August 10th 2008
By this definition, if the person is struggling, it is actively uncaring to allow him to keep playing a part that doesn’t fit. By this definition, firing the person is a caring act. This definition explains not only why great managers move fast to confront poor performance, but also why they are adept at keeping the relationship intact while doing so. Continue Reading »
August 10th 2008
Whether the employee is at the end of a trial period, or whether he is just struggling along in his current role, it is still difficult to bring him bad news. It is still difficult to tell him that he needs to move out of his role. During Gallup’s interviews, many managers, both great and average, confessed that they were physically sick before each conversation of this kind. No matter how you approach it, no matter how accomplished you are as a manager, removing someone from his role is never easy. Continue Reading »
July 26th 2008
Service organizations will grow up that will enable demand for ordering and delivery to be met continually. Production will be the only variable. Let me explain. There is a relatively finite amount of purchasing power in the world at any one time. There is also a finite amount of time to view and order products. This means that if there was only one shop to order from it would be relatively easy to build a process and an infrastructure that could cope with the total demand for dealing with orders, complaints, payments, deliveries and returns.
This is how postal delivery services work. They know how many homes there are and organize delivery men to deliver each day to a certain percentage based on the general level of demand. Most of the time there is sufficient slack built into the system to cope with demand blips. This may just mean the delivery people working a little faster or longer occasionally. Continue Reading »
July 24th 2008
Keep in mind that most meetings aren’t very effective as they are now run. When you get a chance to facilitate or record, it will be because your group has agreed that it is worth trying something new. You are probably going to look good no matter what you do. The mere presence of a facilitator, recorder, and group memory will do wonders. Even if you think you have done a lousy job, your group may well be impressed just because it will all be so new. Explain that you are learning and will make mistakes. Ask people to help you stay in your role and remain neutral. You are there to help them. It’s their meeting and they share the responsibility for making it a success. Continue Reading »
July 10th 2008
At some point you may receive a bill for legal costs that seems staggeringly out of proportion to what you had originally envisaged. Unless you keep a close watch on the situation you may find that, having put a certain matter into the legal system, the various aspects that can be pursued soon add up to a heavy bill. Having started on this process, it may become difficult to back out, with the result that, what was at first deemed to be a fairly minor exercise develops into a campaign, each stage of which incurs more cost.
So, we should judge the merits of taking legal action or of using the services of the legal profession in the same commercial way that we would purchase other goods or services for the company. Unfortunately we don’t usually do this because we just don’t know what is going on behind the legal scenes. Consequently, we tend to accept professional charges as being fair for the job carried out, relying on the solicitor or lawyer to invoice according to the time and costs he incurs on our problem. Continue Reading »
July 2nd 2008
A number of companies supply special clothing such as jackets, overalls, gloves and shoes, all of which have a practical use outside the factory. It is also easy for special or protective clothing to be taken from a factory or office by simply wearing the outfit and walking out through the door.
This is a frequent and effective method for transferring high value items through the factory gate or office door. Each scrap or waste bin should be thoroughly inspected by a senior person for each department who should also insist that no item is put in the scrap or waste bin without his approval in the first place. A further check on the content of scrap bins should be made by the security staff at the gate and spot investigations should take place as necessary. Careful watch should be kept on the contents of scrap bins as they are weighed in on entering the factory premises. Scrap bins containing water show a high dead weight reading which can result in a lower tonnage of the contents being recorded when the skip is full and the water has been emptied. Continue Reading »
July 2nd 2008
Crime in a variety of guises is on the increase. One of the major growth industries of our time is the supply of equipment to companies and individuals for deterring the thief. New devices for protecting vehicles and contractors’ plant are now on the market to meet the rise in car and equipment theft. Your firm could be suffering a steady drain on its resources through petty or substantial theft. Save money by reviewing all aspects of security.
The thief soon spots any weaknesses in security routines that have been established and practised over a long period of time. These practices and routines become known to all concerned, including the thief, and the tendency is for slackness to creep into the routines anyway. A review of security practices will act as a deterrent. Continue Reading »
June 28th 2008
One of the most traumatic experiences for any worker is to get dismissed. No matter how gently the news might be given, losing one’s job is still a major loss experience. If your work has not been satisfactory and you have had at least one warning meeting with your boss, then the dismissal message might not be a surprise. However, the news is seldom cheerfully received.
The immediate emotional response to being dismissed might be any of the following: anger; numbness; denial; or perhaps even apathy. Whatever your response, you will want to summon your practical senses. Continue Reading »
June 27th 2008
Your pricing policies are first and foremost intended to result in a profit for your company. There are several instances where an adjustment in price can achieve a particular objective, such as:
You should always proceed with utmost caution and remember that the main objective is to achieve a profit for each and every item you sell. Continue Reading »
June 26th 2008
Overcoming our fears means that any dilemmas that may arise in our lives disappear, as situations are perceived differently. Once again, however, what in truth is simple is often difficult to accept. The situations that each of us creates by our fears should be viewed as blessings, each with a role to play. All bring us the same opportunity to learn to release our fears and allow love to emerge in their place.
Each time you confront and conquer your fears you are allowing your true conscience to grow in influence. In doing so you avoid failures and, indeed, view any setbacks as valuable lessons when encountered. People with high self-esteem and no fears about their own worth are excellent people to work for and with. Continue Reading »
