Contact Us

Over the years our jobs have become increasingly sedentary. It’s not unusual to spend the majority of our day sitting at our desk plowing through paperwork or staring at a computer screen. This behavior has a big impact on our health – researchers have discovered frightening links between sitting in a stationary position and diabetes, heart disease and cancer, to name only a few.

Hitting the gym for a few hours each week isn’t a cure-all – studies show that regular exercise does not mitigate the risks posed by long periods of inactivity, such as sitting. So how can we get up from our desk and get moving, all while staying productive? It’s time to stand up for our health. In this TED talk, business innovator Nilofer Merchant shares a simple concept that could result in big health benefits: The Walking Meeting.

To watch the video, go to Got a Meeting? Take a Walk

Technology is changing at a startling speed, revolutionizing the way we live and how we do business. As much as it has improved our efficiency at the office, it’s also given another group an upper hand: Criminals.

Phishing scams – where crooks attempt to gather sensitive personal information or access computer systems for nefarious purposes – are skyrocketing around the world. Over 50 percent of Internet users get at least one phishing email per day and as many as 1 in 245 emails are phishing attempts.

While many scams are targeted at consumers, there is increasing evidence that businesses of all sizes are at risk. And there is plenty to lose. Businesses that are swindled suffer direct financial losses, along with serious security breaches involving intellectual property, trade secrets and customer data.

It is not just the little guys who have been duped – victims of widespread phishing attacks include major media outlets such as the BBC and the New York Times. One American law firm lost over $335,000 after hackers gained access to its computer system and transferred cash to Russia.

Even the tech sector isn’t immune despite having workers well-versed in the ways of the digital world. Facebook experienced a major security breach after employees visited a website that installed malware on their laptops. One study showed 27 percent of IT organizations have top executives or privileged users who have been fooled by malicious email attacks.

Would you or your employees be able to accurately spot a phishing email? Email is an important and valuable communication tool, so simply sending all messages to a spam or junk mail folder isn’t a viable solution. That’s why knowing what to look for is essential.

In most attacks, users will receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate source such as a bank, courier company or government agency. Often there will be a sense of urgency, with claims that a transaction may have failed or an important delivery is waiting to be made. While some messages contain spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or irregularities that tip off the user to its validity, others are picture perfect.

Almost always the user will be asked to download an attachment or click through a link to a website where requests are made for personal information or nasty software is installed to infiltrate the machine or network. Once hackers gain control they may utilize the compromised account to send malicious links to others within the organization, since we are more likely to trust an email that appears to come from someone we know.

But email is not the only avenue criminals are taking, as phishing attempts through social media are also on the rise. It is common to receive direct messages on social networks from people you know purporting to have seen a compromising photograph of you on the Internet, with a link for you to check it out. If you click, the crooks gain control of your account, a move that could create a public relations nightmare for any corporate entity. Mobile phishing, where users are sent text messages containing bad links, is also steadily increasing.

The problem is so widespread that security training firms have begun offering corporate phishing training. One popular approach is to set up an education campaign where employees are sent fake phishing emails. If they fall for the scam and click through the link, they are taken to a portal with information on how to prevent breaches and identify malicious emails. Experts say this method of hands-on training creates greater awareness than simply dictating information from the front of a boardroom or warning employees to be vigilant. Users trained in avoiding phishing scams fell for the ruse 42 percent less than those who received no training at all.

With targeted attacks on the rise – businesses with fewer than 250 employees are the fastest growing segment – employee vigilance and ongoing education will continue to be of the utmost importance. As technology advances, so will the attacks. To protect ourselves and our businesses, we need to be prepared. Chances are the con artists will always try to stay one step ahead.

At its core, a leader is defined as a person that guides or directs others. However anyone in an executive role knows being an effective leader is much more complex than the dictionary definition. Simply put, it is no easy task.

In his new book, Paid to Think: A Leader’s Toolkit for Redefining Your Future, author David Goldsmith outlines a dozen core activities every successful leader should practice to add value to their enterprise. When combined, his activities form an approach he refers to as “Enterprise Thinking” – a practical framework that can be used to think constructively and productively.

“The better able a leader is to think through an idea before committing to action, the greater the chances an organization has to achieve higher returns, all while mitigating risk and reducing expense,” writes Goldsmith.

The activities fall under four main categories – strategizing, learning, performing and forecasting. Let’s take a look at how we can use Goldsmith’s advice to our advantage.

Strategizing

Most professionals already spend time strategizing, usually trying to find ways to improve their company to gain a competitive edge. There are ways to secure success by creating strategically superior plans – clearly outline what you are trying to do, iron out your strategy, select your best projects and manage your priorities. Remember it is more important to get the right things done than to get everything done.

When it comes to product creation, Goldsmith suggests the process be organized in a systematic way. Use the funnel method to push the good ideas to the forefront while weeding out the bad. Take the broad criteria, eliminate ideas that won’t work based on alignment or market conditions, and then move forward to develop the remaining ideas.

Other important aspects of strategizing are establishing alliances and leveraging technology to meet today’s needs and reach tomorrow’s growth.

Learning

Too often we assume reading an article about a new concept translates into knowledge, which Goldsmith says is not the case.

“Substituting awareness for knowledge is one of the reasons that you get frustrated with yourself or your staff when your ideas don’t go anywhere,” he writes. “It’s also the reason why seemingly well-thought-out plans veer off course or don’t deliver the returns you expect.”

In-depth knowledge is required to execute an idea. We develop this through time, effort and making sure the right people are on our team. Information should come from a variety of sources.

It is important to have awareness of international issues, which will assist in more than marketing products globally – it will help you make better overall decisions. Keeping an eye on your competitors and paying close attention to their successes and failures will also help to reach your organization’s objectives.

Performing

To guarantee your team members are performing at their highest levels, you need to set the tone. Develop your personal plans and objectives first, and then formulate organizational plans that align. Educate and inform others around you, make sure the proper team is in place, and follow up with sound coaching and leadership.

Empower those around you by delegating tasks, but always keep your eye on their progress to make sure they are on track. Give plenty of positive feedback and offer career development assistance when needed. Bring innovation to the forefront by keeping an open mind and never dismissing an idea without trying it first. It is crucial that you develop your own innovative mindset ... you will be surprised at how quickly others follow suit.

And just as important as innovation is the ability to sell – not only a product, but yourself as well. First clarify the objective, select the strategy, choose and finalize tactics and execute your idea. Then build momentum and get others on board with your plan. Make sure you continue to pitch your ideas to the right people at the right time.

Forecasting

The decisions made today have an indelible impact on your organization’s future, which makes the ability to anticipate future challenges one of paramount importance. Blend together three factors: Current conditions, cycles, trends and patterns, and technology. If you can spot events that show acceleration in a trend, there’s a good chance you will be able to forecast future events with some accuracy. Always prepare what-if scenarios that outline what will happen if your forecasts are accurate, partially realized or don’t happen at all.

“Becoming an Enterprise Thinker allows you to create the type of life now and in the future that you’ve always dreamt,” Goldsmith concludes. “You can’t get past time back, but you do have another chance tomorrow to get it right. In other words: You can’t fix yesterday; you can only create tomorrow.

“You now have the tools you need to create the tomorrow of your dreams. Now is your time to build tomorrow.”

They used to say any publicity was good publicity, but in the 21st century we know that is not the case. Whether it is a disgruntled customer whose complaint has gone viral on social media, or a full blown scandal making front page headlines, knowing how to properly handle a public relations crisis is essential in today’s business climate.

In this Stanford Graduate School of Business video, political strategist and author Chris Lehane outlines his Ten Commandments of Damage Control to ensure your company comes out on top during a critical situation. It all boils down to credibility and authenticity.

As Lehane explains, damage control doesn’t mean hiding in a corner. It’s important to take the reins and break the story on your own grounds. Speak directly to your core audience with full disclosure, but make sure you do your homework first – the worst thing you can do is fuel the fire.

To watch the video, go to The Ten Commandments of Damage Control.