Member Since December 2021
Skills
About
CEO of Tn Nursery, a mail-order nursery in middle Tennessee. Enjoys outdoors, spending quality time with family, and gardening. You can find Tammy most days near home or anywhere outdoors on a sunny day.
Tammy Sons
Published content
expert panel
Some simple changes to your office space can unlock greater potential and productivity for your team. The design and layout of a company's office space is an often-overlooked factor in the creativity and collaborative spirit of a work environment. By incorporating flexible work areas that encourage spontaneous meetings and designing spaces that blend comfort with technology, the physical office environment can significantly impact employee engagement and productivity. Below, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members discuss practical ways leaders can enhance their office spaces for productivity. Here's why they believe these changes can lead to a more dynamic, collaborative and successful business.
expert panel
Navigating and supporting employee departmental transitions effectively requires a careful and strategic approach. It's not uncommon for employees to express a desire to transition to another department at their current employer. If someone on your team approaches you with such a requet, you have to ensure the move is a beneficial fit for both the employee and the organization. This requires a strategic approach, considering the employee's skills, the needs of the new department and the overall impact on team dynamics. Here, Newsweek Expert Forum members outline 13 key steps managers can take to plan for a smooth interdepartmental transition. Here's how they recommend supporting employees through this change so they can settle seamlessly into their new roles.
expert panel
Keep up to date on the tech industry with these tools, websites and media resources used by successful business leaders. The tech sector moves at a breakneck pace and new developments emerge daily that can dramatically shift market dynamics and competitive strategies. Keeping abreast of these innovations and updates is both a challenge and a necessity for industry leaders. How do today's leaders do it? Below, 12 Newsweek Expert Forum members share their favorite resources to stay up-to-date in an ever-changing tech environment. Keep these reliable resources handy to stay above your competition.
expert panel
When you're feeling overwhelmed, try one of these go-to strategies to ground yourself. Work schedules can quickly become overwhelming, leaving professionals feeling lost in a sea of tasks and commitments. A set of strategies to find a calming center and regain control can be helpful when navigating the feeling of "busyness" that plagues so many professionals. To help, 19 Newsweek Expert Forum members share methods they use to help conquer stress and overwhelm and get themselves back on track. Read on for their practical steps to declutter your mind and schedule so you can move forward with clarity and purpose.
article
Consumers are paying more attention to business practices and emphasizing sustainable, eco-friendly practices.
expert panel
Before agreeing to sell your business, make sure you understand how it will impact you and your company—both in the immediate future and the long term. Being approached with an offer to buy your business can be equally exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you've received an unsolicited offer or have been considering selling in the not-so-distant future, it's important to approach this critical decision with due diligence and careful consideration. Below, 16 members of Newsweek Expert Forum share key factors to consider when another company is interested in buying your business. From the acquiring company's track record to your ultimate exit plan, assessing and understanding these elements can ensure you make the decision that's best for you and your organization.
expert panel
While outsourcing business tasks can be a great way to stay connected to core business competencies, implementing these processes must be done with careful consideration. A growing organization requires leaders to rethink current internal processes and make changes that benefit the business in the long run. While keeping every task in-house made sense as a small business with limited resources, attempting to maintain the same setup as a midsize or large business can often end up decreasing productivity, lowering the quality of your offerings and moving the entire team away from core competencies. Outsourcing business tasks can be an easy way to free up more time and refocus the team’s attention on efforts that move the business forward. However, leaders must proceed carefully and have a plan to ensure solid, usable work is produced. To help leaders get a better idea of how to go about implementing outsourcing with their organizations, nine Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one strategic method to leverage when deciding what work should be outsourced.
expert panel
Viewing entrepreneurship as a process of trial and error can help leaders ensure they take the time to reflect on how the business is performing as a whole. While starting business requires a considerable amount of preparation, there’s no substitute for the amount of experience entrepreneurs gain from actually running a business. As leaders begin putting systems in place and setting the general ways of how the business will operate, certain habits become ingrained that cause more harm than good in the long run. Being so directly involved in everything the business does can prevent leaders from seeing the larger picture and the negative impact of these ingrained habits on the business. To help leaders more readily identify and change problematic behavior, 18 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one seemingly harmless habit in a business leader that might in fact be hindering their success.
expert panel
Motivating employees to see the benefit of looking at things from a different perspective can lead to business success. With the current workforce now consisting of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and, increasingly, Generation Z, these distinct generations all bring with them different ideas about how the day-to-day operations of a business should work. This can create a toxic environment of miscommunication and misunderstanding that negatively impacts a business’s ability to retain its employees and properly serve its customers. When these challenges arise, it’s vital that leaders develop a plan of action to connect and build strong relationships with employees, regardless of their age, generation or experience level. To help, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer tips to help business leaders pull the different generations in their workforce together to the benefit of the entire organization.
expert panel
Creating harmony between marketing in all its forms can aid in creating a unified brand experience. To achieve success today, entrepreneurs must have a concrete plan for showcasing their brand to their target audience. With both online and offline marketing now being essential business elements, a unified brand experience ensures consumers know what your company is all about—regardless of where they come across your brand. Despite this, some businesses may fail to see the importance of connecting both the online and offline marketing experience. To help businesses bridge the marketing gap, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one effective strategy company leaders can leverage to connect their offline marketing to their online marketing.
article
Jan 29, 2024
Give some of these trends a space in your nursery and see how your customers react!
expert panel
Before scaling distribution, it’s important that leaders have a plan in place to continually meet customer needs. In business, operating on the more conservative side is generally regarded as a smart strategy for entrepreneurs just starting out. However, for a business to grow and reach the next level of success, leaders eventually have to increase the scale of their goods distribution in order to reach and meet the needs of a bigger audience. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum have experience ramping up shipping operations and volume in a sustainable way. Below, they offer advice on how companies can seamlessly shift from a relatively small volume of shipping to a much larger scale of distributing goods.
expert panel
As a business grows larger, it becomes even more imperative that managers make time for connection with their team members. In today’s dynamic workplace environment, many businesses are now composed of in-person, hybrid and remote teams. While this presents communication challenges for leadership in companies of all sizes, engaging with and managing a dispersed and fast-growing team comes with its own set of obstacles. Implementing strategies that take employees into consideration can help managers effectively connect with their team members when one-on-one meetings are not always feasible. Below, nine Newsweek Expert Forum members offer advice on how managers of a rapidly growing company can ensure they regularly touch base with all their team members, regardless of their work environment.
expert panel
Making the most of your time after a holiday break requires setting realistic expectations for yourself and your team. End-of-year holidays can be a welcome break from the grind until January arrives and it's time to get back in gear. Between celebrations and holidays, many professionals jump into January with the aim of tackling lingering work and starting new initiatives, but doing so without a solid plan of action can result in family and personal time being put on the back burner. To help professionals find balance after the holidays, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one method they use to set boundaries and catch up on their work backlog without falling behind on family time and personal chores.
expert panel
No matter how much success a company achieves, there will come a time when leaders have to make plans for delivering bad news. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but business leaders often have to take on that role in difficult times. How a leader chooses to communicate with stakeholders at all levels in these situations has a direct impact on how the organization will move forward. Therefore, it’s important that leaders carefully consider their every move as they navigate tough conversations and determine next steps for the business. Below, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one important step a leader should take when preparing to share bad news at a meeting with stakeholders.
article
Let me share some insights into the ways interest rates are changing how buyers and sellers act and react to the market.
expert panel
For a successful international launch, conduct careful research into the laws, regulations, customs and culture of each new market. Businesses are increasingly considering international expansion as a key avenue for growth. However, navigating unfamiliar territories can be a daunting task for those venturing into new markets for the first time. Below, 18 Newsweek Expert Forum members share tips for how businesses can successfully navigate international growth. By prioritizing research and building strong local connections, business leaders can engage with new audiences with confidence.
article
With retail sales up in September compared to 2022, companies have high hopes for this year's holiday season.
expert panel
To create a brand that truly resonates with customers, focus on addressing and solving customer pain points. The first step in starting a business is having an idea for a product or service. While this is a key move, it’s also just one step in the ongoing marathon of establishing and maintaining a business. To build businesses that grow and become sustainably successful, entrepreneurs will also need to form detailed plans for how they will set their brand apart and communicate their offering on the market. The members of Newsweek Expert Forum have experience building and managing businesses and learning what actions do and do not yield fruitful results. Below, 14 of them share their tips to help entrepreneurs effectively define and establish their brand’s niche in the market.
expert panel
Before taking on any investors, take the time to do proper research and assess each investor’s expectations and needs. Securing the support of multiple investors can be a big boost to a business just getting off the ground. While the guidance and funding these investors offer are critical to building a successful business, entrepreneurs must also become adept at balancing competing feedback and expectations. To create truly positive relationships with investors, it’s key that entrepreneurs put processes in place to ensure all sides are aligned, have space to communicate openly and are dedicated to working toward common goals before accepting any funds. Below, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one piece of advice to help entrepreneurs ensure that their investors feel heard and happy with how things are progressing.
article
If you haven’t created a business network, now is the time to start.
expert panel
Before moving into a larger market, ensure you have a solid business strategy to engage online prospects. In today’s digital world, many companies have more flexibility when it comes to location. Entrepreneurs can set up shop in a smaller city and still find success through the connections they establish with local customers, investors and organizations. However, while operating in a small market can provide a number of business opportunities, being able to access “big market” resources and clients can unlock a new level of business growth. To catch the attention of potential customers and investors located in larger metropolitan areas, the right online strategy is essential. To help, nine Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one way entrepreneurs who have set up operations in smaller markets can attract clients and investors in larger city markets.
expert panel
In an increasingly digital world, knowing how to apply tools and technologies in your business is critical to keeping up with the market. While AI as a tool is not new, more and more businesses are looking to take advantage of it these days. From on-demand customer service and content generation to customer base management, there are many ways a business can leverage the power of AI to boost its ability to attract and retain customers. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum have experience navigating the ongoing process of implementing and maintaining AI. Below, 10 of them discuss how businesses can effectively use artificial intelligence for customer acquisition and the positive impact it can have on the bottom line.
expert panel
With inflation rising, businesses are being challenged to balance profit and customer satisfaction. Maintaining the delicate balance between profit and customer satisfaction is a constant challenge. These days, business owners find themselves in the tough position of needing to raise prices to maintain balance in a world plagued by inflation. In a competitive market, price changes can be a double-edged sword, potentially boosting revenues or driving customers away. To navigate this terrain successfully, it's crucial for businesses to identify the one sign that indicates it might be time to raise prices. To help, 18 Newsweek Expert Forum members delve into the intricacies of pricing strategy and explore the key factors that signal when your business should consider this significant step.
expert panel
Inviting employees to share their input in workplace changes helps ensure the creation of an inclusive and empathetic space. The idea of what constitutes a safe working environment has changed significantly in today’s global business environment. Where before the focus was primarily on physical safety, many organizations have evolved to now include well-being and psychological safety as well, resulting in increased productivity and decreased turnover. While many businesses are committed to creating and maintaining a safer work environment, knowing where to start and what to focus on can be challenging. To help, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one essential factor business leaders should consider when working to build a safer working environment in a business.
article
It can take some time and effort initially, but if you are consistent, it can increase sales and interest in your business.
expert panel
Though an uncertain market can be challenging for entrepreneurs, it can also be an opportunity to grow. While market downturns can devastate companies across industries, they can also be full of potential. By leaning in on being agile and flexible, business leaders can effectively navigate uncertainty, find new opportunities and execute needed change. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum members have dealt with their own share of market challenges. Below, 15 of them each share one way companies can look for new business opportunities in a market downturn and secure a bright future.
expert panel
Doing a thorough examination of their own habits can help leaders see which behaviors are holding them back. Leaders play an essential role in organizations, helping to establish workplace culture and acting as examples for employees to model their behavior after. When leaders have good habits, it results in increased satisfaction, productivity and morale in employees. However, when leaders have bad habits, even when the intention isn’t to set a bad example, it limits and decreases the amount of success a leader and business can achieve. To help leaders identify which habits they should consider eliminating completely, 20 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one seemingly harmless habit that can actually hinder leadership success.
expert panel
Though an investment of time, effort and money do make entrepreneurship easier, leaders should still expect to encounter challenges. The entrepreneurial journey is full of highs and lows for every business leader. And even when a leader has considerable resources, there is no way to completely avoid encountering business challenges. While these hurdles can completely shake a business, they can also double as valuable learning experiences that help entrepreneurs grow and develop their skills as leaders. Below, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one specific business challenge they believe usually results in a great teaching experience and what lessons leaders can carry forward into the future.
expert panel
Committing to building a culture of unwavering customer centricity can effectively transform your business for the better. From Fortune 500 companies to startups, companies that prioritize customer centricity stand out in the market. They understand that customers are more than just revenue sources—they are the foundation of business survival and expansion. A customer-centric culture places the customer at the heart of every decision, fostering trust, loyalty and long-term relationships. But how can businesses truly embed this philosophy into their culture? Below, 20 Newsweek Expert Forum members explore the most effective strategies to cultivate a customer-centric culture within an organization and delve into the reasons why these approaches are vital for sustainable growth.
expert panel
Give your employees the flexibility they need to thrive with these unique offerings and strategies. Numerous studies have found that employees not only value flexibility in the workplace, but they also thrive when they actually receive it. While hybrid and remote work arrangements have become increasingly commonplace, organizations continue to explore unique and uncommon ways to provide even more flexibility. Companies that do this are more likely to attract and retain a workforce that's both productive and highly satisfied. To help businesses support their teams, 20 members of Newsweek Expert Forum share out-of-the-box offerings and strategies to give employees the flexibility they crave.
expert panel
Leaning on the perspectives and expertise of the entire team can help ensure decisions are made with care. Leaders are often faced with critical decisions that can significantly impact a company's success. However, the process of decision making can often be clouded by preconceived notions and assumptions. To make the best possible choices, leaders must step back and evaluate their own biases—but they may not always be sure how to do so. Below, 18 members of Newsweek Expert Forum share top strategies to help leaders set aside their assumptions and approach critical business decisions with an objective eye.
expert panel
While business can sometimes seem like an extrovert’s playground, introverted leaders can network effectively with other professionals to build lasting relationships. As a leader, being able to make solid connections with professionals in and outside of one’s industry is key to running a successful business. Though introverted leaders may dread networking, the long-term benefits of cultivating both personal and professional business relationships can significantly boost a business and give a leader access to new opportunities. From scouting potential contacts online to joining community organizations with a focus on their hobbies, there are numerous ways for reserved leaders to put themselves out there without it being too much of an obstacle. Below, 18 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer advice on how introverted leaders can overcome the challenge of networking while making it more natural and fun.
expert panel
Being in constant communication with customers can help businesses ensure they are following the right trends. Customer trends are constantly changing in response to societal, environmental and technological advancements. To continually meet and even surpass customer expectations, it’s critical that businesses keep up with and adapt to these emerging customer trends. However, with so many trends appearing regularly, it’s difficult for business leaders to know which trends are short-lived and which ones have the potential to disrupt the industry for good. This distinction is key, as the wrong investment in a particular trend can mean wasting limited time, effort and resources. To help, 12 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer advice on how a business can stay on top of emerging customer trends and leverage them wisely.
article
While both programs are effective, they also have differences—meaning one may be a better fit for your business.
expert panel
B2C outreach involves creativity and planning, and these tips will help your team achieve long-lasting results. Successful B2C outreach hinges upon a well-rounded strategy that engages and resonates with your target audience. To achieve this, there are several essential ingredients that must be carefully incorporated into your approach. Each factor plays a crucial role in driving meaningful connections and driving business growth. Here, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one vital ingredient needed to craft well-rounded, effective B2C outreach and delve into why these ingredients are pivotal in capturing attention, fostering loyalty and generating lasting results.
expert panel
Jun 14, 2023
Over the course of their entrepreneurial journey, leaders will encounter numerous obstacles that help them grow personally and professionally. Running a business long term is never as easy as it looks. For every goal achieved and milestone met, business leaders must also expect to encounter obstacles. These can range from hiring challenges, market instability and an increasingly competitive business landscape to name a few common setbacks entrepreneurs can expect. Still, despite the problems business leaders will inevitably encounter, it is still possible to stay the course and succeed with the right preparation, support and coping strategies. Below, 15 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one specific action or practice they rely on to maintain their resiliency.
expert panel
Cultivating a values-driven environment will help align team members' actions with the core principles of your business. Company values are the guiding principles that shape an organization's culture and define its identity. However, only having values in place is not enough. To truly embed them within the fabric of a team, it is crucial to reinforce and strengthen each member’s understanding and commitment. Below, 19 Newsweek Expert Forum members share effective strategies leaders can use to nurture a values-driven team. These approaches will help solidify the team's understanding of company values and foster a deep sense of commitment.
expert panel
Engage seasoned professionals can empower aspiring individuals and foster lasting impact through mentorship, internships, education and networking. To maintain success, it is not only essential for leaders to focus on the present but also to invest in the future by empowering the next generation. By sharing knowledge, providing guidance and offering opportunities, experienced professionals can play a vital role in helping young talent thrive. Below, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members explore various ways in which successful business owners and leaders can reach out and give the next generation a leg up. By actively engaging with and supporting the next generation, business leaders can foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity and continuous growth while leaving a lasting positive impact on future generations of professionals.
expert panel
Increasing the reach of job postings can be as simple as making a few changes to the required qualifications. Over the last few years, many businesses have begun recognizing the benefits of cultivating a workplace that welcomes diversity, equity and inclusion. This kind of environment not only helps the business to better cater to the changing needs of customers, but it also helps to attract and retain high-caliber talent that greatly contribute to the business’s overall success. Unfortunately, while employers are actively seeking diverse candidates, finding these applicants is proving difficult in a tight labor market. To help, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one strategy recruiters can leverage to ensure their job postings are reaching a diverse group of candidates.
article
May 16, 2023
Your customer persona should be based on data-driven research. These steps can help you create them.
expert panel
An exceptional customer experience is the key to keeping current customers coming back as well as enticing potential customers to purchase. Many entrepreneurs tend to consider their products or services the most important part of their business. As a result, a significant amount of time, effort and money goes into developing what people may need or want. However, the utility or desirability of an offering is only a small part of what actually entices customers to buy. Rather, a top-notch customer experience can be the differentiating factor that convinces current customers to keep purchasing and potential customers to give a business a chance. Luckily, making changes to a business’s customer experience can be a simple process. To help entrepreneurs ensure they are properly taking care of their customer base, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members share “low-hanging fruit” ways for businesses to effectively improve their customer experience.
expert panel
Business leaders can make data-driven decisions that drive growth and success for their organizations by leveraging data and analytics. In the age of big data, businesses are faced with an overwhelming amount of information to process and analyze. To stay ahead of the competition, leaders must leverage data and analytics to make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement within their companies. By utilizing data visualization tools, predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms, leaders can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends and business operations. Below, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared several ways that leaders can use data and analytics to improve business performance, increase productivity and drive innovation.
expert panel
While failure does come with significant downsides, actively encouraging employees to take risks can be worthwhile. “Failure” has a complex meaning in business. On one hand, failure can mean unimaginable loss ranging from the waste of limited resources to the loss of one’s livelihood completely. On the other hand, failure can also be a harbinger for great personal and professional growth. No matter how one feels about failure, the truth of the matter is that business is all about leveraging the lessons that come out of failure to innovate. Taking risks, building on failure and encouraging your employees to do the same is the key to becoming a major player in your market. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum have directly experienced the benefits of cultivating a workplace environment that supports experimentation. Below, 15 of them share how leaders can encourage and foster a culture of innovation within their organization.
expert panel
Devising simple ways to make the customer journey more seamless can keep customers coming back long term. In today’s competitive business landscape, the devil is in the details. With so many businesses competing for customers in both online and brick-and-mortar spaces, setting a business apart boils down to the customer experience strategy. If done incorrectly, businesses risk inadvertently driving away current and potential customers and ruining their reputation for good. However, if done with care and regard for the needs of customers, businesses can rise above their competitors, even if they are offering similar products or services. To help leaders create a competitive advantage, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members discuss how leaders can improve their company’s customer experience.
expert panel
Focusing on how a potential offering makes sense for the business as a whole can help guide efficient product development. Before any new product or service is rolled out on the market, entrepreneurs put a considerable amount of thought into the process. From considerations regarding the effective use of resources to discussions of whether the offering will resonate with the target audience, these are just a few of the factors that impact decision making. While entrepreneurs strive to proceed with care, some still make the fatal mistake of getting too far into the development process without having a clear understanding of where this offering fits into the bigger picture. To prevent businesses from wasting limited time, effort and money, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one question leaders should ask to determine whether a prospective product or service is in line with their company mission and goals.
article
Apr 13, 2023
You can get the cash you need for your business, and the best part is that you don’t have to worry about repaying the loan. Here’s how grants can transform your woman-owned business.
expert panel
To continuously drive business growth, leaders have to be more willing to lean on their employees and ask for help. At times, leadership can be a heavy burden. For some, being a strong leader means subscribing to the idea that a leadership role entails bearing the pressures of the position alone. And while this belief can and has led to gains, shouldering every aspect of a business on one’s own will only work to a limited degree of success. Instead, learning how to build, manage, delegate and lean on your team can positively impact the entire team and the business. To help, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer strong leaders tips for successfully managing their staff to drive business growth.
expert panel
Leaders often have many things and people depending on them. When every decision made can have far-reaching consequences, it’s not uncommon for some leaders to be stressed or apprehensive about making the wrong call. Rather than letting their negative emotions get the best of them, and potentially lead to important decisions being delayed, it’s crucial to determine what processes will produce the best decision possible for a given situation. As leaders themselves, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum are well aware of the importance (and downsides) of decision-making. To make the process easier, 14 members offer advice to help leaders better manage the paralysis and anxiety that can occur while making critical decisions.
expert panel
E-commerce businesses are a dime a dozen, but those that provide standout customer service are the ones that will ultimately thrive. In the competitive world of e-commerce, providing exceptional customer service is crucial for building a loyal customer base and staying ahead of the competition. However, with so many brands vying for attention, it can be challenging to stand out and provide a consistently positive customer experience. Below, a panel of 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared essential tips for e-commerce brands to better serve their customers. By implementing these tips, e-commerce brands can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately leading to increased sales and business growth.
expert panel
To create an effective leadership team, it's important to consider everything each candidate can offer the business. Across industries, leadership plays an essential role in the success of a business. These leaders set the tone of the organization as a whole, impacting not only operations and decision making, but employees and customers as well. To build the right leadership team, companies have to be willing to take their time with the process as every misstep could potentially negatively impact the business long term. Below, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members explore common mistakes organizations make when assembling a leadership team and share advice on how those errors can be corrected.
expert panel
Rather than perpetuating the same old top-down power dynamics, leaders can instead prioritize employees' needs. The role of company culture in many businesses has changed in recent years. This has meant moving away from traditional power structures where leaders decided the business path forward to systems that focus on intentionally giving employees a seat at the decision-making table. While these efforts have proved fruitful for attracting and retaining employees, fostering a supportive internal culture is an ongoing undertaking that must regularly be assessed. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum understand the key role that leaders play in maintaining company culture. Below, 15 of them share their best advice on how leaders can create and sustain a supportive internal culture.
expert panel
Reaching out to peers for support is a great way to work through negative feelings. The last few years have brought many changes across personal and professional lives across the globe. While some of the changes have been positive, such as the prioritization of work-life balance, other changes like persistent uncertainty are causing many professionals to feel overwhelmed. As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum are familiar with the toll professional life can have on a person. Below 14 of them offer coping tactics that can help reduce overwhelm and get professionals back on track.
article
Volunteering and charitable giving are crucial parts of any business in today's competitive environment.
expert panel
Ensuring stakeholders on all sides are regularly supplied with information is key for building and sustaining lasting relationships. A business is nothing without its stakeholders. Because stakeholders potentially encompass everyone from investors to employees, customers, volunteers and interns, entrepreneurs have the extraordinary task of determining how to best serve all of the stakeholders contributing to their business’s operations simultaneously. This is where clear communication can make a real difference. Only by establishing communication processes and procedures that cater to prioritizing and sharing information on all sides will a business be able to gain and retain the support and engagement of their stakeholders. To help entrepreneurs establish communication systems that keep stakeholders in the loop, eight Newsweek Expert Forum members share strategies they’ve found effective.
article
Customers have many expectations, but you can only meet some of their needs.
expert panel
As markets evolve and more people embrace the digital world, entrepreneurs have to be willing to try something new in order to attract more business. In the past, generating new customer leads came down to a variety of approaches. These included paper-based marketing advertisements, cold calls, referral incentives for current customers and word-of-mouth. And as many industries digitized, these efforts also began to include online spaces like social media platforms. While the medium has changed, at their core, marketing and sales have not. To stand out today to current and potential customers, organizations have to remain committed to continually providing products and services that address the needs and desires people have. To help entrepreneurs attract more business, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one suggestion entrepreneurs can leverage to find customer leads in a modern, novel way.
expert panel
Taking notes on how the world's largest and most innovative corporations operate can help businesses of any size emulate their success. There are certain companies you hear about nearly every day, whether they're new or have been around for decades. These powerhouse companies find a significant problem that needs to be solved and develop innovative, pleasing solutions for customers. Many startup leads aim to achieve that kind of notoriety, and there is much to be learned from observing powerhouses like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and others. Below, 15 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared some important lessons they've learned by watching the strategies of other successful businesses.
article
Dec 19, 2022
It's not always easy to choose a gift for a loved one.
expert panel
Demonstrating the unique value your business offers can help set your business apart from the competition. A crowded market can present entrepreneurs with a number of challenges. In addition to building up the business and establishing connections with prospective customers, entrepreneurs also have to know how to navigate competition. Others in the market may offer similar or even the same products or services, so learning how to best appeal to potential customers helps set your business apart. When customers have a variety of choices, demonstrating the value your business can offer is essential to attracting and retaining those customers. To help, 12 Newsweek Expert Forum members share how entrepreneurs can approach differentiating their products or services in an oversaturated market.
expert panel
Taking the less obvious path when it comes to marketing is a great way to make your business stand out from the crowd. Marketing strategies that persist do so because time and time again they’ve been proven to lead to good results. And when something is successful, it’s difficult to stop doing what everyone else is doing and step outside of your comfort zone to change things up. However, taking the road less traveled is a great way to make your business stand out from the crowd. To help leaders embrace thinking outside of the box, 10 Newsweek Expert Forum members share unconventional promotions that did wonders for their business.
article
Nov 22, 2022
Indoor plants are great home or office decor, and it's not surprising that research shows these plants can boost your health and well-being.
expert panel
Shifting your marketing efforts toward e-commerce requires a well-thought-out strategy. If you're thinking of starting an online retail company or adding an e-commerce component to your existing business, a solid marketing strategy can set you up for success. However, marketing strategies for an e-commerce business differ from that of a brick-and-mortar store. There are also additional factors to consider, such as SEO, content marketing, email marketing and social media. To help build an optimal e-commerce marketing strategy, eight members of Newsweek Expert Forum discussed what entrepreneurs should keep in mind as they adjust their strategy.
expert panel
Developing a process to manage your sales pipeline helps ensure the business is constantly operating at maximum efficiency. The management of a business’s sales pipeline is continuous work that never really finishes. From prospecting potential customers and closing deals to checking in with customers and generating new leads, sales is a process in which leaders must take care to ensure there is a set structure in place for both finding new prospects and retaining existing ones. Investing time and effort into improving sales process management is a great way to increase efficiency, but knowing where and how to implement changes that will make a difference isn’t a simple task. To help, 12 Newsweek Expert Forum members share strategies for how leaders can effectively approach managing a business's sales pipeline.
expert panel
Before taking on any additional work, it's best to ensure you and your team have the capacity to complete the work. An increase in workload is one indication that a business is doing well in a market. However, if the capacity of the current team is not considered alongside growing responsibilities, a business may end up with too much work and no ability to ensure it’ll be done in a timely manner. To help dial back and shift focus before efficiency decreases, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one critical sign that a leader or business has too many projects going on at once.
expert panel
Before addressing any activism in the workplace, leaders need to have a well-developed approach. With racial justice protests, labor shortages, a global pandemic and a budding “quiet quitting” movement, the workplace of the past few years has undergone many changes. While it may have been easier to draw distinctions between one’s professional and personal beliefs in years past, it is growing increasingly difficult for leaders to keep these boundaries in the work environment in place as employees now expect leadership to stand for their values and take a side. If leaders do decide to take action, it’s best to prepare beforehand with a well-thought-out strategy. To help you determine the best approach, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer recommendations on how leaders can respond to growing employee activism in the workplace.
article
Running a successful social media campaign doesn't mean you should do a little bit of everything.
expert panel
Industry credibility and brand recognition are critical if you hope to optimize your business for its target market. With major competitors vying for the top spot in any industry, making a name for your business and improving the market can be a difficult journey. As a new business owner, this means you’ll need to dedicate plenty of time to learning and researching the industry to understand where your business can offer improvements. As business leaders, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum have dealt with the challenge of breaking into the industry and gaining credibility and recognition. Below, they offer 15 tried-and-true tips for entrepreneurs attempting to optimize the market.
expert panel
Offering resources and opportunities for employees to further develop skills helps ensure the creation of a supportive workplace. Every employee starts out with certain skills that help them do their job, as well as the expectation that they’ll pick up other needed skills along the way. These skills can be learned in one’s own time or gleaned from a mentor; however, for an employee to truly progress and move to the next level, there needs to be support from leadership. To provide some guidance on how to do that, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members share essential steps for creating a workplace that actively supports the personal and professional development of its employees.
expert panel
Developing an effective SEO business strategy can be done without breaking the bank. Building an online presence today is all about learning how to best appeal to potential and current customers while also demonstrating that your business can provide needed solutions. Search engine optimization (SEO) is one way to improve your company’s search rankings, boosting visibility and conversions.. As leaders, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum know how important SEO can be for business strategy, as well as how those efforts can sometimes come at a cost. To help, they offer recommendations to ramp up a company's SEO at little or no cost.
expert panel
For a business to succeed, entrepreneurs have to know how to effectively pitch and get stakeholder onboard with every new initiative. No matter how good a business idea may seem, every new initiative will not have complete buy-in from stakeholders at the start. No matter whether it’s investors, employees, partners or consumers, the onus is on the entrepreneur to present a worthy pitch, gain support and address concerns that may arise from the audience. While this process may seem straightforward, the challenge lies in devising a plan to put any and all doubts from stakeholders at ease. As leaders, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum know that full support for business ideas is critical to success. To help, they offer strategies entrepreneurs can use to approach changing someone's mind and gaining buy-in from stakeholders.
expert panel
To keep your top employees around, it's important to show them how much you value their contributions and talents. A significant portion of one's life is spent at work, so finding value in that work is critical. As a leader, you want your employees to feel their time is being well-spent and their contributions matter. Happier, more engaged employees will result in stronger trust and higher-quality work. To help your organization achieve this, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members shared 15 ways you can help your employees feel valued.
expert panel
Feel awkward when you network? Try these tips to make it feel more organic and even fun. Many people network with the intention of trying to sell a business leader on their product or service, whether to get seed money or to try and create a partnership. Because of this, networking events may end up feeling awkward and uncomfortable when it's all about the hard sell. However, networking doesn't have to feel like you're "schmoozing." Business leaders can use these events to make real connections and build solid foundations for future business relations, all without pitching an idea. Below, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members offered their best advice for making networking more natural and fun to build long-lasting connections.
expert panel
If you're having trouble staying on task, these actionable tips can help you refocus your attention. Everyone has struggled to focus at work at one point or another. Whether you're feeling tired, burned out or you're just too excited about an event later that week, sitting down at a computer or sitting through a meeting can sometimes be challenging. While feeling a little unfocused every now and then can be easily overcome, it's more problematic if you're constantly struggling to focus or losing interest in the work that you're doing. Luckily, there are ways to help you dial back in and find the focus you need to get the job done. Below, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum shared their best tips for someone struggling to focus.
expert panel
Keeping a close eye on customer behavior can help businesses stay on top of changing trends. Trends can come and go in the blink of an eye, and if a business isn’t paying close enough attention to its customers, leaders run the risk of losing current and future customers. Rather than waiting for new customer behavior trends to hit the company’s radar, being more proactive about learning and leveraging each trend in real time can give an organization an edge over its competitors. As business experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum are familiar with just how quickly customer behavior can change. Below, they offer advice on how leaders can effectively leverage customer behavior trends as they gain more ground.
expert panel
To remain in business long term, entrepreneurs have to get comfortable making difficult choices. Business decision making can sometimes be a difficult process, with each decision potentially impacting employees or customers in a negative way. That potential to harm stakeholders may cause some leaders stress, even to the point of delaying decisions until they’re absolutely sure of the possible outcomes. Learning how to understand and see fear as a natural part of doing business is key if entrepreneurs want to last long term. As leaders, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum are all familiar with the challenges of making decisions. Below, they share advice for fellow leaders to be able to embrace fear and make difficult business decisions with confidence.
expert panel
If you want a loyal customer base that keeps coming back, you need to put consumers at the center of everything you do. Many companies claim that their customers are their highest priority. While this is a nice thing to say, there's a difference between simply delivering what a customer asks for and truly being a consumer-centric organization. Today's consumers expect that the businesses they buy from will go the extra mile to ensure an experience that exceeds their expectations. To help your company become more consumer-centric, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum members offered their best tips below.
expert panel
Investing in tech solutions to optimize business operations isn't an endeavor that has to break the bank. Building a business is an endeavor that takes time, effort and money. While hiring and maintaining a team of employees helps ensure that the organization is able to meet the needs of customers, leaders have to also ensure that the business is operating as effectively as possible—and technology is the perfect tool for the task. However, determining what technology will work best for the business’s needs is difficult when it can be an ongoing and costly investment. Below, 16 members of Newsweek Expert Forum offer advice on how entrepreneurs can leverage technological solutions in their businesses without breaking the bank.
expert panel
While business challenges can be overwhelming, making changes to current proccesses helps build leadership resiliency. Every business deals with both highs and lows. The ability to overcome trying and difficult times boils down to the processes leaders have developed to address challenges. Whether leaders are navigating an uncertain industry or internal changes, these processes build resilient leaders and long-lasting organizations over time. To share further insights, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members recommend actions a leader can take to become more resilient, thus strengthening their leadership and their organization as a whole.
expert panel
There's no "silver bullet" solution to achieve rapid growth, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you hit your goals faster. Whether it's financial growth, team growth or sales growth, nearly every business has concrete growth goals they want to achieve. But even with the best employees and loyal customers, sometimes it may be difficult to achieve that growth. Luckily, there are some "hacks" to help your business reach its goals quickly and efficiently. From journaling to using timeboxing strategies, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared their best growth hacks and why they're so effective.
article
These perennials are perfect for people without green thumbs who want to play in the dirt without getting their hearts broken.
article
Bare root plants are a huge money saver that gives you all the great quality of container plants at about 10% of the cost.
expert panel
Leaning on a a team or a network of knowledgeable peers can help leaders maintain a finger on the pulse of recent tech trends. Regardless of what industry your business operates in, keeping up with changes in technology is essential for remaining competitive. Leaders know how important it is to maintain knowledge bases, but with all the work that goes into running and maintaining a business, it can be difficult to continuously learn about new innovations with a hectic schedule. Technology can change in the blink of an eye, so a leader needs to adopt a process to ensure their own knowledge and the knowledge being used in their company remains as updated as possible. Below, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one recommendation for business leaders interested in staying on top of the latest trends in tech.
expert panel
Taking the time to conduct due diligence before partnering with another business can save both time and money. A collaboration between entrepreneurs has the potential to significantly drive business growth by exposing both parties to new audiences and new opportunities. However, entrepreneurs must proceed with caution before agreeing to or signing anything. Every potential partnership may look good in theory, but the reality of combining forces may not match up to expectations if proper due diligence is not conducted beforehand. Asking key questions before signing on the dotted line can save both entrepreneurs time and money in the event that the partnership doesn’t work out as planned. To help, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one question business owners should consider before setting up a new partnership.
expert panel
Focusing on developing the skills of employees can also benefit employers. Organizational leaders have the unique position of driving business goals, but employees are the true lifeblood of an organization. A successful business meets those business goals by providing needed products and services to customers, but if employees aren’t motivated to do their best, the chances of true success are slim to none. Managers that place an emphasis on catering to their employees’ needs and developing the skills of their workforce are more than likely to create an environment that produces and retains top-notch employees. To help leaders bring out the best from the employees working with and below them, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum each share tips on how to build a supportive work environment.
expert panel
While some may not see the appeal of continuously fixing what isn't broke, intentionally adapting in business can lead to new opportunities. When you've been in business a long time, certain habits just stick. Making adjustments to business strategies that are currently working well enough may seem unnecessary, but continually working on improving the efficiency of business operations is key to staying relevant in any industry. Becoming too complacent with the status quo is dangerous for businesses that want to last long term, but it’s hard to break out of bad habits once they’ve been set in place. To help leaders begin moving in new directions, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members each share advice on steps to take to rethink old habits and establish new ones.
article
In the end, technology is the cornerstone of any small business.
expert panel
Positive, collaborative relationships between colleagues can greatly enhance your company culture. Here's how to encourage this type of dynamic. For most people, work takes up the majority of their waking hours. Whether you're working a 9-to-5 or running your own business, your professional life can sometimes blend in with your personal one, especially when it comes to friendships in the workplace. While it's normal and natural for colleagues to form strong bonds, it's important for leaders to encourage their staff members to forge appropriate and productive connections. Otherwise, they may let close personal relationships with their coworkers cloud their judgment or cause them to play favorites when it comes to working with the rest of the team. Below, 11 members of Newsweek Expert Forum offered their best tips for leaders who want to encourage meaningful but appropriate relationships among their employees.
article
Business models need to remain agile so that they can be adapted as needed.
expert panel
Actively seeking to connect with your target customer base can create real opportunities for authentic engagement. With the Internet now widely serving as a social space, society as a whole continues to move toward a culture that seeks shared experiences with peers over those with expertise. This means that consumers these days are no longer limited to experts when it comes to seeking advice on products and services. Developing an effective way of authentically connecting with customers can bring more business opportunities, but the challenge lies in finding the right strategy for engaging and interacting with these consumers. To help, 10 Newsweek Expert Forum members share tips for companies interested in creating more shared experiences with current and future customers.
article
Roots need time to break out of dormancy and adjust to a new environment.
expert panel
Entrepreneurial lessons are learned every single day, but some have a greater effect on the future of your business than others. Every new opportunity, challenge and experience in the business world is a potential lesson for an entrepreneur. Some circumstances can teach useful tidbits that a business owner can pull out of their proverbial back pocket when needed. Others have a much more tangible effect and change the course of a founder's entrepreneurial future. A panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members reflected on their own entrepreneurial journeys and the biggest lessons they've learned along the way. Below, 13 of them shared a lesson that has made a huge impact on their business in the long run and how they've applied it to their strategy for success.
article
What are bare root plants and how can homeowners take advantage of this inexpensive way to garden?
article
Hobby Gardening Has Skyrocketed: What This Expert Wants You to Know Before Digging In
Company details
Tn Nursery
Company bio
Tn Nursery is located in the heart of the nursery capitol near Mcminnville Tennessee. A third-generation mail-order nursery family owned and operated since 1954. Offering quality trees and gardening plants and ships nationwide.