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<title>Melissa Vokoun - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Melissa_Vokoun</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:47:20 -0600</pubDate>
<image><title>Melissa Vokoun - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Melissa_Vokoun</link>
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<copyright>Copyright 2012 EzineArticles.com - All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
<description><![CDATA[Melissa Vokoun is a successful Business Advisor and Trainer. She has been involved in start-up, management and operations of businesses since her tenure at General-Tel began in 1981. Her passion for building successful companies was nurtured by 21 years as co-founder of CommuniTech, one of the largest specialty distributors in North America. Melissa was responsible for all product and sales training, holding positions of COO and VP of Sales & Marketing. In concert with the major headset manufacturers: Plantronics, GN Netcom, Koss and VXI, she helped design and influence products and services throughout the industry. Her experience managing and growing ... ]]></description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:42:28 -0500</lastBuildDate>
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<item>
<title>Putting Momentum in Your Meetings</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1544128</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1544128</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:42:28 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Meetings can be a time for dynamic interaction or a time for mundane conversation and boredom.  Momentum is the thing that makes the difference.  But how do you keep ideas flowing, bullet points flying, and conversation brisk and exciting?  The answer may surprise you.  Preparation is what means the difference between good meetings and bad meetings.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Creating a Security &quot;Safety Zone&quot;</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1544098</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1544098</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:02:54 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Identity theft has become the fastest growing crime in the United States and, according the Federal Trade Commission, 27,000 people are victims of identity theft each year.  Protecting your customer data, the data of your own employees, and the intellectual property of your company must be a priority for every organization.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>You Must Have a Positive Attitude &amp; Atmosphere in Your Business to Insure Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1543317</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1543317</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:01:33 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The difference between success and failure is a very fine line.  It was Henry Ford who said:  "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."   In my many years' experience of running companies, departments and working with clients, I have always found that Henry Ford hit the nail on the head.   With the attitude of "I can't" or "we can't" or "that won't work" success is very elusive and harder to achieve.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Getting to Know You - Your Ezine at Work</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1111515</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1111515</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:10 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In today's global marketplace, how do we establish that sales relationship?  The answer is to introduce yourself and establish that relationship through an online ezine.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Socializing for Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1110503</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1110503</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:49:52 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Did you ever wonder where the concept of "the break room" came from?   Did businesses always have break areas or lounges?  Because, today, having common areas are just so common, we assume that it was always been a part of the business world.  But that is not true.  The break room is a relatively new concept-coming into the mainstream in the late 60's. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Pathways to Success - Coaching and Establishing Financial Foundations</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1070249</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1070249</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:18:09 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Every small business is built on multiple foundations.  Staffing, equipment, and marketing are all areas where early decisions are the basis for building a foundation.  Also included in the equation is making early financial decisions that will form the basis for a sustainable fiscal foundation.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pathways to Success -  Coaching and Marketing Strategies</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1065690</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1065690</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:23:57 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There is no place where coaching is more essential and valuable than in the world of business development and management.  Just one of these areas where coaching will really make a difference is in the area of marketing strategies for your new small business.  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Creating a Showcase for Your Place</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1065676</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1065676</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:23:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Your vision is the primary message for your small business.  The thoughts, insights, and aspirations you have for your business paint the picture of your organization that you want the world to see.  The methods for spreading this message are numerous and each has its own strengths and weaknesses.  But one way to showcase your business with the entire scope of its talent, ability, function, and vitality is to spread the word through article marketing.]]></description>
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<title>Forming a Mentoring Circle</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1052712</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1052712</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:43:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[More and more businesses are seeing the value of establishing mentoring programs for their employees but finding it hard to keep up with demand.  Matching each employee with a mentor, with all the demands and responsibilities connected with the commitment, is a daunting task.  One solution is to form a circle of mentors who can act as a team and share the demands of mentoring.  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Marketing Your Great Idea - It Isn't Magic - It's Marketing</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1042474</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1042474</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:03:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ How many great ideas don't get anywhere because no one hears about them?  How many times have some entrepreneurs succeed with their idea while others with the same idea have failed?  The reason why some ideas spread like wild fire and others die like a candle in the wind is simple-MARKETING!  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>It Takes a Community - Finding Support for Your Small Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1042230</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1042230</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:57:21 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Nothing thrives in a vacuum.  With the absence of support, encouragement, and guidance, a fledgling company will falter and die.  It is important at every stage of your business' growth to seek out organizations and people who can provide the support you will need to grow and prosper.  But it is never more important than when you are just starting out.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Building Relationships to Build Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1030220</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1030220</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:03:37 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Everyone you meet is a potential customer as well as a friend.  We don't make friends just to drive business but it is important to keep in mind how our services and products can help and enrich our friends and acquaintances.  If we truly value what we do and what we offer, it is only natural that we want to bring these things to everyone we meet.]]></description>
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<title>Agility and Innovation - The Niche Market's Advantage</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1030210</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1030210</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:03:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In the traditional concept of economies of scale, larger companies squeezed out their competitors by offering convenience and better values.  We have seen the retail giant Wal-Mart mow down its smaller competitors with lower prices and one-stop shopping.  It has been a long held belief that BIGGER WAS BETTER!  But, in many industries, this belief is being challenged and smaller niche businesses are winning the battle of "David and Goliath."]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Don't Hide Your Expertise</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1018737</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1018737</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:56:24 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you an expert in your field?  Most people take for granted the incredible base of knowledge it takes to create, stimulate, and grow any business.  The things that you take for granted as routine are precisely the things that make you uniquely qualified in your field]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Making Leadership Real</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1011566</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1011566</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:17:08 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Too often we think of leadership as a lofty position that many aspire to and few achieve.  The truth is that we see leadership every day in the most common of situations but fail to recognize the complex and intricate relationships between leaders and their followers.  ]]></description>
</item>
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<title>Making Marketing Personal - Relationship Marketing</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1006324</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1006324</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:36:57 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The first thing that we all have to remember is that YOU ARE YOUR BUSINESS.  Who you are, what you stand for, what you believe in all make up what you bring to your business.  The sole entrepreneur and small business owner both know that they are more than a figure head but the meat and bones of their business.  When you market your business you are selling yourself.  It is only natural that this marketing extends towards all the relationships you form.]]></description>
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<title>Chronicle Your Path to Success - Document Everything</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1001065</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1001065</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:26:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[From your organization's infancy to going public, your record of documentation should be complete and thorough.  In the beginning you might wonder why you should document the 2% raise you gave your bookkeeper or why you reprimanded your sales staff for failing to answer by the third ring.  The answer is that, though you might not question these decisions now, someday you will.  And someday you may need to explain and justify these decisions to others.  Documenting from the start is a health and safe habit to form.]]></description>
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<title>Defining Dynamic - Managing the Personalities in Your Organization</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/978292</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/978292</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:23:31 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The good manager learns from day one that maximizing your resources is essential to good organizational management.  Whether it's people, materials, or money, using the resources on hand is the difference between success and failure.  No resource is more critical or more hard to manage than your most valuable asset-your people.]]></description>
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<title>The Smaller the Group the Better?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/967401</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/967401</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:58:30 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When you are just starting out your business often is made up of 2-3 people who are the core, lifeblood, and brains of the business.  When the small group is the entire organization, some of the rules for small groups still apply, but more often than not they have their own set of guidelines.]]></description>
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<title>Making Your Office Space 'The Space'</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/955690</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/955690</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:21:22 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Our surroundings contribute a great deal in how we feel, how we act, and how we perform.  The entire industry of home design is dedicated to turning our homes into places where we are comfortable, secure, and stimulated.  There is an equally vocal industry that devotes itself to making office interiors motivating, stress free, and invigorating. ]]></description>
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<title>There's More Than Power In Positive Thinking</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/934647</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/934647</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:11:56 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There are many factors that are critical to success.  You can have a great plan, the right people, facilities that are top notch and a superior concept but without the right outlook these advantages could be worth nothing.  There is a reason why some businesses succeed and others fail and many times it has to do with the philosophy behind the business.  We have heard for decades that there is power in positive thinking and finally businesses across the world are putting stock in positive thinking.]]></description>
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<title>Inspire To Lead And Lead To Inspire</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/934643</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/934643</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:11:09 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Inspiration comes at both ends of the leadership equation.  Leaders are called to guide and lead from many different directions but there is always an element of emotion and inspiration.  The call to act as a motivator, guide, teacher, and mentor is usually the first step in a process whereby an individual begins a journey to lead.]]></description>
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<title>The Heart of the Mentor - Drawing From Experiences</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/686997</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/686997</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:43:09 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Those of us who have been mentored know that it takes an extraordinary person to touch and affect people's lives in such a unique way.  Mentors must be many things, but they must primarily be a person who draws everything there is to be gained from an experience.  Experience teaches us wisdom, knowledge, morality, and human nature to name a few.]]></description>
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<title>Recreating Main Street - How to Let Your Ezine Work For You</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/687003</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/687003</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:02:11 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The term "global marketplace" may seem overused but no one can deny that Main Street has gotten much bigger.  In fact, Main Street is now the entire planet.  And competing for customers has become much fiercer than the days when you might be the only drug store on the block.  But there is a way to bring back that personal element, display your wares, and where you can interact and communicate with your customers.]]></description>
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<title>Time - Investments In Mentoring</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/664945</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/664945</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:12:25 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Just as there are many requirements in mentoring, there are just as many rewards.  We frequently speak of the personal and intrinsic qualities that mentors bring to their relationships and the value of those qualities.  The simple truth is that not everyone can be an effective mentor.  The sharing of knowledge and experience are only two of the transactions that take place in a mentoring relationship.  A mentor must also share vision, spirit, humor, mission, and wisdom that are only a short laundry list of essentials of mentorship.  But one requirement that frequently is overlooked is the time investment a mentor must make to their partner.]]></description>
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<title>All Chiefs and no Indians - Leadership in the Team Context</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/659620</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/659620</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:46:37 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Every organization values and nurtures its leadership talent.  We seek out leaders and they are essential to the growth and functioning of every organization.  It is hard to believe that you company could be blessed with too many leaders and the possibility of that happening is indeed remote.  But what do you do when you need a leader to be a follower?  ]]></description>
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<title>Employee Discipline - An Ongoing Process</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/641226</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/641226</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:17:28 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The issue of employee discipline is something that every manager and supervisor has faced with uncertainty and reluctance.  Any issue that has the potential for confrontation carries with it a degree of anxiety and it is your job to see that the process does not escalate into confrontation.  Employee discipline does not have to involve anger, confrontation, and damaged egos.  If handled appropriately it can be a constructive and affirming process.  ]]></description>
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<title>Growing Leaders - Nurture the Leaders in Your Midst</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/640964</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/640964</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:16:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A strong and fully developed leader is hard to miss.  They make their presence known and their leadership abilities are obvious.  But they were not always the strong and dominant person you see before you.  At some point they may have been a "closet leader" who was unsure and conflicted about assuming a leadership role.  How do you dig out these "closet leaders" and help them become a team leader?  ]]></description>
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<title>Constructing Effective Work Groups</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/618926</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/618926</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:42:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The value of work groups to accomplish complex projects achieve company goals is now widely accepted.  Few would argue that teams are the best way to approach both short and long term projects.  But who should make up these teams to maximize their effectiveness?  Putting together a winning team is like orchestrating a piece of music and it doesn't happen by chance.  It requires a great deal of information, careful thought, and sound resource management.]]></description>
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<title>Between a Rock and a Hard Place - The Reference Question</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/618920</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/618920</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:38:01 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When someone leaves your employ your relationship with them is far from over.  Former employee's future job opportunities depend on the references from their past employers and the stakes can be very high.  A good reference can mean unlimited opportunities but a poor reference can be the equivalent of being "blacklisted."  Just where do you, as a former employer, fit into this equation?  Giving references can be a tricky business and finding your policy on this question is essential to your security and health as a company.  ]]></description>
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<title>Workplace Relationships -  Losing Your Best Friend</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/611925</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/611925</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:55:01 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The highs and lows of the work world are attached with a multitude of emotions and we share them all with our coworkers.  No one better understands that dimension of our lives better than the people we sit across the isles of cubicles from that make up our world.]]></description>
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<title>Winning the Battle and the War -  Negotiation Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/608855</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/608855</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jun 2007 14:47:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Everyday we enter into a variety of negotiations with prospective employees, current employees, and vendors.  Though the situations are different, there are some basic guidelines that will ensure negotiation success.  ]]></description>
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<title>Boosting Your Sales by Boosting Morale - Employee Coaching</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/601703</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/601703</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:44:03 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Morale building through employee coaching has to be a real commitment by managers and owners alike.  When you see morale translated into sales it is easy to see why this is so vital.  When you see dollars flooding into your business when morale is high and employees are happy and motivated you will see the wisdom in consciously stimulating morale.]]></description>
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<title>5 Ways to Avoid Employee Burnout</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/594535</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/594535</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:30:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Burnout in employees and managers continues to be a major and costly issue affecting businesses today.  Major inroads have been made in maintaining employee health through the use of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and improved employee counseling but days of work lost to depression and a host of other psychological problems continues to cost American employers millions per year.  ]]></description>
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<title>Redefining Leadership for the 21st Century</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/582642</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/582642</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2007 13:32:32 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Companies are no longer looking for good people to manage their businesses' assets but leaders who will maximize their company's assets to the greatest degree.  Making the most out of the resources available and making those resources the best they can possibly be is the standard to which leaders are held.  ]]></description>
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<title>Shedding Light on the Workplace - Full Spectrum Lighting</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/575043</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/575043</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2007 12:15:42 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The typical office is designed around a typical florescent lighting system.  But florescent lighting (or as studies have called it "distorted lighting") is an artificial light source that is lacking the benefits of the recreated daylight that full spectrum lighting offers.]]></description>
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<title>Effective and Responsible Employee Termination Interviews</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/567717</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/567717</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2007 10:50:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It is the occasion that every manager has faced-terminating an employee.  Few managers can say that this is an easy part of their job.  Terminating an employee is always a difficult and stressful task. In today's volatile workplace environment this task is even more difficult.  ]]></description>
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<title>What is a &quot;Servant Leader?&quot; You May Have More Than You Think</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/560486</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/560486</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2007 07:36:02 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In an essay by Robert K. Greenleaf, the author coins the term "servant leader."  Exactly what is a servant leader?  Are there any in your organization?  If you don't have any servant leaders, how can you develop them?  The answers to these questions may surprise you and introduce you to a vital source of leadership for your business.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Safety in the Workplace - It is Everybody's Concern</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/560490</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/560490</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 16:57:56 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[While safety is a high priority in manufacturing and industrial companies, office safety is also a serious issue that needs the same attention.  Accidents and injuries can happen everywhere and the resulting pain and trauma it causes are the same, whether it occurs in a factory or an office.  Adequate safety planning needs every employer's attention.  ]]></description>
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<title>Avoiding a Hostile Workplace - Fairness in Employee Discipline</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/555351</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/555351</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 07:41:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The environment of your workplace is vital to employee satisfaction, reduction of turnover, and productivity.  It is also vital to the legal stability of your business.  A hostile work environment can be the basis for many types of employee complaints and causes of legal action.]]></description>
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<title>Keeping Employees For The Long Run - Employee Retention</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/555367</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/555367</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 07:08:06 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Every year companies spend millions in recruitment due to employee turnover.  Turnover and its associated costs are a burden that used to be just the cost of doing business.  But more and more companies are investing time and effort in making better hiring decisions and doing more to keep the employees they do hire.  Employee retention is now a buzz word in today's business world.  ]]></description>
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<title>5 Essentials to Effective Communications Between Management and Employees</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/550654</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/550654</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2007 17:32:43 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[As change occurs more frequently and the future becomes more uncertain, employees want to know the rationale underlying the decisions and changes that affect them.  "Why is this being done?"  "How does this affect me?"   As the historical contract between employer and employee has eroded, employees no longer look at their jobs as life long.  In times of permanent employment, comprehensive decisions by management were not as critical.  But employees, faced with lack of security, have new expectations of their managers and owners.]]></description>
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<title>Performance Appraisals For Even The Smallest Businesses</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/547224</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/547224</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2007 16:26:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Large companies use appraisals to manage a workforce that by virtue of its size requires standardized formats for setting pay rates and employee status.  Though, large organizations have the tools in place, they frequently overlook appraisals as a coaching tool.  But in a small company, the value of performance reviews as a coaching instrument can be the difference between a stagnant and developing workforce.]]></description>
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<title>Can you Teach Leadership? Confronting Conventional Thought</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/545594</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/545594</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:16:55 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many pioneering educational institutions are developing leadership programs that embrace a well-rounded exposure to all business topics.  But more than just teaching skill related topics, students are introduced to the philosophy of leadership.  Students gain much from the study of techniques, skills, and contextual problems of leadership and situations in which leadership can flourish]]></description>
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<title>Delegation with Confidence -  Five Essential Steps</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/544298</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/544298</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:38:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The effective manager is one who understands his or her limitations and has confidence in both their ability to delegate and their subordinates.  There are five steps that insure that the delegation process will yield the best results for the manager and the recipient of delegated tasks.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>End Business as Usual-  Become a Critical Thinker</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/543613</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/543613</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:16:20 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[With no established protocol to follow you have to create from the ground up.  A critical thinker looks at every system, every process, and every procedure as if they were being done for the first time.  This creates an opportunity for innovation with every action you take.  This opportunity for innovation is what will yield an atmosphere of constant improvement that makes you competitive in today's dynamic and volatile market.]]></description>
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<title>Conflict in the Organization - Beneficial or Just Risky Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/541398</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/541398</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:53:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In many organizations when radical change is necessary to fight stagnation and apathy, managers deliberately introduce conflict to raise the intensity of a group.  New ideas and concepts can come from this intense level of activity.  But, arguably, these ideas can just as easily come from cohesive group activity that is orchestrated by responsible managers.]]></description>
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<title>Hiring Decisions-  Balancing the Pluses and Minuses of the Job Opportunity Available</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/540682</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/540682</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:02:26 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[To motivate a job seeker to join your company it is vital to present and sell the opportunities and benefits you are offering.  But it is important to remember that avoiding the negatives can create unrealistic expectations that can haunt a manager long after the hiring process is complete.]]></description>
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<title>Killing Time on the Clock- Disengaged Workers in the Workplace</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/539143</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/539143</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:28:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Disengaged workers can mean life or death to a small business that is dependent on their employees to generate the goodwill among customers vital to survive in a competitive environment.  Managers who find themselves in this wasteland of clock watchers and malcontents often need only look to themselves for causes and solutions.]]></description>
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<title>5 Reasons to Have a Written Business Plan</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/520341</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/520341</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:09:10 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Taking the steps early to develop and formalize a Business Plan allows you maximum flexibility in the direction and growth of your company.   Once your Business Plan is written, it needs to be updated every few years, but the history and the "bones" of the plan usually stay in tact.  The time to make the commitment to write the plan is NOW - not when you are trying to fill out the papers for a loan, go to the bank, sell the company, or attract investors or partnerships.  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>What Is The Importance of a Written Business Plan?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/514095</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/514095</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:05:57 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The greatest ideas in the world may have never been put to use or seen the light of day in the marketplace not because of lack of vision, but because of lack of direction and definition.  If having a written business plan is all that it is cracked up to being, then why don't more people just sit down and write one?   The answer is usually wrapped up in fear.  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Lack Of Focus - Spring Fever For The Entrepreneur</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/514155</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/514155</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:45:43 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When you are an entrepreneur or a small business owner, it is often easy to get the flights of fancy that this type of position in life offers you.  Of course you have to answer to the clients, the vendors, the spouse, the bank, the partners - maybe even your cat or dog who knowingly can tell that you are not quite on track.  But it is very exhilarating to allow yourself to explore the "possibilities" that the world has to offer and the excitement of starting something new.   ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>The Benefits to Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses to Outsource to a Virtual Office or Assistant</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/483961</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/483961</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:16:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The emergence of the Virtual Assistant - Virtual Office support professional can fill that gap.  The Virtual Assistant takes the role of office temp and elevates it to the status of entrepreneur.  Because the Virtual Assistant is self-employed, bills the client only the hours worked or assignment completed, and is dependent on steady workflow from existing clients and referrals, this is the perfect solution for the busy professional.]]></description>
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<title>Business Owners Must Invest in Their Employees to Insure Future Growth &amp; Success - Money Well Spent</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/484079</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/484079</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:23:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If you feel that employee loyalty, enthusiasm, and drive are dwindling or not up to the standards that are needed for company success, you must consider how you can improve your work environment to encourage employees to work with energy and enthusiasm.  This will be particularly important should the business face difficulties due to an economic downturn or other circumstances that are out of your control.]]></description>
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<title>Developing a Professional Support Circle CAN Change Your Life &amp; Bring You Balance &amp; Harmony</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/484325</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/484325</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:21:06 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I find more and more of those whom I network with are more interested in their overall happiness than accumulating more money, larger homes, or staying on the fast-track in the corporate world.  In many cases the developing and nurturing of a "professional support circle" allows them to achieve more financial rewards than they ever dreamed of without sacrificing a fulfilling family life.  It does not matter whether you are a businessman or a work-from-home mom trying to juggle the demands of career and family, there are NOT enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that demands to get done. ]]></description>
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<title>Overcoming the Fear of Raising Prices and Fees  -  Stop Undervaluing Your Services and Abilities</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/484011</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/484011</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:44:06 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I fretted, I worried, I couldn't decide - would my clients and customers understand if I raised their pricing?   Would my company lose the valuable relationships established over the years if I had to tell them that they would have to pay more to my company for the services we had been offering them.
Finally, I did it - and guess how many clients and customers we lost because of the price increase?  Do you think it was 10 percent, 25 percent?   Well, amazingly, we NEVER LOST ONE!  When I called them all to discuss the new rates, some of them ended up telling me they were amazed at how much we gave them for the prices we charged!   So I decided to give you the benefit of my experience and save you the angst I went through.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Utilize the Services of A CFO Advisor to Assist You in Managing the Financial Resources of Your Firm</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/484037</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/484037</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:27:39 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For every new business hurdle, a professional, independent CFO Advisor can help you. With a CFO Advisor, practical solutions are developed to take you through the most critical analyses of your present and future plans to insure you are making the smart move each step of the way.

]]></description>
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<title>Professionals &amp; Entrepreneurs- Hire a Professional Voice for Your Company's Voicemail Messages</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/484298</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/484298</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:11:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you are attempting to get projects and assignments with larger organizations and corporations, the sound of your own or one of your employee's voices on the company greeting or general voicemail makes you appear as if you are a small business, a solo entrepreneur or home-based business. With the ability of remote access to most voicemail systems and to small phone systems with auto-attendant capability, you must consider hiring a professional voice that can give you the touch and feel of a much larger organization.]]></description>
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<title>Maximizing Telephone Headsets - The Ultimate Human -Technology Interface</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/483943</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/483943</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 13:35:32 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[With the breakthroughs and advances in technology, front line employees cannot adequately do their jobs without high-quality, high-performance headsets that offer superior sound quality to both agent and caller.  Headsets are the human-technology interface!
]]></description>
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<title>A Look Into The Future Of The Headset Industry In North America And Beyond</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476333</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476333</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:56:04 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There is an incredible opportunity for knowledgeable and dependable headset suppliers and vendors to work with U.S. corporations on a domestic or global basis with the opportunities for assistance in bringing industry expertise to outsourced locations in conjunction with in-house operations for a cohesive product strategy for a growing corporate client base.  Suppliers who will survive the future must be able to offer a complete offering of services to both Call and Contact Center users as well as assist in a cost-effective implementation and usage of headsets within the entire organization.
]]></description>
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<title>Telephone Headset Audits &amp; Analyses Mission Critical Resulting from Call Center Growth &amp; Technology</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476336</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476336</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:50:08 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In order to have a complete understanding of the headset population for a corporate client, it is vital to conduct an Equipment Audit and Usage Analysis. This gives you the opportunity to compare the results of the audit with invoices of products purchased over the past few years by the corporation to assess the attrition rate of headsets from Call and Contact Centers within the corporation.]]></description>
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<title>Training And Coaching For Inside Sales And Customer Service Staffs Is Vital To Business Growth</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476068</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476068</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:54:06 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Emerging and Small Business Owners may not recognize that the investment of employee training in the Inside Sales and Customer Service areas of the company can be the difference between having a good year and great year. The difference in greater revenues and more customer satisfaction after the proper employee assessment, training and coaching is an incremental investment into growing your business.]]></description>
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<title>Managing Your Headset Repair Budget By Maximizing Repair - Replacement Warranties</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476327</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476327</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:52:59 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Due to the fact that headsets are "worn" by users for up to 8 hours per day, there is no way to eliminate the natural wear and tear that a headset withstands over its life.  The only way to reduce this cost is to manage the warranties and the maintenance of the products and to have a comprehensive plan for the control of inventories in the call center and the general office. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Developing And Growing A Business Providing Vital Communications Products And Services</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476298</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476298</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:30:27 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Insure that the products and services you offer have the ability of penetrating a lucrative market in a rapidly growing industry.  The current increase on dependence of essential services and their delivery presents an opportunity for vendors to ensure client satisfaction, supported by impeccable customer service. ]]></description>
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<title>The World-Wide Growth Of Call Centers And CRM Implementation</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476314</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476314</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:27:46 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When implemented and utilized to its full potential, CRM allows companies to increase both their revenues and profits while lowering the cost of marketing, selling to and servicing their customers.  The payoff is clear - by better aligning business processes and managing customer data across all customer-facing functions, companies can build successful, profitable and long-term customer relationships.]]></description>
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<title>The Importance Of OSHA And UL Certification For Telephone Headsets</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476293</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476293</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:09:22 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Guaranteeing that all headsets in use are compliant with these standards insure an organization is not liable for any headset related injury arising from technological or environmental situations out of your control. Very few telephone manufacturers build in a high-level compression circuitry into their systems, since the exposure to noise levels is usually less in terms of time and duration with the use of a handset. ]]></description>
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<title>Analyzing The True Cost Of Free Headsets</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476318</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476318</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:05:51 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In analyzing current level of purchases from most companies using headsets and projecting a potential number of orders received from company facilities over the life of an agreement, it is unlikely all orders would meet the minimums of receiving free product with every order or for every headset category. ]]></description>
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<title>Betrayal In The Boardroom - A Personal Journey</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/476310</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/476310</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:01:44 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If reading my story today compels one person to go into their office tomorrow and request that any and all  promises of equity, stock, options, or promotion or compensation plans be verified in writing, then I will have accomplished my goal.   If your requests are turned down - start making plans to cut the cord and find another career opportunity, for you have just become expendable!  ]]></description>
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