How Enthusiasm Translates into Results
On a scale of 1 to 10, how enthusiastic are you about beginning each day? As a business owner, or an employee who thinks like an owner, the attitude you bring each morning sets the tone for how the rest of team shows up to work. Simply put, smiles and positive energy translate into productivity…
Foundations of Excellence in Business Leadership
The search for finding purpose in life comes in many forms. In Luke Marusiak’s book, “Foundations of Excellence in Business Leadership,” his premise is that business, the company you work for or own, determines the purpose of your life. The author goes on to say that, “If a company determines your life’s purpose, it ought…
Measuring Employee Attitude vs Aptitude
“We teach I don’t know and punish I don’t care.” This team development concept came up during conversation when our neighbors were over for dinner. Bram is a Training Sergeant with the Port of Seattle Police and was explaining that if a police officer doesn’t know how to do something (I don’t know), then it…
Discovering the Ultimate Experience
An essential ingredient of realizing potential while building highly effective individuals and teams is teaching “how to get comfortable being just slightly uncomfortable.” At DirtFish in Snoqualmie, WA, this brand promise is delivered 7 days a week throughout the entire year. Last week, I learned from Malli Sheaffer that the most prestigious rally driving…
Does Your “New Employee” Marketing Suck
By all accounts, the economy is currently firing on all cylinders and many companies are growing to the point of reaching capacity constraints. With unemployment at an all-time low and voluntary quits up 40% since 2015, countless businesses are struggling to find good employees. If the old recruiting method of placing a boring job ad…
How Well Are You Received
Increasing self-awareness regarding how you are received by others is difficult; especially if you are the business owner and see the company through your eyes. By reversing the lens and observing what’s really going on inside your company from an employees’ perspective, will the view be similar, or will your eyes literally be opened to…
Why Effective Listening Improves Your Business
If you are struggling to come up with ideas to improve your business and engage with the right audience, start by improving your listening skills. Two elements of effective listening are: (1) identifying the right audience and (2) asking the right questions. The next step is simple; convene a focus group to uncover and identify…
Unsuccessfully Navigating a Wild Goose Chase
Have you ever worked hard at something and later discovered that almost everyone else achieved a better result? If leading your company sometimes feels like running into a 70-mph headwind, while competitors seemingly cruise by in the opposite direction, then keep reading. Last Saturday, Carrie and I joined our neighbors Jessica and Bram on a…
How to Increase Employee Loyalty
Have you ever noticed how some companies do a remarkable job of creating an environment where employees enjoy coming to work each day (and others do not?) Employees who bring a positive outlook to their job typically produce positive outcomes. The opposite it true too. Using weather conditions as an analogy, is your company workplace…
Do Your Clients Feel Cared For
In a technology driven world that seemingly rewards increasing depersonalization, smaller companies can effectively compete by incorporating quaint ideas like #BuldingCaringRelationships! into their business model and strategy. On a scale of 1 to 10, do your clients feel like you truly care about their well-being? If you don’t know the answer to this question, are…