Blog
Implementing Business Values
(Part 3 of 3) Reaping the benefits described in last month’s newsletter depends on your business’ values being respected, embraced, followed, and modeled by leadership and staff. Before values can impact culture, they must first be used consciously, consistently, and...
7 Ways Business Values Create Profits
(Part 2 of 3) The biggest problem I see with business values is when leadership puts them on a poster and ignores them. When staff and customers see no connection or correlation between company values and leadership behavior, or as basis for management decisions, you...
Culture by Design
(Part 1 of 3) When babies are borne, they come complete with their own set of fingers, toes, and, to their parents’ joy & frustration, their very own personality. So too, from the moment of conception, each business has its own culture. The simultaneous...
Value of Failure
Sam Walton once stated that his ability to make good decisions was developed by making bad ones. Many decisions are made with insufficient data or experience. Ultimately, we make decisions based on the experiences and knowledge we’ve accumulated. I find most people...
When an elephant is in the room
Have you ever had to confront an elephant in the room? You know exactly what the phrase means–there is a problem several people know about and no one wants to discuss. In business, these elephants can bring even the mightiest organization to a grinding halt. Small...
Leadership & Pressure to Perform
Leaders face subtle yet profound pressures, unseen and unfamiliar to most. They’re expected to solve problems their organizations have never faced, do so swiftly, with confidence, and little impact or cost. Pressure to perform routinely comes from three places … and...
Awareness
When it comes to change, the negative is exactly where most people tend to focus unless you help them focus on something else. Actively directing their focus is exactly the job of leadership. The best way to begin turning the sour lemons of change into sweet lemonade...
Foresight & Lemons of Change
Turning the lemons of change into lemonade begins with foresight. Some of the best paths to foresight run right through the delegation process, which is profoundly invested in and nourishing to it. The best delegation processes include asking the delegate how they...
Profits or Purpose
A common perception is that a business exists to make money. While profits are critical to maintaining operations and delivering value to customers and investors, they are only one indicator of success. In my experience, profit without purpose is pointless and...
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
The different ways people react to change can be entertaining. One example is when I open a workshop by asking, “How many of you believe people like change?” while raising my hand high over my head. Everyone in the room looks at me like I’m crazy and typically, one or...
The Arc of Success
When a business is born, it begins with an idea for a product or service the founders believe will be of value. From that point forward, the business, if it survives, will embark on the Arc of success, a series of five stages of organizational development....
When Delegation Fails
Delegation is an important activity in every organization, yet I rarely speak with anyone who’s been formally trained. In my experience, most people were introduced to delegation by watching their mother delegate “chores”–a model that doesn’t translate well to a...
Executives Should Know When To Seek Outside Help
The efficient executive wastes little time or money trying to solve problems he/she is ill-equipped to deal with.
The Right Business Can Prosper In Any Economy
Gauge customers to help find a connection to those industries that thrive even in a down economy. Find the areas of opportunity!
Charter School Manager Targets Testing, Seeks Help Of Business
IEM aims for schools to be measured by how 'employable' graduates are.
Need Capital? Have A Solid Business Plan
Business Advisor Larry Mandelberg orients business owners on the critical criteria to include in your business plan in order to be successful in obtaining loans.
Clarify Your Purpose With A Business Plan
Including staff in your businss planning process offers a deeper involvement and ownership to them. It also opens up creativity from those who know your customers first hand.
Staff Turnover Could Be An Opportunity
Business Advisor Larry Mandelberg leads the way on how to capture the knowledge and expertise you need for business success and growth.
Want Vacation Time? Learn To Delegate
Graduating from building a business to trusting your staff to run things whilst you oversea is a big step in ensuring you can enjoy your business and your life. Business Advisor Larry Mangelberg offers a How To on achieving just that.
How Can You Expand You Firm In A Down Economy?
Many small businesses and entrepreneurs do not consider a merger and acquisition as early as they should. Particularly in a down economy, an M&A can be the best avenue to more clients, increased business, great company publicity, and more.