Build a great company on a powerful foundation!
How enthusiastic are your customers about your products? Your company?
Of course, you have the most amazing products and services. You strive every day to promote them and to constantly improve them. That’s fantastic.
But … enthusiasm for your company? That’s harder to answer.
Read the rest of this entry »I’m a member of a local organization of professional coaches. We recently had a very powerful meeting, and one of the attendees described it in a way which really stuck with me:
“An encouragement based community.”
In fact, that does describe how I feel about this group. More importantly, it got me thinking about how we often use “support” but not “encouragement.” In groups, communities, and the workplace.
Read the rest of this entry »We’re all looking for the magic key to managing employees. But despite all the support, the benefits, the encouragement … they never seem to care as much about the business as you do.
That’s natural. They haven’t poured their heart and soul into it for as long as you have. And, if you’re the owner, you may have your entire life savings tied up in this.
But it is possible to tap that energy, that passion, that caring.
Read the rest of this entry »They’re that wonderful customer. You’ve worked with them for years, but now they’re gone.
This has happened to my clients on occasion, and it really hurts. It can shake them to their foundation if they let it.
Here’s how I’ve helped pull them back from the ledge.
Read the rest of this entry »You’ve probably heard the stories by now. An employee just chooses to disappear one day without a trace. No contact at all.
It doesn’t really matter where this phenomenon came from. What matters is what it tells you about your organization. And yes, it really hurts.
There are a few reasons why someone would do this to you:
Read the rest of this entry »Like most people, my values have changed quite slowly during my life. I can identify a few distinct places where values shifted – like when I graduated from college – but it’s not common.
As I’ve aged, I’ve become clearer about what my values are – but it’s more about learning who I am, not becoming a different person.
When you’re looking to hire great people, this is a critical observation.
Read the rest of this entry »I can get stuck in planning things, and perhaps you can as well. It’s a way to attempt to control risk.
It builds your confidence to make a decision and start moving. At least you hope it does.But here’s the secret: The confidence actually comes after achieving something. Even if you can envision something, it’s not really confidence. It’s hope.
Read the rest of this entry »The absence of job dissatisfaction is not satisfaction, much less engagement.
That was a powerful conclusion from the research of Fredrick Herzberg back in the middle of the last century, and it is certainly true today. It’s a fundamental principle of how we engage employees and others who work for us.
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Do you have the whole world figured out? I sure don’t.
There are days when I’m not sure I understand anything.
That’s where it pays to be curious. Like a child.
Read the rest of this entry »Being driven by ethical values can seem a bit lonely.
After all, the world seems to be screaming at us to focus on making money. The money is great, it’s absolutely necessary. But what about making an impact?
Since you’re still reading this, I assume you’re one of the ones who wants to positively influence the community, world, and society through your business.
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The Values-Based Business 