Blog

Home » Blog

Leadership Malpractice

I was teaching a session to front line leaders this past week on how to coach, confront and correct employees when there is a gap between expected behavior and performance and the actual behavior and performance. Understandably, confronting and correcting conversations are not easy on the leader or the employee which can result in procrastination, […]

More

Detoxing Your Corporate Culture

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure to meet lots of great people who have survived working in a toxic corporate culture. A toxic company culture takes its toll on individuals and bottom line results.   Just like with environmental toxins, some work place toxins get to you quickly, others take more time to cause […]

More

Managing Prima Donnas at Work

Do you have some employees or co-workers who think of themselves as extra special, indispensible and untouchable? Their superior attitude often ticks off the people who work with them. So today we look at the right and wrong way to deal with prima donnas in the workplace.   Dealing With Prima Donnas at Work   […]

More

How to Combat Being a Commodity

Do your customers keep pressuring you to reduce prices by saying that they are getting more favourable terms from your competitor? It is in the buyer’s best interest to convince you that what you provide is a commodity. That way, they transfer more profit margin from your company to their’s. Is what you provide really […]

More

How Leadership Impacts Profitability

At a gut level we know that leadership is important and necessary. As I think back over the many bosses I worked for, only a small fraction exhibited good leadership skills. And those good bosses… I still think back fondly on how they helped me along my career path. Even the good ones were far […]

More

Change Yourself, Change Your Employees

Being the boss isn’t as glamorous as it used to be. For a little extra pay, a little extra flexibility and an elusive sense of control, managers take on the stress of being accountable for the performance of the workgroup and leave behind many of the activities that used to create job satisfaction. One of […]

More

Sales Strategies for a Challenging Marketplace

It’s official, the recession is over! Or is it? While politicians and economists debate when the recession officially ends, those of us in sales still face the daunting task of hitting year end targets with less than 11 weeks to go before we close the books on 2009. What can you are your team do […]

More

What do you put up with?

Chances are that you have at least two or three significant and aggravating people issues that you know you SHOULD do something about and haven’t. A few examples: An employee or peer who complains constantly and is “high maintenance. A manager who is completely lacking in leadership skills and treats his peers and/or employees with […]

More

Multi-location operations – why performance and profitability varies from store to store

I probably shouldn’t have been thinking about business when I was supposed to be enjoying a meal out with my wife and daughter. We headed down to the closest location of a national italian restaurant chain. Based on previous experiences, it wasn’t my first choice. I should have trusted my gut. The men’s washroom was […]

More

Finish Strong in 2009 and Set Up for Success in 2010

A new business season is upon us and with it comes some old challenges and some new ones. Here are three action steps to achieve a strong finish in 2009 and set your organization up for a great year in 2010. 1. Get a Recovery and Growth Mindset Now is the time for you and […]

More