Do Business Well

With all of this talk about the importance of implementing a personal development program, you might say, how is this possible? How do these people have time or resources for reading books and listening to CDs? How am I going to afford a three-day intensive workshop, or scarier yet, long-term one-on-one coaching? And if this kind of training has such an impact, not only on the individual but also on the companies they represent, why don’t employers make this training easier to pursue? Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

B.Value world-class performance in every role: At strong companies every role, performed at excellence, is respected. If you want to understand the culture of a company, look first to its heroes.

• Within as many roles as possible, set up different levels of achievement. Identify specific criteria for moving up from one level to the next. Reward progress with plaques, certificates, and diplomas. Take every level seriously.

Continue Reading »

5 Comments »

Going to a workshop may seem attractive. Yes, you can pick up some skills. But it’s difficult to transfer these skills to your work environment. The so-called university model of training (sending employees to outside educational institutions) has proven relatively ineffective. On the average, you can expect to see the transfer of no more than 5 to 20 percent of the desired skills two years after the training program. Continue Reading »

4 Comments »

No matter how many books you read, how many training programs you attend, or how many meetings you run, you can always improve your facilitating and recording skills. Professionals in any field know this. Famous athletes or performers are constantly experimenting, trying new techniques, striving for perfection which they know, no matter how hard they work, no one can attain. Even if you’ve been fortunate enough to receive professional facilitation training, if you want to become a topnotch facilitator or recorder, you will have to continue learning by yourself. Continue Reading »

4 Comments »

Believe it or not, the bruises will heal, it will get worse before it gets better, and you will see your children again. If these are not some of the things you are currently thinking about, you aren’t working hard enough to make it. During this period of your business’s development, you need to be as devoted to it as you were to your spouse on your honeymoon . . . as devoted as a mother is to a newborn .. and for all the same reasons.

If you’re not coming very close to your goals yet, now might be a great time for you to write down your daily schedule—where you go on a particular day and whom you talk to. By engaging in that exercise, you may be able to see where you are poorly allocating time. Wise use of your time in these early days will greatly improve your company’s fortunes. Continue Reading »

4 Comments »

5. Building a solid foundation: infrastructure required to manage your business

Just as you need a solid foundation for a building, so you need theright infrastructure for your business. This needs to be addressed ahead of time. Seriously, many businesses fail because they become too successful. Their infrastructure can’t cope with their growth and so their business literally falls apart. Don’t make that mistake. Clearly define what infrastructure will be required to run your business, both in the short and long-term. Let’s look at the different components of your business infrastructure:

• Premises: What is the physical capacity your business will require? What will be the optimal location for you in terms of closeness to your customers, major roads and the location of the competition.

Continue Reading »

5 Comments »

McDonald’s executives are fond of saying that “at McDonalds, the reality is bigger than the dream”. Based on the company’s performance since its arrival in South Africa in 1995, one cannot help but agree. Since its South African debut in November 1995, McDonald’s hasn’t looked back and less than five years on, even the most optimistic forecasts have been exceeded by a considerable margin. By the end of 2000, an impressive 96 restaurants were up and running.

International recognition

This rapid growth led to South Africa being named the fastest-growing new market within the highly competitive McDonald’s stable worldwide in 1998. Already, a direct investment of R750 million has created direct employment for over 6 000 people. This number, though impressive in itself, would be significantly higher, were employment opportunities created at supplier level taken into account. Firm plans for further expansion are in place and before long, 250 restaurants will cover the length and breadth of our country. Continue Reading »

4 Comments »