Be a Thought Leader
You know the guy or gal everyone seeks out for feedback or to brainstorm with because he/she knows their stuff? Their thoughts, strategies, ideas are cutting-edge, intuitive, assertive, even gutsy but not in a give-caution-to-the-wind sort of way. Sure you know him/her. You want to be him/her. But how? How does a person achieve that status? Your ambition to be a thought leader is spot on and here’s why. Being known as an individual who drives innovation and new ideas is a valuable tool in the career growth arsenal, no matter what the profession. Being well connected and respected in…
Uncommon Strategy for Productivity
Think you’ve exhausted the potential out of the common list of productivity tips? A lot of repeats pop-up on these frequent compilations meant to spur you on to greater productivity. Chances are you skim the list, muttering, “Uh huh . . . yep . . . nothing new here.” And then move on. You’re aware of at least the gist of most of the productivity advice out there, but how many have you tried with a focused amount of effort? Being aware of and actually applying a productivity strategy are not one in the same. So let’s define “uncommon” by…
Avoiding Employee Vacation Pitfalls
It happens every year. With the advent of summer, comes employee vacations; and employee vacations can bring conflict, schedule disruption, loss of productivity, etc. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to prevent the mess and ensure a smooth running company. Have a Clear Consistent Vacation Policy Include a discussion of said policy during the interviewing and hiring process. Review it during orientation. Keep it simple and highlight it in the Employee Establish Reasonable Guidelines Be sure to indicate if there are any holidays or peak work periods where necessity places restrictions on vacations. For example, you may…
Workplace Ethics
Ethics – an absolutely essential key to a company’s long-term success. It’s the glue that holds culture, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and everything else that matters together. As Mary Kay Ash says, “Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.” Begin at the Top: For ethics to take root and grow within a company, it must begin at the top. Starting with the owner(s), the board members, and the entire C-Level, ethics must be the focused foundation. This includes: Integrity: Honesty in every detail – from budget to design to materials;…
Effective Communication
Part I – The Barriers You facilitate weekly staff meetings, send detailed email updates—everyone should be on the same page, right? But for some reason, they’re not. What’s going on? Although communication is occurring, obviously it lacks in effectiveness. To be effective, communication must be clearly delivered, fully received, and unmistakably understood. Much easier to describe than to accomplish, though, since communication can break down at any number of junctures between the sender and the receiver for a myriad of reasons. The key to achieving effective communication is an awareness of what may be getting in the way. These common barriers…
Make the Most of Teamwork
2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate? Ahh, the power of a cheering squad and a connected team. It makes the difference in school sports, and it makes the difference in the workforce. From small projects to long-term projects, precision manufacturing depends on a positive, energized team culture. Here are four basic steps for building that kind of power and boosting your bottom line. Build the right team Every time you hire, take the time to hire right. Define the individual roles, including the must-have as well as the ideal skills for each role. Look at specific hard skills, but don’t neglect…