How to Build Strong Business Values

Values are all about self-reflection. The good news is: you have complete control over your corporate values. There are few things in business over which you can claim to have full control. But values is one of them and that makes it essential to your strategy. The bad news is: we often get lost in…

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Examples of Basic Competencies

For many years we have been struggling with the definition – and correct appreciation – of soft skills. Basic Competencies are a useful replacement. Many employers find “soft skills” too vague: when it comes to actually evaluating and choosing a new employee they prefer a material selection process; something to which they can point with…

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Technical Skill or Cultural Fit?

Neither. Equally important: Both. When hiring, most companies tend to focus on one or the other of these options as a priority. And indeed both must be considered. On the other hand, at some point you have to choose which consideration outweighs the other, and either answer presents its limitations. Technical Skill – The Good…

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Training versus Coaching

Training and Coaching are two words often used interchangeably. Most companies have some form of training, and a consequence of the confusion between these two terms, is that they do not also add a form of coaching, thinking it is all already done. Let’s start with definitions. What is the difference? Training is, in essence,…

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Plan for Change

“Predictions are hard, especially about the future”. Regular readers of the blog will know about the importance of adaptability in business. There will always be things, beyond your control, affecting how you do business. The only constant is change As you adapt to new circumstances you simply tell your employees and clients that you have…

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Practical Mission Statement Examples

Thank you to Russel Earnest of Shirt Sleeves Solutions for pointing me towards the Inc.com article Walking the Talk: How to Turn a Mission Statement into Sales. Russell and I had been discussing the uses of mission statements, and he kindly saved and shared the print article with me. I have written in the past about…

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Hire Wisely

In the last few blog posts I discussed the importance of defining a Market Opportunity and controlling Cashflow in order to build a successful business. My original post mentioned a third reason why new businesses fail: hiring the wrong people. You write up a job spec, send it to the appropriate networks, get some CVs…

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Telling your Story

When to use your Mission Statement. There are three core audience categories for a mission statement – other than the business owner him- or herself: Employees Clients Investors and Executives Find out how using your Mission Statement to serve these three audiences will enhance your business success. I have introduced the concept of Mission Statements:…

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What is a Mission Statement

My first video blog, an edited transcript is below. You have all heard of the furniture giant known as Ikea, I presume. When you think of Ikea, what comes to mind? Home furnishings; DIY; a unique shopping experience; affordability… a lot of things will come to mind when you think of Ikea. I would like to take…

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Nelson said it best

Admiral, that is. This follows on last week’s post about the importance of a Mission Statement in allowing for adaptability. Bear with me. Last year I had the pleasure of hearing Lindsay McGregor speak about her book Primed to Perform, while working on new systems for a company with a growing sales team. McGregor and…

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