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Adapting to The Norm – What Does It Mean to Your Business Sytle?

August 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Traveling through parts of Europe lately I noticed the slow pace with which everything was done.  There was no one hurrying to help you in grocery stores. In fact, the cashiers sat behind the registers with barely a smile and you bagged your own groceries!  Eating out was slow and deliberate.  You could count on a good hour or more before you were even mid way through a meal.  Drinks arrived slowly, food arrived slowly and so did the bill.

Many businesses closed for a few hours around the lunch hour.  Some shops even had little hand written signs saying they would be back shortly.   Is this good customer service?  How do these businesses stay in business?   Yet, it is the norm for these companies and they don’t seem to eager to change.

We all have to find our norm.  The way we transact business whether we are the owner of the company or an employee that is taking pride in their area of responsibility.  Taking on someone’s norm is not necessarily good for your business.  Be aware of what others are doing and the reactions of their client base.  Are their profits soaring while yours are falling?  What could you adapt from these other businesses while still staying true to your core values?  Things you may consider are:

  1. How quickly do you return phone calls?  Do you see the red light flash and do nothing?
  2. Do you really listen to what people have to say or are you too quick to push your own agenda?
  3. Have you adapted your hours of operation to fit the needs of your customers?
  4. Have you trained your staff appropriately and given them the tools to be successful?  Their success is ultimately your success.
  5. No you go the “extra mile” or do you stop short if you feel there is nothing in it for you.  Remember you customers are looking for the WIIFM as well!  (What’s in it for me)
  6. Do you do all that you promise you will do in the time you promise?  Where can you adapt to be more realistic and not over promise and under deliver?

There is always someone around the corner doing things which may seem better, faster, cheaper, easier.  Your job is to be innovative in your thinking and open minded to the fact that you just might have to change.

Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Planning for Retirement: You Are Truly On Your Own

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We speak often of the generations and how groups of people born during a short period of time are influenced profoundly by common events and often by the observations of one’s own parents.  As a baby boomer, I have seen a tremendous change in how we perceive retirement versus my parents and my children’s perspective.  It seems logical that many of our parents had longer periods of employment with singular employers and many achieved pensions.  Today, if you are in the private sector, the pension was replaced by a 401k plan or you just missed the cut-off date as you have had 4 or 5 jobs these past 3 decades.

Observing our parents behavior showed a tradition of savings due to their experience living through the great depression.  Most were prudent savers and shoppers far different from our children who have easy access to credit and only our frequent caution not to overspend.

Individual responsibility for planning for retirement is a reality and as the poor returns over the last 10 years from stocks only places more pressure on us in our 50’s and early 60’s to save aggressively.

I do not coach financial planning, but this is one area that we all should take a moment to consider if we have a plan and not wait or procrastinate.  Too often people gamble to recoup dollars lost or let their emotions take hold of their investment decisions.  One fact is that we should take stock of our current saving strategies and most likely increase it.  Those that live in beautiful California know that it is very expensive and taxes are due to increase.  Our future quality of life will depend on us planning now.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , , ,

Stand for Something, or Fall for Anything

November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I teach critical thinking skills to Undergraduate students.   One of the concepts to this class is not only what we think but why we think the way we do.  Of course our upbringing or enculturation has a great deal to do with the thought process.    How we adapt and react based upon the environment and culture shapes our values.   We then take those values into the world and apply them to all situations.  There is one problem with this logic and that is that not all people were brought up with the same values and ethics.

Part of being a critical thinker involves taking the time to understand the differences in others.  Why they think and act the way they do. We may not agree with these actions, but we can at least understand them.    When we have understanding we can then take the next step to bridging  gaps that could lead to conflict.  So many of us put such great effort into pushing our ways onto others that we don’t realize there is another way.   Of course, You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything .   But, in order to stand for something you need to research, understand and critically think about what it is you are standing for and why.

We follow great leaders, but why do we believe they are great?  What is it about their thought process that resonates with us and allows us to want to take on their attributes and be a follower?   In business there are many leaders at many different levels.  You don’t have to have a fancy title to be a leader.  What you need is to understand people and their thought processes.  You need to help them to see the various views from  various angles and not just your own or their own.

I enjoy seeing how my students evolve from the first day of class when I ask them who taught them to think to the final week of class where they have grown into critical thinkers who can determine for themselves what they believe to be truth.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Productive Change Takes an Aware Leader

November 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When is change good?  Are your employees on-board with the changes that you are making?  Are they telling you that they are yet you are sensing resistance?   The truth, for the most part is this – people think change is good if 1) they initiate it and 2) it benefits them or they want the change.

Change has phases that can be mapped on a change grid.  It doesn’t matter if the change is by choice or forced upon employees, the same basic change of events occur.   Knowing the signs to look for will help you manage change in a more productive and people centric matter.

The basic stages of change are as follows:

  • Change is introduced  – this is the point where the leader of the change needs to be prepared to handle what consequences may occur from this announcement.  Be prepared for the fact that not everyone will embrace the change with the same enthusiasm as you would hope.
  • Disruption to productivity -  The introduction of change means more work for people as they find their way through the new process.
  • Adapting to the change – the employee makes the decision to either get on board with the change or they will continue to fight the change.  The sooner you can get people on board and remove the negative people from the process, the sooner the change will take hold.
  • Accepting the change – at this point people are on-board with the change and are finding ways to be creative with the change process and their new role within the change.

Obviously the sooner the employee moves through the stages the quicker the organization can return to a productive mode.  However, the process can not be rushed.  Much like the Stages of Grief by Kubler/Ross, the employee may go back and forth between the stages until they finally reach acceptance.  Your job is to be their guide through the change.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.  For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”  unknown

 

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership Tagged With: , , ,

What Is the Most Important Quality In a Job? Find Out Here

October 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

CNN Money Magazine has a quick poll on their site.  Each day they ask their viewers another question and then display the results. The other day they asked the question “what do you think is the most important quality in a job?” ( I have posted the results below.)   It wasn’t surprising to me that the number one answer was satisfying work. (43%).

The question now is, what makes satisfying work?  What are the attributes of satisfying work?  For some it may be the following:

Self fulfillment, feeling of expertise and competency, recognition and respect from the people you work with, the ability to be self-directed, enjoying the challenge of being creative in your work processes, being empowered, having the training, tools and resources to do your job well.

I am sure there are many more and this is just a short list, but one well worth thinking about.

QUICK VOTE RESULTS – Money Magazine Poll!

What do you think is the most important quality in a job?

Satisfying work 43%
Good pay and benefits 39%
Flexible hours 6%
Growth opportunities 12%
Total responses to this question: 104959
Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

October 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

How many times have you said, “what a small world”?  For the last three years I have been corresponding with a business colleague in Australia via SKYPE.  At least weekly we have been talking.  Sometimes with the video camera on and sometimes with it off.  As you can image the time change has caused us to have conversations at unsightly hours for one of us.  However, on the rare occasions when we were able to hit it just right we allowed the cameras to be on.

If you have ever used SKYPE then you know that the camera provides a good view of not only you but of the things around you.  We found that we had similar books on our bookshelf as well as  going to the same coaching academy and having our certificates hanging on the wall.  Each of us have them hanging to the sides of our desks.

After three years of conversations and getting to know each other both professionally and personally it was no surprise that I was able to pick her out in a group in a hotel lobby.  I walked right up to her and without introduction, she knew exactly that it was me.

We spent the day talking business without the awkwardness of getting to know each other.  We could have been office buddies for the way we were able to get right down to business.  The other wonderful part of this meeting was the cultural aspect.  I never knew what “I have to spend a penny” meant.  It means using the bathroom.

I am taking my colleague and friend around Hollywood and Beverly Hills today before she continues on the New York.  I can’t wait to share and have been told I have an open invitation to Australia which I know I will be taking her up on in the future.

If you have not brought technology into your company I would highly suggest that you do.  It is not expensive to add a video cam to your computer and SKYPE is free.  If your best client or customer does not have a video cam, why not buy one for them?  The holidays are approaching and what better way to invest in your future business goals than to see your clients face to face.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership Tagged With: , , , ,

Intentions are Great, But Its the Results that Matter

September 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“Some of us will do our jobs and some will not, but we will be judged only by one thing – THE RESULTS”

Vince Lombardi

I’m a Packer fan and as a little girl I remember watching Vince Lombardi with his fedora and overcoat standing on the sidelines, clipboard in hand coaching his team.  Of course at that time I had no idea what he was doing I only knew that when the players wearing the gold and green did certain things, the family stood up and cheered.  The camera would be on the players one minute and the next it would be showing Coach Lombardi.   Certainly this man was powerful to make the players perform so well.

We all set out with an intention and that intention requires an effort.  The attitude we go in with can affect the result.  These three concepts are often confused by employees and managers.   Effort is how hard I try.  Intentions are the expectations you hoped for and Results are what you achieved.

A person can have the best intentions and apply their effort until they are blue in the face and still not gain the results they hoped for.  We all work to improve and in the end we are responsible for our own performance.  It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing something a certain way, if it isn’t producing the desired result, its time to find a better way.

I started a new workout program and have the best intentions of getting more fit then I have been in years.  I am putting in effort and giving it my all each day.  I am hoping to get the results I am seeking.  However, I am not doing this alone.  I have a support system around me that provides encouragement and perspective.  My transformation will not happen over night and I know it takes hard work and dedication.  But, I have the right attitude and attitude is everything.

None of us can expect results if we don’t have the proper tools.  Check your tool box and see what you need.  Think of these tools:

  1. Support
  2. Communication
  3. Commitment
  4. Motivation
  5. Relationships
  6. Follow Through
  7. Discipline
  8. A teacher/mentor/coach

If you are missing any it could be the reason why you are not getting the results you want.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , , , ,

Strategy is Everything- Know Where You are Going and Why!

September 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When we are so eager to get to the end results we forget to observe the road signs that  guide us, danger could await.  Everything we do requires a strategic plan.  Some plans are pages long and require months to formulate.  These types of plans are detailed and every step of the process is purposefully planned.  Other strategic plans are shorter and may be in bullet format.   Determining  what needs to be accomplished will dictate how detailed the plan needs to be.  However, taking off down the road without knowing how you are going to get there is dangerous.

Within any business there are the dreamers, the planners, and the implementors and it takes all types to successfully run a business.  Rarely are the dreamers the same people who are the implementors just as the implementors are not necessarily the best dreamers. Know your strength and then play to that strength and hire the person that provides the skills that you lack.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are eager for success and will take off down the road well-intentioned, but not knowing how they are going to get where they “think” they want to go.  There are only  so many hours in day, resources to do the job and money to put towards growing the business.

A strategic plan provides the following information:

  1. Identifies the intention  or the purpose.  What is the reason you are doing something and what is the anticipated expectation from this action.   Are you placing an ad in a trade magazine and what do you anticipate will happen from the ad. If you are expecting increased sales, do you have the manpower to handle the new orders?  Remember, there are the dreamers that want to more into uncharted territories, but you need the implementors to fulfill on the expectations.
  2. Set up the goals you need to accomplish to reach your intention or purpose.
  3. Identifying the approaches you will take to reach the goals that then satisfy the intent or purpose.  Break down the things that need to be done.  This is where you may want to use bullets or outline format.
  4. Enlist action plans that you will take to reach the goals. For each action what steps need to be taken.  Identify the internal and external factors to this plan.
  5. Monitor the plan and make adjustments as needed along the way.

If you follow a plan (your road map) your trip will have purpose and you will be acting out of strategic thought rather than on a whim that could cost you time and money that you don’t have.

Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Where to Go for Free Learning and Development

September 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When was the last time you took a training course or learned something new that you could apply to your job?  I know budgets are tight and companies are not sending their employees for training, they are not even allowing them to have training internally since we all know that the first cut to be made is the T&D budget. Yet employees still need and want to grow in their professions.

E-learning or electronic learning has taken the place of many campus taught courses and thank goodness employees at least have somewhere to go to keep their saws sharp. However, companies are not always producing content fast enough or updated enough to satisfy the needs of the employees.

Since most people use the internet to search for knowledge, I thought I would do an inquiry about learning.  I found the following free web sites that provide training.  There are more where these came from, but for demonstration purposes these work just fine.

Microsoft Application Training – Free

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/training-FX101782702.aspx

OSHA Training  – Free

http://www.free-training.com/

Computer Training Courses – Free

http://www.intelligentedu.com/cat1.html

I then did a search on “how to repair...” , “Learning a new…”, and “what is….”, I even tried, “where can I find information on….” and was presented with a plethora of information.

It goes without saying that we need to take control of our learning and development.  In the ‘good old days’ you would ask your boss, seek information from a library book or use an encyclopedia.  (When is the last time you even saw an encyclopedia?) We now have the wonderful tool called the internet.  At our finger tips is a wealth of information just waiting for us to click on the URL.

I am sure you already use the internet, but think of it for your training and development as well.  Take a moment to do a search for skills needed in your profession and see what you find.  Then set aside some time to take a training course!  When you are done with the course, share the knowledge with your peers and boss at work.  You will feel great knowing you are on top of your game and your peer and boss will be impressed as well.

(I do not endorse any of the sites provided, although I have taken courses through the Microsoft site, I have not done so with the others.)
Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Are Your Employees Committed? Are You?

September 16, 2010 By 1 Comment

Just because your employees have a job doesn’t mean that they are committed to they’re job or the company.  I have heard managers say that their employees should be happy their have a job in these tough times.  I don’t think those employees would disagree.  With unemployment in the double digits and the prospect of landing a new job once you have been laid off taking on average 6 months to find, who could argue that a person is happy to be employed.  Yet, that does not mean that these employees are committed.

Think of the damage being done by employees that are hunkered down, holding on to their jobs and merely going through the actions of  being productive.  I love the phrase, ” there is never a recession when it comes to leadership”. So unless you are an outstanding leader and motivating your employees, you may be faced with fearful employees motivated only by keeping their jobs!

So what can you do?  First and foremost, communicate.  Let the employees know what is happening with the company and be honest.  Tell them what the vision is and let them be a part of making it happen.  Let them know their value and importance in the vision and how their contributions will make an impact.  Then thank them for their work.  Recognize them for what they do and above all, let them have a voice in problem solving.  The employee on the front lines has a much better idea of what customers want, what employees need to do their job and what the “buzz” is in the office.

You can lead a horse to water, but getting them to drink the Kool Aid  is another thing.  Be a leader that people will follow, not because of your title, but because you respect your employees and have passion, commitment and focus to lead them to the next level.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership Tagged With: , , , ,
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