Businessman holding an hour glass.Kamil Cwiklewski/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Here's a simple test for senior executives to determine if decisions are getting bogged down in company bureaucracy. Ask mid-level managers: "Are you waiting excessively for certain decisions to be made by senior executives?" Professor Michael Roberto's blog
Communication
Are your employees responding properly?
Ohio-based consultant and author Michael Feuer suggests you survey your team members' responses to e-mail and telephone messages. He warns you to expect to be shocked by the content and length. You may want to create a template or script to help them, tailored to the individual's job function. Smartblogs.com
Compensation
When to offer financial incentives
Compensation consultant Ann Bares says that when considering financial incentives for employees, you need to look at two issues. First, you have to discover the real obstacles to the desired performance, and determine which are likely to change with rewards and which need to be addressed another way. Next, if rewards are part of the answer, are incentives the best choice? It may be that recognition or premium-pay opportunities would be better. Compensation Café
Tech tips
Keeping your cursor alive for audience
To avoid your audience losing track of your mouse cursor during a presentation, try Powerstick, a freeware application that adds a stick to your mouse cursor when needed. Addictivetips.com
Harvey Schachter