In the chaotic world of small businesses, adapting a systems thinking approach can be the difference between success and failure. This concept, eloquently described in Donella Meadows’ “Thinking in Systems” and echoed in the principles of “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, emphasizes the power of habits as disguised systems. But how do we translate this
Your recruiting process, like other systems in your business, is about creating consistent, predictable results. Whether you’re a two-person business or a company with 300-plus employees, a smart search system takes the guesswork out of hiring. Finding the right hire is just one step in your recruiting system. Here are 5 things to avoid so
People don’t like performance reviews any more than they like report cards in school. Considering how humans are wired, reviews are counterproductive unless the individual is getting only praise. As the boss, you need to ask your employees questions about their performance. The most effective way to measure past and plan for future employee performance
Training your employees is more than just telling them what to do. They need to know WHY they are doing things. Why the WHY? Let’s start with you. Some stress in business is hidden in how you feel about the little things your employees do or don’t do. (You know that stuff that annoys the
Firing someone has to be the most stressful job a business owner has to do. Think stomach pain, fear, high anxiety, concern, and shame all wrapped up into one crappy task of letting someone go. Avoidance is typical until the pain of this person staying is worse than the pain of having to fire them.
Is your small business growing? Do you need more help but aren’t ready for an employee on payroll? Consider outsourcing! What is outsourcing? Outsourcing is simply the process of paying for tasks or services to be completed by someone other than an employee. How can you make the most of outsourcing? A huge opportunity for
Think about company culture as the human operating system in your business. Culture is created by how people who work in your company (including you) behave. Cultures can be described as positive, vibrant, negative, formal or any other descriptive summary of how it feels to be working in your environment. Here are three workplace culture
What if you need help, but not forty hours a week worth of help? You may need to hire a part-time employee. But what if the job seems unfillable with the hours you have to offer? Back in 2007, the economy was booming. It seemed like everybody was working. Small business entrepreneurs couldn’t find workers.
Do you agree with this statement? Typically managers try to motivate by rewarding above-average and punishing below-average employees. How do you think this method of reward/punishment motivates employees? The answer: it doesn’t! Deming’s management theory W. Edwards Deming, a thought leader in business management, talks about joy in work. He says, “Joy in one’s work
Ask anyone in your family or your close circle of friends this question, “When have you received the best customer service?” They will tap their chin and think about it. Then, they will regale a story about a hotel that helped them get checked in early. Maybe an online company didn’t charge them for something due