When attempting to quantify the return on investment of diversity programs, companies should start by monitoring metrics such as employee engagement scores. Once this process is complete, companies should focus on improving problem areas with incremental, quantifiable goals. To read the full article in Forbes, click: Tips for Evaluating the ROI of Diversity Programs. ...

Deloitte and Accenture were among the top large companies for women in a ranking by Comparably that accounted for factors such as workplace culture and compensation. To read the full article in Women Entrepreneur, click: Ranking Highlights Top Companies for Women, Diversity. ...

With millennials constituting a significant chunk of the workforce, it is important for employers to avoid preconceived notions about this generation. Leaders should stay focused on the future and recognize that asking the right questions can encourage self-reflection among employees. To read the full article in Quartz at Work, click: Steps for Becoming a Better Leader for Millennial Employees. ...

Assertiveness can help improve your productivity and career opportunities.  No one can hear your idea if you're only thinking it.  Many people are content to stay in a comfortably passive nest in the workplace, rather than assert themselves.  But even reserved people have good reason to speak up, for both themselves and the companies they work for. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, cli ...

Try This Instead of Traditional Performance Management A technique known as performance motivation may replace traditional performance management among companies interested in inspiring maximum effort and loyalty among employees. Instead of focusing on scoring employees and offering standardized feedback, companies can focus on creating intrinsic motivation to inspire their workers. Christine Comaford expla ...

The Benefits of Active Listening Practicing active listening can be difficult in the distraction-filled business world, but it's critical for engaging employees and letting them know you value their ideas and opinions.  Managers should still ask for input and feedback from their direct reports even if they aren't sure they will be able to fix the issues that are raised.  Samantha White, CGMA Magazine senior ...

How to Tap into the Business Benefits of Diversity It's not enough to have a diverse workforce and leadership team.  Companies also need to have leaders who recognize the value of the ideas their employees share.  Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founder and CEO of the Center for Talent Innovation and Hewlett Consulting Partners LLC, discusses when a diverse company has these types of leaders, it tends to report better ...

United we Thrive, Divided we Fail: Brighten your Firm’s Future with Six Unity Strategies   Arguing and disrespect among partners can undermine a firm's effectiveness and productivity.  Here are six strategies for building a cohesive firm.  Jennifer Wilson, partner and co-founder of ConvergenceCoaching LLC, explains that when your leadership enhances partner unity, your firm’s success will go a long way ...

Tools to Make You More Effective Enhancing effectiveness revolves around listening to employees, providing timely quality feedback, providing resources needed by the employee and giving employees a chance to shine. Several models are presented to allow an employee and the firm to enhance effectiveness including the tips from Stephen Covey’s book, management by wandering around, and the Pareto rule. ...

Demonstrate Leadership to Get Ahead Training leaders means developing a partnership between the employer and employees. This involves both bottom line and business metrics, as well as behavioral and team building skills. The issues related to soft skills such as behavioral and team-building skills are explored in depth in Mike Gregory’s book, The Servant Manager, 203 tips from the best places to work in Ame ...

In 2014, a study by Chicago United documented a lack of diversity in leadership roles within American companies noting that more than 75 percent of executives are white.  This fact should be of concern to big businesses because diversity in leadership roles has real benefits including better customer relationships, increased employee creativity, and improved quality of work.  In this article, by Peter Gomez ...

How to build more personal power At some point in their careers, many executives find themselves short of the power and influence they need to get their jobs done effectively. Fortunately, these problems can usually be remedied as this article by Leslie Brokaw explains. ...

Watch Out for Decreases in Communication, Respect, and Aspiration; Increases in Isolation, Negativity, Rifts.  Good News?  It Can Be Cured. Rosabeth Moss Kantor asks on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network:  How do you know a team, company, or country is on the slippery slope of decline and needs a culture shift?  She writes that she found nine universal warning signs of change-in-the-wrong direction in ...

Engage Employees with Teamwork and Consensus; Look Beyond Your Own Industry, and Execute Carefully In a recent issue of the Financial Planning Association’s Practice Management Solutions, Paul R. Brown identifies important factors successful business owners pay careful attention to when managing substantial change in their organizations successfully. Here’s what to pay attention to. ...

Reviewing and Revising Partner Agreements. In my prior firm, the review and revision of partner agreements was a process that happened every ten to fifteen years, if that often. I think that is pretty common in most firms. The problem is that firms change and evolve as do the partners and the environments that we practice in. Our agreements need to keep pace with that change. I continue to be amazed at the ...