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Getting Your Team Back On Track After The Holidays

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It’s not easy to come back to work motivated after a fun season of holiday cheer, short weeks, and festive distractions. Suddenly workdays seem longer and Friday is so far away. Your team is probably in a slump now that the holiday parties and Secret Santas are gone until next year, so you’ll want to do your part to fight away those post-holiday blues. Consider these 5 tips to get your staff motivated in the new year:

  • Offer healthy snacks in the break room. Encourage healthy New Year’s Resolutions by treating your team to delicious and nutritious goodies. By now, everyone is ready for a break from the endless homemade baked goods and sweets, and any special reward to interrupt the 9-to-5 workday will raise morale in the office.
  • Encourage walk breaks. Studies show that walks during the workday can boost mood and help combat stress. Show your staff that you care about their mental and physical health by prioritizing breaks for getting fresh air and a little healthy activity.
  • Set goals for the new year. Start the new year strong by making sure the whole team is on the same page with goals and expectations. Morale is improved when staff are part of a joint effort and working toward the same purposes. As a plus, include incentives to get everyone on board.
  • Make time for short pow-wows. Bring the whole team together for energizing meetings to update staff on any upcoming changes in the new year or exciting plans ahead in the company. Use these meetings to inspire and empower staff to bring their very best.
  • Schedule an office retreat. If it’s feasible, plan a weekend retreat for team building and relaxation. If only a couple hours can be spared, cater a lunch or plan an in-office activity to show your staff they are appreciated.

AMA Executive Conference Centers are located in four beautiful areas of the United States: Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., perfect for that office retreat or team meeting. To learn more about our state of the art, convenient meeting spaces, contact us today.

Making The Task of Decision-Making Easier

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As soon as we’re old enough to understand what options are, we’re faced with the tasks of making decisions. Whether the decision is what flavor ice cream to pick or what major to choose in college, at any age decisions can seem like the most daunting exercise. Here are three education areas that can help you to make the task of decision-making easier:

#1: Make Hard Choices

Making decisions can be very difficult because we always want to make the “better” decision. Ruth Chang, a philosopher, shares in her TED Talk why there is no “better” option when making a decision. She goes on to explain why both choices are on a level playing fields and how this can help you choose what you truly want inside.

#2: Three Lessons on Decision-Making

Have you ever daydreamed about being the best poker player in the world? Turns out, decisions made by the best involve a lot more work than people-reading and bluffing. World Champion poker player Liv Boeree explains that there are 3 things she’s learned about decision-making. She states that the lessons include luck, quantification, and intuition – and these three factors can be used to make decisions in our daily life. Luck and intuition can play a major role in what outcome each decision brings, and quantification is crucial to estimating the odds of something good or bad happening.

#3: Think Like a Computer

Computers always know what to do and they have no understanding of how hard it can be to make a decision. That’s because computers were made to generate the best decision based on numbers and formulas. Humans don’t do that. Tom Griffiths, a psychologist and cognitive scientist, share in his TED Talk that the ways to make better decisions are by thinking like a computer.

 

Insightful TED Talks on Decision Making

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We make decisions every day. From the clothes we put on in the morning to the side of the bed we crawl into at night, our days are fraught with decisions. Sometimes, making a choice can be simple, for example, choosing which shoes to wear, or whether to stop for gas on the way to work. Other decisions can be much more complex and daunting. The three TED Talks below offer some unique and refreshing ideas to help put your decision-making process into perspective!

Why We Ignore Obvious Problems – And How To Act On Them

Michele Wucker, an author and policy analyst is an expert on economic policy and crisis anticipation. In her TED Talk, she offers an eye-opening analysis that explores decision making and avoidance through the lens of the 2008 economic crisis. With her explanation of “Black Swan” versus “Gray Rhino” approaches to complex problems, Wucker offers incisive analysis of our very human fear of seemingly overwhelming problems, and suggests solutions through vulnerability, safety nets, and information sharing.

Three Ways To Make Better Decisions – By Thinking Like A Computer

Tom Griffiths is a computational cognitive scientist, so it is no surprise that he suggests we approach decision making by using the same process as a computer. In his TED Talk, Griffiths provides a breakdown of the “computer science of human decisions” for anything from choosing a restaurant for dinner to buying a house. The process, he says, still boils down to numbers. Using the computer science approach, Griffiths doesn’t guarantee that all decisions will be correct, but it does encourage us to take the chance of making the decision regardless, and to forgive ourselves for the inevitable wrong decision.

How Can Groups Make Good Decisions

In their TED Talk, Mariano Sigman and Dan Ariely, experts in psychology, cognitive science, and behavior, explore the process of consensus and decision-making in large groups of people. Through a series of experiments, Sigman and Ariely discovered that group decisions concerning information and even moral decisions were more accurate and reflected a greater consensus when large groups of people were broken down into smaller discussion groups. They conclude that good group decisions require two things: deliberation and differing opinions.

Productive decision making is desirable in all professions. These TED talks will encourage the event professional or meeting specialist to seek greater heights and bigger accomplishments. They will inspire you to learn, reflect and grow in your profession.

AMA Executive Conference Centers are focused on creating environments that will help your meeting and conference goals to be achieved. To learn more about our Centers in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC and San Francisco, click here to contact us.

5 Art Galleries In DC To Add To Your Bucket List

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If you’re looking for interesting locations in Washington DC that will inspire and educate, then art galleries are an option well worth considering. In the DC area, just minutes from our AMA Executive Conference Center, there are a number of excellent options to choose from. DC is an area rich with galleries, museums, historical landmarks, and many other fine cultural establishments. With so much to see, you definitely wouldn’t want to miss any of the very best. Here are 5 art galleries in the DC area that fall into our ‘amazing destinations’ and experiences you don’t want to miss.

RENWICK GALLERY
Located just steps from the White House, this gallery is superb for its excellent service and interactivity. Here, you’ll find pieces from around the world in relation to a variety of changing themes. At the Renwick Gallery, visitors explore unique craft objects by contemporary artists to learn about process, material and technique. Learn more here.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
One of the shining stars of DC museums, this gallery with free entry has an extensive collection inside a vast expanse of gorgeous rooms to explore. One of the most popular and Instagrammed exhibits is the sparkling hallway that connects the east and west buildings.  The Gallery’s great reputation is undeniable – it’s a jewel on the mall and a true national treasure. Learn more here.

HIRSHHORN: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is undoubtedly among the top contemporary art spaces in the United States. Founded in the 1960s, the museum exhibits artworks by some of the modern and contemporary art world’s greatest masters, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon, and Edward Hopper. If modern art is your inspiration you’ll want to put his visit top on your list. Learn more here.

SMITHSONIAN’S FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES
The Smithsonian’s premier art gallery, these exhibits boast some amazing art pieces from nearly every place and time period on the planet. Billed as the museum where ‘Asia Meets America,’ the sheer size and diversity of work on display here means that you’re bound to discover more than a few worthwhile pieces. Learn more here.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
For American historical value, this gallery delivers. Here you can find works of art for an assortment of important historical figures from the civil war, the suffrage and civil rights movements, and all the presidents too. Most recently, the installation of former President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama’s portraits by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. Learn more here.

At AMA, we specialize in hosting and organizing executive meetings and conferences. We are experts at planning professional gatherings and have convenient facilities in four locations: Atlanta, New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco.  Visit us here to learn more, and see how we can help make your next meeting a success.

Surviving The Busy Holiday Season By Being Organized

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As the holidays approach, so too do those end-of-the-year meetings and holiday events. But as much as it’s a celebratory period, it’s also a season where your time as a planner is limited.

We ask, what better time to get organized than in the Fall?! October offers a great time to focus on getting yourself organized before the hectic holiday season hits. The kids are back in school and Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Take some time now to get yourself organized before those invites start coming in for parties or before you find yourself the one in need of extra rentals for your event. Position yourself to leap into action from a much more prepared place, all because of a little organization.

Here are our top three helpful tips for getting better organized and ready for the busy holiday season:

Start With A List

In order to find a starting place, take some time and write out a list of the top five spots in your home and office that are most important to you to be organized. (Don’t forget that your car can be one of these!) From there, write out five actions you’ll take to make each spot more organized and efficient. This will not only provide you with a starting place but will also help you navigate your goals – making the mountain before you seem much more manageable.

Label, Label, Label

Some say there’s no better step to getting organized than having a labeling system. If you don’t know what something is, then what good is organizing it, right? There are many methods for doing this. Whichever method you choose make sure that your labels are easy to read and right to the point. For example, if you have a box of ornaments, don’t just slap the label “Christmas” on it. Take the extra time to label it “Christmas Tree Ornaments” so that you know not to open that box when you’re looking for the holiday lights.

Purge ‘Stuff’ For Peace Of Mind

Most people can stand to throw away a lot more of their ‘stuff’ than they typically do. Often, our houses and offices become downright smothered by stuff. The adage about a cluttered space causing a cluttered mind just might have some validity to it. When your home and work areas are in a recognizable order, your life becomes easier to navigate. This peace of mind allows you to focus on the important people and moments in your life. Simply set aside a day just to purge items. Buy a box of garbage bags and go room to room collecting all the things you do not need. You just might be surprised at how much you collect for donation and the dumpster – not to mention how freeing it is to purge and make space in your home, office, life and mind.

At the end of the day, becoming organized is sure to make you feel better. Take some time this week, as you may not have it later, and set yourself up for success and lots of celebrating this holiday event season.

At AMA Executive Conference Centers, we are passionate about helping event and meeting planners maximize their time and improve their work-life harmony. For more information about our executive meeting services and conference centers in Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC, contact us here.

Meet Barbara Davis From Our AMA Atlanta Executive Conference Center

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We’re excited to shine the spotlight on a team member from the AMA Executive Conference Center in Atlanta. BARBARA DAVIS is the Assistant Manager for our AMA Center that anchors conference and meeting activities in the South. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Barbara and learn more about all that she does. Enjoy getting to know more about this “Papple!” (You’ll have to read the interview to find out what that means…!)

AMA:  Thanks for taking some time to chat with us today! Tell us a little bit about your beginnings.

BARBARA:  I was born in the Bedford Stuyvesant Community in the Borough of Brooklyn, New York. Today, I call home the Southwest community of Atlanta, Georgia.

AMA:  As the Assistant Manager for the AMA Executive Conference Center in Atlanta, what is your day-to-day like?

BARBARA:  My primary focus has been supporting the client experience. I function in many capacities and do whatever it takes to get the job done well. June will be eighteen years in this role and I still enjoy and love the work I do. There are few routine days, and I enjoy the difference each day makes. I have an opportunity to meet and talk with people from all over the world. For a curious person like me, I find what I do and the people I get a chance to meet, talk with and ultimately support to be very interesting. The great news is that I have the support of a team who also embraces extending “enlightened hospitality.” We all believe in an excellent customer experience at the AMA Atlanta Executive Conference Center.

AMA:  Eighteen years, congratulations! Before AMA, did you have a different type of career?

BARBARA:  I’ve had many career paths; however, I believe they all led me to where I am today. I have worked in radio, entertainment, advertising, travel, human resources, and food/hospitality. My last career adventure prior to joining the American Management Association, was sole proprietor of a boutique catering company that I started in 1993. My clients were primarily corporate accounts. One year, I was honored to be selected as the Executive Chef for The Alliance Theatre, one of Atlanta’s premiere theatre companies.

AMA:  Sounds like you’ve always had a calling for hospitality. When did you know that working in the meetings and conference industry was what you wanted to do?

BARBARA:  After deciding to relinquish my catering company, I believed my talents could be used best in an environment where my communications, logistics and event management skills would be embraced. I was not sure what industry outside of hospitality would be the fit for me, but when I learned about the American Management Association my curiosity radar was sparked. I believe learning and expanding one’s mind continues the growth of all living beings. AMA provides this through our continuing education seminars to business professionals. I believe that I launched into the best of two worlds that I love…education and events management.

AMA:  What do you like best about what you do at AMA?

BARBARA: I look at what I do as “pre, during and post” planning activities; similar to the catering business I operated for several years. The “pre” is securing and staging the business. The “during” is executing the business. And the “post” is finalizing the exchange of the business. I enjoy the “pre and during” most, as this in my opinion is what determines if a customer has an AMAzing experience and will return with more business.

AMA:  What’s new and exciting in the near future for you?

BARBARA: I believe children are the gift that keeps on giving. I am a better human being, worker among workers, woman and mother because of my son. My son, the love of my life, turned one when I started at the American Management Association 18 years ago. He leaves Atlanta in two weeks to start his career path in the visual arts in New York City. I find it pretty awesome that my son Prince will be starting his journey where I started mine several decades ago. A small little acorn tree that grew in Brooklyn and blossomed in Atlanta. I like to say that I am a ‘Papple’…a peach and an apple!

AMA:  What do you like best about being an Atlanta resident?

BARBARA:  One of Atlanta’s themes is the “City in the Forest.” I absolutely love natural environments and especially trees. The Atlanta area has maintained the beauty of the forest as it continues to design a first-class cityscape.  And for me this is the best of both worlds… a little bit of city and little bit of country!

From Buzzword to Priority Goal: We’re Tackling Productivity

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While productivity is currently a popular buzzword, it’s also a goal many of us strive towards. Unfortunately, we don’t often know exactly how to achieve it. It’s a challenging concept to grasp because productivity is different for every role in every industry. It’s also hard to measure: some people work at a frantic pace but aren’t actually very productive, while others appear slow on the surface but make the most of their time.

If you’re as fascinated with this topic as we are then you’ll enjoy a few of our favorite TED Talks that will get you thinking about productivity and how to improve your own!

Too Many Rules Hamper Productivity

In this engaging talk, researcher Yves Morieux discusses how having too many rules and structures in the workplace can hold people back from being productive, and how important collaboration is to productivity.

Get More Sleep

Media mogul Arianna Huffington shares an obvious-sounding but often-ignored secret to productivity: get more sleep. This simple step toward better health and mental alertness can increase your productivity, yet people often brag about how little sleep they get.

Happiness

In this entertaining lecture, psychologist Shawn Anchor emphasizes the importance of happiness on productivity. Rather than working hard and waiting for that to make you happy, he suggests finding happiness first to make it easier to work hard.

Respect Your Coworkers

Productivity doesn’t just come from within yourself. In most roles, you depend on coworkers and partners to make things happen. Leadership researcher Christine Porath discusses the importance of treating coworkers with respect so that both you and your company can succeed.

As a meeting or events professional, productivity is extremely important, but you can sometimes feel bogged down by the complex challenges of your work. Keep these inspiration talks in mind as you search for ways to unlock your own productivity, and you may just find yourself feeling smarter, happier, and more successful in your role!

Tricks & Treats: 5 Tips for Taking Your Meeting From Spooky To Spectacular

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Just because meetings are a part of today’s business world doesn’t mean they have to be spooky. With a little pre-planning, you can take your next meeting from spooky to spectacular by following these 5 helpful tips:

Beware of the Clock

Meetings take a lot of time out of a person’s day. In fact, middle managers spend 35% of their time in meetings and upper management spend as much as 50% of their time in meetings. Conquer this meeting monster by having a clearly set agenda and by starting—and ending—on time.

Bring Participants Out of the Shadows

Statistics show that 1 in 5 people are prone to dozing in meetings. As more and more of us push ourselves while sleep-deprived, sitting through a meeting with a speaker is a recipe for a nap. Engage participants by adding humor and activities. Be sure to have water, coffee, and tea along with healthy snacks. Participants will feel energized and they stand a better chance of remembering what they learned by actively participating rather than just showing up.

Be Alert to Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble

In order for meetings to be productive, it is important to stick to the agenda items. Participants who choose to try to use the time to complain or go off-topic not only prolong the meeting but frustrate other participants. Consider designating a “parking lot” for ideas and concerns to come back to in order to keep the meeting on task.

Sweet Success

Meetings don’t have to be monstrous—they are a great time to collect important team members and to discuss and plan for success. Celebrating recent victories and sharing good news is a sweet way to start—or end—a meeting.

Frightfully Good Follow-Up

You’ve invested time and effort to conduct a meeting with positive results. Following-up with participants regarding key action items and a short meeting synopsis keeps the momentum rolling and communication flowing.

If you’re planning your next meeting for Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C., consider the professional setting of AMA Executive Conference Centers. Make your next meeting spectacular! Contact us today for details on how our Centers are uniquely tailored for meetings and conference events. 

Big Ideas: Fascinating TED Talks About New York City

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New York City is the most densely populated city in the United States, with approximately 20 million people squeezed into the 305 square miles of the New York Metro. The City is widely renowned for its diversity, its traffic congestion, and its fascinating history. The convergence of cultures and unique experience of living in close quarters with so many neighbors gives New York a unique feel that can’t be duplicated. We’re proud to have an AMA Executive Conference Center located in the heart of Times Square in New York City. Enjoy learning some fascinating insights into the Big Apple through a few of our favorite TED Talks:

“New York – Before The City”

Eric Sanderson, a landscape ecologist, provides a fascinating look at New York City through a map drawn during the American Revolution. With his keen understanding of the network of habitat relationships between species, Sanderson has digitized the map to create a block-by-block rendering of NYC as it was 400 years ago, complete with estimated Lenape tribe locations, lakes and streams, hills and gullies, and animal and plant species that flourished in the area. In his TED Talk, Sanderson elaborates on his “Mannahatta Project,” and creates a fascinating parallel between the density and interconnectedness of today’s Manhattan and the habitat as it existed prior to the arrival of European settlers.

“How We Found The Worst Place To Park In New York City – Using Big Data”

In this TED Talk, quantitative analyst and big data cruncher Ben Wellington uses numbers compiled from the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a fascinating overview of what it is like to live in New York City. Through his data analysis of waterway sanitation, taxi speeds, and even fire hydrant locations, Wellington draws a picture of day-to-day life in the City while making a case for the availability and use of big data for the good of the City.

“A Park Underneath The Hustle and Bustle of New York City”

Dan Barasch is the co-founder and executive director of the Lowline, a green space garden that he has conceptualized underneath the Lower East Side of New York City. A descendant of Italian immigrants, Barasch has always been fascinated with the early growth of New York City. The discovery of a former trolley terminal that operated from 1908 – 1948 under the Lower East Side was the catalyst for this project that has gleaned interest from thousands of NYC residents and scientists worldwide.

Fall Foodie Favorites In Atlanta

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It’s the coziest time of the year again! The leaves are changing colors and summer fare is shifting into hearty autumn meals. Pull on a sweater, grab a scarf, and get ready for these Top 5 Fall Foodie Favorites in Atlanta:

Porch Light Latin Kitchen
Gathering around the porch light is a time honored tradition on chilly autumn nights. Chef Andre Gomez brings the feeling of a firefly evening to hungry diners with an array of Puerto Rican inspired cuisine. A scratch kitchen, Porch Light uses freshly made local ingredients. The Cumin Spiced Saint Louis Ribs are a must try, best paired with Rum Glazed Sweet Plantains. Family friendly atmosphere, foodie worthy eats.

Kimball House
Kimball House offers an array of ‘food and drinks that reflect the seasons, farms, and personalities of the people preparing them.’ The welcoming ambiance is reminiscent of an Old English Pub. Fresh vegetables decorate the many salad options available, highlighting festive fall produce. For the 21 and over crowd, seasonal cocktails and absinthe are available. The Kimball House features a Raw Bar Happy Hour every Monday through Friday from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

O4WP Pizza
Home of the famous Grandma Pie, O4WP is the coziest, neighborhood pizzeria in Atlanta. New Jersey native, Anthony Spina, boasts a philosophy of cheesy, satisfying simplicity. Local ingredients and handcrafted, rectangular pizza pies are sure to please the entire family. For an added treat, try a round of Fried Meatballs.

Bread & Butterfly
This cute cafe boasts a Parisian inspired decor. Serving bistro style fare from breakfast to dinner, Bread & Butterfly perfects the art of culinary simplicity. Stop in for an autumn brunch, with fresh brewed espresso, avocado on toast, and a stack of pancakes.

Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Celebrate harvest time with freshly farmed ingredients from the nearby Wrecking Bar and sip on one of 15 beers on tap. The Wrecking Bar Brewpub utilizes a seven barrel brewing system in crafting a rotating selection of lagers, stouts, and porters. Did we mention the bar sits in the cellar of a Victorian mansion? A haunting treat for your palette awaits, just in time for fall!

AMA Executive Conference Centers is here for your business meetings and corporate conferences in Atlanta. Our AMA Atlanta Center is just minutes from the Midtown arts and cultural district, as well as Piedmont Park. Host planning meetings, board retreats, focus groups, or corporate events at our center, conveniently located in midtown Atlanta’s Proscenium Office Building. With rooms perfect for meetings for up to 120 people, rental of our Atlanta area Center includes equipment and staff to help your meeting go off without a hitch. To find out more about how AMA can help make your next meeting in Washington DC, Atlanta, San Francisco or New York City a success, contact us today.