Communicate! Don't leave you key stakeholders guessing. We are generally not very good about keeping others informed about the progress we're making, especially if there isn't much. You're more likely to get support and understanding if you get the word out honestly about what is and isn't happening. As you start your problem-solving project, establish a communication plan and follow it. Specify who needs what information about your effort, when they need it and how you are going to provide it. More..

Compensation and Six Sigma Black Belts

One of the more ambiguous elements of a Six Sigma project is the level and type of compensation the organization should give to its Six Sigma leaders and team members. On the one hand, setting compensation is not an integral part of any stage of a Six Sigma project; on the other hand, compensation is an important instrument to build loyalty and a sense of accomplishment that is a crucial element to the organization's Six Sigma success. While there are no hard and fast rules for compensation for More..

Why Employees Are the Best Source of Cost-cutting Ideas

Cost cutting has become a necessary and important reality in the modern corporate world. Yet many executives do not realize that their people are actually the best source of cost reduction ideas. There are several reasons for this. For starters a highly motivated workforce that understands the bottom-line and its significance to the future of a business and by extension their own future in employment can make a huge difference in any cost reduction effort. It also means that any cost-cutting i More..

The Rise of Corporate Chair Massages

Employers have rapidly begun to understand the importance of stress relief in the workplace. Stress free employees have a higher retention rate and higher rates of productivity. It is no wonder, given these facts, that many corporations have been encouraging chair massages in the workplace. Corporate chair massages involve the visit of a licensed massage therapist for on-site massage sessions. The therapist brings along a portable massage chair and usually gives 15 to 20 minute massages for all More..

Squeezing the Blood Out of that Old Turnip

I suspect all of you out there have someone that you rely on for insight and perspective - that wise old mentor that seems to have an unlimited depth of experience to draw from in helping you navigate life's little challenges. You know, those little parables and anecdotal tales that always relate perfectly that very problem you're trying to solve. Today, I go to that well of experience in responding to a problem I know many of you are facing right now- squeezing that last drop of improvement tha More..

Lawyers With 2 Hands And Everything Else

I heard this back a few years ago. The boss yelled, "Get me a good lawyer but not the one with two hands!" "Huh?" secretary was puzzled. Boss continued "...I mean don't give me a lawyer that says 'on one hand, we should do....and this. On the other hand..we do..'". It is not difficult to fathom what's good professional service (and bad service of course). Just switch roles. When we as clients, walk out of the lawyers office why should we be feeling indecisive thinking "should I do this, or t More..

OJT - On The Job Training

Introduction Managers have two powerful ways of improving the performance and productivity of their subordinates, which are counseling and on the job training. Counseling is the process of helping a subordinate define and resolve personal problems that effect performance or in order to develop a good attitude to work. On the job training is the process of explaining, demonstrating and the structured supervision of specific skills or particular tasks. It is similar to the teaching process. On More..

Behavioral Interview Questions You Can Use Monday Morning

If past behavior is the best way to determine future behavior then behavioral interviewing is a requirement for anyone serious about hiring top talent. This skill isn't something that should be taken lightly, but everyone's got to start somewhere. Keep in mind that you're looking for specific examples rather than vague descriptions. A good communicator can dance around the question and sound very convincing if you don't insist that they give specifics. Here are a few questions that I have found More..

CEOs Are Great, Top CEOs Are Greater

People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on one hand they are supposed to give great performances, make the right decisions and so forth; on the other hand, they have to fill the role of a very confident and self-assured manager. This may be considered a dilemma because CEOs are expected to be almost supernatural, and asking for assistance in what is supposed to be their core competence (leadership!) simply does not fit the picture, no matter how necessary it may be. It is interestin More..

Create Your Dashboard for Success

Driving down the road our eyes frequently scan the vital instruments on the dashboard that monitor speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The modern vehicle also has many more devices that constantly monitor various systems for fuel mixture, exhaust gasses, timing adjustment and others. If there is something amiss, sensors trigger the "check-engine" light. As long as the instruments register within their normal range the "check-engine" light stays off and we drive along confid More..

The Compliance Officers Killer Application

It used to be that only the largest multi-nationals needed a Compliance Officer. Today most practices, regardless of size, would be wise to charge someone within their organisation with the responsibility of keeping abreast and managing the compliance process. Take as an example European employment law that has been introduced over the last few years that has changed the face of European businesses. Small businesses in particular are finding that a casual and informal approach to employment iss More..

Think Time... Its Now Or Never

I recently read an article published in the June, 2005 issue of Fast Co. magazine. Linda Tischler wrote an essay entitled "Death to the Cubicle!" In it, she says 'Collaboration is great, but sometimes I'd kill for a door.' With the advent of open offices and shared arenas for team communication, the issue of privacy and focus in an employee's workspace has become more than just privacy and focus. It's now about job performance and productivity. The article goes on to quote Dr. Tom Davenport, p More..

Managing YOUR Expectations

I sit on the board of an organization and at the last meeting found myself speaking with another board member named Standolyn Robertson. Standolyn is also a business owner and our conversation was about managing expectations - both ours and our clients. She said something that is very true--'It is about using our knowledge and expertise to foresee and side-step roadblocks, revise unrealistic timelines and debunk myths.' And I couldn't agree more. But there are times when I am not there to coach More..

A Checklist for Organized Executives

I could begin this article by providing a checklist of organizing techniques for you to incorporate into your daily work routine. The goal would be to become and remain organized, improve your time management and reduce your stress while increasing your productivity. This checklist could include items such as managing incoming information, keeping the desktop free of clutter, creating a user-friendly filing system, etc. And I suspect there are many other organizing and time management consultant More..

Out of Control?

There are papers on the floor, across the desk and resting on the keyboard. Piles of files are all around. Magazines, newspapers?you name it. Just about anything can be found in this office. You've seen it in your own organization. You know what I am talking about. Several years ago an employee called me because her performance review included items relating to the disorganized state of her office. When I arrived, her office was piled high with papers. I began asking questions. Are you late wit More..

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Create Your Methodology Based on a Standard Framework - Part One

OK. So you have decided that your organization has toimprove the way in which it works. You have chosen toimplement a methodology as the best way to achieve thisgoal. And now you ask yourself, where do I start?Whatever the discipline you are trying to model (fromsoftware development to supply chain management), it ishighly probable that a standard framework exists, that canserve as the basis for your own methodology. WHAT IS A STANDARD FRAMEWORK? A standard framework is a set of best practices More..

Parenting Your Employees to Better Performance

Have you ever worked for someone who was such a micro-manager that it drove you crazy? And have you ever worked for someone who was so hands-off that you felt like a lone warrior on the battlefield? These are examples of you working for leaders who did not adapt their style based on the employee's needs. I would venture to guess that you were not entirely motivated to put out your very best effort every time when you were feeling such frustrations. What can you, as a manager, do to prevent the More..

How to Find the Right Virtual Assistant for You

If you search on Google for "virtual assistant", you'll find a ton of listings. You can search through those, check out their services and do some interviews. I'd take a shorter route. Find some other people you trust and ask them who they use and recommend. Then go from there. You'll do a lot better seeking out recommendations. If you don't know anyone personally?ask people in your networking groups whom they recommend. Before you contact anyone, make a list of the types of tasks you'd like p More..

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