The primary purpose of values in any organization is to create the framework for how people engage with each other, the people they serve, and other stakeholders. Lived values are valuable marketing tools because the culture built with them delivers on its promises. Values written as mere marketing … [Read more...]
Priorities and Metrics: Why getting them right matters (Part 3)
Does this approach to financial transparency, education and sound metrics work? That is the real question. About five months ago, I met with Josh Hutchins, owner and manager of Two Men and a Truck in Fargo, ND. The industry has narrow profit-margins, which heightens the need – and the tension – … [Read more...]
Priorities and Metrics: Why getting them right matters (Part 2)
As I wrote in the last segment, I have a number of pet peeves under this heading. Goofy labels for routine things So many metrics that no one pays attention. Objectives or priorities that are supposed to be measurable but aren’t. Goals that are actually steps in an project plan. … [Read more...]
Priorities and Metrics: Why getting them right matters (Part 1)
I have a number of pet peeves under this heading. Goofy labels for routine, basic things So many metrics that no one pays attention. Objectives or priorities that are supposed to be measurable but aren’t. Goals that are actually steps in an project plan. Metrics without financial … [Read more...]
Building better retention with better supervisors
Are people born great leaders or are they formed by their experiences and training? Of course, the answer is both. Some people have an intuitive sense of how to encourage and guide teams that engenders respect and loyalty. These people benefit from learning techniques and tools that further increase … [Read more...]
Reasons to hate and to love strategic planning
I have a love-hate perspective of strategic planning. Let me start with what I hate. Hate #1: The binder on the shelf I hate strategic planning that delivers a binder filled with data that buries the essence of the process. Once on the shelf, no one ever pulls the damn thing off for any … [Read more...]
No emotion, no decision: Building a better understanding of how decision making works
I’ve had my fair share of discrimination when someone questioned my capabilities to run the company because I am a woman, and research shows that women express emotions more frequently than men. However, I recognize that when emotions are high, intellect runs low so I always have to be assertive to … [Read more...]
Culture matters. Even more during crisis.
Sometime after 9/11, the first responders were interviewed about how well all the teams from multiple departments and areas came together for the rescue and the fire. The chief being interviewed pointed to all the training they had done. They had trained on individual events that occurred but never … [Read more...]
80 hours a week
On Friday, I spoke with a woman who was working 80 hours or more per week to meet the expectations of her boss. To be fair, her boss might not realize how much time she is putting in. We discussed how often we assume others know what we are doing and how often they don’t realize what we are doing to … [Read more...]
Facing a not-so-new new reality
When McKenzie published the reading lists of global CEOs, I discovered only one book appeared on multiple lists: four CEOs listed The Seventh Sense by Joshua Cooper Ramo. These guys (yes, all men) are charged with guiding their companies to success in the coming months and years, and four chose this … [Read more...]
