The Last Hour Problem

The telecommunications industry often talks about the "last mile problem." But just about every industry has a process and productivity issue that might be called "the last hour problem." Read on »

Making Outbound Calls Productive

At least once a week, I run across a business that doesn't seem to know how to use the telephone. Here's the story of one call I received which was unbelievably painful. Read on »

Business Artifacts In The Workplace

We're all familiar with the popular sign: “Employees must wash hands before returning to work.” What we may not know or realize is that such a sign may convey different meanings that could negatively impact consumers. So how can workplace artifacts be improved? Read on »

What It Means To Be Productive

There's an old adage that suggests "the cobbler's children have no shoes." As a productivity expert however, I don't think this saying is acceptable. I make it a point to get a tremendous amount of work accomplished in a given day. Read on »

Over Simplified Text

When it comes to emails, phone calls and even texting, being long-winded or vague does more than lose the attention of your audience. It wreaks havoc on a person's productivity. I should know. It took three emails, three voicemails and nearly five hours to receive an answer to one question. Read on »

Customer Service and Phone Calls

Over at the website Reddit.com, a commenter retold the story of the "best use of a cell phone" he has seen all year. The call was placed while standing in line to the same desk: Read on »

The Call Volume Paradox

Joe is a sales professional with a problem. His management is unhappy despite the fact that Joe is fantastically successful at closing great deals. Read on »

Ring, Ring Go Away

When it comes to being productive, a ringing telephone is far from helpful. In fact, many would agree the nuisance is downright distracting.  But can this type of communication be avoided when conducting business? To Slaughter Development's founder, the phone can and should be handled more intelligently. Read on »

A Healthy Inbox

Many can relate to the stress caused by an overflowing email inbox at work. In May's edition of Health Minute Magazine, Robby Slaughter discusses how a healthy inbox can help promote a healthy lifestyle. Read on »

The Worst Possible Decision

Sometimes, it's hard to evaluate which choice is the best for your business. But it's clear that one is always the worst: dismissing an employee. Read on »