Who’s In Charge? The Case For A Job Description

A job description can be the tipping point to having a successful small business. Too often, the self-employed business owner becomes immersed in performing the business and doesn’t really know what his employees are doing and how they are doing it.

This is a recipe for disaster or a near disaster as one of my personal business coaching clients discovered. He had a small company of four employees and was ready to add a fifth. When I first started collaborating with him I asked him for a job description for each employee as well as himself.

As with most business owners he balked at having to create them. His response was, “We’re doing great. Everyone knows what they are doing.” I replied that “Yes, everyone knows what they are doing. But do you know what they are doing and are they doing it right?”

Job Description—What Are You Doing?

For those of you who have taken online training, business training or business courses you understand the importance of a job description. A job description not only defines a job but how the job is being done. A job description brings accountability to measure performance.

This last part, measuring performance is critical. Without accurate measurements, most businesses will ultimately drift into failure. Running a small business is part art or feel and part logic, the thinking.

When my client said his people knew what they were doing he was correct in one sense. They did know what they were doing. The first question was whether or not what they were doing was positioning the company to grow. Were they doing things the right way?

It turned out much to his surprise and disgust, they certainly did know what they were doing. The problem was that much of it was related to making their positions as easy as possible and they were actually detracting from the performance of the company.

Job Description—Know What You And Your Employees Are Doing

Without a job description it is hard to have any meaningful accountability. Why? The job becomes whatever and however the employee chooses to define it. And, that definition can change to suit the circumstances.

The scattered self-employed business owner is focused on everything at once which means that much gets overlooked. And, when it comes to trusting employees without a job description you are writing the formula for failure. Failure and ignorance go hand in hand.

Job Description To The Rescue

After discovering a multitude of problems because each employee had no job description this self-employed business owner embraced the process. Within two weeks each employee and himself had a job description. Yes, there was some resentment with some of the employees and ultimately two of them were let go.

But, the result was everyone knew their responsibilities, a chain of command was established freeing up the self-employed business owner’s time. Each job description brought accountability and improved performance. Also, a definitive work flow was established. Things calmed down.

And, where this business had been stuck for two years it was able to grow significantly with a solid foundation in place. The key as this owner found out is not to hire the best people. The key is to have the best process. When you have the best process you will increase the odds of having people do their best.

And, the center of the best process is to have a written job description for each employee. It created standards. Without a job description in place for each team member it is not possible to have a vibrant and long-term team.

Job description, online training, business training, business courses, running a small business, business owner, self-employed, self-employed business owner, small business, keys to success, personal business coaching, business coaching, accountability, successful small business, performance, standards

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/

Keys To Success: Competency Part 2

To summarize the first post on competency as one of the keys to success we discussed several points.

1. Competency is the ability to do something well and to do it consistently.
2. Competency is measured by others capacity to depend on you.
3. Competency is about focusing yourself in your strengths.
4. Competency is mastering the details and getting things 100 percent right.

Let’s look at competency a little further….

Competency: Consistency

In the last post I pointed out that whether you are a self-employed business owner, entrepreneur, solo professional or individual competency is about dependability. You may have all the ability in the world, but if you are not dependable your gifts and talents will be wasted.

Competency whether you are seeking in your life or in small business growth is about consistency. Consistency is developed by doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well.

In fact, when you do the ordinary things extraordinarily well in your organization and life, it allows you to have more time to use your gifts and talents.

Competency: Focus

To demonstrate consistent competency, as we have just pointed out, you must be consistent. Focus is the fuel that drives consistency.

Have your day and life set up for focus. Set up your day to focus on the things you do very well. And, the things that aren’t fun…..allot time for them but don’t mix them, if at all possible, into your time when you are doing the things you enjoy and do well.

Competency: Details

Details are very important. No one says when a product or job doesn’t meet expectation that it was great that it was 95% right. No. That last 5% determines success or failure.

And, I can promise you from my personal coaching practice that it is paying attention to the details in the last 5% that will take you across the finish line and to having a winning product or service.

Competency: Putting It All Together—Implementation

What is generally the most difficult part of any job? It is implementation. Therefore, give it greater attention. You may have a great product but without precise instructions the customer may never get the maximum value.

Or, you have an excellent service but the customer doesn’t realize the full value of what he is receiving because it was never made clear to him.

Implementation is a key to competency or the perception of competency. Get others together who are part of your process. Or, if you are a solo professional ask questions of other to improve your implementation.

Process determines outcome. Create a great process around your product or service. When you do you will increase your odds of achieving a high level of competency and the success you desire.

Competency, competent, keys to success, coaching success, small business growth, small business success, self-employed business owner, entrepreneur, solo professional, individual, coaching success, personal business coach, business coach, process, outcome, focus, small business, ability, dependability

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com

Learn To Be A Sailor

Do you have the right personal philosophy to embrace change?

A good sailor adjusts to the winds. When the winds change he knows he must change. If he doesn’t he will not return to a safe harbor. He could remain at sea forever being tossed and turned by the winds.

But a good sailor won’t let that happen. He has developed one crucial skill. He knows how to reset the sail.

When the winds change, you must change. Learning to reset the sail with the changing winds is the skill you must develop to adjust to the winds of life.

And there is one other key ingredient besides having the skill to reset the sail.

You must apply the skill of resetting the sail. Too often people have developed the skill and don’t use it.

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com

To take you to the safe harbor of your choice you must apply the skill of resetting the sail.

Have the skill of resetting the sail, and use it often. That’s how you learn to be a sailor.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/learn-to-be-a-sailor

Love, Wealth and Success

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”

“Is the man of the house home?”, they asked.

“No”, she said. “He’s out.”

“Then we cannot come in”, they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in.

“We do not go into a House together,” they replied.

“Why is that?” she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!”, he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!”

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?”

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”

“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest”

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?”

The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

For more information please visit : www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Keys To Business Success: Your Leadership Model

Who’s your leadership model?  In John Maxwells’ book, Developing the Leaders Around You, he emphasizes that you must give much thought to which leaders you will follow.  Why?  The leadership model you follow will determine your course.

Who Is Your Leadership Model?

When I talk about a leadership model what am I referring to?  Whether you are a self-employed business owner, entrepreneur or solo professional seeking greater personal and small business success it is important that you find the right mentors.

Find people who exemplify the emotional, intellectual and character qualities that will take you to the next level.  Out of these three, as a personal business coach, I encourage my clients to focus first and foremost on character.

Why?  You may love their logic, their intellect.  You may love their passion, their emotion.  But without good character you are building the foundation of your leadership model upon sand.  It will not last.  Without good character the rest doesn’t matter.

Leadership Model Questions From John Maxwell

1. Does my leadership model’s life deserve a following?
2. Does my leader model’s life have a following?
3. What is the main strength the influences others to follow my model?
4. Does my leadership model produce other leaders?
5. Is my leadership model’s strength reproducible in my life?
6. If my model’s strength is reproducible in my life, what steps must I take to develop and demonstrate that strength?

Find Your Leadership Model
Throughout my life I have had different leadership models.  What is interesting is that someone who was a leadership model ten years ago may not be a leadership model now.  Leadership models will change.  Why?  As you grow and change your need for a different leadership model will often have to change to support that growth.

Whether you are seeking growth in business, personal growth or just a growth strategy in leadership you must let go of the old in order for the new to enter.  Just as a tree sheds its leaves every year, we too, as humans must shed what is no longer useful.  Unlike the tree you have a choice.

Part of creating a great leadership model is exercising your power of choice.  Part of great leadership is making wise choices.  Choose wisely.  Your leadership model will be as you wish.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Belief Determines Your Present And Future

I once had a client who had very little belief in himself.  He was running a small business that was passed down to him by his father.  He was bright but he had never developed his talent.  His lack of belief in himself was hurting his company, employees and worst of all his family life.

Your beliefs control everything that you do.  They will determine your personal and small business success and growth.

Belief—It Holds You Back

As a personal development coach I have observed in myself and others that what our belief is in ourselves will determine what we expect and what we will receive.  My client did not believe in himself.

Why?  There were many reasons.  The most important one was he was running the business the way his Dad had run it.  He was afraid to put his personal touch on things.  After all, things had worked well or maybe not so well for a long time so why change?

His belief in his lack of ability to make positive change was holding him back.

Belief—It Moves Your Forward

We started identifying small, safe areas where he could institute change.  Most important it was change he believed in.

When you start exercising your “belief muscle” it is best to start with some small things where you can have some immediate success.  Too often I see well intentioned, self-employed business owners, entrepreneurs and solo professionals exercise their “belief muscle” on too big a stage.

Why?  They feel that is some shape or form that they need to make the grand impression.  Remember, an impression can work both ways.  You can take your belief and impress it on others but if you haven’t thought it through it can come back at you in the form of a negative impression.

The key is to start with something small.  Enjoy the small successes from your beliefs. Learn from them.  Once you have mastered the small things then you can work up to some bigger areas.

Whether you are running a small business or starting up your own business begin with the small things and work up to the bigger ones.  This will increase your odds of staying on a success track.

Belief—It Predicts Your Future

More often than not in personal business coaching I am collaborating with others on creating a vision of the future they desire.  Once we have created the vision we start taking steps to make it happen.  It’s a very exciting process.  And, it is all fueled by belief.

Your belief in yourself, what you do and where you want to go is usually a very good predictor of the future you will have.  How come it is a good predictor of your future?  Your belief determines your expectation.

And you have a belief and an expectation you are much more likely to see it become a reality.  Whether you are starting your own business or running a small business identify your beliefs.  Understand your expectations.

If they aren’t leading you to the future you desire, change them.  Change your belief on something.  It will change your expectation.  And, your expectation will change your life.  Today you can start to have the future you want tomorrow.   Start today by harnessing the power of your belief.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

What’s Your Path?

As we go through life we learn from our failures and from our successes.

And the more quickly we recognize the errors that are on the path of failure, the sooner we can start moving along the path of success.

Both paths are well traveled. How can we make sure we are on the path of success more often than the one for failure?

First, the path of failure is necessary so we can learn how to take the path of success. But when we take the path of failure too often then, because of its high degree of difficulty and extreme demands we no longer have the energy to take the path of success.

Both paths involve decisions. And these decisions have future consequences. And these consequences can be rewarding or hurtful.

To stay more on the path of success you must make the future, what you desire to have happen, part of your every day philosophy. Ask yourself, is this taking me where I want to go a month, a year or 5 years from now?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ you are on the path to success. You may have a temporary failure but at least your decision was made in an effort to achieve something worthwhile.

When you don’t have your future vision as your guide, you are much more likely to fail and in the process not learn much that can help you. Why? You have no vision of where you are going.

Just as when you get in your car you have a clear vision of your future destination. And you make all the adjustments along the way to get there. Sometimes because of traffic or construction we may have to make a detour. But because we have a clear vision we get back on track and successfully arrive at our destination of choice.

Make your vision of the future part of your decision making every day and you will increase the odds of traveling the path to the success you desire.

See more at: www.businesskeystosuccess.com/

Keys To Success: Passion

Throughout my business experience I have found that passion is a key ingredient to small business success.  After all, if you don’t have passion about your product, service, company, and most importantly, yourself, it makes it that much harder to achieve personal and small business success.
In my personal business coaching practice I have observed that the clients who have the most passion also have the greatest degree of success.

Keys To Success:  Passion About Yourself

You have probably heard that true success is an “inside” job.  To succeed you must have passion about:

1. “Who” you are.
2. “What” you do.
3. “How” you do it.
4. “Why” you do it.

Lack of excitement in any of these areas will hold you back much more than you may realize. The most important area to be passionate about is YOU.  If you feel stuck or overwhelmed look at yourself and find something to change that will make you more excited about you.
After all, in business and life, we, so to speak, leak who we are.  What are you leaking about you?  How do you think?  How do you speak?  How do you dress?  Do you act with respect, kindness and consideration?

The answers to these questions and your passion about them are important keys to success.

Passion Is Your Value Proposition

In answering Who you are, What you do, How you do it and Why you do it you are establishing your value proposition to prospects, customers and client.  Too often this is forgotten.
I have collaborated with self-employed business owners, entrepreneurs and solo professionals who had the best technology and efficient systems but who fell short of where they wanted to be.
Once they understood that small business growth was not just about a great product or service and its delivery, but the passion with which it was delivered, their businesses and lives started to move forward and up.

Passion:  Look At Your Priorities

In running a small business or starting your own business I see self-employed business owners with passion but lacking clear priorities.  This is a recipe for disaster.

Be a person with passion but also priorities.  Without the right priorities and taking action on them personal and small business success is more likely to elude you.  Make sure that your daily priorities are in alignment with where you want to take your business and life.

With your priorities in alignment your passion will grow and help take you to the personal and small business success you desire.  Your success will be in your passion.

See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog/keys-to-success-passion

The Truth And Confusion About Can’t And Won’t

Can't and Won’t  are two words we use quite often. They let someone know, or if we are talking to ourselves, that something is not going to happen.

Yet, how we use Can’t and Won’t will either accelerate our relationships or it can take them backwards.

For example, if you asked me to cut down a tree I can answer you with the following.

“No, I won’t cut down that tree.”

“No, I can’t cut down that tree.”

Without reading anything into either statement:

“No, I won’t cut down that tree.” That is a statement of attitude and emotion. It is valid. It is about my belief system.

“No, I can’t cut down that tree.” Usually, this would be more a statement of fact. You just can’t do it. You just don’t have the skills, the equipment or the time. There is attitude and emotion attached to it but the underlying concern is about fact.

Yet, when we communicate with others or ourselves very often we confuse can’t and  won’t . And  in the process, we can confuse our listener. The truth about ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’ is that they are both valid.

Be careful how you use ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’. That’s what can be confusing.

 See more at: http://www.businesskeystosuccess.com/blog