The Focus Factor

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Several years ago, my youngest son won his first two matches to advance to the semi-finals of the Wisconsin State wrestling tournament the next day. Prior to his heading to the tournament we talked about what he wanted to accomplish at the tournament. This was a continuation of a discussion that began at the start of the season when he thought about… and… actually put his goals for the season in writing. Certainly not anything I ever did as a kid!

Our discussion got me thinking about how we often fail to have discussions about development goals with our kids… or our employees. The discussions tend to be more spur of the moment… not that it’s a bad thing to have discussions when the moment arises… but certainly no substitute for structured discussions that force the parties to think about where they want to go in their career.

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About the Author

Jeff Kortes is known as the ‘No Nonsense Guy.’ He is the President of Human Asset Management LLC, a human resource consulting firm specializing in executive search and leadership training. He has trained hundreds of first-line supervisors, managers, and executives during his career. His approach to training is no-nonsense, and practical.

Jeff is also a member of the National Speakers Association and a regular speaker on the topics of retention, recruiting and leadership. For more information, visit www.SlugProofYourTeam.com.

Corporate Cultures – Leader Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment

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The Leader Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment represents a unique cultural blend that develops over a long period of time. These organizations often begin as Leader Initiated, Documented Processes Controlled and, as the workforce gains experience over time, evolves into the use of less prescriptive processes; deeming them to be an unnecessary administrative burden. These organizations tend to have a relatively high tenure among executives, managers, and employees. This culture set benefits from experience-based efficiencies with limited consistency risk but often suffer a lack of creativity as employees perform work ‘the way it has always been done.’

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StrategyDriven Editorial Perspective – Here we go again… more government created uncertainty

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As we enter this last week of September, America faces another looming government shutdown. The continuing resolution that currently funds the Federal government’s activities expires at 11:59 pm the evening of September 30 – the end of the last day of the government’s fiscal year. Republicans and Democrats have once again dug in to their partisan positions; creating an uncertainty regarding the operation of our government institutions, the funding of programs, and the paying of social security, veteran benefits and military salaries.

StrategyDriven has long maintained that politicians are primarily responsible for the great uncertainty hindering economic expansion and prosperity – and we believe history supports our assertion. The following video is that of a lecture made by Nobel Laureate and Economist Milton Friedman. In his discussion, Dr. Friedman reveals how the government, and in particular the Federal Reserve, was largely responsible for the Great Depression. He goes on to illustrate how Federal Reserve actions also caused the hyper inflation experienced in the late 1970s.

The purpose of this editorial is not to suggest a specific course of action. Instead it’s purpose is to suggest a need to closely monitor the government’s fiscal policies and to draw from historical perspectives how those policies may impact our economy and your business’s future.

Can’t Live With ’em (But Can’t Live Without ‘Em): How to Manage – and Motivate – Challenging Employees

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If you’ve ever watched NBC’s The Office, you know that the show makes hilarious use of business-world stereotypes. Granted, the personalities, quirks, and antics of the employees of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company are taken to extremes, but we find them funny largely because they’re true. We know that guy – the one who cracks terrible joke after terrible joke, unaware that all he’s getting are eye rolls.

We’ve also encountered the sanctimonious perfectionist, the attention-seeking prima donna, the unhelpful duty-shirker, and many others.

Sure, it’s funny on TV… but in the real world, dealing with these characters can make leaders want to pull out their hair or throw in the towel entirely. Before you resign yourself to living in your own not-so-amusing TV show, let me offer some commonsense management advice.

First, know that there is no need for you to waste your time with poor performers or high maintenance employees who have an inflated sense of their own importance and ability.

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About the Authors

Michael Feuer cofounded OfficeMax in 1988 starting with one store and $20,000 of his own money, a partner, and a small group of investors. As CEO, he grew it to more than 1,000 stores worldwide with annual sales topping $5 billion. He is also CEO of Max-Ventures, a venture capital and retail consulting firm, and founder and CEO of Max-Wellness, a comprehensive health and wellness retail chain that launched in 2010. After opening initial laboratory test stores in Florida and Ohio, a national roll-out is now underway. To read Michael Feuer’s complete biography, click here.

Dustin S. Klein, contributor and editor of The Benevolent Dictator, is the publisher and executive editor of Smart Business Network, publishers of Smart Business, the nation’s second-largest chain of regional business publications. He has interviewed thousands of senior executives and civic leaders across America. He is a regular presenter on business-related issues for public and private business audiences and is a frequent guest on television, radio, and Internet programs. To read Dustin Klein’s complete biography, click here.

StrategyDriven Podcast Special Edition 60 – An Interview with Doug Moran, author of If You Will Lead

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StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve superior results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag articles on the StrategyDriven website.

Special Edition 60 – An Interview with Doug Moran, author of If You Will Lead explores the four key questions every leader must answer and the principles behind those questions every leader must embrace in order to be truly effective. During our discussion, Doug Moran, author of If You Will Lead: Enduring Wisdom for 21st-Century Leaders, shares with us his insights and experiences regarding:

  • the four critical questions every leader must answer
  • how a leader can identify who he/she is and what he/she believes in
  • how a leader can convey their beliefs and values to followers in a way that is constructive and understandable
  • what leaders must do to earn the right to lead others

Additional Information

In addition to the outstanding insights Doug shares in If You Will Lead and this special edition podcast are the resources accessible from his website, www.IfYouWillLead.net.   Doug’s book, If You Will Lead, can be purchased by clicking here.

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About the Author

Doug Moran, author of If You Will Lead, is the founder of If You Will Lead, LLC, a firm providing leadership development and executive coaching advisory services. Throughout his career, Doug has served in leadership roles including several executive positions within Capital One Financial Services and as Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources. To read Doug’s complete biography, click here.

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