Anyone who goes online these days, which is just about everyone, should know some basic techniques for dealing with cyber threats in emails, text messages and web pages.  This article offers some non-technical tips for individuals to handle some of the most common cyber attacks that might land in their email inbox, pop up on web pages or appear in their texts.

In the very early days of the internet, your activity was relatively risk-free and most of us clicked through email and around the web with as much threat of danger as watching TV.  But these days your online activities require the attention and defensive posture that are more associated with driving a car.  

Everyone has an opportunity to influence others in the workplace. Employees who are not in a leadership position, often believe they don't have a say, and this can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Ineffective leaders ironically don't have as much influence as they think. If you don't believe me, consider the worst boss you ever worked for - how much influence did this person have over you day to day?

Any parking management company would agree that the highest overhead line item in a given budget is labor and outside payroll, one of the main drivers to this overall expense is hiring. Ironically, the hiring process is often overlooked in financial reviews and yet, it's likely one of the most controllable expenses.

I can sum up in one phrase what leadership entailed when I first came to the parking industry: "Tell 'em what to do and if they don't like it, tell 'em they can leave." It's kinda comical some twenty years later to think this was the essence of leadership and at the same time amazing how far the industry has come in supporting our parking leaders to better their ability to drive results through their teams' performance.

Parking companies differentiate themselves from each other in a variety of ways, but one of the most effective is developing and maintaining strong client relationships.  When a company does this well enough to improve contract retention rates by 5%, a study published by Business Week demonstrated that this translated to a boost in profits of 125%.  Those managers who are successful at establishing themselves as trusted advisors play a key role in fostering positive relationships and retaining clients. 

Customer service can be equally challenging and rewarding in the parking industry.  I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys paying for parking let alone receiving a citation for violating parking rules, so when we are able to deliverable memorable service, it's quite an accomplishment.  A person's attitude plays a big role in customer service skills, and being able to maintain a positive attitude is key.