Exact Staff News

Amateur or professional? Regardless of industry, functional discipline or role, most of us prefer to be thought of as the latter. But what, exactly, sets true professionals apart – and how can you make that transformative leap from “wannabe” to “the real deal”? The first step is to understand these stark differences between amateurs and…

The way you interact with a waitress. Your shoes. Using conversational crutches like “so” or “anyway.” What do little things like these tell the world about you? A lot, apparently! Right or wrong, our brains are hardwired to make sense out of situations. As a result, we make all kinds of snap judgments about strangers…

Hearing the words “trust me” at work can inspire confidence and hope – or just make you want to roll your eyes. Why is the phrase so meaningful when one person utters it – and yet utterly meaningless when someone else says it? Some are just better at building trust than others. As we mentioned…

Disagreements. Squabbles. Confrontations. When people work with people, they disagree from time to time. But while a certain amount of “head bumping” is natural (even healthy), workplace conflict can quickly escalate into full-blown battles, leading to: loss of synergy and productivity; higher turnover and attrition (due to a toxic culture); damage to your organization’s reputation…

Words are incredibly powerful. Whether spoken or written, the language you use when communicating with your employees can hearten or discourage; convince or dissuade; inspire or depress. As a leader, you must choose your words with care and intention. While your actions undoubtedly speak volumes, what you say and write communicates how you feel about…

Leading a team to consistently perform at its peak is a common goal for managers – and a common theme to posts you’ll find on our blog. We’ve written about the topic frequently over the past year or so, sharing great advice from a variety of sources. Here are a few of our favorite installments:…

Think back over your career to this point. What boss or manager made the biggest impact on you – and why? Maybe they were an amazing coach. Perhaps they brought out great qualities in you that you didn’t realize you had. And maybe you just found them to be incredibly inspirational. Regardless of the specific…

Tired of “dime a dozen” time-management tips? Looking for fresh ways to consistently perform at a higher level? Maybe all you need to do is adopt a few new habits. Regardless of their profession, experience or level of seniority, all successful people have one thing in common: they practice habits which match their focus and…

How long do you have to make a first impression? One day One hour One minute It’s a trick question. The real answer? You have only a few seconds! Here’s why: When we meet new people, research shows that our brains quickly latch onto assumptions based on the recognizable patterns in their appearance and behavior.…

As a leader, what happens when you develop better listening skills? Your employees become more motivated, engaged and productive. You retain more information and make fewer mistakes. You foster mutual trust with your team. You develop 6-pack abs. Okay; maybe not that last answer – but you get where today’s post is going, right? Strong…