Let’s face it; the look of our work force has changed. We are now more likely to have a 23 year old staffer working right next to a staffer with 20 years of experience. This kind of age spectrum creates a unique management situation. Our manager’s usually are thinking, ‘how do I manage this time bomb’? If you are dealing with a multi-generational workforce, here are some … [Read more...]
Football’s Advice to Business
What can a high school football coach teach entrepreneurs? Well it turns out, she can teach us plenty. That’s right, She. Last weekend as my girls played in the park, I read a story on Natalie Randolph by the Washington Post’s James Wagner. The article contained everything you would expect to see on a woman in a man’s sport, but I saw some important lessons in her leadership … [Read more...]
Sales For All Seasons
As we all rush out to do some holiday shopping and retailers put their best foot forward, as a small business owner you want to be sure that your sales don’t cripple your business. Attracting new customers is great, but what you want is repeat business and customer loyalty. Stick with these tips and build a relationship, not a sale. Listen to your customers While it is … [Read more...]
The Capable Employee
As a modern business owner, I’ve caught the fever to rely on gadgets and depend on electronic communication in lieu of actually picking up the phone; but I wonder, have I done my company a disservice? As I visit client sites and assess the challenges they face, it becomes clear that sometimes the culprit is not the employee, it’s the technology. Excessive reliance on … [Read more...]
Hey Boss, Your Policy is Stupid!
As business owners we often set policies and procedures from a reactive point of view. Something happened that brought the situation to our attention and then we put things in place to ensure they don’t happen again. But is this the best way to create policies? Can your staff weigh in on their effectiveness and when they do, do their opinions matter? If you have a sense that … [Read more...]
The Inside Scoop on Recruiting
Once you strike out on your own, your relationships with recruiters change. When you were looking for a full-time job, they represented a way to get your foot in the door at a company. As an entrepreneur, their roles shift slightly. They still help you get a foot in the door, but now they also bring the ability to provide new projects. The one thing that continually frustrates … [Read more...]
Business Lesson from T.O.
There’s no denying that Terrell Owens is a great wide receiver, he’s got the speed and the skill so why isn’t he in high demand? He recently staged a televised workout to gain attention, but it seemed to do just the opposite gaining attention from only a arena football team. So what can T.O. teach your company? Talent is not enough The lesson here is don’t let your … [Read more...]
Grab the Money!
It’s no secret that you need capital to operate and grow, but then comes the question how do you get it? For some of the lucky ones they have the personal cash to use or they are able to tap well heeled friends and family for the money. For the unlucky ones, you need money to operate and grow, but where do you get it? Tap your community bank. An often overlooked … [Read more...]
The Small Business Bonus
As small business owners we are closer to our customers thanmost of the big boys. When the economy took a turn for the worst, we were the first ones hit with customers cutting costs and calling on us for lower prices. Some of us complied and lowered our rates and some of us took the heat and held on to our pricing. Like everyone else I love a great deal, … [Read more...]
The Beauty of Failure
Business takes feedback in one of two extremes, either they completely dismiss it or they use it as the basis for punitive action for their staff. In being too far on either side, you miss a valuable lesson in feedback. Feedback is the only place where you learn what isn’t working without having to deal with ego or personalities. It’s a rare glimpse into company from … [Read more...]