What Does “Human Resources” Mean? Human Resources (HR) refers to the division of a business or organization responsible for managing its people, its employees. HR oversees recruitment, training, development, benefits, workplace culture, conflict resolution, and compliance with labor laws. In simple terms: if a business is the body, HR is the system that keeps its people aligned, supported, and productive.

What Does “Process of Elimination” Mean? The process of elimination is a method used to reach the correct answer or best decision by systematically removing options that are clearly incorrect or less suitable. It’s a strategy rooted in logic: by eliminating what doesn’t work, you reveal what does. In business and life, this method helps clarify complex choices when certainty feels out of reach.

Word Origin: Where Does “Professional Development” Come From? The word professional stems from the Latin professio (“public declaration”), originally describing a person who publicly declared their occupation. Over time, it became synonymous with careers requiring advanced education or expertise. Development comes from the Old French desveloper (“unroll, unfold”), meaning growth or progress. Put together, professional development literally means “unfolding growth with

What Does “Burnout” Mean? Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, overwork, or imbalance between effort and recovery. In business, it often shows up as reduced productivity, cynicism, and withdrawal from work responsibilities. In daily life, burnout can manifest as fatigue, irritability, or a sense of hopelessness, even in activities once enjoyed.

What Does “Efficiency” Mean? Efficiency refers to the ability to accomplish a task or achieve a goal with the least waste of time, effort, or resources. It’s not just about speed, it’s about the balance of input versus output. In business: Efficiency means systems, processes, or people can produce desired outcomes with less waste. In everyday life: An efficient person gets things done faster and cleaner, freeing up energy for what matters most.

Definition: Time management — the practice of planning, organizing, and intentionally controlling how you spend your hours, minutes, and even seconds to increase efficiency, productivity, and goal achievement. Etymology: The word time comes from the Old English tīma, meaning “a limited space of existence, season, or lifetime,” rooted in the Proto-Germanic tīmô.