Losing trust does not happen without warning: A friend who was always there when needed begins to return calls sporadically; spouses stop confiding in each other; a company communicates with its employees less frequently, providing less information or holding back information. In the case of a company, the warning signs of losing trust may be… [Read More]
Can You Keep a Secret?
Once you breach a confidence, even of a friend, your relationship is permanently damaged. No matter how much you apologize or how often you assure them that it won’t happen again, there will always be an element of doubt. This applies to personal information or information about their organization; moreover, to avoid suspicion, avoid breaching… [Read More]
When to Walk Away from a Sale
There are many times when it is appropriate to walk away from a sale. Don’t accept business unless you can handle it properly. Do not sell your services if you are not 100 percent sure that you can satisfy your client’s needs. Never perform a service if you feel that the client won’t receive sufficient… [Read More]
It’s Time to Eliminate Bureaucracies
Bloated bureaucracies crush aspirations, stifle creativity, suppress ingenuity, and slow down responsiveness. Unfortunately, once bureaucracy develops, it is as difficult to control in business as crabgrass on a suburban lawn. Bureaucracies cause people to thirst for power, value personal ambition over team gain, and put paperwork before people. In bureaucracies, employees “don’t matter” because they… [Read More]
What Does Red Tape Cost Your Business?
What does red tape cost your business? Think about the time wasted by cumbersome review processes. Individuals with new ideas first have to build a case for their recommendation, preparing a written proposal or presentation for management to review. Then, they must set up a meeting, often involving multiple individuals whose travel schedules have to… [Read More]
Are You Talking to Yourself?
Today and in the years to come, organizations will have to focus on winning employees back; building trust, respect, and teamwork between people; being receptive to and then acting on the best ideas; and once again instilling employees with pride in and commitment to the organization. Internal communication will be a major force in achieving… [Read More]
It’s Time for a New Style of Leadership
It’s time for a new style of leadership. Today’s employees wants to work for an organization that they can feel proud of: an organization that has values and viewpoints compatible with their own; an organization that is oriented toward the long haul, working toward the prevention of ills, not just curing the symptoms; an organization… [Read More]
Attention Leaders: We Need to Talk
To succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, organizations must give internal communication the priority that it deserves. They must view it as an avenue to release the creative genius of an organization, not as a bothersome chore. After all, communication acts as a powerful agent of change, a source of continuous improvement, and a catalyst for… [Read More]