Televerde’s unique business model provides a pipeline and a lifeline. Delivering its fully integrated B2B sales, marketing and customer care solutions to its global clientele has created success on one level; providing second-chance employment — and a path to reach that opportunity — is the other half of its story. “I learned that I can learn,” shared Ashlee Liberty in a … [More]
Building Workforce – Reducing Recidivism and Strengthening the Economy
Televerde programs effectively support women with their transition out of prison
How to Make Any Corporate Event Stand Out
Make a single event singular
Corporate events are common in the U.S., often making it difficult for a single event to stand out and be remembered. In fact, more than a million corporate events happen each year in the United States. This results in many planning choices, like food and décor, feeling mundane and overused. However, this can be avoided with the use of event planners and their ability to … [More]
Saying Is Believing, and Other Reasons to Share
CEOs need to pay better attention to their coaching culture and how they set up their employees for success
Psychology professor Gail Matthews decided it was time to test some of the frequently repeated goal-achievement truisms. She found that yes, writing your goals down dramatically improves your odds of achieving them—it makes them 42 percent more likely to happen! But telling somebody about your goals—especially if it’s somebody whose opinion matters to you—and asking them to … [More]
Jump-Starting and Scaling a Marketplace
Case studies in strategy
Jump-starting a marketplace can be a real challenge for entrepreneurs. They face a classic chicken or the egg problem. Without enough supply, there’s very little reason for consumers or buyers to show up, and without strong consumer demand, suppliers are generally reluctant to sign up, or they will lose interest if consumer demand takes a long time to show up. Jump-Starting a … [More]
‘I Want to Help … but Should I?’
Five ways leaders can practice responsible generosity
Most leaders have been there: We see someone who needs help, and we quickly provide it, only to end up feeling taken advantage of. Maybe you helped an employee out of a financial jam, only to see them keep making bad decisions. Or you spent hours coaching a younger colleague and then watched him ignore your advice. Or you stepped in to “rescue” a teammate who wasn’t prepared … [More]
Top Eight Things to Avoid when Responding to a State Government RFP
And counterstrategies to win
Distinction is the key to winning. Businesses that respond to state government requests for proposal by simply meeting the requirements and qualifications will not stand out and likely won’t win. It’s imperative that a business find a way to distinguish itself through its solution, its expertise and its industry credibility. These eight top mistakes hold businesses back … [More]
Dealing with DEI Pushback
Eleven strategies to defuse resistance in your organization
Inclusion is good for organizations and good for employees. But if your company is like many, everyone may not welcome the new conversations and initiatives taking place around diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, there will almost certainly be resistance to your efforts to create belonging — maybe subtle, maybe overt, or maybe both. Some people might refuse to engage … [More]
Companies Can’t Afford to Lose Focus on Talent Retention
On top of costs, even filling open slots can be difficult
Talent retention is a critical aspect of any successful business. Retaining talented employees, or failing to do so, can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. A business that can keep employees around long-term reduces the cost of hiring and training new employees. Talent retention also mitigates lost productivity caused by constantly having to train employees. … [More]
How to Upskill Employees during a Tight Hiring Landscape
The focus is on helping them align with their organization’s overall growth strategy
Talent development initiatives are growing increasingly important, especially as hiring concerns shift from quiet quitting to conscious quitting and beyond. Hiring the perfect candidate is costly — in fact, hiring anyone will likely cost an organization around $5,000 on average. In this landscape, many enterprises don’t have the financial stability to take a chance on hiring a … [More]
All Video Is Video Content Marketing
Five rules for greater reach
Being on video and watching videos is today’s business norm. A recent survey showed 76% of consumers watched a video before purchasing a product. Social media influencers promote products through video-based storytelling. They login to video meetings daily with prospects and customers. Since 2005, the year YouTube launched, video has increasingly grown in prevalence, … [More]
Use an Advisory Board to Benefit a Business
Seasoned, impartial experts add market strength
We can probably all agree that many businesses often operate with scarce resources and limited expertise, sometimes making it challenging to navigate complex business decisions. However, if a business owner had the opportunity to solve this problem by consulting a team of experts solely dedicated to providing guidance based on previous experiences, wouldn’t they take it? I am … [More]
Expanding Workforce Development
Businesses benefit from workforce development programs for disadvantaged and underrepresented populations
A hot topic these days is businesses’ difficulty in filling open positions. Creating a pipeline or directly supplying workers are organizations who contribute to workforce development through their focus on serving disadvantaged or underrepresented populations. Disadvantaged Bring Unexpected Strengths Phoenix-based One Step Beyond, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization … [More]
Navigating Murky Waters?
‘Sacred Six’ principles will help you succeed like a shark
Whenever we open a news app, we’re inundated with headlines on foreboding topics. Looming recession. Political turmoil. Social unrest. Climate change. It seems there’s no end to the doom and gloom. In times like these, the path toward success isn’t just murky; it seems to have fallen away altogether. How can leaders navigate the challenges ahead — and come out on top — if we … [More]
Build a Culture of Safety and Human Reliability
Seven practical steps that take good ideas from talk to action
A technician spills a toxic chemical. She isn’t injured, but easily could have been. The Hazmat cleanup costs more than $10,000, and shuts down a critical building for a week. An electrical engineer flips the wrong switch in a substation control room. He isn’t injured. But within seconds, a $50,000 transformer is destroyed. Three financial clerks in two different … [More]
HR Pitfalls and the Dangers of ‘Quiet Promotion’
Giving responsibility or taking advantage?
Thanks to all the talk of “quiet quitting” hitting the news cycles recently, many managers are newly suspicious of their employees’ intentions. As it turns out, the suspicions may go both ways. According to a new JobSage survey, a whopping 78% of American workers report receiving a “quiet promotion” — an increased workload without increased pay. And most of them are not happy … [More]
HR Pitfalls and How to Avoid Flatlining Deserving Employees
Flatlining is an age-old obstacle to talent management
In a tight labor market, businesses want to fill open positions with new talent but may have in-house talent that fits the bill. However, these in-house applicants do not always receive the encouragement or take the initiative to apply. Over time, this can result in “flatlining,” which is when successful, deserving employees are stalling in their careers without forward … [More]
Hyperinflation: If You Are Reading This, You Are Already Behind
As we enter a phase of hyperinflation, no one has the muscles or experience to navigate this new business climate, which means CEOs and their leadership teams need to figure out a new way to lead and win. The hyperinflationary toolkit is drastically different from the one that has been applied for the past 30 years, with steady 1% to 3% inflation combined with a cost of capital … [More]
The ABCs of ADUs in Phoenix
Phoenix appears to be poised to open the doors wider to accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and for good reason. These freestanding backyard structures — also known as in-law suites, granny flats, casitas and cottages — create additional living spaces at a cost of about 40% less than a traditional renovation or home remodel. With water, sewer and electrical service, ADUs are homes … [More]
