Sheltering-in-place and social distancing has forced many to work from home. Video conferencing – which used to be the path of last resort for professional meetings – has now become ubiquitous and necessary. While video conference providers abound and the technology is robust, the bigger adjustment has been in getting people to know how to use all of the features of the system and adapt to an online professional environment. Stories of video conferencing and webinar gaffes abound. Here are ten etiquette tips for how to video conference like a pro in the virtual business world. Continue reading →

These are certainly uncertain times. It’s been a very long time since the entire world has been so deeply and thoroughly affected and afflicted by a single, common factor. And, many are still in shock by this sudden, seismic disturbance upending every aspect of daily life. There will likely be profound, long-term adjustments to most aspects of daily life. Work life. Home. Travel. Relationships. Religion. Government. Healthcare. Education. That said, those who accept change and are flexible, nimble and adapt fastest will likely fare best. For a lesson on adaptability, it’s time to revisit an old business book and its newly published sequel, timed perfectly for these uncertain times. Continue reading →

The global economy is in the midst of a perfect storm. Some businesses are dropping anchor. Others are scrambling to find a safe port to dock. Still others are have no choice but to sail through the storm. There is no shortage of advice about what to do or not do to get through this unprecedented gale. The challenge is in analyzing the mountains of advice to extract the most useful information. To use this time wisely and focus on what most needs to be done, here are the top four strategies suggested by some reputable business experts, journals and business schools. Continue reading →

Are you one of the many waiting for the shelter-in-place order to lift and have some unexpected “free” unproductive time? While companies are forced to stop or close temporarily, professionals and business execs may find themselves in the unusual position of having some extra time on their hands. Well, this is not a time to hibernate, chillax or stream movies like a giant couch potato. For business leaders, execs, managers and working professionals, there are only two good uses for this “extra time.” Either learning or improving the business. We will talk about the latter in the next Monday Mornings article. But first, let’s start learning. Continue reading →

Feel stressed? Probably. There are many reasons to feel anxiety and fear these days. Life was already pretty hectic and stressful even before the global health emergency. So it makes perfect sense to feel even more stressed now. And, it is collective. Practically everyone everywhere is affected. There is no downplaying the seriousness of the situation. But, how you handle all this anxiety, uncertainty and fear matters. Unrelenting and unrelieved stress can also make you sick. No one should survive the Covid-19 pandemic and die of Stress-2020. Just as everyone is following the directives to distance, they should also take steps to relieve stress. Continue reading →

The world is changing… fast. A “new normal” is emerging in which remote work is commonplace and productivity is increasingly measured by results not activity. What is not changing is that customers continue to expect companies to deliver quality products or services in a timely manner and in a way that delights, whether the business is completely virtual, partially online and partially live, or 100% in person. How business is done may be changing, but people still expect great service no matter what. So what does great service look like now, in the age of Coronavirus? Continue reading →

Working side-by-side with others spurs creativity, generates motivation, increases teamwork and even sparks competition. But “sheltering in place” is pushing businesses to have all employees telecommute for a period of time. This is a big adjustment for both employer and employees. But it is up to management to provide the tools, training and structure to make remote work sustainable for an entire organization. Here are a host of strategies to make the process more efficient and effective. Continue reading →

Coronavirus is now the top story of every news outlet every day. And the economic fallout of the pandemic is painfully reverberating through every sector of every country. Companies that want to keep from shutting down are turning to remote work and telecommuting when possible. But it is not easy to transition an entire organization to working remotely 100% of the time. While even in the most ideal situations having everyone telecommute is likely to be challenging, it can also have some benefits. Here are some tips for making the transition smooth and overcoming the most common issues. Continue reading →

Bring it. Make it happen. Just do it! Get it done! These are the daily mantras of business. Calls to action that convey urgency. Commands to seize the day. Act now. Do more. But as anyone in business can attest, sometimes the hardest part of making things happen is not just getting started, but maintaining that level of action and energy over time. The challenge is to persevere, focus and super-perform not just for a day but year after year. So how can a business create, maintain and harness the highly-desired-but-ever-so-elusive power of momentum?
Here are five simple steps. Continue reading →

How do you grow a company in today’s increasingly uncompromising, hyper-connected, lightning-paced, engagement-driven market? Directions are many but clarity and certainty are scarce. Even major companies led by seasoned business people are having trouble parsing a way forward as the world transitions from an Efficiency / Competitive Economy to a Knowledge / Collaboration Economy. It is a business landscape where the big eat the small, the fast zip past the slow and the shrewd outmaneuver the misguided. So how can business leaders help their organizations not just survive but thrive? It boils down to three things. Continue reading →