Planning and brokering an M&A deal is the easy part. It’s after the ink is dry that the real work begins. Here’s how to navigate this critical period in five key steps. Set Expectations GOAL: Ensure...
Apple's CEO is the most charismatic pitchman in business today. Learn how to apply his secrets to your next presentation. Ignite Your Enthusiasm Goal: Engage your listeners’ passion by tapping into your own. ...
For too long, American CEOs have operated with a policy of benign neglect toward the media. But recent CEO downfalls and PR disasters prove that strategy no longer works. To survive in the current media environment, here's how smart chief execs are making PR part of corporate strategy. ...
In this exclusive adaptation of Richard Florida's new book Who's Your City?, Florida explains how to choose the ideal place to work and live, based on your professional and personal needs. Get Your Priorities Straight ...
A well-designed office is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to retain workers and make them more productive. Size Up Your Current Space Goal: Understand how well — or...
Thanks to new regulations, Sarbox compliance has become a lot less costly and more efficient. Here’s how to use it to your best advantage. Create a Controls-Friendly Culture From the Top Goal: Lay the...
Effective team managers understand what type of group model best suits the task, what key skills to look for in team members and which to strictly avoid and how to coax top performances from everyone starting from day one. ...
Federal Express is just the latest company to face big IRS fines for mishandling contractors. Here’s how to manage ICs the right way. Decide Whether You Need One Goal: Learn what contractors can do for you...
Having the wine-snob boss over for a fancy dinner? Here’s a BNET survival guide for wannabe wine geeks. Understand Why Wine Is a Big Deal Goal: Appreciate wine’s special role at the dinner table. The...
We’ve boiled down what many M&A experts preach about the hard process of M&A negotiating into four basic steps that more companies ought to practice. Make Your Initial Offer GOAL: Define the ballpark parameters under which...
Overachievers are not like other employees. You need to lead them differently if you want to take advantage of all they have to offer. Here’s how to keep them happy and productive. Identify the Overachiever ...
In order to get the best out of your far-flung employees, you need to establish a clear communication routine, take extra steps to build trust, and review processes often to make sure they’re working for everyone. Build a Strong Team, Starting with You ...
Once, the most common way to grow a business was to hire talent and expand gradually. Today what used to be called “merger mania” is simply business as usual. Determine Whether an Acquisition Makes Sense for Your Firm ...
Like it or not, every workplace is a political environment. But operating effectively within it doesn’t have to mean sucking up, lying, or slinging dirt. In its purest form, office politics is simply about getting from here to there: securing a promotion, seeing an idea come to fruition, or gaining...
It’s every company’s nightmare: a competitor enters your market with a similar product priced at a fraction of what you currently charge. You need a strategy for beating the low-ballers. So what’s the best way to proceed? On the one hand, all you need to do is...
From Henry Ford’s assembly line to Apple’s iPod, every great innovation started with a great idea. But in the business world, it’s a lot easier to say "no" to new ideas than it is to dedicate time, money, and resources to developing them. Institutionalize Idea...
Taking time off from work to care for a new child may be a federal right for many American workers, but doing it without mapping out a sound strategy can derail your career. Know Your Rights Goal: Determine exactly how...
Today the business world is undergoing a significant transformation thanks to a set of technologies collectively known as "Web 2.0." Although it's tempting to dismiss Web 2.0 as Silicon Valley hype, that would be a mistake. Start Small and Simply Goal: Identify a Web...
Have you ever sat though a pointless meeting and calculated just how much money was being wasted as a dozen well-paid professionals zoned out around a deathly boring conference table? Make Every Meeting Matter — or Don't Meet at All Goal:...
To formulate an effective corporate strategy, it's essential to understand two basic questions: What is your company doing, and what are your competitors doing? Establish the Strategic Problem Goal: Define your question before you begin the search for answers. Developing a competitive strategy...