What’s in a name?
Question: “How would you file the business name William Starck Architects? Is it Starck, William Architects, or Starck Architects, William, or something else?” — Lisa
Year: 2009
More sleep = better decisions
Get your sleep or watch your decision-making skills decline. That’s the advice from Duke University researchers who studied people denied sleep for 24 hours and found that their decision-making capabilities declined in critical ways.
Send lost luggage packing
As business travel picks up, try incorporating this savvy tip to make trips hassle-free: Ship your luggage via FedEx ahead of time, using three-day service or ground. It’s relatively affordable, and you get door-to-door service. CBS travel editor Peter Greenberg told O, The Oprah Magazine that he hasn’t checked luggage on domestic flights in nearly […]
3 ways to build loyalty at work
Loyalty in all aspects of our lives is at a steady decline. Twenty years ago, a person had on average three people he or she could confide in. Today that number is two. And two out of 10 people say they have no one to confide in. And it’s not enough to have loyal connections with friends. Here are three ways to build loyal connections at work:
1-Minute Strategies: Jan. ’10
Hold a shorter, more effective meeting by remembering the three purposes for having a meeting in the first place: to inform, to gather input or to ask for approval … Read faster using this technique developed by reading expert J. Michael Bennett: rhythmic perusal … Try this remedy for a foul-mouthed boss …
4 PowerPoint rules you should follow
To help an audience tune in to your PowerPoint presentation instead of zoning out, stick to these four cardinal rules from communications coach Carmine Gallo when creating a presentation: 1.Stick to three or four themes. 2.Type should be no smaller than 30 points. 3. Use charts sparingly. 4. Divide the number of minutes you’re allotted to speak by two—that’s how many slides you should have.
Stick to your resolve
Keep those beginning-of-the-year resolutions with these tactics from organizing guru FranklinCovey:
Setting yourself up for action: 4 tips
What makes the difference between productive workers and those who simply think they’re productive? Doing vs. talking. Here are four quick tips on how to set yourself up for action: 1. Jolt yourself into action by trying something. 2. Prototype your ideas. 3. Replace update meetings with "huddles." 4. Create testaments to progress.
Grammar Repair Shop: Power tool: the thesaurus
The magic of a thesaurus is that it can take your business writing from drab to unforgettable. Which thesaurus to use? Nothing beats the print version of Roget’s International Thesaurus. But for ease of use, try these bookmarkable online editions:
Business etiquette: after the job interview
Question: I know that applicants should send a thank-you note after a job interview, so I normally fax a letter within one or two days. However, I have some questions about the process. When I’m interviewed by several people, should I include all the names on one letter or send an individual note to each person? If I send separate letters, can they all have the same wording or should each one be different? — Puzzled