Anytime you are communicating with people, your ability to create rapport is key to your success. As a manager, if there is a wall between you and the team, it is your responsibility to take the wall down as quickly as possible.

All teams are groups, but not all groups are teams. Calling a group a team doesn’t make it one. That’s the team myth. Too many business owners and executives think of “team” as a label. But it’s not.

In business today, leaders and organizations have to be more aware than ever of how their employees balance their work and personal demands. Organizations are constantly focusing on how to improve production, profits, and performance, while at the same time maintaining a high level of morale. The issue is the search for personal and professional balance.

To have fun or not to have fun? That is the question. Are you curious how companies like Google, Zappos, and Southwest develop those winning workplace cultures with such high productivity and profitability? Regardless of the industry, there is a common thread running through the highest performing companies: the inherent or stated culture of fun. Among companies denoted as “great” in Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” a whopping 81 percent of employees say they work in a “fun” environment.

Business executives have coaches and mentors who help them get better. Sometimes they don’t like what they are told, but after conversations settle in, they might actually hear what it is that the coach is saying. At the heart of every conversation is usually this: How can one be more successful and happy? The answer lies within each person, and that is not just whimsical talk. It is about their perspective and their priorities.

Are your workers lethargic, apathetic, unmotivated, or disengaged? Many business owners’ problem is that they are giving employees what they think employees want, but not what they really need. Fat salaries and perks are great, but what they also want is to be inspired, connected, and living a life of purpose. They need to feel valued. As their leader you need to lead from need.

Unfortunately, many meeting planners — aside from those who specialize in the tech industry — shy away from technology. They may be familiar with some of the new technologies available, but they don’t utilize them consistently and end up missing out on important opportunities.

More than 60 percent of U.S. business owners are over 50 years old, and many of them are looking toward retirement and the process of attracting and vetting potential buyers to take the reins. The differences in yesterday’s and today’s business landscapes are stark.

As he approached the podium, Taylor could feel his face begin to redden and the perspiration building on his palms. He mentally recited his opening line with each step to center stage, hoping above all else that he did not stumble over the words, or worse, draw a complete blank

Do you ever feel overwhelmed as a manager? Being overburdened by the responsibility of having to figure out what others want and need from you is a familiar feeling shared among leaders.