When people experience an event that invokes fear on some level, they react in ways that are hard-wired into their DNA. Human beings are programmed to protect themselves in the event of a perceived threat, just like animals. The difference is human beings have evolved comparatively poorly in the way they react. This is especially true in the current environment [...]
Lest anyone think that corporate social responsibility is fluff, they should consider the following: Fortune Global 500 firms spend roughly $20 billion on corporate social responsibility annually. (1) It is literally big business. What, exactly, is corporate social responsibility? More than 100 Fortune 500 chairmen and chief executive officers define it as the following: (2) Delivering value to customers by [...]
Winning the confidence of customers was important before the recent crisis. Now, in the forever altered world following the crisis, earning their trust is imperative. Social listening and engagement play a critical role in doing so. During months of social isolation, people turned to and relied on social media to maintain a connection to the outside world. Businesses must pander [...]
Effective leadership can be the defining factor determining business success or failure during a crisis. Those who hold leadership positions have the most power in their organization. So, it stands to reason that they exert heavy influence on the direction of the company, employee relations and productivity. Employees who work for exemplary leaders will feel more motivated, more supported and [...]
Times of crisis and demonstrations of employee appreciation often happen in silos. This sounds counterintuitive. Surely, employers would know they should display gratitude to improve morale during difficult times. Unfortunately, and to the detriment of the business, this is often not the case. Why does this happen, even to employers with the best of intentions? During crises, people are running [...]
Almost every organization desires to lead its industry, and selecting the right CEO is essential to this strategy. Some CEOs are simply born to innovate, are smart, are driven, and are brave as well as bold. These leaders are legends such as Lee Iacocca and Steve Jobs. Then there are more inspirational leaders such as Mary T. Barra and Kenneth [...]
The recent crisis has exacted a terrible toll on many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The severity of the challenges SMB owners face due to the fallout cannot be underestimated. This reality has left owners of these businesses feeling pessimistic about the future of their company. (1) SMBs will not see relief anytime soon. In fact, it could take more [...]
Recent events have made remote working a reality for many businesses that may not have considered it before. With more employees working from home temporarily, some companies are recognizing the benefits of remote work and some employees are finding they prefer it over going to the office. These developments have greatly increased the possibility that more employers will change their [...]
Cold outreach is essential to driving business growth. However, 40 percent of sales professionals indicate that prospecting is the most challenging aspect of their job. (1) Most people dread prospecting because they fear saying the wrong thing – and with good reason. The risk of this happening increases when salespeople get stuck when they speak to a gatekeeper because they [...]
Recent events have left companies scrambling to boost employee morale. Struggles with technology, balancing work and home life, fear and anxiety and social distancing measures are just some of the factors employees now face. These are situations that are unique to this time in history. As a result, 65 percent of employers say maintaining employee morale has been a problem [...]