There are two ways to view marketplace competition. You can focus on others in your sector and take yourself and your company away from the success and happiness you desire. Or you can turn your attention toward your own company and your path to being the best you can be. The second choice offers a […]
Business owners typically dream of creating greater freedom, wealth and happiness — to exert greater control over their destinies. More specifically, they usually start companies to achieve professional, personal and financial independence and often use these to travel, relax, give back and enjoy their lives as much as possible. For many, however, this remains a […]
Business owners and managers frequently ask me, “How do you teach people to think?” It’s a powerful question that can lead to significant improvements in results. The answer: by learning to become a mentor and effective communicator and consistently encouraging team members to think for themselves. There’s a tendency among some business owners and managers […]
Business leaders determined to move their companies to ever higher levels of success look for ways to improve operations. To achieve this objective requires a discerning awareness about what is — and isn’t — working. Beware of a common pitfall, though: focusing on what’s wrong at the expense of what’s right. This approach might lead […]
Ineffective communication, whether in business or life, presents the biggest obstacle to any successful relationship. And it all begins with listening. Not truly listening results in anger, distrust, frustration and resentment. It leads to dysfunctional businesses, disgruntled team members and unsatisfied clients as well as failed marriages and disassociation with loved ones. Consider your professional […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]