3 key business skills, part 1: Management

“It is easy to be distracted by your customer-facing work, but the foundation of your success will be built on sound management practices.” This quote is the reason I keep returning to this article in Small Biz Viewpoints.  The article highlights three key business skills that owners must nurture. We’ll take a look at each…

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Would you recommend working for you?

Even better: would you want to work for you? I want you to be very careful when you answer this question, and make sure you are thinking of your business as it really is, not as you want it to be. Your employees work in the reality that exists today, tomorrow, and every day. Not…

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How does everybody spend their time?

“I want all my employees to be in the office to Build better camaraderie Brainstorm more Make sure I know what they are doing“ If you’re in point three, where your employees work doesn’t matter. You still don’t know what they are doing.  What are people doing? It’s unlikely that you spend all day standing…

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Are you living by your guiding principles?

Leading by example is one of the main points of leadership.  You may have noticed: it’s in the word.  To get the behavior you want from your employees is to be the person you want them to be.  They can see you We don’t live in an episode of Big Brother, but we are being…

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Why you should stop having performance reviews

The annual performance review.  Every employee’s favorite moment of their favorite day. They prepare for it, they celebrate it, they wait all year or all quarter for this fun, exciting, stimulating moment— Clearly: I am joking.  Nobody likes performance reviews, neither employees nor employers.  So let’s stop doing them.  Let’s have Stay Interviews instead.  What…

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The 4 stages of a new hire (but only use 3)

Congratulations: you hired someone new!  And of course, they are the right person. Probably. Almost definitely. But, still, we need to have a conversation.  New hire journey First of all: of course you do. It will take everyone time to learn the job, the business, the culture, and even what to do when the coffee…

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3 simple ways to destroy your work life balance

“40 hours is enough”. So Jason Fried tells us when he is telling us about a work week.  40 hours of work each week is enough. Because your life is not just work. Your life is also life, and everything that goes into it.  It’s important to make time for other activities and responsibilities so…

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Stop punishing your best employees (😕yes you are)

Much like children or grandchildren: of course, you don’t have a favorite employee.  You support them all equally and appreciate each one for their individual skills and talents.  Now that we have established that, let’s look at how you are punishing your favorite employees.  Who is your best employee There is somebody who is always…

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How to hire all the worst people

Only hire people you’d want to go out and have a drink with.  Only hire people you wouldn’t spend time with when you’re not at work.  Always hire the smartest guy in the room.  Never hire the guy who has all the answers.  Hire people just like you.  Hire people nothing like you.  All of…

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Do your employees understand what you are saying?

Businesses spend time and resources learning how to speak to clients.  You do this through your copywriters, website designers, and messaging experts, all to make sure that your message is truly connecting.  Now look inward: are you also connecting with your employees? Are they hearing the things you truly want them to hear? The good…

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