Biz Coach Steve

Tag: Owner

  • 10 Proven Strategies to Keep Your Best People Happy, Engaged, and Loyal

    10 Proven Strategies to Keep Your Best People Happy, Engaged, and Loyal

    In today’s competitive business landscape, retaining top talent is not just about offering a paycheck. It’s about creating an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute their best. High-performing employees are the backbone of any successful organization and keeping them engaged requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.

    Here are 10 great strategies to ensure your talented team members stay with you for the long haul:

    1. Set Clear Expectations

    Ambiguity breeds frustration. Ensure that every employee understands their role by providing a clear, concise job description along with expectations. When employees know what’s required of them, they’re more likely to deliver exceptional results. Clearly defined expectations also pave the way for measurable success and accountability.

    2. Encourage Cross-Training and Job Rotation

    Monotony can lead to disengagement, even for your top talent. Let your skilled employees explore different roles within your organization. Cross-training not only enhances their skill sets but also fosters a sense of belonging and flexibility. Plus, a well-rounded team member is an invaluable asset during times of change or crisis.

    3. Equip Your Team for Success

    Do your employees have everything they need to excel? Whether it’s access to technology, ongoing training, or ergonomic tools to enhance their physical comfort, ensure their workspace supports productivity. Knowing their individual strengths and addressing their needs demonstrates that you care about their success.

    4. Streamline Communication

    Nobody likes being left in the dark. Develop a fast and efficient communication system to keep your employees informed about important updates and company strategies. Timely, transparent communication fosters trust and prevents resentment that could arise from finding out critical information secondhand.

    5. Leverage Strengths Every Day

    Great leaders recognize the unique strengths of their team members and allow them to shine in those areas daily. When employees can do what they love and excel at regularly, they’re more engaged, more productive, and more loyal to the organization.

    6. Recognize and Encourage Talent

    Never underestimate the power of recognition. Publicly celebrate achievements and offer private words of encouragement to let your employees know they’re appreciated. Dedicate time to identifying your key players and regularly checking in with them. A simple “thank you” or a moment of acknowledgment can go a long way in building morale.

    7. Partner in Professional Development

    Top talent craves growth. Encourage managers to collaborate with their employees in creating personalized development plans. Managers should take an active role in helping their team members identify and pursue opportunities for advancement, learning, and skill enhancement.

    8. Build Genuine Relationships

    Understanding what drives your employees is key to retaining them. Regularly revisit conversations to uncover what matters most to them—professionally and personally. Needs and ambitions evolve, so staying updated shows you genuinely care about their well-being and career satisfaction.

    9. Train Managers in Productivity Coaching

    Your managers are the linchpin in talent retention. Equip them with the skills to be effective productivity coaches and hold them accountable for fostering talent development. A well-trained manager who actively supports their team’s growth can create a ripple effect of positivity throughout your organization.

    10. Emphasize the “High-Touch” Approach

    In an increasingly digital world, personal connection matters more than ever. Train managers to excel in High-Touch leadership by recognizing, respecting, and rewarding employees for outstanding performance. Whether it’s a handwritten note, a personalized gift, or a verbal acknowledgment during a meeting, meaningful gestures can create lasting loyalty.

    The Bottom Line: Invest in Your People

    Retaining top talent isn’t just about offering perks or a competitive salary—it’s about fostering a culture of respect, growth, and recognition. By implementing these 10 strategies, you’re not just keeping your best people; you’re building a workplace where they’ll want to stay, grow, and thrive.

    Remember: Talented people have options. Make sure your organization remains their first and best choice by demonstrating that you value, respect, and support them every step of the way.

    By focusing on these areas, you’ll not only retain your best talent but also position your organization as a workplace of choice for years to come. Prioritize your people—they’re the ultimate drivers of success!

    #bizcoachstevef #business #stevefeld #smallbusiness #smallbiz #entrepreneur #marketing #leadership #coaching #businessowner #businesscoach #businesssuccess #businesscoaching #businesstips #entrepreneurship #success #entrepreneurlife #keynotespeaker #podcast #author #smallbusinessowner #speaker

  • When Should I Review My Business Plan?

    When Should I Review My Business Plan?

    A business plan is often the cornerstone of a company’s launch. Entrepreneurs invest countless hours crafting these detailed documents to secure funding, establish direction, and define goals. Yet, far too often, that painstakingly prepared plan ends up forgotten, tucked away on a shelf or in a drawer. However, a business plan should be a living document, regularly revisited and updated to guide your business through changes and challenges.

    So, when should you review your business plan? Here’s what you need to know.

    At Least Annually: The Bare Minimum:

    Every business owner should review their business plan at least once a year. Leading publications like Entrepreneur, Forbes, and Inc. advocate for an annual update to ensure your plan reflects the current state of your business, industry trends, and future goals.

    An annual review allows you to assess progress, identify emerging opportunities, and address challenges. It’s a chance to realign your strategies and tactics with your overarching vision. Think of it as your business’s annual physical exam—essential for long-term health and success.

    Monthly: Staying on Track:

    For even greater effectiveness, consider reviewing your business plan monthly. This proactive approach can help you ensure your company remains aligned with its objectives while allowing for timely adjustments.

    For example, during my time growing a large business, we committed to monthly reviews of our business plan. Each department revisited the plan, assessed performance against goals, and adjusted strategies as needed. The results were remarkable—every department consistently exceeded expectations. The key was maintaining alignment and focus through regular check-ins.

    Every Quarter: Staying Agile:

    Some companies, like Apple, take an even more dynamic approach by updating their plans quarterly. This allows them to adapt quickly to shifts in market trends, technological advancements, customer behavior, and regulatory changes. A 90-day review cycle ensures your business remains agile, giving you the flexibility to seize opportunities and mitigate risks as they arise. FYI Apple has a business plan department, and they are working 3 years out.

    When Major Changes Happen:

    Beyond scheduled reviews, certain events warrant an immediate update to your business plan. These might include:

    • Shifts in the marketplace: New competitors, regulatory changes, or disruptive innovations.
    • Company growth: Adding new products, services, or locations.
    • Financial changes: Securing new funding, significant revenue fluctuations, or altering your pricing strategy.
    • Ownership or management changes: Bringing in new partners or key team members.

    Your business plan must reflect the current landscape and internal dynamics. By staying up to date, you can ensure that your plan remains relevant and actionable.

    Why Regular Updates Matter:

    A current business plan offers numerous benefits, including:

    1. Clear alignment among stakeholders: If your company has multiple owners or partners, regular updates help ensure everyone shares the same vision and priorities.
    2. New opportunities and threats identified: Revisiting your plan regularly allows you to spot emerging competitors, potential collaborators, or untapped customer segments.
    3. Goal evolution: As your business grows, your objectives will change. Your plan should evolve to reflect these shifts, providing clear and measurable targets.
    4. Improved profitability: Consistent reviews keep you focused on financial performance, helping to identify cost-saving measures or revenue-boosting opportunities.

    Think of your business plan as a GPS for your business. The route you mapped out when you launched may no longer be the best way forward. Regular updates ensure you’re always navigating the most efficient and effective path.

    Involve Your Team:

    In the early days of your business, you likely prepared your plan alone. But as your team grows, their involvement becomes crucial. Engaging your staff in the review and update process fosters buy-in, alignment, and accountability. When your team has a hand in shaping the plan, they’re more likely to embrace its implementation and contribute to its success.

    If you don’t have a team, get with some fellow business owners to bounce ideas off them and receive feedback, input, and resources.

    Making It a Habit:

    To keep your business plan alive and relevant:

    • Set a recurring date for your reviews—annually, quarterly, or monthly.
    • Identify key metrics to evaluate progress and success.
    • Involve your leadership team and other relevant stakeholders.
    • Be honest about what’s working and what isn’t.

    By making plan reviews a regular practice, you can keep your business aligned with your goals and better prepared for the future.

    Dust It Off and Dive In:

    If your business plan has been sitting idle, it’s time to dust it off. Pull it out, review it, and update it to meet the current and future needs of your business. Whether you conduct annual reviews, quarterly updates, or monthly check-ins, the important thing is to make it a habit. A living, evolving business plan is one of the most powerful tools you must ensure your company’s continued growth and success.

    #bizcoachstevef #business #stevefeld #smallbusiness #smallbiz #entrepreneur #marketing #leadership #coaching #businessowner #businesscoach #businesssuccess #businesscoaching #businesstips #entrepreneurship #success #entrepreneurlife #keynotespeaker #podcast #author #smallbusinessowner #speaker

  • How to Make Sales during the Holidays

    How to Make Sales during the Holidays

    The Holiday Season is upon us, and for business owners and sales professionals, this time of year adds special challenges for maintaining focus on sales productivity. 

    The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is critical to any business that wants to start the next year off with a full pipeline of prospects. Many businesses get caught up with the familiar music, parties, seeing old friends, and spending time with my family, make the holidays special. Almost everything about the holidays is fun except – selling. During a joyous season, the sales environment can be brutal. You need to make time for yourself and your family.

    During the holidays you and your salespeople struggle to maintain activity targets while prospects and customers routinely put off decisions until the New Year. The good news is, that despite the challenges, you can take control, maintain your focus, and still close deals. The key is staying true to the fundamentals of selling and maintaining self-discipline combined with a sprinkle of creativity.

    One of the hardest things about selling during the holiday season is getting customers to act on buying decisions. They say they just want to wait until the New Year to make any decisions. To them, it makes logical sense to wait. Far too many salespeople willingly accept this excuse as logical, too. However, if you’ve been around selling long enough, you know that by the time you get to January, most of these deals will be cold.

    Learn How to Get More Referrals During the Holidays

    To have any chance of closing these deals you must strike while the iron is hot. You cannot allow emotions to wane. So, during this time of year, you must give your prospects and customers a more compelling reason to plan now than to wait until later. This means getting creative with your offer, price, value-added services, or signing bonuses. You may have to give up more to get the deal done than during other times of the year. 

    In sales, like it or not, activity is everything. If you are not prospecting, questioning, presenting, and closing you will fail – no matter what time of year it is. Of course, with all the wonderful (and not-so-wonderful) distractions of the holidays, it can be easy to slack off, and let your self-discipline slip and move away from your normal daily routine. 

    This slip has two consequences. In the short term, it hurts your closing ratio during December. In the long term, it impacts your sales pipeline during January, February, and March which can have a major impact on your future income.

    To keep this from happening to you, you must sit down with your daily planner right now and ensure that you have your calendar blocked properly for daily prospecting and lead generation, as well as information gathering, presentations, demos, and closing meetings. Consider all your holiday activities and build them into your planner. You may have to do some workarounds, but the key here is to get everything planned out in advance. To stay on track, set daily activity targets and commit to reviewing those targets each morning and afternoon. You will be amazed at how powerful this planning process is for keeping you on track and focused during the holidays.

    Most importantly, by planning and developing creative ways to close more business, you will find that you feel less stress, cash bigger commission checks, and have plenty of time to enjoy the holidays with the ones you care about the most.

    #bizcoachstevef #business #stevefeld #smallbusiness #smallbiz #entrepreneur #marketing #leadership #coaching #businessowner #businesscoach #businesssuccess #businesscoaching #businesstips #entrepreneurship #success #entrepreneurlife #keynotespeaker #podcast #author #smallbusinessowner #speaker

  • Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Coach

    Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Coach

    See why a coach can help you grow, save time and leverage the resources around you.

    As entrepreneurs, we want to take on the world by ourselves. We dig in, work hard, and are determined to be self-made. Why would we need someone to tell us what to do? Isn’t that why we started our own business in the first place, to avoid being told what to do?

    I’m a firm believer in business coaches and mentors. In fact, I have multiple mentors over the course of my life and a mentor in each one of my business to help guide me through my own business and life challenges. The value and expertise they provided me was incredible. They brought light to my weak points, gave me a very objective outside view, and they all held me accountable to my own goals.

    Experienced coaches have seen businesses grow throughout every stage and know the challenges that come with every step. These coaches usually work with business owners and leaders within different industries and provide resources to someone that is solely focused within their own industry. Many times, entrepreneurs will never consider bringing on a coach because they feel either they know their business better than anyone else or they think they “should” know everything about their business. It can be difficult to swallow some pride and reach out for help. However, many small business owners are seeing the value of coaches. As a result, they are taking advantage of one of the greatest resources at their disposal.

    Coaching and Education

    More businesses that have employees are starting to utilize the services of a coach within their business.  Just look at the INC 500, or Fortune 500 list and related articles on how many of those high performing companies are utilizing the services of a business/executive coach – almost all of them.

    You don’t have to be some large or unicorn company to use a coach, any size business should be working with a coach and taking advantage of their resources in overcoming business and personal challenges.

    Several factors are driving the use of coaches and training. Business has gotten more complex and is changing more rapidly. Businesses are turning to expert coaches and training that they’re willing to pay for to provide guidance on working through complex problems quickly. There simply is no longer the time to “learn while doing” or the margin of error to “learn by making mistakes.”

    Masterminds, Mentoring and Metrics

    Many successful small business owners I have spoken with said they used coaches and unpaid mentors to improve their management and leadership skills, help them set and achieve goals and work through difficult business problems and decisions.

    Some entrepreneurs mentioned they often turned to mentors and coaches for emotional support, especially when faced with difficult decisions. We are not talking about speaking with a family member here-they will NOT give you the good, bad and the ugly of the situation.

    In a past mastermind group I facilitated, several members brought up a need for help to get over their fear of hiring an employee. In another mastermind group, the larger firms continually posed to the group on how to enhance their skillsets and assist them in decision-making. These firms clearly see the value of mentors and coaches and are expanding their use.

    Three Reasons Why You Need a Coach

    • Personal Growth: Take advantage of those who’ve walked the path before you. There’s much to be learned from those who’ve been there and done it before us. Sure, times have changed over the years in how we do business, but there are fundamental and enduring principles involved with running a successful business and dealing with people, especially the one you see in the mirror every day. There is no shame in getting help.
    • Save Time: You simply don’t have the time to stay on top of the latest changes in the business world. As business gets more complex and the pace of change increases, leverage an experienced coach or mentor to save you and your team time and money.
    • Work smarter, not harder: Having a strategic partner by your side, who will keep you focused and on track to your goals will save a lot of time and frustration. The coach will have resources available to them to assist you to implement these tools. So leverage an expert resource to help guide you on the journey to success.

    Don’t be afraid to get help. Successful small business owners look to coaches, mentors, education and training for themselves and their employees to help overcome challenges, learn new skills, and deal with complexity. They see help as a way to improve themselves and their business’s competitiveness.

    So what are you waiting for? Go ask for the help you need in your business to overcome the challenges you’re facing! You, your team, and your customers will likely all benefit.

    Portions of this article were original articles written by Clate Mask

    #bizcoachstevef #business #stevefeld #smallbusiness #smallbiz #entrepreneur #marketing #leadership #coaching #businessowner #businesscoach #businesssuccess #businesscoaching #businesstips #entrepreneurship #success #entrepreneurlife #keynotespeaker #podcast #author #smallbusinessowner #speaker

  • Are you a Good Negotiator?

    Are you a Good Negotiator?

    Negotiate (verb) To confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter.

    In a sense, all of life is a negotiation.

    You are always negotiating in some way. When you drive from one place to another, you negotiate through traffic, letting other people get in front of you and you get in front of them. When you go to a restaurant you negotiate, to get a table and then to get the kind of table you most like. You negotiate all the elements of your work life and all the things you do or don’t do. You negotiate prices, terms, schedules, standards, and a thousand other details all day long. The process is never-ending.

    Your ability to interact, communicate, persuade, and negotiate with others determines your income more than any other factor. It is therefore well worth your while to do everything possible to be very good in this area.

    It is not really a question of whether or not you negotiate. The only question is, “How good of a negotiator are you?”  If you want to get things in life faster and easier, then you need to be better at negotiating than the other person.

    How many times have you or heard someone say, “I am not good at negotiating.”  The reason they feel this way is that negotiating is a learned skill, just as learning how to ride a bicycle.  They may not be good at negotiating because they were never taught how to negotiate.  Learning how to be an effective negotiator takes time and practice.

    Why does everyone hate to negotiate with a car salesperson? Because the salesperson has been taught how to negotiate and they usually have the upper hand in the discussion.  Now, if you were trained as they were in how to negotiate and understand the rules of negotiating, would you dread negotiating with a car salesperson?  Probably not.

    The primary purpose of negotiating is to come to an agreement between two or more parties and then fulfill that obligation.  That’s it. Simple right?

    Your ability to negotiate for yourself and your company will make an enormous difference in the quality of your sales and the degree of profitability you achieve for your organization. So being an effective negotiator will make a great difference in your life.

    There are many rules of negotiating. 

    Rule #1) This is a shocker – AVOID IT!  Yes, that is correct, avoid negotiating. If the other party is good at negotiating and you feel you’re not, then why go into a negotiation with that attitude? You’re not going to fair too well on the outcome.

    Rule #2) Delay negotiating as long as possible. You must first have a desire to buy before offering concessions. Never use negotiating as a substitute for salesmanship (value).

    Rule #3) Negotiating is a sales tool – use it as one. Early concessions have very little impact on the deal and in fact, decrease the attractiveness of your product or service.  Early concessions create an appetite for more & bigger ones later and the first person to concede will usually concede again & again.

    Rule #4) There are several requirements for negotiating.  All parties involved must first have the authority to negotiate as well as to uphold what has been agreed upon. Many times, you may enter into a negotiation, and come to an acceptable outcome only to find out the person you have been negotiating with must get someone else’s approval.

    Rule #5) Some primary aims of negotiating in sales.  Remember if you don’t need to negotiate, then don’t.

    • Negotiate only when it’s necessary to get the sale
    • Negotiate to build a long-term relationship
    • Negotiate to find a way to satisfy both parties

    There are only six outcomes of negotiating.  If the outcome is NOT a Win/Win or No Deal, then end the negotiation. You may win in a Win/Lose outcome for now, but the party that lost will not be doing business with you after that deal.

    1. Win/Lose
    2. Lose/Win
    3. Lose/Lose
    4. Compromise
    5. Win/Win
    6. No Deal

    Finally, always prepare to be successful at negotiating. Remember negotiating is a skill that can be learned, and you need to prepare and practice before entering a negotiation. Some ways to prepare are;

    • Lawyer method:  Prepare your position from the other party’s point of view.
    • 20 Idea Method: Write out 20 benefits for the other party and when negotiating present those ideas.
    • Research the other party: Many times, this simple step is avoided.  Find out what they are looking to gain from the negotiation.
    • Get the facts before you enter a negotiation:  Make sure you are clear on why you are entering the negotiation with the other party and what they are willing to offer to enhance the negotiation.
    • Ask the customer for the information you need to negotiate effectively. Pretty simple, but how many times have you just asked the other party for their information?

    The next time you must enter into a negotiation with another party, be prepared, practice, do your research, qualify them to make sure you are dealing with the decision maker, research them (talk to some of their customers), and only accept a Win/Win or No Deal as the outcome.

    Good luck negotiating.

  • 5 Simple Tips to Speak Passionately, Without Getting Overly Emotional

    5 Simple Tips to Speak Passionately, Without Getting Overly Emotional

    Showing emotion is usually a good thing in business, but you still want to come across as focused, not frazzled.

    Good speakers are passionate—and it shows. Bad speakers are dull, plodding, humdrum. There’s no sense they are passionate about their business. Showing that you truly care about your business can go a long way toward winning over your listeners.

    But passion in speaking is like adding a powerful spice to your dish when cooking. If you’ve ever added cayenne pepper to a dish, you know you need to be careful to use just the right amount. Too much emotion in your speaking is like dumping way too much cayenne and it will be the only thing anyone will notice, and they won’t want to finish.

    Here are five simple tips to be an effective, passionate communicator who doesn’t wind up sounding overly emotional.

    1. Feeling That Doesn’t Kill the Content:

    When you speak with passion, your message has vibrancy and color. Passion brings your message to life by showing that you’re fully invested in what you’re talking about—your feelings about your subject are on full display. But if you’re too passionate, that feeling will overpower the content.

    Your audience gets blinded by the intensity of your emotions, loses focus on what you’re saying, and thinks “What exactly is their message?” You must find the right balance between feeling and purpose. Make sure your emotions enliven your subject but don’t supersede it.

    2. Deliberate Movements:

    When you add passion to your speaking, you engage your audience with your movement. Whether you’re using gestures or walking around during your presentation, you must move mindfully to avoid distracting your audience. Taking a well-timed step toward your audience or a strong hand gesture can add impact.

    When you’re too emotional, your voice becomes sharp, and you end up shouting at your audience. They’ll hear you, but they won’t be listening. But when you’re too emotional, your movements often come in flurries of hand-waving or continuous pacing—movements that aren’t connected to your message in a meaningful way. You may not even notice you’re doing that, but your audience will. Your behavior can seem jerky, random, and repetitive. You become so caught up in your feelings that you may not even realize that you’re moving or repeating yourself. Remember, you want to come across as focused, not frazzled.

    3. A Powerful (But Not Overpowering) Voice:

    Passionate speakers’ voices capture their audience’s attention. They’re clear and commanding. But power does not mean high volume—you can be a passionate speaker with a quiet intensity to your voice. You can also use contrast to highlight points of passion without overwhelming your audience: Change your tone or emphasis at key places in your talk, then fall back into a more relaxed voice later. When you’re too emotional, your voice becomes sharp, and you end up shouting at your audience. They’ll hear you, but they won’t be listening. Try this with your 30-second elevator pitch.

    4. Dimensionality:

    Incorporate peaks and valleys into the way you communicate. You can build crescendos by telling compelling stories and using rhythm, then you can drop down to consolidate meaning and prepare for your next point. This isn’t strictly about tone of voice—it’s about structure. But that will impact the way you sound.

    This mix of passion and substance will keep your audience engaged. But when you’re too emotional, you tend to stay at the same level of high-pitched excitement, without changing pace or tone. Stay at this level too long, and you’ll exhaust your audience and lose their attention. A passionate speaker is like a talented DJ who’s fully immersed in the music but knows when to mix things up.

    5. Clarity:

    When speaking passionately, your points still need to flow logically from one to the next, always making sure to emphasize the main idea you want to get across. You’re not overly formal, but you still get to the point. If you go overboard with emotion, you get into stream-of-consciousness thinking. You go off on tangents—even tangents of tangents. Your audience stops following you, and everyone gets lost. It’s as if you’re lost on a long hike in the middle of the woods. You forget how you got there, and you don’t know where to go next.

    Passion is great, but too much can derail an otherwise solid presentation. By recognizing the differences between being passionate and being too emotional, you can find the right balance to inspire your audience, not stress them out.

    I’m sure we have all heard hundreds of elevator pitches. Some are great and use the 5 tips mentioned above. And others leave you confused about what that person does. Practice your 30-second elevator pitch using these tips and capture your audience and have them want to talk to you afterward. As a business owner/leader, you should be passionate about your business. Let it show in the right ways.

  • How can leadership training help YOUR bottom line?

    How can leadership training help YOUR bottom line?

    “We’ve always done it that way!”

    A phrase spoken by owners, managers, and employees when a business is failing or operating below its true potential. And what is that way? Most often, it’s not the old-style patriarchal leadership way. When it comes to progress and success in today’s competitive environment, authoritarian business leaders are as effective as kings and dictators are for their nations’ economies.

    They control their people but, in doing so, they create an environment of stagnation that fails to tap into their population’s talents and ambitions. Leadership training can help a business owner learn how to lead people in a way that brings out their best and encourages them to take ownership.

    In a diverse country such as America, this also requires knowledge about generational and cultural differences and the best approaches to communicate and motivate each one.

    “The best leaders and managers invite staff to fully invest in their success.” As a highly successful business owner stated at a CEO conference.

    The top-down, one-way communication style died in 1988, yet some [small business owners] still use it because they are used to making all the decisions. This holds very true today.

    With today’s demographics and worker shortages, small businesses need to have a very solid plan for attraction, retention, and succession. All that starts with the leader’s vision and leadership style.

    Demand and control as an effective management style is dead — or, at least, on its way out –because that’s not a style that will work with younger employers. You need to engage them if you want to keep them, and if you want to keep them you have to understand where you want to go, and they have to see you as a person who wants to develop them.

    Another benefit of leadership training for small business owners is that they can use what they have learned and pass it on to their team. In many ways, today’s best leaders are the ones who can instill leadership skills in all their employees.

    But many experts and studies have shown, part of that means that the leader must know how to walk the talk.

    Integrity is a big part of this.

    You will not be motivated, and you will not lead people well if you say one thing and are doing something else entirely. Leadership by example is one of the strongest ways to get alignment and alignment is key to achieving your goals.

    What leadership training have you completed in the last year? In the past 5 years?

    Have you used what you learned in your business?

    Having leadership training in your business is critical to business success nowadays.

  • Time Management Test

    Time Management Test

    Being a business owner, you have two very precious commodities. Time and Money.  You can always make/borrow more money. But you cannot get your time back.  One of the biggest killers of small businesses is poor time management. Everything you do in your business must be to grow your business, sell your product or service, adding value to your customers.  If you are busy emptying out the trash and cleaning your office during operating hours, you are wasting your time, money, and a very precious commodity.

    There are many different time management techniques available for you to use.  Just find one that works best for you.  It could be a filo-fax, desk calendar, Google calendar, or anything.  Just use a calendar religiously to keep you on task and to move your business forward. Everything needs to go on your calendar. Block out time for calls, then make sure you have your call list (name, title, phone number, why you are calling, and what you want to get out of the call) ready to go. Make these lists in your non-operating hours. Maybe after the business closes or on the weekend. Don’t waste time creating your call list when you should be dialing and smiling.

    Here is a simple time management assessment to see how well you are using your time.  Put a score after each statement, then you will add them up at the end. Scoring: 1=Not like me at all, 2=Not like me, 3=Neither like me or not, 4=Like me, and 5=Very much like me.  Be honest with your scoring.

    I hardly ever make a commitment to a deadline I can’t keep: __

    I generally answer emails and return phone calls right away: __

    Once I have the information I need, I usually make decisions quickly: __

    I am generally able to fit an unscheduled “urgent” action item into my day: __

    I usually feel satisfied with what I’ve accomplished at the end of the week: __

    I seldom find myself running out of time when trying to complete a task: __

    I generally like to focus on one thing at a time: __

    I rarely procrastinate over “not fun” tasks. The sooner the tasks get done, the better: __

    I often don’t get jobs done for days, even if they require little effort to sit down and do them: _

    I frequently leave things for “tomorrow”: __

    When faced with a huge task, I chunk it down & figure out what to do 1st so I can get going: __

    I often have a task finished sooner than necessary: __

    I never have to waste time looking for things. I usually know where everything is: __

    When deadlines are getting close, I often waste time by doing other things: __

    I find it easy to say “No” to requests that are not my priorities: __

    Scoring Key:

    46 – 75            Congratulations! Your time management is fantastic!

    31 – 45            Very good! But there is room for improvement.

    15 – 30            Oh dear! The good news is that you can find a lot of time once you improve your time management skills.

    Here are just a few ways you can be more efficient and STOP waiting time.

    PRIORITIZING AND ORGANIZATION

    • Take 30 minutes on Sunday to plan your week ahead
    • Make a daily To-do-list
    • Prioritize
    • Assign the time you will need to finish the task
    • Start doing
    • Identify the five most important things on your list and do them
    • Spend the first 15 minutes of every morning looking over your to-do-list
    • Set fixed times every day for uninterrupted work and communicate them
    • If you can do the task in less than 5 minutes, do it RIGHT AWAY
    • Organize your desk before you leave it for the night
    • In the last 15 minutes of the day review your list and prepare for the next day.
    • Stop multitasking! – Do one thing at a time!
    • Work against time – You’ll get your work done faster
    • Limit your phone calls to a max. of five minutes per call
    • Take an hour every week to organize your paperwork
    • Use your email inbox as a to-do list. What’s done gets archived
    • Limit the number of meetings that you attend

    STOP PROCRASTINATION

    • Don’t think! START!
    • Just take the first step
    • Start with the task you least like doing first
    • Make a decision. Any decision.
    • If the task is overwhelming, break it down into mini-tasks

    SAY NO

    • “Sorry. I can’t do this at the moment. I have other priorities”
    • “Now is not a good time. I’m very busy right now”
    • “I’d love to help you but…”
    • “No sorry, I can’t…”
    • Don’t accept any new tasks until you have everything under control
    • Don’t run any errands
    • Set fixed times for checking your emails
    • Set fixed times for your social media activities
    • Leave some time in your schedule or unexpected events
    • Ask yourself every morning: “What is my most important task of today.”

    Starting today, find a time management method that works for you and USE IT!

    Follow the time management tips use your time effectively and grow your business.

  • Difficult Conversations – Use your coaching skills

    Difficult Conversations – Use your coaching skills

    Many owners and leaders have confided in me that one of the most difficult aspects of their job is those difficult conversations that have to have with their employees. A lot of those leaders either ignore them or hope they will go away by themselves. But wishful thinking is not managerial thinking. To face up to personal employee habits that may upset customers or colleagues, team leaders need to have a strategy, a plan, and the skills to confidently know how to put things right. As with everything, there are right ways and wrong ways to have these sensitive discussions and I hope you choose the right way.

    Difficult Conversations: A 5-Point Plan

    The following plan can be applied to any difficult conversation with an employee whose habits need to be changed. These include employees with unpleasant personal habits, such as poor personal hygiene, as well as employees with attitude problems.



    1. It’s Only Difficult If You Think It Is

    Drop the idea that this will be a “difficult” conversation. Look at it in terms of a performance issue. Focus on the desired outcome which is always to bring the person up to the standards required of everyone. Remember that you have the assertive right to raise the issue if it is something that affects you or the people you are responsible for. You don’t have to justify, explain, or excuse yourself.



    2. Even When It’s a Personal Issue, Don’t Make It Personal

    Many “difficult” situations arouse strong emotions in people which in turn make the exchange appear personal. The only feeling you should have is a desire to help the other person. If you are feeling angry, anxious, or embarrassed, stop. Connect your head to your heart. Discuss what the person is doing and what they can do differently. This is not about who they are.



    3. Ease Your Way In

    In any conversation that deals with personal issues, it is best to ease your way in while not misleading the person about the subject under discussion. One good route into the personal is to start with clichés, such as “How’s things going?”, then move on to facts, proceed to their views, and finally to how they feel. Do this without skirting around the issues or trying to sneak the issue in under the guise of something else.



    4. Link Your Feedback to a Business Issue

    If you are the team leader, you need to relate everything in the conversation to business issues, e.g. “Your appearance (manner; hairstyle; hygiene; grooming; attitude) isn’t what our customers expect from a business like ours”. While they may want to explain why they are behaving as they are, “why” is not what it’s about. Acknowledge their reasons, but don’t go there. For you, it’s more about “what” – what they are doing and what they can do differently.



    5. Have a Neutral Spot Where You Can Both Go If Things Become Awkward

    If people become defensive, you’ve likely hit a raw nerve. It’s at this stage that you need to back off by going to a neutral third spot where you can both look at the behavior dispassionately. Don’t challenge them by saying something like, “Your personal hygiene needs to be improved”. Instead, say something like, “Let’s try to figure out why you and I see this issue differently”.



    Difficult Conversations: You Can Succeed

    Difficult conversations are unavoidable in the workplace but, given the right approach and the right skills, they can be managed. You should aim to put emotions, stress, and personal issues aside and bring behavior, performance, and the business center stage. Keep your composure, be compassionate, and be determined to create a successful outcome.

    Whatever you do, don’t avoid these conversations otherwise the issue will grow and fester. It will impact more of your business operations than you know. Develop a plan of action before having these difficult conversations and you, the employee and the business will be much better off.

  • What did you learn in 2023?

    What did you learn in 2023?

    What lessons did you learn this year?

    Were they positive lessons? Or negative lessons?

    Recently I read the Fast Company magazine on their top 30 most productive people, and I found some very interesting similarities within ALL of these interesting people.  Here they are (in no particular order):

    • They all get adequate sleep. Anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. If you have not been exposed to the mounds of research showing that sleep is very important for us, then here is a summary. You need to get at least 6 to 9 hours of good REM sleep per day. Being sleep-deprived and proud of it is not a positive thing.
    • They all have set schedules made in advance. They know before they go to bed what they are doing the next day, and then they review it in the morning to stay focused and productive.
    • They all have filters on their email and social media. Having a set routine on when they look and respond to emails as well as setting up filters to avoid junk improves their productivity. Same with social media. They all stated they do look at social media, but narrowed down which sites they look at, for what reason, and only in small doses.  They are not scanning Facebook looking for cool GIFs.
    • Most of them exercise. They do some form of exercise, whether it be yoga, working out, etc. Some of them even told us their food habits, which works well for them.
    • They all read – BOOKS. Yes, real paper books.  Studies have shown we retain and process words better on paper than on a tablet, computer, phone, or any other electronic device.  So, set some time out of the day and read.

    Speaking of books. I do a mix of real paper books along with audiobooks within my schedule. Do yourself a HUGE favor and stop listening to the talking heads on the radio while you drive and educate yourself with an audiobook. As Brian Tracy says, turn your car into a rolling university by listening to books while you drive. In 2023, I have read/listened to 67 books.  Many times, I will be reading one book and listening to another in my car.

    Here are some great books that I read/listened to in 2023 (in no particular order):

    • Think and Grow Rich lost secret – Vic Johnston.  This is a great expansion to think and grow rich with a lot of deeper insight into the original book by Napoleon Hill.
    • The One Minute Millionaire – Mark Victor Hansen. Great insight into how to achieve extraordinary wealth and success. Easy to understand examples of wealth creation.
    • The Coaching Habit – Michael Stanier. If you own/lead a business or manage anyone, then this should be on your reading list in 2024. It provides great insight on how you can be a better leader/manager and get more out of your people just by asking great questions.
    • Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg. You may have heard that to form a habit, you need to do it for 21 straight days. This book is right up that alley and gives some great advice on how to develop that positive habit a little easier.
    • ABC’s of Success – Bob Proctor.  An older book, but still very relevant today. Great for new business owners and those business owners looking to get a reboot within their business.
    • Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill. This is always on my annual reading list and it should be on yours as well.  Reading this “Workbook” every year will keep you on your path to success.  Get into a mastermind group to get the most out of this book and improve your life.

    No matter what, we all have learned something this past year. If you haven’t learned one or more new things, then make a plan to learn something new in 2024 and put it into practice to grow your business, or improve your life, maybe move up in the company you work for, get a new job, mentor someone, share your time by volunteering for an organization that you have no affiliation with.  Just learn something new.  I learned how to use a new CRM in 2023.  What did you learn?

    By continually learning you are growing as a person.  Right now, decide what action you are going to take to learn something new in 2024. Read more real books. Take an educational class. Learn a new computer program. Learn martial arts. Just learn.

    I wish you much learning success in 2024.

    Let me know what were your favorite books that you read/listened to in 2023 and why.