Gayle Lantz’s Blog

Sharpen Your Strategic Focus

It’s July 1, so you’ve made it through the first half of the year. Now it’s time to get serious about what you want to accomplish over the next six months. Consider it a fresh start.

 

Lately I’ve been talking with executives about the importance of staying focused. It’s easy to be distracted by negative news, fluctuations in the market and predictions for the future. Even in the midst of changing conditions, some businesses are stuck on autopilot. Smart businesses will take the time to reflect and chart a new course.

 

Take a look at what you’ve accomplished so far this year. Determine what’s working and what changes you need to make. You’ll be most successful by concentrating even harder on the needs of your market. Listen and learn.

 

Be prepared to make necessary adjustments in your business strategies, try something new, take a calculated risk. Approach the balance of the year with a sharpened focus and strengthened determination to accomplish your goals. Make the balance of the year the best part of your year!

A Customer Centric View of Your Business

Just returned from a great marketing seminar delivered by Terri Langhans of Blah Blah Blah (www.blahblahblah.us). One helpful reminder was the importance of not viewing your business as your products and services, but as your clients and customers…past, present and future.

 

I’ve seen many companies who want to become more customer centric, yet they’re struggling to do so. With so much pressure to close a sale, they’re pushing their products or services instead of letting the customer or prospect know they understand their real need, pain or problem first.

 

A leader’s role is critical to help others understand the importance of truly viewing the business with the customer in mind first. What are you doing to be more customer centric in your business?

Take the Bull by the Horns: A Great Father's Day Gift for Any Busy Dad in Business

If you're looking for something to help a devoted dad whose trying to manage people and the business, order a copy of Take the Bull by the Horns: The Busy Leader's Action Guide to Growing Your Business...and Yourself. He'll thank you.

The book continues to get great reviews and was just recognized as a finalist in the Best Business Book category for the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. 

You can order easily through amazon at this link. Order soon!

http://tinyurl.com/mgssvl

A Close Call -- Lesson Learned

Yesterday I saw a teenage driver smash her car into a tree in my neighbor’s yard. Miraculously, no one was hurt.

 

The car had been sitting idle, but was not in park. Instead of hitting the brake, the driver pressed the accelerator and the car lunged forward out of her control. Luckily the tree, which was only a few feet away, prevented the car from speeding forward which could have resulted in a much more serious accident.

 

Surely this young driver, who had only been driving a couple of months, will now put her car in park whenever the car is actually parked. Lesson learned.

 

We learn much through mistakes and failures. This is a lesson that applies in business and leadership as well. Just recently I wrote about the importance of this kind of learning in WorkMatters Tips. In case you missed it, you can find the article here:

Overcoming Failure

 

 

 

 

 

HR Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Economy

The ICFAI University Press published one of my articles in the May issue of HRM Review. ICFAI University Press is the publishing arm for the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India.    The entire issue addresses the recession's impact on human resource professionals.

My article, "HR in the Spotlight: Lighting the Path for Change in Tough Times," takes a look at the changing role of HR and emphasizes the importance of developing leadership to be most effective. HR executives and professionals should be proactive in positioning themselves to create the highest value in organizations. For more information, visit: http://www.iupindia.org/HRM_Review.asp

A Good Idea for Business Improvement

When you’re looking for new ideas to help you improve your business, look at a similar non-competing business. Create a reciprocal arrangement where you can learn and exchange best practices. Compare business practices, processes and operating procedures. Some of my own clients in different industries have done this successfully.

 

Physically visit a non-competing business or firm that’s similar to yours to learn what works and what doesn’t for them. See the business in action. Share your observations and ideas.

 

Or invite executives from a non-competing business to visit your office to compare notes. They’ll assess your business from a different perspective.

 

You learn from them. They learn from you. The experience is mutually beneficial. 

 

Maybe you’ll identify a process that’s taking five steps when it could really be done in just two steps. Maybe you’ll stop having weekly meetings if they’ve been unproductive.

 

Some organizations have discontinued traditional performance review processes because they're not effective. Other businesses are changing paper shuffling processes to online processes to be more efficient.

 

You never know what business improvement ideas you might find until you step outside of your own business temporarily.

Where do you find your leadership motivation?

I turned to today’s page of the My Daily Coach calendar. It reads, “Where will you find inspiration?” In today’s times, leaders need a little more inspiration or motivation to help them lead their teams, department or business.

 

You probably don’t have the luxury of taking a lot of time off to recharge and find the inspiration you need, so find it in small doses where you can.

Here’s one idea:

 

Connect with peers. One of the best sources of leadership motivation comes through connections with other leaders. If you’ve been out of touch with some of your peers, now is the time to reconnect.

 

Let them know some of the challenges you’re facing and, more importantly, what you would be most excited to accomplish. Leaders are often motivated by achievement. Gain ideas from other managers or leaders within and outside your industry to help you achieve your business and personal goals.

 

Reciprocate. Ask about their goals. Offer ideas of your own that will be of value to your peers. It's not a new concept, but worth remembering that by keeping your focus on how you can contribute to the success of others, you'll build your own.

 

Let me know where you’re looking for or finding your leadership motivation or inspiration. Your ideas will help others.

Leadership Development Still in Demand

A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed the importance of preparing strong leaders to help companies through the recovery. At at time when budgets are being more carefully scrutinized, it's good to see organizations who value leadership capability and make the investment to build it. They're
expecting ROI now and in the future.

How would you rate the leadership in your business? If YOU are the leadership of the business, you may not be getting the feedback you need to know how you're doing. Find out. Commit to your own leadership development and personal improvement.

There are a variety of approaches to helping leaders develop:formal training, structured executive coaching, informal mentoring, self study, group leadership coaching, books, workbooks, assessments, webinars, teleseminars, etc.

You don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money. Some of the best approaches provide real time learning which is what many leaders need right now.

Keeping leadership development as a top priority in your organization will keep your business strong and resilient.

Your Decision Making Checklist

Once you're clear about your overall goals, you'll need to determine your process for making best decisions. Consider creating a checklist for yourself or your team to help you make business decisions more easily.

For example, when determining the kind of work, new business projects or market you will pursue, list the criteria that is most important.

Possibilities include:

 __Long term potential to develop additional business
 __Short term potential to help cash flow
 __Strong profitability
 __Challenging work
 __High visibility project/Better exposure
 __Work that is aligned with our key priorities
 __Work that represents our core expertise
 __Work that is enjoyable, even fun
 __The opportunity to learn something new
 __The opportunity to work with a great team
 __Meaningful work that will make a significant impact
 
These are simply examples. Develop your own unique checklist.

If working with a team, involve your team members in creating the checklist to assure agreement on how best decisions will be made. Prioritize your criteria so you know the most important factors to
consider in the decision making process.

Doing this exercise now will make the process easier when you're faced with decisions to make down the road. It avoids the "What was he thinking?" response. Your team will already know.

(c) 2009 WorkMatters, Inc.

Get Clear in the New Year: A Goal Setting Exercise to Help You Achieve What You Really Want

When it comes to goal setting, what works for you? Spending some quiet time alone? Thinking things through with other people? This is the time of year to get serious about your goal setting thought process, whatever it may be.

To prompt your thinking, I've created a fill-in-the-blank exercise. Complete any statements that apply. Take your time.

1.  What I want most in the New Year is _____________________________

2.  Therefore, my top three specific business and/or personal goals are: _____________________

3.  The outcomes I expect to achieve as a result of accomplishing these goals
include: ________________________________

4.  I'll know I'm making progress when _____________________________________

5.  Specific milestones I'm shooting for include: _____________________________

6.  The exceptional value we will create for our clients, customers, patients or stakeholders is ___________________________________

7.  The people, tools or resources needed to accomplish my/our goals are: ___________________

8.  While I could focus on many areas during the year, my top priority is _____________________

9.  To stay on track I will __________________________________

10. I'm willing to stop _________________ or to let go of ___________________ to achieve my goals.

Review your answers. Make adjustments where needed. Discuss with your team, coach, mentor, friends or family.

Share the goal setting exercise with other colleagues or friends who may benefit.   

Get clear and get what you want in the New Year!

(c) 2008 WorkMatters, Inc.

PS: For free leadership tips sent biweekly on how to grow your business, your team or yourself, join WorkMatters Tips at:
http://workmatters.com/signup