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."
Everyone joins an organization with varying levels of skills and experience. The effective use of role-playing can generate incremental leaps in capabilities through fostering interactive learning between co-workers.
Good meetings don’t just happen. Preparation, Planning and Practice make good meetings. Good meeting techniques, like your organization, change and evolve. Some meetings will be better than others but your goal should be to have your people leave your meetings feeling like they understand what is going on, why something is happening, and be excited about moving forward.
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.
Customer service is not a profit center. Ironically, quality customer service has more in common with advertising and marketing than most organizations realize.
Today’s post is about giving the people who dedicate their careers to solving problems for our clients and customers, the tools and support they need.
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.
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.
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.
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.