One of the ways we open doors to success is by passing along the benefits of our learnings. Here's some information on timely leadership topics to help you work more effectively and better assist those who work for you.

How to Lose Your Best Furniture Customers in Three Easy Steps
The recession proved to be a worrisome challenge to Debra Kraft, a regional marketing director for a large media company. Her organization sells advertising and publishes coupon mailers across a five-state territory. When the economy began to shrink the organization's advertising sales volume shrank along with it and she was forced to lay off staff. But Kraft was proud of the way her remaining workers persevered and kept the mailer afloat through those tough times.

Judyth Piazza Chats with Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed, Author of Keeping The Millennials
For over 24 years, Jan, a seasoned consultant and President of KEYGroup, has worked with leaders to create cool workplaces that attract, retain, and get the most from their talent. Her expertise, insight, wisdom, humor, and practical solutions have made Jan a highly sought-after speaker for keynote addresses, seminars, conferences, and workshops. She has brought fresh concepts and effective techniques to executives and audiences around the globe.

The Keys to Engaging Your Employees to High-Performing Employees
The recession proved to be a worrisome challenge to Debra Kraft, a regional marketing director for a large media company. Her organization sells advertising and publishes coupon mailers across a five-state territory. When the economy began to shrink the organization's advertising sales volume shrank along with it and she was forced to lay off staff. But Kraft was proud of the way her remaining workers persevered and kept the mailer afloat through those tough times.

Are Your Employees Getting Ready to Bolt?
The latest news reports have given us a glimmer of hope that the economy may finally be recovering. While that's a welcome sign for most organizations, it may not be good news for all. A recent Conference Board survey found that 55% of all employees are unhappy with their jobs—the lowest level researchers have seen in 22 years.

Motivating Your Store's Millennial Employees
When Amanda Ross learned that her boss had hired two recent college grads to fill vacancies in her customer service department she started to worry. Amanda herself had joined the company right out of college. Now 37 years old, Amanda has supervised Customer Service for the past five years and has worked almost exclusively with employees her age or older throughout her career. The prospect of supervising these "20-something" employees fills her with dread.

Careers: Experience key to finding job counselor worth the price
I have been interviewing candidates for a junior position in our small nonprofit. Five of the candidates are in their 20s, and not one of them has sent a proper post-interview thank-you note. Two of them sent me e-mails, two did nothing and one sent me a text message. I am in my early 40s and technically adept, but I don't appreciate thank-you notes that are e-mailed or texted. Am I right, or am I (already) out of touch with the "younger generation"?

Don't Be So Touchy! The Secrets for Giving Feedback to Millennials
Brian Castro's help desk department serves more than 1,000 computer users at his company's corporate center. Among the 23 employees in his multi-generational staff are several Millennials (born 1980-1999) who he hired last year, fresh out of college.

The Young and Restless: How retirement plan advisers can better reach a young, transient workforce
The bad news is that younger participants might be hesitant to save for retirement, but the good news is they are interested in receiving information about it. The retirement plan adviser is a key voice in helping the mobile group of employees often called "Millennials" or "Generation Y" to accumulate for the long term, but it might take creative communication strategies, or even plan design changes, to reach them.

The University of Dayton recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed with the publication of her book, Keeping the Millennials
As president of KeyGroup, a consulting and training company, Jan Ferri-Reed and the company's CEO noticed their clients complaining about millennials, employees born between 1980 and 1999. In response, the two women wrote their book, which argues that companies should decrease millennial turnover by working with the generation's demands, which generally, she said, will actually improve companies.

The Secrets for Giving Feedback to Millennials
Brian Castro's help desk department serves more than 1,000 end-users at his company's distribution center. Among the 23 employees in his multi-generational staff are several Millennials (born 1980-1999) who he hired last year, fresh out of college.

Keeping the Millennials Book Review - Beaver Valley Times
Joanne Sujansky and Jan Ferri-Reed. These two Beaver County authors have appeared on radio talk shows in Syracuse, Cincinnati and Detroit, along with a few Pittsburgh TV stations, touting their business book "Keeping the Millennials," which reached the Amazon best-sellers' list.

On Getting Those Millennials To Blend In Better
Wearing torn jeans to optimize body art viewing and choosing to eat without the aid of a fork and knife is the stereotype many Boomers have of Millennial workers. Unfortunately, there are times when at least a little of that stereotype holds true. For those times when the newest members of the American workforce have trouble adapting, your executives may need a primer.

A Millennial's Guide to Millennial Guides
If you've read any magazines, Web sites, newspapers, or books in the last decade, you probably know who I am. You know I have a three-second attention span, because I was weaned on emails, texts, and instant messages. You know I'm a self-esteem junkie, because I got participation trophies when I played little-league baseball. You know I'm totally narcissistic, because I have a Facebook page, and a Twitter account, and a Last.fm profile. And you know the buzzword that's being tossed around to describe me and the other 92 million 9- to 29-year-olds who are theoretically just like me: Millennials.

Spoiled, Impatient and Entitled: Why You Need Strong Millennials in Your Workplace
Retail manager Sonia DeSilva finds it increasingly frustrating to manage her youngest employees. She complains that the Millennials who work for her store, "continually show up late for work, ask to leave early, always turn down overtime requests and wonder why they haven't been promoted after just one year on the job." She's not alone in her concerns.

How to Retain Millennials and Save Money in the Workplace
There's a good chance Millennials are eating away at a company's profits - not because of their inability to significantly contribute to the bottom line, but because of their tendency to switch jobs and pile up turnover costs more than any other generation in today's workplace.

Keeping the Millennials
The rising Millennial generation, born between 1980-1999, is going to challenge the status quo, rewrite the rules and revolutionize the workplace.

Presenting to a Multi-Generational Audience
These can be challenging times for speakers and corporate trainers. The children of Baby Boomers are beginning to flood into the workforce and for the first time ever organizations are faced with the need to manage four different generations in the office. Those generations - Matures, Boomers, Generation Xers and Millennials (also called Generation Y) - each poses a different challenge for those charged with informing and educating them. They're an extremely diverse audience that can stymie even the most experienced and dynamic speaker.

Business Books: Generation Y makes waves in workplace
The challenge of managing Generation Y, or the Millennials -- born between 1980 and 1999 -- has spawned a small industry of expertise and literature, including "Keeping the Millennials," new this month, and "Y in the Workplace," due out in July.

Retaining Millennials: A High-Stakes Business Consideration
There's a good chance Millennials are eating away at a company's profits - not because of their inability to significantly contribute to the bottom line, but because of their tendency to switch jobs and pile up turnover costs more than any other generation in today's workplace.

When Gen X Runs the Show
By 2019, Generation X - that relatively small cohort born from 1965 to 1978 - will have spent nearly two decades bumping up against a gray ceiling of boomers in senior decision-making jobs. But that will end. Janet Reid, managing partner at Global Lead, a consulting firm that advises companies like PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble, says, "In 2019, Gen X will finally be in charge. And they will make some big changes."

Inspired Leadership: Helping Employees Bounce Back in Tough Times
The media is filled with bad news. Each day brings more stories about bailouts, business cutbacks, additional layoffs and new closings. Comedians joke about it constantly and employees chat about little else. It's no wonder that managers are seeing sharp declines in employee morale and productivity. Tough times like these breed fear and uncertainty. Employees are hunkering down, and concerned about job security. In this type of environment teamwork suffers because people would rather protect their own turf rather than collaborate to achieve common goals.

Smarter Recruiting Equals Happier Employees
Employee engagement needs to start before employees are hired. Evaluating employee performance and assessing HR programs are important steps in the talent management lifecycle, and ultimately in ensuring a positive customer experience. But so is engaging with employees prior to them joining the company.

Leading a Multi-Generational Workforce
Before making assumptions about employee retention based on past experience, consider that you are about to see a new wave of employees with a whole new set of expectations swarm the workplace. Known as Generation Y, they have been entering the workforce since 1998 and will continue to do so in burgeoning numbers. Managers need to prepare for the unique requirements of Gen Y and the inevitable clash between Gen X, Gen Y, Baby Boomers, and Traditionalists as they mix in the workplace.

Keys That Open Doors To Success -- Key Words for Leaders
I've worked with many excellent leaders over the years and no two were exactly alike. Some had great technical knowledge while others had great vision. Some were charismatic and inspirational, while others were introspective and insightful. But, no matter what gifts they brought to the role of leader, they all had one thing in common: their primary tools of leadership were words.

Seven Secrets for Giving a Presentation that "Knocks Their Socks Off"
You know the feeling. It's that sense of dread that settles in the pit of your stomach. It's a clammy feeling that envelops your hands. It's that sense that somehow your designer shoes have been turned into a heavy pair of leaden boots. You've just agreed to give a big presentation and you're asking, "What have I gotten myself into?"

The Private Sector: Challenges of engaging Gen Y workers reap rewards
Retiring baby boomers are leaving gaps in our work force that can be filled by only young people born between 1978 and 1990. But the transition comes with challenges and clashes. Never before has a generation been more enigmatic to Pittsburgh companies and more at odds with traditional work styles than Generation Y. This may not apply to all Gen Y's, but our experience tells us that it is, indeed, true of a great many.

Nine Signs That You Have an Overly Political Organization
Democrats and Republicans aren't the only ones playing games; your employees probably are, too. Joanne G. Sujansky, PhD, helps you ferret out common political problems ... and transform your company into a VEO.

11 Keys to Leadership
In today’s marketplace, leading a company to success can be difficult. A stagnant economy, increased unemployment rates, and unpredictable market changes make many executives uncertain of what to do.

Work / Life Matters
Are you trying to change something that’s unchangeable? If everything seems to be working against you these days, maybe it’s time to sit down and think about life for a little while. What is it that you are struggling against? Is it something you can change? If not, why are you struggling against it? Are you wasting your time and energy? Is what you are doing worthy of your time and energy? Effort to change something can bring about wonderful results, but only if the thing you are trying to change is appropriate. Contemplate the words of Jimmy Dean: “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

Setting Up Goal Posts: Six Tips for Creating a Goal-Oriented Culture
Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat said it best: When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there. Do your employees know where they are going? It's a good question to ponder as the next quarter approaches. You may assume your people are working toward goals that advance your corporate vision. But blind assumptions are rarely correct. Joanne G. Sujansky, CEO of KEYGroup, says if goal-setting is not a priority, your employees likely view your company as “wonderland”—as in “Wonder what we should be doing next?”

Five Ways to Achieve and Maintain Resilience
With so many demands and pressures on us every day, it's easy to feel like a rubber band. Each stressor we experience pulls the rubber band tighter and tighter until it finally snaps.

Ten Ways to be Prominent as a Leader
Have you ever asked yourself "How can I stand out as a top performer and leader in my organization?" Top executives of organizations are always on the lookout for well-rounded leaders who are able to move the organization forward.

Common Characteristics of Five Top-Performance Companies
What do Wal-Mart, General Electric, Bank of America, Nestle, and Hershey's have in common? Besides the fact that all five are among the top one hundred profit-making companies in the world, these companies also have similar values that contribute to their success. While each company has its own unique bundle of values, three ideals stand out across the board: leadership, integrity, and teamwork.

Coaching: Giving Feedback
Coaching refers to managers and employees helping each other identify ways to enhance or improve individual and group effectiveness. This involves using active listening and positive response techniques to help each individual develop skills, leverage resources, acquire information and make decisions.

Getting a Pulse on Employee Satisfaction: When and How to Survey Your Employees
If you answered honestly, how would you respond to these questions: How do your employees feel about their jobs? Are they satisfied? What would they change if given the option?

What it Takes for Managers to Partner -- The Ingredients of Effective Partnerships
Whether change occurs through solving problems or through seizing opportunities, partners can only be as successful in these activities as they are in their partnerships.

Ten Positive Behaviors to Help You Stand Out in Your Company
Being self-motivated is critical for anyone to become successful. But, doing a great job and waiting for recognition won't work. Here are 10 tips for standing out and moving forward.

You and Your Brain: New Ways to Unleash Your Creativity
New medical research technology, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography scans, has let scientists gain insights like the aforementioned by seeing the living human brain in action.

Leadership
The most effective form of leadership is built upon a sincere desire to make a positive contribution - linked with key leadership skills.

Failure to Train Has Legal and Monetary Implications
Think you're safe with just a non-discriminatory hiring policy? If so, consider the case of...