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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Ultrahuman just launched its newest ring, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro. While it’s not yet available in the U.S., I’m excited for this to come to the market. The real game changer here isn’t what’s on the ring, but what Ultrahuman has managed to do with the charging case—that is, a lot more than just charging. Specs of the Ultrahuman Ring ProAccording to Ultrahuman, the new ring retails for $429 and has: 15-day battery life—that’s more than RingConn’s battery life and about double Oura’s Storage for 250 days of data Whole sizes 5 to 14 A faster processor that Ultrahuman says allows for more accurate data processing Break points allowing the ring to be cut apart easily in emergencies Physically, the ring looks similar to the Ultrahuman Ring Air, which I’ve previously reviewed. It has a smooth internal surface (no sensor bumps) with a small flat area at the base of the finger. The charging case is the real innovation here Credit: Beth Skwarecki What really intrigues me about this ring is not the ring itself, or even the fact that it has a charging case, but the fact that Ultrahuman is now using the charging case as a device in its own right. I haven’t seen anything like this from other smart ring manufacturers, and it’s a brilliant idea. For example, smart rings can’t easily act as an alarm, because then they would need components that can vibrate or make noise—thus adding to the bulk of the ring and reducing battery life. But a charging case can easily act as an alarm clock, especially since you’re likely to have it on your nightstand already. (Ultrahuman’s app has an alarm feature, but it didn’t play well with my iPhone’s silent mode and I didn’t find it reliable.) The charging case for the Ultrahuman Ring Pro also has LED indicators, can charge wirelessly, and has a USB-C port. The case has features for diagnostics and troubleshooting, including a button to hard reset the ring if needed. The case can also store up to a year’s worth of ring data and sync it to your phone later. And you know what else I love about the new case? It isn’t sized to the ring. The ring attaches magnetically to the pins on the post, leaving empty space around it if the ring is a large size, and less empty space if it’s a smaller size. If you ever needed to replace the case, you wouldn’t need to find one in your specific size. Why we can’t get this ring in the U.S. (yet?)Legal action behind the scenes has been messing with the U.S. market for smart rings. About a year ago, there were plenty of options, but then Oura made the case to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that it believes its smart ring patent covers the design of nearly every smart ring out there. The ITC agreed, and Ultrahuman was one of the companies that needed to pull its rings from the U.S. market. Ultrahuman said almost immediately that it was working on a new ring design anyway, one that is so differently constructed that it can’t possibly run afoul of the ITC ruling. The Ring Pro appears to be the design it was referring to, with Ultrahuman conspicuously referring to its “unibody architecture” rather than using a design with a transparent lining (that transparent lining is one of the features of the patent at issue). It seems there is still a possibility that this approach may pay off. A spokesperson told me by email today: “We are working through the necessary steps to bring Ring PRO to our U.S. customers and hope to share good news soon.” View the full article

Mortgage One is accused of using an artificial intelligence voice agent for outbound solicitations, recommending a cash-out refi to the plaintiff in the case. View the full article

Though changes to bank capital rules previewed by Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman in February being viewed as welcome, experts say other more significant hurdles — not all of them regulatory — are keeping banks on the sidelines of mortgage servicing and lending. View the full article

A race among the top AI companies to sell powerful models to the U.S. Defense Department is hotter than ever. No matter how the feud between Anthropic and the Pentagon ultimately plays out, the Pentagon is now more incentivized to contract with other tech firms. Likewise, whatever misgivings Anthropic had about working with the military have only grown. Indeed, other companies are already taking steps to pick up the government-contracting mantle. Earlier this week, xAI reached an agreement with the Defense Department to operate on classified systems. And OpenAI is working on a Pentagon deal of its own. But winning over the Defense Department officials may not be enough. To actually become a go-to AI provider for the agency, their AI will need to catch up to Anthropic’s Claude large language model, which is widely liked within the military. And they’ll likely need to connect to Palantir’s technology. Palantir, along with its partners, holds cloud security clearances that allow it to host highly sensitive military information and data. The company has also built a far more streamlined way of accessing data from across the DoD, and, presumably, data that would make any large language model far more useful to military officials. One former employee of the Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office tells Fast Company that Palantir has effectively “taken over the data lake problem” inside the Pentagon, consolidating raw and low-level data feeds and making them accessible through its platform. “Everything runs through Palantir,” the former employee says. “They’re the 1,000 pound gorilla in this space.” The dispute centers on the Pentagon’s demand that it be allowed to use Anthropic’s Claude model for “all lawful purposes,” while Anthropic has sought safeguards blocking uses for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. After negotiations stalled this week, the The President administration has reportedly deemed the company a “supply chain risk,” which forces military contractors to ditch Anthropic models. On Friday afternoon, President Donald The President posted on Truth Social that every agency was to immediately stop using all Anthropic products. The Pentagon has already reached out to defense contractors to ask about their reliance on Anthropic. Palantir, notably, uses Anthropic models internally, one person tells Fast Company, and would possibly be impacted by the decision by the U.S. government to blacklist the AI firm’s technology. Still, Anthropic has a real advantage in its integration with Palantir. “Since Claude is playing ball with [Palantir], it makes them more appealing than having to get Palantir to agree to share their stuff with OpenAI,” the former DoD employee says. Even so, Claude’s agile technology remains a powerful draw. One recent government AI official says the LLM is so far ahead of its rivals that current and former government workers, (including those from the Defense Department) are sending memes about the standoff in at least one group chat. Anthropic’s value to the Defense Department is also owed to the fact that its technology enriches the Maven Smart System, one former Palantir employee tells Fast Company. The Maven system—which has a long and controversial history—is an integrated platform that might help, for example, a military command team to access critical data that might be spread across the Defense Department. That data might include information about nearby munitions supply, or the number of soldiers that a military operation might be able to deploy. Making these systems more interoperable makes it a lot easier to plan a military operation, the person said. While Anthropic could certainly try to independently sell its own system to the government, its technology is most useful to the government when integrated with a system like Maven. Palantir, the former Palantir employee added, wouldn’t be in a position to prevent OpenAI or Anthropic from connecting to something like Maven, but to be similarly useful as Anthropic those companies would likely want to enrich it, too. From their understanding, it appears that Anthropic was early to gaining accreditation to work in these kinds of military systems, and other companies are still catching up. Neither Palantir nor the Defense Department responded to a request for comment. View the full article

If you've been eyeing a Hyrox race, but weren't sure how to train for one, Peloton may have just solved your problem. The fitness platform announced today the launch of a 12-week Hyrox training program, timed specifically for athletes preparing for the upcoming Hyrox NYC events taking place May 28-31 and June 4-7, 2026. And if you're not racing in New York, don't worry—the program lives in Peloton's library for all members, meaning you can start it 12 weeks out from any Hyrox event on your calendar. What is Hyrox, anyway?Before diving into the program, a quick primer for the uninitiated. As my colleague Beth Skwarecki explains here, your friend who used to be obsessed with Crossfit is probably now obsessed with Hyrox (unofficially short for "hybrid rockstar"). Hyrox is a fitness competition designed for athletes who don't quite see themselves as pure endurance athletes or pure strength athletes, but something in between. What seems to make Hyrox unique—or at least, uniquely appealing—is its consistency. Unlike Crossfit competitions, where the format can change dramatically from event to event, every single Hyrox race follows the same predictable structure: eight 1-kilometer runs, with a functional fitness station in between each one. Those stations include things like sled pushes, wall balls, rowing, and ski erg work, adding up to roughly 5 miles of running plus eight rounds of serious effort. Because the format never changes, you can compare your finish time against anyone else who has ever raced Hyrox, much like comparing marathon times. But one thing that sets Hyrox training apart from something like classic marathon prep is that it's inherently communal. While you can train for a race on your own with nothing but a good pair of shoes, Hyrox training requires access to a rowing machine, a ski erg, a sled, and a wall ball target—in other words, the sort of equipment that's hard to come by outside of gyms geared toward this kind of training. (For the record, most Crossfit gyms and a growing number of commercial gyms can accommodate these types of workouts, but it's worth calling ahead.) That shared training environment tends to foster a community that athletes say is a big part of the draw. What Peloton's Hyrox program offersPeloton's new 12-week program is structured around six training days per week, with many days including both a strength and a run component. Classes include strength, running, rowing, tread bootcamps, mobility and stretching, and meditation. As a regular ol' race runner myself, I’m drawn to the ways these classes cover so many different disciplines. My colleague Beth shares a screenshot of the Peloton Hyrox training program. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Week 12 is race week, so the training load lightens considerably as athletes taper toward the starting line. There aren't many workouts that final week, but one notable inclusion is a Hyrox pre-race meditation, which I find speaks to the program's whole community-based philosophy. Week one of the Peloton Hyrox training program. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Week 12 of the Peloton Hyrox training program. Credit: Beth Skwarecki How Peloton's Hyrox program is builtThe program is grounded in five core principles that Peloton describes as the five pillars of Hyrox performance: Aerobic Power: Threshold work starts on Day 1, teaching athletes how to manage effort and develop sustainable high gears over time. Simple Tools, High Impact: The program leans on running, the erg, and strength training as its primary vehicles for building hybrid endurance. Efficiency Over Speed: Rather than chasing raw pace, the focus is on smart pacing and clean technique that conserves energy across transitions. Progressive Volume: Training load builds deliberately over the weeks, developing the ability to perform under cumulative fatigue. Performance Drivers: Recovery, fueling, and mindset are treated as training components, not afterthoughts. Taking a look at the program here, its structure reflects these principles in a clear arc. The first six weeks focus on building what Peloton calls the "aerobic engine" and establishing threshold control, laying the foundation before intensity picks up. By Week 7, athletes complete a 75-minute simulation designed to test their pacing strategy and transition skills under realistic race conditions. The final weeks then shift toward what the program describes as "real demand" training, simulating the fatigue carryover of heavy sled pushes and wall balls bleeding into running. Like with any good training program, the goal is to arrive at race day sharp and well-prepared, not worn down. How to join the Peloton Hyrox training programNeedless to say, you need an active Peloton membership. And for now, the Hyrox program can only be joined from the Peloton app or Peloton hardware like the Peloton Bikes, Tread, Row, and Guide. You can’t join from the Peloton website or TV apps. To find it on your device, you can browse the programs area, find the Hyrox Training program, and hit join. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Meta's strategy for its Quest 3 and 3S VR headsets is clearly to make virtual and mixed reality as easy, fun, and affordable as possible, but they might have done the job a little too well. All that user-friendliness has left a lot of power on the table. Casual Questers don't know that the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor is powerful enough to handle spatial computing and multitasking that rivals some laptops, and that they can link their headset to a PC for close-to-4K visuals that rival much more expensive headsets. With the right software and a little bit of monkeying around with (often-hidden) settings, you can take the Quest 3 and 3S way beyond its the out-of-the-box performance. Below are ten hacks every Meta Quest user should know to get the most out of their headset. (2 pack) Meta Quest 3S 128 GB - Get Batman: Arkham Shadow and 3-Month Trial of Meta Horizon+ Included - All-In-One Headset $498.00 at Walmart $598.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $498.00 at Walmart $598.00 Save $100.00 Download the Quest Games Optimizer for Your Meta Quest 3If you choose just one hack, it should be downloading Quest Game Optimizer. QGO is a third-party utility that lets you control a ton of hidden settings for any Quest game or app. Meta typically locks its hardware to conservative clock speeds to preserve battery and thermal headroom, but QGO lets you force the Quest's chip to work at its maximum power. Most impressively, it lets you to increase the internal render resolution up to 300%, effectively "supersampling" your games to match the high-fidelity density of the Quest 3’s pancake lenses. It really makes a difference. As you might have guessed, you won't find QGO on the official Meta Store, and it takes some lightly hacker-ish work to set up. To get it running, you'll need to: Purchase the software. It's currently $9.99 on itch.io. Create a developer account with Meta. This is free, and you can do it from inside your headset. Enable Developer Mode on your Meta account. Uncompress the QGO app. Either sideload the compressed Android file on your PC using a tool like SideQuest, or unzip it straight in the headset using a file manager like AnExplorer or Mobile VR Station. Grant Accessibility Permissions within the headset to allow the optimizer to override system defaults. That's the gist, but check out these deeper guides for how to do all of the above with just your Quest headset, with SideQuest and a PC, and through Meta Quest's developer's mode. Link your Quest to your PCYou can take the Quest 3 beyond standalone by linking it to your PC, either tethered or with a virtual link. This offloads the computing to a more powerful processor, turns your headset into a high-def display, and lets you use programs like Half-Life: Alyx or Microsoft Flight Simulator that would be impossible to run natively. You'll seriously be shocked at how good they look and how smoothly they run. You can do this in two ways: Wired This is the best choice for the highest possible fidelity visuals and the easiest set-up, plus you don't have to worry about how fast your wifi works. Open the Meta Horizon Link app on your PC. Get a high-quality USB-C 3.1 cable or the Meta Link Cable, and plug it in. Follow the instructions on your headset. WirelessThis is the choice if you want the freedom of wireless connection and you have really reliably wifi. For best results, connect your PC to your router via Ethernet, make sure your Quest 3 is on a 5GHz or 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) band, and use the Quest and PC in the same room. Run Meta Horizon Link on your PC. In the Quest, go to "quick settings" and select the "Link" tile. Switch "Use Air Link" to "On," select your PC, and hit "Pair." Click "Launch" and you'll be streaming directly from your PC to your face computer. Unlock experimental features on the Meta Quest 3Meta lets users test out "coming soon" features in its experimental menu and get an early look at "quality-of-life" improvements, most of which will be heading to the Quest soon. Among other improvements, the current experimental menu contains a couple of bangers: "lying down mode," and "Meta AI" integration. Here's how to check it out: Open the "Settings" menu. Scroll down to the Experimental tab on the left-hand sidebar. Toggle the features you want to try. Try the Meta Quest 3's new spatial locking featureThis brand new (as of February 2026) feature is evidence of how hard Meta is leaning into mixed reality. Spatial locking lets you anchor windows wherever you want in physical space, so you can look at your real television and see a virtual one, have three virtual monitors extending your workspace, or create a window to YouTube over your sink for when you're washing dishes. Bonus: The Quest will remember where these windows are when you restart it. Here's how it works: Make sure you're in pass-through mode. Open a window in your headset. Grab the window with the control bar at the bottom and move it where you'd like. Select the "anchor" icon on the control bar. This won't work with travel mode. But speaking of travel mode... Enable travel mode on the Meta Quest 3Yes, you'll look sort of dorky on a plane, but the Quest 3's travel mode makes it possible to use your Quest on the road by creating a stationary boundary, and setting the Quest to ignore external velocity and rely only on head movements. Here's how to turn it on: Go to the "Settings" menu. Click on "Environmental Set Up." Click on "Travel Mode." Install Bigscreen Beta streaming app on the Meta Quest 3Bigscreen Beta is the go-to video streaming app on Quest headsets. It allows you to sit in a highly detailed virtual environment—a cozy modern living room, a massive outdoor drive-in, another planet, etc.—and stream video. You can use the Bigscreen Remote Desktop tool on your PC to stream content from Netflix, Disney+ or just about anywhere else directly into your virtual environment. Not only that, you can stream content directly from Bigscreen into your private space, invite friends over to watch with you, or watch movies and TV with strangers in shared virtual theaters. Play Xbox games on the Meta Quest 3 in mixed realityIf you have an Xbox Live account, you can play (2D) Xbox games right from your VR headset, giving you a portable game console with a 100" screen. Here's how it works: Download the XBox app on your Quest headset. Pair a controller with your Quest. Quest controllers aren't made to work with XBox games, so you'll have to use Bluetooth to pair a game controller to your Quest. You can use an XBox controller, a PS5 controller, a Switch 2 controller, and a ton of generic controllers. Run the Xbox app and choose a game. Enable passthrough. This lets you play your game on as big a screen as you'd like while still being in the "real" world. There can be some latency, as the game is being run from the cloud, but it's surprisingly smooth in my experience. Explore WebXR on the Meta Quest 3WebXR might be the Quest's biggest secret. It lets you use a seemingly infinite number of games and apps that are not available in the Meta store, and are almost all free. Since WebXR apps are browser based, all you have to do is point your Meta browser to a site that hosts a WebXR program and hit go. If you like experimental little tests and whatnot, you'll never run out. Here are some to check out: Moon Rider: A totally free, open-source alternative to Beat Sabre. Silkbrush: A web-based version of the famous Tilt Brush that lets you paint in 3D space. Above Par-adowski: A surprisingly deep browser-based miniature golf game. Master the Meta Horizon mobile appYou can do a lot with your Quest without even turning it on. The Meta Horizon mobile app lets you manage your library, download games, change your settings, and more, all without strapping anything to your face. Browsing the Meta store feels way more natural on the app, and it's easier to navigate and change setting there too. Plus, the app can tell you how much charge is left in your battery, whether your friends are online, download screenshots and videos, and cast what's going on in your headset to another screen. Invest in a third-party battery strap for the Meta Quest 3The Meta Quest 3 is ergonomically fine for shorter sessions, but if you wear it long enough, you realize how much the design is a battle between comfort and performance, and it compromises on both ends—it's kind of heavy and the battery life is kind of short. The front-weighted design puts pressure on your face and the battery life rarely survives a two-hour session, but there's a solution to both problems: Trade the stock fabric strap for a third-party "Elite" style strap with a built in extra battery, like the KIWI design H4 Boost or the BOBOVR S3 Pro. These move the extra weight to the back of your head, balancing the ergonomics, and they have swappable extra batteries so you can use your headset as long as you'd like. BOBOVR S3 Pro Battery Strap Accessories,Head air Conditioning and 10000mah hot-swappable Battery Pack,Compatible with Meta Quest 3/Quest 3s $85.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $85.99 at Amazon View the full article

Bing rewrote its webmaster guidelines to cover Copilot grounding, meta directive controls for AI answers, and a softened stance on AI-generated content. The post Bing Adds GEO To Official Guidelines, Expands AI Abuse Definitions appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Creating an effective customer service questionnaire is essential for gathering valuable feedback from your customers. It involves comprehending the key components that contribute to a thorough survey, including various question types that can yield both quantitative and qualitative insights. By focusing on clear goals and best practices in design, you can encourage participation and obtain unbiased responses. This approach not merely helps in analyzing feedback but likewise sets the stage for meaningful improvements. What specific strategies can you implement to improve your questionnaires? Key Takeaways Define clear goals for your questionnaire to gather actionable insights about customer experiences and service quality. Include a mix of question types, such as multiple-choice, Likert scales, and open-ended questions, for comprehensive feedback. Ensure questions are concise, neutral, and free of bias to avoid leading respondents and to encourage honest feedback. Deliver the questionnaire promptly within 24 hours of service interaction to enhance response rates and accuracy. Regularly analyze results to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement, fostering a culture of continuous enhancement in service delivery. Understanding Customer Service Questionnaires Customer service questionnaires play an important role in gathering insights about customer experiences and service interactions. These tools are designed to assess various aspects, including responsiveness, problem resolution, and overall satisfaction with service representatives. When you create a customer service questionnaire for customers, consider incorporating a mix of question types, such as Likert scales and open-ended questions, to provide a thorough view of customer experiences. Utilizing clear and neutral wording helps prevent bias, ensuring that responses accurately reflect sentiments. Timing is also vital; sending questionnaires shortly after interactions can capture accurate feedback and boost participation rates. Studies show that delivering surveys within 24 hours results in higher response rates. Furthermore, including customer loyalty survey questions can help you understand factors influencing repeat business. Analyzing the data gathered can reveal trends and areas for improvement, guiding your organization in refining service strategies to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Key Components of an Effective Questionnaire Creating an effective questionnaire hinges on several key components that directly influence the quality of the feedback you receive. First, guarantee your questionnaire has a clear goal, as this guides the design of your questions to gather actionable insights. Utilize a variety of question formats, combining Likert scales and open-ended questions to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Keep the questionnaire concise, aiming for a completion time of under five minutes to reduce survey fatigue and improve response rates. Ascertain questions are neutral and unbiased, avoiding leading questions that may distort the data collected. Lastly, incorporate demographic questions to segment responses. This enables you to analyze feedback more effectively and target specific customer groups for improvement. Types of Questions to Include When creating your customer service questionnaire, you’ll want to include various types of questions to gather meaningful feedback. Rating scales can help you quantify satisfaction levels, whereas open-ended questions encourage customers to share detailed insights. Furthermore, incorporating demographic questions allows you to segment responses and tailor your analysis for more targeted improvements. Question Types Overview How can you effectively gather feedback from your customers? To guarantee you collect thorough insights, use a mix of question types in your customer service questionnaire. This variety allows you to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Multiple-choice questions offer standardized feedback, simplifying trend analysis. Likert scale questions measure the intensity of customer sentiment, giving you deeper insight into satisfaction levels. Open-ended questions invite detailed responses, revealing unique insights and contextual experiences. Incorporating demographic questions can additionally help you segment responses, enhancing your grasp of customer needs across different groups. Rating Scales Usage Incorporating rating scales in your customer service questionnaire can greatly improve the quality of feedback you receive. Using Likert scales allows customers to express their satisfaction levels on a continuum, typically from “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied,” which provides nuanced insights into their sentiments. A common practice is using a 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 scale, where higher numbers indicate greater satisfaction, facilitating clear quantitative analysis. Moreover, semantic differential scales can help gauge emotional responses by asking customers to rate feelings between two opposing adjectives. Including multiple-choice questions with rating options improves data collection efficiency, as well as tiered rating scales reveal trends over time, enabling you to track changes in customer satisfaction and service quality effectively. Best Practices for Survey Design When designing your customer service survey, focus on clear and simple wording to guarantee that respondents easily understand your questions. Align each question with your survey’s objectives to keep the content relevant and engaging, which helps prevent fatigue. Finally, incorporate a variety of response formats, such as multiple-choice and open-ended questions, to gather an extensive range of feedback. Clear Question Wording What makes a customer service questionnaire effective? Clear question wording is essential for gathering reliable feedback. When you use simple and direct language, respondents easily grasp what you’re asking, which reduces confusion and abandonment rates. Avoid jargon and complex phrasing to encourage honest responses. Neutral wording in your questions likewise plays a key role, ensuring you don’t lead participants toward biased answers. Consider these best practices: Test your questions with a small group to identify misunderstandings. Keep questions focused on specific aspects of customer service experiences. Use straightforward language to improve clarity and relevance. Focused Objectives Establishing focused objectives is crucial for designing an effective customer service questionnaire, as it guarantees that each question serves a clear purpose aligned with your overall goals. By defining specific aims, like measuring customer satisfaction or identifying improvement areas, you ascertain each question is actionable and relevant. This focus prevents purposeless data collection and improves the quality of insights you gather. Keep your survey concise, aiming for completion within five minutes to respect customer time. Tailor questions to specific interactions and service touchpoints, increasing your chances of obtaining valuable feedback. Using a mix of question types, such as Likert scale and open-ended questions, provides a thorough grasp of customer experiences during the survey process while maintaining engagement throughout. Engaging Response Formats How can you improve engagement in your customer service questionnaire? By using diverse response formats, you can make it easier and more enjoyable for customers to share their thoughts. Consider these best practices: Mix question types: Use Likert scales, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights. Keep it concise: Aim for completion within five minutes to prevent fatigue and maintain high response rates. Incorporate neutrality: Use unbiased wording in your questions to encourage honest feedback. Additionally, personalize your survey invitations and clearly state the survey’s purpose. This approach shows customers that their input is valued and increases participation, eventually leading to more meaningful insights. Analyzing and Interpreting Responses Analyzing and interpreting survey responses is vital for comprehending customer perceptions and experiences with your service. Start by categorizing data into relevant themes; this helps identify trends, strengths, and areas needing improvement. Use statistical tools to quantitatively analyze the data, calculating averages and percentages to uncover patterns in customer feedback. Don’t overlook qualitative data from open-ended responses; reviewing these can reveal recurring themes or sentiments that provide deeper insights into customer experiences. Utilizing sentiment analysis techniques can gauge overall feelings regarding service interactions, allowing you to prioritize action items based on emotional responses. It’s equally important to regularly review and compare survey results over time. This practice helps track changes in customer satisfaction and the effectiveness of any improvements you implement. Utilizing Feedback for Improvement Utilizing feedback from customer service questionnaires is a potent way to drive improvements in your business operations. By aligning your questions with specific improvement areas, you guarantee the feedback gathered leads to actionable changes. This approach helps you identify both strengths and weaknesses in your service delivery, allowing you to improve customer satisfaction effectively. Incorporate open-ended questions to capture qualitative insights and deeper context about customer experiences. Regularly analyze survey results and adjust your strategies accordingly, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. Keep in mind that 73% of customers expect companies to act on their feedback, so implementing changes based on their responses can greatly boost loyalty. Examples of Effective Customer Service Questionnaires Creating effective customer service questionnaires is essential for gathering valuable insights that can drive your business forward. To achieve this, consider incorporating a variety of question types, such as Likert scales, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. For example, you might ask, “How satisfied were you with the support received?” to gauge customer satisfaction. Additionally, include a Net Promoter Score (NPS) question like, “How likely are you to recommend our service to a friend?” This helps assess customer loyalty. Open-ended questions, such as “What can we do to improve your experience?” allow for specific feedback. Keep your questionnaire concise, ideally under five minutes. Here’s a simple structure to illustrate these elements: Question Type Example Likert Scale How satisfied were you with our service? Multiple-Choice What service did you use? Net Promoter Score Would you recommend us? Open-Ended Any additional comments or suggestions? Frequently Asked Questions What Are Good Questions for a Customer Service Survey? Good questions for a customer service survey include satisfaction ratings, like “How satisfied were you with the support received?” To assess performance, use a Likert scale for queries such as “How responsive were our representatives?” Open-ended questions, like “What could we improve?” provide valuable feedback. Furthermore, ask about likelihood to recommend your service on a scale from 0 to 10. Demographic questions help segment responses and tailor services effectively to meet diverse customer needs. What Are the 5 Questions to Ask in a Questionnaire? To create an effective questionnaire, you should include five key questions. First, ask respondents to rate their overall satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10. Second, inquire about the responsiveness of your representatives. Third, measure loyalty by asking how likely they’re to recommend you. Fourth, request the main reason for their contact. Finally, encourage open feedback by asking how you can improve their experience. These questions yield valuable insights. What Are the 3 C’s of Customer Satisfaction? The 3 C’s of customer satisfaction are Customer Needs, Customer Expectations, and Customer Communication. First, you need to identify what your customers require to feel satisfied with your products or services. Then, guarantee you meet their expectations by delivering on your promises consistently. Finally, maintain effective communication to keep customers informed about their experiences and how their feedback is used. Excelling in these elements can lead to higher retention rates and increased referrals. What Is an Example of a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire? A customer satisfaction questionnaire often includes key questions to gauge overall experience. For example, you might see a question like, “How satisfied were you with your recent experience?” rated from 1 to 5. It could likewise feature an NPS question, such as, “How likely are you to recommend us?” Moreover, including open-ended questions, like, “What can we do to improve?” helps gather specific feedback, enhancing your comprehension of customer needs and expectations. Conclusion To summarize, creating an effective customer service questionnaire involves careful planning and execution. By incorporating a variety of question types and maintaining a neutral tone, you can gather valuable insights from your customers. Remember to analyze the responses thoroughly and use the feedback to make informed improvements. This approach not just improves customer satisfaction but additionally strengthens your overall service quality. With a well-crafted questionnaire, you can better understand and meet your customers’ needs. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Creating an Effective Customer Service Questionnaire for Customers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating an effective customer service questionnaire is essential for gathering valuable feedback from your customers. It involves comprehending the key components that contribute to a thorough survey, including various question types that can yield both quantitative and qualitative insights. By focusing on clear goals and best practices in design, you can encourage participation and obtain unbiased responses. This approach not merely helps in analyzing feedback but likewise sets the stage for meaningful improvements. What specific strategies can you implement to improve your questionnaires? Key Takeaways Define clear goals for your questionnaire to gather actionable insights about customer experiences and service quality. Include a mix of question types, such as multiple-choice, Likert scales, and open-ended questions, for comprehensive feedback. Ensure questions are concise, neutral, and free of bias to avoid leading respondents and to encourage honest feedback. Deliver the questionnaire promptly within 24 hours of service interaction to enhance response rates and accuracy. Regularly analyze results to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement, fostering a culture of continuous enhancement in service delivery. Understanding Customer Service Questionnaires Customer service questionnaires play an important role in gathering insights about customer experiences and service interactions. These tools are designed to assess various aspects, including responsiveness, problem resolution, and overall satisfaction with service representatives. When you create a customer service questionnaire for customers, consider incorporating a mix of question types, such as Likert scales and open-ended questions, to provide a thorough view of customer experiences. Utilizing clear and neutral wording helps prevent bias, ensuring that responses accurately reflect sentiments. Timing is also vital; sending questionnaires shortly after interactions can capture accurate feedback and boost participation rates. Studies show that delivering surveys within 24 hours results in higher response rates. Furthermore, including customer loyalty survey questions can help you understand factors influencing repeat business. Analyzing the data gathered can reveal trends and areas for improvement, guiding your organization in refining service strategies to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Key Components of an Effective Questionnaire Creating an effective questionnaire hinges on several key components that directly influence the quality of the feedback you receive. First, guarantee your questionnaire has a clear goal, as this guides the design of your questions to gather actionable insights. Utilize a variety of question formats, combining Likert scales and open-ended questions to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Keep the questionnaire concise, aiming for a completion time of under five minutes to reduce survey fatigue and improve response rates. Ascertain questions are neutral and unbiased, avoiding leading questions that may distort the data collected. Lastly, incorporate demographic questions to segment responses. This enables you to analyze feedback more effectively and target specific customer groups for improvement. Types of Questions to Include When creating your customer service questionnaire, you’ll want to include various types of questions to gather meaningful feedback. Rating scales can help you quantify satisfaction levels, whereas open-ended questions encourage customers to share detailed insights. Furthermore, incorporating demographic questions allows you to segment responses and tailor your analysis for more targeted improvements. Question Types Overview How can you effectively gather feedback from your customers? To guarantee you collect thorough insights, use a mix of question types in your customer service questionnaire. This variety allows you to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Multiple-choice questions offer standardized feedback, simplifying trend analysis. Likert scale questions measure the intensity of customer sentiment, giving you deeper insight into satisfaction levels. Open-ended questions invite detailed responses, revealing unique insights and contextual experiences. Incorporating demographic questions can additionally help you segment responses, enhancing your grasp of customer needs across different groups. Rating Scales Usage Incorporating rating scales in your customer service questionnaire can greatly improve the quality of feedback you receive. Using Likert scales allows customers to express their satisfaction levels on a continuum, typically from “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied,” which provides nuanced insights into their sentiments. A common practice is using a 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 scale, where higher numbers indicate greater satisfaction, facilitating clear quantitative analysis. Moreover, semantic differential scales can help gauge emotional responses by asking customers to rate feelings between two opposing adjectives. Including multiple-choice questions with rating options improves data collection efficiency, as well as tiered rating scales reveal trends over time, enabling you to track changes in customer satisfaction and service quality effectively. Best Practices for Survey Design When designing your customer service survey, focus on clear and simple wording to guarantee that respondents easily understand your questions. Align each question with your survey’s objectives to keep the content relevant and engaging, which helps prevent fatigue. Finally, incorporate a variety of response formats, such as multiple-choice and open-ended questions, to gather an extensive range of feedback. Clear Question Wording What makes a customer service questionnaire effective? Clear question wording is essential for gathering reliable feedback. When you use simple and direct language, respondents easily grasp what you’re asking, which reduces confusion and abandonment rates. Avoid jargon and complex phrasing to encourage honest responses. Neutral wording in your questions likewise plays a key role, ensuring you don’t lead participants toward biased answers. Consider these best practices: Test your questions with a small group to identify misunderstandings. Keep questions focused on specific aspects of customer service experiences. Use straightforward language to improve clarity and relevance. Focused Objectives Establishing focused objectives is crucial for designing an effective customer service questionnaire, as it guarantees that each question serves a clear purpose aligned with your overall goals. By defining specific aims, like measuring customer satisfaction or identifying improvement areas, you ascertain each question is actionable and relevant. This focus prevents purposeless data collection and improves the quality of insights you gather. Keep your survey concise, aiming for completion within five minutes to respect customer time. Tailor questions to specific interactions and service touchpoints, increasing your chances of obtaining valuable feedback. Using a mix of question types, such as Likert scale and open-ended questions, provides a thorough grasp of customer experiences during the survey process while maintaining engagement throughout. Engaging Response Formats How can you improve engagement in your customer service questionnaire? By using diverse response formats, you can make it easier and more enjoyable for customers to share their thoughts. Consider these best practices: Mix question types: Use Likert scales, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights. Keep it concise: Aim for completion within five minutes to prevent fatigue and maintain high response rates. Incorporate neutrality: Use unbiased wording in your questions to encourage honest feedback. Additionally, personalize your survey invitations and clearly state the survey’s purpose. This approach shows customers that their input is valued and increases participation, eventually leading to more meaningful insights. Analyzing and Interpreting Responses Analyzing and interpreting survey responses is vital for comprehending customer perceptions and experiences with your service. Start by categorizing data into relevant themes; this helps identify trends, strengths, and areas needing improvement. Use statistical tools to quantitatively analyze the data, calculating averages and percentages to uncover patterns in customer feedback. Don’t overlook qualitative data from open-ended responses; reviewing these can reveal recurring themes or sentiments that provide deeper insights into customer experiences. Utilizing sentiment analysis techniques can gauge overall feelings regarding service interactions, allowing you to prioritize action items based on emotional responses. It’s equally important to regularly review and compare survey results over time. This practice helps track changes in customer satisfaction and the effectiveness of any improvements you implement. Utilizing Feedback for Improvement Utilizing feedback from customer service questionnaires is a potent way to drive improvements in your business operations. By aligning your questions with specific improvement areas, you guarantee the feedback gathered leads to actionable changes. This approach helps you identify both strengths and weaknesses in your service delivery, allowing you to improve customer satisfaction effectively. Incorporate open-ended questions to capture qualitative insights and deeper context about customer experiences. Regularly analyze survey results and adjust your strategies accordingly, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. Keep in mind that 73% of customers expect companies to act on their feedback, so implementing changes based on their responses can greatly boost loyalty. Examples of Effective Customer Service Questionnaires Creating effective customer service questionnaires is essential for gathering valuable insights that can drive your business forward. To achieve this, consider incorporating a variety of question types, such as Likert scales, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. For example, you might ask, “How satisfied were you with the support received?” to gauge customer satisfaction. Additionally, include a Net Promoter Score (NPS) question like, “How likely are you to recommend our service to a friend?” This helps assess customer loyalty. Open-ended questions, such as “What can we do to improve your experience?” allow for specific feedback. Keep your questionnaire concise, ideally under five minutes. Here’s a simple structure to illustrate these elements: Question Type Example Likert Scale How satisfied were you with our service? Multiple-Choice What service did you use? Net Promoter Score Would you recommend us? Open-Ended Any additional comments or suggestions? Frequently Asked Questions What Are Good Questions for a Customer Service Survey? Good questions for a customer service survey include satisfaction ratings, like “How satisfied were you with the support received?” To assess performance, use a Likert scale for queries such as “How responsive were our representatives?” Open-ended questions, like “What could we improve?” provide valuable feedback. Furthermore, ask about likelihood to recommend your service on a scale from 0 to 10. Demographic questions help segment responses and tailor services effectively to meet diverse customer needs. What Are the 5 Questions to Ask in a Questionnaire? To create an effective questionnaire, you should include five key questions. First, ask respondents to rate their overall satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10. Second, inquire about the responsiveness of your representatives. Third, measure loyalty by asking how likely they’re to recommend you. Fourth, request the main reason for their contact. Finally, encourage open feedback by asking how you can improve their experience. These questions yield valuable insights. What Are the 3 C’s of Customer Satisfaction? The 3 C’s of customer satisfaction are Customer Needs, Customer Expectations, and Customer Communication. First, you need to identify what your customers require to feel satisfied with your products or services. Then, guarantee you meet their expectations by delivering on your promises consistently. Finally, maintain effective communication to keep customers informed about their experiences and how their feedback is used. Excelling in these elements can lead to higher retention rates and increased referrals. What Is an Example of a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire? A customer satisfaction questionnaire often includes key questions to gauge overall experience. For example, you might see a question like, “How satisfied were you with your recent experience?” rated from 1 to 5. It could likewise feature an NPS question, such as, “How likely are you to recommend us?” Moreover, including open-ended questions, like, “What can we do to improve?” helps gather specific feedback, enhancing your comprehension of customer needs and expectations. Conclusion To summarize, creating an effective customer service questionnaire involves careful planning and execution. By incorporating a variety of question types and maintaining a neutral tone, you can gather valuable insights from your customers. Remember to analyze the responses thoroughly and use the feedback to make informed improvements. This approach not just improves customer satisfaction but additionally strengthens your overall service quality. With a well-crafted questionnaire, you can better understand and meet your customers’ needs. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Creating an Effective Customer Service Questionnaire for Customers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you own a home, it's never a bad time to be thinking about its curb appeal. That's a given when it's time to sell, but making a series of smaller upgrades over time will leave you with less to worry about once it comes time to list it, at which point you'll probably be more focused on interior renovations. Plus, that way you'll get to enjoy coming home to a prettier, well-kept exterior every single day until then. The math around the cost of improvements and their potential return on investment is always complex, but less so when the upgrades don't cost much to begin with. You can handle a lot of projects yourself in a few hours on the weekend, and with modest budgets (often less than $100). Here are a dozen of the best ways to boost your home’s curb appeal without draining your bank account. Add a coat of paint or stain to beautify your front doorThe front door of your house is one of the first things people see, and it has a huge impact on the home’s perceived value. Installing a new front door can have an ROI of almost 200%, but if the average cost of about $2,300 is a bit too rich for your blood, simply painting or staining the door can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value at a cost of less than $100 in materials, and a few hours of your time. Add an awning over the front doorInstalling an awning over your front door or other entrances isn’t an expensive or difficult project, and it can add both beauty and practicality to the exterior of your house, protecting you from rain and drips from your roof line. It also makes your front door more welcoming to guests, who won’t have to stand in the elements waiting for you to answer their knock. Patch and seal your driveway before small cracks become a big problemYour driveway should be considered part of your landscaping, because its condition is part of the first impression people form about your house. A cracked, crumbling, stained driveway says all the wrong things (and is a warning of a big repair bill coming sooner rather than later), so cleaning it up and sealing it will go a long way. Sweep away dirt and debris Clean thoroughly with a power wash (you can use dish soap and your garden hose in a pinch) Fill in cracks with a quality crack filler product for asphalt or concrete. Seal the concrete or asphalt with an appropriate product. The total cost will be around $300. Hang exterior art to make your home stand outAn easy, affordable way to make the exterior of your home stand out is to hang some outside wall art. For just a few bucks (this dog-themed piece is just $16, for example) you can give the exterior of your home a bit of your personality, eliminate boring blank space, and make your outdoor spaces more visually interesting. That will prompt guests or potential buyers to think of those spaces as finished, and invite them to imagine themselves using those spaces. Plant some trees to increase your property valueAn easy way to spruce up the exterior of your home is to plant some trees—and trees definitely add to your home’s curb appeal and property value. Trees provide shade, which makes outdoor spaces more comfortable (and can even help keep your interior cooler by blocking some of the sun), and they make an outdoor space feel organic and comfortable. It can even be a $0 investment, because many cities and towns offer free tree programs, so if you’re willing to put in the sweat equity, the project doesn’t have to cost you a thing. Upgrade your mailboxIf your house has a mailbox on the edge of your property, upgrading it has a lot of advantages. For one, a larger mailbox can accommodate packages, meaning fewer crushed items and “we missed you” slips. And a new, stylish mailbox will be a little boost to the overall curb appeal of the house. While you’re at it, consider creating a mailbox garden, if there’s space for it. Building a simple raised garden bed around the mailbox and filling it with native flowers or spreading plants will enhance the mailbox and extend the influence of your landscaping. Refresh your garage door with new hardware and paintYour garage door is literally a huge aspect of your home’s curb appeal—typically anywhere from 50 to several hundred square feet of exterior space. If it’s looking a bit dingy, no amount of landscaping or other tricks will make your house look good. Luckily, upgrading your garage door doesn’t require an expensive replacement, as long as the door is in good physical shape. A coat of good-quality exterior paint can do a world of good. And you can also give your garage door a more lux look by adding some faux hardware whether permanently attached or using magnetic versions. Doing both will come in under $100. Add or replace your exterior lightingIf your front door is a dark and gloomy place, adding some lighting (or replacing what's there) will make your home seem a lot more inviting. You don’t need to spend hundreds of bucks and hire an electrician, either—you can pick up a battery- or solar-powered exterior light that installs with a few screws. Not only will this make your exterior a little nicer, it also means not fumbling with your phone’s flashlight when you get home late and can’t quite see your keys. Replace your house numbers with something stylishIf your home’s address is difficult to read, it can be hard to find. And if your home’s address numbers are faded or rusted, it reflects poorly on the rest of the home’s curb appeal. Replacing those numbers is pretty easy—and you have an incredibly wide range of styles to choose from, so you can really match or augment your home’s exterior style. You can get custom address plates made, of course, but you can find address numbers that attach via screws or adhesive if you’re not in the mood to break out the power drill. Install window plant boxes to hide your outdated windowsWhether your windows are brand new or a bit weathered, you can easily upgrade their look (and thus the look of the whole house) with the addition of window garden boxes. They extend your landscaping up onto the vertical space, creating a unified, cohesive look, and they help frame your windows with color and architectural interest. You can just place freestanding boxes on the sill if there’s room, or install something more permanent for a more upscale look. Install ornamental shutters to add visual interestJust like wall art, shutters can fill up the empty space on your exterior walls and create visual interest. They also imply a certain fanciness (that’s a technical real estate term) that can make the whole house look and feel a bit more expensive. But, secretly, they’re an inexpensive and easy upgrade: You can buy a pair of durable, paintable vinyl shutters for under $100, and they install easily, instantly transforming your exterior look and feel. Paint your gutters to make them popIf your gutters are the standard white, they’re an opportunity to make your home’s exterior pop a little more—because you can paint your gutters as easily as anything else. Choose a strong accent color, pick an exterior paint that’s appropriate for your gutter material (plastic or metal, typically), and transform them by spending a few hours painting (being super careful if you’re on a ladder, of course). View the full article

IN The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential, AI expert Zack Kass believes “properly harnessed, AI could democratize education, revolutionize healthcare, and accelerate innovation,” but “for Al to truly serve humanity, we will be forced to solve radical new ethical dilemmas, unprecedented economic disruptions, daunting technical challenges, environmental collapse, dehumanization, the loss of identity, and above all, terrifying uncertainty.” Yet because AI is not a tangible tech – something we can see – we are naturally suspicious. How does it work? Kass writes that AI systems must begin to “show their work” rather than just spitting out an answer if they are to be trusted. How did you get to the conclusion it came to? What information was considered? How valid is it? We need real-time transparency. “Real-time transparency gives users a window into what the system is prioritizing and why, helping build informed trust instead of blind faith.” What about the future of work? “Predicting Al’s impact on jobs has become high-stakes roulette, and the bets often say more about the gambler’s worldview than technology itself. Even among industry and economic experts, the topic is very much still up for debate.” Kass offers a set of four principles meant to guide how we live, work, and lead in the age of artificial intelligence. 1. Go Outside: The physical world matters more than anything else. It is life in four dimensions. Serendipity happens naturally. The physical world carries variety that no recommender system can deliver. Algorithms collapse toward similarity. Streets, markets, trails, and small talk offer variance and surprise. Serendipity does not follow a schedule. It happens when you are a little off route, a little curious, and fully present. It shakes loose stale assumptions. It builds resilience. You learn to adapt. Adaptability will keep you relevant. Anchors will keep you principled. If you confuse methods for values, you will collapse with them. But if you adapt while anchoring in your values, you will find the formula for resilience in any era. Go outside and be in the world you are trying to serve. Be in it. 2. Learn How to Learn: Study what you want. The process alone will teach you how to learn something else. Learning The Presidents what you already know. You will not be defined by what you know, or even by what you have already mastered. You will be defined by your ability to master something new, and your drive to keep doing so again and again. Knowledge expires. Tools expire. But learning endures. 3. Optimize for Human Qualities: Be Human. AI will make human qualities more valuable. Courage, compassion, hope, curiosity, humor, wisdom, and empathy are measures of human achievement. And soon these “soft skills” may in fact become our primary means of differentiation. In the age of AI, your humanity is the product. Your bedside manner matters. 4. Lead with Optimism: Lead with optimism. Fear constrains. Choose a can-do approach. Progress does not happen by default. People build toward the stories they believe. Narrative sets policy. Belief sets budgets. A leader’s horizon becomes a team’s boundary conditions. If we tell stories of decline, we will write rules that constrain. If we tell credible stories of a better future, we will invest, upskill, and move. Optimism is the way forward. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

Self-serve negative keyword lists are now live in Microsoft Advertising, according to Ads Liaison Navah Hopkins — giving advertisers long-requested control without submitting support tickets. What’s happening. Advertisers can now create and manage shared negative keyword lists directly in the UI. Lists support up to 5,000 negative keywords (one per line) and can be applied at either the campaign or account level. Match types function the same way in Performance Max as they do in traditional Search campaigns. Lists can also be edited, exported as CSV files, or removed from campaigns as needed. Microsoft notes that match type formatting requires brackets for exact match and quotation marks for phrase match — not hyphens. Why we care. Negative keywords are critical for filtering irrelevant traffic and protecting budgets. Making lists self-serve streamlines workflow, reduces reliance on support tickets, and gives advertisers faster control over search query exclusions. The bottom line. Microsoft is handing more operational control back to advertisers — and eliminating friction in one of the most essential levers for campaign efficiency. Dig deeper. How to add keywords that won’t trigger my ads (negative keywords) View the full article

On February 10, 2026, the United States District Court dealt a significant blow to fraudsters exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) initiative. Joshua White, a 44-year-old from Yoe, Pennsylvania, received a 96-month prison sentence for his role in a broad scheme that siphoned off more than $11.5 million in federal funds aimed at supporting small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls related to government assistance programs and their implications for legitimate small business owners. During the early days of the pandemic, many small businesses turned to these programs for much-needed relief. However, as highlighted by U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the White family exploited these funds for fraudulent gains. Joshua White was one of four defendants sentenced in this extensive conspiracy. His father, Creed White, operated Aluminum Alloys Manufacturing and was sentenced to a decade in prison for a similar conspiracy. Others involved, including employee Joseph Bailey and Kester Murray, also faced significant legal consequences. For small business owners today, the ramifications of this case go beyond the courtroom. The harsh penalties imposed send a clear message: engaging in fraud against federal relief programs is a risky path that can lead to severe personal and financial consequences. As IRS-CI Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty stated, “These individuals deliberately and repeatedly defrauded the PPP and the EIDL programs, which were designed to help small business owners during the COVID pandemic.” This statement underscores the critical nature of compliance. Practical insights emerge from this case worth noting. For small business owners seeking federal aid: Documentation is Key: Ensure that all applications are accurate and substantiated by proper documentation. Misrepresentation or inaccuracies can lead to severe repercussions, including criminal charges. Understand Eligibility: Familiarize yourself with the requirements for PPP and EIDL loans. Each program had clear guidelines, and adherence to these is vital for both securing funds and avoiding legal pitfalls. Transparency is Crucial: Establishing clear communication with banks and lenders can safeguard against misinterpretation or fraud accusations. Regular audits of financial documentation can also prevent issues down the line. However, potential challenges arise as small business owners navigate these waters. Increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies may lead legitimate businesses to feel the heat, creating an environment where honest applications could undergo rigorous examination. As Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General, remarked, “When individuals manipulate pandemic relief programs for personal gain, they undermine public trust.” This observation emphasizes the delicate balance legitimate entrepreneurs must maintain in ensuring trust while accessing government funds. Moreover, the aftermath of fraud cases like this one could lead to adjustments in federal programs, impacting future funding availability. As policymakers tighten regulations to prevent further abuses, small businesses may face increased compliance burdens. Finally, relying on accurate legal and financial advice can be instrumental in successfully navigating these complexities. Seeking guidance from legal experts and financial advisors familiar with government grants and loans may not only help in making well-informed decisions but also in building trust with lending institutions. The sentences handed down to the White family serve as a stern warning to those considering deceitful practices. With total restitution exceeding $2.3 million, the focus remains on protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that relief programs serve their intended purpose. In light of this case, it’s more important than ever for small business owners to engage in ethical practices when seeking financial support. For additional context, small businesses interested in keeping informed about investigative cases and oversight reports related to federal assistance can register for updates through the SBA’s Office of Inspector General here. For more information, view the original U.S. Department of Justice press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Four Sentenced in $11.5 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme in Pennsylvania" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

On February 10, 2026, the United States District Court dealt a significant blow to fraudsters exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) initiative. Joshua White, a 44-year-old from Yoe, Pennsylvania, received a 96-month prison sentence for his role in a broad scheme that siphoned off more than $11.5 million in federal funds aimed at supporting small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls related to government assistance programs and their implications for legitimate small business owners. During the early days of the pandemic, many small businesses turned to these programs for much-needed relief. However, as highlighted by U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the White family exploited these funds for fraudulent gains. Joshua White was one of four defendants sentenced in this extensive conspiracy. His father, Creed White, operated Aluminum Alloys Manufacturing and was sentenced to a decade in prison for a similar conspiracy. Others involved, including employee Joseph Bailey and Kester Murray, also faced significant legal consequences. For small business owners today, the ramifications of this case go beyond the courtroom. The harsh penalties imposed send a clear message: engaging in fraud against federal relief programs is a risky path that can lead to severe personal and financial consequences. As IRS-CI Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty stated, “These individuals deliberately and repeatedly defrauded the PPP and the EIDL programs, which were designed to help small business owners during the COVID pandemic.” This statement underscores the critical nature of compliance. Practical insights emerge from this case worth noting. For small business owners seeking federal aid: Documentation is Key: Ensure that all applications are accurate and substantiated by proper documentation. Misrepresentation or inaccuracies can lead to severe repercussions, including criminal charges. Understand Eligibility: Familiarize yourself with the requirements for PPP and EIDL loans. Each program had clear guidelines, and adherence to these is vital for both securing funds and avoiding legal pitfalls. Transparency is Crucial: Establishing clear communication with banks and lenders can safeguard against misinterpretation or fraud accusations. Regular audits of financial documentation can also prevent issues down the line. However, potential challenges arise as small business owners navigate these waters. Increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies may lead legitimate businesses to feel the heat, creating an environment where honest applications could undergo rigorous examination. As Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General, remarked, “When individuals manipulate pandemic relief programs for personal gain, they undermine public trust.” This observation emphasizes the delicate balance legitimate entrepreneurs must maintain in ensuring trust while accessing government funds. Moreover, the aftermath of fraud cases like this one could lead to adjustments in federal programs, impacting future funding availability. As policymakers tighten regulations to prevent further abuses, small businesses may face increased compliance burdens. Finally, relying on accurate legal and financial advice can be instrumental in successfully navigating these complexities. Seeking guidance from legal experts and financial advisors familiar with government grants and loans may not only help in making well-informed decisions but also in building trust with lending institutions. The sentences handed down to the White family serve as a stern warning to those considering deceitful practices. With total restitution exceeding $2.3 million, the focus remains on protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that relief programs serve their intended purpose. In light of this case, it’s more important than ever for small business owners to engage in ethical practices when seeking financial support. For additional context, small businesses interested in keeping informed about investigative cases and oversight reports related to federal assistance can register for updates through the SBA’s Office of Inspector General here. For more information, view the original U.S. Department of Justice press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Four Sentenced in $11.5 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme in Pennsylvania" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Lenders weigh losses linked to Market Financial Solutions, linked to Bangladeshi politician’s real estate empire View the full article

Ever since I deleted my Facebook account, Instagram has taken its place as the social network I visit most often to check what my friends are up to. I've been on the app for something like 15 years now, and during this time, I've learned a trick or two that improve the experience (or at least make it less annoying). Here are 10 Instagram hacks that will enhance your privacy, reduce the amount of junk in your feed, help you reset your algorithm, and more. Use Instagram filters to block spam messages and comments and clean up your feedOn every social media app, I like to set up filters to mute offensive keywords, but you can use keywords to block almost anything you don't want to see. On Instagram, you can use filters to easily block spammy comments and offensive messages. While you can customize your filter list, I just looked up a list of offensive phrases, and quickly added it to my IG account, then added a few additional terms. You can do the same thing by going to your Instagram profile page, and tapping the three-lines menu in the top-right corner in Instagram. This opens the Settings and activity page, where you can select Hidden Words. It lets you add multiple words, as long as you separate them with a comma. Once added, Instagram will block comments and messages containing those terms. You can also add mute keywords for posts appearing in your feed. Go to Instagram Settings > Content preferences > Specific words and phrases. On the Content preferences page, go to Sensitive content and Political content, and you can limit those types of posts and videos from showing up on your feed too. Reset your Instagram algorithmEvery once in a while, my Instagram algorithm goes haywire and I'm forced to reset it. After all, I mostly open this app to see my friends' updates and cat videos, and once my feed starts showing me too much Hyrox content (a "sport" I couldn't care less about), I know I'm in trouble. If something like this happens to you, there are two ways to reprogram your feed. The easy option is to just look for a reel you enjoy (such as a cat video), and swipe upwards a few times till you reach a non-cat video, then navigate away. Repeat this process a few times and your feed will be back to more cat videos and less Hyrox (or anything else). If that doesn't work, or if your feed is too far gone in the wrong direction, then you can go to Instagram Settings > Content preferences > Reset suggested content to reboot it entirely. Remove tracking links from InstagramWhen you share any post, reel, story, or other type of content on Instagram, the app tracks who you're sharing it with, even if you send the link outside Instagram. You can see this by tapping the Share button on any post, and selecting Copy link: Paste this link in any text editor, such as Apple Notes or Google Keep, and you'll see that the link has tracking parameters at the end, such as "?igsh=…" or "?utm…". That helps Instagram identify that you've shared the link. There's no way to disable this tracking, but you can manually remove it from each link before you send it to someone. Just paste the URL it as usual, then delete everything after the question mark. Force Instagram to open DM links in your preferred browser Credit: Pranay Parab Whenever you open a link in Instagram, the app opens it in an in-app browser. This is the least privacy friendly option, as Instagram can then track which websites you're visiting quite easily. You can partially stop this by tapping the three-dots button in the top-right corner of Instagram's in-app browser and selecting Open in external browser. There's no way to make this the default setting for all links, but you can set it as default for links you receive via DM. To do this, go to Instagram Settings > App website permissions > Message links and turn on Open in external browser. Limit your Instagram notificationsAfter you post something, Instagram loves to spam you with notifications every time a few people interact with the post. Even if you don't use Instagram for a day or two, you'll still get a deluge of notifications from the app. I don't face this problem because I never allow Instagram permission to send any notifications on my devices, but that's not an option for everyone. If you don't want to turn off notifications entire, you can choose to receive only the useful notifications from Instagram. To do this, go to Instagram Settings > Notifications and review all the options available to you. I particularly like the Messages only option, which only sends me an alert when someone DMs viaon the app. To further limit notifications, go to the Following and followers section on this page, and disable Account suggestions. Similarly, you can go to Messages and disable Message reminders and all varieties of channel notification settings. You can also go to the Calls section and turn off Video chats, which has the added bonus of disabling video calls on Instagram, which I've never wanted to use. Hide your online status and disable read receipts on InstagramFor some reason, Instagram shows other people when you're online. If you want to be more discreet, go to Instagram Settings > Messages and story replies > Show activity status and turn the setting off. (On the previous page, you can select Show read receipts and turn it off to stop people seeing if you've read their messages too.) Hide the "typing" indicator in Instagram messagesWhen someone is messaging you on Instagram, the app shows you an animation to tell you that the other person is typing. More often than not, this feature only makes me keep the app open longer while the other person types their message, which is probably why Instagram's added it in the first place. If you don't want to see the typing indicator in a chat, you can disable it: Open any chat in Instagram and tap the contact's name up top. Go to Privacy and safety and turn off Typing indicator. Sadly, you'll need to do this manually for each of your Instagram chats. Enable end-to-end encryption to make Instagram more secure Credit: Pranay Parab Instagram chats are not encrypted by default, which means that the company can read all your messages. If you want to beef up your security, consider using end-to-end encryption for your chats. Just like Telegram, Instagram hides its end-to-end encrypted chat feature, and makes you enable it manually for each chat. You can do so by opening any chat in Instagram, tapping the contact's name up top, selecting Privacy and safety > Use end-to-end encryption. Automatically clear your Instagram search historyYour Instagram search history shows up whenever you try to search for anything on Instagram. This can be embarrassing if you've looked up something really silly (or slightly naughty), and someone else sees it. to prevent this, you can clear your searches by tapping the search bar in Instagram, and selecting Clear all, or tapping the x next to each search term. However, there's also a way to automatically clear your search history on Instagram: Go to Instagram Settings > Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Search history > Keep searches for, and select 3 days, which is the minimum time for automatically deleting your searches. Reset your Instagram ad preferences to protect your dataThere's no way to block ads on Instagram, but you can reduce the amount of your data that Instagram uses to show you those ads. Just go to Instagram Settings > Accounts Center > Ad preferences > Manage info. You can go through each option on this page and turn off everything you can. Under Categories used to reach you, select Remove on every option. You can choose Don't allow us… in these two categories: Ads in other apps and Ads about Meta. Finally, you can select Activity information from ad partners > Review setting, and pick No, don't make my ads more relevant. View the full article

If you think Paris is always a good idea and the French do everything better, especially leisure—then this one is for you. Unlike Americans, who treat their weekends as a sprint to see who can do the most chores, Sundays are sacred in France—a time to slow down, reset for the week, and do as little as possible. (“Even protests in France happen every day except Sunday . . . that’s how sacred [they] are,” Céline Kaplan, co-founder of upcycled products marketplace OOOF (Out of Office Forever) and PR agent for French clients in New York, tells The Zoe Report.) Looking for more work/life balance? Try treating Sunday as a holiday instead of the first day of a new week, and you may find some surprising results—a calm start to your work week, instead of an anxiety-producing day of “Sunday Scaries.” So, what is a French Sunday? I will admit, I’ve been doing my own version of a “French Sunday” for as long as I can remember. Sleeping in late? Check. Lounge around with coffee and a paper? Check. Brunch? Bien sûr. Like most fashionable trends, “French Sunday” comes from France, but was most recently popularized by Vogue. In short, the art of Sunday à la française is an antidote to the burnout and anxiety many Americans feel come Monday. For one thing, most shops are closed by noon on Sunday in France, eliminating the need to feel “productive” or cross things off a to-do list. Instead, Dimanche is for connecting with family and friends—and not isolating on digital devices, which Americans commonly do as a way to decompress, but which actually severely affects mental health, increases stress and anxiety, and creates even more loneliness. According to the Vogue article, “French Sundays” are supposed to be “lazy, stress-free days, when the main activity is to do nothing”—the exact opposite of productivity hacks that encourage people to use Sundays to prep for next week’s meals, do that load of laundry, clean your space, review your calendar, and lay out your work clothes (making Sundays practically a sixth day of work). How to have your own French Sunday First, “French Sundays” are a mindset, not just a day. Try embracing your inner Frenchie, which means starting the day by letting your body decide when you get up, sans alarm clock. Other suggestions on how to make Sundays your own: Prioritize meeting up with friends and family, take a walk, and even allow yourself to indulge in life’s simple pleasures, which, for the French, is food. One Sunday ritual in France is the family lunch, a big meal that goes on too long, often involving a roast chicken and many, many people. (Social connection, it turns out, is good for your mental health.) Here are a few more suggestions from Vogue: Take an obscenely long nap. Be a flâner, stroll aimlessly. Snack. Cook something that takes forever. Find a pretty view to stare at. Indulge in watching two movies back-to-back in an actual theater. And of course, the most French thing of all—and something you never see as a productivity hack—make love. Bon weekend! View the full article

Not all borrower scenarios are equal. When it comes to evaluating the risk of small landlords, lenders need to focus on a few specific factors. View the full article

Google published a new help document outlining how passkeys work in Google Ads — a timely move as advertisers face a rise in account hacks and phishing attempts. What’s happening. The new help page explains how passkeys function as a passwordless, phishing-resistant login method in Google Ads, and clarifies when they’re required — including for sensitive actions like user access changes and account linking updates. The documentation walks advertisers through device requirements, setup steps and security considerations. Why we care. Ad accounts are increasingly being targeted by attackers, with compromised logins leading to budget theft, campaign disruption and data loss. Clearer guidance from Google gives advertisers a straightforward path to strengthening account defenses at a critical moment. The bottom line. As account takeovers become more common, better education around security tools like passkeys is a practical win for advertisers looking to lock down access and reduce risk. Dig deeper. About Google Ads account passkey View the full article

Investors fret over growing strains in private credit and risk AI disrupts software industryView the full article

Target will stop selling cereals containing synthetic colors by the end of May. The Minneapolis-based discounter said Friday it had been phasing out synthetic colors in cereals for several years. Right now, 85% of its cereal sales already come from products made without synthetic dyes. Target said it has worked with national brands and its private brands to reformulate products as needed. Some cereals — including Trix and Lucky Charms, which are made by General Mills — will have updated formulations, Target said. Target said it will no longer carry brands that don’t reformulate, but it didn’t name the brands. General Mills announced last year that it planned to remove artificial dyes from all of its U.S. cereals by the summer of 2026. But WK Kellogg has said it plans to remove artificial dyes from its cereals by the end of 2027. Kellogg makes several cereals with artificial dyes that are now sold at Target, including Froot Loops, Apple Jacks and Squishmallows. Messages seeking comment were left Friday with General Mills and WK Kellogg. Target’s move acknowledges that American consumers and the U.S. government are paying closer attention to what goes into packaged foods. Last January, days before former President Joe Biden left office, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned Red 3, a petroleum-based dye. A few months later, the FDA under President Donald The President urged food makers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors by the end of 2026. The agency is reviewing some other petroleum-based dyes, including Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and 6 and Blue No. 1. Earlier this month, the FDA said it was relaxing rules that restrict when food companies can claim that their products have no artificial colors. The agency said food labels may claim to have “no artificial colors” when they are free of petroleum-based dyes even if they contain dyes derived from natural sources such as plants. Target isn’t the first big retailer to nix artificial dyes. Whole Foods has never allowed products with artificial colors since its founding in 1980. Trader Joe’s also doesn’t use synthetic colors in its products. Last year, Walmart said it planned to remove synthetic food dyes and 30 other ingredients, including some preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes, from its store brands sold in the United States by January 2027. Target noted that its private label Good & Gather brand, which it introduced in 2019, is made without artificial flavors and sweeteners, synthetic colors or high fructose corn syrup. The brand has more than 2,500 products across dairy, produce, ready made pastas meat as well as baby and toddler food. “We know consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthier lifestyles, and we’re moving quickly to evolve our offerings to meet their needs,” said Cara Sylvester, Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, in a statement. In recent months, other major food companies like Kraft Heinz, Nestle and Conagra Brands have pledged to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes in coming years. —Anne D’Innocenzio and Dee-Ann Durbin, AP business writer View the full article

Misconceptions about team building can hinder its potential benefits. Many people think it’s only for salaried employees or that it requires expensive activities, which isn’t true. Others believe that team building isn’t needed if the team is already performing well, or that it’s solely the leader’s responsibility. Comprehending these misconceptions is essential, as they can impact your team’s effectiveness. Let’s explore these beliefs further and uncover the real value of team building. Key Takeaways Team building is not a one-time solution; lasting change requires ongoing efforts rather than superficial events. Total harmony among team members is unrealistic; healthy conflict can enhance engagement and foster authentic interactions. Effective team building is not a waste of time; it is a strategic investment essential for collaboration and performance. High-performance teams do not develop effortlessly; they require continuous commitment and participation from all members. Misunderstanding team-building outcomes can undermine efforts, as tailored activities are necessary for meaningful collaboration and growth. Team Building Is Only Necessary for Salaried Employees Why do some people believe team building is only necessary for salaried employees? This misconception overlooks the potential benefits of team development for hourly employees, who likewise possess the capability and interest in collaboration. Investing in team-building initiatives for these workers cultivates a sense of value and belonging, essential for enhancing overall employee engagement and morale. Research shows that hourly employees value teamwork just as much as salaried counterparts, emphasizing the need for inclusive team-building efforts across all classifications. Effective team-building activities can lead to increased productivity, regardless of whether employees are hourly or salaried. The belief that hourly pay limits motivation for collaboration is unfounded, as employee sentiments reveal a strong appreciation for teamwork. Team Building Activities Must Be Expensive and Time-Consuming You don’t need to spend a fortune or dedicate hours to effective team-building activities. Simple, low-cost initiatives, like regular check-ins or brief social gatherings, can greatly improve communication and collaboration among team members. Cost-Effective Alternatives Available Many people believe that effective team building requires a hefty budget and extensive time commitments, but that’s far from the truth. You can implement cost-effective alternatives that improve team cohesion without breaking the bank. Regular team meetings with check-in questions can strengthen bonds in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional activities. Informal social gatherings, like coffee breaks or lunch outings, as well promote connections without significant financial investment. Tailoring initiatives to your team’s specific needs can yield positive results just as effectively as larger-scale events. By focusing on these simple, budget-friendly strategies, you’ll boost employee engagement and productivity in the process of keeping time commitments manageable. Team building doesn’t have to be expensive; it just needs to be intentional. Short Activities Matter Although some believe that team-building activities must be elaborate and time-consuming to be effective, this misconception overlooks the value of shorter, more focused initiatives. Short team-building activities can be just as effective in promoting engagement and improving retention of information. Regular meetings paired with brief initiatives can markedly improve communication and collaboration without demanding much time or money. Customized, cost-effective activities addressing specific team needs often yield positive results. Furthermore, small, frequent team-building exercises cultivate connection and camaraderie, proving that impactful bonding doesn’t require grand gestures. Team Building Only Happens in an Office Setting Though it’s a common belief that team building only takes place within the confines of an office, this notion overlooks the myriad of environments where such activities can flourish. Team formation can occur in various settings, from outdoor retreats to community service events. These creative environments, like art studios or recreational facilities, promote better collaboration and communication among team members. Incorporating team-building activities into training programs or company-sponsored social events improves their effectiveness and nurtures team cohesion. Engaging in team building outside the office allows for a more relaxed atmosphere, encouraging open communication and relationship-building among team members. Utilizing diverse environments leads to stronger team dynamics and enhanced problem-solving abilities. When you step outside the traditional office, you open up new avenues for development, making team building not just an office activity, but a holistic approach to improving workplace relationships. The Team Leader Is Responsible for Team Building Even though a team leader often initiates team-building activities, it’s important to recognize that the responsibility for nurturing collaboration and engagement extends to every team member. Effective team building hinges on the participation and commitment of all individuals involved. When each member contributes, a strong sense of community develops, valued by 80% of employees and employers alike. Leaders shouldn’t shoulder this responsibility alone; successful initiatives thrive on regular input from team members, reinforcing teamwork principles. In fact, 63% of leaders report improved communication when everyone actively engages in relationship-building activities. High-performing teams utilize the diverse strengths of each individual, making it crucial for all members, not just the leader, to be involved in team building. Team Building Is Unnecessary if the Team Is Already Performing Well Many people assume that once a team reaches a high performance level, team building becomes unnecessary. Nevertheless, this belief overlooks the critical role of ongoing team building. Even high-performing teams benefit from regular engagement, as it promotes camaraderie and trust, both of which boost motivation and prevent complacency. Team building is unnecessary if the team is already performing well, but neglecting it can lead to unresolved conflicts and weakened dynamics over time. External factors can change team dynamics, making continuous team building fundamental to maintain effectiveness. Furthermore, investing in team building encourages open communication and collaboration, imperative for problem-solving and innovation. Regular activities improve individual contributions and overall team cohesion, reinforcing a strong performance culture. In the end, remembering that teamwork rules means comprehending that even successful teams need to nurture their relationships and processes to sustain their high performance. Team Building Is Just About Fun and Games Many people mistakenly believe that team building is just about fun and games, but its real purpose is much deeper. It focuses on developing strategic relationships and enhancing communication skills among team members, which are crucial for a cohesive work environment. Strategic Relationship Development Though it’s common to associate team building with enjoyable activities, this perspective misses a critical aspect of its true purpose: strategic relationship development. Successful teams thrive on strong emotional connections among members, which promote engagement and productivity. In fact, effective team building initiatives can boost productivity by 20%-25% in connected departments, underscoring their importance beyond mere recreation. Relationship-building activities create a sense of belonging and community, which 80% of employees and employers value. Furthermore, connected teams see a 31% increase in profitability. Enhanced Communication Skills Even though it’s easy to dismiss team building as merely a series of fun activities, this perspective undermines its significant role in improving communication skills within a team. Effective team building activities not only entertain but also cultivate meaningful interactions that strengthen communication among members. In fact, 63% of leaders report improved communication after such activities. Engaging in team building helps you learn to express your ideas clearly and listen actively, which promotes a culture of open dialogue. Connected departments often see a 20%-25% boost in productivity as a result of improved communication. One-Time Events Can Solve Underlying Issues Even though it might seem appealing to believe that a one-time team-building event can resolve deeper issues within a group, the reality is quite different. One-time events rarely achieve systemic change. True progress requires ongoing engagement and development. The Forgetting Curve shows that without repetition, the skills and connections gained during a single event quickly fade. Limitation of One-Time Events Ongoing Engagement Benefits Key Takeaways Rarely leads to systemic change Cultivates trust over time Requires continuous effort Lacks reinforcement Improves communication Follow-up is crucial Addresses issues superficially Supports long-term growth Evaluate impact regularly For effective collaboration and lasting improvements, consistent team-building initiatives are vital. Regular follow-ups and evaluations allow you to understand their impact, ensuring that underlying issues are adequately addressed and not merely glossed over with a single event. All Team Building Activities Yield the Same Results It’s a common misconception that all team-building activities yield the same results, but that’s far from the truth. The effectiveness of these activities hinges on how well they align with your team’s unique dynamics and individual preferences. Tailoring approaches to meet specific needs and goals often leads to greater collaboration and connection among team members, making the choice of activity essential for success. Varying Activity Outcomes Even though many people assume that all team-building activities produce similar outcomes, the reality is quite different. The effectiveness of these activities varies greatly based on their design, participant engagement preferences, and work styles. When you implement team guidelines that consider individual differences, you improve the likelihood of achieving successful experiences and desired results. Activities designed for different work styles can promote more effective bonding and collaboration among team members. Tailored Approaches Matter In regards to team-building activities, many people mistakenly believe that all approaches yield the same results. Nevertheless, customized approaches matter greatly. Not every activity suits every team, as various work styles and engagement preferences can affect outcomes. When you personalize activities to meet your team’s unique needs, participation often improves, leading to better results. Holistic methods that consider individual and team dynamics improve the chances of successful experiences. Individual Preferences Influence Success When team building activities are designed without considering individual preferences, they often miss the mark in nurturing genuine collaboration and engagement. Not all team building initiatives produce the same results, as individual preferences influence success considerably. Some team members may thrive in collaborative tasks, whereas others perform better in solo endeavors. By tailoring activities to align with these diverse personality traits, you improve the likelihood of successful experiences. Research indicates that holistic approaches to team building, which account for each member’s unique attributes, lead to more effective relationship-building outcomes. Ignoring individual differences can result in activities that fail to resonate, eventually reducing participant engagement and effectiveness. Acknowledging these preferences is vital for creating balanced and impactful team building experiences. Team Building Is a Waste of Time The belief that team building is a waste of time often stems from a misinterpretation of its true purpose and potential benefits. In reality, effective team building is a strategic investment that improves workplace productivity. Research shows that 80% of employees and employers value a sense of community, which team-building activities cultivate. Furthermore, 63% of leaders report improved communication following these initiatives, leading to better collaboration and efficiency. Team building in addition positively impacts morale; 61% of leaders note a direct correlation between these efforts and higher employee morale. This increased morale is vital, as it boosts employee engagement and retention, making team building far from a waste of time. In fact, connected departments experience a 20%-25% increase in productivity, demonstrating that investing time in team building yields significant returns. By comprehending these benefits, you can appreciate the value of team building in the workplace. Team Building Creates Total Harmony Among Members As team building is often perceived as a means to achieve complete harmony among members, this view overlooks the importance of diversity and the value of differing perspectives. In reality, team building creates total harmony among members is a misconception. Successful teams thrive on a mix of opinions and emotions, including healthy conflict. This dynamic nurtures authentic interactions and encourages open discussions, which are essential for trust and cooperation. Rather than suppressing differences, effective team development acknowledges individual contributions and varying needs, enhancing engagement and motivation. It’s through these diverse strengths that teams can truly excel. The goal of team building isn’t to enforce uniformity but to leverage the unique skills each member brings. Embracing differences is what makes a successful team, eventually leading to more innovative solutions and a stronger collective performance. Conflict Is Always Bad in Team Settings Though many believe that conflict disrupts team dynamics, it can actually serve as a catalyst for growth and innovation. The idea that conflict is always bad in team settings overlooks its potential benefits. When managed properly, conflict can encourage critical thinking and generate new ideas that drive projects forward. Suppressing conflict might lead to frustration, eventually derailing your efforts. High-performing teams recognize that both positive and negative emotions are crucial for open communication, which is fundamental for collaboration and problem-solving. Encouraging open discussions allows team members to surface and channel conflict positively, creating momentum and enhancing outcomes. This approach highlights what makes a team effective: the ability to navigate disagreements constructively. By embracing conflict as a healthy source of energy, you can transform challenges into opportunities, nurturing an environment that promotes innovation and continuous improvement within your team. High-Performance Teams Form Naturally Without Effort Building a high-performance team doesn’t happen by chance; it requires deliberate effort and strategic planning. High-performance teams don’t form naturally; they demand intentional cultivation through leadership commitment and investment in team dynamics. Here are fundamental elements to reflect on: Clear Communication: Establishing open lines of communication guarantees everyone is aligned on goals and expectations. Trust Building: Cultivating trust among team members is critical for collaboration and effective decision-making. Regular Feedback: Implementing a system for continuous feedback helps identify areas for improvement and maintain high performance. Positive Culture: Nurturing a supportive organizational culture is imperative for the sustainability of high-performance teams. Creating these teams involves ongoing effort and adaptation to both external and internal changes. Relying on the assumption that high-performance teams will develop effortlessly can lead to disappointment and underperformance. Frequently Asked Questions Which of These Is Not a Benefit of Team Building? Team building isn’t just about creating a perfect environment; it’s important to understand that it doesn’t guarantee total harmony among team members. Instead, effective teams embrace diversity and use differing perspectives to improve collaboration and innovation. This means that during team building nurtures connections, it likewise encourages healthy debates and discussions, eventually leading to better problem-solving and creativity, rather than simply eliminating conflict or ensuring everyone always agrees. Which of the Following Are Common Mistakes Made When Using Team Building Activities? Common mistakes in team-building activities include neglecting to set clear objectives, which can create confusion and limit effectiveness. Underestimating communication before and during events often leads to disengagement, as providing details encourages inclusivity. Furthermore, failing to evaluate the impact on team cohesion and performance prevents necessary improvements. Choosing unsuitable activities that don’t match team dynamics can disengage participants, and poor organization can disrupt the experience, detracting from overall enjoyment and engagement. What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Team Building? Team building offers several advantages, such as improved communication, increased productivity, and boosted employee morale. You’ll likely see better collaboration and engagement among team members, promoting a more connected environment. Nevertheless, disadvantages can include time consumption and potential resistance from employees who may not see the value in such activities. Furthermore, if not executed properly, team building efforts might lead to superficial relationships rather than genuine connections. Balancing these factors is crucial for success. What Are the 5 C’s of Team Building? The 5 C’s of team building are Communication, Collaboration, Cohesion, Conflict Resolution, and Commitment. Communication allows team members to share ideas openly, reducing misunderstandings. Collaboration focuses on working together in the direction of common goals, boosting productivity by 20%-25%. Cohesion strengthens relationships, promoting morale and engagement. Conflict Resolution encourages healthy discussions, utilizing diverse opinions for innovative solutions. Finally, Commitment guarantees team members are dedicated to their tasks, nurturing accountability and shared success within the group. Conclusion In conclusion, comprehending the misconceptions surrounding team building is vital for nurturing effective collaboration. It’s not limited to salaried employees or confined to office settings, nor does it solely rely on team leaders. Team building is fundamental even for high-performing teams, as it promotes trust and healthy conflict. Recognizing that it doesn’t guarantee total harmony and requires ongoing effort will help you appreciate its strategic value. By addressing these misconceptions, you can improve your team’s performance and cohesion. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Identifying Misconceptions: Which Are Not Benefits of Team Building?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Misconceptions about team building can hinder its potential benefits. Many people think it’s only for salaried employees or that it requires expensive activities, which isn’t true. Others believe that team building isn’t needed if the team is already performing well, or that it’s solely the leader’s responsibility. Comprehending these misconceptions is essential, as they can impact your team’s effectiveness. Let’s explore these beliefs further and uncover the real value of team building. Key Takeaways Team building is not a one-time solution; lasting change requires ongoing efforts rather than superficial events. Total harmony among team members is unrealistic; healthy conflict can enhance engagement and foster authentic interactions. Effective team building is not a waste of time; it is a strategic investment essential for collaboration and performance. High-performance teams do not develop effortlessly; they require continuous commitment and participation from all members. Misunderstanding team-building outcomes can undermine efforts, as tailored activities are necessary for meaningful collaboration and growth. Team Building Is Only Necessary for Salaried Employees Why do some people believe team building is only necessary for salaried employees? This misconception overlooks the potential benefits of team development for hourly employees, who likewise possess the capability and interest in collaboration. Investing in team-building initiatives for these workers cultivates a sense of value and belonging, essential for enhancing overall employee engagement and morale. Research shows that hourly employees value teamwork just as much as salaried counterparts, emphasizing the need for inclusive team-building efforts across all classifications. Effective team-building activities can lead to increased productivity, regardless of whether employees are hourly or salaried. The belief that hourly pay limits motivation for collaboration is unfounded, as employee sentiments reveal a strong appreciation for teamwork. Team Building Activities Must Be Expensive and Time-Consuming You don’t need to spend a fortune or dedicate hours to effective team-building activities. Simple, low-cost initiatives, like regular check-ins or brief social gatherings, can greatly improve communication and collaboration among team members. Cost-Effective Alternatives Available Many people believe that effective team building requires a hefty budget and extensive time commitments, but that’s far from the truth. You can implement cost-effective alternatives that improve team cohesion without breaking the bank. Regular team meetings with check-in questions can strengthen bonds in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional activities. Informal social gatherings, like coffee breaks or lunch outings, as well promote connections without significant financial investment. Tailoring initiatives to your team’s specific needs can yield positive results just as effectively as larger-scale events. By focusing on these simple, budget-friendly strategies, you’ll boost employee engagement and productivity in the process of keeping time commitments manageable. Team building doesn’t have to be expensive; it just needs to be intentional. Short Activities Matter Although some believe that team-building activities must be elaborate and time-consuming to be effective, this misconception overlooks the value of shorter, more focused initiatives. Short team-building activities can be just as effective in promoting engagement and improving retention of information. Regular meetings paired with brief initiatives can markedly improve communication and collaboration without demanding much time or money. Customized, cost-effective activities addressing specific team needs often yield positive results. Furthermore, small, frequent team-building exercises cultivate connection and camaraderie, proving that impactful bonding doesn’t require grand gestures. Team Building Only Happens in an Office Setting Though it’s a common belief that team building only takes place within the confines of an office, this notion overlooks the myriad of environments where such activities can flourish. Team formation can occur in various settings, from outdoor retreats to community service events. These creative environments, like art studios or recreational facilities, promote better collaboration and communication among team members. Incorporating team-building activities into training programs or company-sponsored social events improves their effectiveness and nurtures team cohesion. Engaging in team building outside the office allows for a more relaxed atmosphere, encouraging open communication and relationship-building among team members. Utilizing diverse environments leads to stronger team dynamics and enhanced problem-solving abilities. When you step outside the traditional office, you open up new avenues for development, making team building not just an office activity, but a holistic approach to improving workplace relationships. The Team Leader Is Responsible for Team Building Even though a team leader often initiates team-building activities, it’s important to recognize that the responsibility for nurturing collaboration and engagement extends to every team member. Effective team building hinges on the participation and commitment of all individuals involved. When each member contributes, a strong sense of community develops, valued by 80% of employees and employers alike. Leaders shouldn’t shoulder this responsibility alone; successful initiatives thrive on regular input from team members, reinforcing teamwork principles. In fact, 63% of leaders report improved communication when everyone actively engages in relationship-building activities. High-performing teams utilize the diverse strengths of each individual, making it crucial for all members, not just the leader, to be involved in team building. Team Building Is Unnecessary if the Team Is Already Performing Well Many people assume that once a team reaches a high performance level, team building becomes unnecessary. Nevertheless, this belief overlooks the critical role of ongoing team building. Even high-performing teams benefit from regular engagement, as it promotes camaraderie and trust, both of which boost motivation and prevent complacency. Team building is unnecessary if the team is already performing well, but neglecting it can lead to unresolved conflicts and weakened dynamics over time. External factors can change team dynamics, making continuous team building fundamental to maintain effectiveness. Furthermore, investing in team building encourages open communication and collaboration, imperative for problem-solving and innovation. Regular activities improve individual contributions and overall team cohesion, reinforcing a strong performance culture. In the end, remembering that teamwork rules means comprehending that even successful teams need to nurture their relationships and processes to sustain their high performance. Team Building Is Just About Fun and Games Many people mistakenly believe that team building is just about fun and games, but its real purpose is much deeper. It focuses on developing strategic relationships and enhancing communication skills among team members, which are crucial for a cohesive work environment. Strategic Relationship Development Though it’s common to associate team building with enjoyable activities, this perspective misses a critical aspect of its true purpose: strategic relationship development. Successful teams thrive on strong emotional connections among members, which promote engagement and productivity. In fact, effective team building initiatives can boost productivity by 20%-25% in connected departments, underscoring their importance beyond mere recreation. Relationship-building activities create a sense of belonging and community, which 80% of employees and employers value. Furthermore, connected teams see a 31% increase in profitability. Enhanced Communication Skills Even though it’s easy to dismiss team building as merely a series of fun activities, this perspective undermines its significant role in improving communication skills within a team. Effective team building activities not only entertain but also cultivate meaningful interactions that strengthen communication among members. In fact, 63% of leaders report improved communication after such activities. Engaging in team building helps you learn to express your ideas clearly and listen actively, which promotes a culture of open dialogue. Connected departments often see a 20%-25% boost in productivity as a result of improved communication. One-Time Events Can Solve Underlying Issues Even though it might seem appealing to believe that a one-time team-building event can resolve deeper issues within a group, the reality is quite different. One-time events rarely achieve systemic change. True progress requires ongoing engagement and development. The Forgetting Curve shows that without repetition, the skills and connections gained during a single event quickly fade. Limitation of One-Time Events Ongoing Engagement Benefits Key Takeaways Rarely leads to systemic change Cultivates trust over time Requires continuous effort Lacks reinforcement Improves communication Follow-up is crucial Addresses issues superficially Supports long-term growth Evaluate impact regularly For effective collaboration and lasting improvements, consistent team-building initiatives are vital. Regular follow-ups and evaluations allow you to understand their impact, ensuring that underlying issues are adequately addressed and not merely glossed over with a single event. All Team Building Activities Yield the Same Results It’s a common misconception that all team-building activities yield the same results, but that’s far from the truth. The effectiveness of these activities hinges on how well they align with your team’s unique dynamics and individual preferences. Tailoring approaches to meet specific needs and goals often leads to greater collaboration and connection among team members, making the choice of activity essential for success. Varying Activity Outcomes Even though many people assume that all team-building activities produce similar outcomes, the reality is quite different. The effectiveness of these activities varies greatly based on their design, participant engagement preferences, and work styles. When you implement team guidelines that consider individual differences, you improve the likelihood of achieving successful experiences and desired results. Activities designed for different work styles can promote more effective bonding and collaboration among team members. Tailored Approaches Matter In regards to team-building activities, many people mistakenly believe that all approaches yield the same results. Nevertheless, customized approaches matter greatly. Not every activity suits every team, as various work styles and engagement preferences can affect outcomes. When you personalize activities to meet your team’s unique needs, participation often improves, leading to better results. Holistic methods that consider individual and team dynamics improve the chances of successful experiences. Individual Preferences Influence Success When team building activities are designed without considering individual preferences, they often miss the mark in nurturing genuine collaboration and engagement. Not all team building initiatives produce the same results, as individual preferences influence success considerably. Some team members may thrive in collaborative tasks, whereas others perform better in solo endeavors. By tailoring activities to align with these diverse personality traits, you improve the likelihood of successful experiences. Research indicates that holistic approaches to team building, which account for each member’s unique attributes, lead to more effective relationship-building outcomes. Ignoring individual differences can result in activities that fail to resonate, eventually reducing participant engagement and effectiveness. Acknowledging these preferences is vital for creating balanced and impactful team building experiences. Team Building Is a Waste of Time The belief that team building is a waste of time often stems from a misinterpretation of its true purpose and potential benefits. In reality, effective team building is a strategic investment that improves workplace productivity. Research shows that 80% of employees and employers value a sense of community, which team-building activities cultivate. Furthermore, 63% of leaders report improved communication following these initiatives, leading to better collaboration and efficiency. Team building in addition positively impacts morale; 61% of leaders note a direct correlation between these efforts and higher employee morale. This increased morale is vital, as it boosts employee engagement and retention, making team building far from a waste of time. In fact, connected departments experience a 20%-25% increase in productivity, demonstrating that investing time in team building yields significant returns. By comprehending these benefits, you can appreciate the value of team building in the workplace. Team Building Creates Total Harmony Among Members As team building is often perceived as a means to achieve complete harmony among members, this view overlooks the importance of diversity and the value of differing perspectives. In reality, team building creates total harmony among members is a misconception. Successful teams thrive on a mix of opinions and emotions, including healthy conflict. This dynamic nurtures authentic interactions and encourages open discussions, which are essential for trust and cooperation. Rather than suppressing differences, effective team development acknowledges individual contributions and varying needs, enhancing engagement and motivation. It’s through these diverse strengths that teams can truly excel. The goal of team building isn’t to enforce uniformity but to leverage the unique skills each member brings. Embracing differences is what makes a successful team, eventually leading to more innovative solutions and a stronger collective performance. Conflict Is Always Bad in Team Settings Though many believe that conflict disrupts team dynamics, it can actually serve as a catalyst for growth and innovation. The idea that conflict is always bad in team settings overlooks its potential benefits. When managed properly, conflict can encourage critical thinking and generate new ideas that drive projects forward. Suppressing conflict might lead to frustration, eventually derailing your efforts. High-performing teams recognize that both positive and negative emotions are crucial for open communication, which is fundamental for collaboration and problem-solving. Encouraging open discussions allows team members to surface and channel conflict positively, creating momentum and enhancing outcomes. This approach highlights what makes a team effective: the ability to navigate disagreements constructively. By embracing conflict as a healthy source of energy, you can transform challenges into opportunities, nurturing an environment that promotes innovation and continuous improvement within your team. High-Performance Teams Form Naturally Without Effort Building a high-performance team doesn’t happen by chance; it requires deliberate effort and strategic planning. High-performance teams don’t form naturally; they demand intentional cultivation through leadership commitment and investment in team dynamics. Here are fundamental elements to reflect on: Clear Communication: Establishing open lines of communication guarantees everyone is aligned on goals and expectations. Trust Building: Cultivating trust among team members is critical for collaboration and effective decision-making. Regular Feedback: Implementing a system for continuous feedback helps identify areas for improvement and maintain high performance. Positive Culture: Nurturing a supportive organizational culture is imperative for the sustainability of high-performance teams. Creating these teams involves ongoing effort and adaptation to both external and internal changes. Relying on the assumption that high-performance teams will develop effortlessly can lead to disappointment and underperformance. Frequently Asked Questions Which of These Is Not a Benefit of Team Building? Team building isn’t just about creating a perfect environment; it’s important to understand that it doesn’t guarantee total harmony among team members. Instead, effective teams embrace diversity and use differing perspectives to improve collaboration and innovation. This means that during team building nurtures connections, it likewise encourages healthy debates and discussions, eventually leading to better problem-solving and creativity, rather than simply eliminating conflict or ensuring everyone always agrees. Which of the Following Are Common Mistakes Made When Using Team Building Activities? Common mistakes in team-building activities include neglecting to set clear objectives, which can create confusion and limit effectiveness. Underestimating communication before and during events often leads to disengagement, as providing details encourages inclusivity. Furthermore, failing to evaluate the impact on team cohesion and performance prevents necessary improvements. Choosing unsuitable activities that don’t match team dynamics can disengage participants, and poor organization can disrupt the experience, detracting from overall enjoyment and engagement. What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Team Building? Team building offers several advantages, such as improved communication, increased productivity, and boosted employee morale. You’ll likely see better collaboration and engagement among team members, promoting a more connected environment. Nevertheless, disadvantages can include time consumption and potential resistance from employees who may not see the value in such activities. Furthermore, if not executed properly, team building efforts might lead to superficial relationships rather than genuine connections. Balancing these factors is crucial for success. What Are the 5 C’s of Team Building? The 5 C’s of team building are Communication, Collaboration, Cohesion, Conflict Resolution, and Commitment. Communication allows team members to share ideas openly, reducing misunderstandings. Collaboration focuses on working together in the direction of common goals, boosting productivity by 20%-25%. Cohesion strengthens relationships, promoting morale and engagement. Conflict Resolution encourages healthy discussions, utilizing diverse opinions for innovative solutions. Finally, Commitment guarantees team members are dedicated to their tasks, nurturing accountability and shared success within the group. Conclusion In conclusion, comprehending the misconceptions surrounding team building is vital for nurturing effective collaboration. It’s not limited to salaried employees or confined to office settings, nor does it solely rely on team leaders. Team building is fundamental even for high-performing teams, as it promotes trust and healthy conflict. Recognizing that it doesn’t guarantee total harmony and requires ongoing effort will help you appreciate its strategic value. By addressing these misconceptions, you can improve your team’s performance and cohesion. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Identifying Misconceptions: Which Are Not Benefits of Team Building?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Samsung just announced its new earbuds during the Samsung Unpacked 2026 event earlier this week, and Amazon is already offering a pretty sweet deal to preorder them. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 are $179.99 and come with a $20 Amazon gift card, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro go for $249.99 and come with a $30 Amazon gift card. Both will be released on March 11, but you can pre-order them now. Considering these will be their flagship earbuds for some time, it's a great opportunity for any Samsung fan or anyone curious about Samsung's new earbuds to snatch them up. $30 Amazon Gift Card Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro $179.99 at Amazon $199.99 Save $20.00 Pre-order Here Pre-order Here $179.99 at Amazon $199.99 Save $20.00 $30 Amazon Gift Card Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro $249.99 at Amazon $279.99 Save $30.00 Pre-order Here Pre-order Here $249.99 at Amazon $279.99 Save $30.00 SEE -1 MORE Samsung wants to compete with Apple, with a similar design, features, and even price point. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 are strikingly similar to the Apple AirPods 4 in their design, with noise cancellation and the absence of silicone eartips that go inside your ears. They come with Hi-Res audio, IP54 for water-resistance, a Live Translation feature similar to Apple's, a new design, improvements in call quality, and direct access to ask questions to AI and receive responses through the earbuds. The controls are swipe and pinch, and the charging case comes in black or white. It's also easy to draw the similarities between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro 3. Apart from both being $249, the most obvious similarity is the in-ear silicone tip design that helps seal the noise and improve ANC. The Pros have all of the same features as the Buds 4, and are supposed to be more comfortable, have better ANC which Samsung calls ANC 2.0, have a better water resistance with an IP57 rating, which handles immersion in water up to 1 meter, and perhaps more importantly, a two-way speaker (as opposed to a one-way on the Buds 4) that is meant to delivers better, high-fidelity sound, superior separation of frequencies, and reduced distortion. But we will only know if these claims are true when we get our hands on them for a review. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $155.99 (List Price $179.00) Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9" 512GB Privacy Display Smartphone + $200 Gift Card — $1,299.99 (List Price $1,699.99) Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 AI Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds + $20 Amazon Gift Card — $179.99 (List Price $199.99) Google Pixel 10a 128GB 6.3" Unlocked Smartphone + $100 Gift Card — $499.00 (List Price $599.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $329.99 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 (List Price $119.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

On Friday, Moderna’s mCombriax—a combined vaccine for both the flu and COVID—was recommended for authorization by European regulators, which opens the door for the vaccine’s approval in the European Union. The European Medicines Agency, the regulator granting the recommendation (or adopting a “positive opinion” on recommending it for market authorization), said that the messenger RNA vaccine should help protect “people aged 50 years and older against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu),” in a statement. The shot works like any other vaccine, effectively prepping the human body to defend itself against foreign infection, with the messenger RNA contained within giving blueprints to the body to make proteins to help stave off various seasonal flu viruses, and SARS-CoV-2. “As the first combined COVID-19/influenza vaccine, mCombriax provides people with the option of having a single shot to protect against both illnesses,” reads a statement from the Agency. Next, the European Commission would need to ratify the recommendation to open it up for widespread use. “The CHMP’s positive opinion represents an important milestone for respiratory virus vaccination and for Moderna, with the introduction of the world’s first flu plus COVID combination vaccine,” said Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO, in a statement. “Combination vaccines have the potential to simplify vaccination and support improved health outcomes. We appreciate the EMA’s rigorous scientific review.” The big question remaining: What about the United States? The answer is complicated and unclear, but part of it has to do with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) higher standards and scrutiny. Moderna applied for clearance in the U.S. back in 2024, supplying data showing that the vaccine was effective against both the flu and COVID viruses. But the FDA had asked for more supplemental data, according to reporting from BioPharma Dive, prompting Moderna to withdraw the submission, gather more data, and then resubmit it. Also, additional hurdles have entered the fray. The The President administration—which includes several high-profile anti-vaccine advocates in various leadership positions—initially opted not to review its application, though it changed its mind shortly thereafter after public and industry pressure. As it stands, that’s where the bottleneck is: With the FDA’s review process. It’s unclear if or when the vaccine could win approval or be made available to the public in the United States. View the full article