You? A Bottleneck?
This is a true story – heard every day – from all walks of life.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,569 views4/5 (3)
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Articles by Jan Bolick
Browse every published article connected to Jan Bolick, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
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17 articles by Jan Bolick · showing 17
Browse every published article connected to Jan Bolick, or search within this exact expert archive.
Tackle That Pile of Paperwork
You know how you can have a stack of papers piling up on the corner of your desk? You see it there every day. You dread dealing with it. Maybe even try to ignore it, yet when you are on the phone, it distracts you. You can’t help but take a peak. Maybe even pick up a piece of it, thinking you can multi-task while on the phone. In miscellaneous ways, it gnaws at you for days or weeks – even months. And then it comes time to go out of town, perhaps headed for that much needed vacation and you kick into overdrive and PRESTO – that pile is done.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,761 views4/5 (3)
Read articleHow to Help Angry Customers
Ever had to deal with an angry customer? In a workshop I facilitated on the subject of customer retention, a bank manager (let’s call her Betty), shared a story about a customer (let’s call her Ms. Maddy), who came in questioning whether she should continue to deposit money with the bank. Using language unfit for this page, Ms. Maddy expressed how upset she was and said, “It better not happen again!!!!” Then she said she didn’t want to talk about it any more. END OF STORY.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,848 views4/5 (1)
Read articleMeetings, Meetings Everywhere
Meetings meetings everywhere! Great way to communicate. Great tool for propelling the way to goal. A great investment of time or a huge ZAP of it – and energy too. It’s a good idea to do a quick meeting review every now and then. Just to be sure that your team isn’t over-using this commucation tool. About each meeting you call or attend, ask yourself: 1. What is the purpose of this meeting? 2. What are the results or potential results? 3. How much does it cost to hold the meeting?
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,389 views3.7/5 (3)
Read articleStop Sending E mails
Want to boost productivity and morale? Save time and improve relationships? Stop sending emails. How did we ever survive without it? A real time saver. For some things. For others – a real time zapper. Just imagine….or maybe you don’t even have to imagine…it happens to many people every day. You have a question for your colleague, Jim. You type an email. Worried the tone is wrong, you re-do it. Then spell check it. Jim gets it.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,388 views3.6/5 (5)
Read articleThe Importance of Clearing Blurry Vision
Note: This article is for you if you want to be a better manager and/or boost productivity and morale so that you can get 2 goal without quite so many nightmares. ***** Sometimes it’s fun to wander and explore with no schedules and assignments. Then – there are times we must “get ‘er done”! But – “‘er” – what is that? If you aren’t clear on that, you and each of your teammates is likely to be like one of those pin balls – ding ding bada dingadingding – all over the place.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,380 views
Read articleWant More Customers? Are There Holes in Your Bucket?
If you want more customers, you’re probably spending lots of resources on sales and marketing. That’s good. But before you do too much more of that – pay attention to what experts say – that it costs 5 to 10 times more to get a new customer than it does to keep an old one. An important reminder to take care of our current customers first. Otherwise… …well…read on about Sally. It’s a true story. And believe it or not – the detail has been condensed. I hope you’ll read it – maybe even share with your service team.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,389 views3/5 (3)
Read articleWhat Customers Want
The results of a Business Class poll asking customers what they appreciate? A smile, good eye contact, good manners, a respectful greeting. a thank you, being called by name, quick service, going beyond expectations. All great things to give to our customers. As much as we wish for perfection, there will be times that – we mess up.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,310 views4/5 (1)
Read articleEnding March Madness
It’s amazing the difference a little four letter word can make. The right four letter word. Larry had a situation to tackle. We brainstormed all the possible approaches, weighed the pros and cons, reviewed a cost/benefit analysis and then Larry chose his path. Next he made an action plan and time table. Each time Larry and I met after that, he wanted to discuss a different approach. He had good reasons, was excited about the change and bolted out of each meeting, ready to take action.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,569 views3/5 (3)
Read articlePresto! Project is Done!
You know that big project (or presentation or proposal) that’s due in two weeks? The one you haven’t started yet? I know. I know. You’ve been meaning to do it. But it’s going to take HOURS and there are so many other things to do.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,476 views3.7/5 (3)
Read articleAre You Losing Your Marbles?
My friend and former colleague (UD 1996), Brooke Packard Blanchard, sent me this story. We don’t know the author. If you do, please let me know. I would love to give him or her the proper credit. The story may make you sad at first. But put the wise words to work and it will serve to boost morale and productivity. ***** This conversation was heard on a ham radio. A gentleman was speaking with a smooth voice like he belonged in the broadcasting business.
Primary topic: Management Skills
2,691 views4/5 (3)
Read articleWe Have To Stop Meeting Like This
Ever leave a meeting and wonder why you met? Ever have a meeting and after much discussion, decide on a plan but then – nothing ever happens? Here are three questions can lead the leader to conducting more efficient, more effective and maybe even fewer meetings. Questions to ask and know the answers to before even calling the meeting: 1. What is the purpose of the meeting? Is it to inform, to get ideas, to problem solve, to make a decision, to build morale or…? It will help participants if you state the purpose at the start of the meeting.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,810 views3.7/5 (3)
Read articleRewards for Mistakes? Are you Sirius?
A couple of weeks ago, I raised the question about giving rewards for making mistakes. Some people thought I had gone mad. Too much exposure perhaps, to the dog days of summer. And – remember the invitatio I issued at the beginning of the month? The invitation to share your mistakes with us? Didn’t get much response from that at all. Honestly – I’m not surprised. I mean – why would anyone do that? Especially when they have no clue who is going to be reading it. It could be very bad for business. Even in a controlled environment.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,615 views3/5 (2)
Read articleWhy Won't They Take Responsibility?
A few years ago, Mick Mixon was our guest during a Business Class interview. At the time, he was color commentator for football and basketball games for the University of North Carolina. Now he is the Voice of the Carolina Panthers. It was close to Father’s Day and so we talked about lessons he had learned from his father that had shaped his career. Here is one of them. He said his Dad emphasized the importance of work.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,847 views3.3/5 (4)
Read articleIt's Not Our Fault
They were quite clear about it, weren’t they? IT’S NOT OUR FAULT! So — whose fault was it? And – what would you guess about the customer loyalty, productivity and morale ratings at this shop? On a 10 point scale (10 highest), I think most of us would put them at a zero. Let me know if you disagree. I had the good fortune to spend my early business years in a company that strived for a 10 in all three of these areas. Sometimes we made it. Sometimes we didn’t.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,315 views4/5 (1)
Read articleCrossing Bridges Between You and Your Goal
All kinds of things can stand between us and the accomplishment of our goals. We have little control - actually no control - over these obstacles. All we can control is how we deal with them. Here’s a story (I was told it’s true) about a creative approach to dealing with an obstacle - an actual bridge - that was standing in the way of goal. *** There’s a small Mexican town called Sabinas, situated on the slopes of the Sierra Madres with the Salado River running through.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,617 views3.3/5 (4)
Read articleIncrease Productivity on a Dime
Productivity and morale - so important these days. But we get set in our ways. So when someone tries to change things (hence, us) in the name of greater productivity, we often dig in our heels, drag our heels, mope around and/or engage in catty water cooler conversations. So a bit of passion, explanation and reinforcement from the manager is critical. And the likelihood of success is even greater if all of this is done in a fun, unique way. Here is a great example.
Primary topic: Management Skills
1,504 views3.7/5 (3)
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