Mindy Bogue

Blog

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More Alternatives to SMART Goals

We recently talked about obstacles found while using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Bound) method for all goal setting, and some non-traditional alternatives. Today, we’d like to share additional approaches that may work better for you than SMART. Choose what works best for your individual goals – you don’t have to stick to just one method for all your goals. As with SMART goals, none of these methods work perfectly for everyone and every situation. Determine what w
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Non-Traditional Alternatives to SMART Goals

Since the early 1980s, SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) have been the standard method for setting goals. The SMART method works well for goals that have a specific outcome. But if you are working on personal goals or creating and maintaining habits, it may not be as helpful. It’s cliché, but SMART goals focus on the result, not the journey. Don’t give up on goals, though! After we share some insights about why SMART goals aren’t perfect for every goal, we’ll
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January 11 is National Clean Off Your Desk Day

We’re not sure how official this holiday is, but if you haven’t already decluttered and cleaned your desk for the new year, this is a great time to do it. Whether your desk is in a corporate office, cubicle, home office, or corner of the dining room table, an uncluttered, organized, and clean workspace will help you work more efficiently. Working in an organized space can often help us destress and better focus on our projects.

Quick tips to do it right:
• Take everything off your desk – mugs,
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Setting Goals: What's Your "Why"?

We’ve all been there: it’s 11:59pm and you’re counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve. You clink your glass with friends and family, then suddenly declare, “This year, I’m going to save more money!” or “This year, I’m going to finally reach my goal weight!” You count carbs and pennies for the first two weeks in January, then you decide it’s too much effort and give up. Perhaps you’ve already given up for 2023.

What went wrong, and why do so many of us repeat this insanity every year? We did
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Recovering from Burnout and Finding Joy

Are you physically, emotionally, or mentally exhausted for no apparent reason? You may be experiencing burnout: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually from prolonged stress or frustration*. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 43 percent of workers in the U.S. said they were dealing with burnout. After the pandemic began, that number rose to 52 percent. This kind of stress can affect anyone, anywhere (work, school, and home), and at any stage of life*.

Signs of burnout i
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Coping with Goal-Setting Anxiety

Does the thought of setting goals fill you with dread because you are afraid you won't meet them? Do you have so many ideas that you are figuratively (perhaps literally) going in circles, unable to focus on anything for long? If so, it's time for a reality check so you can more efficiently and effectively create a goal plan that will challenge but not overwhelm you.

Identify your goals. Choose short term (takes a month or two), medium-term (takes 6 months), and long-term (takes a year, five yea
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Create a Scope Document for Project Success

You may be asked to create a scope document for a project for your company or a client. What does that mean? Well, a good scope document defines both a project’s goal and its realistic resource limitations (time, staff, budget, technology), helping you create the best plan possible. It’s a crucial step to project management and vital to avoid “scope creep,” where the project slowly grows until you realize you are spending more time or money than originally planned due to unclear or unenforced bo
MATC Group Inc •

Choosing a KMS Tool: Which Way to Go?

Now that you better understand what a knowledge management system (KMS) is and how it can benefit your organization, it’s time to talk about how to choose the KMS tool that will work best for you. You can pick from a variety of very cool tools with all sorts of bells and whistles, but that does NOT mean you should automatically go for a KMS with tons of available features. Ask yourself and your leadership team these questions to help determine what you need from your KMS:
• What are the needs of
MATC Group Inc •

Punctuating Abbreviations: The Basics

Confused about how to write with abbreviations? Do you use periods between letters? When should you write out a phrase or term and when should you abbreviate it?

Before you do anything, check if your organization, school, or professor prefers one particular stylebook over another: Associated Press, Chicago Manual of Style, AMA, etc. If so, follow the guidelines in that stylebook.

However, a lot of us don’t follow a mandated stylebook. In that case, we hope this information is helpful to you. A
MATC Group Inc •

Knowledge Management: The Process and Getting Buy-in

You’ve decided you need a knowledge management system (KMS) in your office. Great – if done properly, it will help you save time and money. Before you start comparing tools, you need to get buy-in from your team and determine your process. Part of that process will include choosing a tool that best fits your needs. Remember: It may take a little longer to do all this planning in the beginning, but you will be grateful for it. Now that so many employees work remotely, creating and maintaining a K
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Do you need a content writer or a copywriter...or both?

“We need to hire someone to write all this stuff!” the boss exclaims as she reads about the importance of social media, educating customers, and catchy advertising and marketing. But do you need a copywriter, a content writer, or maybe someone who can do both? First, you need to understand the difference between these types of content creation.

Copywriting and content writing are often seen as interchangeable, but the writing involved is different and requires some different skills. One person
MATC Group Inc •

Knowledge Management and Workplace Transitions

Knowledge Management. You’ve heard this term in meetings, in TED Talks, or when networking, but perhaps you really don’t understand what it means. Well, it’s time to learn because knowledge management has an incredible effect on how companies operate, especially now that so many are transitioning to a fully remote or hybrid environment. The McKinsey Global institute reports that a top-notch knowledge management system (KMS) can raise organization-wide productivity by 20 to 25 percent. The same r