes) and you then chew up 20 minutes with this – it’s your own fault. I hate starting with unimportant stuff. We travel by airplane to sit around considering 0.02 percent stock grants? In my mind the least important stuff should be at the end of the meeting. That way if you’re squeezed for time you either rush the admin (if it’s truly just admin) at the end or you can approve it via a UWC (unanimous written consent) after the board meeting, or schedule a 15-minute admin call in between board sessions to approve this. Save your agenda for the things that matter most to you. 5. Get your financial deck out 72 hours in advance. 90+ percent of financial packs come out 1-2 days before the board meeting, and I think 65 percent come one day before. There is limited time for board members to read them, digest them, compare them to the last board meeting, and write up questions. It’s no wonder your board meeting becomes a financial update meeting. You can’t expect your board members to get a deck at noon the day before a board meeting but then not have three other meetings the day before, so at best they’re likely reading them in the evening. If you establish a pattern of three days in advance (72 hours), nobody has an excuse for not reading them and you have strong grounds for not doing a deep dive on them during the board meeting. 6. Send your agenda to each board member individually or set up calls in advance. Send the agenda in advance and ask for “pre calls” to see whether they’d like to add items to the board agenda or whether they think these topics are the right ones. If you have the time to get your strategy deck done early, it’s also worth sending. I think in the best run-boards, the CEO has 30-45 minute calls with each non-exec board member before the actual board meeting to walk through the financials one-on-one and walk through the strategy information and the agenda. I think this is critical for a few reasons: • You make sure every board member truly understands your performance and turns up on the day ready for a discussion/debate. • You can find out what they really think about the critical decisions you need to make. That way if they think you need to add to your agenda you can. If they disagree with a decision you can understand why. If you want their support for a hard decision you can figure out where they stand. • Think of your pre meeting like a congressional whip “counts the vote.” • Pre-calls also help you with one-on-one rapport building so that you’re more in control of the room when you’re all together. Is this “overhead?” Yeah, probably. But it’s part of managing a board, which is part of running a company effectively. If you manage the pre-game, you have a better game. If you drain financial issues before the board meeting you can spend more time on critical discussion and less time on information dissemination. I’m sure not every board member agrees with my assessment of how to prepare for great board meetings. Some members probably hate pre-calls, which they see as overhead. Some members probably want most of the board meeting to be a review of financial information. I personally don’t think they’re right but it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is that you figure out how to best work with your board. Decades of experience have taught me that early pre-planning makes for much more effective board meetings. But even more important than that is having a board that agrees. Disclaimer: I’ve been on dozens of boards over the years. I am not talking about any individual company. I promise. If this sounds like your company and that I’m talking about you – it’s only because this is how more than 50 percent of boards are run.

Article Link: https://www.inc.com/mark-suster/startup-board-meeting-prepare-plan-agenda.html By: Mark Suster Most board meetings are administrative updates that accomplish very little other than informing board members about the performance of the company since the last board meeting. That’s certainly one function of every board, but if your board is your “brain trust” and the people you can most use as a sounding board […]

7 Tips on How to be a great Project Manager

Article Link: https://www.projecttimes.com/articles/7-tips-on-how-to-be-a-great-project-manager.html Written by Jasmin Ali Project management may sound easy, but taking up the role of a Project manager requires sword play with the right wit. Many a times, when the Project Manager is at fault or does not abide to an employee’s needs, the company is bound to lose a valuable resource. A good […]

Research Shows the Best Resumes and Cover Letters Use These Words and Phrases (in Moderation)

Article Link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/research-shows-the-best-resumes-and-cover-letters-use-these-words-and-phrases-in-moderation?utm_source=pocket-newtab By: Jeff Haden While your résumé won’t get you the job you really want, if you’re following a standard hiring process, a good cover letter and résumé are necessary to get you to the next stage, the interview (which is when you had better be ready for the most commonly asked job interview questions). Oddly […]

4 Tips For Writing A Powerful Resume

https://www.workitdaily.com/writing-a-powerful-resume-tips By: Michelle Dumas and Aaron Sanborn The first challenge with your resume is getting it in the hands of an actual person. Over the past decade, getting through applicant tracking systems (ATS) by including the right keywords has become the holy grail of job seekers. The palace guards were put in place so that overloaded hiring […]

Avoid Burnout Before You’re Already Burned Out

Article Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/smarter-living/avoid-burnout-work-tips.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab By Elizabeth Grace Saunders According to the World Health Organization, burnout is a workplace issue. But just because burnout can happen at work or because of work, doesn’t mean how you use your time outside of work can’t help prevent it. As a time management coach, I’ve seen that at the core, burnout prevention is […]

7 Expert Tips for Writing an A+ Cover Letter

Article Link: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/expert-cover-letter-tips/ By: Susan Shain When you’re applying for jobs, cover letters can feel like the bane of your existence. I’m a writer, and even I find the process daunting. What am I supposed to include? How many dumb jokes can I throw in? Do I have to use “To Whom It May Concern”? To get the 411 on […]

5 Office Organization Tips for a More Productive You

Article Link: https://www.quill.com/blog/office-tips/5-office-organization-tips.html By: Abby Quillen When it comes to productivity, where you work is arguably just as important as how you work. You can be the most dedicated worker in the world, but your ability to get things done will be compromised if you feel so uncomfortable in your workspace that you can’t think straight, or you’re constantly […]

Deep Sleep Gives Your Brain a Deep Clean

Article Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deep-sleep-gives-your-brain-a-deep-clean1/ By Simon Makin Why sleep has restorative—or damaging—effects on cognition and brain health has been an enduring mystery in biology. Researchers think cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may flush toxic waste out, “cleaning” the brain and studies have shown that garbage clearance is hugely improved during sleep. They were not sure exactly how all this works, however, or why […]

10 construction jobs with high demand – Infographic

Article Link: https://geniebelt.com/blog/10-construction-jobs-high-demand By: Anastasios Koutsogiannis Ever thought of working in construction? Well, now it’s probably a good time to start thinking about it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a significant growth in new job openings in construction is expected during the next years. More specifically, it is estimated that only in the United States by 2024 […]

What To Do When You Don’t Go to College

Article Link: https://www.nabholz.com/what-to-do-when-you-dont-go-to-college/ By: Sheila Pierson What To Do When You Don’t Go to College Not going to college? Well, your education has officially ended. Congratulations. Now, go find a minimum wage job. Really??? I don’t think so. Graduating high school and getting your first 40-hour a week job is a huge first step in your career, not a death […]

Article Link: https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-ways-to-make-working-in-the-winter-way-less-miserable By: Alyse Kalish We all love to hate on winter. Trudging through the snow while simultaneously ruining our nicest shoes, either freezing in several layers at our desk or burning up because the heat’s blasting, leaving the office in the late afternoon to a sad, pitch-black evening. I get it, it’s not the best time of […]

3 Keys to Beginning a Business At Any Age

By Donald Sonn Starting your own business as a is a great way to stay active and to earn extra money.At home businesses are ideal for those who need to be agile and for whom situations may change. Other benefits include: minimal up-front investment, flexible working hours, the ability to scale up or down quickly. Let’s examine how you […]

4 Tips For Writing A Resume That Will Get You The Interview

Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kinseycrowley/2018/09/30/4-tips-for-writing-a-resume-that-will-get-you-the-interview/#26a54b721bd8 By: Kinsey Crowley If you’re tired of meticulously writing, editing and rewriting your resume, only to send it off and never hear about it again, you’re not alone. The reality is that it’s possible no one ever saw your resume at all. Over 90% of large companies use applicant tracking systems that scan your resume and […]

How to Show Confidence in a Job Interview

Article Link: https://careersidekick.com/show-confidence-interview/ By: Biron Clark It’s no secret that employers like to hire people who are confident in their interviews. But how do they judge this? And what are the best ways to show confidence in an interview so you can get hired faster? Here are the best ways to accomplish this… How to Show Confidence in Job […]

4 Interviewing Tips!

8 Creative Office Decor Tips to Maximize Your Productivity

https://www.thespruce.com/office-decor-tips-to-maximize-your-productivity-4151800 By Kelly Weimert It’s no secret that the environment you’re in can play a major role in how you feel, but did you know that it can also make you more productive at work? As it turns out, there are a ton of incredibly simple and economical decor tricks you can integrate into your office that will make you […]

6 Tips for Employers to Make Workplaces Pet-Friendly

https://www.benefitspro.com/2017/04/11/6-tips-for-employers-to-make-workplaces-pet-friend/?slreturn=20190914121901 By: Marlene Y. Satter Among benefits being considered as employers work to recruit and retain top staff, nontraditional voluntary benefits are gaining in popularity, both with employers and with employees who want a more custom-designed approach to benefits. And included among those nontraditional benefits is pet insurance. Even the presence of pets in the workplace is becoming increasingly […]

4 Strategies For Introducing New Ideas At Work

Article Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/3045058/4-strategies-for-introducing-new-ideas-at-work By Anett Grant There’s never been a better time in history for people who have new ideas. Last month, Kickstarter surpassed $1 billion raised for creative projects. ABC’s Shark Tank has brought the world of venture capital into the mainstream, to the tune of $44 million invested. And New York startup Quirky is making waves by […]

5 Ways Project Managers Can Ensure Success

Article Link: https://cpmonesource.com/2019/05/16/5-ways-project-managers-can-ensure-success-2/ 5 Ways Project Managers Can Ensure Success of Relocation or Remodeling Managing projects to a successful conclusion can be relatively easy for simple projects, but professional Project Managers understand that commercial projects involve a far greater degree of complexity, larger teams and more stakeholders. Relocating your organization or remodeling your facilities presents a very challenging level […]

6 People Management Tips That Will Make You a Better Manager

Article Link: https://lattice.com/library/6-people-management-tips-that-will-make-you-a-bette Whether you’re the CEO, intern, or new manager, knowing how to work with others is a key part of being successful at every job. But for new and experienced managers alike, knowing how to manage people and all their quirks and ambitions is a key part of you being successful at your job — and a […]

Tips for Success on Your First Day at a New Job

Article Link: https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/tips-for-success-on-day-one-of-your-new-job By: Tyler Omoth Play your cards right on your first day and you’ll be sure to make a great impression. You got the call, negotiated a salary, and finally landed the job you’ve been trying to nail down. Congratulations! This is the time for optimism and excitement. Could this be the job that truly launches your […]

8 Ways to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

Article Link: https://businesstown.com/8-ways-increase-productivity-workplace/ By: Kenneth Jackson There’s nothing more important to a small business than its employees. If your employees are happy, their productivity will increase, and that’s exactly what you need to help your business grow. Making small changes to habits will drastically improve the levels of productivity and office efficiency in your business. This will allow you to […]

How to Keep Your Top Talent

Article Link: https://hbr.org/2010/05/how-to-keep-your-top-talent By: Jean martin & Conrad Schmidt Practically every company these days has some form of program designed to nurture its rising stars. With good reason—these high-achieving individuals can have an enormous impact on business results. Programs aimed at this class of talent are usually organized around some sort of annual nomination process and offer targeted leadership-development […]

7 Insights From Psychology Known to Boost Workplace Productivity

Article Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/274284 By: Adam Toren It’s no longer practical for any organization to measure productivity simply with numbers or to hold everyone on the team to the same standard. Behavioral economics and psychology tell us that people react differently to situations and have different approaches to getting things done. Thus, it is important to understand individuals’ needs to promote productivity. […]

11 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: Easy tips to stop putting things off

By: Elizabeth Lombardo Ph.D. Source: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock Everyone has put off a task at some point in their life. (Take, for example, this article that I had planned on posting yesterday…) But have you ever wondered why you — or others — procrastinate? While some view it (in themselves or other people) as laziness, there might be something else at […]

4 Ways to Make Your Business More Eco-Friendly

Article Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/324150 By: Syed Balkhi Going green isn’t only better for the environment — it can also be beneficial for your business’s bottom line. Pivoting towards more eco-friendly processes can save your company money, and it can also add to the list of things that set you apart from your competition. If you’re looking to reduce your business’s carbon […]

Inspiration from the Top Down: The Importance of Culture on Your Workplace Design

Article Link: https://workdesign.com/2019/08/inspiration-from-the-top-down-the-importance-of-culture-on-your-workplace-design/ by Andre Filip and Laura Brophy For better or worse, the design, appearance, and functionality of your workspace communicates a lot about your company culture. Proper alignment between workspace design and company culture can be inspiring, motivating, and promote the values of an organization. What do you see when you look around your workplace right now? […]

The Office Atmosphere Impacts Productivity: Behavior, Appearance and Comfortability

Article Link: https://www.business.com/articles/the-office-atmosphere-impacts-productivity-behavior-appearance-and-comfortability/ By Lyndi Catania The complete atmosphere of an office or workplace correlates with employee productivity. This includes three large areas: behavior, appearance and comfortability. When it comes to workplace behavior, all employees come into play. It’s not only about how the manager treats his or her staff, it’s also about the relationships of individual workers, as well as departments. The […]

Tips for Recruiters: How to Conduct Effective Phone Screens

Article Link: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/pages/tips-for-recruiters-how-to-conduct-effective-phone-screens.aspx By Roy Maurer Recruiters can get the most from phone screens and can reduce the chances of overlooking—or turning off—promising candidates by being prepared, focused and courteous during the calls. It’s common practice to put applicants through an initial telephone interview to narrow down a list of candidates to advance in the hiring process. These screens […]

5 Strategies to Improve Communication in the Workplace

Article Link: https://www.sandler.com/blog/5-strategies-improve-communication-workplace By Rachel Miller in Management & Leadership Let’s face it; communication is one of the most important issues in the workplace. Good communication helps everyone on your team (and you) to feel heard and understood, and as a result, everyone benefits from a positive, encouraging and successful environment. Conversely, ineffective communication brings about the opposite results. Ideas […]

The 10 Best Skype Interview Tips of 2019

Article Link: https://www.lifewire.com/best-skype-interview-tips-4172800 by Mark Thomas Knapp Do a Trial Run The last thing you want to do is get on Skype minutes before a job interview totally unfamiliar with Skype. Even if you use Skype somewhat regularly, it’s a good idea to have a Skype call with a friend shortly before your interview just make to make […]

5 Habits of Successful Construction Project Managers

Article Link: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/profit-matters/article/12143704/5-habits-of-successful-construction-project-managers By: Andreas Tremel Technological advancement has opened up many opportunities for the construction industry. However, the construction industry also faces many challenges: projects are becoming more and more complex; economic uncertainty; a myriad of stakeholders; extremely aggressive global competition; and high pressure to not just deliver successful projects but deliver them on time and […]

3 simple ways to be smarter about time management in 2019

Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/3-simple-ways-to-be-smarter-about-time-management-in-2019.html By Courtney Connley According to a Gallup poll, 41 percent of American adults say they don’t have enough time to do everything they want to do. As a result, nearly 80 percent say they feel stressed sometimes or even frequently throughout the day. To make sure you’re getting the things that matter accomplished, productivity experts Laura […]

Talent Management – How to Go About Predicting Performance in Talent Management

By: Donald Sonn There are problems in using “predictors” of suitability for open positions within a company. Hunter and Hunter (1984) showed that interviewing is one of the worst predictors of future job performance. Using reference checks (.26), education (.22) or biographical data (.37) did not improve the odds too favorably. In fact, even the best predictor, test scores, came […]

Green Tips for the Office – Ideas for Making your Office Environmentally Friendly

Article Link: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/going-green-ideas-for-the-office-2948097 By Susan Ward The typical office provides lots of opportunities for going green. From adjusting your office’s lighting system through the types of office supplies you choose and use, there are hundreds of things you can do to make your office more environmentally friendly. This guide presents a selection of going green tips for the office that are […]

Teamwork

The main thing to consider to be successful in any part of business is teamwork. No matter where you work, you are going to have to work with a group of people to make a company successful. If you expect to be able to work alone, and you refuse to work with others, no company will want to keep you […]

6 Rules To Get Your Resume the Attention It Deserves!

Basic Guidelines for Resume Preparation Typesetting You can use your own computer with word processing software such as Word or Word Perfect. The quality of this method depends greatly upon the kind of printer you use with your computer. A less desirable method is to use a typewriter. If you do use a typewriter, make sure that it is in […]

7 Interview Tips That Will Help You Get Hired

By Alison Doyle Article link: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-interview-tips-2058577 Even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count, job interviewing never seems to get any easier. With each job interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don’t know. And, you need to stay upbeat and enthusiastic […]

Summer Construction Season Is Coming–Are Your Projects Prepared?

The days are longer, the temperatures are warmer and there’s the steady sound of hammers banging, cranes lifting and diggers digging everywhere. Yes, it’s summer–the “busy season” when it comes to construction work. But while summer is the season where construction productivity reaches new heights, it’s also a period where safety measures and best practices should be reinforced. That’s because with warmer temperatures […]

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Hi, I’m DonaldSonn

I have had a successful career as a scientist, senior technical account manager, senior marketing executive, human resources VP and business development leader. I have dealt in business consultation, executive coaching, human resources, technical recruiting, staffing and executive search. I have broad Human Resources knowledge and availability to consult on assessment of personnel pre-hiring and post-hiring as well as technical and legal issues. I have science and engineering degrees (with joint honors).

I am passionate about working with talented people and using innovation to deliver results to employees and employers. I am well-connected (see my reviews below) and use talent acquisition strategies to enable companies to meet key business targets. The life blood of any company is the talent of its employees and it is serious work to get to know the right people to keep that blood moving. PRA Corporation, specializes in providing direct placement, executive search and temporary staffing solutions to large and small companies. Our expertise is in providing consultation to corporate managers on best hiring practices and behavioral interviewing technique, as well as skill and personality evaluations.

Specialties: PRA Corp. specializes in working in Engineering, IT, Biotech and Design, as well as with related Financial Professionals. Professional Recruiter Associates also has divisions that deal in Science, Construction and Energy.