Bad, Better, Best

Sep 24, 2013 | Strategic Planning

I talked with a former client this morning. When I asked how his business had fared the economic hardships of the past few years, he replied, "Well, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We're just not sure if it's the light of a brighter future or if it's the headlight of a freight train that's going to put us out of business." I hadn't heard that expression before but it clearly articulates what I believe so many small business owners are wondering: Are we ever going to...

How Engaged Are You?

Sep 17, 2013 | Leadership Development

I recently read an interview with Jim Loehr, the co-author of ‘The Power of Full Engagement’. Mr. Loehr’s expertise is in personal “energy management”. According to Mr. Loehr, only one in four people are ‘fully engaged’ at work, which means that only one in four people bring their best energy to work. Also, according to Mr. Loehr, the number one enemy of ‘full engagement’ is multitasking. As Mr. Loehr says, multitasking “just means that you are not fully engaged in anything and that you are...

Find Your Key to Professional Happiness

Sep 10, 2013 | Leadership Development

While working with a client recently, the conversation turned to the business partner who was absent. That partner had recently been described by one of the employees as “an unhappy person.” The partner I was meeting with asked, “What can I do to make him happy? I've tried altering his responsibilities these past few years, and nothing appeals to him.” My response was “You can't make him happy. He has to do that for himself.” In my first job out of college I learned from my boss, that I was...

Employee Support Investments – A Smart Move

Sep 3, 2013 | Leadership Development

When was the last time you gave a co-worker a compliment? When was the last time you even acknowledged a routine task they do? Now ask yourself, when did I last receive a compliment? If it's been a while, it may be time to focus some energies that way. By simply saying "Congratulations" or "Nice Job" to a co-worker, your words help them by reducing stress, increasing their sense of worth, enhancing communication, and creating a greater sense of team support. That's quite a return for a...