765.293.4980
Long Lasting Culture Change Requires Narrow Focus
April 23, 2015 | Leadership, Teamwork, Time Management
Photo by Michael Dales on Flickr Some leaders get really excited about change. We see this new program that will help raise the morale of the company. We embrace initiatives and process changes that increase productivity and communication. We long for the day that we can see drastic, positive change in the way customers see our company. We look past the pain associated with change no matter how great and pine for the end result. Other leaders dread change. We see all the extra work associated with the new programs. We dread thinking about how much we will need to "pull teeth" to…
Administrative Professionals Often Reflect Their Leaders’ Values
April 21, 2015 | Communication, Leadership, Teamwork
Photo by Keith Bolland on Flickr Being Administrative Professionals Week, we felt that this topic is timely. Anyone that has ever had a top notch administrative professional provide them with support in their business activities knows their worth. One leader told me that his administrative professional spoke for him. To have someone of this caliber is key to running a great business. However, some leaders through their actions not necessarily words, are not convinced that a friendly, competent, and helpful administrative professional or team of administrative professionals is not important. Nevertheless, we believe that their contribution is invaluable. Administrative professionals must be friendly. In…
Owners versus Renters
April 10, 2015 | Communication, Leadership, Trust
Photo by Roey Ahram on Flickr Last week, I had the chance to catch up with an old friend from Purdue for the first time in 15 years. I think this is one of the greatest benefits from founding Earnest Consulting Group; reconnecting with old friends. He indicated that he looked at our web site and really liked the quote, "our goal as leaders is to create a culture that creates owners rather than renters." I first heard this quote in the book Hardwiring Excellence by Quint Studer. He indicated to me that as a leader he needed to help each worker "own" their…
Handwritten Thank You Notes Are #1
April 9, 2015 | Communication, Employee Recognition, Leadership
Photo by Rick Payette on Flickr Remember the days when we were excited to go to the mailbox with the prospect of receiving a letter, note, or card from someone? I have to admit that there are some people with whom I would have never stayed in touch if it hadn't been for e-mail and social networking. I have never been known for my written correspondence. Nonetheless, I believe it is still an important means of communication. In the year of 2015, I personally hope to increase the amount of written correspondence that leaves my desk. In my experience, people still…
Non-Profits also Need the “Human Element”
April 6, 2015 | Leadership
As previously stated, at the core of an organization's human element, we see the need to find passion and purpose in our work. If leaders are not able to help employees find this to some degree, it is difficult to implement other tools to build employee engagement and trust in an organization. By nature, non-profit organizations should have this human element by default as the mission of the organization is likely to help its community in some way. For example, the YMCA's mission on an national level is to make others more healthy in mind, body, and spirit. The mission of a non-profit on…
Addressing Turnover Also Means Addressing Surprise Departures
April 3, 2015 | Communication, Employee Recognition, Leadership, Trust
We've all known that turnover costs companies money, and high turnover costs companies lots of money. The costs depends on the industry and company's cost structure. We do know that turnover costs are derived from the cost of recruiting, training, and the cost of integrating employees into the organization. There are also soft costs that can be a little more tricky to quantify like the cost of grief of having a vacated position or the oppurtunity cost of losing out on other opportunities because of the lack of manpower. That is why it is so important to address turnover as it costs…
