An article by the JB Griffin Group states, “Having a cell phone use policy could help people understand what’s expected of them, but a no-tolerance policy will likely feel punitive and overbearing.” The article highlights the importance of striking a balance between setting expectations, having an awareness of business risks and understanding the employee’s perspective. These three legs of the ...
As a teenager, I worked summers on my uncle’s farm. Some land my uncle farmed was owned by others. They shared the profits 50/50 after direct expenses like fertilizer and seed. With that context, I found Joseph’s profit-sharing arrangement in Genesis 47:24 as peculiar. Joseph said to the sharecropping tenants, “But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it ...
Clayton Christensen, in his book, The Innovator’s Dilemma, discusses disruptive innovation. He provides examples of companies who innovate not just to meet a need, but to anticipate consumer desires. Disruptive companies like Netflix not only innovate, they create new markets by presenting a solution to an anticipated consumer need. Anticipating a need is one thing, creating a sellable solution that ...
A study conducted by Harvard Business Review suggests that 75% of customers won’t buy unless asked. The study also reports over 50% of sales professionals don’t ask. Therefore, 50% of the time, business is left on a table full of opportunity. In John 5:6, we read of Jesus’ compelling ask, “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he ...
How many meetings have ended with the team departing full of great intentions to move a project forward, to follow-up with a customer or to complete the action item lists? Too often a week goes by and not one item can be checked off as completed. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not ...
While coaching a young entrepreneur, I was reminded of several common mistakes made by new business owners. The second mistake I see frequently is inadequate bookkeeping. For many business owners, bookkeeping and administration is a bother. New business owners often intermingle personal and business monies in the same checking account. Some rarely keep track of their income and expenses, and ...
Recently, I visited a tire store that was excellent in customer service. They had modern systems that keyed off my phone number and when I visited their store they were very efficient and excellent in all aspects of service. Organizations like this usually have great operationally minded people striving for excellence in most everything, but one area that may be ...
A software we have subscribed to for years has been easy to use. Because the product was user-friendly we never contacted this software company for help, until recently. When we tried, we discovered that to minimize expense this company proudly declares that they have no phone support. Instead of considering their customer’s needs, this company appears to be more concerned ...
One of the foundational tools in Lean Manufacturing is the 5S system. Each of the 5S’s represents a step towards the most efficient utilization of space. As with every new process, the easy part is putting it in place. The hard part is getting the changes to stick. SUSTAIN, the fifth of the 5S’s, teaches a methodology to ensure the ...
One of the foundational tools in Lean Manufacturing is the 5S system. Each of the 5S’s represents a step towards the most efficient utilization of space. The fourth of the 5S’s is STANDARDIZE. This step’s job is to ensure that the process is repeatable and reproducible. The STANDARDIZE step allows for others to easily step into the role and fulfill ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
