Memorial Day officially turns the calendar to summer, even though spring still has about 3-1/2 weeks left in it. You're excited because this year the thoughts of lying on that beach, hiking through the mountains, visiting wine country or spending…
People talk. And while speculation about a new boss, a merger or new products is common and even healthy, gossip can get more personal and more damaging. And sometimes, if the chatter is about you, it can be isolating and…
This Sunday is Super Bowl LII, a time when those of you who never watch football wind up at your boss’s house for his or her Super Bowl party. It is for you that we put out this blog post…
Here in the Midwest, we’re seeing stories about how widespread the flu epidemic has become. Locally, our hospitals are treating about 33 percent more cases than last year and in the first eight days of 2018, they treated 150 more…
We’re in an ever-changing work environment today—the world is smaller and a homogeneous workplace rarely exists. Today, leaders deal with a variety of employees across generational and cultural lines, each with their own values, beliefs, work ethics and needs. It is…
Yep … we’re pretty much completing the “Food Trifecta” in our blog series. After discussing your favorite donut and then your favorite Halloween candy earlier this year, we’ll end the year with what your favorite holiday cookie says about your…
You had a wonderful vacation for the last two weeks skiing in Steamboat Springs and then visiting your sister in Northern California. But now it’s Monday morning and you’re back at work. There are 200 unanswered emails in your in-box…
Most of us hate meetings. But, if we’re honest, good meetings are a vital link to making sound business decisions. Bringing together just the key players, armed with the right information is key. If you can do that, you will…
Yesterday we looked at why people should wash their hands frequently and the consequences when they don’t. Today, we hit the average office, which can be a virtual petri dish for studies in many ways. But for today, we’ll worry about…
It was “Global Handwashing Day” a few days ago, which you might have overlooked because it was also “National Cheese Curd Day” and nothing can stand in the way of that delicious decadence from our friends in Wisconsin. It's also…
Career paths are not always clear and promotions are not automatic. To get promoted takes as much planning and care as getting any job. A friend tells you she’s been promoted at work. She’s an ambitious, hardworking person, so you’re…
Do you ever have times when you need to trust the pie to help you solve problems? If you’re wondering what I might have had to drink for lunch, bear with me. In the movie, “Men In Black III” starring…
The leader of your work group proudly announces, “We have a consensus” to everyone sitting around the table. If the consensus came through hours, days, or maybe even weeks of discussion and debate, it’s probably a good thing. However, if…
With a handful of exceptions (we’re looking at you, Hannibal Lecter!), whether it’s a movie, TV show, or book, you don’t root for the villain to succeed (and we’re definitely looking at you, King Joffrey!). But unlike fictional tales of…
Difficult times, such as pay cuts, salary freezes, loss of bonuses, layoffs or organizational change causes great stress among employees. No matter what environment you’re in, chances are your team gets anxious … burned out … and feels disconnected. You probably…
Now that most college graduating classes are moving on into the next phase of their lives, there’s one skill they probably didn’t get in school that can make a huge difference in their careers. To know how to confidently negotiate…
In study after study, the one kind of manager employees have the most problems with is the micromanager. It’s not hard to see why. Having your boss breathing down your neck and scrutinizing your every move is frustrating. For most…
Ohhhhhh my … you’re back at work after a three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend and you’re finding it rather difficult to stay motivated. For most everyone, Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer and the requisite fun, sun, vacation…
The other day a co-worker and I were chatting in the breakroom late in the day when she threw her hands up exasperatedly and said, “My gosh … I have not stopped since I got here at 7 this morning.…
Do you have problems remembering names when you meet someone for the first time? One of the best business skills you can have is the ability to meet someone for the first time and remember their name 20 minutes later.…
Most of us hate meetings. But, if we’re honest, they can be a vital link to making sound business decisions If you can bring together all the key players armed with the right information, and run the meeting well, chances…
Do you enjoy getting an annual performance review? Do you think your busy boss enjoys it? The amount of work involved in doing an annual performance review is staggering for just one employee. Imagine having to do it for the…
“It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Legendary UCLA Men’s basketball coach, John Wooden There’s no denying that business … and life … seems to be moving at the speed of light these…
Your boss just popped into your office bright and early on a Wednesday morning and informed you that you’re making an important presentation to upper management in her place on Friday. She’s forced to go out of town for a…
It’s a conversation that many people want to have, but hesitate to do it. Or worse, they put it off entirely. However, if your career goals and personal ambitions extend beyond the confines of your current paycheck, learning how to…
As a manager, have you ever told a member of your staff to start thinking more strategically and “big picture”? Did you get a blank stare back like a deer in the headlights when you did? Do you think your…
How much does it really matter what people think of you at work? After all, your competence and your character should speak for itself ... right? Possibly. But most people simply aren’t that objective. Clients, peers, bosses, employees and vendors…
The OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard covers a lot of ground—from prevention to training to the disposal or cleaning of personal protective equipment. And while clearly applicable to the health care industry (where exposure risk is high), recent fines to large…
Is there anyone at your work who puts together “can’t miss” meetings? You know, the kind of meetings you never want to miss because they begin the moment they’re supposed to … are attended only by the people who need…
Most of us have been there. When the relationship started, you were so excited that your skin practically tingled. Every morning you bolted out of bed with enthusiasm to get to your new love. Every night, you drifted off to…
An important client makes a lewd comment in a meeting with your team. Everyone laughs uncomfortably and says nothing. Later, a woman on your team comes to your office upset by the remarks. As the manager, what should you have…
During a particularly rough day at work, you find yourself lacking motivation, so you start staring out the window on a beautiful sunny day. Five minutes later, you haven’t moved a muscle and your mind is blank … well, except…
The phrase, "workplace workout" should become part of your daily office routine from now on. February is National Heart Month and, considering how many hours some people spend sitting at their desks for work, it’s time to stop taking the health…
Very few things can ruin your reputation at work faster than poor business writing skills. A poorly worded email, memo or business document will stick with the writer a very long time. Luckily, your writing skills can be improved just…
The best and the brightest business minds in the world know that your learning never stops. According to weforum.org and Fortune.com, here are the must-read business books of 2017. And, if your reply to that is that you don't have…
Language and writing skills are critical to success in business. And grammar mistakes are easy to make—especially where pronouns are concerned. Here are some easy tricks to help you consider how to choose the right pronoun. Myself What’s…
A worker reaches inside a jammed machine to try to fix it. It suddenly releases … crushing his hand. Steam, electricity, pressure—your workers face obvious and unexpected energy hazards in the routine maintenance and repair of on-the-job machinery and equipment.…
Here’s an experience most of us are familiar with .… You focus on a problem or try to remember something. The wheels are turning, but you can’t find the solution. You step away–think about something else, go to sleep,…
Everyone complains. We complain about the weather … or our kids … or our mother-in-laws … just to break the ice. It’s common in the workplace too, but is it good for us? Or effective? That depends on who…
Consensus building is the art of having everyone come to agreement on how to handle a situation rather than having the decision made by the majority, the loudest, or the most powerful. It means “overwhelming agreement that goes as…
No time is a good time for OSHA to show up at your door for an inspection … because most OSHA violations carry a significant penalty. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is a relatively small government agency.…
We live in a society that values individuality … that encourages competition. We work in a world where we are constantly advised to speak up, be assertive, toot our own horns, beat the competition—and the person sitting next to…
Bankruptcy Filings Holding You Up? If you’re like most collection professionals, you’ve encountered this trip-up more than once. And as soon as you hear the word bankruptcy, you know your hands are all but tied. Your chances of getting the…
Understand Pareto’s Principle and Use the 80/20 Rule to Boost Your Efforts Business-management consultant and engineer Joseph M. Juran named his productivity theory for Vilfredo Pareto: 80 percent of our results are from 20 percent of our efforts. Juran…
If your employee training budget is based on little more than historic spending and wishful thinking, try tying it to company goals. Business goals and strategy provide an objective, measurable target. And hitting those targets might demand new skills, innovative thinking,…
Speech disfluency—you may not have heard the term. But undoubtedly, you’ve heard these little language fillers pop up in conversation, on the radio or from a nervous or inexperienced speaker. “Um,” “you know” and “literally” are just a few…
Myth #1: Conflict is a result of poor management In fact, conflict is a natural part of communication, according to careertipster.com. By gaining multiple perspectives, work groups are better able to come up with optimal solutions. Groupthink and the strong…
A customer complains about your company’s service in a Facebook post ... Another tweets a glowing product recommendation ... Your competitor is mentioned in a blog .... There’s a conversation happening online—and some of it’s about you. “If you’re not…
Here's a secret ... disagreeing with your boss might get you major brownie points at work. IF you disagree the right way, of course. Most bosses depend on honest, educated feedback from the people around them. You may have different information…
In our political scene, intolerance has taken the place of earnest dialogue. Drivers on our roads, rage along freeways at 70 miles per hour. And in our workplaces, stressed-out workers freely release rude remarks with little regard for anyone…
Even seasoned managers and executives can feel the stress of giving performance reviews to employees. Most managers make the performance review process far more challenging than it needs to be. So where can you go to find simple tricks and…
Your organization needs someone who produces results no matter the situation. What are your problem-solving skills doing for you? Every day, you’re faced with new challenges to overcome, difficult problems to solve, and super-tough decisions to make. It’s not easy.…
The workplace is more chaotic than ever before ... are you up for the challenge? If you are facing expanding workloads, tighter deadlines, and increased pressure to perform at work — you’re not alone! In today’s chaotic and constantly changing…
Think cold-calling is old school? Maybe. But it’s still the easiest and cheapest way to create interest, qualify leads, set appointments and begin the sales process. Whether you’ve tried it with lukewarm results or you’ve never tried it at all,…
Each day you’re faced with a growing mountain of high-priority projects. There never seems to be enough time. Your stress level goes through the roof. Sometimes it feels like the only way you could ever get it all done is…
Are you 100 percent sure your HR department can handle EVERY situation that comes their way? Truth is, there are 1,001 different scenarios going on throughout your company every day that impact employment law, benefits administration, compensation, and even fringe…
Discover powerful time-savers for Excel that you don’t want to be without! Looking at Excel spreadsheets all day can make anyone’s eyes glaze over. Like most Excel users, you probably spend hours navigating through your documents, entering repetitive information, editing…
Are you spending your workday marking off your ‘to-do’ list but feeling like you’re not accomplishing much? Do you practice good time management skills but feel like your work lacks focus? If you want to increase the true payoff from…
You know the feeling: you’re running at top speed, performing at a high level and then suddenly, without warning, your productivity drops. You may find yourself apathetic and uninterested. You’re exhausted and can’t conjure up the energy to perform even…
You’re juggling a million projects, deadlines and demands — and every one of them is screaming for your attention. The good news about having too much to do is that people trust your ability. The not-so-good news is that it’s…
If you ask 50 different people to draw a dog (even allowing for varying artistic abilities), you get 50 very different pictures. And it’s a rare person who asks for clarification, because everyone assumes they know what “draw a dog”…
Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than persistent workplace negativity. It saps the energy of your organization and diverts critical attention from work and performance. As a manager, supervisor, or team leader, your job depends on identifying causes of negativity…
More than half of all U.S. employees are disengaged at work. That’s a lot of wasted talent ... and profit. If you’d like to rally morale and performance on your team, your management style (and a few strategic motivators) can…
The price your business pays when employees don’t completely trust each other is HUGE. Information isn’t shared freely. Unique perspectives aren’t considered or offered. Feedback is ignored. Knowledge is wasted. There’s finger-pointing and fighting for control — time is wasted. …
Gain powerful, creative strategies for handling complaints and maximizing customer retention … Fielding complaints can be the hardest part of working with customers. It’s frustrating, stressful, and difficult. You never know when a complaint will happen, how angry the customer…
As a professional, there are few things you can do that will hurt your career more than being a poor communicator. If you’re not careful, things can easily be misinterpreted, leading to confusion, wasted resources, and even damaged relationships. But…
Nervous in front of crowds? You’re not alone! Speaking in front of groups — large or small — can be paralyzing. It can make you feel shaky … nauseous … and absolutely unable to get a word out at a…
Clients, supervisors, even coworkers may not even always know they’re doing it — but they’re judging you on your written communication skills. And if you’re consistently missing the mark and letting incorrect word choice, poor punctuation, or misspelled words slip…
Call in the big guns to reward performance or motivate staff. This means asking your organization’s top executives to congratulate or encourage employees at just the right time. Use this type of recognition sparingly, like a secret weapon; if done…
Here's an On-Demand Webinar to Help... You don’t have to be a born leader. Leadership isn’t an innate ability — it is an acquired set of skills that anyone with the desire to lead can learn. As a new…
You know how easy it can be to get fixated on the negative. You may often find yourself dwelling on shortcomings and things that have gone wrong. It’s an easy recipe for stress and on top of that, it’s extremely…
You know how easy it can be to get fixated on the negative. You may often find yourself dwelling on shortcomings and things that have gone wrong. It’s an easy recipe for stress and on top of that, it’s extremely…
Executive Summary The American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that works to increase the demand for U.S.-produced dairy products on behalf of New York, northern New Jersey, and northeastern Pennsylvania dairy farmers. They utilize education…
You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. -William Henry Hudson 1. How long, on average, do you have to make a first impression? a. 30 seconds b. 90 seconds c. 5 minutes d. 10…
Building Better Team Communication Tired of misunderstandings … confusion … conflict? Break free from the cycle of poor communication! Poor communication leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. If you’re struggling to get projects done with your team ……
Your brain is an amazing thing. Capable of incredible feats, every experience you’ve had, every conversation, every detail is locked in there somewhere. But what happens when you can’t find the information you’re looking for? What happens when you struggle…
Staying motivated is key to being successful in any organization. This Webinar will teach you not only the common characteristics of motivated leaders, but the techniques to keep yourself inspired as well. View Now All Webinars are FREE with…
You know the value of integrity, the behaviors and traits that exemplify high moral character. And you strive to lead this way; if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. But if you’re like many people, you may…
A STAR12 Webinar We all experience times when it is difficult to feel confident and downright intimidating to be assertive. But when we're able to interact confidently and assertively, we gain respect and support from people in all aspects of…
A STAR12 Webinar If you’ve ever worked with an apathetic person, you know how frustrating it can be! It’s emotionally draining, it’s tiring, and worse, it can feel like you’re expected to take up their slack. You’re committed to your…
Gain control of your time, your projects and your priorities! For career-minded professionals like you, success can be a double-edged sword. On one side, you excel at your job and are valued in your organization. But with that comes increased…
You don’t have to be a born leader. Leadership isn’t an innate ability — it is an acquired set of skills that anyone with the desire to lead can learn. As a new supervisor, you have a lot to learn.…
The answer isn’t working more hours ... it’s working more effectively! This training teaches you how! Every day you tackle a new challenge to keep up with all you have to do. Projects come at you from every angle. Everything…
Since emotional intelligence is an ability you can develop and expand, take this assessment at regular intervals to see if your E.I. score improves. You may also share this assessment with others to help them grow their self-awareness. Rate…
Hey Everyone! Let's get connected on your favorite social media platform. Stay up-to-date with all of NST and STAR12's latest news, features, and great new training content. We are going to be starting some really fun promotions, so if you're…
Change is hard. How many times have you resolved to break a bad habit — or form a positive new one — and ended right back up in your old ways? The truth is, our minds are conditioned to resist…
The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves! Top 10 Morale Improvement Strategies Do your employees seem overwhelmed? Frustrated? Negative? Are people counting down the minutes until they can go home every day? If so, your team is suffering from low…
We all experience times when it is difficult to feel confident and downright intimidating to be assertive. But when we're able to interact confidently and assertively, we gain respect and support from people in all aspects of our lives. 500969
Everyone has been there before: you’re at work, in a good mood, when suddenly something negative happens and it affects your mood for the rest of the day. Bad things are bound to happen — and learning how to handle…
You asked for a better STAR12 experience, and now you’ve got it with your newly-designed dashboard. Built with ease-of-use, personalization, and utility in mind, the new dashboard makes it easy for you to find the information you need, when you…
“Try not to have a good time. This is supposed to be educational” –Charles Schulz, Creator of Peanuts We are proud to announce the launch of the brand new community section of STAR12! Whether you are an individual who has…
Hey everyone! Having a good day? Has everybody taken their Harrison Assessment yet? For those of you who don't know, every STAR12 pass-holder can now take our free career assessment. It measures you based on your likes/dislikes and your job…
Happy International Customer Service Week! By Diane MacPherson, Director of Customer Service Operations and Sales National Seminars Training associates celebrate International Customer Service Week every year and this year our “Kick Off” included a Continental Breakfast and our popular,…
STAR12 is your access to unlimited career-training! What do you want to learn today?
National Seminars Training Speaker and legal expert Jodie-Beth Galos discusses current labor law and practices. Question: I know the Department of Labor is all over employers for misclassifying employees as independent contractors — improperly applying the test for determining whether…
