Gantz Wiley: Be a Better Boss

I think that celebrating and sharing business successes with staff is very important, because everyone spends a large portion of the waking day in a position supporting the needs of our office. Everyone is part of the team, which together enables our business to function. To know how well our business is doing provides positive reinforcement that my part in the business as a staff member is indeed important. I need to know that what I do really does matter. I have to solve problems on the job, and sometimes these problems are complex. When the outcomes are positive it (more…)

Deciding on ways to monitor long term projects depends on the project. If the project is something that is visible, you can appoint a team to examine the product and report on its growth. If the project is something that is abstract as in a research project that involves reports of progress, then you can appoint a single agent to collect reports periodically, assess their merits and report to the agency that is funding the project. (more…)

In the ever evolving business world confidence and ingenuity are traits that businesses are lacking in their employees. With so many people looking to just blend in to the fold how can owners and managers inspire their employees to discover the amazing talents they have hiding inside? The solution to this is one that seems simple at first but in application may prove more difficult. If you are looking to have employees discover their own (more…)

When a task is assigned, the individual or group of individuals is responsible for the task or tasks assigned. When assigning a task it is important to know that the people being assigned have the skills necessary to complete the task assigned. If an assignment is given to someone who does not have the right training, it can proove to be frustrating for both the assigner and the assignee. Additionally it is important to know what is required of the assignment so that the objective can be (more…)

1. Prideful Being in charge doesn’t necessarily mean your idea is always the best available option. At times, however, it can be tough to admit you are mistaken and that pursuing an alternative course of action may be more advantageous to the company. Taking regular input from your employees can be an effective way to safeguard against self-stubbornness, while also reminding employees they are valued members of your team.2. Closed Communication Granted, certain aspects of running a business and/or managing employees should only be privy to select ears, the vast majority of on-goings should not be disclosed on a need-to-know basis. After all, these are people who work for you, it follows they would need to know what’s going on as it affects their livelihood as well. Furthermore, opening lines of communication as full as possible will help to provide solutions to any problems that arise in a quick and effective manner, while allowing all members of your work community to know where they stand and progress on major initiatives at all times.3. Inflexible The working world is an ever-changing landscape. No man or woman, regardless of rank within a company, should be impervious to change. Flexibility is a must for good business people, as deadlines, time frames, schedules and objectives are all subject to alteration without much notice. Not to mention, technology often renders even relatively new habits irrelevant in only a few years. (more…)

To be a good boss, first and foremost you must be competent in your job duties. Secondly, you must maintain the respect of those who work for you. Without respect, you will undoubtedly be undermined even in earnest efforts to improve the work-lives of your employees. Managing employees can be a difficult task, and as in any challenging occupation, it is best to be informed by those who have made a successful living in the same manner. The following books are must-reads for any man or woman interested in excelling in a management capacity:Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis Yes, this book is about baseball, which may not seem relevant, but it’s about oh so much more than that. At its core, the book is about taking advantage of unique talents and achieving desired results while on a fixed budget, practical lessons for any manager.The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell By helping to make clear the exact moment at which major changes occur, or the “tipping point,” Gladwell helps managers to make decisions while taking advantage of trends and timeliness that might go unnoticed by those with a more focused, narrow-minded frame of reference. (more…)

If you’ve ever been in any sort of retail or sales position, you’ve undoubtedly heard the age old adage “the customer always comes first.” In an ideal world perhaps this is true, but “always” is quite simply too strong of a word to be practical. After all, not all customers are created equally, and sometimes they are intentionally deceitful or just plain wrong. At times, it may be necessary to side with your employee over the customer, keeping in mind that customers (save so-called “regulars” or those with extensive history in a loyalty program) are often fleeting whereas employees are daily facets in your business or store’s livelihood. While each and every sale is undoubtedly important, it can be ultimately detrimental to your company to lose a good employee over a one-time issue or accident.The customer should be prioritized as highly as possible in every scenario, but there may be instances in the workplace in which a decision will fall directly on a boss or manager in which he or she must immediately pick sides. For instance, if a customer feels offended or disrespected by an employee’s actions, even if it is unintentional or out of context, a customer may request that the employee in question is terminated. At this point there are very important questions to be raised. (more…)

People are products of their surroundings. This doesn’t change when a worker enters the office. Productivity is largely a result of how comfortable a person may or may not feel on the job. Of course, it’s important to balance the conveniences and luxuries necessary to keep morale up with a streamlined atmosphere devoid of distractions. What can you do help make your work place an environment in which employees thrive professionally? This 3 pronged strategy should go a long way towards this end.Reward performance publicly Everyone enjoys reaffirmation that their talents are being noticed and hard work appreciated, but it is particularly uplifting to see exemplary work lauded in front of peers. It may be a concern that fellow employees who have not yet been recognized will actually take such a message negatively, but with the right employees in place it will serve as a motivational tool to take their efforts to the next level. These rewards should not be merely trivial commendations an employee might find patronizing. Make sure there is a legitimate incentive worth working towards.Stay In Touch with Employees While not an endorsement to micromanage your employees, keeping them up to speed on large scale company goals can be an invaluable way to make employees feel valued as a member of a team. An individual may be great at his or her job, but perhaps could be even better if he or she knew the effect his or her efforts were having on the bigger picture. (more…)