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The Holiday Season Shows You the Gaps in Your Culture
December does not create problems inside a company.It reveals the ones that were already there. After years working in HR with small businesses, I see the same issues surface every holiday season. Time off becomes tense. Managers feel stuck. Employees feel boxed in. Payroll questions spike. Owners feel like things suddenly stopped working, even though…
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The Little Things Aren’t Little in a Small Business
In a small business, nothing happens in the background. Every action, every conversation, every small choice becomes part of your company’s identity. When you only have a few or a couple dozen people, your leadership is not filtered through layers of management or bureaucracy. You are right there, visible every day, shaping how people feel…
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Appreciation Works Better Than Criticism: What How to Win Friends and Influence People Still Teaches Us About Leadership
Appreciation Works Better Than Criticism: What How to Win Friends and Influence People Still Teaches Us About Leadership Appreciation isn’t just helpful. It’s essential. People crave it. And they can spot fake praise instantly. That’s why genuine recognition is one of the most powerful tools a business owner or manager can use. As Dale Carnegie…
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Why Small Businesses Lose Great Employees and What to Do About It
In every small business, there are employees who quietly keep things moving. They take initiative, follow through, and care deeply about the work. When those people walk away, it’s rarely sudden. It’s the result of repeated signals that they’re not truly valued. I’ve watched this happen more than once. Strong employees leaving companies that claimed…
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The Top 5 HR Mistakes I See in Growing Companies
Working with small businesses and nonprofits, I’ve seen firsthand how HR often gets pushed aside. Not out of bad intent, but because leaders are overwhelmed. Still, the same patterns show up again and again. If you’re growing a team, here are five common HR mistakes I see all the time and what you can do…
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Creating a Positive Workplace Culture on a Budget
A great workplace culture isn’t built with money. It’s built with intention. For small businesses and nonprofits, fostering a positive work environment doesn’t require flashy perks or expensive retreats. It requires consistent effort to value, support, and engage your team. Here’s how to build a strong culture without breaking the bank. Recognize People Daily, Not…
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Why Employee Burnout is a Major Problem-And How to Prevent It
Understanding Employee Burnout: What It Really Is Burnout is more than just workplace stress-it’s a prolonged state of exhaustion that affects an employee’s productivity, attitude, and overall well-being. While a stressful week can often be remedied by a long weekend, a day off, or simply finishing a difficult project, burnout lingers and continues to impact…
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The Right Way to Handle Employee Performance Issues
Identify the Root Cause of the Performance Issue Before taking action on an employee’s performance issue, you need to sit down and figure out exactly what’s going on. A knee-jerk reaction-like immediately writing them up-can backfire if you don’t first understand the cause. Performance issues don’t always stem from laziness or lack of effort. Sometimes,…
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How to Spot Red Flags in a Job Interview
Inconsistent Work History or Vague Answers About Past Jobs A candidate’s job history can reveal a lot about their reliability and work ethic. If someone has had multiple jobs within a short period-especially in different industries or different areas-it may indicate a pattern of job-hopping rather than career growth. Signs to watch for: If a…
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At-Will Employment: What It Really Means for Employers and Employees
What Is At-Will Employment? At-will employment means that both the employer and the employee can end the working relationship at any time, with or without notice, for almost any reason-but that doesn’t mean terminations can be unfair or illegal. Common Misconceptions About At-Will Employment: When Can’t an Employer Fire Someone? Despite at-will employment, employers cannot…
