Why risk the embarassment when with a little basic PRtraining, you as a business, non-profit or associationmanager can always be ready for battle? Never again will you fail to do something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that MOST affect your operation. Never again will you fail to create external stakeholderbehavior change leading directly to achieving yourmanagerial objectives. And never again will you fail to persuade those key outside folks to yo More..

Lone Rangers Suffer without Tonto

A lone ranger is someone who prefers working in solitude or isolation. Sometimes life circumstances can call for us to adopt this attitude. When it comes to marketing our business, however, adopting this mentality can prevent you from achieving the success that you desire. There are many reasons why people operate in isolation. Some do not know there are better or easier ways, while others prefer to work alone because of certain personality characteristics. Yet working with others in our busine More..

Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions

Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Diversity not only involves how people perceive themselves, but how they perceive others. Those perceptions affect their interactions. For a wide assortment of employees to function effectively as an organization, human resource prof More..

Paretos Law- Your Formula For Success

A 'dirt-world' retail business I used to manage had a large turnover, a very high profit, and less than 100 lines. Early in 2001, I was contracted to manage another business. This one carried over 800 different lines, yet had a turnover of only about a sixth of the other business, and a lower profit margin. They both had a comparable amount of traffic and credibility in the market, so how can it be that the results were so different? The explanation starts with Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian econo More..

1000 Managers Turned Their Plans Into Energy!

I bet you can't tell me how leadership training and strategic planning work together to boost business results and energize performance improvements. A recent survey of 1000 managers conducted by the UK-based Chartered Management Institute, revealed that organizations experienced, "improved business performance when [their leadership] development [programs were] linked to [their] business [strategic planning process]." Why aren't the energies generated by corporate leaders being used in develo More..

How to Beat the Turf Mentality

Want to hear a fascinating story? Let's sit in at a meeting of the human resources department of a large corporation. A number of human resources specialists are gathered in the board room. They chat idly to one another as they await the opening of what they expect to be a routine monthly meeting. The door swings open and the director of human resources strides in. He smiles warmly, greets everybody heartily and spends a minute or two exchanging pleasantries. Then he drops the bombshell! "Ef More..

New Leadership For A New War

Military analysts call this "asymmetrical" war (as if war has a terrible symmetry); and we know that it will be as different from conventional war as three-dimensional, blindfolded chess is from conventional chess. But one thing is certain, leadership lies at the heart of achieving victory. You only have to look to history to understand that when people needed to accomplish great things, whether in war or peace, great leaders had to rise to the occasion. Because asymmetrical war is a new kind o More..

Biometrics and ?Return On Investment?

At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business is "Return On Investment!" With few exceptions, expenditures are measured against the bottom line. Outlays for capital expenses are strictly evaluated in terms of profitability and the total cost of ownership. The era of purchasing new gadgets due to their "whiz-bang" factor is long gone. How can biometrics provide the sought after "R.O.I." in this environment? A biometric hand reader prevents a felon from entering your office or warehouse. More..

CEO: The Key To Fix ingThe Marketing/Sales Collaboration Problem

We all know that achieving better alignment, synergy and cooperation between company marketing and sales departments is vital, but oh so elusive. Despite all the talk and more talk in the media and at national business gatherings, nothing significant ever seems to happen. The reason nothing happens is that there is only one person who can truly make it happen: The Company CEO. Unfortunately, CEOs don't seem to be getting the message. Why is the CEO the key? In virtually every company, the pre More..

Where Businesses Fall Short

1. No vision. Successful businesses have a clear vision or picture of their business purpose and mission. Your vision serves as a roadmap to help you see where you are today in relationship to where you want to be tomorrow. Your business plan serves as the mechanism that will help you to bridge the gap. When you don't have a clear vision as to why you're in business or where you intend to take your business, it's like taking a road trip without a map. When you don't know where you're going, you' More..

Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionism can get in the way of building or marketing a successful business. It can prevent us from moving ahead quickly or from taking advantage of business opportunities. We set ourselves up with unrealistic expectations or goals, which can be damaging to us personally or professionally. Striving for perfection can damage our self-esteem because we never feel like we are good enough. Instead, consider adopting an attitude of striving for excellence. Look at failure as just another teacher. More..

4 Tips on How to Avoid Communication Lines Breakdown

For example, in a small, two-person company, there is often the greatest opportunity for direct conversation and discussion throughout the day. There are only two possibilities for verbal communication and it's usually quick, easy and descriptive. If, however, a third member is added to the team, then six possible lines of communication are created - an increase of 300%. Direct communication becomes more difficult and often messages are interpreted (or misinterpreted) in a variety of different More..

How to Get Your Procedures Project Done

Wouldn't it be nice for business owners and executives to be finished with their policies and procedures project already? They know they need to get it done, but maybe it's taking too long. Or perhaps their people are staring at a blank piece of paper, and they don't know where to begin. Or maybe they're not sure what to write. Or they're just too busy. The Usual Scenario Companies face these hang-ups everyday, in every industry, in every market. And it can be frustrating when trying to balanc More..

Why and How to Work with a Consultant

A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas, second opinions (reality checks), unbiased appraisals, and new approaches. A good consultant will leave you with tools, plans, and materials, and will transfer knowledge and resources to help you use them. Avoid making mistakes and wasting time and resources. A small investment and timely, professional advice can mean savings and increased revenues in the future. Adding the services of a consultant can make a di More..

Stop Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Each year, businesses write-off six percent of revenue to waste, fraud and abuse. But why would managers throw all that hard-earned money away when there is a reliable way to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse using accounting policies & procedures to create internal controls. Internal controls eliminate uncollectible receivables; prevent theft or embezzlement; optimize inventory; and stop waste, fraud, and abuse. Utilizing just a single control will add real money to your bottom line each mo More..

PR Still a Mystery to Some

Unfortunately, there are managers who define publicrelations by its applications. Which explains neither itsunderlying strengths nor what PR is all about. The casual observer is left with a confusion of tactical,application-oriented definitions of the public relationsfunction: Is it publicity? Crisis management? Specialevents? Reputation management? Promotion? Or a slewof other tactics in which we engage from time to time? Which is it? More important, just what lies at the core ofmanagerial pu More..

Solving the Problem Solving Problem

The meeting started like a hundred others before. There were five people sitting around the conference table, like they always did, trying to solve a problem that had popped up in the last few weeks. If you could watch and listen from another room you wouldn't find major arguments or conflicts. These people had worked together before and from all outward appearances were pretty effective as a team. After nearly an hour though, they seemed at a stalemate. People had begun to describe possible so More..

Build Your Business (On A Shoestring): Hire a College Intern

Starting up a new venture or business can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It can also be one of the most stressful. In the early months, or even early years of your business, cash flow is often not what you would like it to be. If you're a solo entrepreneur, you're wearing many hats - in fact, you're probably wearing all of them. Not only are you selling your product or service, you're marketing it, doing the accounting, paying the bills, answering the phones, designing and upda More..

Change and Performance - Training May Not Be The Answer

Introducing new products or services, bringing new people on board, developing a new process or procedure, installing new equipment, change seems to be the one constant in business today and change always seems to drive a need for training. In conducting training needs analysis at any level, we need to understand that training may not be the solution, at least not the whole solution. Training is normally employed with the expectation of changing individual performance. While training can, and d More..

Seven Cs to Avoid Procedure Writing Errors

You do your best to make sure your organization is operating as effectively as possible. But if your policies and procedures are incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent, then they are not driving the performance improvement they should. When employees try to use incomplete or undefined procedures, waste and costly errors soon follow. Case Study: Little Mistakes Add Up Quickly Without knowing it, employees at a local auto parts company were having a costly problem determining when to accept custo More..

Humor in Business

With the advancement of computer simulators, anybody can repeat all the business routines before he goes to the field, and have the opportunity of relaxing from the tedious work with numbers. The businessman can concentrate more on the human factors: The Customer Service, the relationships among fellow workers, and self care. The occupation with Human factors is obligation to deal with emotions. Emotions volumes are not measurable accurately, contrary to cognitive or physical volumes. We can me More..

Read more About Office Politics

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 6th C: Changing Vision

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. The 6th C: Changing Vision In order for a business to be a success the vision and mission must be reflected in all aspects of the structure, the culture and the strategy by which business is conducted. Contained in these are core values and principles set forth by the owners and leaders. If there are discrepancies between any of these, I can assure you there will be problems. There are two p More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 5th C: Control Issues

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. The 5th C: Control Issues When control is in the picture it is a lose/lose proposition. First, it is an illusion that anyone can control a person or a situation. The need to control is born of fear, lack of trust and insecurity. A person who feels it is necessary to control is robbed of a sense of well being. In business, control or the attempt to control can occur in many venues. The attem More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 4th C: Cumulative Money Problems

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. The 4th C: CUMULATIVE MONEY PROBLEMS Conflicts over money are very high on the list of reasons that 70% of business partnerships fail. I'm not referring necessarily to lack of money. The damage to business partnerships stem from the fact that each of us have different attitudes about money and therefore handle it in different ways. The most hopeful scenario is that differences have been disc More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 2

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 2 In a previous article, I wrote about how unresolved conflict can create havoc in your business and can often end in a failed partnership. Today, I share with you a story about a pair of clients I recently worked with. Sue and Vicki were partners in a service organization that thrived on new membership and putting on events. Sue and Vicki had been coaching More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 1

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 1 Dr. Dean Ornish, noted cardiologist, says the greatest cause of disease is the stress that comes from conflict. Conflict is bad for your health, your personal life and definitely bad for your business. When disagreements have reached the stage of conflict, emotions have overcome the issue. At this point no one is thinking clearly or speaking truthfully abo More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 1

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Competitive, Not Complementary Action

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. Competitive, Not Complementary Action James Carville and Mary Matlin are public relations spokespeople for the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. They are each articulate, sharp and feisty. Sparks fly when they debate in favor of their parties, so much so that they seem like arch enemies who couldn't possibly exchange a friendly word. I remember the shock reaction I had (how man More..

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Communication Breakdown

An ongoing series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN The "Seven Cs" are the danger signs that indicate your business partnership, or any partnership for that matter, is in trouble. First, and most important, in my view, is the issue of Communication Breakdown. Although my list of Seven C's refers to the danger signs that partnerships are in trouble, the fact is that communication breakdowns abound in all relat More..

5 Interviewing Mistakes That Can Lead To Hiring The Wrong Person

Mistake #1: Going with the flow Inexperienced interviewers sometimes fall into the trap of letting the interview become "free form", spending different amounts of time on different questions, basing follow-up questions on on how the candidates answer. This can result in a candidate taking control of the interview and leading you where he or she wants to go, rather than where you can get the information you need. Solution: Ask everyone the same questions. Prepare a list in advance, based on the More..

Motivating For Higher Performance

Employee motivation is probably the most important single manageable factor for success and profitability of all the facets of specialty store retailing. It is too vital to be handled on a hit or miss basis, depending on the whim or spirit that stirs the store owner or manager from time to time. To be effective, employee motivation must be promoted on a day-to-day, month-to-month basis. It is a function that can and will pay enormous dividends. There are almost as many effective ways of motiva More..

Internal Control - The Why and How

Many retailers do not have good internal controls in place and place little importance on them. They are concerned with the buying and selling of merchandise and do not place enough emphasis on making certain that the sales get recorded, the money gets in the bank, the invoices are paid only once and the inventory reports are correct. Why should you be interested in establishing and maintaining sound internal controls? Good internal controls help ensure the accuracy, completeness and validity o More..

Policy & Procedure Manuals - Tools For Greater Productivity and Efficiency

In today's tough retail environment the retailer needs all the tools he can get to help improve efficiency, productivity, and the bottom line. Two of these tools are the company's Policy Manual and Procedure Manual. In working with independent retailers throughout the country we have found that the majority do not have written policies and procedures. When questions or problems arise concerning the store's policies or procedures the store owner/manager handles them on an individual basis. The p More..

Shrinkage Control

What has been your store's shrinkage experience for the last two years? What will it be this year? If it has not been as good as it should have been, now is the time to analyze the possible causes and take steps to keep shrinkage in line this year. WHAT IS SHRINKAGE? The difference between the perpetual book inventory and the physical inventory count is called shrinkage. The book inventory is a record of what ought to be on hand in view of what has been received, what has been sold and price c More..

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