Great Ideas highlights the best insights and wisdom from recent business books and summarizes them for busy entrepreneurs. The great ideas presented here first appeared in PROFIT Xtra, a biweekly enewsletter for entrepreneurs and small business executives published by PROFIT magazine. Subscribe to PROFIT Xtra.

Great Idea: Fight to hang onto a key employee

Human resources Boost your hiring IQ What women workers want Four employee-coaching essentials More Great Ideas Manage across the generational divide Improving cross-cultural communication Become a better mentor Cure staff burnout — and still meet business goals How to reward employees

Managing Inspire your workers, don't pressure them Honesty really is the best policy From the mouth of Jack Welch Don't survey customers - learn from them More Great Ideas When defensive employees block change 5 smart ways to negotiate your way to agreement It should be lonely at the top Better than all the rest Negotiating with a weak hand Brainstorming sessions your staff won't dread Overcome resistance to change Connect with people who aren't like you 7 leadership killers Richard Branson's best business advice Seven negotiating techniques of master entrepreneurs

Personal development Book smarts - Happy customers The Power of nice

Sales & Marketing Saying no without offending How to negotiate in China Four smart ways to gather referrals More Great Ideas When clients get mad Stand out from the pack Contract conflicts Concessions that can actually work in your favour Why you don't follow up 5 myths of organic growth Own the podium Question your way to a sale How to trigger a sale Sales letters that help close the deal Five proven speech openers The four-legged marketing stool