2011 Trends
The stock market is over 11,500 and the economy seems to be picking up with solid holiday sales, even with big ticket purchases like cars. Who would have thought GM, Ford and Chrysler's sales would rise in December?
The Aftermath of a Layoff
Unfortunately, there have been countless layoffs during the recession - and some recent announcements by companies such as American Express and Abbott. Your company will not leverage the recovery if you haven't thought about 'what next' for the survivors: It's all about people. Do the survivors know they are [...]
Success in the New Normal Recovery
As the stock market just topped 12,000, it is apparent we are in a recovery. Yet it is far from a traditional recovery - jobless with limited growth. In fact, to most everyday people, it doesn't feel like a recovery. As I've talked with clients and business contacts and [...]
Want to Improve Your Business But Not Sure Where to Start?
Learn how your business stacks up with internal and external strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), then take action. Volatility is here to stay! Even though we continue to drudge along in the lackluster recovery, excitement remains - earthquakes, nuclear disasters, global conflicts in Libya, oil prices skyrocketing again, [...]
Lean – Fad or Vehicle to Bottom Line Results?
If you notice and act upon trends, you will succeed. In my 20 years of experience across multiple industries and globally, I've found that a secret to success is identifying trends EARLY in the process and then acting upon them as it makes sense. Lately, I've had a plethora [...]
Volatility is the New Norm
In today's new normal business environment, volatility is the new norm. Change is required to remain competitive or to become competitive. If you manage change better than your competition, you'll have the opportunity to leapfrog the competition. In the last several years, I've seen a multitude of examples of [...]
Organizational Change
As one of the top topics I typically help clients to strategize and implement, I thought it was worth taking a look at a few tips: Fit with strategy - Change for the sake of change without looking at fit with the company's strategy is useless yet occurs frequently. [...]
How to make performance management work for you
How many managers or employees think performance management is worthwhile? From my experience and research, the answer is few. And, on the other hand, how many complain that the manager or employee is on a different page from one another? Most. This leaves a paradox - most people think [...]
Business Process Improvement to Drive Bottom Line Results
Business process improvement has almost become a "buzzword" - sounds good but what does it mean? What is really accomplished? Many times, companies create volumes of 1-inch thick binders of best practice processes, and yet achieve no bottom line results. Anyone seen these binders collecting dust on the bookshelf? [...]
Scorecards/ Metrics – how to make a difference to your bottom line
Why track performance? Not tracking performance would be the same as if you watched a football game and never knew the score - what fun would that be? And why watch at all? Scorecards and metrics are your tool for understanding progress towards your business goals and they provide [...]