The A,B,C's of Good Business

REPLY TO SEVERAL COMMENTS

05/17/2013 09:36:00

First thanks for the many compliments and posting comments - appreciate your participation. Many have asked about THE ISZARD GROUP website and blog. It was created with tools available from www.vistaprint.com - check out this company they offer everything a start-up business needs to market and improve you appearance in the marketplace. Of course we are not novice in the design aspect of our website - THE ISZARD GROUP helps every business act and look like a "big business". That's our job!

"P" of the ABC's

05/13/2013 07:21:00

“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw...I’m too busy

sawing!” Steven Covey - Seven Habits

"P" = Prime the Pump! When teaching Leadership to my college students - who I'm sure have no idea what priming a pump means - I tell this story.

When growing up in rural southern New Jersey we did not have city water at first. We had a well of fresh cool, pure water and a hand pump in the kitchen (hard to believe but true). My grandmother always kept a small mason jar of water next to it - to prime the pump.

That small bit of water added to the machine "got it going" as my granny would say.

And she scolded me if I forgot (which I did a lot at 7 years) to fill the jar first before I needed a drink or to wash my face. And that's the point. Take time to plan ahead or there won't be the desired result. A wise leader knows that they must sometimes give their employees a "priming" to get them going in the right direction. A little bit of coaching can result in large job improvements and better results.

And a wise leader also knows that they must always make some time for this - like Covey says, if one doesn't take the time out to sharpen the saw, the job is much harder in the long run.

FRIDAY FUNFACT

05/10/2013 15:22:00

The first products the Mattel Toy Company sold were picture frames !

BUSINESS TIP:Like Mattel be flexible and who knows what success just may come your way.

"O" of the ABC's

05/06/2013 09:00:00

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” Milton Berle

"O" = Open Your Door: a simple act - just opening a door.

We do it countless times each day. But for some managers the door is a symbol of their power and office rather than a passage to help them learn, manage and explore. For some they shut the door to keep problems at bay or at least out of sight.

When I worked for a major corporation I reported to a Vice President whose office was on the top floor of a 30 floor building. All the doors on this floor were open - however beneath each desktop was a button and when pushed the door automatically shut. When this happened one knew they were going to the "woodshed for a corporate spanking" for some mistake or problem.

This open doors were not appreciated - they were feared.

When a business leader opens the door to their office this is a sign to all that they are welcome to come in and that the manager is also interested in what's happening on the floor of the business.

Recently, a new mayor was appointed to office in Hamilton Township, NJ. One of Mayor Yeade's first acts was to have the door removed from her office. This indeed was a sign that there would be no closed door deals and that her administration was going to be very transparent - extreme yes, but it seems to have worked - as this act has been discussed and reported by many of the town's employees and it was even mentioned in the local press.

Open your door! - who knows who or what may enter - it could just be a great opportunity!

Business FunFact Friday

05/03/2013 09:49:00

The average company saves over $7,000 for each employee suggestion that is enacted!

(Makes this known to the boss the next time you "think & suggest" - you just might get a bonus or day off !!!

"N" of the ABC's"

04/29/2013 14:35:00

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

John Wooden - Good basketball player - great basketball coach

"N" = Notice the Little Things - Many managers (not leaders) are so focused on their problems and other's mistakes - they sometimes are oblivious to the everyday clues of what's wrong, and more important, what's right with their organization.

And many times its the little things that they do (sometimes unconsciously) that have great impact on some employees.

I tell the story of when I was VP of an independent commercial TV station - one day centered on my own problems I passed our new "cub reporter" in the hall early in the morning. She said, "good morning" and I gave her a passing grunt. A few minutes later the news director knocked on my door - "What did you do to our new reporter, she's in her office crying??"

And then I realized that for her, being new, this slight from the boss was very serious. She needed feedback on how I liked her performance not just a grumpy greeting. My failure to stop and notice her in the hall was read that I wasn't all that please with her or her work!

Tip: A good business leader takes the time to be tuned to the feelings of staff. Sometimes people need feedback - sometimes they want just to be left alone. Noticing little changes in behavior can sometimes lead to big things - for the employee and the for the boss.

Friday Business FunFactoid

04/26/2013 15:31:00

In 2004, The Japanese Ice Cream Association promoted "raw horse flesh" ice cream in hopes that it would boost the popularity of ice cream! A hard sell in the USA I suppose?????

"M" of the ABC's

04/22/2013 10:08:00

"A body can pretend to care, but a body can not pretend to be there!" Texas Bix Bender

"M" = MBWA -- Management by walking around is not new - but many "managers" don't use it or are afraid to use it. They shut their doors and divide themselves from their employees by the trappings of their office and only appear when there's a problem, shortage or trouble.

According to CNN Money - "This was how founders Bill Hewlett and David Packard ran their computer company. After Tom Peters and Robert Waterman wrote about it in their 1982 blockbuster bestseller In Search of Excellence, MBWA became a buzzword for up-close-and-personal management. Steve Jobs was the ultimate practitioner of this approach, taking it beyond Apple employees to customers, whose complaints or comments he often answered with a phone call."

Here are some the simple steps CNN suggests to get started:

1. Make MBWA part of your routine.

2. Don't bring an entourage.

3. Visit everybody.

4. Ask for suggestions, and recognize good ideas.

5. Follow up with answers.

6. Don't criticize.

Remember you are on a fact-finding mission and it doesn't hurt once in awhile to catch someone "doing something right" !

FRIDAY BIZ FUN FACTOID

04/18/2013 17:50:00

Did you know...
18% of an Americans income is spent on transportation. And much of that is just getting to work and back!!!

"L" of the ABC's

04/15/2013 09:25:00

"Leadership must be earned everyday - it is not given" Forbes - many attributions

"L" = Leadership is earned.

And it must be "re-earned" everyday. A manager says, "do this!" A true leader says, "let's do this?" It's as simple as that.

A boss creates fear, a leader confidence.

A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes.

A boss knows all, a leader asks questions.

A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.

A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.

-- Russell H. Ewing