August 20, 2015 by

Where Do You Stand On The Millennials?

millennialsEveryone seems to have an opinion on The Millennial Generation. Even the Millennials have interesting things to say about themselves. Here is a guest article this week on the topic. Feel free to comment and share right on this article itself, however, caution as the conversation is getting heated there last time I looked. Therefore, if you would rather comment right here and share this post that works too!

Mitch Tublin is an advanced and certified executive and personal coach who resides in Stamford, CT.

What Everybody Ought to Know About Millennials by Dr. Patty Ann Tublin

Recently I spoke with a new college graduate who was bemoaning what she described as the endless stupid paperwork HR insisted she complete her first day on the job. She said: “This is ridiculous. This company is crazy if they think I’m going to waste my time filling out useless crap all day long! I wonder if I made the right decision when I took this job?”

Haven’t you scoffed at the dumb bureaucratic paperwork required throughout your career? But unlike this young lady, you’ve probably never seriously thought of leaving your job over it. You’ve just considered it, well, part of your job!

Enter the millennials. The young generation of workers you must understand if you want to hire, retain and/or sell to them. Recently-released data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows millennials (those born between 1982-2000) are now the largest segment of the population, surpassing the baby boomers. They represent more than a quarter of the nation’s population.

Who wouldn’t want to capture this consumer and talent pool? Quite honestly, you will have no choice unless you want to be on the fast track to going out of business.

Read the full article here

 

Filed Under: Managing People Tagged With: , , ,
May 14, 2015 by

Rolling On A Highway

car-trafficThe majority of us drive on an interstate or some type of highway a few times a week or more. On a three lane highway, ever notice the impact of someone who is driving a car in the center lane, yet, at a reduced speed of ten to fifteen MPH less than the speed limit which may have them clocked at twenty to twenty five MPH less than the majority of traffic? The impact is almost always an accident waiting to happen. The left lane is constantly flowing past this car in a steady stream of vehicles. The right lane has cars lining up to pass as well only slightly less organized and flowing than the left lane.

Meanwhile the three, four or five cars directly behind the center lane driver are feeling stuck as they came upon this unexpectedly and now feel trapped not able to readily get into the left lane to pass or the right lane to sneak by as well.

All of this is an accident waiting to happen and what makes matters worse is the driver in the center lane taking their time and driving along has absolutely no idea! They have no clue or awareness of the havoc they wreak out on the road behind them.

If the picture is not clear from the example of the driver, consider the crew team rowing in their shell. In a practice session or in a race each stroke must be in synch with everyone else’s stroke. The style and execution of the stroke must be the same. Any disruption to this timed team effort will cost them time and knock speed off their progress.

In many ways this is what happens to a team when there is one person who is not pulling their weight or not choosing to fit in with the team. They begin to become a burden to everyone else on the team. The team may need to sidestep around them and their assigned tasks or roles on a project in order to complete their assigned goals.

Depending upon the severity and the cost to the team and the business, these individuals must be dealt with. There is a possibility working regularly with an Executive Coach may create the change necessary to salvage a team mate. It is a disservice to the rest of the members of the team and to the offending person not to address the issue.

This is a fact which transcends the size of an organization.

The truth as stated by John C. Maxwell: “Team Work, Makes The Dream Work”.

Mitch Tublin is a business consultant and an advanced certified executive and personal coach who resides in Stamford, CT.

Have someone who needs to become a better team player? >> Contact Mitch Tublin Here <<

 

Filed Under: Business Structure, Communication, Managing People, Relationships Tagged With: , , , ,
December 11, 2012 by

Technology, Tracking Codes, and Rules May Cause Failure in the Ability to Think

Business OperationsAfter storm Sandy, our street had trees down, branches and more. We knew we were lucky. We know this could have been a lot worse. A tree sat on our front porch, with roof damage and more. This AM our street was clear of debris for the first time since the storm. We know there are others who still have no power and lost their homes, and we were fortunate. The remaining visible evidence of the event is the front roof, the missing fixtures, the yellow tape and signs to not use the front entrance, and instead use the side entrance for anyone coming by the house.

One strange item we noticed. During the last three weeks with a street packed with trees, parts of trees, and other debris packing curb, after curb, plus a clearly marked front porch, each delivery person from large and recognizable companies decided to walk passed the warning signs. They climb over the yellow warning tape to place their delivery item up by the front door. It was time to act and prevent a potential injury.

The two very large and well known delivery companies, FEDEX and UPS, both have a toll free line to speak with a representative. Once the story was told that this was dangerous and is there a way to note in their files that my address should have deliveries to a side entrance, here is the response from each company, both FEDEX and UPS, “do you have a tracking number so we may resolve your issue”?

In a calm manner we went through the story again two more times. “We cannot do anything to resolve your issue without a tracking number”. They each, both FEDEX and UPS, said this ‘resolve your issue’. My issue! This was about their delivery people and their safety! Does technology, tracking codes and rules cause a failure in the ability to think?

If you remember the old board game ‘Chutes and Ladders’, this is what is missing when you have technology and systems dictating your policy manual. There needs to be a way to escape and work around issues, by either sliding under or climbing over the out of the ordinary situations. If your business has real people as customers and real people who interact with your customers, there will be times and circumstances where the ability to think must be built into the system, built into the training, and become part of the manual. One area for this exception should always be around safety. The other areas would be defined by your business. People need to be able to use their common sense in your business.

Allow for a representative to consider what the situation is from the customer point of view and to determine if this is one of the ‘Chutes and Ladders’ exceptions.

Regardless of the size of your company, when people are able to have a discussion and openly ask the non-scripted questions to obtain more information and determine how to solve a situation, the customers will take notice. You will create raving fans for your business.

Contact Mitch Tublin today to review your business operations and inject common sense where lacking. Mitch will work together with you and your team. The improvements will be dramatic. – Info@easysmallbusinesssolutions.com or call 877-907-8223.

 

Filed Under: Business Structure, Habits, Managing People Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
November 20, 2012 by

Are You Building a Dam or Building a Successful Business?

Business SuccessA dam serves a purpose. Typically utilized for water, a dam holds the flow of water in such a manner as to create an entirely new landscape where water flowed freely previously. Now the water builds up and forms a lake, or a reservoir, as the dam stops the flow of the water. If we stop there and assess if this strategy would work or not, regarding your communication skills in building a successful business, what do you think?

The ability to build a business built for success is dependent upon the leader’s ability to communicate effectively. What is your business owner personality profile? When there are things that go wrong or you see something that is not done the way you want it to be, how do you handle the situation? Are you the type who just steps in and fixes whatever it is so it is done just right to your expectations? Then you do not take the opportunity to train or teach the people on your team about what you expect and what took place? Better yet, ask why it was done the way it was done and see if it is possible that this is a better or more efficient method than what you were looking for.

The person who typically holds back and let’s their dislikes for what they see become bottled up and ready to boil over, is a potentially toxic situation. One day everything will come spilling out and most likely without a meaningful or productive outcome for the business or the team; similar to a dam which forms a crack or a leak. The correct method of handling situations is to permit you to remain in a calm state. For some people this will mean you need a bit of time to reflect and assess before you react to a situation. For other people they have the ability to immediately react and offer feedback to their employee or team.

Each situation is unique. There will be certain instances when a one on one discussion would be the appropriate reaction. There will be other times when the entire team should be involved in the communication. You will know. Trust your instincts. If you have ever been called a ‘hot-head’ or ‘short tempered’ – odds are you are a candidate for waiting for a time period before reacting and giving some feedback.

Do you see yourself in this article? A quality business coach will be able to work with you on this exact issue. Contact Mitch Tublin today for an appointment and become the effective leader and communicator you want to be – info@easysmallbusinesssolutions.com or call 877-907-8223.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership, Managing People Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
August 25, 2010 by

How Do You Know Where You Are Going If You Don’t Know Where You Are?

One thing is for certain, we as entrepreneurs thrive on having new ideas and considering new avenues, new businesses, new projects and more. The most successful entrepreneurs bring a laser focus to their business.
They know their strengths and hire in to cover their weaknesses. They act quickly and implement on their best thinking. They know where they are when they begin and they know where they are as they move along their path to success.
Let’s discuss this last topic. Checking in on where you are? This is not just about the financial aspects of your business. It is the course you have set for your business. You need to check in on a regular basis and see if you are on track financially, on your projects, on your plan and on your strategy.
Here is one example I think everyone may relate to. Do you sign up to attend an event, go to the event and then it happens. You get swept up at the event by great and compelling selling into purchasing a new marketing tool. You buy the package for a few thousand dollars. You return from the event all excited and begin to spend your time and the time of your team on the ‘new’ marketing tool.
Now I am not going to judge your purchase. Marketing is a critical and all important component to running a continually successful business. I want to ask you this question – are you losing your focus and taking your team off track? When do you realize what you have done? Do some current and previously important projects get sidetracked? Are there some urgent opportunities, conversations, customer issues, email campaigns that are now lost in this new found exciting marketing tool you are all working with?
Is it better to consider the time investment and the who, what, where and when of the new marketing tool you purchased?
The point here is this – create a regular method of checking in. Know clearly where you want to go and attach dates and timelines to everything. Roll this back into to smaller goals to be achieved. Carve these up to your staff and areas of responsibility. Now you will know where you are and where you are going! And your team will too!

Filed Under: Know Where You Want To Go, Managing People Tagged With: , , , ,
August 16, 2010 by

Hanging Up a Framed Photo and Your Business Are Related How?

You found the perfect frame for your photo. It was the frame you dreamed of finding. The plan was set as you already knew exactly where to hang this frame which would house the photos which you printed out from your digital camera. You bought a picture hook when you bought the frame. You have a hammer already to go. Up goes the picture hook in the exact place where you want your new frame hung up.
You place the frame up and onto the picture hook.
There it is as you step back and see…the crooked picture frame hanging there? Okay so you play around with the frame a bit and it always ends up crooked. Not a little crooked – a lot crooked.
Does this ever happen to you in your business?
Do you have examples which you might relate to – similar to this story so far?
Here is what I did when this happened to me recently.
I turned over the frame and placed a ruler on the top of the frame on the back. This was to take a measurement and see where things were right now before taking any action. The answer was not what I expected. The hanging piece was installed one full inch off center! Gathering in the facts of what would be necessary to effectively and efficiently correct this situation, I brought in a few tools which would be needed. With a pencil, I marked the exact location of where the hanging piece needed to be installed.
Unscrewed the piece, redrilled holes in locations which I neatly and specifically marked for the screws and then reinstalled the hanging piece. The picture frame was placed where my daughter needed it to be. This entire process took me less then five minutes.
How does this relate to your business?
What do you do when something is out of whack or just seems out of place?
What if the event announcements are placed in your blog by accident instead of on your events page?
Do you just go in and fix it?
Or do you take the opportunity to be a leader and a manager by finding out how this happened and make it a teaching and learning moment for your team?

Filed Under: Leadership, Managing People Tagged With: , , , ,
Next Page »