Here's how your HR practices can help you become an important strategic partner and build the best environment possible for all the members of your workforce.

Focus on these five simple negotiation skills first and get much better.

Think of all the times in your business week you negotiate: with new hires and existing employees; with sales prospects and long-term clients; with vendors and suppliers. If you're a business owner or leader, you need to know how to negotiate. This is non-negotiable.

Your business is booming. Sales are up and profits have never been higher. Those greener pastures you have been tirelessly working towards are finally starting to come into view. The rapid growth stage is one of the most exciting times for any company.

When you speak, do you ever find yourself pausing to select the best word possible before moving forward?

That habit of choosing your words carefully may be beneficial for writing, but when it comes to speaking, obsessing over word choice can be detrimental to your impact.