My very first boss led our team from a place of wrath and terror. We feared his raised voice and demonizing glare. He could melt your self-esteem with one withering look. If one of us made a mistake (or sometimes, even if we didn’t), the thing we would fear the most was his reaction. He may have meant it as leadership, a foolproof way to bring a team to victory. To me, it was … [Read more...]
10 Tips for First-Time Managers – Infographic
As a new manager, one of the biggest learning curves you'll face won't be managing projects but rather, managing people. It's rarely an easy task, but there are steps you can take to become a better manager. As a result, your team will be more motivated, happy, and successful. For example, the best managers understand that they should never stop learning. They know that … [Read more...]
The Best People For The Job vs. The Best Job For The People
I was a bit of a late bloomer. I accepted my first "real job" five years after graduating from college. Sure, I made a living, but I bounced around jobs that, at least for my goals, were not career-track endeavors. Finally, I landed what I considered to be a “real job” – working for a law firm. Although I majored in advertising & marketing at Boston University, my lack … [Read more...]
If You Want Everything Done Right – Delegate!
I know this is nothing new. We are all aware delegation is necessary. “If you want something done right, Do it yourself.” Raise your hand if you can relate to this quote by Charles-Guillaume Étienne. That’s me, jumping up and down waving my hand in the air. I have been known to fall victim to that mantra every now and again. That's not terrible advice. The truth is if you … [Read more...]
3 Key Areas to Improve Your Business
The small percentage of entrepreneurs who succeed know this: If your business is going to succeed, you must focus on constant improvements. Small incremental changes in your business are the key to succeeding in business. Following are three key areas every business should focus on: 1. Customer Acquisition Getting new customers is tough for most businesses. Getting new … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Treat Your “True” Customer Well
Every year, I make a point to set a new goal for my business. Not just for me, but for all the men and women I’m proud to call team members. The goal becomes a theme that we will build on throughout the year, affecting everyone from the CEO to the front line employees. Or as I like to refer to them, my “true” customers. Prioritizing customer service for the end customer or … [Read more...]
Leadership Redemption
So, you screwed up. Royally. You might have let down a team member, missed a major deadline, dropped an important meeting, or lost a critical sale. You feel helpless, hopeless and confused. You just don’t know what to do, though your mind is giving you a lot of conflicting guidance. The panicked side of you wants to overreact. It’s telling you to express your emotions and … [Read more...]
How to Be a Great Mentor – 7 Key Steps that Work
Being a valuable and dedicated mentor isn’t only about sharing your knowledge and experience with the next generation of professionals in your industry. It’s also about recognizing more about yourself. It’s about performing a duty that can’t be priced. It’s about being part of a rich, fulfilling, and mutually beneficial relationship. It’s about being prolific. 1. Arrange … [Read more...]
Diversity: The Key Ingredient to Building a High Performance Team
Sponsored by Visa Business: A high performance team is defined as one that operates with a common purpose, common goals, mutual respect, trust, and commitment. A high performance team goes beyond participation to collaboration where team members work together interactively to achieve common goals by capitalizing on each member’s unique skills, knowledge, and abilities to … [Read more...]
5 Ways To Manage Virtual Employees
As you look to grow your business, you may decide it's time to bring others on board. When you hire employees there are several questions you need to consider. First, do you have office space to handle your staff? Second, will you have a dress code? Third, what will their hours be? When you decide to hire virtual employees none of these concerns apply to you. Your … [Read more...]