people-gde856ddec_1920

Solving the Talent Crisis

Understanding what motivates people quit their jobs for other ones has plagued business leaders throughout my career. I question how much things have changed during this time in terms of what people want from working. I recognize I may be a bit naïve, having been brought up to return good service for good pay. I believe…

pexels-fauxels-3184291

How Do You Attract & Retain High Achievers?

The ability to attract and retain high quality people to an organization is one of the most important challenges facing a leader. The people working in an organization are the most critical aspect of a capacity plan. In 2021, the overall turnover rate per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report was 57.3%. Digging further into…

Ask yourself "What If?"

Are You Doing Things Right or Doing the Right Things?

Are you excited about 2022 – prospects for new business, in a new role, making new connections, creating change, and following the road map you created for the year? What is within your control that you can influence in a positive way to create value for the people you serve? Are you looking forward or…

Depositphotos_533170436_XL

What is Your Vision for 2022?

In a flash, the holidays have come and gone. Depending on where you live, the weather was precarious at best. We went from a tornado warning to snow in a couple of days. How does this compare to your vision for 2022? Did you spend the holidays planning for 2022? Did you feel in control…

Continuous Improvement

Creating a Continuous Improvement Culture

Rarely a day goes by that I am not reading something uplifting about the direction of global markets and the impact on local economies. For example, this morning I read that yesterday the U.S. investment bank JP Morgan (Marko Kolanovic, Chief Global Markets Strategist & Co-Head of Global Research) predicts 2022 will mark the end…

business acumen

What is Your Business Acumen?

How would you rate your business acumen? In what ways do you build and develop it? Why is it important to continuously improve in this area? Business acumen consists of 3 key elements: 1. External Factors (understanding the environment in which you operate): The market Your competition Your revenue model Industry trends Technology trends 2.…

succession planning

The Importance of Succession Planning

Who will step into your role when you leave? This is hardly a new question for many business owners and senior leaders. As the work from home culture looks like it is going to continue at some level, it’s time to expand the conversation to multiple layers in your business. As a former COO, it…

imperfection is fine

Let’s Be a Bit Imperfect Today

I usually workout in silence, as in no music or podcasts. I recently changed my routine and plugged into a podcast during my workout. Talk about getting both a physical and mental workout! I had selected Brene Brown’s series, “The Gifts of Imperfection.” I am hooked on the idea of being imperfect and look forward…

Depositphotos_18861573_XL

The Great Reshuffle?

Last week a new trend was announced in the news suggesting we are not in the middle of the “Great Resignation.” Rather, we are in the midst of the “Great Reshuffle.” That makes so much more sense to me. Of course people are leaving the workforce for obvious reasons (stay home to take care of…

mindmapping

Create a Mindmap to Solve Problems

Rarely a day goes by that I do not find myself using a Mindmap to sort out a problem and develop a quick strategy. It’s a quick way to organize ideas by capturing the natural flow of thoughts. It saves time too, adding to much needed capacity in the day to day bustle we call…

lateral problem solving

Utilize Lateral Thinking to Get a New Approach to Problem Solving

When solving a problem, do you use a process, or do you do something completely out of the ordinary? With the technology boom that began in the late 1970s, we began eroding our mental abilities. Here’s a clue: How many telephone numbers and addresses of your closest friends and clients do you know instantly, without…

greener grass

Are Your Employees Leaving?

Is poor staff retention an issue for your business? There have always been times where people left jobs in large numbers in search of something better. Sometimes it is related to specific industries and economic times. Other times it can be employee demands for higher pay, better benefits and loftier titles as was the case…

increase work capacity

Adding Capacity to Your Business

A side effect of a growing business is often declining capacity. You could have a great vision and strategy but unless you have the capacity to execute that strategy, you could: Burn out yourself and your team Encounter missed opportunities Make mistakes when juggling priorities Under service existing clients An often ‘go to solution’ for…

pexels-pavel-danilyuk-6461479

Measuring Work Productivity

How is productivity measured in your workplace? I started my career in public accounting at a time when tracking the number of hours worked and billed was the prime measurement of productivity. It was also at a time when middle management, the teachings of Peter Drucker and the rise of the “manager” fell out of…

work on your business

Make Time for Internal Business Management

Do you take time to analyze your internal business cycle or do you ‘back burner it’ from year to year depending on client demands? Every business has an external and internal business cycle. For example, when I work with CPA firms providing accounting and bookkeeping, audit, employee benefit plans and tax services, we are faced…

2022 ahead

Getting ready for 2022

Now that you have made it through the summer, what is next for your business? 2022 is on the horizon, and the way many people work is forever changed. How will you navigate the road forward? Where were you when you first heard about the pandemic? Some of you may have been like me, in…

Solve client needs

Are You Meeting All of Your Clients’ Needs?

Doing good work, consistently, is hard and rewarding. It is also fun if you love what you do. I consider myself fortunate because my work invites me to step inside a client’s business and help them do their best work. We do it together. My work is exciting because the people I associate with are…

change beliefs to change behavior

Change Your Beliefs to Change Your Behavior

Ever faced a really difficult task? One of my goals this year is to get better at capitalizing on, and leveraging, technology. Seriously, if not now, when? Most of us are still in a pandemic fog with more hours at our disposal than in the past, so I want to use them productively. Here’s the…

230537_10150240428501271_3857395_n

Are You Burned Out?

Burnout seems to be a popular word these days. It is linked to people feeling they can do no more of anything. Yet, we push more and more stuff through brittle systems now. It got me to thinking. When did this burnout begin? We have always had high, average and just getting by type performers…

smart-watch-821557_1920

Where Does the Time Go?

Learning and application go hand in hand. I grew up in a family of learners. My interest though was in sports, all things basketball. It got me through school plus my Dad taught me a lot about business. That is why I went to college. I still have my first college book, “The Think and…