Why Effective Listening Leads to Effective Team Building
Taking an analogous page from Episode 86 of Seinfeld called, The Opposite, “If all talk and no action is bad for business, then doing the opposite by effectively listening and deliberately acting is good for business!” To transform this idea into action, begin by listening your employees, identifying how they feel about the company and…
How to Help a Team Grow Effectively
The eight most dangerous words in the business language are, “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.” This is especially true when a company is growing, and old processes no longer work in a business that needs to scale. To accommodate growth, companies can hire more people, invest in equipment or technology, OR innovate…
How to Help Employees Increase Team Effectiveness
According to an article in Harvard Business Review, teams of employees become ineffective because “problems with coordination and motivation typically chip away at the benefits of collaboration.” Last week, a question came up on the topic of project management regarding how to replace a modus operandi characterized by a state of urgency with more of…
The Value of ZERO Employee Turnover
In a world where most companies are more concerned with bottom line profitability than development and well-being of employees who make profitability possible, it is heartwarming to see firsthand the impact created when a growing and profitable business reaches the two-year mark with zero employee turnover while consistently adding new employees to the team that…
How to Optimize Your Team Building System
According to a January 2019 survey conducted by Statista, the most important challenge facing small business owners today is, “Hiring good, qualified staff and retaining them.” According to me, the #1 challenge today is, “Building a highly effective, productive and engaged team of employees who think, care and act like owners.” In either case, focus…
Why People Who Take Action Succeed
Last Friday, Kevin McCarthy, CSP, visited the Northwest Chapter of National Speakers Association and delivered a terrific program titled, “Speaker Launch Blueprint: Zero to Six Figures in 12.5 Months.” In two hours, Kevin shared the exact steps he took to create a six-figure keynote speaking business in just over a year. #TakeAction! As the author…
How Championship Teams Are Developed
Last Saturday at the Alpental ski area, an 8-year-old girl raced down a slalom course for the first time. Wanting to create a positive initial experience, her mother, aunt and some friends in our ski group took turns racing against Zoe, who took the lead from beginning to end and whose run times were consistently…
Three Attributes of Successful Companies
Last Friday night, the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted Mardi Gras in the Valley, a gala which brought the business community together for an evening of fun and celebration. As part of the festivities, Chamber Member of the Year awards were presented to Snoqualmie Casino in the Large Company category and JAKZ Group in…
Skiing on the Wildside
Last month, a nervous 11-year old girl showed up for the first of seven ski lessons. Perhaps being blind and unable to see was part of what led to being less than fully confident, but in less than two hours, she was able to convert apprehension into joy and wonderment, truly wanting to see how…
One Person’s Emergency is Another Person’s Opportunity
Your inner voice controls the way you view the world and live your life. Who is in control? Have you become a victim of life’s circumstances or instead do you own and shape your destiny? What does your inner voice say? Whatever it says, you are listening! When life throws you a big snow ball……