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When managing payroll, using the right apps can simplify tasks considerably. Options like Rippling, Workful, and Zoho Payroll offer features such as in-app communication and location-based access control. Meanwhile, Gusto and ADP RUN improve user experience with mobile access, allowing you to manage your payroll on the go. As you explore the variety of payroll solutions available, you’ll find tools that not just streamline processes but additionally improve transparency and employee engagement. Key Takeaways Rippling offers a user-friendly mobile app for employees to access payroll details, tax filings, and compliance updates easily. Gusto automates tax calculations, providing dedicated support for payroll inquiries and enhancing employee satisfaction through comprehensive benefits. ADP RUN enables employees to access pay statements and tax forms via a secure mobile platform, enhancing transparency. Homebase allows employees to view pay stubs and schedules, promoting transparency and engagement in payroll management. Zoho Payroll enhances employee engagement with in-app communication features, facilitating better interaction regarding payroll matters. Rippling Rippling stands out as a thorough payroll solution that simplifies the intricacies of employee compensation and compliance. With a high rating of 4.9, it offers built-in compliance features and labor cost management, starting at just $35 per month plus $8 per person. You’ll appreciate how it automates payroll processing, syncing team hours, paid time off, and holidays to streamline your operations. The user-friendly employee mobile app, available on both Android and iOS, gives you easy access to pay statements, tax information, and benefits management. Furthermore, Rippling improves employee engagement by providing tools for automatic tax filing, compliance assistance, and identifying potential tax credits for savings. If you’re looking for employee scheduling software free of charge, Rippling’s integrated features help guarantee that your business stays updated on labor laws, boosting payroll accuracy and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for your payroll app needs. Remote When you work remotely, managing expenses and accessing payroll information becomes essential. Many payroll apps offer mobile accessibility, letting you track your expenses and view pay statements directly from your device. With features like smart image capture for expense reporting, these apps streamline the reimbursement process, ensuring you stay on top of your finances. Expense Management Features Expense management features in remote payroll apps play a crucial role in streamlining the reimbursement process for employees. These payroll apps for employees improve expense reporting by integrating smart image capture, allowing you to submit receipts directly from your device. With tools for easy tracking of employee spending, you’ll guarantee all expenses are documented accurately, minimizing manual entry errors. Some apps, like Workful, include location-based access control, making certain you can only clock in or out from specified addresses, which improves expense tracking accuracy. Moreover, platforms like Rippling offer built-in compliance features to verify expenses align with company policies and local labor laws. Mobile App Accessibility Mobile app accessibility is essential for remote employees who need to manage their payroll tasks efficiently during their travels. Most payroll apps, like Rippling and Workful, are available on both Android and iOS platforms, ensuring you can access your payroll time anytime. For instance, the ADP Mobile Solutions app allows you to view pay statements and tax information directly from your device. Remote payroll apps, such as Workful, offer location-based access control, letting you clock in and out using an online employee time clock based on your location. Furthermore, apps like Zoho Payroll feature in-app communication tools for instant notifications. The integration of mobile expense reporting in Remote also simplifies capturing receipts and submitting expenses directly through your device. Workful Workful stands out with its location-based access control, which guarantees remote workers can only clock in or out from designated addresses or Wi-Fi networks, boosting security and accountability. Furthermore, it integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, making payroll processing simpler for those already using that accounting software. With a competitive pricing structure, starting at $45 plus $7 per person, Workful is a solid option for small to medium-sized businesses. Location-Based Access Control As remote work continues to rise, implementing effective attendance tracking methods becomes vital for businesses. Workful’s location-based access control guarantees remote employees can only clock in and out when they’re at the designated worksite. This feature allows you to specify particular addresses or Wi-Fi networks, guaranteeing accurate recording of hours worked. By using this employee time clock software, you can greatly reduce time theft and improve attendance tracking, which is important for maintaining productivity. Starting at $45 monthly plus $7 per person, Workful offers a cost-effective solution for any time card app for small business. This way, you’ll make sure your workforce remains accountable, during streamlining the payroll process for your organization. QuickBooks Integration Features Integrating payroll systems with accounting software is crucial for guaranteeing accuracy and efficiency in managing employee compensation. Workful’s integration with QuickBooks offers seamless synchronization of payroll data, allowing you to automate updates for employee hours, PTO, and holidays without manual entry. With the employee timeclock feature, you can specify locations or Wi-Fi networks for remote workers to clock in and out, which QuickBooks reflects for streamlined payroll management. The integration supports real-time data flow, reducing discrepancies and enhancing efficiency. This means that payroll services have auto autopilot payroll features, minimizing the time spent on payroll tasks so you can focus on growing your business. Feature Benefit Auto Autopilot Payroll Saves time and reduces errors Employee Timeclock Accurate tracking of work hours Real-Time Data Flow Guarantees synchronization with QuickBooks Zoho Payroll Zoho Payroll stands out as a robust solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their payroll processes. With a competitive starting price of $39 plus $6 per person, it provides valuable payroll services that have autopilot payroll features. This means you can automate many payroll tasks, saving you time and reducing errors. In-app communication features improve employee engagement. Users receive instant notifications about payroll updates. It helps maintain compliance with labor laws and regulations. Employees can access payroll information directly through the app. The app integrates with employee scheduling software for small business needs. While Zoho Payroll doesn’t support contractor payments or third-party integrations, it offers an all-encompassing way to manage your workplace time clock and payroll operations effectively. This makes it a solid choice for businesses aiming to simplify payroll and improve transparency within their teams. QuickBooks Payroll QuickBooks Payroll is a strong tool designed to meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses looking to simplify their payroll management. With a starting monthly price of $50 plus $6 per person, it’s a competitive app for employees. The platform integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software, allowing you to sync financial data effortlessly. You’ll appreciate the automatic tax filing and compliance assistance, keeping you updated with changing regulations. QuickBooks Payroll also supports various payment methods, including printed checks and direct deposits, offering flexibility to your staff. Moreover, it functions well alongside employee scheduling software and staff scheduling programs, enhancing your overall management capabilities. With a solid rating of 4.4, users have expressed positive sentiments regarding its features and usability, making it a reliable choice for managing payroll efficiently. This all-encompassing tool can streamline your payroll process, saving you time and reducing errors. Gusto Gusto simplifies payroll processing with its user-friendly platform, allowing you to manage payroll with just a few clicks. You can additionally access thorough employee benefits, including affordable health insurance, making it a well-rounded solution for businesses. With an average time savings of 152 hours per year on tax and compliance tasks, Gusto stands out as an efficient choice for managing your payroll and HR needs. Streamlined Payroll Processing Regarding payroll processing, efficiency is key, and utilizing an automated platform can make a significant difference. Gusto streamlines your payroll tasks, allowing you to manage everything with just a few clicks. Here are some benefits of using Gusto: Automates calculations and tax deductions Syncs team hours, PTO, and holidays accurately Cuts payroll process time by up to 90% Helps identify potential tax credits Provides dedicated support for payroll inquiries With Gusto’s auto autopilot payroll system, you can easily manage payroll alongside your employee scheduling software. Furthermore, its paycheck stub app empowers you to track your earnings seamlessly. This level of automation not only saves time but also reduces errors, ensuring a smoother payroll experience. Comprehensive Employee Benefits In relation to employee benefits, having a thorough and accessible package can greatly influence job satisfaction and retention. Gusto offers affordable health insurance administration at no extra cost, giving you access to various health coverage options. Licensed advisors help you choose the best coverage for your needs, ensuring team well-being. The platform integrates existing health plans effortlessly, facilitating smooth shifts for businesses without disrupting employee benefits. Furthermore, Gusto provides extensive benefits management, allowing employers to offer retirement plans and flexible spending accounts. ADP RUN ADP RUN is a robust payroll app designed to simplify the management of employee payroll and HR tasks. With a high rating of 4.7 stars on the Apple App Store, it’s clear that users appreciate its functionality and reliability. Here’s what you can expect from the ADP RUN app: Access pay statements, W2 forms, and tax information directly from your mobile device. Utilize the hourly time clock to punch in and out, making time tracking straightforward. Request vacation time and manage attendance seamlessly. Benefit from employee scheduling software for improved team coordination. Enjoy secure logins, whether through passwords or fingerprint access. TriNet TriNet stands out as a comprehensive payroll management solution that streamlines the intricacies of employee compensation and benefits administration. With its auto autopilot payroll features, TriNet guarantees your payments are accurate and timely, while additionally handling automatic tax filing and compliance assistance. The platform simplifies employee benefits administration, offering health insurance options and wellness programs that boost overall satisfaction. You’ll appreciate the user-friendly tools for time tracking, including staff time clock software, which lets you easily request time off and manage schedules. Furthermore, TriNet’s employee scheduling software freeware accommodates businesses of all sizes, providing scalable solutions customized to your needs. Its commitment to compliance helps you navigate labor laws and tax regulations, minimizing risks associated with payroll management. Homebase When managing payroll for hourly teams, Homebase provides a robust all-in-one solution that integrates vital scheduling and time tracking features. This platform simplifies payroll management, ensuring you can focus on your business. Automated payroll calculations for accurate wage, tax, and deduction processing Employee access to pay stubs, schedules, and tax forms for transparency Time clocks software for tracking employee hours and attendance Easy management of time-off requests to streamline attendance Affordable pricing starting at $39 per month plus $6 per employee As an employee scheduling app for small business, Homebase improves communication within teams as it reduces administrative burdens. With its intuitive design, you can easily navigate payroll services and keep everything organized in one place. This efficiency can lead to enhanced productivity, allowing you to devote more time to growing your business. Homebase is designed to meet the specific needs of hourly teams, making payroll management straightforward and efficient. BambooHR BambooHR serves as an integrated platform that combines HR and payroll management, particularly customized for small and medium-sized businesses. This solution streamlines your HR processes with features like employee self-service, time-off tracking, and performance management, enhancing user engagement. You can access your payroll information on-the-go thanks to its mobile capabilities. BambooHR also offers auto autopilot payroll, making payroll processing efficient and reliable. To help you manage your workforce better, it includes employee work schedule software, which simplifies scheduling tasks. You’ll find that its free employee scheduling app can keep your team organized and informed. Even though BambooHR’s pricing model isn’t publicly listed, it emphasizes an extensive set of tools for effective employee management and payroll. Moreover, the platform improves hiring and onboarding processes with job tracking and custom onboarding checklists, ensuring a smooth changeover for new employees into your organization. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best App to Use for Payroll? When deciding on the best app for payroll, consider features like compliance, cost management, and expense reporting. Rippling stands out for its robust compliance features, whereas Remote offers excellent expense management tools. Workful provides location-based access control, and Zoho Payroll includes in-app communication but lacks contractor payment support. For smaller teams, free options like Payroll4Free can be sufficient. In the end, your choice should align with your specific business needs and budget constraints. Who Is Adp’s Biggest Competitor? ADP’s biggest competitor is Paychex, which specializes in payroll and HR solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. Paychex emphasizes customer service and compliance support, making it a strong alternative for businesses needing reliable payroll processing. Other notable competitors include Gusto, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll, TriNet, and BambooHR, each offering unique features aimed at enhancing payroll and HR management. Depending on your specific needs, these alternatives can provide valuable options for effective business operations. Can I Do My Own Payroll Without Software? Yes, you can handle your own payroll without software by manually calculating wages and taxes. This involves tracking hours worked, determining gross pay, and deducting necessary withholdings. Although it’s possible, this method can be time-consuming and may lead to errors, especially without the latest tax updates. You’ll need to stay informed about labor laws to avoid penalties. Many choose free templates to simplify the process, but software often improves efficiency as your business grows. Is Excel Payroll Free? Yes, ExcelPayroll is free to use. It offers a template that helps you manage payroll calculations manually, making it accessible for small businesses. Nevertheless, you’ll need to input data yourself, as it doesn’t automate processes like tax filing or direct deposits. Although it’s suitable for those with fewer employees, you must additionally stay informed about tax regulations and compliance since the template doesn’t provide automated guidance in these areas. Conclusion In summary, choosing the right payroll app can greatly improve your payroll management experience. Each app, from Rippling to BambooHR, offers unique features customized to different business needs, providing functionalities like access control, in-app communication, and transparency in pay information. By comprehending the specific advantages of each option, you can make an informed decision that best suits your organizational requirements, eventually streamlining payroll processes and enhancing employee satisfaction. Consider exploring these apps to find the best fit for your team. Image via Google Gemini This article, "10 Payroll Apps for Employees" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. The etiquette of “participation noises” in meetings I was very recently diagnosed as neurodivergent, and exploring my actions through that lens has thrown up some questions for me about whether I am missing a few cues. I work for a grant-making foundation as the grants and funding manager,, and my role partially involves traveling around our state visiting our grant applicants and grantee partners. My state is very rural and very low in the national education rankings, and most of these meetings aren’t exactly adhering to corporate norms. One of the things that often happens is what I could term “audience participation,” where the other people present often make noises of agreement, support, surprise, anger, etc., as the speaker talks. This is very common, and I think it arises out of the church/religious culture that is very prevalent in those communities. I’m a bit of a conversational magpie, so I quickly picked up the same mannerisms in the grantee meetings I attend, and they definitely help me build stronger relationships with our partners. But I’m noticing now I also do it in the office with my colleagues and in Zoom calls with national partners. I’m a fairly chirpy person, and I like making other participants feel respected, seen, and included. I often feel that these verbal cues signal engagement in the conversation, and I do have a hard time if I am talking and I’m getting only silence back. However, with my recent diagnosis, I wonder if I’m not picking up on social cues from the different environments. My colleagues don’t do this; they just sit in silence watching the person speaking. Should I be more conscious of my verbal acknowledgements in corporate meetings and conversations? Oh, this is such an interesting question, and I think it ultimately comes down to the culture where it’s happening (or not happening). In any meeting, I think a little of it is fine and can be welcome for all the reasons you say — it can signal engagement in the conversation and help people feel like they’re not talking to a sea of blank faces. But in a meeting where no one else is doing it, if you’re doing it a lot it can distract people and come across as out of sync. (That’s especially true on video calls if it means the screen will flash to you every time you do it.) On the other hand, who knows — maybe a bunch of your colleagues appreciate this about you. But since you’re asking, I’d calibrate it closer to the level of what other people in that particular meeting are doing. 2. Someone is leaving religious notes in the bathroom I work in a corporate office with multi-stall restrooms on each floor. Over time, it’s become a norm for employees to place small items like hand lotion or soap in the bathrooms. I have worked on several floors and recently moved to a new to me floor. On this floor, someone has begun placing these items in the restroom with handwritten notes on the bottles warning that the item is to not be removed (perfectly okay) but it includes religious language with an aggressive and admonishing tone. We are a conservative industry but not religiously affiliated. (I am not going to quote the phrase as it’d give me away.) This restroom is also used by clients and visitors when they’re on-site, which adds to my discomfort. I do not object to the presence of communal items or a warning that items should remain in the bathroom. I object to the religious and scolding tone of the warning. It makes me personally uncomfortable and could see where a client on vendor may take offense and risk our company’s reputation. I am not in HR or facilitates and I do not know who has placed these items. How would you recommend I address this? Personally, I’d throw them out. If you don’t want your stuff thrown out, don’t label them with religious threats. Simple solution, done. But if you don’t want to do that, it’s entirely reasonable to give HR and/or facilitates a heads-up about the issue and say employees shouldn’t be exposed to religious proselytizing while they’re washing their hands. 3. Should I ask my coworker if he’s secretly assessing my work? A coworker in the role above me asked to shadow me tomorrow. The reason he gave was that his manager wants him to get more in touch with what I do and that I’m working on a technically interesting project. This seems entirely possible to me, given the roles largely do distinct and separate work, but part of me is wondering if he’s actually just going to be observing my performance in my role. We don’t have any direct oversight while we work, and my direct manager is in a different office so doesn’t work with me often. My annual review is next week and I’m in-line to move up to the same position as my coworker in a couple months. I don’t think it matters whether he’s observing me or not, I guess I just want transparency. Should I ask my coworker if he’s assessing my work? We have a friendly relationship, but I don’t want to come off as self-centered or paranoid. I wouldn’t. It doesn’t really change anything, and it risks creating an awkward situation where there doesn’t need to be one — especially if the reason they gave you is the entirety of it. (But really, if he’s assessing your work because they’re considering promoting you and they want his input, that’s reasonable. And if he’s assessing your work because they have concerns about it and he’s the best equipped to evaluate what’s happening, that’s reasonable too.) But at the start of the shadowing, you could say something like, “There are lots of pieces to what I do, and some will be less useful to shadow than others. Can you tell me a little about what you’re most interested in seeing and what you’re hoping to come away with, and I’ll focus there?” 4. HR is giving conflicting info about whether you can be rehired after damaging a work vehicle A few months ago, my young adult daughter took a paid internship with a local government department. She caused minor cosmetic damage to a work vehicle which required automatic termination, per policy. She talked to HR afterwards to understand when she might qualify for rehire and was told there was no policy on that, it was just up to the hiring manager. Four months later, a permanent position opened up and her manager called HR and confirmed that she was eligible for rehire, so the manager put her hire paperwork through. Surprisingly, HR blocked it and said she is not eligible for rehire. What’s reasonable to do here? Can she ask HR to confirm what policy applies? Ask when or if she’ll ever be eligible for rehire? She’s frustrated that HR seems to have some secret expectations on rehire and no one, not even the hiring manager, knows what they are. Why do we care so much? Because in four months she’s put in 100+ applications, most met with automatic email denials and not a single call back, but that’s a separate frustration. Yeah, if they told her it was up to the hiring manager and then HR blocked it anyway, I can see why you and she are frustrated. It’s possible that the initial info she was given was wrong. It’s also possible that the later block shouldn’t have happened. The person best positioned to find out is the hiring manager since it sounds like they wanted to hire her. Any chance they like your daughter enough that they’d be willing to push a little on this? Otherwise, she can try calling HR and asking, explaining that she’s been told two different things and is just trying to get clarity. They may or may not give her a satisfying answer, though. The hiring manager is more likely to be able to get real info. 5. How to thank my references after getting a job I just got a new job, thanks in part to your fantastic advice (the hiring manager told me my cover letter was the best one she received, and I was also able to negotiate a pay bump and additional time off using your scripts)! I’m now wondering how I can express my gratitude to my wonderful references. I’ve already sent thank-you texts to all three of them, but it doesn’t feel like enough. I considered sending physical thank-you cards, but I don’t know two of their home addresses (though I suppose I could mail the cards to their current employers). A small gift/gift card feels a bit weird, like a payoff. What say you? How effusive were those thank-you texts? If they were just a single line like “thanks so much for the reference, I got the job!” you can write a more effusive email to each of them now, telling them how much you appreciate their time and support. If the texts already did that, though, then your job is done. You shouldn’t send anything more than that, because it would imply that they were doing you a special favor and/or will make it feel more transactional than it should. They gave you great references because they think you do great work and they’re happy to connect another employer with you. A thoughtful, personal email letting them know you got the job and how excited you are about it, and maybe something about how much you appreciated working with them is all that’s needed. (But bonus points if you can mention something you learned from them that has helped you in your career.) The post “participation noises” in meetings, someone is leaving religious notes in the bathroom, and more appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

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Team building activities are crucial for promoting collaboration in any workplace. They improve communication, trust, and problem-solving skills among team members. Engaging in effective activities can lead to improved interpersonal relationships and a stronger team culture. From icebreakers to creative challenges, there are various options to contemplate. Each type serves a unique purpose, contributing to a more cohesive work environment. Let’s explore these seven activities that can transform your team’s dynamics and boost overall productivity. Key Takeaways Engage in activities like “Marshmallow Tower” to enhance critical thinking and foster collaboration among team members. Utilize icebreakers such as “Two Truths and a Lie” to improve communication and strengthen personal connections within the team. Organize mini hackathons to tackle real company challenges, promoting inter-team collaboration and innovative thinking. Incorporate shared online whiteboards for visual brainstorming, stimulating creativity and collective contributions among team members. Conduct regular trust-building exercises that require vulnerability, enhancing interpersonal relationships and fostering a collaborative work environment. Importance of Team Building Activities Team building activities play a vital role in improving workplace dynamics and overall performance. Engaging in these culture-building activities leads to stronger communication among team members. According to an MIT study, successful teams communicate face-to-face or via videoconferencing 12 times more than less successful ones. Moreover, teams that participate in great team building activities show a 21% increase in profitability, as noted in a Gallup report. These activities not only boost morale but also make employees feel valued, which in turn increases productivity and innovation. Companies promoting collaboration through team-building initiatives are five times more likely to achieve high performance, as highlighted by Deloitte. Effective Communication Activities Effective communication activities focus on enhancing your active listening techniques and nonverbal communication skills, both of which are essential for successful teamwork. By practicing these techniques, you create an environment where team members feel heard and understood, encouraging trust and collaboration. Incorporating these activities into your routine can greatly improve your team’s overall performance and workplace culture. Active Listening Techniques Active listening techniques play a vital role in enhancing communication within groups, ensuring that all members not just hear but truly understand each other’s perspectives. When you practice active listening, you engage more deeply with your team’s ideas, which leads to better collaboration and problem-solving. Studies show that teams using these techniques are 30% more effective in reaching their goals because of improved clarity and fewer misunderstandings. Techniques like paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and summarizing help build trust and cohesion, making everyone feel valued. Incorporating active listening exercises in team-building activities can greatly boost morale, as employees feel more connected. Regular practice can result in a 25% increase in overall team productivity, aligning everyone toward shared objectives. Nonverbal Communication Skills Comprehending nonverbal communication skills is vital for improving teamwork and collaboration. Studies show that up to 93% of communication effectiveness relies on nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Engaging in team-building activities like charades or blind drawing amplifies your ability to interpret these cues, nurturing a better comprehension among team members. Research indicates that teams proficient in nonverbal communication report higher levels of trust and openness, which improves overall dynamics and performance. Furthermore, participating in nonverbal exercises helps you become more aware of your own body language and its effects on others. This awareness can markedly reduce misunderstandings, as 55% of our perception comes from body language, making effective communication fundamental for collaboration. Creative Problem-Solving Activities Creative problem-solving activities play a crucial role in improving team dynamics and nurturing innovation within the workplace. Engaging in challenges like the Marshmallow Tower allows you and your team to work together, constructing the tallest structure with limited materials. This encourages critical thinking and collaboration. Another effective exercise is the “Grab Bag of Creativity,” where teams brainstorm innovative uses for random items, promoting out-of-the-box thinking fundamental for diverse work environments. Participating in these activities encourages team members to leverage their individual strengths, which can lead to a productivity boost of 12.5%. Mini Hackathons are particularly beneficial; they tackle real company problems as they reinforce inter-team collaboration. Microsoft is one of the companies that promote teamwork and are five times more likely to excel. Trust-Building Activities Trust-building activities are essential for creating a cohesive team environment, as they nurture reliance among teammates and promote a sense of safety that encourages risk-taking and collaboration. Engaging in these exercises can greatly improve team cohesion, leading to a 50% increase in performance, since members feel more comfortable sharing ideas and giving feedback. Activities that require vulnerability, like trust falls or blindfolded navigation, strengthen interpersonal relationships and result in higher levels of trust and communication. Research shows that teams with robust trust levels are 12 times more likely to work collaboratively in pursuit of common goals, underscoring trust’s importance for success. Furthermore, trust-building initiatives can enhance problem-solving capabilities by 25%, as team members become more willing to share insights and tackle challenges together. By investing time in trust-building activities, you cultivate a more effective and united team, ultimately driving better results in your collaborative efforts. Engaging Icebreaker Activities Building on the foundation of trust created through earlier activities, engaging icebreaker activities serve as a strong way to improve communication and cultivate connections among team members. These activities promote interaction and set a positive tone for collaboration from the outset. Engaging games like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” effectively break down initial barriers, encouraging team members to share personal interests and experiences. This sharing promotes greater connection and boosts team morale, which studies show correlates with improved performance and productivity. Icebreakers are particularly valuable in remote or hybrid settings, helping to bridge physical distances and encourage a sense of belonging among dispersed teams. Incorporating these activities regularly can lead to more effective communication; teams that engage in face-to-face interactions are 12 times more likely to succeed than those that do not. Consequently, icebreakers are crucial for strengthening team dynamics. Collaborative Outdoor Activities When teams participate in collaborative outdoor activities, they often find that the combination of fresh air and physical engagement improves their ability to work together. Activities like scavenger hunts require you to solve clues and complete challenges as a group, promoting vital skills such as communication and cooperation. Engaging in physical activities like group jump rope or relay races encourages camaraderie, as shared experiences build stronger team bonds. Outdoor exercises, including obstacle courses, not only improve physical fitness but also necessitate strategic planning and collaboration to achieve common goals. Trust-building activities, like trust falls or blindfolded navigation, help develop trust among team members, which is fundamental for effective collaboration back in the workplace. Research shows that teams that participate in outdoor activities report higher morale and stronger relationships, eventually leading to improved performance and productivity in their work environment. These experiences can greatly improve your team’s overall dynamics. Virtual Team Building Options As remote work continues to shape modern workplaces, virtual team building options have become fundamental for promoting collaboration and maintaining team dynamics. Activities like online escape rooms encourage your team to work together, solving puzzles that improve communication and problem-solving skills. Engaging in virtual coffee breaks or casual video calls helps maintain personal connections, which are important for building trust among team members. Collaborative drawing on shared online whiteboards stimulates creativity and teamwork, allowing each participant to contribute to a collective piece. Remote team scattergories challenge you to brainstorm words within a set category, promoting quick thinking under time constraints. In addition, virtual talent shows offer a platform for team members to showcase their unique skills, encouraging self-expression and connection. These activities not just strengthen collaborative skills but also create a cohesive remote team culture, which is critical for long-term success. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Measure the Success of Team Building Activities? To measure the success of team building activities, you should assess several factors. First, gather feedback from participants through surveys or discussions, focusing on their engagement levels and perceived value. Second, observe changes in team dynamics, such as improved communication and collaboration. Third, analyze productivity metrics before and after the activities. Finally, set specific goals for the activities, and evaluate whether those goals were achieved to determine overall effectiveness. What Are the Costs Associated With Team Building Activities? When considering the costs associated with team building activities, you’ll need to account for various factors. These can include venue rental, materials, transportation, catering, and facilitator fees. Depending on the complexity and duration of the activities, expenses can vary considerably. Furthermore, consider potential lost productivity during the event, in addition to the long-term benefits that successful activities may yield. It’s crucial to balance upfront costs with expected outcomes for effective planning. How Often Should We Conduct Team Building Activities? You should conduct team building activities regularly to maintain engagement and collaboration among team members. Aim for quarterly events, as this frequency allows time for employees to build relationships without overwhelming their schedules. Furthermore, consider shorter, informal activities monthly to reinforce connections. The key is to balance these activities with work responsibilities, ensuring they remain effective and promote a positive team environment without becoming a burden or distraction. Can Team Building Activities Be Done Remotely? Yes, you can conduct team building activities remotely. Virtual platforms allow teams to engage in various activities, such as online games, collaborative projects, or virtual escape rooms. These activities can improve communication and cultivate connections among team members, even from a distance. To guarantee effectiveness, it’s important to choose activities that promote interaction and require participation. Regularly scheduled remote team building can help maintain a sense of camaraderie and collaboration in a virtual work environment. What if Team Members Are Resistant to Participation? If team members resist participation, first identify their concerns. Open a dialogue to understand their reasons—be it time, relevance, or discomfort. Address these issues directly; adapt activities to suit their preferences or suggest alternatives that feel less forced. Encouraging voluntary participation can create a more positive atmosphere. Furthermore, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration, such as improved communication and teamwork, may motivate them to engage more willingly in the future. Conclusion Incorporating team-building activities is crucial for nurturing collaboration among team members. These activities, whether focused on communication, creativity, or trust-building, improve interpersonal relationships and strengthen team culture. By engaging in various structured activities, teams can enhance productivity and create a supportive work environment. Regardless of whether you choose icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, or virtual options, each activity serves to unite team members and promote a collaborative spirit, in the end leading to greater success in achieving shared goals. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Great Team Building Activities That Boost Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Team building activities are crucial for promoting collaboration in any workplace. They improve communication, trust, and problem-solving skills among team members. Engaging in effective activities can lead to improved interpersonal relationships and a stronger team culture. From icebreakers to creative challenges, there are various options to contemplate. Each type serves a unique purpose, contributing to a more cohesive work environment. Let’s explore these seven activities that can transform your team’s dynamics and boost overall productivity. Key Takeaways Engage in activities like “Marshmallow Tower” to enhance critical thinking and foster collaboration among team members. Utilize icebreakers such as “Two Truths and a Lie” to improve communication and strengthen personal connections within the team. Organize mini hackathons to tackle real company challenges, promoting inter-team collaboration and innovative thinking. Incorporate shared online whiteboards for visual brainstorming, stimulating creativity and collective contributions among team members. Conduct regular trust-building exercises that require vulnerability, enhancing interpersonal relationships and fostering a collaborative work environment. Importance of Team Building Activities Team building activities play a vital role in improving workplace dynamics and overall performance. Engaging in these culture-building activities leads to stronger communication among team members. According to an MIT study, successful teams communicate face-to-face or via videoconferencing 12 times more than less successful ones. Moreover, teams that participate in great team building activities show a 21% increase in profitability, as noted in a Gallup report. These activities not only boost morale but also make employees feel valued, which in turn increases productivity and innovation. Companies promoting collaboration through team-building initiatives are five times more likely to achieve high performance, as highlighted by Deloitte. Effective Communication Activities Effective communication activities focus on enhancing your active listening techniques and nonverbal communication skills, both of which are essential for successful teamwork. By practicing these techniques, you create an environment where team members feel heard and understood, encouraging trust and collaboration. Incorporating these activities into your routine can greatly improve your team’s overall performance and workplace culture. Active Listening Techniques Active listening techniques play a vital role in enhancing communication within groups, ensuring that all members not just hear but truly understand each other’s perspectives. When you practice active listening, you engage more deeply with your team’s ideas, which leads to better collaboration and problem-solving. Studies show that teams using these techniques are 30% more effective in reaching their goals because of improved clarity and fewer misunderstandings. Techniques like paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and summarizing help build trust and cohesion, making everyone feel valued. Incorporating active listening exercises in team-building activities can greatly boost morale, as employees feel more connected. Regular practice can result in a 25% increase in overall team productivity, aligning everyone toward shared objectives. Nonverbal Communication Skills Comprehending nonverbal communication skills is vital for improving teamwork and collaboration. Studies show that up to 93% of communication effectiveness relies on nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Engaging in team-building activities like charades or blind drawing amplifies your ability to interpret these cues, nurturing a better comprehension among team members. Research indicates that teams proficient in nonverbal communication report higher levels of trust and openness, which improves overall dynamics and performance. Furthermore, participating in nonverbal exercises helps you become more aware of your own body language and its effects on others. This awareness can markedly reduce misunderstandings, as 55% of our perception comes from body language, making effective communication fundamental for collaboration. Creative Problem-Solving Activities Creative problem-solving activities play a crucial role in improving team dynamics and nurturing innovation within the workplace. Engaging in challenges like the Marshmallow Tower allows you and your team to work together, constructing the tallest structure with limited materials. This encourages critical thinking and collaboration. Another effective exercise is the “Grab Bag of Creativity,” where teams brainstorm innovative uses for random items, promoting out-of-the-box thinking fundamental for diverse work environments. Participating in these activities encourages team members to leverage their individual strengths, which can lead to a productivity boost of 12.5%. Mini Hackathons are particularly beneficial; they tackle real company problems as they reinforce inter-team collaboration. Microsoft is one of the companies that promote teamwork and are five times more likely to excel. Trust-Building Activities Trust-building activities are essential for creating a cohesive team environment, as they nurture reliance among teammates and promote a sense of safety that encourages risk-taking and collaboration. Engaging in these exercises can greatly improve team cohesion, leading to a 50% increase in performance, since members feel more comfortable sharing ideas and giving feedback. Activities that require vulnerability, like trust falls or blindfolded navigation, strengthen interpersonal relationships and result in higher levels of trust and communication. Research shows that teams with robust trust levels are 12 times more likely to work collaboratively in pursuit of common goals, underscoring trust’s importance for success. Furthermore, trust-building initiatives can enhance problem-solving capabilities by 25%, as team members become more willing to share insights and tackle challenges together. By investing time in trust-building activities, you cultivate a more effective and united team, ultimately driving better results in your collaborative efforts. Engaging Icebreaker Activities Building on the foundation of trust created through earlier activities, engaging icebreaker activities serve as a strong way to improve communication and cultivate connections among team members. These activities promote interaction and set a positive tone for collaboration from the outset. Engaging games like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” effectively break down initial barriers, encouraging team members to share personal interests and experiences. This sharing promotes greater connection and boosts team morale, which studies show correlates with improved performance and productivity. Icebreakers are particularly valuable in remote or hybrid settings, helping to bridge physical distances and encourage a sense of belonging among dispersed teams. Incorporating these activities regularly can lead to more effective communication; teams that engage in face-to-face interactions are 12 times more likely to succeed than those that do not. Consequently, icebreakers are crucial for strengthening team dynamics. Collaborative Outdoor Activities When teams participate in collaborative outdoor activities, they often find that the combination of fresh air and physical engagement improves their ability to work together. Activities like scavenger hunts require you to solve clues and complete challenges as a group, promoting vital skills such as communication and cooperation. Engaging in physical activities like group jump rope or relay races encourages camaraderie, as shared experiences build stronger team bonds. Outdoor exercises, including obstacle courses, not only improve physical fitness but also necessitate strategic planning and collaboration to achieve common goals. Trust-building activities, like trust falls or blindfolded navigation, help develop trust among team members, which is fundamental for effective collaboration back in the workplace. Research shows that teams that participate in outdoor activities report higher morale and stronger relationships, eventually leading to improved performance and productivity in their work environment. These experiences can greatly improve your team’s overall dynamics. Virtual Team Building Options As remote work continues to shape modern workplaces, virtual team building options have become fundamental for promoting collaboration and maintaining team dynamics. Activities like online escape rooms encourage your team to work together, solving puzzles that improve communication and problem-solving skills. Engaging in virtual coffee breaks or casual video calls helps maintain personal connections, which are important for building trust among team members. Collaborative drawing on shared online whiteboards stimulates creativity and teamwork, allowing each participant to contribute to a collective piece. Remote team scattergories challenge you to brainstorm words within a set category, promoting quick thinking under time constraints. In addition, virtual talent shows offer a platform for team members to showcase their unique skills, encouraging self-expression and connection. These activities not just strengthen collaborative skills but also create a cohesive remote team culture, which is critical for long-term success. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Measure the Success of Team Building Activities? To measure the success of team building activities, you should assess several factors. First, gather feedback from participants through surveys or discussions, focusing on their engagement levels and perceived value. Second, observe changes in team dynamics, such as improved communication and collaboration. Third, analyze productivity metrics before and after the activities. Finally, set specific goals for the activities, and evaluate whether those goals were achieved to determine overall effectiveness. What Are the Costs Associated With Team Building Activities? When considering the costs associated with team building activities, you’ll need to account for various factors. These can include venue rental, materials, transportation, catering, and facilitator fees. Depending on the complexity and duration of the activities, expenses can vary considerably. Furthermore, consider potential lost productivity during the event, in addition to the long-term benefits that successful activities may yield. It’s crucial to balance upfront costs with expected outcomes for effective planning. How Often Should We Conduct Team Building Activities? You should conduct team building activities regularly to maintain engagement and collaboration among team members. Aim for quarterly events, as this frequency allows time for employees to build relationships without overwhelming their schedules. Furthermore, consider shorter, informal activities monthly to reinforce connections. The key is to balance these activities with work responsibilities, ensuring they remain effective and promote a positive team environment without becoming a burden or distraction. Can Team Building Activities Be Done Remotely? Yes, you can conduct team building activities remotely. Virtual platforms allow teams to engage in various activities, such as online games, collaborative projects, or virtual escape rooms. These activities can improve communication and cultivate connections among team members, even from a distance. To guarantee effectiveness, it’s important to choose activities that promote interaction and require participation. Regularly scheduled remote team building can help maintain a sense of camaraderie and collaboration in a virtual work environment. What if Team Members Are Resistant to Participation? If team members resist participation, first identify their concerns. Open a dialogue to understand their reasons—be it time, relevance, or discomfort. Address these issues directly; adapt activities to suit their preferences or suggest alternatives that feel less forced. Encouraging voluntary participation can create a more positive atmosphere. Furthermore, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration, such as improved communication and teamwork, may motivate them to engage more willingly in the future. Conclusion Incorporating team-building activities is crucial for nurturing collaboration among team members. These activities, whether focused on communication, creativity, or trust-building, improve interpersonal relationships and strengthen team culture. By engaging in various structured activities, teams can enhance productivity and create a supportive work environment. Regardless of whether you choose icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, or virtual options, each activity serves to unite team members and promote a collaborative spirit, in the end leading to greater success in achieving shared goals. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Great Team Building Activities That Boost Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

On the morning of January 24 in downtown Minneapolis, an ICE agent shot and killed protester Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a local Veterans Affairs hospital. Just 2 miles away, on January 7, another ICE agent had shot and killed Nicole Renee Good, a mother. The deaths mark the first times during Donald The President’s second term that ICE agents have fired in anger and killed publicly verified U.S. citizens. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have so far said nothing on the matter. X CEO Elon Musk earlier tweeted that Renee Good had “almost killed” ICE agent Jonathan Ross before Ross shot and killed her on January 7. On the same day as Pretti’s fatal shooting on Saturday, January 24, Apple CEO Tim Cook attended a VIP screening of the new (Amazon-funded) Melania The President documentary at the White House. Cook was silent about the shooting until Tuesday evening, when he reportedly sent a memo to Apple employees calling for “de-escalation” and saying that he’d talked to The President about the issue. It’s become clear to many that The President’s ICE strategy is at least as much about intimidating citizens of blue cities as it is about removing illegal immigrants. The question is, and has always been: At what point will The President’s authoritarian urges become too much for the tech industry to stomach? UC San Diego political scientist and civil war expert Barbara F. Walter writes that historically, it is the business community that often heads off civil conflict by demanding a more stable and secure business environment. Indeed, tech leaders are credited with having persuaded the The President administration to cancel plans to move ICE agents into San Francisco last October. AI leaders speak first Among tech leaders, it’s the heads of the leading artificial intelligence companies that have said the most about Minneapolis. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has been influential among members of Congress and people within the The President administration, says he spoke to the president about Minneapolis on Monday, following Pretti’s death on Saturday. He wrote a Slack message to employees saying he believes the ICE shootings have “gone too far.” He didn’t make these comments publicly, however. The memo, in which Altman called The President a “very strong leader,” was leaked (intentionally or otherwise) to The New York Times, which published it. (OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman has become a major The President donor as well.) Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei did speak out publicly. “We need to defend our own democratic values at home, and some of the things I’ve seen during the last few days concern me about that,” he said in a Monday night interview with Tom Llamas on NBC Nightly News. He added that Anthropic doesn’t currently have contracts with ICE and that the shootings don’t make him “more enthusiastic” about working with the agency. In his Slack memo, Altman spoke directly (if unclearly) to the issue of when OpenAI will, and will not, speak out on social and political issues. The company will “not get blown around by changing fashions” and will not “make a lot of performative statements now about safety or politics,” he wrote, but rather will “engage with leaders and push for our values, and speak up clearly about it as needed.” Amodei and Altman may have spoken out before leaders of bigger tech companies did for any of several reasons. The research culture within AI companies has closer ties to the academic community, so researchers are perhaps more apt to speak out on moral or political issues. The competition for talent in AI is also fierce, so AI company leaders may be quick to respond, fearing the loss of valuable employees. Also, AI companies are eager to project an image of social responsibility, which might reinforce the idea that they’ll be careful stewards of the technology they’re developing. They also may have less to lose. OpenAI and Anthropic are not public companies, so they don’t have to consider stockholder consensus when their leaders speak out about political issues. They are also smaller than firms like Google or Apple, and they don’t rely as much on federal government contracts for revenue—not yet, anyway. Listening to tech workers The backlash against the fatal shootings of Good and Pretti started not with tech executives, but with employees. Several big-name researchers within AI companies denounced the ICE killings on X. Google DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean, Anthropic cofounder Chris Olah, former Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, and Microsoft chief scientific officer Eric Horvitz were among those who spoke out. Other researchers, including OpenAI’s Michael Schade and theoretical computer scientist Boaz Barak, a member of OpenAI’s technical staff, endorsed or shared the tweets. Tech super-investors Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, and Paul Graham also condemned the murders and demanded accountability. (Business Insider has a fuller list.) They join a small number of tech workers who have gone public to pressure tech leaders. More than 800 of them signed an open letter, organized by a group called ICEOut.tech, that called for tech CEOs to demand that the The President administration remove ICE agents from U.S. cities and to cancel their companies’ contracts with the agency. The signatories include names from some of the biggest tech and AI companies, including Apple, Google, Salesforce, Uber, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Big Tech’s alliance with The President is paying dividends Only a half decade ago, during the first The President term, tech companies spoke out loudly against the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, and then introduced broad new diversity policies and programs. Now that many of tech’s most influential leaders—people like Musk and venture capitalists David Sacks and Marc Andreessen—have turned so enthusiastically pro-The President, the tech industry has taken the approach of flattering, appeasing, and bankrolling The President in his second term. A unified response to the recent events in Minnesota seems impossible. What changed? I doubt that the majority of tech industry has radically changed its political stripes on social issues like race and policing. What’s changed is AI. After the appearance of ChatGPT in 2022, tech leaders could very likely see the broad transition that AI might bring, and the massive and expensive infrastructure build-out that would be needed to support it. (Big Tech, AI, and cloud companies are now betting hundreds of billions of dollars on building new data centers to run AI models.) So tech leaders decided to get behind the candidate most likely to enable it rather than regulate it. That was The President, and they did so knowing that a lot of odious social policy would likely come with the deal. Big Tech leaders funded The President’s inauguration and his new White House ballroom. They visited him at Mar-a-Lago and at the White House to advise him on trade and tech policy. Some vigorously defended his policies on social media. And some took roles in his administration (Sacks became The President’s “AI and crypto czar” and Musk led DOGE, for example). And The President has delivered. His administration—under the influence of people like Sacks, Musk, and Andreessen—has made it a top priority to keep the federal government out of the way of the AI infrastructure build-out. The The President administration has stifled any chance of any meaningful AI regulation (which most Americans favor) in Congress and has even attempted to preempt states from doing so. It has canceled federal investigations into tech companies and attempted to clear away red tape at the state and local levels that might slow data center builds. But the tech industry’s alliance with the MAGA crowd has never faced a threat as serious as the one emerging from Minneapolis. “Wondering how the eager tech enablers of this regime, including some of my former VC friends and partners, are rationalizing this atrocity,” former Andreessen Horowitz partner John O’Farrell posted on X. “Just the latest in a year of horrors. Is all the crypto and AI money in the world really worth this?” Rank-and-file tech workers may not be as ready to swallow their moral scruples as top management is. They’re becoming more sensitized to The President’s ICE strategy and its consequences on the ground across the country. Every additional act of violence by ICE against American citizens could agitate workers exponentially more and further pressure company leaders to respond in meaningful ways. If The President persists, tech companies may eventually have to choose between their alliance with The President and the loyalty of their own employees. View the full article

Sharp drop in production caused by fall-off in exports prompts carmakers to contemplate diversifyingView the full article

Walking is an easy way to get some exercise in your day, and it delivers mental health benefits as well. I’m one of the many people who added daily walks to my routine during the pandemic, and they improved my life so much I don’t intend to stop. But does walking do enough for your body that you can count it as cardio exercise? The answer is complicated. Walking counts as cardio in some respects: it can burn calories, it gets your heart rate up, and it counts toward the exercise we should all be getting every week. But on the other hand, it’s not going to increase your cardio fitness in the same way as a run or an intense aerobics class would. If you want to improve your endurance, you’ll have to do more than just walk. How walking’s calorie burn compares to runningRunning burns more calories than walking per unit time, but both are similar when you consider distance. A rule of thumb is that you burn about 100 calories per mile whether you run it or walk it, but in truth calorie burn varies according to the size of your body (you burn more calories if you are larger) and how fast you run or walk. The calories per mile are slightly lower when you walk. This calculator estimates that a 150-pound person will burn 108 calories by walking a mile at 3 miles per hour, or 104 calories by running it at 6 miles per hour. Some calculators give a lower estimate for walking, The bigger difference is in calories per hour (rather than calories per mile): for the same 150-pound person, walking burns 324 calories per hour, and running burns 627. The faster you go, the higher the calorie burn. So if you’re walking or running to burn calories, running will burn about double the calories in a given time. But if you prefer walking and you have the time to spare, both will do the job. Walking can’t replace “vigorous” cardioEach intensity level of exercise offers its own benefits. Walking is what I’d consider very easy cardio, jogging is more of a medium exercise, and high-intensity cardio would be something like sprinting or racing. All of these are good for you, although depending on your goals, you may not need to do all of them. If you want to be a fast runner, for example, you’ll need plenty of medium cardio (slow running) and some higher intensity stuff (speedwork); if you want to improve your endurance, as measured by metrics like VO2max, you’ll definitely need to put in some work at these intensities. On the other hand, if you’re just trying to get some movement in your life and you don’t care about getting better at it, lower intensity exercise like walking may be enough. According to major health organizations (including the CDC, the WHO, and the AHA), we should all be getting at least 150 minutes per week of “moderate” exercise, or 75 minutes of “vigorous” exercise. You can mix and match, with the idea that each minute of vigorous exercise counts double. So where does walking fall in that recommendation? Walking is moderate, and I have more here on how that's defined. But if you want a rule of thumb to compare it to heart rate, the American Heart Association defines moderate exercise as that in which your heart rate is between 50-70% of your max, and vigorous exercise as between 70-85% of your max. (That does assume you know your true max.) Walking will generally be in the moderate range, so you’ll have to do twice as much of it—counting in minutes—as if you chose to do more vigorous cardio. That matches up with our calorie calculations. Walking doesn’t have to mean an easy strollThe distinction between walking and running is a mechanical one: if you always have at least one foot on the ground, you’re walking. If instead your gait has a little hop as you move from foot to foot, you’re running. (Jogging is simply a slow run.) It’s often easier to keep up a higher intensity (and a higher heart rate) by running than by walking, but that’s not always true. If you’re hiking up a mountain, your heart rate can easily get into the “vigorous” zone. And if you’re an efficient enough runner, you may be able to go for a slow jog while you keep your heart rate down in the “moderate” realm. As you’re planning your workouts, think about the intensity: Measure your heart rate if you aren’t sure where you fall; you can use a tracker like a Fitbit or an Apple Watch to do this, but you can also just put two fingers on the side of your neck and count the beats of your pulse. If your max is 200 and you count 150 beats per minute, you’re at 75% of your max heart rate. Maybe walking gets you a higher heart rate than you thought—not impossible if you’re a beginner or if your walks take you over hilly terrain. If you want a tougher cardio workout, you can walk faster, or you can choose a different type of exercise like cycling or dancing that gets your heart rate up higher. But it’s fine to go for an easy walk if that’s all you’re aiming for. View the full article

An inclusive economy is no longer a moral aspiration or a side project. Business leaders must understand that without inclusion, we cannot create a resilient, growing economy that delivers sustainable returns for all. In places where inclusion is part of the infrastructure of their economy—supply chains, procurement processes, capital access, or business ownership—people thrive. Inclusive economies create more resilience by expanding the base of potential business owners who can build, own, innovate, and hire. They allow more opportunities for homeownership and investing in the longevity of communities. As our economy becomes increasingly stratified and volatile, we need as much resiliency as we can get. At Living Cities, our work with mayors, financial institutions, philanthropy, and community partners shows that places and companies that prioritize inclusion and equity reduce long-term risk, deepen trust, and create or identify new economic opportunities. Those that ignore the benefits of economic inclusion have capital, talent, and residents move elsewhere. INCLUSION PROOF POINTS IN CITIES Consider Memphis, where Black residents are a majority of the population but historically own only a fraction of local businesses. City and local partners supported the creation of Contractor’s University, a cohort model that equips small firms—many led by entrepreneurs of color—to bid on and win city contracts. Within months, participating firms converted training into new contracts and rising revenues. Contractor’s University was able to take one of the largest barriers to business success—accessing procurement dollars—and turned it into a growth platform. In Miami, inclusive capital has become part of the city’s resilience strategy. Local leaders were able to preserve affordable space for dozens of small, often new American immigrant-owned businesses through partnerships with community organizations and investors to acquire commercial property in a cultural district. By partnering with local civic leaders, the City of Miami preserves both a burgeoning commercial corridor and future revenue streams. In Austin, cultural incubators and entrepreneurial training programs are translating modest seed grants into new firms, jobs, and community wealth—because they have been able to offer the targeted support that entrepreneurs have been missing for generations to unlock growth opportunities and sustainable businesses. WHAT BUSINESS LEADERS CAN DO DIFFERENTLY IN 2026 The question for business leaders and investors is no longer whether to support an inclusive economy, but how quickly to align their own practices and policies with what is already working. Three shifts can help leaders tap into the benefits of an inclusive economy: Redesign how capital moves. Replace audit underwriting and investment criteria with “bias-adjusted” frameworks that recognize the positive records of entrepreneurs and neighborhoods long labeled high-risk. Coupled with innovative credit products—such as first-loss capital, guarantees, and flexible lines of credit—changing the preconception of what makes a “risky” investment can lead to an expanded deal pipeline and more opportunities. Treat procurement as a growth engine. Moving beyond diversity pledges toward codified inclusive procurement standards that make it easier for local and small firms to become ongoing vendors. This means simplifying contracting processes, offering technical assistance, and publishing clear inclusion metrics tied to executive performance and cost savings from more resilient local supply chains. Invest in ownership, not just access. Support models that keep wealth rooted locally—cooperatives, employee ownership transitions, and community land trusts—by aligning corporate philanthropy, impact investing, and civic partnerships around shared-ownership pathways. In St. Paul, for example, a down-payment assistance program has invested in families who lost homes through the execution of the Federal Highway Act, stabilizing neighborhoods and the local economy. A MANDATE FOR THE NEXT ECONOMY The past year has been turbulent, from federal shutdowns to rising costs to contracting labor markets that strain both households and balance sheets. Yet we know the path forward: Cities are proving that local economies which expand the concept of who can be full participants are more productive, predictable, and investable. In 2026, neutrality is not a safe middle ground. Choosing not to prioritize inclusivity and resilience is, in effect, choosing to operate inside an outdated standard for risk, talent, and growth. Business leaders who want to bring about the next era of American prosperity should spend 2026 re-committing to inclusion as a core economic strategy. Joe Scantlebury is the CEO at Living Cities. View the full article

If you’re looking to improve team spirit in your workplace, engaging games can be quite effective. These activities range from icebreakers that cultivate instant connections to collaborative challenges that build problem-solving skills. Competitive events can energize the team, whereas creative tasks encourage expression. Moreover, virtual games guarantee remote employees feel included. Exploring these options can lead to improved collaboration, but comprehending the specific benefits of each type is crucial for making the right choice. Key Takeaways Two Truths and a Lie: A fun icebreaker that encourages personal storytelling and fosters connections among team members. Office Olympics: Promote friendly rivalry through engaging competitions that enhance teamwork and boost productivity by 14% to 30%. Escape Room Challenges: Foster communication and problem-solving skills while working together to solve puzzles in a time-sensitive environment. Creative Group Painting: Encourage artistic expression and collaboration, serving as an effective icebreaker that cultivates a relaxed atmosphere. Virtual Trivia Games: Engage remote teams with online trivia that strengthens relationships and boosts morale by up to 30%. Icebreaker Games for Instant Connections Icebreaker games play a crucial role in nurturing immediate connections among team members, especially when teams are newly formed or when new members join. These activities serve as engagement games for work, breaking down barriers and promoting a collaborative atmosphere. By participating in icebreaker activities, you improve comfort and encourage open communication, leading to a relaxed environment. Games like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Have You Ever?” encourage personal storytelling, revealing common interests and building rapport among colleagues. Research indicates that icebreakers can greatly improve group dynamics, with 79% of employees reporting strengthened workplace relationships. Incorporating these workplace games into meetings or events not merely sets a positive tone but also energizes participants, boosting overall engagement. When team members feel connected, they’re more likely to collaborate effectively, making icebreakers a valuable tool for improving workplace culture and productivity. Collaborative Team-Building Activities When teams engage in collaborative team-building activities, they not just improve their relationships but furthermore greatly boost their overall performance. Research shows that participation in these activities can increase workplace performance by up to 25%. Engaging in escape room challenges or bridge building exercises improves communication and problem-solving skills, which are vital for a cohesive team dynamic. Moreover, structured collaborative exercises lead to a 36% higher retention rate, reflecting a stronger emotional connection to the company culture. Activities like human knot untangling or marshmallow tower engineering emphasize clear communication and adaptability, fundamental traits for effective teamwork. Regularly scheduled collaborative events nurture a positive workplace culture, reducing stress and improving overall employee satisfaction. By incorporating these activities into your routine, you create an environment where employees feel valued and connected, ultimately benefiting both the individuals and the organization as a whole. Fun Competitive Challenges to Energize Fun competitive challenges serve as an effective way to energize your workplace, encouraging employees to engage actively during cultivating a sense of camaraderie. These activities can boost productivity by 14% to 30%, creating a more dynamic environment. Options like Office Olympics and Minute to Win It games promote friendly rivalry, which improves teamwork, reduces stress, and raises morale. Engaging in these challenges strengthens interpersonal relationships, with 79% of employees reporting that such activities improve workplace connections. Incorporating scavenger hunts or team-based trivia can likewise break down silos between departments, promoting collaboration across the organization. Moreover, competitive games not only boost team spirit but also lead to improved employee retention, with organizations experiencing 36% higher retention rates when fun activities are part of their culture. Creative and Crafty Engagement Games Creative and crafty engagement games offer a unique way to cultivate artistic expression within teams, creating an environment that improves collaboration and bonding. Activities like group painting sessions or crafting challenges encourage employees to showcase their individual creativity as they work together. These hands-on projects not only promote teamwork but also improve problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. As team members engage in craft-based games, they often find that the relaxed atmosphere helps break down barriers, establishing connections in a fun and interactive manner. Furthermore, these activities serve as effective icebreakers, helping participants feel more comfortable with one another. The joy and sense of accomplishment that arise from shared creative endeavors contribute greatly to a positive workplace culture. Unique Games for Remote Teams Many remote teams face the challenge of maintaining strong connections and morale during working apart. To address this, consider engaging in virtual team-building games like online trivia or digital escape rooms. These activities can improve engagement and create camaraderie among employees, promoting connection in spite of physical distance. Utilizing platforms like Zoom or Slack, you can start with icebreakers like “Two Truths and a Lie,” encouraging personal storytelling and helping team members learn surprising facts about each other. Scheduling regular virtual game sessions can greatly reduce feelings of isolation, potentially increasing team morale and productivity by 30%. Incorporating creative collaboration activities, such as virtual brainstorming sessions or shared art projects, likewise boosts team creativity and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, competitive challenges like online scavenger hunts or fitness competitions can encourage friendly competition, strengthening relationships and increasing motivation within your remote team. Frequently Asked Questions What Are Some Games That Encourage Teamwork? To encourage teamwork, consider games like the Human Knot, which requires participants to communicate and collaborate to untangle themselves. The Egg Drop challenge promotes creativity as teams design protective holders for eggs, improving problem-solving skills. Scavenger Hunts can involve company history, nurturing teamwork through exploration. Office Olympics feature friendly competition, whereas problem-solving games like bridge building engage teams in resource management, promoting flexibility and communication. Each game effectively improves teamwork and collaboration among participants. Which Activity Is Best for Developing Team Spirit? To develop team spirit effectively, consider activities that encourage collaboration and communication. The Human Knot, for instance, challenges you to work together to untangle without letting go of each other’s hands. On the other hand, Two Truths and a Lie cultivates personal connections, allowing team members to learn about each other. These activities not only improve relationships but likewise create a more cohesive team environment, in the end leading to improved morale and productivity in the workplace. Which Game Needs Team Spirit? Games like the “Human Knot” and “Escape Room Challenges” require strong team spirit. They emphasize communication and collaboration, as participants must work together to solve problems and untangle themselves. In these scenarios, trust and reliance on each other’s strengths become essential. Furthermore, “Office Olympics” and “Bridge Building” encourage friendly competition and simulate workplace challenges, nurturing unity and clear communication. These activities promote a sense of belonging and improve overall team dynamics. What Can You Do to Promote Team Spirit? To promote team spirit, you can implement regular team-building activities, encourage open communication, and recognize individual contributions. Organizing brainstorming sessions nurtures collaboration among team members, whereas feedback mechanisms improve transparency. Establishing common goals helps align efforts, creating a sense of shared purpose. Moreover, celebrating team successes, no matter how small, reinforces camaraderie. Conclusion Incorporating engaging workplace games can greatly improve team spirit and collaboration. By utilizing icebreakers, collaborative activities, competitive challenges, creative projects, and unique remote games, you create an environment that encourages communication and connection among team members. These activities not just improve morale but additionally develop crucial skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. Implementing a variety of these games can lead to a more cohesive and motivated workforce, in the end benefiting the overall productivity of your organization. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Engaging Workplace Games to Boost Team Spirit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re looking to improve team spirit in your workplace, engaging games can be quite effective. These activities range from icebreakers that cultivate instant connections to collaborative challenges that build problem-solving skills. Competitive events can energize the team, whereas creative tasks encourage expression. Moreover, virtual games guarantee remote employees feel included. Exploring these options can lead to improved collaboration, but comprehending the specific benefits of each type is crucial for making the right choice. Key Takeaways Two Truths and a Lie: A fun icebreaker that encourages personal storytelling and fosters connections among team members. Office Olympics: Promote friendly rivalry through engaging competitions that enhance teamwork and boost productivity by 14% to 30%. Escape Room Challenges: Foster communication and problem-solving skills while working together to solve puzzles in a time-sensitive environment. Creative Group Painting: Encourage artistic expression and collaboration, serving as an effective icebreaker that cultivates a relaxed atmosphere. Virtual Trivia Games: Engage remote teams with online trivia that strengthens relationships and boosts morale by up to 30%. Icebreaker Games for Instant Connections Icebreaker games play a crucial role in nurturing immediate connections among team members, especially when teams are newly formed or when new members join. These activities serve as engagement games for work, breaking down barriers and promoting a collaborative atmosphere. By participating in icebreaker activities, you improve comfort and encourage open communication, leading to a relaxed environment. Games like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Have You Ever?” encourage personal storytelling, revealing common interests and building rapport among colleagues. Research indicates that icebreakers can greatly improve group dynamics, with 79% of employees reporting strengthened workplace relationships. Incorporating these workplace games into meetings or events not merely sets a positive tone but also energizes participants, boosting overall engagement. When team members feel connected, they’re more likely to collaborate effectively, making icebreakers a valuable tool for improving workplace culture and productivity. Collaborative Team-Building Activities When teams engage in collaborative team-building activities, they not just improve their relationships but furthermore greatly boost their overall performance. Research shows that participation in these activities can increase workplace performance by up to 25%. Engaging in escape room challenges or bridge building exercises improves communication and problem-solving skills, which are vital for a cohesive team dynamic. Moreover, structured collaborative exercises lead to a 36% higher retention rate, reflecting a stronger emotional connection to the company culture. Activities like human knot untangling or marshmallow tower engineering emphasize clear communication and adaptability, fundamental traits for effective teamwork. Regularly scheduled collaborative events nurture a positive workplace culture, reducing stress and improving overall employee satisfaction. By incorporating these activities into your routine, you create an environment where employees feel valued and connected, ultimately benefiting both the individuals and the organization as a whole. Fun Competitive Challenges to Energize Fun competitive challenges serve as an effective way to energize your workplace, encouraging employees to engage actively during cultivating a sense of camaraderie. These activities can boost productivity by 14% to 30%, creating a more dynamic environment. Options like Office Olympics and Minute to Win It games promote friendly rivalry, which improves teamwork, reduces stress, and raises morale. Engaging in these challenges strengthens interpersonal relationships, with 79% of employees reporting that such activities improve workplace connections. Incorporating scavenger hunts or team-based trivia can likewise break down silos between departments, promoting collaboration across the organization. Moreover, competitive games not only boost team spirit but also lead to improved employee retention, with organizations experiencing 36% higher retention rates when fun activities are part of their culture. Creative and Crafty Engagement Games Creative and crafty engagement games offer a unique way to cultivate artistic expression within teams, creating an environment that improves collaboration and bonding. Activities like group painting sessions or crafting challenges encourage employees to showcase their individual creativity as they work together. These hands-on projects not only promote teamwork but also improve problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. As team members engage in craft-based games, they often find that the relaxed atmosphere helps break down barriers, establishing connections in a fun and interactive manner. Furthermore, these activities serve as effective icebreakers, helping participants feel more comfortable with one another. The joy and sense of accomplishment that arise from shared creative endeavors contribute greatly to a positive workplace culture. Unique Games for Remote Teams Many remote teams face the challenge of maintaining strong connections and morale during working apart. To address this, consider engaging in virtual team-building games like online trivia or digital escape rooms. These activities can improve engagement and create camaraderie among employees, promoting connection in spite of physical distance. Utilizing platforms like Zoom or Slack, you can start with icebreakers like “Two Truths and a Lie,” encouraging personal storytelling and helping team members learn surprising facts about each other. Scheduling regular virtual game sessions can greatly reduce feelings of isolation, potentially increasing team morale and productivity by 30%. Incorporating creative collaboration activities, such as virtual brainstorming sessions or shared art projects, likewise boosts team creativity and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, competitive challenges like online scavenger hunts or fitness competitions can encourage friendly competition, strengthening relationships and increasing motivation within your remote team. Frequently Asked Questions What Are Some Games That Encourage Teamwork? To encourage teamwork, consider games like the Human Knot, which requires participants to communicate and collaborate to untangle themselves. The Egg Drop challenge promotes creativity as teams design protective holders for eggs, improving problem-solving skills. Scavenger Hunts can involve company history, nurturing teamwork through exploration. Office Olympics feature friendly competition, whereas problem-solving games like bridge building engage teams in resource management, promoting flexibility and communication. Each game effectively improves teamwork and collaboration among participants. Which Activity Is Best for Developing Team Spirit? To develop team spirit effectively, consider activities that encourage collaboration and communication. The Human Knot, for instance, challenges you to work together to untangle without letting go of each other’s hands. On the other hand, Two Truths and a Lie cultivates personal connections, allowing team members to learn about each other. These activities not only improve relationships but likewise create a more cohesive team environment, in the end leading to improved morale and productivity in the workplace. Which Game Needs Team Spirit? Games like the “Human Knot” and “Escape Room Challenges” require strong team spirit. They emphasize communication and collaboration, as participants must work together to solve problems and untangle themselves. In these scenarios, trust and reliance on each other’s strengths become essential. Furthermore, “Office Olympics” and “Bridge Building” encourage friendly competition and simulate workplace challenges, nurturing unity and clear communication. These activities promote a sense of belonging and improve overall team dynamics. What Can You Do to Promote Team Spirit? To promote team spirit, you can implement regular team-building activities, encourage open communication, and recognize individual contributions. Organizing brainstorming sessions nurtures collaboration among team members, whereas feedback mechanisms improve transparency. Establishing common goals helps align efforts, creating a sense of shared purpose. Moreover, celebrating team successes, no matter how small, reinforces camaraderie. Conclusion Incorporating engaging workplace games can greatly improve team spirit and collaboration. By utilizing icebreakers, collaborative activities, competitive challenges, creative projects, and unique remote games, you create an environment that encourages communication and connection among team members. These activities not just improve morale but additionally develop crucial skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. Implementing a variety of these games can lead to a more cohesive and motivated workforce, in the end benefiting the overall productivity of your organization. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "5 Engaging Workplace Games to Boost Team Spirit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The pending agreement would resolve claims over a 2021 hack which affected 5.8 million customers of Lakeview, Community, and Pingora Loan Servicing. View the full article

Meta’s fourth-quarter results jumped past Wall Street’s expectations thanks to solid advertising revenue, sending shares sharply higher in after-hours trading Wednesday. The company earned $22.77 billion, or $8.88 per share, in the October-December quarter. That’s up 9% from $20.84 billion, or $8.02 per share, in the same period a year earlier. Revenue grew 24% to $59.89 billion from $48.39 billion. Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $8.21 per share on revenue of $58.5 billion, according to a poll by FactSet. “Once again, Meta surpassed analysts’ earnings expectations for the quarter, cementing its position as one of the world’s most dominant media companies,” said Debra Aho Williamson, chief analyst at Sonata Insights. “Its strong performance provides a solid foundation to continue its massive investments into AI. If there were any signs of revenue shortfall, investors would look at the capital expenditures more negatively.” Meta’s expenses, which the company already warned will be significantly higher this year, grew 40% to $35.15 billion. For the current quarter, Meta is forecasting revenue in the range of $53.5 billion to $56.5 billion. That’s above analysts’ forecast of $51.4 billion. For 2026, Meta is forecasting expenses in the range of $162 billion to $169 billion, driven by infrastructure costs and employee compensation, particularly for the artificial intelligence (AI) experts it’s been hiring at eye-popping pay levels. Meta had 78,865 employees at the end of the year, an increase of 6% from a year earlier. Shares of the Menlo Park, California-based company (Nasdaq: META) rose $73.15, or 10.9%, to $741.88 in after-hours trading. By BARBARA ORTUTAY, AP Technology Writer View the full article

Managing money effectively rarely happens by accident. As costs rise and financial goals multiply, having a clear budget plan becomes essential for staying in control. Rather than reacting to expenses month by month, budget planning helps individuals make intentional decisions, prioritize spending and align daily choices with long-term financial stability and personal peace of mind in modern everyday life. What Is Budget Planning? Budget planning refers to the structured approach used to evaluate income, anticipate expenses and decide how money will be allocated over time. It involves setting financial goals, analyzing spending patterns and establishing guidelines that influence future decisions. Through this ongoing process, individuals gain visibility into their finances and create a framework for controlling cash flow and reducing uncertainty levels overall. Budget planning doesn’t only apply to personal finances. To ensure project budget planning goes smoothly, you need the ability to track resources in one streamlined location. ProjectManager has resource management features that include timesheets, workload charts, planned vs. actual costs and more. Our tools help you estimate, organize, track and adjust project costs, all tied directly to your schedule and resources. Get started by taking a free 30-day trial, no credit card required. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more What Is a Budget Plan? A budget plan is a tangible financial document that captures projected income, planned expenses and savings targets in one organized view. Unlike the planning process itself, it serves as a reference point for tracking performance and making adjustments. This document translates financial intentions into measurable figures, enabling clearer accountability, comparisons over time and more disciplined money management for individuals today. When to Make a Budget Plan Creating a budget plan becomes especially important during major life transitions, when financial priorities shift, responsibilities increase and unplanned decisions can quickly impact long-term stability and personal financial security. Starting a family introduces new recurring expenses, requiring clearer planning for childcare, healthcare and long-term household costs. Planning a wedding often involves large, time-bound expenses that demand structure to avoid debt and financial stress. Saving for college or education requires disciplined forecasting to balance current living costs with future tuition obligations. Buying a home increases financial complexity through mortgages, maintenance, taxes and shifting monthly cash flow needs. Changing careers or income levels makes budgeting essential for adapting spending habits to new financial realities. How to Make a Budget Plan Turning financial intentions into a usable budget plan requires deliberate choices, clear constraints and realistic assumptions that shape how money is distributed, monitored and adjusted over time. 1. Define the Budgeting Period Before assigning any numbers, it’s essential to determine the timeframe the budget will cover. The length of the budgeting period directly affects spending decisions, priorities and flexibility. An amount that feels sufficient over a few days can become restrictive over several weeks. By defining whether the budget applies weekly, monthly or longer, individuals can align allocations with real-world consumption patterns and avoid distorted expectations. 2. Establish a Budget Amount Once the budgeting period is clear, the next step is identifying how much money is actually available to work with. This figure should reflect existing funds rather than optimistic projections of income not yet received. Regardless of the budgeting method used, basing the budget amount on confirmed resources creates a more reliable plan. Doing so reduces risk, prevents overspending and ensures that financial decisions remain grounded in reality throughout the period. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Budget-Template-for-Excel.png Get your free Project Budget Template Use this free Project Budget Template to manage your projects better. Get the Template 3. Identify Expense & Income Categories Grouping expenses into clear categories adds structure to a budget plan and prevents costs from blending into a single total. Categories make it easier to understand where money goes, highlight spending areas that consume a disproportionate share and reveal patterns that might otherwise be missed. This clarity supports better judgment when adjustments are needed. Income categories may also be included when earnings come from multiple sources, though expense categorization remains the primary focus at this stage for accurate visibility and more informed future financial decisions throughout the budgeting period ahead. 4. Estimate Expenses and Allocate Funds With categories defined, the next step is assigning estimated amounts to each expense for the selected budgeting period. These estimates should reflect realistic expectations based on typical spending habits. Once funds are allocated, the document becomes a functional budget plan. From here, actual expenses can be recorded alongside estimates and any income received during the period can be added, creating a working comparison that supports ongoing adjustments between planned targets and real financial activity over time for clarity and control. Related: 18 Budget Templates for Business & Project Budgeting 5. Compare Estimates vs. Actual Expenses and Income Reviewing estimates against actual expenses and income is what turns a budget plan into a useful management tool. This comparison reveals gaps between expectations and reality, showing where overspending occurs or where savings opportunities exist. It also helps validate assumptions made during planning. By tracking variances consistently, individuals gain a clearer picture of their financial behavior, improve future forecasts and make informed adjustments that strengthen long-term financial control through regular reviews and disciplined documentation practices across different budgeting periods and goals. Budget Plan Examples Looking at real-world formats helps translate budgeting theory into something practical, showing how income can be organized, monitored and adjusted using a clear structure. 50/30/20 Budget Plan The 50/30/20 budget plan is a simple method that divides after-tax income into three spending categories. Fifty percent is reserved for essential needs such as housing and utilities, 30 percent is allocated to discretionary wants and 20 percent is dedicated to savings or debt reduction. This approach offers flexibility while still enforcing limits, making it popular among individuals seeking a balance between lifestyle enjoyment and long-term financial stability. John earns $3,000 per month after taxes and wants an easy way to manage his money. He assigns fixed dollar amounts to needs, wants and savings, then tracks spending weekly to avoid exceeding any category. Goal Objective Target Outcome Monthly Amount ($) Cover needs Allocate 50% of income to essentials Stable monthly living costs $1,500 Control wants Limit discretionary spending to 30% Reduced impulse purchases $900 Build security Direct 20% toward savings or debt Improved financial resilience $600 Related: 50/30/20 Budget Template 70/20/10 Budget Plan Designed around proportional allocation, the 70/20/10 budget plan divides income into three broad purposes. Seventy percent is used for living expenses and discretionary costs combined, 20 percent is reserved for savings or investments and 10 percent is directed toward debt repayment or financial goals. This model works well for individuals who prefer simplicity while still maintaining a disciplined approach to saving and reducing liabilities without tracking numerous expense categories. Maria earns $4,000 per month after taxes and prefers a straightforward structure. She allocates most of her income to everyday expenses, commits a fixed portion to savings and uses the remainder to steadily reduce outstanding debt. Goal Objective Target Outcome Monthly Amount ($) Manage expenses Allocate 70% to living and discretionary costs Balanced lifestyle spending $2,800 Grow savings Set aside 20% for savings or investments Long-term financial growth $800 Reduce debt Use 10% for debt or financial goals Lower outstanding balances $400 Zero-Based Budget Plan The zero-based budget plan requires assigning every dollar of income a specific purpose until the remaining balance equals zero. Instead of leaving money unallocated, each expense, saving goal or debt payment is planned. This approach encourages intentional decision-making, minimizes waste and provides detailed visibility into spending behavior. It’s particularly effective for individuals who want tight control over cash flow and clear justification for every financial choice. Daniel earns $3,500 per month and wants maximum control. At the beginning of each month, he assigns every dollar to bills, savings and personal spending so that nothing remains unplanned. Goal Objective Target Outcome Monthly Amount ($) Cover essentials Assign funds to all fixed expenses Bills paid on time $2,200 Plan savings Allocate money to savings goals Consistent monthly saving $700 Control spending Assign remaining funds to discretionary use No unaccounted expenses $600 Flexible Budget Plan Built to adapt as circumstances change, a flexible budget plan adjusts expense limits based on actual income or activity levels. Instead of fixed amounts, spending ranges shift when earnings rise or fall. This approach is especially useful for variable-income households, allowing essential costs to remain covered while discretionary spending expands or contracts. Flexibility reduces financial stress by keeping the budget realistic under changing conditions rather than forcing rigid limits that no longer match reality. Sophia works in sales and her monthly income fluctuates. She sets baseline limits for necessities, then increases or reduces discretionary spending depending on commissions earned that month. Goal Objective Target Outcome Monthly Amount ($) Cover essentials Maintain minimum spending for fixed costs Financial stability $2,000 Adjust lifestyle Scale discretionary spending with income Controlled flexibility $700–$1,200 Protect savings Preserve a consistent savings contribution Long-term security $500 Rolling Budget Plan Rather than resetting annually, a rolling budget plan continuously extends the planning horizon as time passes. Each month or quarter, a new period is added while completed periods drop off. This keeps projections current and aligned with recent financial data. Rolling budgets improve responsiveness to change, making them ideal for individuals who want forward-looking visibility and ongoing refinement instead of static, outdated assumptions. Kevin reviews his budget at the end of every month. As one month closes, he adds a new future month, updating projections using the latest spending and income data. Goal Objective Target Outcome Monthly Amount ($) Maintain accuracy Update budget projections monthly Current financial outlook $3,200 Plan ahead Extend budget into future periods Fewer surprises $1,000 Refine decisions Adjust allocations using recent data Smarter spending choices $800 Free Budget Planning Templates Spreadsheets remain the default choice for building a budget plan because Excel combines flexibility with precision. Users can adjust figures instantly, apply automated formulas and model different scenarios without rebuilding the document. For this reason, ProjectManager provides free Excel budget planning templates that are interactive, customizable and designed to simplify ongoing financial tracking and updates over time for individuals everywhere. 50/30/20 Budget Plan Template This 50/30/20 budget plan template divides income into needs, wants and savings, helping users balance essentials, lifestyle spending and long-term financial goals with simple percentages over a defined budgeting period. Construction Budget Template Use this construction budget template to capture all the tasks and their related costs so the general contractor can forecast the cost of the project. Use the template to compare what you’re actually spending to what you budgeted to help keep the project on track financially. Budget Sheet Template This budget sheet template tracks a starting budget, adds income, subtracts expenses and calculates a final balance, giving users a period-based view of financial activity for personal or small-business use. Plan Project Budgets with ProjectManager From assigning estimated costs for labor, materials and equipment to assigning resources with hourly rates on the Gantt chart, ProjectManager simplifies the budget planning process. Team members can log time on timesheets while dashboards display key budget data at a glance. You can also run and export reports on budget summaries, expense details and more. Related Budgeting Content 18 Budget Templates for Business & Project Budgeting What Is a Business Budget? Business Budgeting Basics What Is an Operating Budget? Key Components What Is a Budget Report? Purpose, Components & Benefits The post How to Make a Budget Plan for Personal Finance Management appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Prime minister hopes pact will help Britain tackle gangs bringing migrants from France in small boatsView the full article

The Mac menu bar is a bit of a mess. Way too many applications want to put icons in the top-right corner of the screen, and most users only want to see a fraction of those. This is a particular problem on recent MacBooks, where the camera notch blacks out a chunk of space right in the middle of the menu bar. This is why applications for cleaning up the Mac menu bar are so popular—the clutter can feel overwhelming. Here's the thing, though: You probably don't need to leave applications like that running constantly. You can hide icons in macOS' Settings, then use a free tool once to move all the icons closer together. Here's how. How to hide icons in Mac System SettingsTahoe, also known as macOS 26, gave users a lot to talk about, which meant a few features were broadly overlooked. One of them: the ability to hide any menu bar icon, no third party software required. To use this feature open System Settings and head to the Menu Bar section. You will see the ability to toggle system icons, like Siri and Spotlight, on and off. Keep scrolling, though, and you'll find the ability to hide icons for any of your installed applications. Just toggle off any application you'd rather not see in the menu bar and it will disappear. I've been using this to disable unwanted icons for months, and it's working well for me. Having said that, though, it isn't a perfect replacement. Applications like Bartender and Ice don't just hide icons—they give you access to a secondary tray where you can still occasionally access icons you hid. There's no quick way to do that using the macOS settings. Still: It's a free way to hide unwanted icons, and there's no need to keep third party software running. Reduce the spacing between icons in the menu bar Credit: Justin Pot If your menu bar still feels crowded, you can free up a bit more space by squeezing all of your icons together. A free application called Menu Bar Spacing lets you change the spacing in your menu bar. Just download the application, move the slider, and your icons will move closer together. The great thing about Menu Bar Spacing, as an application, is that it doesn't need to run constantly. You can launch it once, make the changes you like, and then delete it—your setting will still apply. This is because the application changes a few hidden macOS settings. You can make the changes yourself using the Terminal if you prefer not to use an app, but I think the app makes things a little bit easier. There's a bit of a caveat for macOS 26 users. Because of a bug, only Apple's own icons will move closer together at first. Your other applications will need to be restarted before they bunch closer together. That means you'll need to manually close and re-launch each application, or simply restart your Mac. It's annoying, but only relevant right after you change the settings. And you'll have a lot more space on your menu bar once you're done. View the full article

Donald The President’s EV policies and consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s political activities hit car salesView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Surround sound systems are not cheap, especially if you want to go for flagship options like Bose, Sonos, or JBL. However, one brand offers a complete surround sound system that is still on-par with the rest as far as quality, but offers a much better bang for your buck—that's Samsung's HW-Q990F/ZC, and right now it's 58% off on Woot for a new system. You can get it for $847.99 (originally $1,997.99), the lowest price I've seen it on sale. Samsung HW-Q990F/ZC Soundbar $847.99 at Woot $1,997.99 Save $1,150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $847.99 at Woot $1,997.99 Save $1,150.00 The Q990F is a 2025 upgrade on the Q990D, which Samsung released in 2023. It's not much different except for a few tweaks that were the biggest cons on reviews. The Q990F added HDMI 2.1 with support for 4K at 120 Hz passthrough and VRR, which is ideal for serious gamers who want the lowest input lag possible. Samsung also added Wireless Dolby Atmos with compatible Samsung TVs, meaning you can have uncompressed Atmos audio without needing to hook up the HDMI cable to the eARC, sending it over wifi instead. The subwoofer was also improved with a tighter, more controlled sound. And of course, the overall tuning and audio technology are also better overall. The Q990F comes with a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers, and it's honestly the best surround sound system at this price that you can get. As you can read in PCMag's "outstanding" review, the system is powerful, elegant, and has impressive surround-sound audio. There is also a useful companion app that brings all of the settings and any tweaks that you can think of needing right on your phone. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $407.47 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — (List Price $24.99 With Code "FTV4K25") Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Silver) — $159.99 (List Price $219.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Respondents to an exclusive NMN survey lay odds on lower rates boosting housing despite stagflation and recession risks. Here's how the Fed's view compares. View the full article

For years, the customer experience playbook has been treated like a technology problem. Add another tool. Deploy another bot. Automate another workflow. And yet here we are, heading into 2026 with customer satisfaction in freefall. Forrester’s 2025 CX Index shows scores hitting a new low for the fourth consecutive year. This isn’t a failure of ambition or innovation. It’s a failure of how we define success. Leaders have been optimizing for activity instead of outcomes. In the rush to scale digital engagement, many organizations fell into a bit of a containment trap, measuring success by how many customer interactions never reach a human. On paper, it looks efficient. In reality, it’s often a false economy. If a customer gets stuck in a bot loop or a bot that can’t answer a straightforward question predictably, you haven’t saved money. You’ve lost trust. And very often, you’ve lost the customer. It’s clear that customer experience (CX) needs a reset. Not more experimentation or hype, but more precision. Based on what we’re seeing across industries, four trends will define whether companies finally break out of the CX recession, or get left behind. 1. CX isn’t delivering (because we’re measuring the wrong things) Despite massive investment, CX outcomes are stalling. The reason is simple: Most organizations are optimizing for the wrong metrics. Containment, deflection, and average handle time tell you how efficiently you move customers away. They tell you very little about whether you actually solved a problem, built loyalty, or created value. The companies that rise to the top are shifting to a hybrid model that treats AI and humans as complementary assets. AI agents handle what they’re best at: instant answers, routine transactions, and scale. Humans step in where judgment, empathy, and nuance matter. The metric shift is critical. High-performing teams measure value creation, not just cost avoidance. Personalization, resolution quality, and revenue impact matter far more than whether a conversation stayed “contained,” because they create value on both sides of the exchange: Customers get answers that actually move them forward, and brands earn trust, loyalty, and measurable growth. In fact, Gartner’s data shows that buyers have a 1.8 times greater likelihood of paying a premium, and they are 3.7 times more likely to buy more than they planned, if they feel that experience has been personalized. The future of CX isn’t about replacing people. It’s about freeing them to do their best work. 2. 2026 is the year of predictable AI Over the past two years, generative AI moved from novelty to necessity. In 2026, the conversation changes again, from capability to control. Unpredictable AI is expensive. Hallucinations, broken flows, and inefficient token usage quietly drain budgets and introduce brand and compliance risk. That’s why predictability has become the most important word in the boardroom. The next phase of AI adoption requires an assurance layer—a system that continuously tests, validates, and verifies AI behavior before it ever reaches a customer. This de-risks innovation, but just as importantly, it creates the engine for continuous improvement. It provides the framework to constantly learn from interactions, refine accuracy, and reduce the cost of every conversation, turning AI from a “science experiment” into an operational efficiency engine that gets smarter over time. The most advanced organizations are using adversarial simulation to stress-test AI against edge cases, confusion, and hostile inputs. They break their systems before customers can. The result is confidence that allows leaders to deploy AI in high-value, high-risk use cases like payments, healthcare, and financial services. Predictable AI doesn’t just reduce risk. It unlocks ROI and drives value creation. 3. The CX budget crunch is an opportunity CX leaders aren’t struggling because budgets disappeared. They’re struggling because scrutiny increased. In 2026, no one is funding “nice-to-have” initiatives. Every dollar must tie directly to financial outcomes. CX leaders need to stop selling soft metrics and start telling a before-and-after story showcasing what changed, by how much, and why it matters to the business. The most effective teams reposition CX not as a cost center, but as an efficiency engine. They run focused pilots, prove results quickly, and use hard data to unlock broader deployment. When you can demonstrate measurable improvements in resolution rates, conversion, or operational efficiency in 90 days, the budget conversation changes. CX stops being discretionary. It becomes essential. 4. Marketers must catch up with consumers’ expectations The biggest growth shift of 2026 isn’t happening in the contact center. It’s happening at the top of the funnel. Traditional lead generation is breaking down. Buyers don’t want forms. They want answers, on their terms, in the moment of intent. Conversational AI enables a concierge model that replaces gated funnels with real-time, personalized dialogue. The economics are compelling. A self-service interaction costs pennies. A live agent interaction can cost dollars. But when done right, conversational AI delivers a low-cost interaction that feels premium and high touch. More importantly, it respects the customer’s time. And in 2026, that can be the ultimate differentiator. PRECISION IS THE NEW SCALE The lesson early in 2026 is simple: Scaling without precision is noise. Precision without scale is irrelevant. The best companies will master both. That means measurable CX, predictable AI, disciplined investment, and conversations that meet people exactly where they are. We don’t need more technology. We need better outcomes. And if we get that right, 2026 won’t just be the year CX recovers, but the year it finally delivers. John Sabino is CEO of LivePerson. View the full article

Company forecasts capital expenditures well above analysts’ estimates View the full article

Quarterly revenue tops $81bn as sales in unit that includes Azure platform surge 26% from a year agoView the full article

Microsoft reported its second quarter 2026 earnings and it showed that its search and advertising revenue was up for 10% but growth is down over the past two quarters. The previous quarter it was up 16% and the one before that was 21% and this quarter, it is only up 10%.View the full article

Chair Jay Powell says robust growth and steadying jobs market show borrowing costs are not ‘restrictive’View the full article