Displaying All Posts in the Management category

Why Employee vs. Independent Contractor Classification Matters [INFOGRAPHIC]

Although some may overlook it, classifying someone as either an employee or a contract worker matters for both businesses owners and employees.

Businesses can face issues with the IRS for improper employee classification, and employees may be getting the short end of the employment stick if they are improperly classified in terms of both pay and benefits.

This infographic, compiled by Wunderland, a creative staffing agency, provides useful information for both business owners and job seekers about the differences between being classified as an independent contractor vs. being classified as an employee.

It also covers what you need to know about job mis-classification along with the risks of improper job classification, and how to protect yourself at work.

Here are some key points to note:

As an employee, much of the burden of the work falls on the employer, from training to providing you a computer and other resources to assuring your taxes are being paid from your wages.
A company can try to take advantage of an employee by improperly classifying them as an independent contractor.
Employers can work with a staffing firm to avoid mis-classification and IRS tax audits.

Check out the full infographic below and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

What do you think? Is it easy to distinguish an employee from a contract worker in your line of work?

3 Ways to Beat Decision Fatigue

Mike Martin 18th August Management Leave a Comment

Decisions, decisions. Sometimes it feels like our lives are one big set of decisions strung together between meals and sleeping.

Maybe that’s because on average all of us are asked to make more than 100 small to medium decisions every day — just in our personal lives.

If you are a supervisor or manager, then you are likely being asked to make even more — often more important — decisions than that every working day.

It is no wonder therefore that so many of us have decision fatigue. It is characterized by a range of emotions and reactions including indifference and inertia. Click Here to Read Article …

Is an MBA Still Worth it? 4 Ways It Helps

Mike Martin 13th August Career Leave a Comment

It used to be a given that getting an MBA degree was a sure way to also gain access to the executive suite.

But times have certainly changed in recent years, and while an MBA is still an asset, it no longer has the cachet that it once claimed in corporate circles.

That may be because of the explosion in the number of schools and universities offering an executive management training program.

In the United States alone there about 100,000 MBAs being granted each year and another 250,000 students enrolled in MBA programs at any given time in that country. Click Here to Read Article …

5 Ways to Make Office Life Easier for Introverts

Diane Mottl 23rd July Management Leave a Comment

I remember my first experience working in cubicle-land: radio playing in the cubicle next to me, constant hum of voices interrupted occasionally by the sounds of a teleconference blasting over a less-than-considerate colleague’s phone, bursts of laughter, high-energy discussions.

The manager was an extrovert who did not think twice about it. She revelled in this upbeat, high-energy environment and simply assumed that it would be invigorating for everyone.

Yet for the introverts who thought best in silence, it was a nightmare.

Click Here to Read Article …

5 Ways To Be a Leader – Not Just a Manager

Mike Martin 18th December Management Leave a Comment

Many people aspire to be a manager, but what we really need are leaders.

If you want to be a leader of people rather than just managing them, there are a number of characteristics that you should seek to attain and practice.

The late and great management guru Warren Bennis once said “To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial”.

So how can you be a leader and not just a manager? Click Here to Read Article …

How to Increase Employee Motivation: Lessons From ‘The Office’

Anton Pomakov 24th July Management Leave a Comment

Do you remember that episode of “The Office” where Robert California tells Andy Bernard that he, as manager, needs to do whatever is necessary to double the sales? In typical “Nard Dog” fashion, Andy creates an employee motivation program to boost office morale and productivity.

Not surprisingly, none of the workers are motivated by his rewards (mostly stuffed animals and trinkets) so, also in typical Nard Dog fashion, in a moment of panic he declares he will get a tattoo on his rear end as his “bottom line” incentive if the team produces results. It takes them one afternoon.

While “The Office” has oh-so-many things to teach us, for our purposes today the lesson is simple: finding the right employee motivation can be pretty powerful in spurring a team towards a goal. All you need is that great prize to get your people pushing themselves (as opposed to you dragging them) across the finish line and moving your business forward as a result. Click Here to Read Article …

Can You Pass the Management Skills Quiz?

Mike Martin 19th July Management Leave a Comment

Most experts agree that you need a number of basic skills to be a good manager. Leading isn’t enough, you also need to be able to persuade people to follow you. Good communication often tops the list of must-have management skills, but that includes listening as well as giving others direction.

Being an effective manager requires not only good management skills, but the ability to put those skills into use and the confidence to use them wisely. Here’s a short management quiz to test your skills. Are you ready to be a manager? Do you have what it takes?

Answer true or false to each of the following questions, and remember: be honest with yourself. Click Here to Read Article …

(Infographic) What Makes a Successful Manager?

Tina 17th July Management Leave a Comment

One in every 3 Americans want to leave his or her job, while 31% claim their boss makes them feel under-appreciated, and unmotivated. Overall workplace morale is low in the US. Knowing this, business owners must make a valiant effort to ensure that both themselves and their hired managers are investing their time into building up their team.

Effective management is not only important to business owners, but to employees too. Indeed, only 35% of Americans claim that they’d prefer pay raise over a better boss.

That said, managing people is certainly not for everyone. It takes an individual willing to take the time to each employee’s needs, strengths, and weakness in order to maintain a healthy, productive work environment.

Pepperdine University’s MBA Online took a look at various employee satisfaction surveys to determine which overarching characteristics make employees more satisfied and productive.

And while the term “success” is a measurement that differs among a wide range of opinions, the idea is that a self-fulfilled employee is a motivated employee, thus crediting the manager as a successful one.

Key Characteristics of Successful Managers:

Natural Talent
Interest In Helping People and Finding Solutions
Trust And A Good Reputation
Diplomacy
Shows Respect and Maintains Open Communication

Do you agree with their list? Find out more in the infographic below, and then share your opinions with us in the comments!

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Key Characteristics of Successful Managers:

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