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When we delegate authority to an employee, we are actually delegating the power to make decisions. We all want employees who think for themselves, but only if their decisions work out in a way we like. Read More

You’ve promoted a great employee beyond his capabilities. He is putting in long hours, but appears unable to keep up with the new responsibilities. In fact, he doesn’t even seem to understand what those responsibilities are, or what they should be. What do you do? Read More

When should an employee be promoted? Over the years, I’ve often had this conversation both within my own companies and with owner-clients. An employee is handling responsibilities above his or her official job description. Why not bestow a new title as soon as possible? Read More

There was an interesting editorial item in The Economist that unintentionally says a lot about the impact of government intervention on industry. In the last generation, the average number of working hours needed to purchase an automobile, clothing or other consumer goods has fallen by 50%. Read More

“Why can’t we enough find good people to hire?” As a consultant to business leaders, I hear this complaint with increasing frequency. From tradesmen to programmers, and from executives to scientists, we seem to be lacking a workforce with the skills and work ethic that businesses seek. Read More

Why does the perception of the sales profession generate a negative emotional response? I know many business owners who loathe their own salespeople, and regard managing them as a necessary evil. Executive assistants are commonly charged with “Don’t let any salespeople get through to me.” Read More

Your leadership role begins with clearly communicating the goals to your employees and showing them how each one can contribute to successful execution. Follow the SMART methodology (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Resourced and Time-sensitive). Read More

If the termination of an employee is because they didn’t respond to progressive discipline or a performance improvement plan, then there is no obligation on the part of the employer to continue to carry the employee in the “spirit of the season.” Read More

There are two “danger zones” where an owner may, consciously or unconsciously, prevent his or her company from growing any further. The first zone lies at about $1 million a year in sales and the second lies between $5 million and $10 million, depending on the industry. Read More

According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank, over half (52%) of Americans could not pay for a $400 car repair without borrowing. We can assume that most of these folks would not be legitimate prospects to purchase your business, but what do qualified prospects actually look like? Read More