Archives for "July, 2009"
3 Lessons From Franchises
Corporations can learn a thing or two from the track records of successful franchises:
1. Franchises have grown by hewing to a single idea and a singular focus. Too many corporations have tried to be everything to be everybody.
2. Franchises are forever bringing in new people into the fold. As far-flung entreprises employing a wide variety [...]
Tips to Hit the Target
Expert recommends establishing teams made up of purchasing, engineering, and production staff. Give them the goal of reducing costs to some percentage below the existing budget. It’s amazing how often a team hits the new target.
Team members tell suppliers, “This is all we have to spend on these materials.” Suppliers understand the limits and usually [...]
How to Show You Are an Expert
A reputation as an expert, and the influence that it provides, is attained only after a person becomes adept at conveying expertise to others. Thus, an expert must master both the substance of the subject and the communication skills needed to relate that knowledge to an audience. To further your own reputations as an expert, [...]
Smart Packing Tips
Pack one or two of your outfits in your companion’s suitcase and have him or her do the same in yours. This way, if one piece of luggage is lost, you’ll both have fresh clothes until it is recovered or replaced.
Create a “Defeat the Enemy” Spirit
It’s not sufficient that I succeed – all others must fail.”- Genghis Khan, Mongol conqueror (1162-1227)
A corporate mission expressed in terms of defeating an enemy can be a powerful motivator. Some of the examples from the 80’s are Pepsi’s “Beat Coke” and Honda’s “We will crush Yamaha”.
The typical business goal expressed in number terms- such [...]
Help Employees Achieve Their Goals
Most of us, when trying to motivate people, first decide what we want, then persuade others to want the same thing, notes Leaderships. Napoleon Bonaparte knew better; he found out what his men wanted most, then did everything he could to help them to get it.
When his soldiers were starving, he promised them food in [...]
Streamline Salespeople Paperwork
Salespeople are valuable and expensive resources whose talents lie in direct customer contact. Periodically reviews and revise the paperwork the sales staff must read and complete. Eliminate red tape to free salespaper for selling and customer support.
5 Tips to Rev Up Your Career
1. Court visibility. Make yourself visible to your peers, top management, and colleagues in the industry.
2. Become well-known to recruiters. Otherwise, if you ever need a new job, you’ll start job hunting from scratch.
3. Sharpen your coaching skills. Lead your people in a agreed-on direction.
4. Rethink your reading habits. How often do you say, “what [...]
4 Tips in Getting Your Money’s Worth
Too many consultants and clients end up fad-surfing together rather than working on the real problems. To get your dollar’s worth out of consultants, a manager must:
1. Keep the focus on the main problem, however painful, not on the latest fad.
2. Hold the consultant to the responsibility of solving, rather than dodging, problems.
3. Use the [...]
7 Steps in Preparing a Winning Proposal
Ask yourself these questions before preparing a proposal:
1. What is the client’s problem or need? Study his business situation and state this for yourself.
2. What makes the problem worth solving? Clients often want to increse productivity or profitability.
3. What goals must be served by the action you’re suggesting? Consider business, technical, social and personal goals- [...]
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