The most powerful method of learning is in the organizational classroom where actual work issues and problems are discussed. Several opportunities exist for both individual and group learning. I’ve listed a few of the best ways to learn faster than your competition. Best Practices A best practice is an idea, process, or technique that’s proven [...]
Continue reading → A gap in organizations today is the ability to share information and knowledge gained in day-to-day business operations. This is at the core of using rapid learning to gain competitive advantage. Obstacles that stand in the way of this sharing of knowledge include multiple locations and the organization structure itself. The traditional, functional, or hierarchical [...]
Continue reading → This is the ability of an individual to identify their learning needs and opportunities and to engage in fulfilling those through a variety of techniques. Methods of self-directed learning include self-instructional programs such as tutorials and electronic learning programs available on the Internet or via DVD. Internal and external workshops, seminars, and information exchanges also can fill [...]
Continue reading → The overall objective is to decrease sales and marketing costs, increase revenue, and improve bottom-line performance through higher-quality outside sales execution. In addition, it’s important to implement a structure for continuous improvement through focus, discipline, and a coaching process built on accountability Fine-Tune the Selling Process Begin with the prospect or customer. Spend more time [...]
Continue reading → For each focus area below, you will find the business objectives and the action planning required to successfully achieve these objectives. PLANNING Business Objectives Communicate to past, current, and prospective customers, looking for the “sweet spot” of need meeting service capability. Create an action plan to close business—eliminate peaks and valleys in orders and client [...]
Continue reading → One of the approaches to adjusting to change and adversity is to focus on the costs of the organization with an eye toward reducing costs and expenses where possible. Many companies start by looking for any and all opportunities to cut costs, which is the most logical approach. The caution here is that cost reduction [...]
Continue reading → As a regular management practice, it’s advisable to scan the external environment to identify changes that might have an impact on your business. Examples of this include economic, technological, and regulatory changes that require a response, both for the short and long term. Scanning involves paying attention to the signals and trends and keeping abreast of [...]
Continue reading → The only constant we can depend on is change. A mindset of flexibility is a requirement if objectives are to be achieved. Dealing with business change is not always responding to adverse conditions, but might mean responding to an upside change, such as a large, unexpected order or the addition of a profitable customer from [...]
Continue reading → The American economy has been faced with several downturns, including bona fide recessions where there was decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for at least two consecutive quarters. These negative impacts are felt on employment, industrial production, real income, and wholesale/retail sales. The effects of these poor economic conditions have devastated businesses, irrespective of [...]
Continue reading → Responding to rapidly changing market dynamics is an ongoing challenge in organizations. The rate and speed of change continue to increase, and there’s continual demand that tools be in place to take advantage of opportunities and problems that impact sustainability and survival. The emphasis here is on assessing risks and responding by removing obstacles that deter [...]
Continue reading → Over the past 20 years many of the companies in the Fortune 500 ranks have been acquired, merged with other companies, or gone out of business. Part of the reason for these situations is an inability to deal with changing market conditions and to make the adjustments required for survival. Changes You Have Seen In [...]
Continue reading → Conducting business planning retreats can be a productive way to communicate company objectives, cultural attributes/values, and overall plans in a forum that facilitates the integration of this information to multiple levels in the organization. These planning retreats are most effective when used in combination with presentations and smaller group breakout sessions for discussion and more detailed planning. It’s an opportunity [...]
Continue reading → Organizational reviews are conducted on an annual cycle. They are structured to present the alignment of the function and how the human resources are positioned to help achieve the objectives and plans. This segment of the organizational review also focuses on succession planning with the goal of identifying both replacements and potential promotions to fill future vacancies. This is often referred to as “bench [...]
Continue reading → Employee-centered coaching shifts the responsibility for preparing a performance feedback session and presenting an update to a supervisor for review and comments. In preparing for this session, the individual should use the performance standards prepared at the start of the business year as the foundation for the meeting. The main premise in using this model [...]
Continue reading → The quarterly individual performance reviews are essentially feedback reviews on progress against objectives. This is an opportunity to ensure that individual performance plans are on track for successful completion, and if they’re not on track, midcourse corrections can be made. Coding and exception reporting play an important role in identifying those areas that may be [...]
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