Think of a process that’s been taking too long to complete, costing too much to execute, or, even worse, constantly failing to deliver higher-quality work. Maybe that’s sales outreach in a retail company, proposal writing in a marketing agency, customer onboarding in a tech startup, procurement in a manufacturing firm, invoicing in a service industry, employee onboarding in a corporate setting, or accounts payable in a financial institution.

Ever feel like tracking deadlines, task assignments, and progress updates is a never-ending struggle? You're not alone. Project managers everywhere face these common hurdles, often leading to stress, delays, and inefficiencies. Most project management teams juggle multiple projects, each with its own set of deadlines and priorities. The sheer volume of tasks and the need for constant updates makes it difficult to keep everything on track.

In my recent discussions with business leaders across various industries, a common thread has emerged: budget cuts and reorganization. While the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in hiring and spending, today’s inflation, interest rate increases, and general economic uncertainty are forcing businesses to cut back. One of the most prevalent cuts I’m seeing is around tech stacks. While this might feel nerve-wracking, I see it as a positive.

‍ In a corporate environment, tools that facilitate instant chat for companies benefit all stakeholders. For example, seamless internal communication helps employees foster cross-department collaboration, which ultimately promotes a positive work culture. According to Gallup research, businesses that prioritize and cultivate effective communication strategies are 3.5x more likely to outperform their competitors.

We’re excited to bring you Element Server Suite (ESS) 24.07, this month’s release of our hosting software includes deployment health indicators, the experimental launch of our next generation authentication system (OIDC), and several other improvements to make your organisation’s Element experience smoother and more efficient. So stay ahead of the curve with ESS, where timely security fixes are our top priority.

We’re bringing you a few small but useful usability improvements in the project view this month, from task sorting to updated calculation logic in the budget charts. Consider it a little summer maintenance as we prepare for some bigger updates coming your way.

Communication is essential in a productive workplace. It facilitates teamwork, increases engagement, and boosts employee satisfaction. However, effective communication can be challenging. Things can get misunderstood even when speaking the same language. That’s because people use different communication styles. Communication style describes the way we share information. Some people are straightforward, while others rely on subtlety to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

Governance models have been used by both small organizations and large corporations for executing governance responsibilities. They do so by clarifying reporting lines, providing mechanisms for decision-making, identifying risks, and defining roles and responsibilities, and limits of authority. With the right model, a company and its board can effectively boost their capabilities to implement governance and conduct a more active oversight.

Best practices for getting AI buy-in on your team, according to the experts.