Stop, think and ask some questions as a business owner
December 11th, 2013
The end of the year is always a good time for reflection. A good time to think about what you might do differently next year. Texas CEO Magazine recently published an article that highlights a few questions that can help focus your reflection…
- What Do Customers Really Think of Our Company?
- What Are We Doing to Encourage Innovation Internally?
- What Are We Doing to Support Sales Funnel Growth?
They also offer some good advice…
Asking the right questions of the team and fostering a candid conversation about where the company stands today is paramount to stay competitive in today’s economic environment. Top performing CEOs aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions – they will provide critical data that can be leveraged to create a cohesive strategy involving people, execution, and money, all of which is essential to exceed revenue and profitability goals.
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20 Rules for Constructive Criticism
December 6th, 2013
The Leadership Blog offers 20 great tips to making the most of giving negative feedback.
- Commit to connect with the recipient. Distance undermines positive impact. Sit on the same side of the table, for example.
- Know the career goals of recipients.
- Seek their welfare.
- Define wins clearly.
- Explain issues as behaviors that limit personal and organizational success.
- Tie negative behaviors and solutions to organizational values.
- Purse encouragement more than correction.
- Build on strengths.
- Stick with one issue. More than one issue indicates you already failed in the past.
- Express issues in one or two sentences. The more you talk the worse it is.
- Have examples.
- Feel calm not angry.
- Speak directly and with kindness.
- Provide adequate time and privacy.
- Embrace the possibility you could be wrong.
- Avoid “but.” You’re doing a great job, BUT, is interpreted as, “I’m not doing a great job.”
- Focus on observable behaviors. Don’t interpret intentions or motivations.
- Collaborate on solutions and develop a path forward.
- Draw a line in the sand and start fresh.
- Follow-up with progress reports.
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5 Customer Retention Tips
December 5th, 2013
Business 2 Community recently ran an article with five easy tips to retain customers:
1. Develop a warning system for when customers display signals of being unhappy.
2. Learn how to apply the 7Ps of marketing to customer retention strategies.
3. Deliver the best customer experience you can.
4. Identify and reward loyal customers who engage with your company online.
5. Run relevant promotions
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Unexpected raises win better work
December 4th, 2013
Money Magazine ran an article recently that may make many employees happy, and in return make many employers happy…
With compensation budgets still suffering a post-recession hangover, and the average U.S. salary hike hovering around 3% a year, compensation strategy has become a hot topic. How do you design a pay plan that motivates people to do their best work? A new study by three Harvard Business School researchers suggests a novel answer: Shortly after you hire new workers, give them a raise.
Something to think about!
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