Management

Look here for tips from my blog for ways in which to strengthen management skills.

Thanksgiving Press Release

A dear friend sent out the following press release to her family a few years ago – it was liberating to her, so on this day of Thanksgiving I offer this to anyone exhausted during the holiday….  (the names have been changed)  You may remember this from last year.

LOCAL THANKSGIVING DINNER LEGEND RETIRES

DATELINE BEACH PARK, IL – Sources close to the story have now confirmed that Mary Johnson, (a.k.a. “Auntie Mary”) this past Thursday announced her retirement from active Thanksgiving Dinner preparation after 30 years “on the job.”  Johnson stated that though she “…loves hosting the Thanksgiving holiday,… Continue reading

I can do everything!

You're on Target!Yes you can – which can confuse everyone. 

Yes you can – which can leave you exhausted. 

Yes you can – and not very well.

You own your own business and you’re just starting out.  It’s a scary time and you want as much business as you can possibly have.  You… Continue reading

Words

What’s in a word?  Everything!  What are you saying to yourself and others?  The words that you use can give you power or take it away.  Here are some of my favorites for you to consider. 

Hope – Hope is one of the most un-empowering words around.  It allows you to believe you’re taking action, when, in reality, you’re taking no action at all.  A close cousin to this word is try.  Do you use hope and try to keep you from taking action? 

How many times have you heard from people – I’ll try to stop by,… Continue reading

Interested or Committed?

Interested or Committed?In the past I’ve wondered why I move forward with some things and why other tasks and projects linger.  Then the light-bulb went on when I read the following definition:

“If you’re interested in something, you’ll do it if it is convenient.  If you’re committed to something, you’ll do it no matter… Continue reading

Rip the band-aid off fast!

Rip the BandAid off fast!I heard a tip from someone the other day.  Hire slow (see Help wanted post) and fire fast!  My experience has been that many managers hire fast and are pretty slow to fire.  

So now let’s talk about the “fire fast” part.  First the disclaimer – I encourage you to follow your company’s procedures when you need to let someone go.  Follow the guidelines, procedures and the law as it applies to your situation.

What I’m talking about is very human.  People like to avoid conflict whenever they can.    I’ve heard leaders say they “don’t… Continue reading