Wednesday, November 27, 2019

These are all the crazy things people do at office holiday parties

These are all the crazy things people do at bro holiday partiesThese are all the crazy things people do at office holiday partiesIts that time of year again and I dont mean a time of gratitude and reflection.I mean its the office holiday party season. Though office holiday celebrations may have started off quaint and modest (think Fezziwigs office party in A Christmas Carol though old Fezziwigg definitely had a few) over the years they have developed into absolute debauchery as we have seen in film and television depictions such as The Office, Mad Men, Arrested Development and of course the film Office Christmas Party.But unlike characters in these movies and shows, you arent fictional and actually have to go to work with your colleagues and boss the next day.But you arent alone if you have maybe had a few too many drinks at the office holiday party, said something inappropriate, danced a little too freely, made out in the coat closet with a coworker or even ended up in jailFourLoko surveyed 2,000 workers to see how people really behave at the party and also to see how they feel about this annual event. Some of the statistics may surprise you or maybe not.Click to enlarge

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Backtrack a Promise to a Client - The Muse

How to Backtrack a Promise to a Client - The MuseHow to Backtrack a Promise to a ClientYour client expects something that was included in their contract and you have to explain why you cant deliver on it. Or, your team is behind on developing a new feature that was promised and you have to break the news that it wont be ready on time. Or, your former co-worker promised an insane renewal verstndigung im strafverfahren that is just off-the-walls.Tricky stuff, for sure. But dont stress Its normal to have to readjust a clients timeline or expectations, and if you do it right, it can actually make your relationship that much stronger. Heres the best way to handle backtracking on a promise.1. Figure Out What Went WrongThe first thing you need to do is figure out how this promise came to be. Go back through old emails or talk to anyone who worked with the client before you to see if (and if so, when) that expectation was set and who it was set by.If theres a contract involved, think about w hether you should loop in your legal team.And finally, see if you took any bedrngnises (or someone did) on the clients original goals. Why did they abflug working with you in the first place?2. Research ReplacementsCome to the conversation prepared. What other benefits can you offer them instead? A discount? Access to other parts of your platform? See if your product team has ideas for quick things you could come up with.3. Set Up a CallThe next step is to set up a call with your client. I know, emails so much easier to send, but also much harder to interpret. Someones far less likely to yell on the phone than they are to send a rude message, especially when they hear your voice and remember youre a human on the other end of this exchange.You can initiate the conversation with this email templateHi Clients Name,Hope all is well with youWeve recently made some changes to our product offering/I have some updates to your contract/I understand youre concerned about receiving X specific feature, and I want to address this as soon as possible to make sure were on the same page. Would you have time this week to chat on the phone?Please let me know what times work best for you.Best,Your Name4. Get on the PhoneThe key to this conversation is to be empathetic and patient. Let them explain their side of the story and show that youre invested in their concerns by really listening and using the following phrasesI understand youI recognizeI see your pointIf the mistake was your fault, apologize (genuinely). If it was promised from someone else on your team, apologize as well, but dont throw them under the bus. At the end of the day, your clients working with your company, not just you. When you put the blame on another colleague, it sends a signal that your organizations untrustworthy. Instead, assure them that youre all working together to make things right.Finally, dont pretend the promise didnt exist in the first place or put the blame on the client. Even if it was a sim ple miscommunication, acknowledge that and take responsibility- dont spend your time pointing fingers.5. Offer Your Alternative SolutionTime to put all that pre-work to use and show that youve actively worked to resolve the issue.Of course, sometimes theres just nothing tangible you can give them in that moment. If thats the case, go back to their goals and figure out how you can help them reach them in other ways. For exampleI understand your goal is their goal. We cant guarantee this, as thats unfortunately not what our product is used for. However, were happy to work with you to leverage your current product/have you speak with someone else on our team/discuss other options you might be interested in or weve done with other partners.Make it Clear Youre the Clients PartnerThroughout this entire discussion, its important to be your clients advocate both internally and externally. Show them youre making the effort to find a solution, and youll assure them you not only take their goa ls seriously, but that youre willing to go the extra mile to satisfy your clients. 6. Set Clear Guidelines for Next TimeOnce youve diffused the bomb, make sure this doesnt happen again- for everyones sake. The best way to do this is to document everything. After speaking, send a follow-up email outlining what you discussed and have them clarify anything theyre confused or unsure about. Keep a running folder of emails and documents you have with them to reference in future conversations.This not only makes addressing the issue in the moment easier, it also keeps your client honest. If they swear they were promised something, you can go back to your notes and see if thats actually true.After that, spend time with your team to figure out what happened and how to prevent it going forward. Maybe you need a refresher on what you do and dont provide clients, or maybe your team needs to re-evaluate how you present your product. Regardless of what you decide on, its important to take away so me lesson from this.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Incorporators Organizational Meeting FAQ - United States

Incorporators Organizational Meeting FAQ - United StatesIncorporators Organizational Meeting FAQ - United StatesOrganizational MeetingsWhere do I file the minutes for my organizational meetings?You do not need to make a regulatory filing for your organizational meeting minutes. The organizational meeting minutes are for your own records. The organizational meeting minutes should be stored in your corporate minute books for safe keeping.Which organizational meetings do I need?Incorporators Organizational MeetingIf initial directors were NOT named in the Articles of Incorporation, the incorporators will hold an Incorporators Organizational Meeting to complete the organization of the corporation. At the Incorporators Organizational Meeting the incorporators may simply elect a mainboard of directors who will then hold a Directors Organizational Meeting and the newly appointed directors will complete the organization of the corporation.Directors Organizational MeetingIf directors are appo inted and the organization of the corporation is not complete then the Directors will hold an Organizational Meeting to complete the organization of the corporation.Shareholders Organizational MeetingOnce the corporation has been substantially organized (either through an Incorporators Organizational Meeting or a Directors Organizational Meeting or both) the Shareholders will hold a Shareholders Organizational Meeting to ratify the decisions and actions of the incorporators and directors, appoint or elect new directors, appoint or waive the appointment of auditors, and also to resolve any other business that has been brought before the meeting.OfficersWhat does a president do?The president is an executive officer of the corporation usually responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation. The president will report to the board of directors.What does a treasurer do?The treasurer is an executive officer of the corporation responsible for supervising the accounting function s of the corporation and for keeping accurate and current financial records for the corporation.What does a secretary do?The secretary is an executive officer of the corporation responsible for maintaining records of the corporation such as minutes of meetings, shareholders lists, etc.DefinitionsWhat is an incorporator?The incorporator is the person or persons who organize the corporation and file the Articles of Incorporation. Once the filing is complete the incorporators function is usually finished. After that the management of the corporation is performed by the directors.What is a shareholder?A shareholder is a person, business entity or organization that owns at least one share in a corporation. Shareholders are the actual owners of the corporation. As an owner, the shareholder has the potential to profit if the corporation is doing well but also has the potential to lose their investment if the corporation goes broke. A shareholder is not personally liable for the debts and o bligations of the corporation. If a corporation goes broke (worst case) the shareholder may get little or nothing as an equity holder in the corporation. Other secured creditors such as banks and bond holders would be paid first in the darbietung of the liquidation of the assets of the corporation.What is a director?A director is a person appointed to manage the affairs of a corporation. Directors act as agents for the corporation and their actions are binding on the corporation. Directors are required to use due diligence in the conduct of their duties on behalf of the corporation and can be found liable to shareholders as well as any affected third party in the event of gross negligence or fraud.Who is the Chairman of the Board?The Chairman of the Board is a director who has been elected to act in a leadership role for the board of directors. The Chairman of the Board will act as a liaison between the board and the shareholders and the management of the company.Who is the chairman of the meeting?A chairman of the meeting is simply someone appointed at the meeting to manage the meeting and ensure order. Often the chairman of a directors meeting or a shareholders meeting will be the Chairman of the Board of directors.What is the corporate seal?A corporate seal will be unique to the corporation and is used to authenticate the legal documents of a corporation. A corporate seal is an impression usually made in paper using a small metal press.What are corporate resolutions?A resolution is a written document describing the action authorized by the shareholders or management of a corporation. Resolutions describe an action taken during a board meeting. A resolution may also have been generated by agreement without a meeting. (e.g. written consent of action, or directors consent to action)