We understand the steps to fire prevention and protection for our home. We teach our kids the importance of smoke detectors and why they need to be checked regularly. We establish an escape plan and determine a meeting place. In school, our kids learn what to do and where to go in case of a fire. And they participate in numerous drills.

But what about our workplace? Are we properly prepared to handle a fire? Have we trained our employees and practiced our action plan?

Just as with your family or at school, taking time to plan BEFORE a fire can be critical to survival. Here are four basic steps to help you create a pre-fire plan

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Mike Cahill, member of the Gibson Board of Directors, CEO of AWS Foundation, and former CEO of Tower Bank & Trust. Tim Leman is taking time off from writing his weekly blog to work on an exciting project focused on culture and leadership. We hope you enjoy Mike’s wisdom and perspective.

People who know me know I enjoy mentoring young people. Maybe it’s because I have four children born between 1984 and 2000. Maybe it’s because the demographics show this to be the largest population group. Or maybe it’s because this generation is just beginning to influence the workforce.

As much as we talk about Millennials, let’s not forget about Boomers and Gen Xers. These two generations currently dominate the workplace. I’m a Boomer. The gray hairs give it away.

Birth certificates, passports, bank statements, bills, receipts, family health records, insurance paperwork, tax receipts, credit card info – your family accumulates a lot of important documents. What do you do with all of these records? How do you decide what to store and for long? What is the safest storage method for your files?

Taking time to organize and protect your family’s records is important. Not only can it save you time when you need to find specific documents, but it can also significantly help in case of emergency.

As the use of social media continues to grow exponentially, the line between professional and personal life tends to blur. Most likely, many of your employees are using social networks for personal use. They have connected with coworkers and clients. They may also help share posts from your company’s social networks to their own personal ones. The employee’s network of friends and followers probably begin to associate the individual with your company. This can be great. Employees can become some of your most effective brand advocates.

However, being aware of the potential risks is important.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Dr. Kathy Cramer, founder and managing partner of The Cramer Institute. Tim Leman is taking some time off from writing his weekly blog to work on an exciting project focused on culture and leadership. We hope you enjoy Dr. Cramer’s wisdom and perspective.

Who is your harshest critic? I’m guessing it’s you. Like most highly effective people, you probably have high standards, big expectations, a keen eye… and are well practiced in self-criticism.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 250,000 serious injuries occur each year to hands, fingers, and wrists. About 8,000 of these result in amputations. A worker’s hands are so incredibly critical not only to their career, but also their personal lives. Action can be taken to help minimize the hazards to hands, especially through the use of equipment safety mechanisms, personal protective equipment (PPE), and proper training.

As the contractor for a construction project, you are presented with significant risks, especially with each subcontractor you bring onto the job. You may be held liable for damages or injuries caused by the work subcontractors perform on your behalf – that could be an injured employee of a subcontractor or even injuries to on-site visitors. To reduce your exposure to loss and protect your business, it is critical to implement risk transfer strategies.

Risk transfer is shifting risks of loss for damage or injury to another party. For contractors, this means requiring provisions to be included in all subcontractor contracts in order to transfer the risk appropriately.

As a horse owner, you don’t want to think about a worst case scenario. No one does. But your horse is a large investment. You put in time and energy to its care, health, and training. It is important to think about how you can protect your horse and yourself.

Health care costs are higher than ever before and they aren’t going to get any cheaper. According to a study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care spending in the United States is expected to total $4.8 trillion by 2021. Wow. How are we, the “consumers”, going to slow down this ship? There is no one answer to this question, but there are several ways employers can help play a role.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Dr. Kathy Cramer, founder and managing partner of The Cramer Institute. Tim Leman is taking some time off from writing his weekly blog to work on an exciting project focused on culture and leadership. We hope you enjoy Dr. Cramer’s wisdom and perspective.

Highly effective leaders tend to be highly responsive leaders. In psychological terms, being responsive involves thoughtfully and intentionally adapting your behavior to the current circumstance. It entails first taking the time to calmly digest what is happening.