- Your Strategic Tool Kit of Commitments For Success During Radical Change
WOW! What a great time to be alive and to witness the accelerating change and increased complexity in our global world of work. The economy is shifting to a new economy and a new age where jobs are becoming "virtual" and we are conducting business in ways not even dreamed of a few years ago. The economy is moving rapidly toward services and knowledge work. And top management absolutely must realize that the old way of managing is not going to work. We must understand that we will jeopardize our future if we resist change, get angry and hold onto our old ways of doing business. A strategic thinker knows that change brings opportunities. And with the speed and scope of changes we see occurring all around us, we can anticipate many great opportunities at a rapid pace for us personally and for our companies and organizations. Strategic thinkers will choose to identify astounding opportunities, more job freedom and more personal growth. And that is why I am so excited about these changes. I have chosen a set of ten (10) strategic commitments as a strategic tool kit to recommend to you. - Your Strategic Thinking Coach's Top Ten Positive Impacts From Coaching
There has been a tremendous growth of interest in coaching during the past ten years and coaching has evolved into a culture in many successful companies and organizations. I believe that in today's business world, individuals and businesses need to view coaching as a dynamic and strategic organizational culture that has great potential for positive impacts for individuals and their businesses. And you may ask why do I believe this is true? I truly believe that the potential of positive impacts from coaching is awesome. And having said that, here is Your Strategic Thinking Coach's selection of the Top Ten positive impacts from coaching. - Your Strategic Thinking Coach's Ten Questions To Diagnose Fear Of Marketing
Whenever I hear complaints about not attracting enough new business, I start asking many questions. As a strategic thinking business coach I need to ask those who complain many questions to find out if there is a fear of marketing that is preventing the growth of their business. In order to determine if this fear exists, I developed ten (10) questions to ask them. The ten questions are: - Your Strategic Thinking Coach's List of Ten Key Components of Effective Strategic Alliances
Let me start by defining strategic alliance. A strategic alliance is a partnership, a collaborative agreement and/or a relationship between two or more companies or organizations formed to pursue a set of agreed upon goals while remaining independent companies or organizations. Strategic alliances exist in a variety of shapes and sizes and include a wide range of scopes of cooperation levels. Strategic alliances usually are most effective when the entities involved have complementary strengths. What makes a strategic alliance effective? What are the key components of effective strategic alliances? Here is my list of ten (10) key components of an effective strategic alliance. - Your Strategic Thinking Coach Shares Six Smart Marketing Strategies For Professional Service Firms
Over the past 35 years, I have observed many professional service firms struggle with their marketing efforts. Time after time I would witness a firm spending large sums of money doing the wrong type of marketing to the wrong market segment with the wrong marketing message and with the wrong marketer. And to see failed after failed attempt at marketing. On the other hand, I also got to see some very smart marketing done for the right reasons, to the right markets, with the right message and with the right marketer with very solid results. Too many professionals continue to think that "everyone" is a potential client, rather than selecting a targeted market and niche. The very successful professionals think strategically and use some smart marketing strategies. Here are six smart marketing strategies for professional service firms from your strategic thinking coach. - Your PR Doctor's Tips for Getting Media Attention on Radio
One of your "PR Doctor's" favorite public relations elements in an integrated marketing communications plan is talk radio. Talk radio provides opportunities for profit and non-profit organizations to gain extended exposure in an interview format. And there are many opportunities that exist in communities around the United States to capitalize on this media offering. And many times these radio stations are very eager to find new people to interview about new and interesting subjects.Many radio stations have public affairs programs that are prerecorded and then aired on weekend mornings, particularly Sunday. These programs provide an opportunity for you to have your spokesperson and your message in an uninterrupted format or in discussion with others who have similar causes, interests or issues. Here are 10 tips for getting your company or organization's message on radio. - Your PR Doctor's Ten Top Reasons To Tell You It's Time To Hire A Publicist or Public Relations Firm
Today’s businesses and business professionals wonder how they can possibly know if they need to hire a publicist or a public relations firm. Obviously there are many factors to consider when making this decision. To provide some guidance to businesses, here are ten top reasons that provide confirmation you need to hire a publicist or PR firm. - Your Estate Does Matter
In my business coaching and strategic thinking and planning consulting work, I have found too often that the owners and managers of small to medium size businesses frequently fail to do adequate estate planning and lack suitable estate planning documents. The lack of effective planning can result in costly probate proceedings or unnecessary estate taxes. Therefore, my real mission with this article is to try to convince you that "your estate does matter!" and you need to make sure you have committed to take the needed action to get your estate planning in order now. I believe it is fair to say that business owners and managers do not intentionally plan to neglect this type of planning. However, it probably is fair to say that it is something that is "put off" because of the conflicting advice and confusing laws and regulations that cover this subject. - Your Business Coach's Top 10 Tips on How to Demonstrate Respect Where You Work & While You Work
Every one of us needs respect. And this is true at home and at work. In most, if not all, of the focus groups I have facilitated over the past fifteen years, the lack of respect is identified as a critical issue in the workplace. We know when we have respect and we know when we don't have respect. Whenever I hear the word respect, I am always connected to Aretha Franklin singing, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me." People in today's workplace are literally crying out for respect for who they are, for what they do and for what value they bring to the organization. There are some simple and very powerful actions to demonstrate respect. Here is a top ten (10) list of tips from your business coach on how to demonstrate respect. - Year End Strategic Planning - To Plan or Not to Plan? - That is the Question
Reflecting recently with very fond memories of my educational path in life, I thought of my commencement speech entitled: "To Be or Not To Be Involved - That is the Question." Well, this made me think that perhaps the end of each and every year is the right time to start thinking about a similar question - "To Plan or Not to Plan." - Working A Room – The Top Ten Tips, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
"WOW!" That is just one word that comes to mind when I walk into a business function room and there are many people I already know, but many more people whom I have never met. And I envision the many new opportunities that exist in that room for contacts and connections, and maybe even some new friends. And as a strategic thinking business coach I also know that WOW is the last word some of you will think of when facing this situation. The words might be "OH NO!" So I decided to write this article to address both reactions. It is true that working a room is a combination of an art and a science of managing how you mingle and how you become a savvy networker. It is an art because it involves having charm, confidence, creativity and chutzpah. It is also a science because it involves developing clear focused vision, goals, strategies and follow-up actions. - Why Small Business Fail
Michael Gerber, author of the mega-best sellers "The E-Myth" and "The E-Myth Revisited," is one of the people I admire and respect and who has had a significant impact on me and my businesses. Although I have listened many times to Gerber's audio tape about the E-Myth, and have read and reread his book, I always come away learning more. In addition, I have read a booklet by Michael Gerber entitled- "Why Most Small Businesses Fail and What You Can Do About It." In this booklet - Gerber lists the 10 reasons why most businesses fail - and how you can avoid them. - Why News Releases Are Quickly Tossed Into The Trash, According To Your PR Doctor
Did you ever wonder why your news release never resulted in an article or story in the media to which it was sent? Or did you ever wonder if the release was ever read? Do you know why some news releases always get tossed into the wastebasket? Your PR Doctor and your strategic thinking business coach shares the following several reasons why news releases end up in the trash. - Why I Love to Hear From Clients and Why You Should Too
I love to hear from my clients (and my business associates, fiends, et al) because I value their feedback. One of my favorite questions is a simple one, but one that yields great value to me. I love to ask, "What do you think?" about any number of items and then listen carefully to the response. Over the 35 years in my professional life, I am still amazed at how many businesses and individuals will tell me that they know what their customers think & want. Yet, when I challenge them and inquire if they actually asked their clients or customers, they say NO very often. Not asking for, not encouraging and not valuing feedback is a huge mistake. No matter what business or organization you are in; getting feedback from your customers & clients is a critical success factor. No matter how good or great you are, you always can be better by learning from feedback. - Why Business Coaching? Why Me? And Why Now?
Business coaching is now being used in more and more businesses and organizations. There is a growing body of research that is indicating some evidence that supports business coaching and its positive results. Benefits are being realized by individuals and by the companies using business coaches. Some of the major benefits are being seen in financial performance, development and retention of executives and in internal communications. - Where is the "U" In Accountability In Today's World?
Do you know where the you ("U") is in accountability in your company or organization? Does your organization struggle with accountability as an issue in the workplace today? Is there a culture at your company that holds everyone accountable? What is accountability? A straightforward definition could be: being responsible for one’s activities, conduct and performance of responsibilities. Based upon my life experiences and my business coaching and consulting work, I can tell you that accountability, and the lack thereof, is one of the major issues in business (and life) today. So why is accountability ignored or not held seriously enough and what are the consequences of not holding people accountable? Here are a few thoughts. - What I Learned From Coach Vince Lombardi That Guides Me in My Business Coaching
Coach Lombardi believed that running a football team was no different than running any other kind of organization or business. He believed that you have to be smart to be number one in any business and more importantly you have to play with your heart and every fiber of your body. Vince Lombardi believed that people deep down in their hearts, appreciate discipline and competition and emphasized that the objective is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules. The most impactful book I ever read about Coach Lombardi is "When Pride Still Mattered A Life of Vince Lombardi" by David Maraniss. After reading the book, I knew the time was NOW to really put the "lessons learned" from Coach Lombardi into my business coaching practice, as well as recommit to them in my personal life. I selected 10 key character traits and 2 quotes from Coach Lombardi for each trait to represent the lesson learned from each character item. - What Color is Your Marketing and What is It Saying?
Do you have any idea what role color plays in your marketing efforts? And if so, do you know what message your marketing efforts are conveying with the colors you use? Let me tell you that the colors you use in your marketing efforts - your brochures, business cards, letterhead, signage, office interiors, and more - play a very important role in motivating people. The colors speak loudly and clearly, so I believe it is in our best interest to learn what the colors convey in our marketing. - Twelve Tips From Strategic Thinking For Home Builders To Produce More Strategic Marketing Efforts
All businesses need to engage strategic thinking and planning in all aspects of their business, especially the marketing plan for the business. In working with custom home builders as part of my business coaching practice, I discovered only a few of them ever recognized the value of being strategic in their thinking and planning and had limited themselves to lower levels of success. Fortunately, after they opened their minds to being more strategic, their outlook changed and they started putting some tips on strategic marketing to good use. One of the most vivid and remarkable examples was one custom home builder that went from one of their worst years in business to a record setting best year in business after committing to a strategic marketing approach. Here are twelve (12) tips to home builders for more effective strategic marketing of their business. - Twelve Strategic Ways To Improve And Maintain Strong Healthy Client Relationships
How would you describe the current health of your client relationships? Extremely healthy and fit? Just okay or average? Poor health? Critically ill? On life support? When was the last time your client relationships and your client relationship program had a review? Could you and your company benefit from improvements in your existing client relationships? These are critical questions in today’s world of business. For the purpose of this article, I am going to presume that most readers will admit to stating they could benefit from improved client relationships. And with that in mind, I want to share twelve (12) strategic ways to improve and maintain strong healthy client relationships, according to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach. - Twelve Strategic Thinking Steps For Effective Change Management In Your Career
It seems there are more and more articles, surveys, reports and stories about changing careers and particularly among people above 50 years of age. This is becoming very true among the "baby boomers" that started turning 50 back in 1996. And it is interesting to observe that more and more of these 50 years old and older people are switching careers and starting over, but this time at jobs they love and have a passion to do. t is not very easy to manage such a career change and in my business coaching practice, I have worked with people who have switched careers successfully in their 50s, 60s and above. The principles of managing change are very powerful in making an effective career change. Here are 12 strategic steps for effective change management for a career. - Twelve Major Benefits For Being Well Organized, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Recently I have been coaching more and more clients on organizational skills because they now understand the importance of being well organized. Let me ask you, "Have you ever paused long enough to ask yourself how you could benefit from being better organized?" There are many benefits for being well organized and I have selected twelve (12) major benefits to share with you. These twelve (12) major benefits are- - Twelve Essential Characteristics of MVP (Most Valuable Performing) Leaders
We often hear some people referred to as leaders. And sometimes they are called great leaders. What makes a leader or great leader? What are the essential characteristics of those leaders that are the most valuable performers? I did some research and also did some recollecting of my own experiences with some great leaders and developed what I believe to be the 12 essential characteristics of MVP leaders. - Twelve Causes For Small Business Failures, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
On a regular basis I meet or am contacted by someone who wants to start his or her own business. Typically the person has specific skills and experience in a specific industry, but lacks business management experience and self-employment experience. The vast majority of them are in fact totally naďve about how business really works. - Top Twelve FAILING TO DO Items That Will Undermine Your Business Success
Failing to do what needs to be done in your business will certainly undermine your business success. There are some proven things you must do to be successful in business. If you ignore these proven things by failing to take necessary action, you will be undermining your business success. Based upon some strategic thinking and more than 35 years of professional business experience, especially those years as a strategic thinking business coach, here is my list of twelve FAILING TO DO items that will undermine your business success. - Top Ten Tips To effectively Work With Policy Makers
We are sometimes called on to work with policy makers in a variety of organizations we are associated with in our personal, business and volunteer lives. Working with these policy makers can be very rewarding and can be very frustrating. Since 1970 I have been working with policy makers at all levels of government, non-profits, businesses, institutions and other organizations. And from the experience of those years, I developed a list of the top 10 tips to effectively work with policy makers. I have summarized those tips below- - Top 10 Reasons Strategic Planning Meetings Fail - From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Strategic planning is an awesome and powerful process that sometimes gets a bad rap because of some bad experiences people have had when engaging in some form of strategic planning meetings. Many times the combination of personal agendas, absence of open minds, and preconceived judgments about the strategic planning process can turn strategic planning meetings into real disasters. And frankly, there are many reasons why so many strategic planning meetings are unsuccessful. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of the top 10 reasons why strategic planning meetings fail. And the Top Ten Reasons are- - Tips On The Strategic Use of Handouts At Seminars, Workshops and Other Venues
Being a presenter at seminars, workshops and other venues is an awesome opportunity to make strategic use of handouts. Every attendee at a seminar, workshop or other venue should depart with at least one document that describes your business services and-or products. These documents would include your handouts and business cards. Your handouts are one of your prime strategic marketing tools and it is imperative to make maximum use of them when you have the opportunity. You should never make a presentation without giving out at least one handout. These handouts should always be something the attendees want to keep. The more people keep your handouts, the better chance you have of converting them to clients and customers. Your strategic thinking business coach wants you to be a strategic marketer and offers the following tips to maximize the use of your handouts at your presentations. - Tips On How To Strategically Plan For A Successful Media Conference
A majority of information sent to the media today is through media releases. Another very powerful delivery method is the media conference, where your company spokesperson makes important and newsworthy announcements. Please note the words "important" and "newsworthy." Media conferences provide a great platform to reach multiple reporters at the same time and give wide prominence to your story. It also is critical to remember that there are challenges and risks in planning and conducting media conferences and it is extremely important to strategically plan them. Here are some tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help ensure your media conference will be successful. - Tips On Effective Business Presentations From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
What are the real keys to effective business presentations? Many presenters believe they must be entertaining, witty, and authoritative and use all sorts of technical bells and whistles in Power Point presentations or other medium. However, there is some evidence that contradicts and states that audiences really have five basic requirements for business presentations. And those basic requirements are: a focus on a single relevant message- support of the message with convincing evidence- organized presentation of information in comprehendible amounts- clear and enthusiastic articulation- and a limited number of visuals. There are many tips for creating and delivering effective business presentations. Here are ten (10) tips your strategic thinking business coach has chosen to share with you. - Time - Is It Our Enemy or Our Friend? Choosing Time as A Friend - Some Strategic Coaching Advice
It is probably safe to say that many, if not most, people struggle with the management of their time. Time is priceless and we each are allotted the same 24 hours each day. However, it seems there is an eternal struggle with the clock and that we are very challenged in trying to mange out time. The sense of pressure and constant urgency at home, at work, and elsewhere in our daily lives leads to us believing that there is simply never enough time. So what can we do? How can we deal with this conflict and choose time as a friend? Succinctly expressed, It would mean that we make peace with time and declare time our friend. Here are seven (7) suggestions - Thirteen Tried and True Ways to Increase Revenue From Your Existing Customers
Are you overlooking one of the biggest sources of increased revenues for your business by not focusing a targeted marketing effort on your existing customers? Experience has proven that your existing customers are the most effective and efficient source of more revenue since you already have an existing relationship with them. Increased sales can come through them via an increase in the total number of purchases, higher frequency of purchases and higher dollar value of each purchase. So, what are some ways to achieve those increased dollars from your existing customer base? Here are thirteen (13) of what I consider to be "tried and true" ways to gain more revenue from your existing customers. - Thirteen Tips For Entrepreneurs When Making Oral Presentations to Investors
Let's say that as an entrepreneur you have decided you need to seek investors for your business venture and you now have the opportunity to make oral presentations to potential investors. In order to capitalize on your opportunity, you want to and need to make the most effective presentation possible. - Thirteen Thoughtful, Tried and True Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
Do you know any successful entrepreneurs? What do you believe are the characteristics that are common among the successful men and women who start and succeed in their own businesses? Here are thirteen thoughtful, tried and true characteristics that I believe define the successful entrepreneur. - Thirteen Strategic, Creative and Inexpensive Ideas to Create Awareness For Your Business
Business owners and managers want to create awareness of their business. And many times they want to (or have to) create that awareness with a very small or no budget. This presents a challenge so one needs to apply some strategic thinking to do this. Employing some strategic thinking, here are thirteen (13) strategic, creative and inexpensive ways to inform your existing and prospective customers and clients know who you are, what you do, and what core values you exemplify in your business. - Thirteen Strategic & Cost Effective Ideas to Increase Your Business Revenue and Profits
Growing your business is a continuous effort and goal. Business owners and managers need to think and plan more strategically to grow their businesses. Here are thirteen (13) simple and strategic ideas that will help increase sale and profits, but will not strain or demolish your budget. - The Top Ten Traits Of A MVP (Most Valued Professional) Business Coach
We know that there are many business coaches out there in the marketplace. But what sets the high performance, or what I call the MVP (Most Valued Professional) Business Coach, apart from the good or average business coach? From my personal research and experiences, I believe that these MVP business coaches have a top ten set of traits that really distinguishes them from the average business coach. In my opinion, the top ten traits of a MVP Business Coach are - The Top Ten Public Relations Errors That Are Hazardous To The Health Of Your Media Relations
Developing and maintaining strong healthy media relations and positive media coverage is a real challenge. Today we have a very competitive and a 24/7 information overload news environment. Your "PR Doctor" and other professionals must adapt to the increasing importance of electronic communications and related technologies to remain professional and competitive. And strategic thinking and processes to manage PR programs and campaigns have become essential. - The Top Ten Myths And Realities About Business Coaching, According To Your Strategic Thinking Coach
I think it is safe to say that there are many preconceived notions about business coaching. Furthermore, some of these notions really are myths rather than reality. In an attempt to provide some insight into what are the major myths about business coaching, I have developed a list of the top ten myths and respective realities that are counter to each myth. - The Top Ten Benefits Of An E-Newsletter
Much research has been done to indicate the benefits of e-newsletters. Obviously it is more cost effective to grow your business by increasing revenue and referrals from existing clients than in pursuing new clients. And a subscriber list of your business relationships is on very valuable asset for your business. So what are the top ten benefits of an e-newsletter for your company? As a strategic thinking business coach, I would list the following as the top ten benefits of e-newsletters. - The State of Customer Service or Disservice in The U.S. – Awesome, Adequate or Abysmal?
Many companies are touting world class, first class, and/or high quality customer service today. However, as a strategic thinking business coach, I wonder about the true state of customer service in the U.S. What is the real level of customer service being delivered – is it Awesome, Adequate or Abysmal? So, what is the "state of customer service" in the U.S.? I found a source of information to help answer that question in survey results released by Accenture, the giant consulting firm. Some highlights from the Fall, 2006 results include - The Power of Questions
As a business coach and a multi-disciplinary consulting professional, I totally believe that questions have awesome power. Since 1982 when I started my professional consulting practices, I have used the power of questions. Questions have the potential to be one of the most effective communication tools available. One of my most effective and powerful techniques I use in my consulting and coaching practices is asking many questions. - The Power of Asking People What They Think - AND then Really Listening and Hearing What They Say
It truly amazes me how often in too many businesses there is such an aversion to sincerely asking people (employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, et al) what they think. During my 35 year professional career, I have witnessed countless missed opportunities to gain insight and powerful information in business because someone did not stop and ask "What Do You Think?" Or if they did ask, they "listened" but did not "hear" what the person said. Although many people and businesses tout their ability to "listen," I want to know the more important attribute of whether they also have the ability to "hear." - The Importance and Awesome Power of Project Management in Today's Business Environment
Why is project management important and what awesome power exists with project management in today's business environment? The first reasons that come to my mind about why project management is important (based upon more than 35 years of my personal project management experience), are tighter budgets, diminishing resources, more and more time constraints, and competition to improve the ways we do business. The awesome power of project management makes it possible to focus on priorities, track and measure performance, overcome challenges and problems, become flexible enough to adapt to change and achieve higher performance and a higher probability of success in each project. - The Difference Between Strategic & Tactical and Why Business Owners Need To Know The Difference
Has anyone ever told you that you need to become more strategic and less tactical in your business? Do you know the difference between strategic and tactical? Are you confused about what is strategic and what is tactical? Based upon observations of business owners and their management teams for the past three decades, I believe there are many confused, misinformed, and-or uneducated people on the differentiation of strategic and tactical. So, let your strategic thinking business coach offer some assistance to eliminate the confusion and correctly inform and educate the reader in this matter. - The Dangerous Consequences of Micromanaging Your Business
One of the most dangerous and damaging practices of business owners is MICROMANAGING their business. And this practice is entirely too prevalent in today's business world and it wastes valuable resources of time, talent and financial assets. It is particularly prevalent in entrepreneurial businesses. And the reason behind that may be rooted in the fact that entrepreneurs are motivated to start their businesses so they could be their own boss, make more money and gain more freedom. To be successful in today's business world, it is imperative you adopt and develop a strategic thinking mind-set. - The Business of Business Manners at Meetings
In addition to a lack of business ethics today, there is also a lack of business manners. I have chosen to focus on business manners at meetings for this article. Business manners are essential to build relationships in today's business world. People, who present themselves very favorably, will maximize their business potential. I must tell you that I am very passionate about business manners and believe very strongly in the results that follow the use of good business manners. The potential for negative impacts is considerable in business meetings. Improve your business meeting etiquette and you will witness positive results in such forms as attentiveness, comfort, clear communications, and trust. Let's look at a few tips to ensure good business manners at your meetings, both the informal and the formal meetings. - The Awesome Power Of To-Do Lists
The power of TO-DO lists can be truly awesome when used properly. Personally, I have witnessed and realized the awesome power for more than 35 years in my professional career. Are you using TO-DO lists in your professional and personal life? Do you know the power of TO-DO lists? I can imagine there are many readers who have not used these lists or have tried to use them and not used them properly. Based upon my experience and observations, here are ten (10) powers gained through the use of TO-DO lists. - Ten Tried & True Ways To Irritate Reporters, According To Your PR Doctor
Do you know what really irritates reporters? Many business people are totally uneducated as to how the media works and totally unprepared to deal with the media. And every day those people do things that totally irritate reporters. To help you become aware of and then avoid these irritating behaviors, your PR Doctor and your strategic thinking business coach has listed ten (10) tried and true ways to irritate reporters. - Ten Top Tips For Staff Motivation, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Do you have a happy and highly motivated staff in your business? Have you made a commitment to create an enjoyable and productive environment at work? If you answered NO to either of these questions, then it is time to wake up and learn some tips about how to motivate your workforce and to keep them happy. If you want to attract and retain valuable employees, then you must recognize the need to make your place of business a better, more enjoyable place to work. Here are ten (10) top tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help you. - Ten Top Tips For A Healthy Business To Start The New Year
The beginning of a new year is a great time to get a checkup on the fitness and health of your business as strategic preparation for the year ahead. Business owners and their management team have the opportunity to perform an annual "checkup" on every aspect of their business, get rid of the "unhealthy" behaviors and performances and address the "unhealthy" things in their businesses, and start with a fitness plan to ensure a prosperous new year. Here are ten top tips to ensure a healthy start to the new year from your strategic thinking business coach. - Ten Top Benefits of Strategic Thinking and Planning For Business and Not For Profit Organizations
What are the real benefits of strategic thinking and planning for business for a not for profit organization? This is one of the most frequently asked questions I have encountered in more than 30 years of work in strategic planning endeavors. In preparing to write this article I reflected on those years of experience and chose what I believe to be ten top benefits of strategic thinking and planning. These are not listed in a priority order. - Ten Tips on How To Gain Outstanding Performance From Your Team Through Coaching and Mentoring
Are you witnessing outstanding performances by your employees? If not, are you providing some form of feedback to your employees as to their level of performance and your satisfaction with their performance? Are you doing any coaching or mentoring with your employees? It is very important to know that you need to institute some form of an ongoing program to monitor, mentor and coach your staff on a regular basis if you want to have outstanding performance from them. The age-old argument that owners, managers and supervisors do not have time to mentor and coach and give feedback is dysfunctional and not acceptable. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach on coaching & mentoring. - Ten Tips For Writing Successful Business Proposals, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
There comes a time for businesses when they must submit successful business proposals to gain clients, projects, interviews, potential development rights, etc. And for many businesses, successful business proposals are mandatory for their survival. How many of your proposals get accepted and how many get rejected? Or don’t you keep track of the outcomes? It is interesting to note that most successful businesses have more of their proposals rejected than accepted. Your strategic thinking business coach endorses strategic thinking in the preparation of all business proposals. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach for writing successful business proposals. - Ten Tips For Strategically Scheduling Your Time, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
The efficient use of time gives you a real strategic advantage in your business and personal life. And the first step to make efficient use of your time is to have a plan for routine and repetitive tasks, such as checking your email, attending daily, weekly or monthly meetings, returning phone calls, etc. The routine and repetitive tasks and their time slots need to be placed on your calendar before all other items. Then after doing that, you look at determining the best use of the time that remains unfilled. There are many ways to make more efficient use of your time. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following ten (10) tips for you to be more strategic in scheduling your time. - Ten Tips For Nonverbal Communications From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Good communication skills are critical skills for anyone wanting to advance in their professional career. Good communication skills also can help you in your personal life. Although we know that verbal and written communication skills are important, research has shown that nonverbal behaviors make up a large percentage of our daily interpersonal communication. In fact, the research shows that 7% of our personal messages are conveyed by words; 38% by tone of voice and 55% by facial expressions and body language. That is why it is so important to become skilled at nonverbal communications. - Ten Tips For Making Effective Calls To Your Prospects
Competition in business today is keen and those in business need to seek a competitive edge whenever possible. A strategic approach to making calls to your prospects is one area to gain a competitive advantage. With that in mind, I chose to use some strategic thinking skills to develop a list of ten top tips for making effective calls to your business prospects. Those top ten tips are - Ten Survival Strategy Tips For Hostile or Sensitive Media Interviews
Have you ever been interviewed by the media in a hostile or sensitive situation? Did you feel prepared to handle that interview? Do you ever notice or even pay attention to how many times people are embarrassed or made to look foolish or ignorant during tough interviews? Do you realize the positive impacts that can result from a superb performance in those hostile interviews? Well, if you have noticed and do realize the potential benefits of strong interview performance, what have you done about it? If you want to increase your preparedness when coming under fire from the media or when being interviewed on very sensitive subjects, then you might be open to some advice to help you in your future experiences. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following ten (10) survival strategy tips on handling sensitive and hostile interviews. - Ten Strategic Tips On How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears
When it comes to public speaking, do you welcome the opportunity or do you run for cover? Do you accept each chance presented or do you make up a long list of reasons to be excused from the task? If you answered NO to these questions, it is important for you to read this because public speaking presents some very positive development opportunities for you and there are things you can do to overcome your fears of public speaking. So what can you do if you do fear public speaking? Here are ten (10) strategic tips to overcome that fear and make public speaking easy. - Ten Strategic Tips For An Effective Internet Marketing Strategy
Attention business owners and marketers! Please read the next sentence very carefully to make sure you get the message. Business-to-business (B2B) Internet marketing strategy and tactics have been reinventing themselves and are changing. The B2B consumer is now more demanding when it comes to your online information. I believe it is safe to say that the Internet is the most powerful business communication system in the world today. So, accepting that as true, here are ten (10) strategic tips for you to use to ensure an effective Internet marketing strategy for you and your business. - Ten Strategic Marketing Actions To Ensure Success In Your New Year
The beginning of a new calendar or fiscal year is a great time to use those good intentions we have about new beginnings and jump-start our marketing efforts. So, using a strategic thinking approach, here are ten (10) strategic marketing actions to ensure success in your new year. - Ten Strategic Actions To Ensure That You Reach Your Goals
Personal goals are set and then ignored after the first month. Goals at work are set and then set aside after a few months. Frustration in pursuing goals are causing efforts to be abandoned. What can be done to ensure that you will reach the goals you set? If we apply some strategic thinking to our setting and pursuit of goals, the probability of success will greatly increase. And your strategic thinking business coach wants to share ten (10) strategic actions to take to ensure that you reach your goals. Those ten (10) strategic actions are: - Ten Powerful Principles Behind Becoming A "World-Class" Achiever
Each year, thousands and thousands of people set goals for their business and personal endeavors. And each year there are thousands and thousands of set goals that remain incomplete and transferred from one year to the next. This means that there are thousands of people ending up with feelings of frustrations year after year. So what do "world-class" achievers do to overcome that frustration and meet the challenges of reaching their goals? Here are ten (10) powerful principles behind becoming a "world-class" achiever. - Ten MVP (Most Valuable Personal) Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs
Since beginning my own entrepreneurial ventures in 1982, I have observed much and learned much about what is behind the success of entrepreneurs. I have selected a number of those traits and call them Ten MVP, or Most Valuable Personal, traits of successful entrepreneurs. The selected traits shown below reflect my opinion from personal observation and are not listed in priority order. - Ten Most Significant Risks and Costs of Unethical Behavior in Business
The business world has been shocked and rocked by major corporate scandals involving unethical behavior. The real "poster" companies of ethics violations include: Enron, Tyco International, WorldCom, Global Crossing and Adelphia. The risks and costs associated with these examples of unethical behavior are astronomical in dollars, but also extremely high in other non-quantified costs and risks. These other significant risks and costs from unethical behavior include: - Ten Most Admired Characteristics Of Successful Business Coaches
Do you know what some of the most admired characteristics are of successful business coaches? Recently I was interviewed for an article on business coaching and was asked what I believed to be the most admired characteristics of successful business coaches. Here are the ten (10) characteristics that I shared with the interviewer in response to their question. - Ten More Benefits From Strategic Planning
Strategy is about making choices and your strategic thinking business coach always wants to guide you in the making of the most educated, informed and strategic choices in your business. Today's businesses need a process to guide them in successfully developing and implementing strategies for growth and solutions to business issues, needs and problems. Strategic planning is the process that all businesses need. Strategic planning will save you time, get you and your management team focused, and provide a road map to reach your business and personal visions. In any business activity, one looks for benefits. Here are ten (10) more benefits from strategic planning. - Ten Major Mistakes To Avoid In Preparing Business Plans
How many times have you heard about a business failure and one of the keys to that failure was lack of planning and/or a poor business plan? I was recently interviewed for a business publication story on business failures and the relationship of those failures to poor or no planning and to poor business plans. Every business should have a business plan. And the business plan must avoid several major mistakes that make a business plan a "poor" business plan. Here are ten (10) major mistakes to avoid when preparing business plans, according to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach. - Ten Major Causes of Powerless Presentations, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Every day in the business world there are millions of presentations made. Unfortunately too many of those presentations are "powerless." In fact, we may even be so bold as to say a majority of those presentations are "powerless" due to one or more of ten major causes. In the opinion of Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach, the major causes of "powerless" ineffective and non-persuasive presentations are: - Ten Important Ingredients For Your Strategic Marketing Plan
Strategic thinking is very important in developing an effective marketing plan for your business. You need to think about a compelling Unique Selling Proposition (USP); an effective positioning statement; and a strategic integrated marketing communications approach. Writing a Strategic Marketing Plan is about understanding the needs and desires of your customers and clients, and showing them how your product and/or service will satisfy the needs of your customers and clients and solve their problems. Here are Ten (10) Important Ingredients For Strategic Marketing Plans. - Ten Effective Ideas For Maintaining TOMA (Top Of Mind Awareness) With Your Clients
So you have clients and you want to keep and continually serve them. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants to remind you that it is always in your best interest to maintain TOMA (Top Of Mind Awareness) with your clients if you want to keep them. It has been my experience that satisfied clients usually welcome frequent contact (let's say once a month) from businesses that have delivered superior, value added service in the recent past. I have also found that the frequent communications will reinforce the bond you have with your client, renew or refresh their positive feelings about you and keep you and your company "on their mind." - Ten Confessed Marketing Sins From Clients To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Business coaches need to be excellent listeners and hearers. During business coaching sessions, considerable time is spent with the coach asking questions and then listening to responses from those people being coached. And what business coaches hear many times are client confessions of what they have not been doing or what they have not been doing very well. Marketing is a major topic of business coaching sessions. And the discussions definitely include confessions of what clients are not dong or dong wrong in their marketing efforts. Reflecting on what confessions I have heard over many years of business coaching, here are ten of the top confessed marketing sins from clients to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach. - Team Reconstruction in Challenging Times
Building or rebuilding successful teams in challenging times is a very difficult job. One must restore productivity and profitability in the workplace that has been hit by change. One must also deal with angry, confused, distracted, emotional, irritated, stressed, etc. employees. There is a need for a strategy to handle the pressure of this type of change and rebuilding your team(s). Recently my professional business and strategic thinking coaching practice has been working very closely with team reconstruction during challenging times. During my research and review of past experiences and approaches used successfully by others, I was fortunate to find a very useful reference and handbook by Price Pritchett & Ron Pound. The title of this publication is- "Team ReConstruction Building A High Performance Work Group During Change A Handbook for Managers." - Symptoms To Confirm Your Decision To Look For A New Job, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
I have heard that people leave or fire management, not the company where they worked. And you probably have heard people say they love what they do but hate where they work. There are many things occurring in today's workplaces that are depressing, disruptive, disturbing and dysfunctional. How can you determine when it is time to look for a new job and quit the old job? Your strategic thinking business coach believes there are several symptoms that confirm it is time to leave. Here are ten (10) of those symptoms. - Strategic Tips On How To Strategically Develop Successful Cause-Related Marketing Programs
Cause-related marketing has become a part of strategic marketing plans. Cause-related marketing is an activity where businesses and charities form a partnership with each other to market an image, product or service for mutual benefit. Embracing a cause does make good business sense. A business’s genuine commitment to a worthy cause enhances a company’s image and helps build brand loyalty. Cause-related marketing is a strategic way to highlight a business’s reputation within their target market. Cause-related marketing has the power to be a very positive differentiator from competitors and to realize many benefits. These benefits include increased visibility; increased customer loyalty; enhanced company image; positive media coverage; increased good will; and increased sales. Cause-related marketing also provides an emotional engagement of your client and other stakeholders. Using a strategic thinking approach and more than 35 years of marketing experience, your strategic thinking business coach developed a list of ten (10) tips to follow to develop successful cause-related marketing programs. - Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach To Improve Personal Communications
Personal conversations are one of the most common aspects of our human conversations. Personal conversations are an essential facet in almost every one of our relationships. And one might say that the quality of those relationships is dependent upon our abilities to verbally communicate. Have you ever had any training to help you develop your personal conversational skills? Have you ever wished that you could be a better conversationalist? Do you realize that personal communication skills are one of the most powerful and strategic assets you can possess? People with effective communication skills have a real strategic advantage for business and social success. Your strategic thinking business coach has the following strategic tips to improve personal communications. - Strategic Tips From Strategic Thinking Business Coach To Manage A Multi-Generational Workforce
One of the most impactful current dynamics in today’s workplace is the presence of four (4) generations of workers at the same time, which has increased the level of challenges to manage, retain and recruit a skilled work force. These four generations of American workers are: The Veterans - people born prior to World War II The Baby Boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 The Generation Xers – people born between 1965 and 1980?The Generation Ys or Boomerangs – children of Baby Boomers, born after 1980 So what can we do to address the challenges of this multigenerational phenomenon? Your strategic thinking business coach offers some strategic tips for managing a multigenerational work force. - Strategic Tips For Dealing With Stress In The Small Business Workplace
It is certainly no secret that stress is a fact of daily life ad is especially true in the small business workplace. And what makes it worse is most small business owners must face the challenges alone or with little or no support systems. A strategic thinking small business owner knows that he or she must be very aware of their own level of stress, as well as the stress levels of their employees because of the potential negative impacts. The reduction of stress in the small business workplace is a very important goal. Here are some tips on how to deal with stress in a proactive way, according to your strategic thinking business coach. - Strategic Thinking To Media Visibility - A Healthy Media Visibility Prescription From Your PR Doctor
Are you getting your name, photo and the name of your business in the newspapers and professional publications? Or are you reading stories about your competition all the time? Do you have a dismal record of getting articles published? How healthy is your media visibility? It is critical to understand that the media is not in business to promote you or your business. The media’s role is to produce articles of interest to their readers. That means you need to provide interesting and relevant information to the journalists so they will want to publish your article. Here is a prescription from your PR Doctor on how to gain healthy media visibility. - Strategic Thinking For A Successful Employee Retention Strategy
Look around you in today's business world. It is no secret that it is becoming more difficult to recruit and retain skilled employees. In fact, one could say that select businesses and industries are desperate or becoming desperate to find people with the needed skills and attitudes. Have you anticipated and responded to the challenge of employee retention? Or are you like too many businesses that do not focus on employee retention until turnover increases. The successful businesses today have a formalized employee retention program as part of their business strategy. They take a proactive approach to prevent unnecessary employee turnover. Your strategic thinking business coach suggests that you use some strategic thinking to develop a successful employee retention strategy. Here are some steps to use in developing such a strategy from your business. - Strategic Thinking Business Ethics Advice - Just Say NO – Loudly & Clearly - To Unethical Clients!
Have you ever been asked to do something unethical by one of your prospects or clients? Have you ever been pressured by a supervisor, manager or owner at your business to do something unethical? Have you ever observed unethical behavior by a prospect or client? One must always ask – what price do I put on my ethics? How can one justify a compromise of their ethics? It is essential to have some good advice on how to reduce the chance of an improper request from a client or prospect and how to respond when actually approached by an unethical prospect or client. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following advice. - Strategic Thinking - A Wise Business Investment, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Strategic thinking is critical to the long-term success of businesses today. Yet, there are too many businesses that fail to invest time, money and human capital into planning for the future. So many businesses are concentrating only on the day-to-day activities in their business and are failing to create or remember a vision for the future. Some businesses work diligently to create strategic plans, business plans, integrated marketing communications plans, etc. only to leave these plans dormant on some shelf. They fail to remember that these plans are living documents, which warrant follow-through, review and updates. - Strategic Marketing Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Being strategic and thinking strategically in developing your marketing plan means you understand the needs and desires of your clients and customers, and you show them how your product/service satisfies those needs. You must know - what value your product or service offers and what benefits it provides; what differentiates you and your product/service from the competition; who are your stakeholders, which may include- your suppliers, your bank, your subcontractors or vendors, your associates, your staff, your clients or customers, and of course the general public; where your clients and customers are located geographically; and what are the most effective distribution channels to deliver your product or service? When developing a strategic marketing plan, your strategic thinking business coach provides the following ten (10) strategic marketing tips. - Strategic Elements Needed To Produce Compelling Written Sales Communications
We all receive various forms of written sales communications each week. Some of these will cause us to totally ignore the piece, others will get a few seconds of our attention and a very select few will grab and hold our attention. So what compels us to respond in these ways? After applying some strategic thinking to this question, here are ten (10) elements that Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes produces compelling written sales communications. - Strategic Communications - Don't Just Listen, Listen & Hear!
Almost every day we encounter an ad, a slogan, or some other communication that admonishes us to Listen! Entire ad campaigns have been built around a theme that tells the world that they listen to their customers. And I agree that listening is a very powerful way to connect with another person. That being said, I firmly believe that listening is only part of the power. The real power comes when we LISTEN & HEAR! - Strategic Business Tips When Firing Someone From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
One of the most uncomfortable actions in business is the termination of an employee. When an employee is terminated, there is pain for each party involved. Many people postpone the inevitable termination and this only increases the pain and frustration. Your strategic thinking business coach has some tips on how to terminate someone properly so both parties get through the process. - Strategic Business Tips On How To Deal With The Departure of Key Executive
One of the events that occurs in business is the departure of a key executive. This has the potential to be very disruptive and can have a significant emotional impact on employees. So how do you deal with these feelings? Your strategic thinking business coach has some tips on how to deal with the departure of a key executive. - Strategic Business Tips On How To Achieve Civility In Today's Workplace
Today's workplace is very dynamic, sometimes very stressful, and too often not very civil. We certainly observe the lack of civility in the workplace with people calling each other names, engaging in personal attacks on each other, exhibiting rude and disruptive behaviors and the lack of respect for one another or ignorance of how behaviors affect others. I believe there is a real desire for the restoration of civility in the workplace. - Strategic Business Greeting Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Do you realize that you only have about 5 seconds to make a positive first impression? And do you understand that the way you approach and greet someone will have a lasting impression on him or her and may set the direction for your future relationship with him or her? Well I hope you answered YES to both questions and are open to some business greeting tips from your strategic thinking business coach. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following tips on how to gain a strategic advantage when greeting people in a business environment. - Strategic Business Entertaining Ideas From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Business entertaining is expensive and time-consuming and warrants being very strategic and goal oriented beyond what the goals are for business breakfasts and lunches. It is good to know that one of the main purposes of the business entertaining is to make people feel good and to have a good time. It is critical to consider whether the event will emphasize and underline your business mission in a subtle professional way and if your guests will have an enjoyable time and come away with a better understanding of your company, its goals and its core values. Your strategic thinking business coach has some suggestions for different types of events that might fulfill your strategic business entertaining goals. - Strategic Benefits of Business Coaching, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
There is a rapid growth of business coaching in the United States and those people who have business coaches are realizing some strategic personal and business benefits. These people are gaining an understanding of what is possible for them and their business through business coaching. These growing numbers of people that have business coaches are reaping the strategic benefits of business coaching. Some of these strategic benefits that are being realized, according to your strategic thinking business coach, include: - Strategic Alliances and Their Powerful Benefits
A strategic alliance is a partnership, a collaborative agreement and-or a relationship between two or more companies or organizations formed to pursue a set of agreed upon goals while remaining independent companies or organizations. Strategic alliances exist in a variety of shapes and sizes and include a wide range of scopes of cooperation levels. Strategic alliances usually are most effective when the entities involved have complementary strengths - Strategic Actions For A Strategically Structured Succession Planning For Company Leadership
Succession planning is very important to the long-term success of any company. Leadership transitions in business affect the entire organization’s continuity, employee retention, client retention and returns on investment. It is essential to create and implement a process that creates visibility, accountability and greater integration of all facets of the business. The rapidly changing demographics in the workplace, especially the aging baby boomer segment, there is a real challenge to find talent for leadership roles. Companies that are able to respond proactively with strategically developed and implemented effective leadership succession plans are in a superior position in the marketplace and global economies. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following list of recommended strategic actions to structure a leadership succession planning process. - Stop Resisting and Start Reaping The Rewards of Referrals
Recently I was asked to provide some expert advice on networking for introverts and I did so in an article entitled, "Networking Tips for Introverts or How to Break The Ice Without Fear of Falling Through." After completing the article, I thought about the similarity between the introvert's fear of networking and the fear and resistance of business people to ask for referrals. Over the past 25 years in my private consulting practices, I have observed that many, if not most, professionals are uncomfortable and resistant to requesting referrals from colleagues, clients, business associates, et al. There appears to be some psychological fear in their minds of what might happen if a request for referral is made. My own observations along those lines are that usually the worst thing that happens is someone declines the request. And maybe that is more than many people can handle since it is seen as rejection. - Six Strategic Things To Remember When Requesting Referrals
Referrals are important to most if not all businesses today. In a professional services business, such as business coaching, referrals are a major source of new clients. One of the strategic advantages of referrals is that they tend to be good quality prospects. And another strategic advantage is that they also tend to be relatively easy to convert into clients. It is imperative that you pay attention to the generation of referrals and the best way to do that is to ask for referrals at least two or three times a year from existing clients and professional and personal contacts. There are a few strategic things to remember when requesting referrals from any of the above-mentioned sources. And your strategic thinking business coach offers the following to remember. - Six Strategic Steps To Improve Your Emails
The number of business emails we send and receive continues to grow at an amazing pace. And from my personal experience, more and more of my clients that prefer email communications as a preferred communications mode. Email can be a very effective and efficient means of communicating. However, how many of the emails we send and receive can we honestly say are effective and efficient? And what can we do to improve our email communication? - Seven Strategic Tips For Selling Professional Services Brand
Selling professional services presents many challenges and problems with closing a deal with a prospect and/or client. The term "closing" has an inherent seller-orientation and it can be interpreted as putting your needs ahead of the client's needs. And that is never a desired interpretation for those who sell professional services. The "closing" model also presents some conflicts between the belief that buying is driven by rational decision-making, rather than emotion. What is important is to have the buyer of professional services feel comfortable about a rational decision they have to make. The emphasis is on creating a high "comfort level" for the buyer when making the decision. - Seven Strategic Actions To Deal With Change And Uncertainty In Business And Life
Dealing with and handling change and uncertainty is one of the major challenges each of us faces in today’s world. And we face it in our business and personal lives. It can be said that change and uncertainty arrive together and that most people find it much more difficult to manage and endure ambiguity and waiting than to deal with changes as they happen. And, in my opinion, on thing is certain – each of us will face some type of change and uncertainty at multiple times during our life. So, what are some strategic actions we can take to deal with this change and uncertainty? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach researched this question and developed seven (7) strategic actions to recommend dealing with change and uncertainty in business and life. - Seven Simple Strategies To Increase Your Visibility In The Media
Do you ever notice or even pay attention to how many times your competition appears in the media? Did you ever wonder how or why the same professionals are interviewed as experts in the media? Do you realize the positive impacts that can result from your visibility in the media? Well, if you have noticed and do realize the potential benefits of media attention, what have you done about it? If you want to increase your visibility in the media, then you must commit to implementing some simple strategies to do so. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following seven (7) simple strategies to gain media attention and visibility. - Seven Reasons Why You Need A Strategic Planning Facilitator
A professional facilitator brings an independent and open-minded perspective to your strategic planning process. He or she will keep the discussion focused, keep the process on track, and will encourage team members to act as equals in the process. Some organizations choose to “go it alone” and attempt to conduct the strategic planning process entirely “in house.” In my own personal and professional experiences over more than 35 years, I have always witnessed better outcomes of the strategic planning process when an outside professional facilitator is brought in. Here are seven reasons why it is recommended that you hire an outside facilitator.
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