Achieving “Customer Delight”
It is not enough anymore to aim for “customer satisfaction.” Mere satisfaction simply preserves the status quo, and we all need to do better with our customers. Forward-thinking companies, those who want increased market share, (and the ability to maintain or increase prices and margin), have been focusing on “Customer Delight” – achieving a level […]
The Real Cost of a Bad Hire
We all know that hiring badly is costly. Search fees, relocation, lost compensation, severance, all add up. But those are just the tip of the iceberg. Try adding up how much of an impact a bad hire could really have. Brad Smart, the author of Topgrading, says a bad hire can cost you 14 times […]
Sharing the P&L with Employees
There are two significant ways in which you can share the P&L; within your company, financially and informationally. Let’s talk about both. Many companies are now “sharing” company losses with employees, in the form of layoffs, reduced hours, pay cuts, etc. This is getting companies back to break even, and from what we hear, employees […]
The Art of Networking
Whether you are looking for a new job, trying to win more business, or just need to find a solution to a challenge, networking is often the answer. Most people need some help to capitalize on their own contacts, and certainly when calling strangers. Here’s some key tips on how to get people to joyfully […]
Top Five Ways to Gain an Edge in Business
This could easily be a TOP 10 list, so to be concise, we offer the five most important ideas: Benefit to the Buyer: A clear tangible benefit that differentiates you from your competition. Extra Value: Going beyond why you are different, you must also be better. This includes delighting your customer with superb service. Communication: The ability to get your message across […]
Vital Job Hunting Tip #5: Explaining Job Changes
Many job seekers make the mistake of talking negatively about a previous employer, and it is very important to be positive on this topic. When we interview candidates, we ask them in several different ways to tell why they’d be interested in making a change: What is the ideal job for you? What’s missing at […]
Maintaining Radical Talent Management
There has been very little written on a topic we’d like to call Radical Talent Management. Hiring and talent management continue to evolve at a much slower pace than other technologies that are critical to business success. The word “radical” is derived from the Latin “radicalis” which means root, basis, or source. Most of us think of […]
Vital Job Hunting Tips #2 – The “Informational Interview”
Many job hunting coaches advocate trying to get “Informational Interviews”, where you aren’t specifically aiming at a job, but just gathering information, getting advice, networking, etc. What can you try to accomplish in this meeting to improve the quality of the discussion? Here are some tips: Treat it as a customer visit – what is […]
Is It a Painkiller or a Vitamin?
We learned the expression “Is it a pain killer or a vitamin?” in the angel / VC investment world. This question is asked of start-ups by investors, to determine if the product being developed and funded is essential for the intended purpose (a pain killer; a must-have), or just nice to have (a vitamin). When a CEO […]
