The definition of business leadership has fundamentally shifted. Gone are the days when just simply holding a title was enough, when leadership meant control over collaboration, and certainty was valued more than flexibility. Over the past several years, changing workforce dynamics, technology, and global disruption have reshaped how leadership is defined, measured, and rewarded. For
Marketing roles demand a unique blend of creativity, analytical skill, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration. Yet traditional hiring methods only reveal how well a candidate presents themselves, not how well they can perform. As a result, even strong interviews and resumes can mask weak problem-solving capabilities, poor communication skills, or limited analytical capacity. Research shows that more than 70% of hiring decisions rely on human intuition rather than data. This approach results in a failure rate of up to 82 percent in some job levels.
After 30 years at the helm of Trade Press Services, Co-founder and President Gerri Knilans prepares to step into retirement at the end of this year, passing the torch to longtime friend and colleague, Jamie Pagett. In this special Q&A, Gerri reflects on the company’s founding, significant milestones, cherished memories, and the principles that have
Corporate gifting is more than sending tokens of gratitude. When done strategically, it becomes a powerful tool for strengthening client loyalty, nurturing prospects, and motivating staff and other stakeholders. When recipients open a gift and read a heartfelt note, they feel valued and appreciated, turning them from loyal partners into raving fans. In fact, 94% of corporate leaders believe gifts create a deeper personal connection and are important for organizational success.
In an era of saturated inboxes and content overload, memorable marketing isn’t a catchy slogan or polished pitch. It comes from people. Specifically, people who tried your solution, wrestled with the same hurdles faced by other prospects, and are willing to recount their experience. That subtle force is fueling the rise of private communities and is gaining serious traction with B2B brands.
Grief in the workplace can significantly impact employee well-being and productivity, which can translate to lower revenue. According to Maureen Desmond, founder and CEO of M. Desmond Coaching and Consulting, and Michelle Arentz, workforce development consultant and owner of Strategic Talent Rx, grief costs U.S. businesses $225 billion per year due to lower productivity and performance, loss of business, and absenteeism.
Goal setting is supposed to be the blueprint for success, but for many businesses, it’s a road to frustration. Despite having clear intentions, many companies fall short of achieving their goals due to common missteps in planning, execution, and alignment. These pitfalls aren’t always obvious, but they can sabotage even the best strategies. The good news? Once you are aware of them, dodging these pitfalls becomes easy.
As the new year unfolds, many individuals and businesses set ambitious resolutions aimed at self-improvement and organizational success. Yet, studies reveal that 94 percent of resolutions are abandoned by the end of February, often leading to disappointment and self-criticism.
Outsourcing helps companies reduce costs, improve efficiency, scale operations, access specialized skills, and focus on essential business functions. By leveraging external providers, businesses can maintain steady growth without the commitment of hiring in-house employees. The growth of the global outsourcing services market is fueled by technological advancements, The Great Resignation, shifts to remote or hybrid work environments, and myriad other factors. As outsourcing becomes more ubiquitous, now is the perfect time to leverage outsourcing. To reap the rewards, however, it’s crucial to know the right steps to take—and the mistakes to avoid.
Today’s workplace is vastly different than it was just five years ago. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that approximately 27 percent of the U.S. workforce was at least partially remote. Today, more businesses are implementing return-to-office policies, yet the desire for full- or part-time remote work shows no signs of declining. As companies strive to find a happy medium for their organizations, employees and leaders are navigating a new workplace environment and culture.
The holiday season is a great time to show appreciation for colleagues, employees, clients, mentors, and strategic partners. Yet, with tight schedules and end-of-year deadlines, finding thoughtful gifts can sometimes slip through the cracks. If you’re scrambling for last-minute ideas, here’s a curated list of practical, professional, and thoughtful gifts that will leave a lasting impression during the holidays or year-round.
Great leaders don’t just lead—they inspire. This characteristic often means the difference between an organization’s success or failure. Without great leadership, corporate culture suffers, leading to employee apathy, high turnover, reduced productivity, lack of innovation, and a toxic work environment. These negative consequences can have a lasting impact on individuals and on the business.
In today’s “always on” business world, professionals are under mounting stress that can lead to burnout and other stress-related conditions. A recent study by Deloitte reveals that 77 percent of respondents have experienced burnout at their current job—and more than half of them say it’s not an isolated incident. Stress doesn’t just affect the employee. Nine out of 10 respondents said that unmanageable stress had a negative impact on the quality of their work, and eight out of 10 said it negatively affects their personal relationships. Moreover, chronic stress can take a toll on health, contributing to poor sleep, muscle tension, headaches, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke.
When communicating with customers, successful brands understand that focusing only on the features of their products and services isn’t enough to foster meaningful relationships. Buyers, especially B2B buyers, expect their purchase decisions to result in lasting partnerships that can sustain ongoing results. In a marketplace where competition is high and brand communications are frequent, it takes more than describing your services to entice clients. Rather, buyers want to know more about the purpose, values, and mission behind your organization.
In today’s fast-paced business world, kindness isn’t a strategic priority for most organizations. In fact, it is often considered a weakness. After all, nice guys finish last. Or do they? International leaders such as Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela are recognized for using kindness to inspire millions and change the world. When business leaders recognize that kindness is not only a virtue but also a strategic advantage, they can elevate their employees and organizations to new heights.
If you could improve yourself by just one percent each day, at the end of one year, you will be 37 times better than you are right now. This concept of how tiny (or atomic) and incremental change can yield huge results is the first lesson in James Clear’s best-selling book Atomic Habits. By challenging our beliefs about how we value goals over systems, Clear provides a clear path to help break bad habits and create new ones.
A brand’s success depends on its reputation, visibility, credibility and even popularity. But simply promoting a brand is not enough. To stand out from the competition, potential buyers are looking for credible and authentic input from real people who have worked with your company. That’s where a brand ambassador strategy can make a big difference. Brand ambassadors are individuals who serve as the face of the brand and share less biased perspectives that are often more trusted by target audiences.
Moving into 2024, many marketing teams are reviewing, revising and optimizing their marketing plans for the new year. The challenges we encountered can shape those plans and provide a solid foundation for seizing the opportunities that lie ahead. Based on the topics that have been addressed in our own blog and newsletter over the course of 2023, there are some key lessons learned that can be leveraged for success in 2024.
With the holidays upon us and the new year around the corner, the spirit of giving is in the air. While holiday traditions may not permeate the workplace the same way they do at home, there are many opportunities to bring a spirit of giving into your organization. Small acts of kindness tell your colleagues
Empathy-based or empathetic marketing is a topic often discussed in the B2C space. Evoking empathy in B2B buyers, however, isn’t always easy. In an environment marked by “professional” and less “emotional” communication, it can be more challenging to connect with buyers on a deeper level. The solution to this challenge starts from building an empathetic culture within the organization.
Marketing teams are made up of individuals who wear many hats and possess a wide variety of skills. While it’s common to focus on the hard skills that align with specific marketing tactics such as search engine optimization, copywriting, graphic design or email marketing, there are many soft skills that are essential to building a strong marketing team. Also called people skills or emotional intelligence, these traits distinguish top-of-class marketing professionals from the pack.
When asked about what makes them successful, nearly every professional athlete, author, actor and entrepreneur has one trait in common: confidence. Regardless of the profession, experts often discuss how confidence is an essential quality that empowers them to take risks, challenge the status quo, push past adversity, or get up and try again
While creativity is important for individuals who work in the arts, it is just as necessary in business. Without it, businesses will become stagnant and unable to compete in an evolving marketplace.
In the B2B marketplace, purchase decisions can be complex. They often involve multiple decision-makers, complicated budgets and long-term commitments. As such, strategic thinking and calculated moves are the keys to winning marketing efforts that drive business success. Much like a game of chess, B2B marketing requires careful planning, foresight, and adaptability to outmaneuver competitors.
