Problem Solving

Team members are fed up with meetings.That’s the conclusion of countless studies, including a report by Harvard Business Review, which found 70 percent of survey participants believed meetings are both inefficient and unproductive. Those surveyed felt meetings can be a…

As offices continue to eliminate paper records in favor of digital filing systems, you may be asked to dispose of dozens or even hundreds of old paper office files. Having a plan to quickly and efficiently dispose of them, after…

You sit down at your desk with a fresh cup of coffee and notice the red voicemail light blinking on your phone. Almost immediately, you get an email notification. Without checking, you know exactly who the voicemail and email came…

You forgot the sales person’s name again! And you can’t seem to master the art of certain office procedures. Why do you keep forgetting? Because you haven’t yet transformed these pieces of information into chunks of digestible data. And you…

If you've got extra office, warehouse, parking or other business space you're not using, you might be able to get others to pay for it. Take time to do a little research and you might find you can decrease your…

“Toxic managers” come in many shapes and sizes. There are jerks, avoiders, egomaniacs, dreamers, micromanagers, schemers, and screamers, to name a few. There is one simple key to working with all of them: behavior -- not character-- makes a workplace…

Hurricane season, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes – at some point during your career, you might need to evacuate your workplace for days or weeks. If you're a business owner or an office manager, having an emergency plan in place will not…

Is the customer always right? In many cases, no. But if you try to explain, even courteously, why your company is right and the customer is wrong, you can lose a customer forever. Not only that, you might motivate the…

Most everyone has experienced an underperforming or lazy colleague that somehow did just enough to stay employed. Working with a lazy coworker can be extremely frustrating and trying, but it certainly shouldn't be debilitating. The good news is that you…

When deciding whether or not you should have a full-time staffer or use a contractor for your IT needs, take into consideration two keys factors: how much IT work you have and what your budget is. You'll need to ask…

Dealing with a micromanager can be incredibly difficult and add a lot of stress to your day. In fact, several studies, including one conducted by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business found that lack of autonomy at work can…

Connecting your laptop or desktop computer to an external monitor is quite simple and requires just a few steps. Moreover, purchasing an extra monitor is very affordable today and can make your work easier running multiple displays. However, before purchasing…

It's often said that paralegals have the hardest job in the legal profession because they are the glue of any matter, as well as carrying the added pressure of ensuring their attorneys are as organized as they can be. Even…

Working for a boss who frequently loses his temper, is dishonest, demeaning or just neglectful can really destroy a person’s enthusiasm, especially in a small office. Sadly, such relationships are all too common: nearly half of working adults report they…

If you’ve ever swiped a stack of sticky notes from your office, you probably didn’t think twice about the repercussions. While sticky note stealing is pretty tame, stolen office supplies can add up over time. In fact, employee theft costs…

We’ve been told early on in life that daydreaming can get us in trouble. But studies have shown, that daydreaming is more beneficial than we realize. Daydreaming gives the brain time to recharge, strengthens our imagination, assists problem-solving skills, reduces…

The paper shredder is your friend. Whether tasked with a records retention schedule or going digital in the office, having a standard paper shredder available is vital. There are several different types, and this tutorial will cover basic maintenance and…

Office space can get quite chilly in the winter, even with a heating system installed and being used. When choosing a space heater for your office, there are six things you should take into consideration that will help ensure that…

“Have you seen the new travel policy?” your colleague asks, clearly agitated. “Talk about condescending. It’s like they don’t even trust us to ride the elevator without permission!” You have seen the new policy, in fact, and have been concerned…

It is a familiar line that lurks at the bottom of almost all job postings: "And other duties as assigned." In most cases, the vague phrase encompasses tasks that arise infrequently and out of necessity. Such as, when a team…