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Encouraging a State of Confidence

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (0)

Friday, June 14th, 2013

We’ve all been inspired by greatness at one point or another. Whether by childhood heroes or modern day business leaders, stories of success and brilliance can help drive us to achieve unbelievable things. But the one thing that can cripple our approach into the unknown is fear. Many people know President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s quote, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” This is as true today as it was 80 years ago when FDR told it to the American people during the Great Depression. But as business leaders, I would take it one step further. As a business leader, you need to make sure you’re encouraging a state of confidence in the midst of fear.

“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of notable novels including Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was an admired and celebrated author. He had a successful career and a family, but battled deteriorating health. He moved from place to place to find a climate best suited for his illness. But during a time in his life when he was facing inevitable sickness and death, he buckled-down and wrote some of his best work. Read More→

Categories : Emerging Leaders, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Quotes

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59% of Workers Say They’ve Gained 10 lbs. or More at Their Current Jobs

Posted by: Refresh Leadership | Comments (0)

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Longer hours and high levels of stress in the workplace are contributing to the expanding waistlines of many office workers. A recent study by CareerBuilder found that 55% of workers consider themselves overweight. Among the jobs with the highest percentage of weight gain, administrative assistants, engineers, and teachers make up the top three. The lead causes of workplace weight gain include sitting behind a desk all day, stress eating, and eating out regularly. Check out the full results of the study:

Teachers, Engineers, and Scientists Among Most Likely to Gain Weight on the Job, CareerBuilder Survey Finds

Do you struggle with weight gain at work? What has helped you take control of your health? Let us know in the comments section below? Read More→

Categories : Executive Insights, Management, Tips, Trends

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Harnessing Your Inner Musician

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (1)

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Music has a power that is hard to explain. A single song can bring the hardest, most stubborn person to the point of tears, while sending another into an encouraged state of action. In tackling the beauty and mystery of music, the great Danish author and poet Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Moreover, there are certain attributes that music creators have that are powerful, and harnessing these traits can actually help you be a more effective leader. But don’t worry; you don’t have to pull out your old six-string and play Beatles songs by the water cooler to lead like a musician.

The Multitasking Brain

Whether you enjoy listening to classical piano music or 8Os shred metal, there is one common characteristic between the two: the pianist and the guitarist are multitasking. Usually, when we hear the term multitasking, our minds go to the thought of texting, sending emails, and getting on social networking sites while working. But no, these musicians aren’t texting their band mates. They’re multitasking by using both hands to complete different tasks. While taking the listener through a story with a beautiful melody with the right hand, the pianist is playing walking bass lines with the left. The same goes for the guitarist. While sweeping through face-melting scales using the left hand, the guitarist is simultaneously navigating each string with the right, picking hand. Read More→

Categories : Emerging Leaders, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, New Trends, Poor Leadership and Communication, Workplace

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Do You Hire to Fill a Position or Maintain Your Culture?

Posted by: Jared Brox | Comments (0)

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

This is part three of a three part series on developing a strong company culture. Read part one and part two.

In the first two installments of this series on developing a strong company culture, we discussed the importance of developing your core values and how to use them to build an effective mission statement your employees can rally behind. In this final piece, we’ll discuss why keeping those core values and your mission statement top of mind during the hiring process is so vital to building a positive and sustainable company culture.

Why is it so important to hire for culture?
According to a recent study by Deloitte, 94% of executives and 88% of employees say workplace culture is important to success. Company culture is the collective behavior of the people in the organization and the driving force behind the spirit in which they approach the work they do each day. A company’s most valuable asset is its people. And once you’ve put in the time, money, and hard work to ensure they’re an engaged, productive team working to achieve company goals, you don’t want to upset that balance. Read More→

Categories : Executive Insights, High Costs of Reckless Hiring, Human Resources, Inability to Innovate, Leadership, Losing Your Competitive Advantage, Management, Workplace

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4 Quick Tips for Office Wellness

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (0)

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

A healthy body and mind is an important part of a productive workday. But for most of us, our weekdays consist of sitting at a desk for roughly 40 hours a week – sometimes with poor posture. Because of our sedentary ways, it seems impossible to achieve our health and fitness goals. You don’t have to have stashes of candy bars to have a work environment that isn’t conducive to a healthy lifestyle. It’s the little things we don’t think about that keep us from reaching our health goals. As they say, the devil’s in the details. So, here are four tips to help encourage eight-to-five wellness for you and your employees!

Get Up, Stand Up

Sometimes, workers can go hours without ever getting out of their chairs. One problem with this is that they aren’t getting the needed movement to help regulate blood flow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that sitting for a prolonged period of time can be linked to serious health risks and chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In 2011, the CDC started the Take-a-Stand Project, which showed that employees who stood for just one extra hour a day saw a significant reduction in fatigue and pain and an increase in productivity and energy levels. Encourage your staff to take breaks from their desks to walk around the office or even a short stroll outside. This can do wonders for morale and can help get those creative juices flowing again. And if all else fails, find interesting ways to get around the office. Read More→

Categories : Leadership, Management, Motivation, Productivity, Quick Tips, Workplace

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4 Ways to Get Back to 40 Hours

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (0)

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Technology has changed how work gets accomplished. With tablets, smartphones, and unlimited software apps, it is easier than ever to get briefed on projects and organize deadlines. These productivity tools were designed to help us be the best we can be in our respective professions. But, it turns out that today’s workers are still feeling overworked and burnt out.

According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), one in three workers suffer from chronic stress, with high workloads being a major factor. The APA also found that 39% of people work more than 40 hours a week. With incoming emails and calls, employees end up working outside of the office, which can actually lower productivity and quality of work. As a business leader, you can’t afford to be less productive – and you definitely can’t afford to have a burnt-out workforce.

So how do we get back to normal work hours and take back precious revitalization time with friends and family? Here are four ways to get a good start. Read More→

Categories : Leadership, Management, Productivity, Workplace

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5 Things to Do This Month: May 2013

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (1)

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

We’ve survived April showers and are ready to bring in May flowers and all the sunshine that comes with them. So as the weather warms up and we get closer to summer, consider these five things to do this month!

Plan Ahead to Stay Ahead

School will soon let out for the summer, and families will start to plan vacations. From short, three-day weekend trips to two-week beach voyages to the Yucatan, your office will experience a flux in your workforce. It’s best to plan ahead to ensure productivity doesn’t dwindle while people are on vacation. Make sure you create a schedule for employees who will be out and let other team members know about your plans so they can schedule their projects accordingly. You may also want to consider using staffing services, like Express Employment Professionals, to fill any short-term employment gaps you experience this summer. Read More→

Categories : 5 Things to Do This Month, Leadership, Management

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A Thought from Yogi Berra

Posted by: James C. Price | Comments (0)

Friday, April 26th, 2013

Yogi Berra is one of the most colorful characters of the 20^th century. Some of his one liners have been repeated for comedic relief, while others have been used for their simplistic philosophy on life. His most notable expression – “It ain’t over till it’s over” – has inspired others though its obvious commentary on what we all struggle with from time to time. But, let’s take a moment and try to make a stretch with one of his more humorous ones.

“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.” Read More→

Categories : Leadership, Management, Poor Leadership and Communication, Quotes

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Core Values are the Building Blocks of Company Culture

Posted by: Jared Brox | Comments (2)

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

Part One of a Three Part Series on Developing a Strong Company Culture

Why do companies like Southwest Airlines, Apple®, Zappos.com, Whole Foods Market, and Google always top the lists of the best places to work? Is it because of their competitive compensation packages? Or an emphasis on open communication and teamwork? Maybe it’s the way their leadership teams strive to ensure each employee knows they are indispensable to the company’s overall success?

The answer is that it’s all of that … and much more.

Culture Begins with Core Values
Ultimately, what defines a company culture is the collective behavior of the people in the organization. The driving force behind that behavior is the basic building block of a company’s culture – its core values. Core values are personal, ethical, and ideological guidelines that set the standard for every aspect of business operations, from hiring to decision making to strategic planning.

Let’s break it down even further: Read More→

Categories : Executive Insights, High Costs of Reckless Hiring, Inability to Innovate, Inspiration, Leadership, Losing Your Competitive Advantage, Management, Poor Leadership and Communication, Productivity, Regulatory Nightmares, Workplace

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Be a Leader and a Follower

Posted by: Refresh Leadership | Comments (0)

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Great leadership is essential to any successful business. However, in order to become a great leader, it’s often important to know how to be a great follower. In a post for SmartBlog on Leadership, Mary Jo Asmus explains, “…incorporating elements of followership with your stakeholders is a significant sign of a seasoned leader and central to your ability to be a great leader.” Check out the full article:

When Great Leaders Need to Be Great Followers

What are your thoughts? Are you a great follower? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→