Leadership

Growing numbers of small and local businesses are discovering that a tweet can be a powerful tool for making your presence known among customers, prospects, your area and your industry. In particular, Twitter is great for helping amplify your marketing messages and grow your business. May 19

The days of the candy striper, those red-and-white-clad teenagers who became an iconic, pop-culture symbol, may be all but over but the need for what they did – serve as volunteers who helped ration the valuable time and attention of doctors and other staff – remains. May 19

Rhode Island’s taxpayers were hit with a couple major news stories within the last week, but in neither case should the state’s leaders be distracted from creating a positive economic-development climate in the Ocean State. May 19

(Updated 5:25 p.m.) Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee has asked developer Colin P. Kane, head of the I-195 Redevelopment Commission, to succeed Keith W. Stokes as head of the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, according to Rhode Island Public Radio. May 17

Providence Business News and Best Companies Group announced Monday the 2012 winners of the annual Best Places To Work competition. May 14

“What I did on my summer vacation.” May 5

All growth is good. Bigger is better. All businesses must either grow or die. May 5

Exceptional women from Rhode Island businesses in six industry categories, as well as a leading career achiever and an outstanding mentor, were chosen for Providence Business News’ fifth annual Business Women Awards program. May 1

Strategy is strange. It’s one of the most talked-about concepts in business – yet one of the least understood. Corporate titans tout “strategies” of infinite variety every day; never mind that most are not strategies at all. At best, many are simply sets of goals. At worst, they are recipes for disaster or perpetuated mediocrity. Apr 28

I overheard sales dialog on the airplane this morning. “The customer has never responded to one of my emails, and never calls me back. The only time he calls me is when he needs something.” Then back to devouring this week’s edition of US Weekly magazine. Apr 28