The following resources are intended to provide professional development opportunities for the total Army. As we remain committed to an all-volunteer Army that is the most decisive land force in the world, strengthening our Army Profession based on implicit and universal trust has never been more important. The contents of this page will include rich venues for professional development that include Senior Leader speeches, Contemporary Military Forums (CMF), panels and meetings that address a wide range of professional syllabus such as leader development, enhancing Soldier capabilities, modernization, force structure and Army Families.
Based in the Midwest, Shelley Frost has been writing parenting and education articles since 2007. Her experience comes from teaching, tutoring and managing educational after school programs. Frost worked in insurance and software testing before becoming a writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a practicing endorsement.
Some employees who are fed up with their bosses or jobs are turning to social media to quit in a vocal and viral way, declaring they’re leaving their jobs on such social media platforms as TikTok or Instagram Live.
This behavior may seem amusing, even something that could make the unhappy employee go viral and become an online “star.”
HR pros say it’s wise to think twice about engaging in “loud quitting.”
Read on for more about this trend — and how it can hurt your career now and along the way.
Why ‘loud quitting’ is trending
Loud quitting may be a new name, but it is not a new phenomenon, Niki Jorgensen, managing director, client implementation at Insperity in Denver, Colorado, told FOX Business.
Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report says almost one in five employees engage in loud quitting — while disengaged quiet quitters made up 59% of the workforce.
The appeal to share resignations over social media may seem second nature today, especially in a digital world, noted Jorgensen.
“With the most exact generations being digital natives, it feels natural for many to share this significant life change on social media,” she said.
“Additionally, those who share their resignation experiences on social media may feel they are helping others who are going through the same experience.”
Know the downfalls of being a ‘loud quitter’
But job experts agree that loud quitting is not a recommended approach to resigning.
Instead, people should act professionally to maintain their reputation in the workplace.
“Employees should begin having conversations with their managers when they feel they are becoming disengaged and take a more positive approach to make change in the workplace,” said Jorgensen.
“When employees actively undermine the company, they are burning the proverbial bridge with the company and its leadership,” she said.
Also, keep in mind that your company’s leadership, managers and coworkers have wide-ranging networks.
“The business world can be small, especially in niche sectors, and news of a less-than-ideal exit spreads quickly,” she also said.
“The damage done by loud quitters can tarnish their professional reputation within the industry.”
Understand that resigning professionally is always the best choice in this scenario
Be sure to take a professional approach if you want to leave your job.
“It’s always best to take the high road as you don’t know if you’ll ever be in a situation where you need a reference, to network for future opportunities or simply a mentor to help you in your career,” said Mike Steinitz, senior executive director for Robert Half based in Washington, D.C.
“If you are loud quitting, you run the risk of burning a bridge,” he said.
When resigning, Jorgensen with Insperity said it’s wise to set up a meeting time with a manager to discuss the resignation and provide it in writing.
“It is essential to prepare for the conversation, review any employment agreements and consider the notice timeline,” Jorgensen told FOX Business.
“A two-week notice is considered standard by most employers,” she said.
“However, if there is an employment agreement, it may stipulate how much notice is expected.”
In addition, during this resignation meeting, discuss the timeline but also discuss how to transition any pending work, supply notice to clients and/or train coworkers on critical processes, she said.
“Those who remain at the company may remember the graceful exit and gladly welcome you back,” Jorgensen said.
And, make it a professional policy to be cordial on social media, said Steinitz with Robert Half.
“Social media posts are there for the world to see,” he emphasized.
“Always be mindful of posting about employers both past or present.”
get the most out of your development through regular planning, recording and reflection.
All active registered members are required to record their CPD but how you record it is up to you.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is personal – it is about your ambitions and development and will, therefore, be unique to you, depending on your role, career stage and your goals. IMechE's approach to CPD is focused on learning outcomes achieved through activities and experience, rather than the amount of time spent on an activity.
For this reason, IMechE does not currently support a traditional input-based system of recording CPD, therefore there is no need to record hours or points, nor retain an folder of attendance certificates.
What is more valuable is how reflecting on your learning and development can guide your CPD to help you meet your personal and professional goals.
Whichever method you choose to record your CPD we recommend that you do so regularly and, where appropriate, apply a structured approach to get the most out of what you are working to achieve. The cycle below is one such way of approaching your CPD.
If you find recording your professional development difficult, rest assured that you are not alone, and even members well practiced in recording CPD complain of the difficulty in assessing and reflecting on ones learning.
Making the most of your CPD
A top tip from the CPD Assessment Committee is to treat your learning and development as you would a project. Break down your goals into smaller steps in order to set realistic targets; identify milestones towards achieving these targets, and, like any other project, set yourself deadlines. With periodic reviews you can of course adjust as required, and with this approach increase the chances of successfully meeting your ambitions in a desirable timeframe.
A exact review of the feedback provided to members who submitted their CPD records in exact years has found the most common feedback given to members includes:
- Make sure to reflect on all your CPD (more on this below)
- You are probably doing more that counts as CPD than you realise; what else can you record?
- Don’t forget to consider what you have learnt from your day job when recording your CPD. On the job learning is perfectly acceptable CPD and should not be overlooked as learning models indicate this is where most development occurs
- CPD comes from various sources; it doesn’t just have to be work-related
- Try to align your CPD with your interests to make it more beneficial and rewarding
- Refresh your CPD goals annually; make sure to check progress towards medium and long term goals
- Make sure to include balance of technical and non-technical CPD
- Mentoring is very good and rewarding CPD
The CPD Assessment Committee encourages members to consider the above points when recording their CPD to ensure they are making the most out of the process.
Reflective practice
Ideally personal development should be about regularly looking back at what you have done and thinking critically, as well as then looking forward and planning positively towards ongoing and future goals. We call this reflective practice or reflective learning.
CPD should not just be about recording activities but rather engaging with what you have done and maximising your personal development. At its core, reflection can be achieved by asking yourself for an activity or goal: What can I do now that I could not do before?
The answer to this question, positive or negative, will form a strong basis for reflective learning, and usually provide prompts on where to focus future efforts on learning. Recording your reflection is itself considered a CPD activity.
Further information
Our small classes put students face-to-face with leading faculty, where they can ask questions, delve deep, iterate, postulate, and collaborate. Through intensive project-based learning and research, students gain hands-on experience that can be put to use as soon as they graduate. Our students don’t just explore challenging problems—they prototype innovative solutions. And through internship opportunities across New York City, they get real-world experience, as well as the chance to expand their professional networks.
The integrated curriculum that is a hallmark of our university means students can immerse themselves in multiple disciplines. This approach puts rigorous intellectual and creative exploration at our core, and allows students to develop tools to solve problems creatively in a changing and complex world.
The courageous intellectual spirit of The New School’s founders remains present in the academic rigor, creative exploration, and multidimensional study that define our university.
What Is a Sales Comparison Approach (SCA)?
The term sales comparison approach refers to a real estate appraisal method that compares one property to comparables or other recently sold properties in the area with similar characteristics. Real estate agents and appraisers may use the sales comparison approach when evaluating properties to sell. This method accounts for the effect that individual features have on the overall property value. In other words, the total value of a property is the sum of the values of all of its features.
Key Takeaways
- A sales comparison approach is a valuation method used in the real estate industry that compares one property to similar ones recently sold in the area.
- The SCA is used as the backbone for the comparative market analysis which considers prices of recently sold properties that are similar and within the same geographic area.
- Some of the common characteristics that make up the SCA include location, recently sold listings, features, age and condition, and average price per square foot.
Understanding the Sales Comparison Approach (SCA)
The sales comparison approach helps real estate professionals and buyers determine if the price of a home is fair and comparable to the current market. Professionals use similar properties that were recently sold within a short distance of the subject property—usually in the same neighborhood—that share similar characteristics as a comparison.
The SCA is used as the backbone for the comparative market analysis (CMA). This is an analysis of the prices of recently sold properties that are similar and within the same geographic area. In other words, the approach often entails looking at local properties to see what they have in common. From there, appraisers can determine a value for a property based on its features.
Although there are many steps that a real estate appraiser can take in evaluating a property's value, the following are some of the most common characteristics used in an SCA:
- Location and neighborhood: Geography may directly impact the value of real estate. It's important to compare homes in the same neighborhood rather than those found in another part of town. Factors considered include proximity to schools, nearby bodies of water, parks, and how close they are to highways and overpasses, as well as pollution levels.
- Recently sold listings: These properties can provide a starting point for the value of homes in the area. Although features and the market factor into the sale price, reviewing property values and exact sales are good baseline numbers.
- Features: A home should be compared with properties with the same number of bedrooms, garages, and bathrooms. The comparison should include homes of about the same square footage on parcels of land that are about the same size.
- Age and condition: It's important to compare homes of similar age as well as soundness. A home's condition significantly influences an appraisal. For example, there may be two similar homes in the same neighborhood. But if one is in need of repair, it can seriously affect its value.
- Average price per square foot: Once similar homes are compiled, take each of their sale prices and divide them by their square footage. The result yields the cost per square foot based on the homes in the sales comparison analysis. Take the average cost per square foot for all comparable homes and multiply that number by the square footage of the home being appraised.
Note that the IRS lists the market or sales approach as an acceptable method of analyzing an asset's valuation for tax purposes.
Performing Appraisals Using the Sales Comparison Approach
For a somewhat simple appraisal method, SCA actually involves a number of different steps. These steps are outlined below, and though the process may feel different for different markets or types of properties, these steps are usually taken across most types of properties.
Step 1: Identify Property
Begin by clearly identifying the subject property that you're appraising. Gather detailed information about its physical attributes, location, and any unique features. This step establishes the starting point for comparing it to other properties so, even though it may feel straightforward, it is among the most important steps.
Step 2: Select Comparables
Carefully select comparable properties that have recently sold and share similarities with the subject property. Consider the factors discussed in the previous section when selecting similar properties. The goal is to find properties that potential buyers would consider comparable to the subject property.
Step 3: Collect Data
Thoroughly collect data for both the subject property and the chosen comparables. This includes obtaining accurate property details, sale prices, transaction dates, square footage, lot size, room counts, and any significant features. The accuracy and completeness of this data are crucial for making informed comparisons and performing data analysis. Take note of variances or major differences worth adjusting for.
Step 4: Perform Adjustments
Examine the differences between the comparables and the subject property. Identify attributes where variations exist such as larger square footage or superior amenities in a comparable. It may be somewhat subjective, but determine how much these differences would influence a buyer's perception of value.
Step 5: Perform Portfolio Reconciliation
After making adjustments, you may have a range of adjusted sale prices for the comparables. Consider the relative relevance and reliability of each comparable. Weight the impact of each comparable based on factors like similarity to the subject property, recency of sale, and market conditions. Using this new lense, you should reconcile the adjusted values to arrive at a more accurate value range for the subject property.
Step 6: Determine Final Estimate
From the reconciled range of adjusted values, calculate a final estimated value for the subject property. This can be done by averaging the adjusted sale prices of the comparables within the range or applying other appropriate statistical methods. The goal is to arrive at a single estimated value that reflects the property's market value based on the comparables' data.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the SCA
Pros of the Sales Comparison Approach
The SCA approach is grounded in real market transactions, making it highly relevant and reflective of current market conditions. It considers the actual prices at which properties similar to the subject property have recently sold. Therefore, it's especially effective when there is a substantial number of comparable properties available for analysis.
The concept of comparing exact sales of similar properties to the subject property is easy to understand, making it accessible to both appraisers and clients. Therefore, the SCA method is somewhat known for being transparent. The SCA method also sheds light on the historical deviations of an asset's price. Since it relies on exact sales data, this approach can capture changes in market conditions and trends over time.
When multiple comparable sales are analyzed and adjustments are made for differences, the approach provides a range of values that can serve as a validation of the estimated value. If the adjusted values are consistent across comparables, it lends credibility to the final estimate.
Last, the sales comparison approach is a widely accepted and practiced method in the real estate industry. This widespread usage enhances its credibility and acceptance among appraisers, lenders, and other stakeholders.
Cons of the Sales Comparison Approach
The quality and quantity of comparable sales data can vary significantly based on the property type, location, and market conditions. In some cases, there might not be enough exact and relevant comparable sales to accurately estimate the value of the subject property. For properties that are one-of-a-kind or have features that are difficult to find in the market, the sales comparison approach might not be suitable.
Making adjustments for differences between the subject property and comparables can be subjective and challenging. For example, determining the value of specific features like swimming pools, architectural styles, or interior upgrades can be difficult, and differing opinions among appraisers can lead to inconsistent results.
SCA relies heavily on exact sales data, which means it might not capture rapid market fluctuations or sudden changes in supply and demand. In rapidly changing markets with volatility, using older comparable sales might not accurately reflect current property values.
Finally, selecting truly comparable properties is crucial for accurate valuation. If the chosen comparables are not truly similar to the subject property in terms of size, location, condition, and other relevant factors, the valuation results can be skewed. During analysis, it may not be evidently clear which assets are comparable and which may be red herrings that are not suitable comparisons.
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Grounded in real transactions, making it particularly relevant
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Has a wide applicability
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Is a somewhat simple concept that can be easily followed and documented
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May allow for customization (i.e. for individual property features)
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May lend itself to historical analysis by tracking changes over time
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May not have abundant data depending on the asset type or market
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May not be suitable for unique properties
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May be difficult to adjust based on available data
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Will not always reflect shortest-term market fluctuations
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Relies somewhat on subjective interpretation
Since the sales comparison approach isn't an official appraisal, owners may need to hire an appraiser for unique properties and those that are hard to value.
Special Considerations
There are many other features that may increase the value of a home. However, a sales comparison analysis is not an exact science since the value of a home is somewhat subjective, meaning one family may find more value in it than another, thereby increasing their offer. As stated earlier, outside factors such as the overall state of the economy, the job market, and the state of the real estate market all play heavily into how much a home is sold for or how long it sits on the market.
Remember, the sales comparison approach used in real estate valuation is not an official appraisal. In cases where a unique property is to be valued or one whose value is difficult to determine, a formal appraisal may be required. This means hiring an appraiser—an independent and unbiased professional who determines the property's fair value by using certain facts, figures, and other considerations.
What Are Comparable Sales in the Sales Comparison Approach?
Comparable sales, often referred to as "comps," are properties that have recently sold and are similar to the subject property in terms of relevant characteristics such as location, size, style, age, condition, and amenities. These sales are used as a basis for estimating the value of the subject property through a process of comparison and adjustment.
What Types of Properties Is the Sales Comparison Approach Suitable for?
The sales comparison approach is suitable for a wide range of property types, including residential, commercial, and vacant land. It is particularly effective when there is a significant number of comparable properties available and when the market conditions are relatively stable.
How Do Appraisers Select Comparable Properties for Analysis?
Appraisers select comparable properties based on their similarity to the subject property. They consider factors like location, size, style, condition, age, and exact sales dates. The goal is to find properties that are as similar as possible to the subject property to provide a reliable basis for comparison.
How Does the Sales Comparison Approach Account for Property Uniqueness?
While the sales comparison approach considers property uniqueness, it relies on finding comparable properties that share similar attributes with the subject property. However, truly unique features might not have direct comparables, making the adjustment process more challenging and potentially leading to less accurate valuations.
The Bottom Line
The sales comparison approach is a real estate valuation method that estimates a property's value by comparing it to recently sold properties with similar characteristics in the same market area. By analyzing these comparable sales and making adjustments for differences in features, size, condition, and location, appraisers derive an estimated value for the subject property based on actual market transactions.
Many experts recommend that people withdraw 4% from their retirement portfolio each year in order to make their retirement savings last. This much touted advice, however, may not hold true for today's retirees. While personal finance experts have relied on the 4% rule for years, a exact Morningstar report predicted that future retirees might have a higher chance of making their retirement savings last if they use a lower withdrawal rate.
Financial planner William Bengen first developed the 4% rule in 1994 by using historical returns of the stock market and a 30-year retirement horizon. The 4% rule dictates that people should withdraw 4% of their retirement portfolios in the first year, only adjusting for inflation each subsequent year. By using a portfolio of 50% stocks and 50% bonds, Bengen found that people with a 4% withdrawal rate had a 90% chance of success (which meant not running out of money during retirement).
Yet today's retiree's are facing an entirely different financial market.
While current retirees have experienced higher than expected stock market and bond returns over the past 30 years, researchers at Morningstar predict that future retirees might find themselves facing lower returns on bonds and stocks after the market's exact stellar performance.
This could mean a future decline in the value of people's retirement portfolios. The report recommends that retirees consider a lower withdrawal rate of 3.3% to ensure they don't run out of money in retirement.
Though researchers suggest a lower withdrawal rate with adjustments for inflation, retirees might also consider trying a more dynamic withdrawal approach. The guardrail approach is one such method. Below, Select explains what the guardrails approach is and how it works.
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What is the guardrails approach to retirement?
The guardrails approach, which was developed by financial planner Jonathan Guyton and professor William Klinger, requires that retirees change their withdrawal rate based on the performance of the market. This approach is designed to account for changes in the value of your portfolio. Your withdrawal rate will fall when the market is doing poorly or increase when it is doing well.
With the guardrails approach, people set a high guardrail and a low guardrail based on their target withdrawal rate. Therefore, when your withdrawal rate is above or below guardrails, you reduce or increase your withdrawal amount so you end up within the target withdrawal range.
"And if you think about driving your car down a road, you hit a guardrail, it does two things. It puts a ding in your car, and it changes your momentum so that instead of the momentum pushing you toward the edge of the road, it now starts to shift you back toward the middle where it's safe," said Guyton in a Morningstar interview.
Your guardrails are set at 20% above and below your withdrawal rate. For a target withdrawal rate of 5%, the lower guardrail is 4% and the upper guardrail is 6%. The target withdrawal range would be between 4 and 6%.
If your withdrawal rate falls outside your guardrails (after adjusting for inflation) you would take a 10% increase or reduction in your withdrawal amount. After taking the 10% adjustment, your withdrawal rate should be between the upper and lower guardrails. For example, if your retirement withdrawal rate is above 6% next year, you take the inflation-adjusted withdrawal amount and reduce it by 10% so your withdrawal rate is below 6%.
Consider what would happen in a market downturn:
- Year 1: If your portfolio is worth $1 million and your withdrawal rate is 5%, you withdraw $50,000.
- Year 2: The value of your portfolio decreases to $800,000 and your normal withdrawal of $50,000, with an adjustment for inflation, would be more than 6% of your portfolio. This means you've hit a guardrail. You would then take the inflation-adjusted withdrawal amount (assuming 4% inflation) of $52,000 and reduce it by 10% so you would withdraw $46,800 which would be less than 6% of your portfolio.
It's important to note that the guardrails approach does not require that retirees cut their spending by 10% in a market downturn. Retirees often have different sources of income, such as a 401(k) or a traditional IRA. With a pre-tax retirement account like a traditional IRA and a 401(k), you do not pay taxes on your upfront contributions, but you pay taxes on the money when you withdraw it in retirement.
If you had to decrease your withdrawal amount by 10%, part of that reduction could come from the reduced amount of income tax you owe on your retirement withdrawals.
When coming up with your retirement strategy it could be prudent to consult a financial planner to help find the optimal withdrawal rate and come up with what your guardrails would be.
Saving for retirement
You'll need to start building a retirement nest egg when you're young in order to have savings to draw upon in retirement. First off, you should focus on maximizing your 401(k) match. Some employers offer employees matching 401(k) contributions, typically between 2 and 4% of each paycheck. Your 401(k) contributions are made pre-tax and are automatically deducted from your paycheck.
After you've earned your 401(k) match, you might also consider opening an individual retirement account (IRA). With an individual retirement account, you'll have more choice in how you invest your money. An individual retirement account will typically supply you the option of investing in individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds and CDs.
The two most popular retirement accounts are the Roth IRA and the traditional IRA. The major difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA is how the accounts are taxed.
Contributions to a Roth IRA are taxed upfront, so the contributions can grow and be withdrawn tax-free. Contributions to a traditional IRA are not taxed until withdrawal. Roth IRAs have an income limit. In 2022 individuals making more than $144,000 and married couples filing jointly making more than $214,000 are not eligible to contribute to a Roth.
There are no income limits for traditional IRAs. Contributions to a traditional IRA are tax deductible (which means your contribution reduces your taxable income, and therefore the amount you owe in taxes) depending on your income and whether you have a retirement plan through work.
When Select analyzed over 20 different Roth IRA accounts, it found that Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, Ally Invest, Betterment and Wealthfront offered some of the best Roth IRAs. Select looked at which accounts had no (or a low) minimum deposit, commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs and the variety of investment options offered to find the best Roth IRAs.
Bottom line
While the 4% rule has been the preferred withdrawal retirement strategy for many years, it might be time to consider an approach that addresses the impact that market volatility can have on people's retirement strategies. The guardrails approach is meant to do that.
By setting your guardrails 20% above and below your target withdrawal rate, you can increase or reduce your retirement withdrawal any time you find yourself spending outside of the range set by your guardrails. Though this withdrawal strategy requires more thought and effort than the 4% rule, it could make your retirement savings last longer.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
Albert Galarza is the Global Vice President of Human Resources at TELUS International.
Generative AI (GenAI) is dominating headlines, and for good reason. For many, it may have felt like the technology came out of nowhere and rocketed into every domain, from art to education to business.
Its potential to cause paradigm shifts in the nature of work is of great interest, but there’s also some cause for concern. Employers are apprehensive about whether employees should leverage GenAI in their work, with some big companies going so far as to ban its use outright for fears of data leaks, plagiarism and infringements on trademarks and intellectual property. The fact that GenAI remains prone to misinformation also raises questions about its accuracy and effectiveness.
As an emerging technology, GenAI can offer significant benefits for brands that integrate it into their business operations. But effective adoption requires organizations to take a responsible approach and the necessary steps to safeguard against harm and build trust within their workforce.
5 Tips For A Thoughtful, Responsible Approach To Generative AI
As your organization begins integrating GenAI into its systems, it’s crucial to get it right from the start. There are a number of critical factors to consider so you can ensure accuracy and fairness. Here are five areas you should focus on.
1. Use diverse and representative data sets.
The foundation of any GenAI system lies in the training data. Algorithms create new outputs based on the data they've been trained on, magnifying the impact of data quality on overall performance. So to help mitigate bias in the outputs, you should ensure the data sets used are diverse and representative. By incorporating data from a wide range of sources and demographics, you can reduce the risk of a GenAI system perpetuating biases or creating skewed outputs. However, it’s not a one-time deal. Regularly evaluating and updating data sets is a must to maintain accuracy and fairness over time.
The need for good and fair data has become more important than ever. In fact, research by my firm, TELUS International, uncovered that 77% of American consumers believe GenAI algorithm audits around bias and prejudice should be mandatory before brands integrate this technology into their platforms.
2. Establish policies and guardrails.
Guardrails act as constraints that help set acceptable boundaries to keep GenAI systems in check. From topical and safety guardrails to security guardrails, crucial policy helps control and influence the outputs of GenAI. For example, you may want to clearly define the appropriate use cases for this technology, like when employees are conducting research or communicating externally with customers, to ensure compliance with privacy laws, client agreements and corporate standards. By implementing appropriate policy guardrails, you can better define the controls that may protect your organization against the most critical risks of GenAI tools, including data leaks and toxic or harmful content.
3. Engage in continuous monitoring and evaluation.
Establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring and evaluation of your GenAI systems. Model validation and fine-tuning are crucial because a key function of GenAI tools is enhancing employees' decision-making. By leveraging advanced algorithms, your organization can collect valuable insights and analyses that aid in making strategic, data-driven choices. For instance, HR professionals can use AI-powered systems to optimize talent acquisition processes and identify top candidates efficiently.
Regular audits and reviews should assess the system's performance, identify potential issues and address biases or misinformation. Then, you can make any necessary adjustments to data or processes to Excellerate accuracy and ensure the system effectively adapts and makes accurate predictions. Employing techniques such as data anonymization and data augmentation can help identify potential biases or misinformation and reduce their impact on the GenAI system's outputs.
4. Incorporate a human-in-the-loop approach.
Human feedback is necessary for GenAI systems to operate responsibly and ethically. People play a crucial role in reviewing and validating the outputs of AI-based systems, as they can flag any biased or inaccurate content, check for appropriate context, identify potential pitfalls and make informed decisions in cases where the system's outputs require additional scrutiny. So ensure you're incorporating insights from the people who are working directly with the systems on a daily basis.
GenAI-powered tools can capture and categorize organizational information, facilitate cross-functional collaboration and enable knowledge sharing among teams. This makes data produced by more experienced employees and top performers incredibly valuable as part of the data set that continuously trains systems. This can also be particularly helpful in reducing nesting time for newer employees or those requiring additional support.
5. Ensure transparent communications and disclosure.
Finally, you should prioritize transparency and disclosure regarding your organization's use of GenAI systems. Transparency has always been a foundational block of successful relationships—both professional and personal—so clear communication with stakeholders, employees and end-users about the presence and purpose of AI-generated content is essential. Sharing information about the model's limitations and potential biases, as well as your ongoing efforts to mitigate them, also helps build trust and accountability.
Looking Ahead
Generative AI technology has the potential to vastly change and enable the way we work. So the way you approach integration is vital. By taking the necessary steps to ensure GenAI-enabled platforms are accurate, safe and sustainable, you'll be well positioned to reap the rewards.
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KASSON, Minn. -- While you may think of it as a party game, cornhole is a growing professional sport, and in the Rochester area, you'll find Minnesota's first cornhole pro.
Lexi Hugeback, 22, admits that, when she first started playing the game, she knew it as "beanbags."
"And they're like, no, we're playing cornhole," Hugeback said. "And I'm like, 'Alright, I'm never saying 'beanbags' again. I felt so dumb."
No matter what you call it, Hugeback is a pioneer in Minnesota, last fall becoming the state's first-ever cornhole professional. She says people approach her out of the blue, having seen her on TikTok.
"It's, like, surreal," Hugeback said.
As you might imagine, her cornhole career started at barbecues and parties. On a whim, she decided to enter local tournaments and her career took off.
"I made enough money in the summer to buy myself a dog," she said.
She competed in the world championships this month in South Carolina. She's coming back from a back injury suffered while playing basketball. Though she was out, her hoops career at Rochester Community and Technical College wrapped up with a JuCo D3 national championship.
Now, she's planning for a long career as a bags pro. As a bonus, she's cornered the market on Cornhole TikTok, with videos reaching over 1 million views.
"I've met so many cool people, I have huge opportunities. I always wanted to market myself, and now I have an easier way to market myself," she said.
Hugeback competes against men and women in the American Cornhole League, with people of all ages from any background playing against one another.
