Can SMART Goals Really Improve Employee Performance?

Can SMART Goals Really Improve Employee Performance?

There is an abundance of research that suggests that helping employees set specific, difficult goals leads to higher performance. In an article in American Psychologist, Edwin Lock and Gary Latham indicate through their investigations on goal setting and motivation that when managers and employers help employees develop clear, challenging goals, the benefits for the organization…

This Is Not Your Child’s Classroom: Adult Learning Principles for Employers

This Is Not Your Child’s Classroom: Adult Learning Principles for Employers

As a self-declared nerd, I admit to being fond of the “adults-who-go-back-to-school” film category. This includes movies such as Billy Madison, Never Been Kissed, 21 Jump Street, and so on. I suspect that one of the reasons for the appeal of these films, at least for some of us, is the fantasy of having the…

How to Build a Proactive Funding Plan™: Offset Project Costs & Grow Your Business

How to Build a Proactive Funding Plan™: Offset Project Costs & Grow Your Business

Many of the businesses that Mentor Works meets have at least a general idea of the projects that they would like to complete over the next year or two—these businesses might be planning to attend a few trade shows, further develop software, or implement new production equipment, for example. Despite their careful planning, however, many…

The Value of a Humanities Degree in the Workforce

The Value of a Humanities Degree in the Workforce

As an undergraduate student studying history, I was frequently asked: “So, are you going to become a teacher?” Later, as I continued my study of history in graduate school, this question evolved slightly: “So, are you going to become a professor?” The terminus of both pointed but well-meaning questions was the same – the assumption…