Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Are you a leader contemplating starting a new business?  Or, has a budding entrepreneur turned to you because of your leadership skills to ask for your help? Here are  11 questions  you or that entrepreneur should ask before starting a business. Is there a  true need  for my product/service?  What is the  competitive environment  and how will my product/service be unique, different or better? Will my  location  (or accessibility online) be convenient and easy to get to for my customers?  Do I have  adequate funding  to support my business, particularly during the ramp-up period that could be a year or more? Do I have the  stamina  to start a new business and work hard even if it means months of extended work hours and perhaps even seven days a week? Will my  family and social life  withstand my commitment to my new business? Will the  name  of my business be easy to spell, s...

"Delivering a great product or service but being terrible at marketing is the No. 1 reason for entrepreneurial failure," says author, marketing coach and consultant, David Newman . So, as a small business owner or solopreneur you'll gobble up Neman's new book, DO IT! Marketing , where he cuts through the glut of marketing theories, myths and tasks. And, provides you 77 instant-action ideas to: Boost Sales Maximize Profits Crush Your Competition The book is packed with practical and proven strategies, tactics, templates and tools and lots of how-to lessons. Plus, it's just downright fun to read . For example, you'll find sections on: Your buyers are lazy, busy and befuddled Zero in on your pain/gain factors Chasing chum makes your a chump Top 10 things salespeople do that buyers dislike Market to people who are already listening Diversify while still specializing And, for those who don't know where to start when it comes to mar...

"The challenge for the organizational architect is to systematically create the blueprint for an organization that consciously connects everything to purpose ," explains author   Clive Wilson , in his new book, Designing the Purposeful Organization . "The product of doing this are measurable results and, importantly, a felt sense of success. Wilson's book is packed with case studies and  activities that help you put to practice in your organization the learnings from the book. Clive Wilson One of the activities that I found most interesting and revealing is Wilson's " Where Did They All Go and Why? " Think of the household names of just a decade or so ago that are no longer with us, write their names on a sheet of paper, then make brief notes on what happened to them and why.  Then, ask yourself, to what extent was it to do with their purpose (eg a lack of purpose, an unclear purpose, an uninspiring purpose or purpose being somehow out...

Norman Pickavance Norman Pickavance's new book, The Reconnected Leader , provides an eight-step model for implementing new practices to help leaders reconnect with their teams and reset the relationship the business has with its stakeholders. Those eight steps are: Discovering the power of purpose Building reconnected boards Creating reconnected work environments Nurturing a spirit of shared enterprise Connecting with the wider world Creating deeper customer connections Inspiring connected innovators Creating a new model for your personal leadership Pickavance explains that all the following factors facing leaders today are the reasons for learning how to reconnect: struggles with ethical policies disconnected boards careerism disposable workforce big data losing touch with customers One of my favorite parts of the book is the one that outlines the five principles of a purpose-driven business : Does your organization have a purpose that deliv...

Entrepreneur  magazine's February 2012 issue offers these great tips on  how to give praise : Praise followed by criticism is not praise. Praise followed by praise is probably a little too much praise. Ending an expression of praise with "...and stuff" nullifies the praise. And, Make it timely.  The closer the recognition is to the behavior, the more likely the behavior will be repeated. Be sincere.  Be impromptu.  Remember, a handwritten note is worth more than a gift card. Having trouble writing your handwritten note of praise?  Try this template to get you started: _______, I couldn't be more impressed with how you______.  Not only did you____, but you_______.  Beautiful.  Thanks, ________

Here are some great tips from Michelle Tillis Lederman's book,  The 11 Laws of Likability .  They are all about: what to do and what not to do to be a leader who's an effective listener : Do : Maintain eye contact Limit your talking Focus on the speaker Ask questions Manage your emotions Listen with your eyes and ears Listen for ideas and opportunities Remain open to the conversation Confirm understanding, paraphrase Give nonverbal messages that you are listening (nod, smile) Ignore distractions Don't : Interrupt Show signs of impatience Judge or argue mentally Multitask during a conversation Project your ideas Think about what to say next Have expectations or preconceived ideas Become defensive or assume you are being attacked Use condescending, aggressive, or closed body language Listen with biases or closed to new ideas Jump to conclusions or finish someone's sentences

Your employees have lots of ideas. So, be sure you provide the forums and mechanisms for your employees to share their ideas with you. Hold at least a few  brainstorming sessions  each year, as well. And, when you are brainstorming with your employees, try these  five tips : Encourage  ALL  ideas. Don't evaluate or criticize ideas when they are first suggested. Ask for wild ideas. Often, the craziest ideas end up being the most useful. Shoot for quantity not quality during brainstorming. Encourage everyone to offer new combinations and improvements of old ideas.