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."
At one time, I mistakenly believed these two types of organizations were mutually exclusive. While there are certainly differences, they share many similarities and have common issues.
Having worked closely with many successful leaders over my career, here are some of the fundamental rules that they lived by:
I have been fortunate that in my career I have had several mentors who have had a significant impact on my life. Some on a personal level who provided inspiration at key life moments, some academically as I struggled and questioned whether I could continue. I have also benefited professionally from several mentors who have helped in the past, now, and hopefully into the future.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s website, in Ontario more than 250,000 workers are injured in workplace accidents annually. Their most recent statistics show the average direct cost of these accidents can be more than $20,000; in medical expenses, lost time, lost productivity, etc. In certain cases, direct and indirect costs can exceed $80,000. Accidents can injure associates and visitors, result in fines, penalties, and lawsuits that in some severe cases can result in organizations being shut down. Many of these accidents are preventable or can be mitigated if an organization, from the top to the bottom, commits themselves to a culture of proper Health and Safety.
“Good to great” is the title of an excellent book by Jim Collins. Collins writes about how some of the good organizations made themselves great organizations by doing things well that were available to everyone in their sectors, but only a few made the effort. As a commission sales associate, you have the same opportunity. The things that you need to do to become truly great are at your fingertips, the same way that they are for everyone else, as with the examples in his book, only the great sales associates do them.
There are many “warning signs” that can help you avoid being a victim. Anticipating that fraud attempts are going to occur, putting preventative measures in place may be your best defense. It is not a question of “if” your organization might be a potential victim of theft or fraud; it is only a question of “when.”
As a sales associate, having the right answer when a customer asks “for a deal” and being able to handle the question comfortably can be difficult for new sales associates and even for older associates who are struggling. In this post, we will discuss some suggestions on how to handle these situations, from some of the best sales associates I have known.
Have you ever had questions about your job and didn’t know who to ask or didn’t feel comfortable asking? When you are a student, it can be a little intimidating.
Some of my posts are about building the culture of organizations. A great way is to encourage your associates to volunteer to help with minor sports. These are a few tips and lessons that people shared with me and I believe made a significant difference helping me to coach, and helping the players to learn and have fun.
Did you know that Students and young workers have a much greater chance of being hurt in the workplace than older workers?
Part of the reason is inexperience and lack of training; another part though is a lack of understanding of the protections that are in place for all workers regardless of experience. Consider this to be an introduction which outlines some of the government legislated protections that are in place for you.
Having endured some painfully boring meetings and tedious presentations in my career, I wanted to share some lessons from some of the very best leaders and presenters I have met.