Every leader has specific traits and characteristics that help build a cohesive set of skills needed to successfully manage a team. And while no two leaders are alike, they do posses similar qualities that, when utilized effectively, help their employees flourish in their roles. From strong communication to empowering others to effective conflict management, each leader’s skillset can make the difference between a high performing, motivated team to a disgruntled, actively disengaged group of employees with one foot out the door. In this monthly series, we will examine 12 specific skills that ..read more

March marks the start of spring. It’s also jam-packed with basketball thanks to the NCAA Men and Women’s Division-I Basketball Tournament featuring dozens of college basketball teams competing for top bragging rights. While it’s a fun time of year for sports fans, some businesses are concerned that employees will be distracted by their game brackets or streaming devices watching games rather than being productive during working hours. A WalletHub article claims businesses lose $13.8 billion annually due to distracted workers during the tournament. Here are some ideas for encouraging a work en ..read more

Flexibility remains king for non-traditional benefits as American workers feel companies should offer employees more control over their work hours and location, but less than 50% of businesses do. This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. Currently, U.S. hiring managers report their companies offer paid leave (59%)—including paid maternity (47%), paternity (33%), paid parental leave for parents fostering and/or adopting (24%) and/or paid caregiver leave such as for those caring for elderly parents (15%). Other benefits offered to empl ..read more

Whether you work a traditional 9-5 in-office job or are 100% remote, there will always be distractions and obstacles that keep you from being fully productive. And while some obstacles are out of our control, like unnecessary meetings and incoming emails, others may be self-inflicted, like indecisiveness or disorganization. Last Month, we asked our readers to name the biggest time drains at their job, and the results may surprise you. With 40%, the top answer to the monthly poll was “Sending/receiving email,” followed by “Unnecessary meetings,” with 39%. With another 35% of the votes, readers ..read more

This week, 64 college basketball teams from across North America will begin competing with a single goal in mind—to reach the panicle of college sports and raise the 2023 NCAA Tournament Championship trophy. While blue blood, behemoths like Kansas and Houston have their eyes set on claiming what each one-seed sees as their destiny, smaller schools sporting a 16-seed ranking look to shock the world and make a run at a modern-day Cinderella story. The stakes couldn’t be higher. As you enjoy watching the stories unfold, there are some key leadership lessons we can gather from some of college bas ..read more

This week, we celebrated International Women’s Day, and in the U.S., we celebrate the incredible history of trailblazing, inspirational women for Women’s History Month. From classic heroines like Joan of Arc to courageous abolitionists like Harriet Tubman to unyielding suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, history is anchored by powerful, inspiring women. Over the past few decades, there has also been a strong shift in organizational leadership, with women breaking glass ceilings and taking their rightful spot atop industries. According to a study, 90% of companies worldwide have at least one fe ..read more

Despite the optimistic hiring outlook for the next year, 91% of U.S. companies expect to face challenges, including 45% of hiring managers who say they have open positions they cannot fill. This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, where the 45% reporting open jobs is the highest proportion since the study’s inception (42% first half of 2022, 43% second half of 2021, 40% first half of 2021, 41% second half of 2020 and 40% first half of 2020). Those who have open positions still unfilled say it is due to a lack of applicants. This ..read more

Leaders across industries have a unique opportunity to not just focus on productivity and overall workforce management, but they have a chance to truly inspire their teams to be the best versions of themselves. And while the age-old saying of “waiting for inspiration to strike” may be the way many view inspiring others; it may be prudent to take a more hands-on approach to inspiration. In fact, being an uninspiring leader could have a dastardly affect on your workforce and company’s overall bottom line. According to a study by Zenger Folkman, uninspiring leaders (those in the bottom 10th per ..read more

Over the past few years, the workforce as changed drastically. While some embraced remote work and flexible hours, others have considered other options to remain competitive during a tight labor market. In this month’s question, we’d like to know if you or your company would support a 4-day workweek. Let us know by voting in our poll! View Survey The post Question of the Month: Would You Support a 4-Day Workweek? first appeared on Refresh Leadership ..read more

To provide accurate and timely employment forecasts for business leaders, Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters commissions an ongoing Job Insights survey to track employment and hiring trends across a wide range of industries. Hiring Growth Remains Hopeful in 2023U.S. hiring decision-makers remain optimistic about the future of the workforce, with the most common feelings attributed to hiring in 2023 being positive (75%) – including optimism (43%), hopefulness (38%), and confidence (36%). According to hiring decision-makers, in the first half of 2023: 60% plan to incre ..read more