Cut The Kudzu
April Showers brought May flowers.
Maybe a little kudzu too.
Now is a good time to cut it – before it takes over everything. Not just your space but your time and energy and sometimes even your good humor.
You know. Things like stacks of newspapers, magazines, mail, bills, etc.
Attack them today. Read more
Doing Your Job
You have a goal. Everyone on the team knows the goal and they all worked together to come up with the plan that would get them there.
Now everyone is working the plan. Except for John.
You and others on the team are having to jump in to get his work done and it’s cutting down on the entire team’s productivity.
You hesitate to say anything to him. You don’t want to be too hard on him because he’s having a tough time at home. So – you keep hoping things will change soon and he will start doing his job.
What about you?
When are you going to do your job?
You know – the part that includes coaching John to be proficient in his job so that your team can be successful.
copyright 2009 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc
But First
Just had coffee with a former colleague. Actually it was iced tea and Diet Coke. Our conversation about distractions and focus reminded me of the snippet below. It was sent to me by a woman who attended one of our Business Class workshops. She didn’t know the author. If you do, let me know so I can give him or her proper credit.
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Does this sound familiar?
I call it the “But First, Syndrome.” You know, it’s when I decide to do the laundry, I start down the hall and notice the newspaper on the table. OK, I’m going to do the laundry….
BUT FIRST I’m going to read the newspaper. After that, I notice the mail on the table. OK, I’ll just put the newspaper in the recycle stack….
A Dumb Rule Confession
So I told you about the bank in Dumb Rules and about Another Dumb Rule at the car dealership.
Lost customers. Lost revenue.
Here’s a dumb rule I created. Read more
Meetings Meetings Everywhere
Meetings meetings everywhere!
Great way to communicate. Great tool for propelling the way to goal. A great investment of time or a huge ZAP of it – and energy too.
It’s a good idea to do a quick meeting review every now and then. Just to be sure that your team isn’t over-using this commucation tool. About each meeting you call or attend, ask yourself: Read more
Ending March Madness
Featured in “Business Class” Volume 7 Issue 5
It’s amazing the difference a little four letter word can make. The right four letter word.
Larry had a situation to tackle. We brainstormed all the possible approaches, weighed the pros and cons, reviewed a cost/benefit analysis and then Larry chose his path. Next he made an action plan and time table.
Each time Larry and I met after that, he wanted to discuss a different approach.
Read more
Another Dumb Rule
I was once ready to buy a Volvo station wagon – blue with black interior, heated seats and a tape deck. That was it. I was ready to buy.
So I called the local Volvo dealership, got a salesperson on the phone and asked for a price. He said there was a rule that customers have to test-drive a car before getting a price. I explained that I had driven a Volvo for many years, had already test-driven this particular model and just wanted a price. He said, “I am sorry ma’am, Read more
Staying Out There
Part #7 of the series on Managing Tough Times
Remember how Sally included her staff in the development of a Hunker Down Plan?
At that first meeting, in which she asked for their input on how to cut costs, she said:
“If my worst case revenue projections come true – we will have a $250,000 shortfall this year – which puts us in a bad situation with the bank.
“We certainly aren’t going to settle for this worst case scenario. We are taking charge. Staying out there. Acting boldly. And working on strategies for doing more of the same in order to boost sales. I’ll be asking for your input on that soon.”
She kept her promise and asked for their input on boosting sales at another staff meeting held a few weeks later. She started by Read more
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