Survey: U.S. economy to expand in 2010 The U.S. economy should expand by 3.1% in 2010, according to a survey from the National Association for Business Economics. "We see a healthy expansion under way, although it will take time to reduce economic slack and repair damaged balance sheets," said NABE President Lynn Reaser. The survey also predicted that the U.S. will add 100,000 jobs per month in 2010. The Wall Street Journal/Real Time Economics blog (2/22) , Bloomberg (2/22)
Airgas board urges shareholders to reject buyout bid The board of Airgas urged shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Air Products & Chemicals. Shareholders are considering a $5.1 billion bid from Air Products, which breaks down to $60 per share. The Air Products bid "significantly undervalues Airgas and fails to reflect the value of our industry leading position and future growth prospects," said Airgas CEO Peter McCausland. The Wall Street Journal (2/22) , Modern Distribution Management (2/22)
"Hypertension: Controlling the 'silent killer'" — This special report from the experts at Harvard Medical School lays out a step-by-step lifestyle program you can use to lower your blood pressure, improve your health and increase life expectancy. 30% off the cover price and free shipping for SmartBrief readers. Click here to order.
Best Practices
Leaders must be teachers Leaders must emphasize teaching over telling, writes Art Petty. Five rules for managers to live by include refraining from shouting orders at employees and making "teachable moments" out of mistakes. ArtPetty.com (2/22)
Culture of learning generates innovation Organizations with a "learning culture" are aware of their shortcomings and constantly strive to improve and innovate, write G. Michael Maddock and Raphael Louis Vitón. Those with a "knowing culture," however, often cannot admit mistakes and fail to learn from them. Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2/17)
Sales
Good listeners make good salespeople Salespeople must listen to their customers before launching into a sales pitch, Charles H. Green writes. To establish a sense of trust, clients need to feel they have been shown a certain degree of respect. Entrepreneur.com (2/22)
Small Business Manager
Insulating a business from employee lawsuits Colleen DeBaise outlines three strategies management can use to avoid employees lawsuits: classifying employees properly, maintaining an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy and ensuring proper documentation. The Wall Street Journal (2/22)
Airlines battle with passengers over a la carte pricing During the past several years, airlines have been unbundling their air fares, charging passengers for products and services that were once part of the base fare. While some in the industry acknowledge that the ancillary fees rile passengers, others say the fees are necessary in tough economic times. Passengers, meanwhile, feel they have little choice but to pay the fees, but some say they will reach a point when they will say enough is enough. The New York Times (free registration) (2/20)
Credit card companies brace for new law, plan new fees A federal law that took effect Monday imposed new restrictions and mandates on credit card fees, but companies are already devising plans to penalize consumers without violating the rules. "There are countless fees that can be introduced and rates can go through the roof," says Curtis Arnold, founder of U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms. The Wall Street Journal (2/20)
NAW Insider
Register: Wholesale Distribution Manager's Course, June 7 to 11
Register for the Wholesale Distribution Manager's Course, NAW's premier development course for distribution company managers. Training is the key to a wholesaler-distributor's success in this challenging economy, and the WDMC is about training and development for maximum success and profitability. Wholesaler-distributors will get that training through classroom learning, small-group study and networking opportunities with distributors from all across the industry.
Take the Caliper Profile for free -- that's a $295 value New NAW partner Caliper offers you the Caliper Profile for free. It's a scientific, in-depth employee personality-assessment that accurately predicts job performance. The Caliper Profile is one of many new employee-development services available through the NAW/Caliper partnership. Give the Caliper Profile to a top performer, a job candidate or even take it yourself. This offer expires March 22.
Print to Page
Email to a Friend
