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How to Answer Your Reader’s Questions

Communication is a two-way process. It takes place when the message you send has been received and understood by the person at the other end. When you’re face-to-face with people, it’s easy to know when they have questions about what you’re telling them

Concision and the Cola Tax

“As with any public health intervention, the precise effect of a tax cannot be known until it is implemented and studied, but research to date suggests that a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would have strong positive effects on reducing consumption.”  – Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, et al

Hyphens, Netflix, and a Million Bucks

“[A] seven-person team of statisticians, machine-learning experts and computer engineers …. was the longtime frontrunner in the contest…. The Netflix contest has been widely followed because its lessons could extend well beyond improving movie picks

Guidelines for Acceptable Performance Reviews

If you followed our tips for writing effective performance objectives, the task of reviewing an employees’ performance – or your own performance – will be easier and more rewarding. Acceptable performance documentation includes enough information and uses specific, objective language.  Here are the criteria for acceptable performance documentation: Describes behavior, performance, and results the evaluator has observed Describes behavior, performance, and results that other have observed Explains, illustrates, and supports the evaluator’s conclusions about the employee’s rating or ranking Documents agreements Tells employees clearly what they are doing well, and what they need to improve Documents learning plans or other expectations for growth Here are several sets of statements taken from performance documents

How to Write SMART Performance Objectives

Performance objectives (also called performance standards and performance plans) describe what an employee will do to meet specific job requirements.  Clearly written objectives define expectations for the employee.  They also provide a standard against which the person’s performance can be compared
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