Corporate Coaching and Employees: One Step Ahead
Don t shoot... We re on the same side. Contrary to popular belief, a corporate coaching session with your employees is not the beginning of the change process. Our studies and consulting indicate that, 90 of the time, employees already have a clue that a problem or challenge is on the horizon. Furthermore, some employees have already resolved to take action and correct an existing problem or prevent or minimize impending problems. This start of pre-existing readiness is called the employee s own force self-motivation for change. In corporate coaching, the trick for the manager is not to let employees feel too threatened, exposed, or vulnerable when they sit down with you. If employees believe that they won t be tortured or tormented, they will begin to relax and share data and impressions.
Do You Ever Give Up Coaching Employees?
In principle, we don t want to give up coaching employees. We want to believe that we can eventually make a difference. Sometimes it s our own ego that drives our persistence and determination. In reality, if we have followed the coaching process, we have honored our stewardship as a coach. This is especially true if we have followed the process for a significant period of time. However, coaches often make the mistake of staking their pride and confidence as a coach on one or two challenging situations. This can be dangerous! It would be nice to believe that we have that much control over another human being. However, everyone has the right to choose their own destiny. We can t force change we can t even motivate someone else. But, we can clarify, explain, explore, highlight, recommend, and encourage.
Over Delivering Provides Big Results
Over promising is a problem only when you under deliver. There are a number of ways that you can overdeliver to your customers or prospects, and as a result create a win-win situation for you both. They will be provided with some additional value, while you will be upgrading your learning around a particular issue, adding another product or service to your business, or even increasing the mastery level of your craft. For example, let s say you are a communications coach. You might consider offering a complimentary group call for your current clients. The discussion during this call will not only increase your understanding of some aspect of your business, but it might provide the raw material for crafting a top 10 article, an e-book or an e-course - more things which might be passed along to your clients as a value add.
Christmas and Business Gifts for Your Clients and Employees!
Tis the season for business and corporate gift-giving! If you believe in the law of reciprocity, and if your business is the least bit successful you must you know that giving back is not only the right thing to do, but it s very smart business as well. Let s look at some of the benefits and mechanics of Christmas and holiday gift-giving. WHY DO IT AT ALL? Gift giving is an excellent way to not only say thank you for all the business and continued loyalty your clients and customers have shown over the past year, it help to solidify relationships and in some cases, actually tilt the playing field in your favor. A well-conceived business gift will speak volumes on your integrity, thoughtfulness and sincerity and may make the difference between you and a competitor.
Time Management Tip: Stop Micro-Managing Employees
If I was a fly on the wall what would I hear your employees say? Would it something like this? They won t allow me to make even the simplest decisions. The red tape here makes it very difficult for me to do my job. Management has to sign off on everything they don t trust me. A big time waster for managers is micro-managing - paying extreme attention to small details and not giving people the authority to do their job. If it is such a time waster why do so many managers get hooked into micro-managing? Here are some reasons. Top down mirroring. The CEO or President micro-manages his or her direct staff. The staff then unconsciously adopts the same management style with their direct reports. The practice spreads, or mirrors itself, and becomes part of the culture.
From Employee to Entrepreneur: Taking the Plunge
Before you decide whether or not running your own business is right for you, start by pinpointing your area of expertise and assessing your aptitude for business. Starter Questions Ask yourself the following questions: - In what areas do people approach me for advice and assistance? From what parts of my job do I get the most satisfaction? - What do I like doing so much that I would do it even with no pay? - What hobbies or interests could I spin off into a small business? - Do I enjoy budgeting and financial planning? - Do I enjoy making cold calls, tele-marketing and selling? - Do I have enough self-discipline to work on my own? - How easy is it for me to bounce back from rejection setbacks? Proceed with Caution Before you take the plunge, it s important to wade in gradually or you may just find yourself swamped.
How To Get 10 More Work Out Of Your Employees
It is getting harder to run a business for a profit. We are faced with rising costs, lowered demand etc. Our businesses have to be super effective just to keep up. But: How many more benefits are possible? Will pay increases increase effectiveness? Do more benefits really cause workers to produce more? Well there is a way to increase productivity without increasing your Overhead. We deal with doctors every day. And the number one complaint the doctors get from their patients is that their job is making them sick. And they aren t far from the truth. No I m not saying YOU are making them sick. Their work environment is making them sick. Examples: 1. We had one office where the bosses turned off the air conditioner at 5PM on Friday.
How to Collect Business Cards
Why the business card grab is not why you are there? So how do you obtain the card and show interest that gains confidence? One of the things I am also always asked is, How do you collect cards? and What do you do with them when you get them back to the office? What really happens when you collect business cards? Often they get put into a pocket with many others. Have you ever collected cards to later find out that you have no idea who the person was? This happens all the time. It is probably better to pick a few good leads rather than collect everything sometimes that is difficult to do if people trade cards with you. Choose one pocket for the timely leads and carry post it notes to add information.
Dealing with People - Words to Avoid
You probably realise how the wrong tone of voice and negative body language can cause problems when dealing with other people, particularly customers and staff. However, using the wrong words can also cause problems. There are certain trigger words that cause people to become more difficult especially in emotionally charged situations and they should be avoided. These include: Have to - as in - You ll have to speak to the sales department yourself I can t or you can t - as in - I can t do anything about that or You can t do that I ll try - as in - I ll try and speak to finance department today But - as in - I agree with what you re saying but??.. Sorry - as in - I m sorry bout that What DO I say I hear you cry?
Harness the Power of Direct Marketing - More Small Business Power Tools
One of the most powerful tools available to small businesses is direct mail. By this I don t mean electronic, Internet-based mail, but the old-fashioned kind that requires a stamp and a trip to the post office. Why is direct mail such a powerful tool? It s a way for small businesses, especially retailers, to separate themselves from the big box stores such as Best Buy and Wal-mart, and to compete successfully with the Amazon.coms and Ovestock.coms of this world. The power of direct mail, if done right, is that it s like getting a letter from your sister, mother or aunt. The postman brings it to your home. It s addressed to you personally. And when was the last time you received a letter from Best Buy, Wal-mart, Amazon.com or any Internet retailer?