It’s ironic that when leaders become stressed and busy, they forget to use the one tool in their managerial toolbox that will unbury them the quickest: Leverage.
Business Management Blog
Delegating More Effectively: Controlled Delegation
I was speaking to the a president of a family business recently who said: “When my dad retired, he just walked away. This one Monday, he didn’t show up. Again, on Tuesday, no dad. Then Wednesday, another no show. Totally unlike him. Finally, on Thursday, I called him and said, ‘So, are you coming in… Read more »
Don’t Hand Out Business Cards: And Other Counter-Intuitive Tips for Attending a Conference
It stuns me how many people mope their way into a conference. You’re out of the office! You’re in a room of like-minded people! You are surrounded by opportunity!
Five Things To Do When You’re In The News
To create real awareness of your offering, a traditional marketer’s rule of thumb is that prospects must be exposed to your message, on average, nine times. But how can you possibly accomplish that with media coverage when it feels like even one small mention in a local publication is often difficult enough to obtain? The answer: recycle the message.
The President’s Job Description
Arguably, the president is the most important position in an organization, responsible for overall performance and guiding the strategic direction of the firm. Of any, surely this position ought to have a written description of how to accomplish these duties. However, if the company is not public and has no board of directors, it is unlikely the president will have one. Why is a simple, written job description of what the company’s leader does for a living so elusive?
Fixing the Upward Delegation Problem
Upward delegation occurs when work gets pushed up to the highest level in the organization that will accept it. Are your senior people frequently stepping in to “save the day”? Are deadlines missed while juniors wait for approvals? Are you hearing complaints of boredom from your staff while you are running around with your hair straight back? It could be that work is being delegated up.
How to Keep Your Clients: Account Review Meetings
An account review is a regularly scheduled meeting between a supplier and client. It is an opportunity to review each others’ performance and working relationship and, to develop that relationship further.
RFP Responses: The Winning Formula
An RFP (Request for Proposal) is issued as part of the procurement process to allow multiple suppliers to competitively bid on providing a product or service. If you are responding to RFPs as a business channel, employ these best practices to win more contracts more often.
Are Job Descriptions Useful?
A job description defines, in writing, a person’s duties, authorities (tasks they can do without asking permission first), performance criteria, and the qualifications for the role. There are many benefits to using job descriptions, so why do so many small businesses operate without them?
How Busy People Keep Current
How can business people stay informed, current, even ahead of the competition when it comes to the best practices in their industry? Good time management skills help, but the world does not need another time management article. Assuming you know to set goals, prioritize, commit, etc. where can you find the information you need and the time to consume it?