Twelve Leadership Lessons from the Bridge of the Starship Enterprise
from Fast Company
Between liaisons with Pantone hued alien females, conflicts with empire-building cyborg killing machines, and encounters on new planets that always results in the death of a red shirted security officer, koans of management advice are routinely delivered from the bridge of the Enterprise. There are great lessons to be learned from the words of these men who sit in the Captain's chair. More

Six Web Site Fixes to Make Now
from Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs shouldn't have to be convinced of the importance of a good business Web site. Without one, consumers can't find you. That maxim holds especially true for business owners who rely on internet sales for their revenue. You know you need a site because without it you don't exist. But relatively minor issues can drag down your site's effectiveness - issues that could be costing you. More

It Isn't (All) the Economy, Stupid
from Inc.
Not all companies can blame failure on the recession. Some, like Circuit City, died due to poor customer service. Make sure your company doesn't follow suit. More

Go Looking for the Next Big, Invigorating Thing
from Business Matters
You can only cut costs and fine tune operations so far. Without a real breakthrough idea, your business can melt away like an ice cube in the sun. Unfortunately, the next big thing is probably not lurking in your office. You have to step out of your comfort zone and go looking for it. More

Snipping Credit Lines for Small Business
from BusinessWeek
For small business owners, a line of credit can be a lifesaver, giving them a buffer against cash-flow problems and enabling them to handle regular expenses such as payroll. But beginning in March, according to documents obtained by BusinessWeek, JPMorgan Chase suspended credit lines for a large number of business owners. According to someone familiar with the matter, the move affected thousands of businesses. More

When Leadership Means Doing Nothing
from Forbes
Many leaders feel they must react instantly in troubled times. They feel that doing the same thing, or not doing anything, is close to sacrilege. They get tempted to do something even if the risks outweigh the possible gains. In fact, even during good times when a new chief executive takes charge, he often overhauls most of his predecessor's policies, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. More

The Definitive Guide to Recruiting
from The Harvard Business Review
When economic crisis hits and companies focus on cutting costs - or on their very survival - they slash hiring. But if history is any guide, in the first few months after the upheaval subsides, hiring quickly becomes a front-burner issue. Even now, before the recession lifts, research suggests that most global companies are running into staffing problems in emerging markets, and they are also having a difficult time finding talented younger managers to replace baby boom retirees. More

Twenty Five Ways to Build Trust - And Sales - With Customer Success Stories
from MarketingProfs
A major survey on corporate trust just came out, and the news isn't good. Of people surveyed in 20 countries, 62 percent say they trust corporations less now than they did a year ago. People do business with people they like and trust, so how can you inspire trust during the current crisis of credibility? Buyers are increasingly turning to real experiences to give them the confidence that products, services, and people deliver what they promise. In the age of Amazon.com reviews and eBay feedback, prospects are looking for anecdotes from other happy customers. More