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.
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.
How does your organization approach failure?
Silly question?
Okay, let’s ask another … How does your organization approach innovation?
It is rare for any new idea or concept to be fully formed and perfect the day it is suggested. Most fresh ideas and products go through much trial and error before they reach their final form. This leads us back to the initial question …
A new job and new co-workers represent a clean slate and a fresh start. It is chance to build or re-establish reputations and a professional network.
For some, it can also be a period of anxiety and discomfort as they attempt to carve out a comfort zone from the new and unknown.
The following are some helpful hints that can help you or someone you know navigate the first few days with a new organization.
Many small and medium-sized organizations do not have a human resources person or department. This very important function can be just one more very important function that one of the organization’s senior people does along with their other important functions.
The culture of your organization, like its training, is one of the few elements that an organization can control completely. Like training, building an inclusive culture not only sets your organization apart; it is the element that makes good, great.
Finding the right associates, like most things, is easier when your organization has a plan. The following short checklist will dramatically improve your organization’s ability to find and on-board the people you need.
Providing your associates with timely feedback as part of an interactive plan to develop their skills and abilities should be a key component in every type of organization. Training and building a culture of excellence is one of the few things that an organization has complete control over.
Today’s post is about some of the things that drive employees crazy. Awareness is the first step: It is important to do more than just recognize the things on this list; you need to take steps to overcome each of these frustrations. Your associates are the key to your success. This is not a comprehensive list; these are some of the more common frustrations that I have seen in a variety of organizations, both “for profit” and “not-for-profit.”