Go from good to great with exceptional service

No business can afford the negative effects on its customers — and, therefore, bottom line — from a lack of positive experiences. No matter the economic environment, customers matter. Unhappy ones tend to exert far greater effects on your reputation and business success. With every interaction and transaction, a business imbues customers with a positive, […]

Deal with bad apples before they sour your team

Most likely you’ve heard the saying “Hire for skills and fire for attitude.” This means bad attitudes far outweigh the skills people bring to their positions. Failing to take corrective action with these individuals puts companies at risk. Most businesses employ skilled team members with decent and even great attitudes. They come to work, perform […]

Are you a leader or a boss? There’s a big difference

If you’re like most people, you’ve worked for a variety of business owners and managers during your life. A few probably stand out in your memory as people you enjoyed working for while others created unpleasant work environments. There’s probably little doubt in your mind about the type of person for which you preferred to […]

Take a timeout from professional stress and thrive

I discussed in a previous column the negative results of bringing personal baggage to work. I described how even long-term top performers can stumble and fall when they’re unable to manage their personal issues in the workplace. I also elaborated on the domino effect uncontrolled issues can have on workplace culture, fellow team members, customers […]

Seek harmony in life and work and find happiness

As we enter 2024, let’s consider the importance of life and work harmony. I wrote life before work because without life there is no business. I wrote harmony because this is actually what’s meant by balance in this case. Life and work constitute a balancing act in which the objective is harmony between the two. […]

Leave personal baggage at home and excel at work

We travel between two connected worlds — personal and professional. When there’s balance, contentment, purpose and success in life outside of business, the versions of themselves people bring to the workplace are different than if that’s not their realities. Some people believe there’s a distinctive barrier between personal and professional lives that keeps the two […]

Dickens of a tale inspires this newspaper curmudgeon

It’s a tradition to invoke Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in imbuing the season with what should be the real meaning of the holidays. Who doesn’t enjoy Dickens’ timeless tale about the transformation of the miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge into a kinder, gentler and — in the end — happier man? Wow. Talk about […]

Turn team members and customers into raving fans

My wife and I recently rediscovered a long-time Grand Junction favorite for dinner in a breezeway off Main Street. The experiences we’ve enjoyed each time we’ve since frequented this establishment have been consistent, wonderful and fulfilling. The food, drinks, desserts, atmosphere and customer service are all fantastic. And if anything requires adjustment, it’s always done […]

Address personality conflicts and improve culture

Personality conflicts hurt businesses by contributing to declines in collaboration, communication, morale and teamwork. Culture, efficiency, productivity, retention and team member satisfaction all suffer — along with business growth and profits. The degree to which team members don’t communicate effectively and collaborate presents one of the greatest obstacles to business success. The effective, efficient and […]

Change your perception of change and thrive

Change is a reality in business whether we like it or not. Business environments change. Economies change. Team dynamics change. Technology changes rapidly. In fact, life in general is about change. And if we habitually resist change, we limit the potential of all that’s available to us.  One reason so many people resist change is […]

1 2 3 29