People don’t leave companies they leave leaders! We have all heard and experienced this notion in one form or another. You either know someone who has or you have left a company due to poor leadership, I know I have. Furthermore, if your firm is experiencing high turnover (and it is not an intentional “house cleaning”) it is undoubtedly in …
Bad employees: fire them or make them quit?
People matter the most and have the greatest impact on the organizational success and failure. It is (or should be) clear to all leaders that their primary focus needs to be on attracting and retaining top talent and that this should come ahead of policies, processes and technology which are also of great importance. However, at times, we will make …
It’s OK to say NO to your clients
Matching your skills and passions with market needs if the best way to ensure longevity, relevancy and revenue. On that quest, at times, you will come across those you should part with at the earliest opportunity. Strangely enough, sometimes those folks include some of your your current and prospective clients. Being paid for a product or service is the name …
Be a leader, not a decision maker
Leadership is earned, not given and as such you need to justify your privilege to lead others. Your title alone is not enough to make you a leader. Your position as a CEO, CIO, CFO, CMO, President, Vice President…gives you an opportunity to make decisions, not necessarily lead people forward. To lead others you must win their hearts and minds, …
Leaders protect people and make them feel safe
One of many responsibilities of leaders is to protect their staff and make them feel safe, comfortable and welcome at work. Besides being the right thing to do, you want your employees to be productive and to come back tomorrow and as such it is on you to provide a welcoming and supportive environment.
Build a great team, they are your reflection
The quality of your team, their performance and contributions are directly related to you as a leader. In a sense, they are a reflection of you. You set standards, expectations and instill values across your team and as such you need to use caution in the initial selection process. Furthermore, you need to provide them resources they need to be …
Proactively reward your top performers, your top 10%
Top performers matter. Your top 10% of employees matter the most as they are the ones who truly move the needle and make a positive difference in your strategy and operations. This is why you must be strategic and thoughtful when it comes to managing their careers in a sense. Executive leadership must know who the best employees are at …
Sales will make you or break you
Sales is the name of the game. We all know that the overwhelming majority of organizations are in business in order to generate revenue and be profitable. In order to do so, they must invest in their sales teams with focus on increasing market share, attracting new customers and furthering their business development. When it comes to selecting and training …
5 interview questions to ask employer
You are nearing the end of an interview where you have been asked a number of questions and now it is your turn to ask a few of your own. While there is no requirement to ask questions, it is always a good idea to do so as it shows interest, preparation and desire to join the team. Having said …
Why value is greater than recognition
In all you do, focus on providing value to others over getting small wins in a form of a personal recognition. While it is nice to be recognized for your accomplishments that cannot be your focus as it has a potential of developing into something very negative which is an impression of a self-centered individual. Continue providing value to your …