New News:
Last week I conducted a live program for the Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce. The program was "Network Your Way to the Top". I know that most of you hate to network because you don't know what to say or where to network effectively. But mostly, you hate to network because you go to these events and come away with few or no new contacts. Often, you feel like a mark because you're pitched by every new member who thinks he has to try to sell everyone all the time. So you stop going.
The program content must have struck a chord: not only was the room standing-room-only, but the number of attendees was a record for this chamber event.
This information is in such high demand that I'm taking this 2 steps further. First, the seminar is being burned to a CD for people who want the home study version. In addition, I am scheduling half-day seminars on networking that will help participants master networking and get results quickly. These half-day programs will include specific how-to's including EXACTLY what to say and when to say it. The classes will include heavy participation: demonstration, role playing, and practice.
As a result of the program, attendees will have everything they need to network effectively and get more prospects. They will also learn that effective networking leads to finding better vendors, suppliers, and employees.
I plan to take this program to various Chambers of Commerce for the benefit of their membership. Already, several companies have called me to schedule this program in-house for their staffs. I'll keep you posted on seminar dates and locations.
If you think your company could benefit from being more effective at networking, call me at 704-688-7122. Let's talk about providing your team with these valuable skills in a customized, in-house program.
Also, in the news:
I was recently interviewed by several radio stations who wanted me to talk on how companies are screwing up their businesses, and what they can do to correct this.
Key points:
- Many companies are laying off and downsizing. Fewer people to do the same work. Continual staff training and development is even more important since you have to get the most out of each employee. In good times, companies say they're too busy to do training. In down times, they say they can't afford the training. So when do you ever train and develop your team?
- In a tight/slow economy, you cannot afford underproductive employees. Firing people and thinking that the survivors will somehow get more motivated to pick up the slack doesn't work. And it's usually counterproductive. The survivors will do less and less. So do managers. It's the deer-in-the-headlights phenomenon.
- One of the two main factors in productivity is morale (the other is teamwork). There is personal morale and group morale. Personal morale is a function of leadership; group morale a function of team effectiveness. How's your leadership these days?
Business tip for the week:
Many managers complain about unmotivated employees. About how so-and-so has a bad attitude. So consider this:
All new hires came into the company full of enthusiasm and eagerness. If they hadn't, you wouldn't have hired them, would you? But then, something changed. Did an employee suddenly decide to become unhappy, unmotivated, and unenthusiastic? Doubtful.
Something happened on the job. Perhaps it was lack of initial training. Maybe it was stupid work rules. Mostly, it was that the employee was never recognized for his/her contribution. She was never shown how she fit in to the overall mission of the company. So in her eyes, her job has little value which means her contribution has no value. And THAT means she's just spinning her wheels in this job.
Ask yourself: why do good employees go bad? Sometimes, the employees change. But usually, it's the leadership or lack of it. I coach individuals and teams to work smarter and better. But sometimes, it's the leader who needs the coaching. |
