Since the recession ended, companies have been forced to adapt to a new business environment and a new way of thinking about survival. Many tried-and-true methods of staying competitive and maintaining a healthy, engaged workforce have become obsolete. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative to take action to address threats to your productivity.

The first step to overcoming a challenge is to clearly identify it. So we want to know, what is the top threat to your business today?

Let us know by voting in our poll.

In our December 2011 poll, we asked our readers which elements of leadership they were least prepared for when they became a manager. The results were conclusive and more than half (53.9%) of the respondents said “Developing a strategic vision for your team” was the biggest challenge they faced as a new leader.

According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, nearly one in four companies plan on hiring for executive-level positions over the next six months. One of the most vital responsibilities for any new leader is the ability to not only have a vision for where the company or their team is going, but also how to develop a plan to get there. From setting SMART goals, to analyzing the previous year’s performance, there are a wide variety of factors that go into developing a strategic plan. A new leader who has not been responsible for broad, big-picture planning in the past may have a difficult time even knowing where to start.
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With the start of a new year, we are looking forward to a brighter horizon than in years past. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the gross domestic product for 2011 rose at a rate of nearly 2%. Many economists are expecting about the same rate for 2012, avoiding another recession. In 2011, we saw the unemployment rate drop from 9.8% in November 2010 to 8.6% a year later. This trend may mean unemployment dropping below 7% in 2012.

What are you thinking 2012 will bring? Routine, recovery, or recession? Let us know by voting in this month’s poll.

According to a CareerBuilder survey released earlier this year, 25% of managers said they were promoted to their leadership role before they felt prepared. If that percentage holds true across the board, it means one out of four leaders started managing others before they had the adequate skills and training. So, we’d like to know what you felt least prepared to handle as a new leader.

Let us know by voting in our poll.

With the continuing government budget woes and the volatile stock market, many companies have altered their normal hiring plans. However, with the start of what is often the busiest time of year for many businesses, employers will soon be forced to decide if they can meet production with their present workforce. So, we want to know how you’re preparing to handle the end-of-the-year rush and what are your hiring plans for the fourth quarter seasonal push?

Let us know by voting in our poll.

A recent study on student lending conducted by Moody’s Corporation showed that since the year 2000, college tuition costs have more than doubled. This is an interesting statistic when paired with findings from the Pew Research Center that shows 57% of Americans believe “the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with good value for the money they and their families spend.”

With the cost of higher education increasing and the value of a college degree becoming a more heavily debated topic, are we potentially on the cusp of a paradigm shift in the way businesses hire and what qualities companies look for in a new employee? Do education credentials still carry the same weight in the selection process for your company? Let us know by voting in our poll.

If you haven’t heard about the expected employee exodus yet, you soon will. News and employment sources from across the country have been warning of the large numbers of employees seeking new jobs and the upcoming increase in turnover for a while now. The highest estimate of the percentage of employees willing to change jobs is listed at 91% by CareerBuilder.

Based on recent research from Express Employment Professionals and CareerBuilder, almost half of employers are currently dealing with retention issues, while 41% are concerned with losing their best talent in the future. But, what about you? As a leader are you looking for another job as well? There’s been little differentiation between who exactly is seeking greener pastures, so we want to know: