Do Unto Your Employees

Most of us would agree that delivering exceptional customer service is essential for any kind of long-term success or growth. But what many overlook is the direct link between how employees are treated and how they, in turn, treat their customers. If a company expects its employees to be friendly,…
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Use the Carrot, Not the Stick

The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article titled “The Most Hated Way of Firing Someone Is More Popular Than Ever. It’s the Age of the PIP.” In this article, writer Lauren Weber describes the increasing use of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) across the corporate world. As she describes, “A…
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When the Fight’s Not Worth It

Many business owners and managers have fallen into the trap of believing that every customer is worth fighting for. The age-old adage that tells us the customer is always right has convinced many of us that we need to bend over backwards to satisfy every person who comes through the…
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Communication Fosters Success

Effective and timely communication are the cornerstone of a thriving and healthy work environment. Within any organization, the constant exchange of information between employees and management is vital for sustained success. However, when communication breaks down, challenges like project delays, strained relationships, and a waste of valuable resources are an…
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Communication Is Key Part 4

In parts one, two, and three of this series, we’ve taken a look at the different types of communication that happens within a business. This has included the top-down edicts from leadership to subordinates, the bottom-up disclosures from subordinates to leadership, and the interpersonal talk between peers and teams. All…
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Communication Is Key, Part 2

As we mentioned last week in part 1, there are four types of communication that govern the way that people interact with one another in a company. In the previous post, we discussed upward communication; that is, the type that happens from subordinates to their superiors. We also explained why…
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Communication Is Key, Part 1

The writing experts at Grammarly.com have an article that breaks down the four types of communication that happen at a business: “upward, downward, lateral, and external.” These directions indicate who’s talking with whom, and what their interpersonal relationships are with one another. Think about this in terms of a business…
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Use Your Reputation to Recruit

The numbers for the Great Resignation continue to shock everyone. As cited by The Motley Fool, “Since the start of the pandemic, 20% of workers have changed careers,” and a further “46% of employees are considering a career change.” We’ve seen especially high turnover months during this time, including August…
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How to Survive Short Staffing

According to the National Federation of Independent Business’s October 2021 Report, nearly half of business owners report that they have job openings that they cannot fill. According to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, “Small business owners are attempting to take advantage of current economic growth but remain pessimistic about business…
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