In 1500 words or less, each post will give you something you can use TODAY to build yourself, your people and your organization whether your organization is a "for-profit" or a "not-for-profit."
There will be a variety of posts, encompassing everything from hiring checklists to training ideas and documents based on more than 25 years of experience and learning from the best people in the business.
I have realized that many times I have contributed to my setbacks and defeats as much as I have benefited from the successes that I have had. In that journey friends, co-workers, and competitors have tried to teach me lessons that many times I stubbornly refused to acknowledge and appreciate …until recently.
Give me five minutes, and perhaps you might be able to apply their lessons for yourself on your journey.
Nothing about difficult situations and angry people is ever simple.
Rarely is there one trigger and one solution. Nuance, exceptions, and the lack of anything resembling black and white all are factors in finding solutions to their problems. There is never just one or two sides to a story, there are usually forty-two sides!
This post is about a process, the tools, and the training required to anticipate, avoid, and ultimately how to deal with these situations when they occur.
Have you ever tried to reinvent yourself only to have people tell you that it’s too bad your skills aren’t broader or more applicable to the opportunity they have?
A famous racecar driver once said that races are won by how fast you get through the corners, not how fast you go in a straight line. Many organizations focus on the flash and sizzle of their worlds, ignoring at their peril the routine and perceived “basic” things. Failure to acknowledge and overcome Organizational Vulnerabilities are the things that will cause your team to fail.
For businesses, for organizations, and for new and existing associates; telephones are one of the misused and underutilized tools they have.
Take a moment and check out this post.
You want to be in control of your career.
By recognizing the signs for what they are, especially if you are a long-term employee of your organization, you can start planning and preparing. You want to do things on your terms.
You might be scared, you might feel stuck financially or because of family responsibilities or/and because of the the lack of opportunities; all of those are natural responses.
Embracing rather than ignoring, will allow you to take the steps necessary to secure your future.
Having a bad boss can cause very real stress and anxiety. Remember, you have rights and you have options.
If you feel stuck because of family obligations, financial pressures or because there is a lack of opportunities, do not despair. There is help and there are choices.
IS THE CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ALWAYS RIGHT?
Of course not. Should every customer/client be treated fairly, with dignity, with respect, and should they always get value for their time and money? YES, every time.
It is a simple rule.
Encountering difficult staff … is only a matter of time in any organization.
People working together are going to disagree. Add pressure, deadlines, and even situations outside of work and – as an owner or supervisor – you will have to have a difficult conversation with one or more of your associates.
Plan and prepare for when that time comes.
For most of my career, I was tasked with creating schedules for whichever organization I was a part of. From that, I learned many lessons … usually the hard way. A schedule is a compromise between the needs of the organization and the needs of the associate. If done fairly, consistently, and with a degree of accommodation, schedules can be made to work for almost everyone. What follows is a compilation of some lessons and tips for scheduling that work.