Monthly Archives: September 2012

Competition!

Does the very word scare you or energize you?  Do you run a small business and the competition is a bigger business?  Are you in an organization and competing for the next promotion?  Is competition a threat or a motivator?  Here are some thoughts about competition.

Thought one:  Limit your focus.  I’ve seen businesses and people fail because they are too focused and too concerned about their competition.  It’s great to know what others are doing in the market place or at work.  Use this information as a way to… Continue reading

Awesome!

When one of your employees is asked about you as a manager, do they say one word – AWESOME!  Here are some tips that might make that happen.

1.  Feedback.  Talk to your employees regularly.  You don’t need formal meetings, you can call someone in your office and give them a quick suggestion.  Remember that feedback should be specific with emphasis on what you want the employee to do.  Keep it about the behavior, not the person.  Avoid giving feedback through email or text.

2.  Always have time for your team. … Continue reading

DON’T!

My husband and I were traveling and stayed in a bed & breakfast in California.  We were struck by an abundance of small notes taped all over the common rooms.  Don’t change the radio station.  Don’t touch.  Don’t enter – private room.  Don’t use this door.  You get the picture.  There weren’t any positive messages to be found.  We met our hostess the next morning and felt uncomfortable at first, not knowing what to expect.  She turned out to be very nice.  She had run the bed & breakfast for… Continue reading