Create a Better Work Environment – Redeploy Your Talent

Feb 22, 2022 | Leadership Development, Strategic Planning

I try to notice trends in what my clients are facing. Last week presented a trend I couldn’t help but notice: Three of my clients were tired, frustrated, and struggling to please customers’ shifting and very challenging demands. My clients weren’t happy. Their team members weren’t happy. Their customers weren’t happy. No matter what my clients tried to do to please their challenging customers, it wasn’t enough. My clients’ team members were burning out. Team members were starting to quit - and...

Strategic Workforce Planning – Build Depth & Develop Talent

Feb 26, 2018 | Succession Planning

The Vice President of Human Resources called. “I need to create a Strategic Workforce Plan for our company, get our leadership team on-board, teach all managers how to do this, and then implement this thing. How do I create this so it makes sense and doesn’t alienate everyone in the process?” That’s a great question, because the key issue is not “How do I do this?” The key issue is, “How do I get the leadership team on-board with me to design, implement, and use this plan to ensure we have a...

The Value of Developing Systems

Oct 22, 2013 | Leadership Development

It happened again. As I was talking with Don, a business owner, I mentioned the importance of creating systems and documentation for his business. Don responded the way many small business owners do, he tried to not roll his eyes as he attempted to change the topic. I could almost hear him thinking to himself, "Bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo." However, I took a few minutes and elaborated for Don's - and his company's - benefit. Developing Systems by identifying and then documenting the critical...

See Your Business From the Other Side

Oct 15, 2013 | Sales, Marketing & Customer Service

Do the unthinkable -- be your own customer. Take a critical look at your organization one afternoon and walk through the front door as a first-time customer would. Notice things such as the clarity of your website, the friendliness of your telephone receptionist, the lighting and cleanliness of the floor, countertops, and displays. Notice the arrangement of your information, merchandise, and the responsiveness of the staff. Do you feel comfortable and are you welcomed, or do you feel...

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...