All Activity

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, businesses expect to automate 42% of their tasks by 2027. Nowhere are there more tasks to automate than in project management. Project managers have to collect requirements from stakeholders, turn these requirements into bite-sized tasks, dispatch these tasks to the right people, review work, send out reports, and more. Most project managers use project management automation to automate at least some of these tasks, whether that’s with built-in automations, software integrations, or other tools. That said, few project managers would say they’ve been able to automate 42% of their tasks. In this guide, you’ll learn what project management automation is, the kinds of tasks it can automate, and the tools you can use to make this happen. What is project management automation? Project management automation refers to software-driven processes that use trigger-based or scheduled workflows to take on work like assigning tasks, sending status updates, reporting, and moving data between tools. A tool that automatically adds data from multiple sources into a spreadsheet for a status report, potentially saving you hours of data entry, is an example of automation. If it happens within the context of a project, it becomes project management automation. In practice, project management automation relies on different types of automation, with two of the most popular types being trigger-based automation and bidirectional sync. The 5 benefits of project management automation Using project management automation throughout your projects can completely transform the way you run your projects. Eliminates repetitive tasks Likely the biggest benefit you’ll get from project management automation is how much repetitive, manual work you’ll eliminate. If, for example, a specific project needs regular status reports for stakeholders, someone’s going to have to go in and do this over and over again. With the right project management automation, you can eliminate that manual work, meaning someone’s going to get a lot of their time back. And that means it also… Increases productivity When you’re not constantly bogged down with busy work and repetitive manual tasks, you can put that time towards something more important — like getting that big deliverable out. One of the big struggles of project management is making the most of the time each collaborator can dedicate to your project. So anything that saves them time will mean more work will go towards those crucial tasks. Improves communication But project management automation isn’t just for streamlining tasks and eliminating manual work — it’ll also help with communication, say by syncing Miro to Wrike. Think about it this way. What is a notification but an automated message? Instead of sending emails or chat messages when specific tasks are completed, you can instead use project management apps and other apps to automatically notify collaborators when they need to stay in the loop. That means less busy work for everyone involved, and no one’s left wondering what’s going on. Prevents mistakes You’ve surely heard of Murphy’s law, right? “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” It’s a law mountaineers, hikers, and survival experts often repeat, and it’s well-known among project managers, too. Complex, clunky manual processes are full of opportunities for something to go wrong. Whether it’s an email that’s not sent, a message that goes unread, or a file that’s never printed, any time a person has to perform a task manually, there’s a chance it’ll go wrong. We’re all human, after all. But because automations aren’t human, they don’t forget. And that means fewer mistakes. Makes project more scalable Project management automation allows you to run more complex projects without overburdening a project manager, adding another project manager to your team, or increasing the number of people involved in a project. Automations can take on the routine manual work involved in project management that doesn’t really benefit from a human touch, manual work that increases as your projects get more complex. With the right automations, even a small team can potentially run massive projects. Now that you’re on board, let’s dive into how you can roll out project management automations throughout your projects. What can you automate in project management? Project management automation is a broad term that encompasses a ton of tools, platforms, and features that you can use to make your projects run smoother. Whether you want to add a dedicated tool that does nothing but deploy automations throughout your project or just find automations in the tools you’re already using, here are four ways you can automate your projects. Streamlining and triaging incoming requests As a project manager, you’ll constantly be dealing with incoming requests. These can come from stakeholders asking for updates, collaborators needing more time for a specific task, or even other teams looking for your latest deliverable. Without a system in place to handle this, you’ll be drowning in emails and notifications. Some tools, like Asana, have automations you can use to streamline this process and make it a lot more manageable. In Asana, you can use forms to standardize the way these requests come in and automatically assign them to the right person. It’s a lot better than sifting through emails. Dispatching tasks and follow-ups Incoming requests are just the beginning of your task management woes. Once the work has been approved and scoped, you actually have to get it out to the right person. That’s fine when you’re dealing with an initial batch of tasks, but as follow-ups and review tasks start to mount, just managing that work becomes its own full-time job! That’s why some tools have automations you can use to automatically handle this process. In ClickUp, for example, you can turn comments in a task into its own task. That means you can quickly make sure it doesn’t fall through the cracks. These little features can save you a couple of minutes each time, all while ensuring that important information isn’t lost in the shuffle. Automated status updates and notifications One of the most time-consuming tasks for project managers is preparing and sending status updates. Stakeholders need regular updates on project work, cross-functional collaborators need to know when tasks they’re waiting on are completed, and leadership might expect updates that contribute to a company-wide portfolio. These frequent status updates are essential to ensure projects keep running smoothly. That said, most don’t actually require a project manager’s attention. A quick list of completed and blocked tasks, or a few lines about the progress made since the last update, is usually enough. Most project management tools have some level of automation for status updates, allowing project managers to quickly share updates without spending too much time preparing them. When projects span multiple tools, software integrations become essential for centralizing the data needed to make these updates. Reporting and analytics Reporting is a huge part of project management. Stakeholders want to know how things are going, individual collaborators need to be advised when things go wrong, and you might have to give team leads visibility on how many hours their teams are spending on your project. But reporting can be a big headache. More than half of people who build reports as part of their job say that collecting data from multiple sources is one of the biggest challenges with reporting. Not to mention all the work they have to put into it.That’s why any project management automation that can make this process easier is a huge productivity boost. A tool like Unito, which automatically syncs data between tools, can be a great way to streamline your reports. Budget tracking and cost alerts Keeping projects on budget is a key responsibility for project managers. Best case scenario, going over budget means you might have to re-evaluate your project’s timeline or deliverables. Worst case scenario, you might have to put it on hold. That’s why project managers regularly evaluate spending throughout their projects, prepare budgeting reports, and share that data with stakeholders. Automating this process gives project managers the best of both worlds. They keep visibility on their project’s budget, with automatic warnings when projects hit certain budget milestones, without having to manually review the cost of each task or deliverable. Resource allocation and capacity matching Project managers need to ensure that no one participating in a project is completely overwhelmed by their workload. That means striking a balance between giving them enough work to move the project forward and responding to their capacity as conditions change on a day-to-day basis. Without any automations, keeping up-to-date on workload means manually contacting everyone involved in a project regularly, whether that’s through email, meetings, or chat apps. Project management automation can pull data from each task project members work on, whether that’s actual time or abstract units like t-shirt sizing or story points. From there, data can be compiled in a report project managers can review and share with relevant stakeholders. Project templates and onboarding Imagine if you had to start every project from scratch, with no template whatsoever. Listing tasks, figuring out workloads, establishing reporting cadences, and more. This would artificially inflate the time needed to complete that project, putting a strain on resources available for it. Most project management tools offer prebuilt templates for common projects while also allowing you to turn past projects into templates for future work. This is a layer of automation most project managers are familiar with, which saves them a massive amount of time when kicking off a new project. Syncing data across tools Project managers rarely get to work exclusively out of one tool. If their project involves multiple teams, they’ll often be the ones jumping back and forth between tools to make sure everyone’s up to date. Even if everyone on the project works out of the same tool, reporting and budgeting alone can each involve their own tools. That’s when you need a project management automation that can push data between your tools and keep everything in sync. That way, you know everything’s updated across your stack without any manual input. One-way automation vs. bidirectional sync: What’s the difference? Project management automation comes in two broad categories: one-way automation and bidirectional sync. One-way automation platforms use “if-this-then-that” type logic to automate a wide range of actions from one tool to another. You could, for example, create an automation that automatically turns a task in your project management tool into a record in a spreadsheet, allowing you to keep a detailed record of tasks across tools. Usually, however, the automation ends there. It performs a single action. Bidirectional sync works differently. It creates two-way relationships between tasks in project management tools and work items in other platforms. As long as that relationship remains active (i.e., you don’t delete one work item or turn off the sync) updates will be made in each. Every time you leave a comment, update a field, or move a work item, that action will be replicated in the other tool. Many project management tools also have native (i.e., built-in) automations that allow you to streamline basic workflows. They’re simple and easy to use, so much so that most project managers are already using them without realizing it. Comparison PointOne-Way AutomationNative PM Automations Bidirectional SyncExamplesZapier, Make.io Asana rules, ClickUp automationsUnitoHow it worksTrigger-action logic, pairing a change in one work item to a desired action in the otherVaries depending on the tool, from automatically creating tasks to updating fields based on certain actionsPairs work items across toolsReal-time updatesNot supportedNot usually supportedSupportedSetup requirementUsually no-codeEasiest to set upEasy to set upBest-forSimple workflowsTool-native workflowsSeamless collaboration across toolsField mappingUsually limitedN/ADeep How to get started with project management automation If you’ve never deployed a project management automation, here’s a quick guide to getting started: Audit manual tasks: Go through your project management process and identify the tasks you have to perform manually. Prioritize tasks: You can prioritize the tasks you need to automate in a variety of ways, like frequency, amount of manual work required, or how easy it is to automate. Pick the right automation: Many project managers start with their project management tool’s built-in automations, but that isn’t always the best approach. Consider if bidirectional sync is a better fit. Start with one workflow: This accomplishes two things. First, your setup time will be reduced dramatically, since you won’t be trying to automate everything at once. Second, you’ll be able to review the impacts of an automation solution before it has access to all your projects. Using Unito for project management automation Unito is a project management automation tool with the deepest two-way integrations for some of the most popular tools on the market. That includes project management tools like Asana, Trello, ClickUp, and monday.com, but also developer-focused tools like Jira, GitHub, and GitLab. With more than 30 integrations, you can sync data back and forth between tools so everyone’s in the loop no matter where they’re working from. With a Unito flow, you can build automated reports in spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets and Excel, dispatch work across multiple project management tools, and automate repetitive manual processes. Ready to transform your projects? Try Unito for 14 days, absolutely free. Try it free FAQ: Project management automation What is project management automation? Project management automation refers to software-powered processes that automatically take actions for you in project management tools. That can range from minor changes to fields in your tasks to the creation and assignment of new tasks. What tasks can be automated in project management? Depending on the project management automation tool you use, you can automate a range of tasks, like: Creating work items. Assigning tasks. Updating fields. Creating new projects Closing work items. What’s the difference between workflow automation and project management automation? Project management automation focuses on work items within a project, sometimes transferring them to other tools. Workflow automation is the connective tissue between steps along your workflow, covering tasks on a broader scale. How does bidirectional sync differ from one-way automation? One-way automations use “if-this-then-that” logic to automate a wide range of actions across hundreds of tools. That said, they typically only handle simple actions. Conversely, a bidirectional sync creates a two-way relationship between work items that keep them all up to date as you work. What project management tools support automation? Many project management tools have built-in automations, like Asana’s rules and ClickUp’s automations. Third-party automation solutions like Zapier, Unito, and Tray.io are compatible with most project management tools. View the full article

Donald The President says London should have acted faster after it agreed to help efforts to curb attacks on shippingView the full article

A Planned Parenthood affiliate just settled an investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over claims of discrimination against white employees, in a notable example of the agency’s ongoing focus on DEI-related discrimination. The $500,000 settlement will put an end to an EEOC investigation against Planned Parenthood’s Illinois chapter, which was initiated by employee complaints that the organization allegedly “segregated employees by race, subjected white employees to harassment, and engaged in disparate treatment against white employees regarding terms, conditions, and privileges of employment,” according to the agency. The EEOC found that Planned Parenthood had weekly gatherings based on race-based affinity groups, which employees of other races were barred from attending, and that employees were either required to join those sessions or participate in diversity trainings on a weekly basis. According to the EEOC, those trainings perpetuated the idea that white people “do not feel racism the same way” that people of color do, and that “white supremacy is exerted at every level of oppression (individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal).” Planned Parenthood also reportedly gave Black employees time off that was not granted to white employees. As the federal agency that enforces anti-discrimination laws, the EEOC argued that the Planned Parenthood affiliate’s actions were a violation of civil rights law. “Title VII guarantees equal treatment for every employee and prohibits race discrimination in America’s workplaces,” EEOC chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement. “Those protections equally apply to white workers. There is no DEI exception to Title VII’s requirements.” The two parties came to an agreement after the EEOC’s investigation found “reasonable cause” that Planned Parenthood had harassed and discriminated against white employees; aside from the settlement fee, the organization also dismissed the manager who had reportedly overseen the DEI initiatives that were the target of the EEOC’s investigation. In a statement to NPR, the current head of Planned Parenthood of Illinois suggested that the DEI practices in question had been introduced under previous leadership. “In the time since this complaint was filed, and since I came on board as President and CEO in 2025, I have overseen significant change at the organization, including across the leadership team,” Adrienne White-Faines said. (When reached by Fast Company, Planned Parenthood of Illinois was not immediately available for comment.) There have been reports of racial discrimination across Planned Parenthood over the years, both at the national level and across individual affiliates like the subject of the EEOC’s investigation—though these allegations have largely stemmed from Black employees. The claims of racism and broader issues with workplace culture have also fueled organizing efforts, leading both national offices and affiliates to unionize. In a 2021 op-ed for the New York Times, Planned Parenthood president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson sought to distance the organization from its controversial founder Margaret Sanger, who had engaged with white supremacy groups and was a former proponent of eugenics. “We are committed to confronting any white supremacy in our own organization, and across the movement for reproductive freedom,” she wrote. The settlement with Planned Parenthood also reflects a broader shift at the EEOC and signals how the agency will pursue reverse discrimination claims going forward. Under the The President administration, the EEOC has set its sights on rooting out discrimination against white workers, by focusing on what Lucas has characterized as “unlawful” DEI programs. Employers do open themselves up to legal challenges when they explicitly limit participation in affinity groups to one group of workers, for example. But former EEOC officials have argued that the agency’s efforts could have a chilling effect even on entirely legal programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The investigation into Planned Parenthood is just one example of how the EEOC could reshape corporate DEI and encourage even progressive organizations to disavow or divest from those programs, despite claims of bias from employees of color. A major investigation currently underway has targeted Nike, alleging discrimination against white employees and job applicants. The case could prove significant if the EEOC chooses to bring a lawsuit—which, in turn, could prompt far more scrutiny of organizations like Planned Parenthood and Nike. View the full article

Scope creep is a risk that can affect and derail any project, but before we can truly understand the meaning of scope creep, we first need to know what the scope of a project is. What Is the Scope of a Project? The scope of a project defines all the work required to complete it, including deliverables, tasks, boundaries and objectives. It clarifies what is included and excluded, sets expectations for stakeholders and guides planning and execution. A well-defined project scope helps control costs, manage resources and prevent misunderstandings throughout the project lifecycle. You can use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to help you identify the individual project tasks, activities and deliverables. Then you’ll need a scope statement, which is a project planning document where you define the scope of your project. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Scope-Template-1.png Get your free Project Scope Template Use this free Project Scope Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Is Scope Creep? Meaning and Definition Scope creep is a project management risk that refers to the uncontrolled expansion of a project’s scope after work has begun, usually due to changes made to the initial plan without the oversight of the project management team. This results in work being added without proper approval or adjustments to time, cost or resources. Such changes affect the project schedule, budget and resource allocation and can compromise the completion of milestones and goals. In many cases, scope creep causes the project to fail due to insufficient resources, time constraints and budget depletion. While unmanaged changes are the primary driver, scope creep can also result from unclear or incomplete requirements, poor initial scope definition or a lack of governance and change control processes. Because of these and other causes, scope creep is one of the most common project management risks, affecting projects across industries, sizes and levels of complexity. ProjectManager is award-winning software with robust Gantt charts that help managers avoid scope creep. Our Gantt chart is easy to use and shows the whole project, from start to finish, on a timeline. You can link all four task dependencies to avoid bottlenecks. Then set a baseline and capture your planned schedule to compare it to your actual progress in real time. When there’s an issue, simply reallocate your resources to stay on track. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-Task-Info-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more 10 Main Causes of Scope Creep Scope creep is a risk that’s inherent to any project and it can occur for many different causes. Here are some of the most frequent reasons why projects are affected by scope creep. 1. Poorly Defined Project Scope A poorly defined scope for a project can make it difficult to determine the project’s scope or keep it focused. This can happen when a project’s statement of work is vague or incomplete and lack timelines, objectives and terms of reference. 2. Unsupervised Changes to the Project Plan Making changes to the project plan without using change control methods will lead to scope creep. A change request can also lead to scope creep, too. That’s because changes impact the project timeline, budget, costs and resource allocation. 3. Unrealistic Project Schedule Not taking the time to understand how much time a project will take is going to create scope creep. Projects always take longer than anticipated because of stakeholders adding more deliverables or other issues pushing back deadlines. The most control occurs when a realistic project schedule has been made by knowing the tasks needed to complete the project and their duration, the project schedule is aligned with resource capacity and task dependencies are identified. 4. Subpar Project Execution Project teams can either take too long to execute tasks, in which case they might produce deliverables that don’t meet the acceptance criteria. Badly executed tasks might generate additional work. Poor task prioritization, lack of communication and uncontrolled changes can all play a part in why a project is poorly executed. 5. Absence of Project Controls In most cases, the absence of project control measures results in teams drifting away from the project scope baseline for a variety of reasons. Project managers must establish procedures or use tools like project management software to keep a close eye on the team’s progress and project KPIs. 6. Lack of Stakeholder Alignment When stakeholders are not aligned on project objectives, priorities or deliverables, conflicting expectations can emerge during execution. This often leads to new requests being introduced to satisfy different stakeholders, expanding the scope. Clear communication and early agreement on goals are essential to prevent misalignment from driving unnecessary changes. 7. Inadequate Requirements Gathering Incomplete or poorly documented requirements make it difficult to define what the project should deliver. As gaps are discovered during execution, teams are forced to add new tasks or features to meet expectations. A structured requirements gathering process helps ensure that all needs are captured before work begins. 8. Weak Change Control Processes Without a formal process to evaluate and approve changes, project teams may implement new requests without assessing their impact. This leads to uncontrolled additions to the scope. Establishing a clear change control process ensures that all changes are reviewed, approved and properly integrated into the project plan. 9. Overly Optimistic Budget Estimates Underestimating project costs can create pressure to adjust deliverables or add workarounds during execution. As teams attempt to meet expectations within limited resources, additional tasks may be introduced, expanding the scope. Accurate cost estimation helps align the project scope with available resources from the start. 10. Poor Communication Across Teams Breakdowns in communication between team members, departments or stakeholders can result in misunderstandings about project requirements. These gaps often lead to rework or the addition of new tasks to correct mistakes. Consistent and clear communication helps maintain alignment and prevents unnecessary scope expansion. Scope Creep Examples Once one understands what scope creep is and how it can affect a project, as well as the reasons it happens, it can still be helpful to illustrate what scope creep looks like in a few industries. Here are some scope creep examples in construction project management, manufacturing and IT. Construction Project Scope Creep Example Acme Builders was contracted to construct a three-story multi-family residential building with a fixed budget and a 10-month schedule. The scope included structural work, plumbing, electrical systems and interior finishes. Work had already begun when the client informally requested the addition of a fourth floor without revising the contract, budget or timeline. Despite the project manager’s concerns, the change was implemented directly through the site team without formal approval. This introduced new structural requirements, additional materials and extended labor, disrupting the original plan and creating immediate cost and scheduling pressures. Original Scope and Budget Task Estimated Cost Foundation and structural framing (3 floors) $300,000 Plumbing and electrical systems $120,000 Interior finishes $80,000 Project management and labor $100,000 Total $600,000 Expanded Scope After Scope Creep Task Revised Cost Foundation reinforcement for additional load $80,000 Structural framing (4th floor) $120,000 Additional plumbing and electrical systems $60,000 Extended labor and supervision $90,000 Interior finishes (4th floor) $50,000 New Total $1,000,000 Manufacturing Project Scope Creep Example A to B Manufacturers planned to produce a standard phone case with a streamlined design and low production cost. The scope included material sourcing, mold design and a three-week production cycle. Just before production began, the executive team instructed the engineering team to add a belt clip feature without adjusting the production schedule or budget. The change bypassed formal review and required redesigning the mold, sourcing new materials and modifying assembly processes. Because the change was implemented immediately, it disrupted procurement timelines and increased production complexity. Original Scope and Budget Task Estimated Cost Material sourcing (plastic components) $40,000 Mold design and setup $60,000 Production labor $50,000 Packaging and distribution $20,000 Total $170,000 Expanded Scope After Scope Creep Task Revised Cost Redesign of product and engineering adjustments $35,000 New mold fabrication for clip feature $50,000 Additional materials (clip components) $25,000 Increased production labor and assembly time $40,000 Production delays and expedited shipping $30,000 New Total $350,000 IT Project Scope Creep Example A software development team was assigned to deliver a web-based application within three months. The original scope included user authentication, a dashboard and reporting features. During development, the project sponsor began introducing new features such as real-time notifications and third-party integrations without adjusting the schedule or prioritizing requirements. Although some changes were documented, many were implemented informally through direct communication with developers. This led to scope expansion without proper re-baselining, increasing workload while keeping the same delivery deadline. Original Scope and Budget Task Estimated Cost User authentication module $20,000 Dashboard development $30,000 Reporting features $25,000 Testing and QA $15,000 Total $90,000 Expanded Scope After Scope Creep Task Revised Cost Real-time notifications feature $15,000 Third-party API integrations $20,000 Additional testing and debugging $18,000 Extended development time $25,000 Project management overhead $10,000 New Total $178,000 How to Avoid Scope Creep Don’t let the scope creeper cripple your project. Here are seven actions that will help avoid scope creep, or at least prevent it. 1. Document the Project Requirements The most important thing to avoid scope creep is to document your project requirements. A clear definition of the project requirements allows you to define the scope of your project. Talk to all the project stakeholders and users to work out exactly what they want from the project. Write it down. Manage conflicts. Say one stakeholder wants their new website to be blue and a client wants it to be green, find someone to arbitrate and make a final decision. Prioritize requirements, as it may not be possible to do them all. It can be time-consuming to record everything the stakeholders say, but once you have done so, capture all the requirements in a document. This document is known as a requirements management plan, and it should contain all the information needed to manage the project requirements such as how they will be tracked and the process to change them. Share that document online so everyone can easily see it. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Requirements-Gathering-Screenshot-600x482.jpgFree download 2. Make a Project Scope Statement and Establish a Scope Baseline A project scope statement is a document that defines a project’s boundaries and summarizes the work that will be done. This internal document guides participants in the project and provides clarity to the work. It includes objectives, deliverables, deadlines, constraints, assumptions and exclusions. At this point, establish a scope baseline by creating a work breakdown structure (WBS) to visualize deliverables for the project. Use the scope statement to break down tasks and subtasks. Create a scope management plan to monitor the project. Create a change management plan to control change. Then create a schedule, scope and cost baseline to capture that data and compare it to the actual effort when executing the project to stay on track. 3. Make a Scope Management Plan The scope management plan is a component of your project plan that describes how the scope of your project will be established and controlled. This document includes your work breakdown structure, scope statement and the process by which the scope will be approved by stakeholders as a baseline for your project. The scope management plan helps project managers make sure that stakeholders understand the project scope baseline, and how changes to it will affect the overall project management plan. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Scope-Screenshot-600x443.jpgFree download 4. Create a Change Management Plan & Set Up Change Control Processes The requirements document is only a starting point. What happens when someone wants to change something? It is unrealistic to think that nothing will change. What you need to prevent scope creep is managed, controlled change on your project. For that, you’ll need a change management plan that defines the procedures of the change control process that must be followed when the project plan needs to be changed. In most cases, project managers need to adjust the schedule, budget and scope. At a minimum, you should use a change request form to control changes made to your project scope. A change control process is very straightforward. Essentially, someone suggests a change via a change request, it is reviewed, approved or rejected and if it is approved, then incorporated into the project plan. Use a change log to keep track of all these changes. /wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Change-Request-Screenshot-450x386.jpgFree download 5. Create a Realistic Project Schedule Use your stakeholders’ requirements to determine your project scope. Then you can use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to create a detailed task list. The project schedule is the result of knowing what your project will deliver; it should show all the requirements and how they will be achieved, in the form of tasks, activities and milestones. This is commonly made on a Gantt chart. You can cross-reference your project schedule against your requirements management plan document to ensure you have not forgotten anything. Once you have outlined the schedule, make sure you have planned for some contingency. As noted above, change does happen. Project scope creep only occurs if changes were not handled as defined in your change management plan. 6. Verify the Project Scope with the Stakeholders It’s important to check that you have properly understood the stakeholder requirements. What you think the project sponsor means about the project deliverables might not be what he or she meant. Often people talk at cross purposes without realizing it. Take the time to go back to your stakeholders such as clients, investors or project sponsors and share the requirements documentation with them. You can also show them your project schedule and ensure that all the elements they expected to see are represented in the task list. You may find that they’ve changed their mind about things like product features, or delivery times. It’s important to make sure that you adjust your project plan early during the planning process to mitigate the risk of scope creep, rather than finding out later once the project has started. You can also use these discussions to talk to your sponsor and stakeholders about the change control process. Explain how you will manage changes to the project plan and what approval you will need from them to proceed. This is a useful moment to remind them that they can have pretty much whatever they want – if they are prepared to pay for it and for the project to take longer if they include new requirements! If the stakeholders are “too busy” to want to get detailed with the schedule at this stage, gently remind them what stage you’re in. Sometimes, poor communication means key stakeholders were not informed of what the requirements-gathering process ended! /wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Stakeholder-Analysis-Screenshot-600x211.jpgFree download 7. Engage the Project Team Members When your project stakeholders are happy, don’t neglect to make sure your project team members are happy as well. They need to know about the change control process, and how it will affect them. They need to be guardians and protectors of the project scope, not agents of change. Sometimes project team members want to be helpful and will agree to change something without applying the formal change management process. Explain that they cannot say yes to changes without the change being approved because that would affect the project plan and could cause scope creep. If they want to help a stakeholder, the best thing to do is to explain the change control process and offer to help with documenting the change. Scope creep is a real problem on projects, especially when the project manager, the team and the stakeholders don’t understand the impact that changes can have on the resources, the budget and the schedule. Fortunately, it does not need to be a major issue if you are clear about the initial project scope and you carefully manage changes to your project plan during the lifecycle of your project. How to Manage Scope Creep If scope creep is already occurring, it’s important to act quickly before it affects the project budget or schedule beyond repair. If that’s the case, here are some general steps that can be taken to assess the impact of scope creep and get projects back on track. Measure the Impact of Scope Creep in the Project Schedule and Budget Refer to the original project scope, schedule and cost baselines. These will show the expected duration, cost and tasks to be completed if everything went according to plan. Then measure the time and costs spent on the unnecessary tasks caused by scope creep and, based on that, determine the impact of scope creep. Communicate with Stakeholders Early and Re-Baseline the Project Early communication with stakeholders helps to manage scope creep by making sure that they understand the project’s scope and purpose. This keeps teams focused on the project’s intended outcomes and reduces the changes of scope creep. Therefore, communicating with stakeholders should be done early and throughout the project. As for re-baselining the project, it reminds stakeholders of the project’s scope and what was included in it. This helps the project team realign on the project’s requirements. Use the Project Schedule Compression Technique Scope creep is a problem that will build up until it wipes out the project like an avalanche. It’s important that the project manager quickly informs project stakeholders of the additional costs and delays that will be expected to get approval on a new project scope, schedule and cost baseline. Project Fast Tracking Fast-tracking involves changing a project’s schedule so that tasks are completed at the same time or concurrently instead of one after the other. This only works if the tasks aren’t dependent. This technique allows teams to finish a project in time using the same resources by executing tasks in parallel as long as dependencies allow it. Project Crashing Another project schedule compression technique is project crashing. Project crashing is used to speed up a project’s timeline by adding more resources. The goal of project crashing is to complete the project on or before its scheduled deadline without changing the scope. This can involve adding more team members to a task, paying a premium for faster results, adjusting task sequences and limiting the scope to reduce time spent on tasks. Focus on the Project Critical Path Activities Some organizations might just allocate additional resources to speed up the completion of projects, even after scope creep. But focusing on the critical path activities is another viable option for overcoming scope creep, as it identifies the essential tasks that must be completed on time to deliver a successful project. Let’s say a construction firm is delivering a big contract for an important client. It’s better to incur some costs from bringing additional labor and machinery into the site than failing to finish by the due date and reducing its chances in future bidding processes. Consult the Risk Management Plan In case scoop creep occurs, it’s advisable to review the project risk management plan. The project’s risk management plan is a document that establishes the strategies, roles, responsibilities and funding for risk management. In simple words, it’s a plan that contains all the information you need to prevent and mitigate risks like scope creep. /wp-content/uploads/2023/09/risk-management-plan-template-for-word-screenshot-450x423.jpgFree download Scope Creep Explained by a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) Project managers are always on the lookout for scope creep, yet it remains a persistent risk that can affect any project at any time. This video features a project management professional (PMP) who shares seven practical ways to mitigate scope creep before projects derail. In the video above, Jennifer Bridges, PMP, offers this short tutorial on how to avoid scope creep in your projects. She provides planning techniques that can be applied to manage the project as planned as well as manage changes. She outlines seven ways to prevent and deal with scope creep: Define the scope Log the changes Re-baseline Request more funding and/or resources Watch for signs Set Priorities Avoid the traps It’s important to note that sometimes the cause of scope creep is your resources (this article will help you determine when your team is out of control). Who is making problems in your project causing scope creep? They could range from team members to stakeholders. You can use the same planning techniques outlined above to help manage them. Pro-Tip: Remember to keep an eye on yourself, as well! As a project manager, you want to ensure that you’re not the one extending the scope by adding additional features and requirements. Developing a collaborative team free to discuss and share impacts to the project, is the best way to support the project. The video goes into greater detail on all these points. It’s a good primer that addresses an important obstacle on the road to the successful completion of your project. How ProjectManager Curbs Scope Creep Managing scope creep is a bit like managing a project. You have to control a lot of pieces and make them come together, like a puzzle. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that organizes projects and teams to keep you on schedule. With our award-winning software, a project manager can prioritize these changes and assign the work to team members, and when a change is approved, someone can get to work on it immediately. When changes are suggested by stakeholders, you need to capture them. Our software has unlimited file storage, so detailed records can be saved in one place. Once you’ve got the requirements, you need to share them, which is just a click away with our software. When a change comes up, adding controls is the best way to make sure that scope creep doesn’t occur. To do this, we have kanban boards that visualize the workflow. Columns are fully customizable, so you can create ones that are titled doing, testing and done. Now you can track each request and make sure it’s not negatively impacting the larger project. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kanban_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-150_Moving-task-to-new-status.jpg If the change makes it to the done column, then it’s time to create a project schedule to implement that change into the project timeline. Just as you do on your project plan, you want to schedule the work on one of our online Gantt charts. At this point, you can set up tasks, link dependencies and assign team members to do the work. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-Costs-Resources.jpg Before you can execute that project plan, stakeholders have to see it and approve it. Luckily, it’s simple to share your Gantt charts with your stakeholders to get their thumbs-up. Then, you can share the plan with the team and prioritize your tasks so your resources match your capacity. Keep scope creep at bay with ProjectManager! If you’re looking for project management tools like Gantt charts, Kanban boards and project calendars to manage projects from start to finish and keep scope creep under control, then try ProjectManager, online project management software. It has the tools your team needs to communicate and collaborate in real time. Get started for free. The post What Is Scope Creep In Project Management? appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Loan markdowns and market declines led to negative return for the first time in more than three yearsView the full article

A new drama has taken the book publishing world by storm: The upcoming U.S. release of the horror book Shy Girl was canceled by publisher Hachette Book Group just weeks ahead of its release due to suspicion of AI use in its making. Authored by U.S. poet and fiction writer Mia Ballard, Shy Girl is a novel described as focusing on the life of a girl with severe obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) who agrees to be held captive as an affluent man’s pet in order to rid herself from financial woes. The book was first self-published early last year, with another version released in November by Hachette’s U.K. imprint Wildfire. Hachette confirmed the cancellation to the New York Times, which first reported on the story. While the self-published version of the book initially received positive reviews, its recent version has drawn speculation online regarding the novel’s writing. In a Reddit thread from two months ago, one user dissected the common syntax of large language models (LLMs) and compared it with the book’s prose. “It seems so obvious to me, but let me know if you agree,” the user said in a discussion that now includes hundreds of comments. “If it isn’t AI, she’s a terrible writer. Her writing is truly indistinguishable from an LLM.” In January this year, users on the novel’s GoodReads page also pointed out their speculation. “As an editor, I’ve read a few specifically ChatGPT written books, and this has not only all the hallmarks, but some specific repeated phrases that I’ve read in other ChatGPT works,” one commenter wrote. But despite online speculation, the book appeared to be on course to head over to America, until this week. Why was the book canceled? According to the Times, Hachette pulled the book from the shelves and its release on Thursday, a day after the newspaper approached the publisher with what it described as evidence that the novel was AI generated. Fast Company has reached out to Ballard for comment via email. The author’s Instagram account appeared to be deactivated as of Friday. According to the Times, Ballard has since admitted that an acquaintance who edited the self-published version of the novel might have used AI. “This controversy has changed my life in many ways and my mental health is at an all time low and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do,” Ballard told The New York Times over email. Who detects the detectors? The controversy underscores many questions that have gripped the book publishing industry in the era of ChatGPT, including how one might spot the use of AI in the first place. AI detectors essentially make a prediction on the likelihood that AI was used based on specific markers. “Unlike plagiarism detectors that check for copied content, or spam filters that look for malicious patterns, AI detectors focus on the subtle stylistic fingerprints left behind by machine-writing processes,” Adobe explains. Studies have shown that AI detectors can often spot AI use, yet no detector has yet achieved 100% reliability. In fact, in school settings, where these detectors are often used, high error rates have led to false accusations of AI use. Even initiatives spearheaded by the AI companies themselves have been unsuccessful, with OpenAI shutting down its AI detection tool as far back as 2023. Readers, meanwhile, continue to debate the issue. For instance, the use of em dashes in writing has in the past been associated with LLMs like ChatGPT. But defenders of the punctuation mark say it’s not always a reliable sign. “This is not a great indicator in published creative writing—we love em dashes,” one Redditor said in a Shy Girl-related thread. “When might it raise an eyebrow? When it is consistently used to separate two quite simple clauses, and not so often used parenthetically.” View the full article

Soon you’ll have fewer opportunities to buy Glossier products from a physical storefront. The beauty brand is closing nine of its 12 stores over the next two and a half years as part of a new strategic overhaul. Only three stores will remain—the flagship locations in New York, Los Angeles, and London. This downsizing is being implemented by Colin Walsh, Glossier’s new chief executive, who joined the beauty company in October 2025. The announcement of this plan occurs after he has already laid off around one-third of Glossier’s total workforce and canceled previously planned product launches. Walsh is looking to restore the brand to its glory days, starting with a clean slate. He told The Business of Fashion that the closures are necessary in order to focus on a “true expression of where this brand has been and where it needs to go.” More spotlight will be shined on the brand’s hero products as seen with Glossier You and its “You Smell Good” campaign launched last month, a Glossier spokesperson told Fast Company. Founded by Emily Weiss in 2014, Glossier began online with a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model before opening its first physical showroom in 2016. The brand became a big hit with millennial consumers at a time when online retail was exploding. Weiss stepped down as CEO in 2022 after a period of turbulence at the company during the COVID era. DTC native brands are retreating from physical stores Glossier’s planned store closures follow a trend of DTC natives retreating from physical retail. Footwear maker Allbirds closed almost all of its U.S. stores in February, and bedding brand Parachute closed 19 of its 26 retail locations last year. Glossier’s New York flagship store plays a crucial role in defining the brand. In the store, decorated all pink with employees donning pink jumpsuits, customers can shop and test any of the products laid out. When an item is bought, it arrives in a Glossier-branded pink bag. “You can expect more surprising programming and innovative experiential moments in our flagship stores that are always rooted in our community driven storytelling, which is at the core of our brand,” a Glossier spokesperson told Fast Company. Glossier also revealed on Thursday that Nicole Solorzano will join the brand as the new chief marketing officer on April 6. Walsh worked alongside Solorzano for five years at haircare company Ouai, where he previously served as CEO. Her appointment is Walsh’s first C-suite hire since he joined Glossier. View the full article

A former rancher turned finance leader explains why the “costume of conformity” is costing you clients, credibility, and the career you actually want. EARLY in my finance career, a client and I hit it off over the phone. We had a natural personality match — easy conversation, good rapport, real trust building in real time. When he came to my office for a face-to-face consultation, he saw me from across the room before we’d been formally introduced. He walked out. Didn’t say a word. He wasn’t going to trust the largest transaction of his life to what he saw as an immature individual who didn’t look the part. At the time, I was doing everything I’d been told to do. I’d come into finance from cattle ranching, welding, heavy equipment, truck driving, and underground mining — environments where you dressed for utility, not appearances. When I entered the corporate world, I was subjected to constant scrutiny: how I talked, how I groomed, how I dressed, how I stood. All of it presented as a necessity of success. So I conformed. I put on the costume. And I lost a client anyway — not because I was being myself, but because I wasn’t. That experience, and several like it, taught me something that changed the trajectory of my career: authenticity isn’t just a feel-good buzzword. It’s a business strategy. Here’s why. The People Who Told Me to Conform Didn’t Stick Around Not long after I started dressing and grooming the way I was told to, every single one of the people who insisted their way was the path to success had disappeared. They left the business. They weren’t successful. And there I was, sitting alone in an office, “dressed for success” according to the standards of people who had failed. That forced a hard question: if the people prescribing the formula couldn’t make it work for themselves, why was I following their playbook? The advice we accept about how to present ourselves often comes from people who haven’t achieved what we’re trying to achieve. Before you take someone’s word on what success looks like, check whether they’ve actually built any. The Costume of Conformity Creates a Mismatch — and People Can Feel It Here’s what I figured out from losing that client: the problem wasn’t that I didn’t look like a finance professional. The problem was that I looked like one on the outside and sounded like something completely different on the inside. My words and personality created one impression. My appearance created another. The mismatch made people uneasy, even if they couldn’t articulate why. I was essentially lying with my appearance. When your outside doesn’t match your inside, people sense it — and any trust you built through conversation gets undermined the moment they see the disconnect. Conformity doesn’t build trust. Consistency does. Authenticity Is the Fastest Way to Sort Through People When I finally made the decision to let my outward appearance match the person inside, something unexpected happened: I started saving an enormous amount of time and resources. If someone took issue with the honest representation of who I am before we ever discussed business, neither of us invested time that would result in a loss. No deep personal analysis across multiple meetings just to discover we weren’t a fit. No weeks of small talk built on a false first impression. Showing up as yourself is the most efficient filter in business. The people who can’t get past how you look were never going to be the right clients, partners, or colleagues anyway. Better to find that out in the first thirty seconds than the first three months. Walls Come Down When the Costume Comes Off The flipside was just as powerful. When I stopped conforming, the people who were a fit connected with me faster and deeper than they ever had before. Walls came down. Conversations were more open and relaxed. There was no scripted small talk, no rehearsed objection-handling techniques taught by industry trainers. Just two people having a real conversation. I’ve found that the greatest way to overcome objections is to develop an actual relationship with a person — to truly care about them. And the best way to evidence that care is by being authentically yourself. Any sort of fakeness, no matter how polished, brings everything into question. If someone suspects you’re performing, they’ll wonder what else you’re hiding. Being Yourself Is a Risk — Take It Anyway I won’t pretend this is easy. When you stop conforming, you will lose people. Some clients will walk. Some colleagues will judge. Some opportunities will close before they open. That’s the cost, and you have to be willing to pay it. But here’s what I’ve learned over decades in this business: the opportunities you lose by being yourself are always smaller than the ones you gain. The clients who stay are better clients. The relationships are deeper. The referrals are stronger. And you get to wake up every morning without dreading the performance you have to put on. If you’re going to be judged for your appearance either way, you might as well make sure what people are judging is actually you. Drop the Costume The choice is simple, even if it’s not easy: you can keep hiding behind the costume of conformity, hoping it earns you approval from people who may not even be around next year. Or you can show up as the best, most honest version of yourself and let the sorting happen naturally. Be authentic. Be kind. Be excellent at what you do. And if someone can’t get past the packaging to see the substance, that’s not a client you lost — it’s time you saved. * * * Aaron Chapman is a mortgage finance leader, entrepreneur, and sought-after speaker who went from working oil fields and driving long-haul trucks to becoming one of the most respected figures in investment property lending in the United States. A huge percentage of all investor real estate mortgages in the country are underwritten by him and his team. He has shared the stage with industry greats across the country, helping audiences rethink what it takes to build a business and a life through grit, authenticity, and relentless action. His new book is Redneckonomics: Unconventional Success by Takin’ the Beatin’ Path. Learn more at quitjerkinoff.com and aaronchapman.com. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

In early deployments with Freedom Mortgage, the platform from Palantir Technologies and Moder is live with multiple key processes. View the full article

A daunting stream of testimony and evidence has been presented in a New Mexico case that explores what the social media conglomerate Meta knew about the effects of its platforms on children. State prosecutors allege Meta failed to disclose the risks that its platforms pose for children, including mental health problems and sexual exploitation. Meta’s attorneys have said the company has built-in protections for teenagers and weeds out harmful content but the company acknowledges some dangerous content gets past its safety nets. Attorneys prepared for closing arguments to jurors next week after Meta on Friday closed out its showing of testimony and evidence and the trial completed its sixth week. If jurors later find that Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — violated New Mexico’s consumer protection laws, prosecutors say sanctions could add up to billions of dollars. Meta, however, says it would seek a different calculation. The trial that started Feb. 9. is one of the first in a torrent of lawsuits against Meta and comes as school districts and legislators want more restrictions on the use of smartphones in classrooms. A slated second phase of the trial, possibly in May before a judge with no jury, would determine whether Meta created a public nuisance with its social media platforms and should pay for public programs to fix matters. Here’s what to know about the possible outcomes of the trial: A reckoning in courts for social media platforms Meta is confronting three counts of violating the New Mexico Unfair Trade Practices Act that protects consumers from deceptive or predatory business practices. After closing arguments, jurors will weigh whether Meta knowingly misrepresented the risks on its platforms — by omission or active concealment at the least. The case could sidestep or challenge immunity provisions that protect tech companies from liability for material posted on their social media platforms under Section 230, a 30-year-old provision of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, as well as a First Amendment shield. In California, a jury already is sequestered in deliberations on whether social media companies should be liable for harms caused to children using their platforms, in one of three bellwether court cases that could set the course for thousands of similar lawsuits. New Mexico’s case is built on a different foundation — including a state undercover investigation where agents created social media accounts posing as children to document sexual solicitations and the response from Meta. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, also says the dangers of addiction to social media haven’t been fully disclosed or addressed by Meta. Meta hasn’t agreed that social media addiction exists, but executives acknowledge “problematic use” and say they want people to feel good about the time they spend on Meta’s platforms. Among thousands of pages of documents, the New Mexico trial examines a raft of internal Meta correspondence and reports related to child safety. Jurors also heard testimony from Meta executives, platform engineers, whistleblowers who left the company, psychiatric experts and tech-safety consultants. The jury also may be influenced by testimony from local public school educators who have struggled with disruptions linked to social media, including the exchange of violent and sexually explicit images, along with sextortion schemes targeting children in New Mexico. Questions of unconscionable and willful conduct The two additional counts of consumer protection violations allege that Meta engaged in “unconscionable” trade practices that were grossly unfair. In opening statements, prosecution attorney Donald Migliori emphasized accusations that Meta targeted social media engagement with children in an unconscionable way as a source of long-term profit while knowing children were at risk of sexual exploitation on social media. Meta disputes that argument by highlighting platform safety features and content filters for teenagers, who are seen by Meta as trendsetters with limited initial purchasing power to satisfy advertisers. The jury would decide whether the conduct was “willful” and merits civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and may help calculate the number of violations. Torrez says those penalties could add up, given the number of people in New Mexico using Meta’s platforms. Meta, however, has asked to cap those sanctions at one penalty per misleading statement or fair-trade violation — and not the number of social media views or users. Nuisance allegations to be decided by judge State District Judge Bryan Biedscheid is overseeing both phases of the trial. He would decide nuisance allegations as the case advances — and whether the company is on the hook financially to repair damage. Prosecutors have accused Meta of carelessly creating a marketplace and “breeding ground” for predators who target children for sexual exploitation. They allege Meta’s platforms also undermine the mental health of teenagers in a variety of ways — from sleep deprivation and depression to self-harm. Attorneys for Meta accuse prosecutors of cherry-picking evidence as well as shoddy investigative work that may have made matters worse. At trial, Meta executives described robust systems for detecting child sexual abuse material on its platforms and notifying law enforcement — but said the company also cautions users that its enforcement isn’t flawless. “We believe it’s important to disclose the risks, but to do so in a consistent and rigorous way,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri said, describing a philosophy that extends to blog posts, service agreements and more. In a video deposition played at trial, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that “safety is extremely important for the service and having it be something that people trust and want to use over time.” He said Meta in 2017 stopped linking business performance goals directly to the extended amount of time users spend on its platforms. Torrez says he will request court-ordered relief to make Meta change the way it does business and remedy the harm to children from social media. “We’re going to have meaningful investments in targeted strategic programming around how you use the internet and how you use social media in ways that are responsible and healthy,” he said on the opening day of the trial. —Morgan Lee, Associated Press View the full article

You can spend hours reading business books and browsing blogs about teamwork, but sometimes, teamwork quotes from history seem to say more than an entire book ever could. And since every team can use a little extra motivation once in a while, we set out to find the best teamwork quotes for you to share with your employees to get your team working at their best. In this blog, you’ll find: Inspirational teamwork quotes Motivational teamwork quotes Funny teamwork quotes Uplifting teamwork quotes Appreciation teamwork quotes Leadership teamwork quotes Don’t forget that, while employee motivation is key to success in the workplace, it’s not all you and your team need to succeed. You’ll also need project management software like ProjectManager. Our award-winning software offers teams the tools they need to plan, schedule and keep track of all their projects and strategies in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Project-list-light-mode-CTA.pngLearn more Tips to Manage Teams & Promote Teamwork Before we look at the best teamwork quotes from history, let’s start with some key team management tips. In the video below, Jennifer Bridges, Professional Project Manager (PMP) explains how leaders can motivate their team members and help them better collaborate with each other. Best 70 Teamwork Quotes In the list below, we’ve included the best teamwork quotes along with a visual version of each quote so that you can easily drop your favorite teamwork quote into an email or Slack channel when your team needs that extra motivation. So, without further ado, here are 70 of the best inspirational quotes about teamwork. Inspirational Teamwork Quotes Inspirational teamwork quotes can help teams stay aligned, focused and committed to a shared goal. Whether you’re leading a project or building a collaborative culture, these quotes about teamwork and collaboration can spark fresh perspectives and reinforce the importance of working together. 1. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford Henry Ford built cars, but his most famous innovation was the factory assembly line, which took teamwork to a whole new level and revolutionized the automotive industry. Besides that, he’s got great team success quotes. 2. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller Don’t tell Helen Keller that she had disabilities. She knew that a person is more than the sum of their parts. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-04-600x600.png 3. “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” – Napoleon Hill Self-help author Napoleon Hill wrote a book called Think and Grow Rich. Those are two things we can all get behind. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-22-600x600.png 4. “None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard Ken Blanchard is a management guru, best known for his 13-million-copy-selling tome The One Minute Manager. It takes even less time than that to read his insightful quote. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-12-600x600.png 5.“A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of themselves and their contribution to praise the skills of others.” – Norman Shidle This is one of the best teamwork quotes, showing how trust and recognition strengthen teams. It’s perfect for inspiring collaboration and highlights the value of uplifting teamwork quotes. 6. “The best teamwork comes from people who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” – James Cash Penney A strong addition to motivational quotes for teamwork, this quote reminds teams that alignment and shared focus drive success. 7. “No team works out teamwork.” – Dwyane Wade This concise teamwork motivational quote emphasizes the effort required to build effective collaboration, making it ideal for team meetings. 8. “You are either supporting the vision or supporting division.” – Saji Ijiyemi A powerful, uplifting team building teamwork quote, perfect for encouraging unity and shared goals. 9. “A successful team is a group of many hands and one mind.” – Bill Bethel This quote reinforces collaboration and can be used as a best teamwork quote to inspire aligned efforts across teams. 10. “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs If anyone deserved to run a company named after the most famous symbol for knowledge, it was Steve Jobs. At Apple, he rallied teams to successes that continue to resonate today through excellent team management. There are many famous teamwork quotes that came from his motivational speeches at Apple. 11. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” – Michael Jordan What can’t Michael Jordan do? The basketball star has parlayed his post-sports career into a powerful empire, and his sneakers are pretty great, too. He’s also right about teamwork. 12. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” – John C. Maxwell John C. Maxwell was a leadership visionary, but even from his perch on top, he could see the importance of teamwork. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-25-600x600.png 13. “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson Phil Jackson is a man who has experienced teamwork in the athletic world. Like other sports legends, he’s remembered for his teamwork quotes. This phrase captures the importance of collaboration in any team, project or organization. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_3-600x600.png 14. “Success is best when it’s shared.” – Howard Schultz This is one of the most impactful motivational quotes for teamwork, highlighting how shared success motivates teams and encourages collaboration. 15. “None of us can do it alone.” — Ray Kroc A simple and effective teamwork motivational quote that emphasizes collective effort over individual work. 16. “Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes A thoughtful addition to uplifting team building teamwork quotes, showing how collaboration enhances creativity and innovation. 17. “When you start out in a team, you have to get the teamwork going and then you get something back.” — Michael Schumacher This motivational quote for teamwork emphasizes the importance of building early collaboration for long-term results. 18. “Collaboration allows us to know more than we are capable of knowing by ourselves.” — Paul Solarz A strong uplifting team building teamwork quote that highlights how teamwork expands knowledge and drives collective success. 19. “You don’t get any medal for trying something, you get medals for results.” — Bill Parcells This teamwork motivational quote encourages accountability and outcome-focused collaboration. Motivational Teamwork Quotes Motivational teamwork quotes for work energize teams and encourage shared effort. They’re ideal for project leaders and employees looking for inspiration to achieve collective goals. 20. “The nicest thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.” – Margaret Carty You might have come across this quote by Margaret Carty. It’s a good one. Oddly, there’s little-to-no biographical information on her. It’s a mystery, and who doesn’t love a mystery? /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-14-600x600.png 21. “Many hands make light work.” – John Heywood This classic is one of the best teamwork quotes for highlighting how collaboration eases workloads. It’s a perfect example of motivational team building, teamwork quotes that remind teams why shared effort matters. 22. “The nicest thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.” – Margaret Carty A heartening appreciation teamwork quote, this emphasizes the support and trust that make teams successful. It’s ideal for reinforcing positive collaboration and boosting morale. 23. “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” – H.E. Luccock This inspiring quote is a standout among motivational quotes for teamwork, showing that collective effort creates results no individual could achieve alone. It also works as an uplifting team building teamwork quote for encouraging unity and shared purpose. 24. “A single leaf working alone provides no shade.” – Chuck Page This uplifting team building teamwork quote visually demonstrates the power of collaboration. It encourages teams to rely on one another for maximum impact. 25. “Together, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results.” – Becka Schoettle A standout among best teamwork quotes, highlighting how cooperation leads to exceptional outcomes and inspires team confidence. 26. “It takes two flints to make a fire.” — Louisa May Alcott This poetic teamwork motivational quote illustrates how collaboration creates momentum and sparks success. 27. “When we work together, we can accomplish far more than we ever could alone.” – Unknown A classic motivational quote for teamwork, perfect for inspiring collective effort and reinforcing the value of unity. 28. “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek This uplifting teamwork quote emphasizes the power of collaboration and shared purpose. Uplifting Teamwork Quotes Uplifting teamwork quotes can boost morale and encourage a positive team culture. These quotes remind teams that support, trust and cooperation are central to long-term success. 29. “To me, teamwork is a lot like being part of a family. It comes with obligations, entanglements, headaches, and quarrels. But the rewards are worth the cost.” – Pat Summit While no family has the perfect relationship, the rewards often outweigh the hardships. Pat Summit sums it up beautifully in this teamwork quote. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pat-Summit-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 30. “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek American poet Mattie Stepanek understands the importance of teamwork. While you certainly have your own goals you want to achieve, doing so in a group setting requires leaning on others to find success, which is also true when executing projects. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Mattie-Stepanek-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 31. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb There’s something to be said about relying on other people to get you to the finish line. Think of your teammates like your biggest cheerleaders and you’re all working toward a common goal. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/African-proverb-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 32. “Growth is never mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” – James Cash Penney James Cash Penny, also known as J.C. Penny, understood that achieving goals was a process never left up to chance. It’s important to lean on those around you to help accomplish things that you couldn’t do alone. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/James-Cash-Penney-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 33. “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” – Vince Lombardi American football coach Vince Lombardi didn’t stumble into his success. He knew that teamwork was one of the most effective ways to overcome any obstacles or bring any plan to fruition. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Vince-Lombardi-teamwork-quote-2-600x600.png Leadership Teamwork Quotes Leadership teamwork quotes highlight how strong leaders inspire collaboration, guide their teams and achieve shared goals. These quotes showcase the value of effective communication, trust and vision, making them perfect for motivating employees, managers and project teams to work together toward success. 34.“The best way to serve the individuals on the team is to see that the whole team wins.” – John C. Maxwell Renowned American author, speaker and leadership expert has a good reminder for all of us. When working toward a goal, know that you will only be as successful as your team. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/John-C-Maxwell-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 35. “I’ve never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.” – Abby Wambach American soccer legend Abby Wambach knows that her success on the field can always be attributed to a teammate. The same can be said for off-field scenarios as well. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Abby-Wambach-teamwork-quote-600x600.png /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PM-101-eBook-banner-ad.jpg 36. “We may all have come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” -Martin Luther King Jr Civil rights leader and advocate Martin Luther King Jr. had a way with words. His teamwork quote is a good reminder that despite any previous differences, we can all come together as one. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MLK-Jr-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 37. “To build a strong team, you must see someone else’s strength as a complement to your weakness and not a threat to your position or authority.” -Christine Caine American author and activist Christine Caine reminds us that skills, strengths and weaknesses can benefit one another in a team setting. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Christine-Caine-teamwork-quote-600x600.png 38. “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton Isaac Newton is one of the most notorious intellectuals that the world has seen. Even a brilliant man like him knew the importance of teamwork. In this quote, Isaac Newton explains he didn’t achieve all his accomplishments by himself, but rather through teamwork and the work of those who came before him. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_1-600x600.png 39. “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs If anyone deserved to run a company named after the most famous symbol for knowledge, it was Steve Jobs. At Apple, he rallied teams to successes that continue to resonate today through excellent team management. There are many famous teamwork quotes that came from his motivational speeches at Apple. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-02-600x600.png 40. “It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin Charles Darwin spent many years analyzing a wide variety of animal species to develop his famous evolution theory. During those years, he realized that teamwork and collaboration are not only inherent to humankind but are also important in the animal kingdom. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_2-600x600.png Related: 10 Strategies to Motivate Your Team /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-07-600x600.png 41. “[Teamwork] is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” – Andrew Carnegie Industrialist philanthropist Andrew Carnegie knew that if each team member gave their all, the collective effort would lead to success. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-03-600x600.png 42. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain Constructive criticism should be always welcome in any team. We must strive to help our teammates flourish, in any way we can. Because when one member of the team becomes great, then the team becomes great, as Mark Twain says. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_4-600x600.png 43. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – Harry Truman Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, surely knew a thing or two about leadership. This is a great teamwork quote from history because it shows the importance of selflessness when being part of any team. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_5-600x600.png Achieving better results alongside your team often requires reflecting on what went well within your project. This helps you establish what went well and what can improve the next time. Take advantage of our free lessons learned template for guidance. /wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Lessons-Learned-Template.png Get your free Lessons Learned Template Use this free Lessons Learned Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File 44. “There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” – George Shinn George Shinn, an American entrepreneur and owner of sports teams, knows that teamwork is key to achieving goals, whether those are personal goals, business objectives or the completion of a project. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_6-600x600.png Funny Teamwork Quotes Funny teamwork quotes for work help relieve stress while reminding teams of the importance of collaboration. Humor can boost engagement and strengthen relationships. 45. “Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes This teamwork quote helps us understand the importance of letting others contribute with their talent. It’s important to let our teammates do their job and provide them with a collaborative environment where they feel welcome, as this teamwork helps us grow and makes our own ideas better. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_7-600x600.png 46. “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi Vince Lombardi is another sports legend who’s known for his famous teamwork quotes. He truly experienced the power of teamwork, as he expressed in this quote. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_8-600x600.png 47. “No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.” – Reid Hoffman Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, is an experienced entrepreneur who understands how teamwork helps organizations grow. This short teamwork quote sums up the power of working as a team. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes_9-600x600.png 48. “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is best known as the author of the children’s classic The Little Prince. He was also an enthusiastic aviator and knew that it was better to fly as a flock than to fly alone. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-01-600x600.png 49. “Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job.” – Winston Churchill Winston Churchill was a great leader for a number of reasons, and one that’s famous for his teamwork quotes. One of them is that he understood that teamwork wins the fight, and quotes like the one below show how good he was at motivating not only the troops but everyone into supporting the war effort. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-05-600x600.png Our online tool helps teams collaborate on projects in real time with comments, status updates and file sharing—with immediate notifications in-app and through email when tasks are updated. We’re not saying that WWII could have ended sooner with our software, but we have squeezed greater efficiencies out of projects both big and small. Get started with ProjectManager for free today. 50. “It takes two flints to make a fire.” – Louisa May Alcott Author Louisa May Alcott wrote the novel Little Women, which is as influential now as it was when first published in 1868 and knows that characters, like people, work best together. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-06-600x600.png 51. “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it.” – Bear Bryant Paul W. Bryant, commonly known as Bear Bryant, was the head coach of the University of Alabama football team for 25 years. During that time, they won six national championships and 13 conference championships. Now that’s teamwork! /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-08-600x600.png 52. “In union there is strength.” Aesop You’ve read Aesop’s fables in school. Maybe you should go back and read the Greek storyteller again. There’s a lot of wisdom in those stories. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-09-600x600.png 53. “When he took time to help the man up the mountain, lo, he scaled it himself.” – Tibetan Proverb A proverb is a simple saying that gains popularity over time. This Tibetan proverb is deceptively simple and offers a great lesson on teamwork. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-10-600x600.png 54. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead Margaret Mead was a cultural anthropologist who spent her life studying the holistic view of human nature. So, who better to comment on the nature of teamwork than the icon herself? /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-11-600x600.png 55. “When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing.” – Bo Schembechler Bo Schembechler was one of the most victorious college football coaches in history. So, it’s wise to listen when he’s offering advice on teamwork. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-13-1-600x600.png 56. “In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly.” – Mark Sanborn Entrepreneur Mark Sanborn is a wealth of wisdom, and thankfully he likes to share the wealth. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-15-600x600.png 57. “Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they’re doing it because they care about the team.” – Patrick Lencioni Management and teamwork expert Patrick Lencioni is best known for his bestselling book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, so he’s someone all teams should listen to. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-16-600x600.png 58. “I’m not the smartest fellow in the world, but I sure can pick smart colleagues.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt President Franklin D. Roosevelt got the United States through the Great Depression and the Second World War. He knew it wasn’t just what you can do, but what you and your team can accomplish. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-17-600x600.png 59. “You are either supporting the vision or supporting division.” – Saji Ijiyemi Leadership pro and author Saji Ijiyemi knows that a leader is only as good as the team supporting them. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-18-600x600.png 60. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford We’ve already mentioned Henry Ford on this list, and it turns out that he was full of knowledge about teamwork. This quote is a good reminder to keep your eyes on the prize. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Henry-Ford-teamwork-quote-2-600x600.png 61. “The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.” –Lewis B. Ergen Fake news? Maybe. Lewis B. Ergen is another attributed quote whose author is elusive to the research department here at ProjectManager. But if this is a fake quote, the sentiment behind it isn’t. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-20-600x600.png 62. “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” – Kenyan Proverb If Africa is the cradle of civilization, then there’s a lot we can learn as this Kenyan proverb proves. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-21-600x600.png Appreciation Teamwork Quotes Teamwork appreciation quotes are a meaningful way to recognize contributions and celebrate team success. Recognizing each role motivates employees and strengthens culture. 63. “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” – Babe Ruth Baseball legend Babe Ruth is so famous they named a candy bar after him. But his real worth is that he was but one part of one of the winningest teams ever, the New York Yankees. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-23-600x600.png 64. “The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of its behind.” — Joseph Stilwell Army general Joseph Stilwell led troops during the Second World War. For him, teamwork was the difference between life and death. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-26-600x600.png 65. “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryūnosuke Satoro Japanese short story writer Ryūnosuke Satoro is best known as the author of “In a Grove.” It was famously adapted by director Akira Kurosawa as the movie Rashōmon, which retold a story from several different participants’ perspectives. /wp-content/uploads/2018/03/quotes-19-600x600.png 66. “Alone we can do so little; together we can recognize so much.” – Adapted/Unknown An appreciation teamwork quote that combines recognition and collaboration, reminding teams that every contribution matters. 67. “Appreciation can make a day—even change a life.” – Margaret Cousins A highly effective appreciation teamwork quote, showing how recognition can boost morale and build a positive team culture. 68. “Everyone on the team matters. Every role counts.” – Unknown An uplifting team building teamwork quote emphasizing inclusivity and shared responsibility across the team. 69. “Recognition is the greatest motivator.” – Gerard C. Eakedale A strong best teamwork quote, reinforcing how appreciation and recognition fuel engagement and performance. 70. “A successful team beats with one heart.” – Unknown This teamwork motivational quote highlights unity and alignment, perfect for reinforcing collective purpose. If you’re looking for project management tools like Gantt charts, Kanban boards and project calendars to kickstart your teamwork efforts, then try ProjectManager, online project management software. It has the tools your team needs to communicate and collaborate in real time. Get started for free. The post 70 Best Teamwork Quotes: Motivational, Inspirational & Funny appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

The average homebuyer would save $150 per month by using an adjustable-rate mortgage instead of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to Redfin. View the full article

By now you may have heard about the so-called “Gen Z pout,” a selfie face pose that comes as a response to the now “cringe” millennial duck face made popular by the Olsen twins in the 2000s, who would purse their lips to look pouty and suck in their cheeks when posing. Here’s what to know about the newest Gen Z slang. What exactly is the Gen Z pout? This week, a bunch of articles came out about this new trend and the nuances surrounding it that the untrained eye might miss. The pose has been seen on the faces of celebs such as Love Island’s Iris Kendall, or actresses Rachel Sennott, Lily-Rose Depp and Ariana Greenblatt. “If millennials pursed and pointed our smackers in a way that resembled the bill of a duck, Gen Z-ers are adopting a pout position that looks more like the mouth of a platypus,” explains PureWow. “It’s all about emphasizing the upper lip.” In an age dominated by plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, the Gen Z pout is a product of new beauty standards and a nod to how young women are pressured to look a certain way—and they know it. Now, Gen Z ladies are not merely acquiescing to the male gaze, whether on the runway or social media, but making a statement that shows they are fully aware of exactly what they are doing and owning it. Not to be confused with the Gen Z stare, that blank-faced, slightly annoyed expression Gen Z gives when asked a question, the Platypus pout also gives attitude. According to The Washington Post, that accentuated lip, which often comes from injectables, is more brat than bratty, and defiantly states, “Fine. Take your picture.” View the full article

Good urbanism should transcend politics. Socialists and capitalists can walk the same neighborhood and agree it’s a pleasant place to live. They can each appreciate the tree canopy, the corner café with people spilling onto the sidewalk, the mix of ages on bikes and on foot, the architectural details of older buildings, and so on. Whether they arrive by bus, bike, car, or on foot, people across the political spectrum want the same thing: places that work for everyday life. Places that feel safe, accessible, and appealing for young and old alike. Unlikely alliances are forming around this shared vision. People who call themselves conservatives, liberals, capitalists, and socialists are standing at the same town hall podiums, calling for changes that a decade ago would have been dismissed as fringe. The YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement is one of the easiest to put your finger on. But there’s one topic that these groups will continue fighting over: economics. Not who has more money, but fundamentally different views on how an economy thrives or dies. There’s broad consensus on the ends (safe transportation, abundant housing, etc.) but the means will be hotly contested. And the stakes are high enough that it’s worth being honest about which approaches actually work. Prices are signals, not villains Without outside interference, a price tells builders, buyers, and investors where scarcity exists and what people are willing to trade for something they value. If everyone in a town has an apple tree, apples are cheap. If only one person does, apples are expensive. As Nobel prize winner Friedrich Hayek put it, prices are “a system of telecommunications.” Prices aren’t good or bad, they’re indicators. Prices tell us something. When the price of small and medium-sized homes rises, it means there aren’t enough of them to meet demand. When a government intervenes to put a limit on housing rent or freezes prices, they’re turning off the feedback loop that tells housing suppliers where housing opportunities exist. Rent control sounds compassionate, but the outcomes undermine the goal. It discourages new construction, incentivizes disinvestment by property owners, and traps existing tenants in place, all while locking out potential new renters. You can’t balance supply with demand when the pricing mechanism is disabled. You can’t build your way out of a crisis if builders can’t read the signals. What history shows us In the Soviet Union, state ownership of housing led to chronic shortages. Millions of people waited years for a place to live, crowded into communal apartments while black markets emerged for basic dwellings. In Cuba, government control left housing stock decaying, with families crammed into crumbling buildings amid perpetual repair backlogs. Even in more moderate cases like Sweden’s post-war rent controls, people sat on waiting lists because suppressed prices discouraged new construction and maintenance. These weren’t failures of effort or intention. They were failures of feedback. Without profit motive and pricing discipline, resources drift, costs balloon, and production slows, because there’s no mechanism to punish bad decisions or reward good ones. Socialist housing schemes tend to treat the problem as one of allocation rather than production. But you can’t allocate what hasn’t been built. And you can’t build at scale without market signals showing what to build, where, and for whom. You can’t central-plan your way into abundance. You can’t price-freeze your way into affordability. If pricing is allowed to function naturally, housing providers will think carefully about what kinds of homes people actually want. Investors weigh risk. Builders decide whether it’s worth constructing a new duplex or renovating an old triplex. These distributed decisions made by people with real skin in the game respond to reality in real time in a way no central planner can replicate. The path forward If you care about housing abundance, the good news is that the policy prescription is fairly clear: loosen the local land use rules that restrict what can be built and where. Zoning reform, by-right permitting, eliminating parking minimums, and legalizing a mixture of land uses in one neighborhood are levers that increase the supply of homes. They work because they allow market signals to function rather than suppressing them. It doesn’t matter how pro-housing a land use policy sounds on paper if the underlying economics ignores supply and demand. Good intentions paired with bad incentives produce waiting lists, not homes. The urbanist coalition is broad, and that’s a strength. But if human flourishing is the goal, and we genuinely want a world where everyone has a decent place to live, then we can’t afford to ignore the economic fundamentals that determine whether housing gets built in the first place. Let the market work. That’s how you get housing abundance. View the full article

Creating an effective sample survey starts with a clear purpose that guides your questions. You need to craft questions that are concise and easy to comprehend, whilst incorporating various types to keep respondents engaged. Organizing these questions logically is essential, as it helps respondents flow smoothly through the survey. Remember to take into account anonymity and confidentiality to build trust. Grasping these key aspects will lead to valuable insights. But how do you guarantee your survey avoids common pitfalls? Key Takeaways Define the survey’s purpose clearly, focusing on specific goals like measuring satisfaction or engagement to guide question development. Craft clear, concise questions that target specific aspects, using a mix of question types to maintain respondent engagement. Organize questions logically, starting with easy ones and placing demographic questions at the end to enhance flow and completion rates. Conduct pre-tests with diverse groups to identify clarity issues and ensure questions align with the survey’s objectives. Ensure respondent anonymity and confidentiality to build trust, explaining data usage to encourage honest and constructive feedback. Define the Purpose of the Survey Defining the purpose of your survey is crucial, as it sets the foundation for everything that follows. A clear survey purpose establishes specific goals, like measuring customer satisfaction or comprehending employee engagement levels. When you know your objective, you can tailor your questions accordingly, which helps gather relevant data that’s easier to analyze. Respondents are more likely to engage when they grasp the significance of their participation, making your sample survey definition impactful. Additionally, a specific and measurable goal allows you to compare results against previous data or benchmarks. This improves the effectiveness of future surveys by providing valuable insights. By establishing a purpose before crafting questions, you guarantee that every item contributes directly to your research objective, avoiding unnecessary or irrelevant queries. In short, a well-defined purpose drives the entire survey process, leading to more actionable insights and better outcomes. Craft Clear and Concise Questions Crafting clear and concise questions is crucial for effective surveys. You should aim for specificity in your language, ensuring each question targets a particular aspect to avoid confusion. Furthermore, using straightforward language and balanced answer choices helps keep your data collection accurate and reliable. Use Simple Language Creating clear and concise survey questions is essential for gathering accurate data. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon to guarantee respondents easily understand your questions. For your examples student questionnaire survey introduction, limit each question to one main idea. This approach prevents confusion and improves clarity, making it easier for respondents to provide accurate answers. Employ simple sentence structures and avoid complex phrasing to facilitate quick comprehension. Aim to keep questions under 20 words to maintain engagement and reduce survey fatigue. Before finalizing your survey, test your questions with a small group to identify any unclear wording. Revise based on their feedback to enhance clarity and ensure your survey effectively collects the necessary data. Focus on Specificity When designing survey questions, specificity is key to guaranteeing respondents understand exactly what you’re asking. Craft direct and specific questions, like “How often do you use our product?” instead of vague ones such as “What do you think about our product usage?” Use simple language and avoid jargon to improve clarity and engagement. Limit each question to a single focus; for instance, separate inquiries about satisfaction and likelihood to recommend into distinct questions. Employ closed-ended questions with specific options, like rating satisfaction from “Very Satisfied” to “Very Dissatisfied.” Confirm all questions are relevant to your survey’s objectives and the respondents’ experiences, as this relevance maintains interest and boosts data accuracy in your sample questionnaire for research project. Avoid Leading Questions Neutral language plays a vital role in survey design, particularly regarding avoiding leading questions. Leading questions can skew responses by suggesting a desired answer, so it’s important to phrase them neutrally. For instance, instead of asking, “How much do you love our product?” you should ask, “What are your thoughts on our product?” This approach encourages unbiased feedback. When creating survey questions examples for students, focus on objective language that doesn’t imply judgment. Avoid emotionally charged terms that may sway respondents. Testing variations of your questions can help identify biases and refine clarity. Clear, concise questions focusing on a single idea prevent confusion, ensuring respondents understand what’s being asked and leading to more accurate data collection. Incorporate a Mix of Question Types Incorporating a mix of question types in your survey not only improves the data collected but further caters to the diverse preferences of respondents. For effective survey examples for students, consider using multiple-choice questions for structured, quantifiable responses. They’re easy to analyze and can quickly highlight trends. Open-ended questions, conversely, allow students to express detailed thoughts, revealing insights you mightn’t have anticipated. Rating scale questions, like Likert scales, help you gauge the intensity of students’ opinions, offering a deeper comprehension of their attitudes on various topics. Dichotomous questions (yes/no) can efficiently capture straightforward responses on key issues, streamlining your data collection. A well-rounded survey with varied question types keeps respondents engaged, reduces fatigue, and boosts completion rates, in the end leading to richer data that provides a more thorough view of student perspectives. Organize Questions Logically To create an effective survey, you should organize your questions logically. Start by grouping related questions together, which helps respondents focus on one topic at a time. Moreover, use clear linking statements between sections to guide them smoothly through the survey, ensuring they understand its structure and purpose. Group Related Questions Grouping related questions together is vital for creating a logical flow in your survey, as it helps respondents navigate through the content more easily. When designing a student survey questionnaire sample, organize questions by topic to minimize cognitive load. This allows respondents to concentrate on one theme at a time, which can lead to more accurate responses. Start with easy and engaging questions, gradually moving to more complex topics to maintain interest and encourage completion. Furthermore, place demographic questions at the end of the survey to preserve initial engagement, allowing respondents to focus on the main content first. Use Clear Transitions Creating a logical flow in your survey is crucial for ensuring that respondents can navigate the questions with ease. In a student questionnaire, clear shifts between sections help maintain this flow, guiding participants smoothly from one topic to another. By grouping related questions, you reduce cognitive load, allowing respondents to grasp the context of each question more readily. Transition statements can prepare them for upcoming changes, minimizing confusion and potential bias from previous answers. A well-structured survey with logical organization not only boosts engagement but additionally improves the quality of the data collected. As a result, using clear transitions can lead to higher completion rates and more accurate responses, as participants are less likely to feel overwhelmed or lost throughout the process. Use Neutral Language to Avoid Bias When designing a survey, using neutral language is essential to prevent bias in respondents’ answers. Neutral phrasing helps guarantee that feedback accurately reflects true opinions and experiences. For instance, instead of asking, “How great is our service?” you might say, “What are your thoughts on our service?” This subtle shift can notably reduce response bias. Research shows that biased wording can lead to skewed results; asking about “support for legalizing assisted suicide” can yield different responses than “support for allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives.” Consistently employing neutral language promotes trust, making respondents feel their opinions are valued and respected. This approach can lead to higher response rates and more honest feedback. To refine your sample survey example, consider testing variations of questions to see how different wordings impact interpretations and answers. This practice helps you create a more effective survey overall. Keep the Survey Length Manageable To guarantee your survey is effective, it’s crucial to keep its length manageable so respondents remain engaged and focused. Research shows that completion rates notably drop after 10 questions, so aim for 15-20 crucial queries. Ideally, you want your survey to take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete. This timeframe aligns with average attention spans and improves completion rates. Here’s a simple breakdown of survey length considerations: Survey Length Ideal Questions Estimated Time Short 5-10 3-5 minutes Moderate 10-15 6-10 minutes Long 15-20 11-15 minutes Pre-Test the Survey for Clarity Before finalizing your survey, it’s essential to pre-test it for clarity. By gathering a small, diverse group of respondents, you can pinpoint any confusing or ambiguous questions that might affect comprehension. This feedback will help you refine your questions, ensuring they align with your survey’s objectives and are easily comprehensible. Identify Clarity Issues Identifying clarity issues in your survey is crucial for guaranteeing that respondents understand the questions as intended. To achieve this, conduct a pre-test with a small group of target respondents using a questionnaire sample for students. This step helps you identify unclear or ambiguous questions that might lead to misinterpretation. Collecting feedback during this phase allows you to make necessary adjustments based on real user experiences. A pilot test can uncover issues like confusing wording or overly complex language that could hinder accurate responses. Furthermore, timing the completion of the pre-test helps you gauge if the survey length is manageable. Iterating on questions based on feedback guarantees your final survey is clear, focused, and effective in capturing the intended data. Gather Diverse Responses Gathering diverse responses during the pre-test phase is essential for enhancing the clarity and effectiveness of your survey. By testing your sample survey with a varied group of respondents, you can identify ambiguous or biased questions. This helps guarantee that your questions are clear and universally understood. Feedback from different demographics can reveal how each group interprets survey items, leading to improved question quality. Furthermore, a pilot test can highlight issues related to question order and flow, concurrently addressing potential survey fatigue. Analyzing pre-test data lays the groundwork for refining your questions, aligning them with your survey’s objectives, and making sure they accurately capture the insights you intend to gather. Strategically Include Demographic Questions To effectively gather insights from your survey, it’s vital to strategically include demographic questions that help segment your data. Placing these questions at the end of the survey maintains respondent engagement, allowing them to focus on the main topics first. Limit demographic questions to important categories such as age, gender, and geographic location to avoid overwhelming respondents. Clearly explain the purpose of collecting demographic information to reinforce its relevance to your survey’s objectives, encouraging honest answers. By analyzing demographic data alongside responses to other questions, you’ll uncover valuable insights that can inform targeted strategies and improvements. This approach not only improves your data analysis but also guarantees that you understand trends across different groups, allowing for more effective decision-making based on the unique characteristics of your respondents. In short, demographic questions are a vital part of your survey design. Ensure Anonymity and Confidentiality Guaranteeing anonymity and confidentiality in your survey is crucial for cultivating trust and encouraging honest responses. Assure respondents that their answers will be kept confidential and aggregated to protect individual identities. You should clearly communicate the measures taken to guarantee anonymity, such as using anonymous survey tools that don’t collect identifying information. Explain how the data will be used, emphasizing its purpose for improvement rather than individual evaluation, which reassures participants of its constructive intent. Additionally, inform respondents about data retention policies, specifying how long their responses will be stored and when they’ll be deleted. This improves transparency and builds trust. Highlight any ethical considerations taken during the survey process, including compliance with data protection regulations. By prioritizing these aspects, you can promote a sense of safety among participants, eventually leading to a more reliable sample of survey research and richer insights for your analysis. Analyze and Report Findings Effectively Analyzing and reporting survey findings effectively is vital for turning raw data into actionable insights. Start by organizing your sample survey data into clear categories, helping you interpret and report findings with ease. This organization guarantees that key insights stand out and are easily identifiable. Utilize visual aids like graphs and charts to present results, making complex data accessible for stakeholders. Highlight significant findings and actionable recommendations in your reports, guiding decision-making and strategy development based on the insights gathered. Don’t forget to share the results with respondents; this improves transparency and builds trust, nurturing a positive relationship for future surveys. Finally, implement a systematic approach to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, assuring that numerical insights are complemented by detailed feedback for an all-encompassing comprehension of the findings. This thorough analysis will empower you to make informed decisions based on your survey results. Frequently Asked Questions How to Make a Sample Survey? To make a sample survey, start by defining its purpose and objectives. This guarantees your questions are relevant. Use a variety of question types, like multiple-choice and open-ended, to keep respondents engaged. Limit your survey to 10-15 questions to avoid fatigue. After drafting, pilot test it with a small group to identify any confusing elements. Finally, place demographic questions at the end to gather necessary background without disrupting engagement. What Are 5 Good Survey Questions? To create effective survey questions, consider using a mix of question types. Start with a multiple-choice question like, “What’s your preferred product feature?” Follow with a rating scale question, such as, “How satisfied are you with our service?” Include an open-ended question for detailed feedback, like, “What improvements would you suggest?” Furthermore, demographic questions can help analyze trends, for instance, “What’s your age group?” These questions guarantee thorough insights into respondents’ views. What Is a Sample Survey Example? A sample survey example is a structured tool designed to collect data from a specific group within a larger population. It typically features various question types, such as multiple-choice and open-ended questions, to capture diverse insights. For instance, a customer satisfaction survey might ask about service quality, product usability, and overall experience. What Are the 7 Steps to Creating a Good Survey? To create a good survey, follow these seven steps: first, define your survey’s purpose with clear goals. Next, design concise questions focused on single topics. Third, select appropriate question types, like multiple-choice or Likert scales. Then, pilot test your survey to identify any issues. After that, distribute the survey widely. Finally, analyze the data thoroughly and report findings clearly, using visuals to improve comprehension and facilitate decision-making. Conclusion In conclusion, creating an effective sample survey requires careful planning and execution. By defining your purpose, crafting clear questions, and organizing them logically, you improve the quality of responses. Including a variety of question types and pre-testing your survey guarantees clarity and engagement. Remember to incorporate demographic questions, maintain anonymity, and confidentiality to build trust. Finally, analyzing and reporting your findings accurately will lead to valuable insights, making your survey a strong tool for data collection and analysis. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Create an Effective Sample Survey Example" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating an effective sample survey starts with a clear purpose that guides your questions. You need to craft questions that are concise and easy to comprehend, whilst incorporating various types to keep respondents engaged. Organizing these questions logically is essential, as it helps respondents flow smoothly through the survey. Remember to take into account anonymity and confidentiality to build trust. Grasping these key aspects will lead to valuable insights. But how do you guarantee your survey avoids common pitfalls? Key Takeaways Define the survey’s purpose clearly, focusing on specific goals like measuring satisfaction or engagement to guide question development. Craft clear, concise questions that target specific aspects, using a mix of question types to maintain respondent engagement. Organize questions logically, starting with easy ones and placing demographic questions at the end to enhance flow and completion rates. Conduct pre-tests with diverse groups to identify clarity issues and ensure questions align with the survey’s objectives. Ensure respondent anonymity and confidentiality to build trust, explaining data usage to encourage honest and constructive feedback. Define the Purpose of the Survey Defining the purpose of your survey is crucial, as it sets the foundation for everything that follows. A clear survey purpose establishes specific goals, like measuring customer satisfaction or comprehending employee engagement levels. When you know your objective, you can tailor your questions accordingly, which helps gather relevant data that’s easier to analyze. Respondents are more likely to engage when they grasp the significance of their participation, making your sample survey definition impactful. Additionally, a specific and measurable goal allows you to compare results against previous data or benchmarks. This improves the effectiveness of future surveys by providing valuable insights. By establishing a purpose before crafting questions, you guarantee that every item contributes directly to your research objective, avoiding unnecessary or irrelevant queries. In short, a well-defined purpose drives the entire survey process, leading to more actionable insights and better outcomes. Craft Clear and Concise Questions Crafting clear and concise questions is crucial for effective surveys. You should aim for specificity in your language, ensuring each question targets a particular aspect to avoid confusion. Furthermore, using straightforward language and balanced answer choices helps keep your data collection accurate and reliable. Use Simple Language Creating clear and concise survey questions is essential for gathering accurate data. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon to guarantee respondents easily understand your questions. For your examples student questionnaire survey introduction, limit each question to one main idea. This approach prevents confusion and improves clarity, making it easier for respondents to provide accurate answers. Employ simple sentence structures and avoid complex phrasing to facilitate quick comprehension. Aim to keep questions under 20 words to maintain engagement and reduce survey fatigue. Before finalizing your survey, test your questions with a small group to identify any unclear wording. Revise based on their feedback to enhance clarity and ensure your survey effectively collects the necessary data. Focus on Specificity When designing survey questions, specificity is key to guaranteeing respondents understand exactly what you’re asking. Craft direct and specific questions, like “How often do you use our product?” instead of vague ones such as “What do you think about our product usage?” Use simple language and avoid jargon to improve clarity and engagement. Limit each question to a single focus; for instance, separate inquiries about satisfaction and likelihood to recommend into distinct questions. Employ closed-ended questions with specific options, like rating satisfaction from “Very Satisfied” to “Very Dissatisfied.” Confirm all questions are relevant to your survey’s objectives and the respondents’ experiences, as this relevance maintains interest and boosts data accuracy in your sample questionnaire for research project. Avoid Leading Questions Neutral language plays a vital role in survey design, particularly regarding avoiding leading questions. Leading questions can skew responses by suggesting a desired answer, so it’s important to phrase them neutrally. For instance, instead of asking, “How much do you love our product?” you should ask, “What are your thoughts on our product?” This approach encourages unbiased feedback. When creating survey questions examples for students, focus on objective language that doesn’t imply judgment. Avoid emotionally charged terms that may sway respondents. Testing variations of your questions can help identify biases and refine clarity. Clear, concise questions focusing on a single idea prevent confusion, ensuring respondents understand what’s being asked and leading to more accurate data collection. Incorporate a Mix of Question Types Incorporating a mix of question types in your survey not only improves the data collected but further caters to the diverse preferences of respondents. For effective survey examples for students, consider using multiple-choice questions for structured, quantifiable responses. They’re easy to analyze and can quickly highlight trends. Open-ended questions, conversely, allow students to express detailed thoughts, revealing insights you mightn’t have anticipated. Rating scale questions, like Likert scales, help you gauge the intensity of students’ opinions, offering a deeper comprehension of their attitudes on various topics. Dichotomous questions (yes/no) can efficiently capture straightforward responses on key issues, streamlining your data collection. A well-rounded survey with varied question types keeps respondents engaged, reduces fatigue, and boosts completion rates, in the end leading to richer data that provides a more thorough view of student perspectives. Organize Questions Logically To create an effective survey, you should organize your questions logically. Start by grouping related questions together, which helps respondents focus on one topic at a time. Moreover, use clear linking statements between sections to guide them smoothly through the survey, ensuring they understand its structure and purpose. Group Related Questions Grouping related questions together is vital for creating a logical flow in your survey, as it helps respondents navigate through the content more easily. When designing a student survey questionnaire sample, organize questions by topic to minimize cognitive load. This allows respondents to concentrate on one theme at a time, which can lead to more accurate responses. Start with easy and engaging questions, gradually moving to more complex topics to maintain interest and encourage completion. Furthermore, place demographic questions at the end of the survey to preserve initial engagement, allowing respondents to focus on the main content first. Use Clear Transitions Creating a logical flow in your survey is crucial for ensuring that respondents can navigate the questions with ease. In a student questionnaire, clear shifts between sections help maintain this flow, guiding participants smoothly from one topic to another. By grouping related questions, you reduce cognitive load, allowing respondents to grasp the context of each question more readily. Transition statements can prepare them for upcoming changes, minimizing confusion and potential bias from previous answers. A well-structured survey with logical organization not only boosts engagement but additionally improves the quality of the data collected. As a result, using clear transitions can lead to higher completion rates and more accurate responses, as participants are less likely to feel overwhelmed or lost throughout the process. Use Neutral Language to Avoid Bias When designing a survey, using neutral language is essential to prevent bias in respondents’ answers. Neutral phrasing helps guarantee that feedback accurately reflects true opinions and experiences. For instance, instead of asking, “How great is our service?” you might say, “What are your thoughts on our service?” This subtle shift can notably reduce response bias. Research shows that biased wording can lead to skewed results; asking about “support for legalizing assisted suicide” can yield different responses than “support for allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives.” Consistently employing neutral language promotes trust, making respondents feel their opinions are valued and respected. This approach can lead to higher response rates and more honest feedback. To refine your sample survey example, consider testing variations of questions to see how different wordings impact interpretations and answers. This practice helps you create a more effective survey overall. Keep the Survey Length Manageable To guarantee your survey is effective, it’s crucial to keep its length manageable so respondents remain engaged and focused. Research shows that completion rates notably drop after 10 questions, so aim for 15-20 crucial queries. Ideally, you want your survey to take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete. This timeframe aligns with average attention spans and improves completion rates. Here’s a simple breakdown of survey length considerations: Survey Length Ideal Questions Estimated Time Short 5-10 3-5 minutes Moderate 10-15 6-10 minutes Long 15-20 11-15 minutes Pre-Test the Survey for Clarity Before finalizing your survey, it’s essential to pre-test it for clarity. By gathering a small, diverse group of respondents, you can pinpoint any confusing or ambiguous questions that might affect comprehension. This feedback will help you refine your questions, ensuring they align with your survey’s objectives and are easily comprehensible. Identify Clarity Issues Identifying clarity issues in your survey is crucial for guaranteeing that respondents understand the questions as intended. To achieve this, conduct a pre-test with a small group of target respondents using a questionnaire sample for students. This step helps you identify unclear or ambiguous questions that might lead to misinterpretation. Collecting feedback during this phase allows you to make necessary adjustments based on real user experiences. A pilot test can uncover issues like confusing wording or overly complex language that could hinder accurate responses. Furthermore, timing the completion of the pre-test helps you gauge if the survey length is manageable. Iterating on questions based on feedback guarantees your final survey is clear, focused, and effective in capturing the intended data. Gather Diverse Responses Gathering diverse responses during the pre-test phase is essential for enhancing the clarity and effectiveness of your survey. By testing your sample survey with a varied group of respondents, you can identify ambiguous or biased questions. This helps guarantee that your questions are clear and universally understood. Feedback from different demographics can reveal how each group interprets survey items, leading to improved question quality. Furthermore, a pilot test can highlight issues related to question order and flow, concurrently addressing potential survey fatigue. Analyzing pre-test data lays the groundwork for refining your questions, aligning them with your survey’s objectives, and making sure they accurately capture the insights you intend to gather. Strategically Include Demographic Questions To effectively gather insights from your survey, it’s vital to strategically include demographic questions that help segment your data. Placing these questions at the end of the survey maintains respondent engagement, allowing them to focus on the main topics first. Limit demographic questions to important categories such as age, gender, and geographic location to avoid overwhelming respondents. Clearly explain the purpose of collecting demographic information to reinforce its relevance to your survey’s objectives, encouraging honest answers. By analyzing demographic data alongside responses to other questions, you’ll uncover valuable insights that can inform targeted strategies and improvements. This approach not only improves your data analysis but also guarantees that you understand trends across different groups, allowing for more effective decision-making based on the unique characteristics of your respondents. In short, demographic questions are a vital part of your survey design. Ensure Anonymity and Confidentiality Guaranteeing anonymity and confidentiality in your survey is crucial for cultivating trust and encouraging honest responses. Assure respondents that their answers will be kept confidential and aggregated to protect individual identities. You should clearly communicate the measures taken to guarantee anonymity, such as using anonymous survey tools that don’t collect identifying information. Explain how the data will be used, emphasizing its purpose for improvement rather than individual evaluation, which reassures participants of its constructive intent. Additionally, inform respondents about data retention policies, specifying how long their responses will be stored and when they’ll be deleted. This improves transparency and builds trust. Highlight any ethical considerations taken during the survey process, including compliance with data protection regulations. By prioritizing these aspects, you can promote a sense of safety among participants, eventually leading to a more reliable sample of survey research and richer insights for your analysis. Analyze and Report Findings Effectively Analyzing and reporting survey findings effectively is vital for turning raw data into actionable insights. Start by organizing your sample survey data into clear categories, helping you interpret and report findings with ease. This organization guarantees that key insights stand out and are easily identifiable. Utilize visual aids like graphs and charts to present results, making complex data accessible for stakeholders. Highlight significant findings and actionable recommendations in your reports, guiding decision-making and strategy development based on the insights gathered. Don’t forget to share the results with respondents; this improves transparency and builds trust, nurturing a positive relationship for future surveys. Finally, implement a systematic approach to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, assuring that numerical insights are complemented by detailed feedback for an all-encompassing comprehension of the findings. This thorough analysis will empower you to make informed decisions based on your survey results. Frequently Asked Questions How to Make a Sample Survey? To make a sample survey, start by defining its purpose and objectives. This guarantees your questions are relevant. Use a variety of question types, like multiple-choice and open-ended, to keep respondents engaged. Limit your survey to 10-15 questions to avoid fatigue. After drafting, pilot test it with a small group to identify any confusing elements. Finally, place demographic questions at the end to gather necessary background without disrupting engagement. What Are 5 Good Survey Questions? To create effective survey questions, consider using a mix of question types. Start with a multiple-choice question like, “What’s your preferred product feature?” Follow with a rating scale question, such as, “How satisfied are you with our service?” Include an open-ended question for detailed feedback, like, “What improvements would you suggest?” Furthermore, demographic questions can help analyze trends, for instance, “What’s your age group?” These questions guarantee thorough insights into respondents’ views. What Is a Sample Survey Example? A sample survey example is a structured tool designed to collect data from a specific group within a larger population. It typically features various question types, such as multiple-choice and open-ended questions, to capture diverse insights. For instance, a customer satisfaction survey might ask about service quality, product usability, and overall experience. What Are the 7 Steps to Creating a Good Survey? To create a good survey, follow these seven steps: first, define your survey’s purpose with clear goals. Next, design concise questions focused on single topics. Third, select appropriate question types, like multiple-choice or Likert scales. Then, pilot test your survey to identify any issues. After that, distribute the survey widely. Finally, analyze the data thoroughly and report findings clearly, using visuals to improve comprehension and facilitate decision-making. Conclusion In conclusion, creating an effective sample survey requires careful planning and execution. By defining your purpose, crafting clear questions, and organizing them logically, you improve the quality of responses. Including a variety of question types and pre-testing your survey guarantees clarity and engagement. Remember to incorporate demographic questions, maintain anonymity, and confidentiality to build trust. Finally, analyzing and reporting your findings accurately will lead to valuable insights, making your survey a strong tool for data collection and analysis. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Create an Effective Sample Survey Example" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Most of us don’t do enough strength training to realize the health benefits it can bring. The American College of Sports Medicine has released a new guideline on strength training that gives more realistic advice than what you may have heard about strength training elsewhere. Aside from outlining the amount of training we need, the new guidelines also come with a few surprises, in the form of debunking many long-held "rules" of strength training. Among them: training to failure isn’t essential, and unstable surfaces aren’t necessary to improve your balance. I keep seeing fitness professionals celebrating these new ACSM guidelines as a major improvement on previous advice. Certainly the new version gets more specific about how to achieve different benefits of training (like strength versus muscle size), but it also tells us how not to overthink the details. I’ll give the highlights below, and then you can read the press release and the full list of guidelines. Why strength training mattersIf you’re interested in fitness for its own sake, you should know that cardio and strength training are both important—you can’t just do one and ignore the other. But even if you’re only interested in health benefits, strength training is crucial. I’ve previously written about the benefits of gaining muscle mass, which include improvements to your metabolism, overall health, and the ability to stay active and independent as you get older. The ACSM writes in its paper that resistance training (its preferred term for what I call strength training) has positive effects on health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and sleep quality. How much strength training to plan forWe should all be doing some strength training, as all exercise guidelines tell us. (Specifically, here are the most recent U.S. guidelines, which advise that we all strength train twice a week.) The ACSM agrees with the minimum of twice per week, per muscle group. That means you can do a full-body workout twice a week, or split up your workouts so that each muscle gets at least two days of work. Six things not to overthink when strength trainingI find that some of the most interesting things in the new ACSM guidelines are where it tells us what not to worry about. According to the evidence the authors have reviewed, there’s a lot of stuff that isn’t conclusively supported, and you can safely stop worrying about it: Training “to failure” isn’t necessary. You don’t have to keep going with an exercise until you physically can’t. You should work pretty hard, but hitting the point of failure is not critical. Instability training isn’t better for balance. You don’t need to stand on unstable surfaces to train your balance; balance gets better as people get stronger, regardless of whether they used stable or unstable surfaces to train. Time under tension isn’t important. Some gym bros will tell you that the amount of time your muscle spends doing an exercise is the most important thing, and thus slow reps are better than fast ones. The ACSM review did not find any benefit of maximizing time under tension for either strength or muscle growth. Beginner/intermediate/advanced routines aren’t needed. The same basic advice applies to everyone, the ACSM concludes. That doesn’t mean you have to train the same way as an advanced lifter as you did as a beginner, but it also means you can just keep doing what works for you as long as it’s working. Any equipment you use to strength train is fine. Gym workouts, home workouts, resistance bands, bodyweight exercises—anything that gives you a good strength workout is fine. You should make sure you can do challenging sets of exercise with whatever you choose, but there’s no inherent reason to prefer barbells over, say, resistance bands at home. Progressive overload isn’t always needed. This will be a shocker to a lot of fitness buffs! Gradually increasing the difficulty of your workouts is a way to get stronger, but it’s not always necessary to get the basic health benefits. That said, if you start out with very light or easy exercises at the beginning, you’ll need to increase the difficulty to make sure you’re training hard enough. Ultimately, the guidelines emphasize that doing something is better than nothing, and that finding something you will stick to is more important than optimizing the details of your routine. Only about 30% of us do any strength training twice a week, and that number may be as low as 10% for older people. How to meet your strength training goals, according to the ACSMHere’s the basic breakdown that the ACSM gives for different goals: For strength, lift heavy loads (at least 80% of your one-rep max) for at least 2 to 3 sets per exercise. For muscle gain (hypertrophy), aim to get 10 sets of strength exercises per muscle group, per week. For power (explosiveness), use loads that are between 30% to 70% of your one-rep max, and try to move the weight as fast as possible during the concentric (lifting) portion of the exercise. If you’ve never thought of these things separately, let me break them down: Power is probably the easiest to ignore, but as exercise scientist Jason Sawyer told Medical News Today, it’s one of the things older adults lose fastest, and rarely train. Power refers to how fast, or how explosively, you can contract a muscle. Jumping onto a box is an exercise that works on power in your legs; standing up a barbell squat as quickly as possible is another power exercise for the legs. Strength is pretty much what it sounds like—the ability to handle heavy weights or to apply a lot of force. The stronger you are, the easier it will be to carry a child or a bag of dog food or cement (to put it into real-world terms). Hypertrophy refers to building muscle. We all lose muscle as we age, so some amount of hypertrophy training is helpful to counteract that trend. Muscle tissue is good for our body, including our metabolism, as I’ve told you before. You can work on all three of these areas by using a variety of exercises and loads, but you may find it simplest to focus on one of them at a time. View the full article

When Rare Beauty, Bogg, and Goodles arrived in stores, they had to vie for shelf space with well-established brands making beauty products or beach bags or boxes of macaroni and cheese. But these brands quickly amassed cult-like followings by being very intentional with their missions to foster a sense of loyalty with customers. Although her legions of fans might have lined up to try the beauty products in Selena Gomez’s line, Rare Beauty, the company was founded with a bigger mission baked in: To support youth mental health by donating 1% sales to the Rare Impact Fund. While the company has found that customers will come for the products, they stay for the mission, Elyse Cohen, the brand’s chief impact officer, said during a panel discussion at the Fast Company Grill at SXSW. “Instead of starting with a product that we didn’t feel like existed in the marketplace, we started with a mission that we felt like didn’t exist, particularly in the beauty space,” Cohen said. “We love that young people are turning to brands for not just products, but for the issues that they care about—and also that’s what holds us accountable.” HOW TO STAY ALIGNED AMID CHANGE Founders must also hold themselves accountable. About six months ago, Goodles was weighing how to expand beyond its original offering—boxes of macaroni and cheese that are packed with protein, fiber and nutrients—and respond to customer demand for on-the-go microwaveable cups, recalled Jen Zeszut, cofounder and CEO. Though opting for plastic cups would be most cost-effective, doing so goes against what the company stands for, she added. “We want to make, be, and do gooder, so when you put that out there, it’s a high standard that you have to live up to,” Zeszut said. “If you’re all aligned on the mission and you’re saying that you’re gooder, then you have to launch paper based cups no matter how long it takes and even if it costs more, you just got to do it.” Finally, it’s important to understand who your core customers are and what they want as new competitors emerge with copycat products, as has been the case with Bogg. “It’s been a tough go for us with all of the people trying to nip at our heels, but we have to stay above that—we have to innovate at a lightning-fast level,” said Kim Vaccarella, founder and CEO. Bogg’s line of beach bags are intended primarily for moms whose needs help dictate the company’s business decisions, Vaccarella said. “We just have to keep doing everything and listening to her and coming out with things that are going to help make her life easier,” she said. “If we fail at that, then we’re failing as a brand, but everything we do is to expand on that original mission.” View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, implementing creative content strategies is crucial. You can leverage user-generated content to build authenticity and trust with your audience. Incorporating interactive polls invites participation and feedback, as behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize your brand. Short-form videos increase shareability, and contests or giveaways encourage community involvement. Each of these approaches offers unique benefits, and exploring them can greatly improve your online presence. What other strategies could complement these ideas? Key Takeaways Leverage user-generated content to enhance authenticity and trust, influencing purchasing decisions and boosting engagement rates significantly. Create interactive polls to encourage audience participation and gather valuable feedback on products or topics. Share behind-the-scenes content to provide authentic insights into your brand, improving relatability and transparency. Utilize short-form videos to connect with audiences through storytelling and trending audio, maximizing shareability and retention. Organize contests and giveaways that require user-generated content, fostering community involvement and increasing brand visibility. User-Generated Content That Showcases Authentic Experiences User-generated content (UGC) is becoming increasingly important for brands looking to establish authenticity and trust with their audience. By showcasing real customer experiences, UGC not only builds credibility but also greatly impacts purchasing decisions, with 79% of consumers affirming its influence. You can save up to 50% on content creation costs as you improve community engagement by leveraging UGC in your marketing strategy. Utilizing unique branded hashtags encourages customers to share their experiences, amplifying brand exposure and nurturing a sense of community. Brands that feature UGC often see a 28% increase in engagement rates, as followers are drawn to relatable content. Furthermore, customer testimonials can boost trust, with 72% of consumers stating that positive reviews increase their confidence in a brand. Interactive Polls That Invite Audience Participation Engaging your audience doesn’t have to stop with user-generated content; interactive polls offer a dynamic way to encourage participation and gather insights. By using polls, you can tap into valuable audience preferences, which is essential for crafting the best social media campaigns. Here are some effective ways to implement interactive polls: Ask simple yes/no questions to gauge opinions. Create multiple-choice polls about product features. Use this type of content to gather feedback on recent launches. Conduct quick surveys about interests or preferences. Invite followers to vote on upcoming topics. These polls not only boost engagement rates but in addition help strengthen community ties, making your audience feel valued in your brand’s decision-making process. Behind-The-Scenes Glimpses That Humanize a Brand When brands share behind-the-scenes glimpses, they offer followers an authentic look into their operations, which encourages transparency and builds trust. Posts that highlight team members or showcase daily processes can humanize your brand, making it more relatable. Engaging content like production processes or brainstorming sessions can cultivate audience loyalty, as followers feel part of your expedition. By incorporating behind-the-scenes elements into your social media strategy, you can improve engagement rates; these posts often generate higher shares and comments than standard promotions. Here’s a simple table to evaluate: Type of Content Engagement Benefit Example Team Highlights Builds relatability Employee of the Month post Daily Operations Increases transparency Day-in-the-life stories Production Processes Improves storytelling Behind-the-scenes videos This approach is fundamental when learning how to create content for Instagram or the best social media ad campaigns. Short-Form Videos That Enhance Shareability Short-form videos have emerged as a dynamic way for brands to connect with audiences and boost shareability across social media platforms. These engaging clips are a hallmark of the best social campaigns, driving interaction and visibility. To create cool social media campaigns, consider the following strategies: Use viral audio clips to tap into trending interests. Participate in popular challenges to increase reach. Keep videos under 60 seconds for maximum retention. Focus on storytelling to build emotional connections. Aim for high-quality visuals to improve viewer experience. Contests and Giveaways That Encourage Community Involvement Contests and giveaways can play an important role in nurturing community involvement and enhancing brand visibility on social media. By incentivizing followers with prizes, you can see participation rates jump by up to 34%. To maximize engagement, require participants to share user-generated content, promoting authentic connections as you increase your brand’s reach. It’s essential to establish clear terms and conditions to build trust and guarantee legal compliance. Using unique hashtags will help you track entries and encourage organic sharing. Furthermore, offering prizes that resonate with your audience can greatly boost interest; about 70% of consumers engage more with contests that align with their preferences. These strategies are critical components of the best digital marketing campaigns and effective online marketing campaigns. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you post five promotional messages, followed by five informative or entertaining posts, and then five engaging or interactive posts. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content mix, keeping your audience interested without overwhelming them. What Content Gets the Most Engagement on Social Media? To maximize engagement on social media, focus on interactive content like polls and quizzes, as they greatly boost likes and comments. User-generated content builds trust and influences purchasing decisions. Visuals, including videos and infographics, attract more views and shares. Seasonal promotions create urgency, prompting users to act quickly. Finally, educational posts that offer tips or how-tos position you as an authority, encouraging further engagement from your audience. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content is a strategic framework for balancing your posts. You should allocate 50% of your content to engaging or entertaining material, like interactive posts or behind-the-scenes looks. Next, 30% should focus on valuable or educational content, providing insights or tips. Finally, 20% can be promotional, highlighting products or services. This structure helps improve audience engagement while maintaining brand visibility and loyalty across your social platforms. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, incorporate interactive content like polls and quizzes to encourage audience participation. Share user-generated content to improve trust and authenticity. Use behind-the-scenes posts to humanize your brand, cultivating connections. Create educational content to position yourself as an authority, which can increase shares. Finally, leverage trending topics to keep your content relevant and engaging, aligning with current interests and conversations in your audience’s digital environment. Conclusion Incorporating these five creative strategies can greatly improve your social media engagement. By utilizing user-generated content, interactive polls, behind-the-scenes glimpses, short-form videos, and contests, you can nurture a deeper connection with your audience. Each approach not only encourages participation but likewise builds authenticity and trust in your brand. By implementing these techniques consistently, you can create a lively online community that actively interacts with your content and supports your brand’s growth. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Creative Examples of Social Content to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of boosting engagement on social media, implementing creative content strategies is crucial. You can leverage user-generated content to build authenticity and trust with your audience. Incorporating interactive polls invites participation and feedback, as behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize your brand. Short-form videos increase shareability, and contests or giveaways encourage community involvement. Each of these approaches offers unique benefits, and exploring them can greatly improve your online presence. What other strategies could complement these ideas? Key Takeaways Leverage user-generated content to enhance authenticity and trust, influencing purchasing decisions and boosting engagement rates significantly. Create interactive polls to encourage audience participation and gather valuable feedback on products or topics. Share behind-the-scenes content to provide authentic insights into your brand, improving relatability and transparency. Utilize short-form videos to connect with audiences through storytelling and trending audio, maximizing shareability and retention. Organize contests and giveaways that require user-generated content, fostering community involvement and increasing brand visibility. User-Generated Content That Showcases Authentic Experiences User-generated content (UGC) is becoming increasingly important for brands looking to establish authenticity and trust with their audience. By showcasing real customer experiences, UGC not only builds credibility but also greatly impacts purchasing decisions, with 79% of consumers affirming its influence. You can save up to 50% on content creation costs as you improve community engagement by leveraging UGC in your marketing strategy. Utilizing unique branded hashtags encourages customers to share their experiences, amplifying brand exposure and nurturing a sense of community. Brands that feature UGC often see a 28% increase in engagement rates, as followers are drawn to relatable content. Furthermore, customer testimonials can boost trust, with 72% of consumers stating that positive reviews increase their confidence in a brand. Interactive Polls That Invite Audience Participation Engaging your audience doesn’t have to stop with user-generated content; interactive polls offer a dynamic way to encourage participation and gather insights. By using polls, you can tap into valuable audience preferences, which is essential for crafting the best social media campaigns. Here are some effective ways to implement interactive polls: Ask simple yes/no questions to gauge opinions. Create multiple-choice polls about product features. Use this type of content to gather feedback on recent launches. Conduct quick surveys about interests or preferences. Invite followers to vote on upcoming topics. These polls not only boost engagement rates but in addition help strengthen community ties, making your audience feel valued in your brand’s decision-making process. Behind-The-Scenes Glimpses That Humanize a Brand When brands share behind-the-scenes glimpses, they offer followers an authentic look into their operations, which encourages transparency and builds trust. Posts that highlight team members or showcase daily processes can humanize your brand, making it more relatable. Engaging content like production processes or brainstorming sessions can cultivate audience loyalty, as followers feel part of your expedition. By incorporating behind-the-scenes elements into your social media strategy, you can improve engagement rates; these posts often generate higher shares and comments than standard promotions. Here’s a simple table to evaluate: Type of Content Engagement Benefit Example Team Highlights Builds relatability Employee of the Month post Daily Operations Increases transparency Day-in-the-life stories Production Processes Improves storytelling Behind-the-scenes videos This approach is fundamental when learning how to create content for Instagram or the best social media ad campaigns. Short-Form Videos That Enhance Shareability Short-form videos have emerged as a dynamic way for brands to connect with audiences and boost shareability across social media platforms. These engaging clips are a hallmark of the best social campaigns, driving interaction and visibility. To create cool social media campaigns, consider the following strategies: Use viral audio clips to tap into trending interests. Participate in popular challenges to increase reach. Keep videos under 60 seconds for maximum retention. Focus on storytelling to build emotional connections. Aim for high-quality visuals to improve viewer experience. Contests and Giveaways That Encourage Community Involvement Contests and giveaways can play an important role in nurturing community involvement and enhancing brand visibility on social media. By incentivizing followers with prizes, you can see participation rates jump by up to 34%. To maximize engagement, require participants to share user-generated content, promoting authentic connections as you increase your brand’s reach. It’s essential to establish clear terms and conditions to build trust and guarantee legal compliance. Using unique hashtags will help you track entries and encourage organic sharing. Furthermore, offering prizes that resonate with your audience can greatly boost interest; about 70% of consumers engage more with contests that align with their preferences. These strategies are critical components of the best digital marketing campaigns and effective online marketing campaigns. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests you post five promotional messages, followed by five informative or entertaining posts, and then five engaging or interactive posts. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content mix, keeping your audience interested without overwhelming them. What Content Gets the Most Engagement on Social Media? To maximize engagement on social media, focus on interactive content like polls and quizzes, as they greatly boost likes and comments. User-generated content builds trust and influences purchasing decisions. Visuals, including videos and infographics, attract more views and shares. Seasonal promotions create urgency, prompting users to act quickly. Finally, educational posts that offer tips or how-tos position you as an authority, encouraging further engagement from your audience. What Is the 50/30/20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media content is a strategic framework for balancing your posts. You should allocate 50% of your content to engaging or entertaining material, like interactive posts or behind-the-scenes looks. Next, 30% should focus on valuable or educational content, providing insights or tips. Finally, 20% can be promotional, highlighting products or services. This structure helps improve audience engagement while maintaining brand visibility and loyalty across your social platforms. How to Boost Engagement on Social Media? To boost engagement on social media, incorporate interactive content like polls and quizzes to encourage audience participation. Share user-generated content to improve trust and authenticity. Use behind-the-scenes posts to humanize your brand, cultivating connections. Create educational content to position yourself as an authority, which can increase shares. Finally, leverage trending topics to keep your content relevant and engaging, aligning with current interests and conversations in your audience’s digital environment. Conclusion Incorporating these five creative strategies can greatly improve your social media engagement. By utilizing user-generated content, interactive polls, behind-the-scenes glimpses, short-form videos, and contests, you can nurture a deeper connection with your audience. Each approach not only encourages participation but likewise builds authenticity and trust in your brand. By implementing these techniques consistently, you can create a lively online community that actively interacts with your content and supports your brand’s growth. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Creative Examples of Social Content to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you tuned into the red carpet for the Academy Awards, you may have seen actress Julia Fox being interviewed by social media influencers Quen Blackwell and Jake Shane, who were at the awards show reporting for Vanity Fair. In a bit that completely misses the mark, Shane quipped several times about the “annoying” child character in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which earned Rose Byrne a nomination for best actress. After being asked by Shane repeatedly about the “annoying” kid in the movie, Fox politely and appropriately steers the conversation to the more important tenor of the movie: that it’s meant to depict the unforgiving pressures of motherhood. In fact, the identity of the child is intentionally obfuscated in the film to focus on Byrne’s emotional journey. The moment has received residual backlash this week—not only for Shane’s flippant remarks, but for what it might indicate about the current state of entertainment journalism and where it’s headed. It raises the question of why media outlets keep hiring internet personalities to do jobs typically done by journalists. As the media industry is laying off professional journalists en masse, a new kind of landscape and interview style is emerging. In many instances, journalists are no longer steering the conversation. Instead, we now have what I’ve been calling “besties journalism,” wherein big influencers who’ve made a name for themselves turn an interview with a notable figure into a gabfest. And in our new attention economy, it makes some business sense. Influencers like Shane and Blackwell come with millions of zealous parasocial fans, and their appearance at a major event will inevitably create excitement and engagement online. Plus, many celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile subjects would prefer a softball interview over probing questions about tough issues or controversies. Mixed with an influencer’s propensity or need to be liked and to come across as friends with all their guests, what results is an exchange that lacks depth. Shane’s time on the red carpet was just a hyper-visible moment for a phenomenon that’s been taking place for years—where the opportunity for virality that benefits both the influencer and the interview subject supersedes all. Alex Cooper’s steadfast branding as a media mogul and her Call Her Daddy takeover of media can account for much of this shift in recent years. While her show can be entertaining—and has corralled a cult-like following, particularly among young women—it has diluted the sit-down, long-form interview. Cooper has developed a reputation for chumming up to her guests while rarely following up with questions to their curious answers or demonstrating a deep knowledge of their work. Her 2024 sit-down with then-presidential hopeful Kamala Harris was essentially a well-dressed marketing campaign about palatable women’s issues. Her sit-down with Chappell Roan failed to get into the singer’s complicated relationship with fame and paparazzi. Instead, listeners got—and often get—a wishy-washy mosaic of vibes, affirmations, reactions, quips, people-pleasing, and performing personality. The rise of influencer culture over the last 10 years that I’ve been reporting on it has been fascinating and bewildering to watch: Nobodies (respectfully) have become household names, creating fortunes and opportunities from sharing their unfiltered thoughts and lifestyles. But beyond everyday people just chasing the bag, I’ve been more disheartened by newsrooms and big brands also chasing after it. I think Shane’s Oscars mishap has created a record-scratch moment of reckoning for so many of us who feel protective of either journalism or the art that journalism helps scrutinize or situate. And to be clear, Shane and Cooper are good at what they do. They are entertainers and, first and foremost, are hustlers of self-branding and creating many revenue streams for that brand. But the lack of depth in some cases underscores a need for a different approach when it comes to journalism. Confronting someone more powerful, wealthy, and famous than you about sticky issues that may create an uncomfortable moment is the name of the game, and it’s quite difficult to do for a reason. It is not a job for everyone—and requires a real, principled commitment to the craft. (Shane has said that he allows all his interview guests to vet their appearances, which is a big no-no as far as maintaining ethics and independence goes.) And it also takes real gumption and an obsession to delve into the meaty material of something (research, sitting with a piece of work to understand it holistically and profoundly, and an interrogation of your own personal biases). This is all to say that there is absolutely space for a third thing that isn’t quite journalism, and is maybe somewhere in the ether of an influencer collab. And that not all traditionally trained journalists are good at the job, either. We’ve seen our fair share of bad questions and engagement from them, too—it’s a tough job. But I do hope we have a referendum on these industry shifts before we are forced to watch another missed opportunity, or a potential conversation between Shane and . . . Martin Scorsese (can you imagine?). For the gag and the viral soundbites, sure. For the arts, no. We can do better. View the full article

The small business landscape is facing renewed uncertainty as the The President administration announces a sweeping 15% tariff on all imports entering the United States, an action that has drawn criticism and concerns from small business owners across the country. In response, Senate Democrats, led by Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), have launched the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to protect small businesses from the adverse effects of these tariffs. Following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act illegal, the new legislation aims to shield small enterprises from unnecessary financial strain. The Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act proposes key benefits for small business owners, including exemptions from section 122 tariffs—tariffs that are now being challenged in the courts for their constitutional validity. Additionally, it calls for refunds on any tariffs already paid, a move that could potentially inject vital cash back into the hands of small operators. Senator Markey emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “America’s small businesses cannot bear another bruising round of uncertainty… it’s time to end The President’s latest round of tariff tax madness and deliver real relief to the American people.” His sentiments echo the distress felt among small business owners who find themselves grappling with increased costs due to these tariffs. The potential consequences of the tariffs are significant. According to recent estimates, American households have already absorbed over $1,700 in additional costs due to previous tariffs, with projections suggesting another $570 in added costs from the new measures. This financial burden could stymie growth initiatives, compel price hikes, or even force some small businesses to close their doors. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) supported the initiative by emphasizing the bill’s role in creating a buffer against what he described as “The President’s erratic decision-making.” He stressed that small businesses should not be the collateral damage of larger geopolitical trade struggles, emphasizing the need for legislative action to safeguard them from price hikes. Data from stakeholder organizations underscores the urgency of addressing tariff impacts. For instance, the Small Business Majority highlighted that about half of small business owners have raised prices on materials or products, with a notable percentage delaying the importation of goods. John Arensmeyer, the organization’s Founder and CEO, shared how businesses reliant on U.S. suppliers that import materials are disproportionately affected, as they lack the negotiating power that larger companies possess. There are, however, challenges that small business owners will need to navigate. While the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act aims to offer immediate relief, the legislative process can be unpredictable, and the timing for implementation is uncertain. Furthermore, small business owners may face difficulty advocating for their interests in a political climate where tariffs have been deeply intertwined with broader trade policy discussions. Richard Trent, Executive Director of Main Street Alliance, articulated the pressing nature of the legislation: “When tariffs are imposed overnight, it’s Main Street, not multinational corporations, that gets squeezed first.” This insight reflects the reality that small businesses often bear the economic brunt of federal policies, making swift legislative action critical. Moreover, even if the bill passes, the potential for further tariff increases or new trade policies remains a concern among small business owners, leaving them in a state of continuous caution. Todd McCracken, President and CEO of the National Small Business Association (NSBA), revealed that almost half of small businesses have reported negative impacts from prior tariffs, revealing the persistent and unpredictable nature of U.S. trade policy. Given this backdrop, it is vital for small business owners to stay informed about new developments in trade legislation while also considering contingency plans. As challenges persist, small enterprises must assess their supply chains and pricing strategies to mitigate potential impacts arising from any new tariffs or trade regulations. Amidst turbulent trade waters, the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act represents a concerted effort to safeguard the interests of small businesses nationwide. Business owners are encouraged to monitor this legislative development closely and prepare to engage with policymakers advocating for their needs. For further details, you can access the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Senate Democrats Unveil Bill to Shield Small Businesses from New Tariffs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The small business landscape is facing renewed uncertainty as the The President administration announces a sweeping 15% tariff on all imports entering the United States, an action that has drawn criticism and concerns from small business owners across the country. In response, Senate Democrats, led by Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), have launched the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to protect small businesses from the adverse effects of these tariffs. Following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act illegal, the new legislation aims to shield small enterprises from unnecessary financial strain. The Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act proposes key benefits for small business owners, including exemptions from section 122 tariffs—tariffs that are now being challenged in the courts for their constitutional validity. Additionally, it calls for refunds on any tariffs already paid, a move that could potentially inject vital cash back into the hands of small operators. Senator Markey emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “America’s small businesses cannot bear another bruising round of uncertainty… it’s time to end The President’s latest round of tariff tax madness and deliver real relief to the American people.” His sentiments echo the distress felt among small business owners who find themselves grappling with increased costs due to these tariffs. The potential consequences of the tariffs are significant. According to recent estimates, American households have already absorbed over $1,700 in additional costs due to previous tariffs, with projections suggesting another $570 in added costs from the new measures. This financial burden could stymie growth initiatives, compel price hikes, or even force some small businesses to close their doors. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) supported the initiative by emphasizing the bill’s role in creating a buffer against what he described as “The President’s erratic decision-making.” He stressed that small businesses should not be the collateral damage of larger geopolitical trade struggles, emphasizing the need for legislative action to safeguard them from price hikes. Data from stakeholder organizations underscores the urgency of addressing tariff impacts. For instance, the Small Business Majority highlighted that about half of small business owners have raised prices on materials or products, with a notable percentage delaying the importation of goods. John Arensmeyer, the organization’s Founder and CEO, shared how businesses reliant on U.S. suppliers that import materials are disproportionately affected, as they lack the negotiating power that larger companies possess. There are, however, challenges that small business owners will need to navigate. While the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act aims to offer immediate relief, the legislative process can be unpredictable, and the timing for implementation is uncertain. Furthermore, small business owners may face difficulty advocating for their interests in a political climate where tariffs have been deeply intertwined with broader trade policy discussions. Richard Trent, Executive Director of Main Street Alliance, articulated the pressing nature of the legislation: “When tariffs are imposed overnight, it’s Main Street, not multinational corporations, that gets squeezed first.” This insight reflects the reality that small businesses often bear the economic brunt of federal policies, making swift legislative action critical. Moreover, even if the bill passes, the potential for further tariff increases or new trade policies remains a concern among small business owners, leaving them in a state of continuous caution. Todd McCracken, President and CEO of the National Small Business Association (NSBA), revealed that almost half of small businesses have reported negative impacts from prior tariffs, revealing the persistent and unpredictable nature of U.S. trade policy. Given this backdrop, it is vital for small business owners to stay informed about new developments in trade legislation while also considering contingency plans. As challenges persist, small enterprises must assess their supply chains and pricing strategies to mitigate potential impacts arising from any new tariffs or trade regulations. Amidst turbulent trade waters, the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act represents a concerted effort to safeguard the interests of small businesses nationwide. Business owners are encouraged to monitor this legislative development closely and prepare to engage with policymakers advocating for their needs. For further details, you can access the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Senate Democrats Unveil Bill to Shield Small Businesses from New Tariffs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you've watched videos on the internet any time over the past year or two, you've encountered AI-generated content (even if you didn't realize it). While some of it is convincing, a lot of it is obvious. Like, I'm guessing no one thought those dramatic narrative videos of people made of fruit were painstakingly animated by hand. This type of artificially generated content has been lovingly (or not so lovingly) labeled "AI slop," which sums it up quite well: It's meaningless drivel, made with little effort or investment by some AI generator, that's raking up real money by going viral on social media. While all platforms that showcase short-form videos are inevitably already filled with AI slop, YouTube has been hit particularly hard. YouTube Shorts can be borderline unwatchable, depending on your algorithm. (Try watching in an incognito window to see what the platform serves up to a blank slate; it's wild out there.) What's worse, YouTube's algorithm shows these videos to kids. Short-form videos are already bad enough for kids in so many ways, but AI slop takes it to another level. "Did this feel like AI slop?"There's some good news on this front, at least: As reported by Dexerto, Starting this month, it appears YouTube is now asking users for their help identifying this AI-generated content. In fact, the company isn't mincing words or beating around the bush. If you're called to action, you'll receive a pop-up that literally reads: "Did this feel like AI slop?" According to a screenshot from this Redditor, you'll have the options of responding with any of the following: "Not at all," "Slightly," "Moderately," "Very much," or "Extremely." Why is YouTube asking for your help identifying AI slop?That might sound like a good thing, and I certainly hope it is. In an ideal world, YouTube would take the results from these findings and remove the videos that are egregious. It tracks with some of the company's past actions: YouTube has even taken down popular AI channels in the name of "reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content." But Dexerto highlights a different theory, one that is less hopeful. Perhaps the reason YouTube is giving you so many choices in its popup is to understand more precisely how viewers interpret these AI videos. YouTube will then be able to tell which videos are obviously AI slop, versus videos that exist in the uncanny valley. Using that data, they'll be able to train their own AI video models to generate content that doesn't come across as slop to most viewers. If you're scrolling on Shorts and the videos you see feel real, how likely are you to question whether or not they're legit? I hope that's not the case. While my faith in tech companies remains low, I was impressed by YouTube's recent stance against AI slop, and these flagging pop-ups seem to be another step in the right direction. With any luck, YouTube will continue to push higher-quality, human-made content, and crush low-quality AI slop. View the full article

Marines and sailors to arrive in the region in three to four weeks, signalling possible new phase in conflictView the full article