Quote of the Week from Wooden & Withers
This week’s quote has been selected in support of Everette Withers who was named UNC-Chapel Hill’s Interim Head Football Coach at a press conference on Friday. Withers shared the quote during his statement, saying it’s been on his wall for over two years. It was a perfect choice for the occasion – an encouraging nudge for all in the Carolina community.
It’s also a perfect quote for the launch of Mistake Management Month.
More information on Mistake Management coming throughout the month of August – about ways to make the best of the way things turn out.
Great for morale, productivity and overall performance. Read more
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Quote of the Week on Tough Times
Though there are signs of recovery in some areas, there many, many people who could use this reminder.
Every time I see this one, I think of my Dad, because years ago, when I was going through a rough patch, Read more
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You? A Bottleneck?
This is a true story – heard every day – from all walks of life.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty.
Jane could be a co- worker, student, direct report, family member – actually anyone in your life.
In this version – she is a customer service rep trying to keep your customers happy.
You – you are the boss.
Jane gets calls and problems from customers.
She comes to you for solutions.
There is a backlog of decisions for you to make.
Jane is frustrated.
Everyone keeps pressing her for answers you have not yet given to her to give to them.
If you are like most people, you are wishing 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
Dumb Rules
A man did business in the building where his bank was located. He didn’t have business to do at the bank that day but went in to get his parking ticket validated. This was a perk the bank provided to their customers.
When he asked a teller to stamp his parking ticket, she looked at his shabby dress and refused, explaining that they only did that for customers. He was angry and asked for her supervisor. The supervisor responded the same way. No banking business, no stamp. That is the rule.
So the man obliged by doing business with the bank that day.
He withdrew money.
All of it.
One million dollars.
I feel certain that smart people made this rule for smart reasons. But this situation, it became very dumb. Even chased a customer away.
Does your business have any dumb rules?
copyright 2009 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc
12 Ways to Warm Cold Cuts
Part #6 of a series on managing tough times.
Layoffs. Reductions in pay and benefits. More work to do with fewer people and resources. Decisions perceived as good for the business – bad for the people.
Most managers and business owners hate making these cuts and do so only as part of the process to avoid the coldest cut of all – closing the business.
Their attempts to save the business often backfire. As they lower expenses, morale declines. So does loyalty. And productivity. Profitability too. All bad for the people AND the business.
If you need to make some of these tough, seemingly cold cuts for the financial health of your business but dread the impact on productivity and morale – theirs as well as your own – here are 12 ways to warm things up.
Using All Your Strength
Note from Jan: This is the third in a series on managing tough times. For full benefit, I encourage you to read: 4 Musts for Managing Tough Times & Hunkering Down before reading this article.
So —are you using all of your strength?
The best success I’ve experienced with big budget problems (other kinds as well) came about by involving others. Staff members always came up with far more ideas than I did on my own (one time we came up with a list of 100 ways to save money!). Plus they were much more committed Read more
Hunkering Down
This is a follow up to “4 Musts for Managing Tough Times“. Please read that article before hunkering down to read this one.
PLEASE. Don’t just hunker down. It’s important to take charge. Stay out there. Act boldly. AND then just in case… hunker down.
And please don’t read this article until you have set an expense reduction goal. If you are one of many who wants to skip this step, please go back and do this first. Otherwise you’ll just be burning (your time) while reading.
Got your goal?
Good.
It’s design time!
If your goal isn’t huge and if you haven’t already spent some time searching for them – it may be real easy to spot ways to cut back with little pain and just enough gain.
If not – then another line by line study of each expense category may do the trick if you ask yourself questions like:
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