Servicing SMEs Throughout Atlantic Canada
Many of us have been exposed to numerous training workshops organized around the topic of Leadership. Although we often inspire to be better Leaders, the goal simply exists because it seems like “the right thing to do”. The advantages of strong Leadership, however, go far beyond “the right thing to do”. Strong Leaders inspire others,…
In an attempt to become a more effective leader, I have spent a significant amount of time researching strategies that I can use to help me deal with specific challenges. In this vein, I have developed a number of different checklists to help me succeed at overcoming these challenges. Using a checklist is a simple…
Is your Banker a Partner or an inconvenient reminder of a debt obligation? In good times, most relationships with bankers are likely minimal. But when businesses find themselves struggling, some fail to adequately manage their relationship with their banker, leading to trust issues with a critical partner for their business. From the many years I…
Do you have management meetings? If you take notes, have you ever looked back at the minutes from the past and compare them to present day meetings? You may find the same discussions on the same issues. If properly conducted, meetings are an excellent format to foster teamwork, develop individuals, exchange ideas, build communication, make…
The idea that workers are skilled on every activity, focused all day, highly motivated for results, and directed by sensational leaders is a bit of myth. Recognizing that in order to rise to a greater standard, leaders must initiate well thought out processes and countless “tweaks” on whatever causes less desirable results to be produced.…
Accounts receivable is your cash in someone else’s pocket and inventory is cash on a shelf. Cash collected is preferable to any interest bearing bank loan. The only sane method of consistently collecting money is to have someone consistently take on the “role of collector” and rigorously work the files. The benefit of aggressive collecting…
Business owner/operators are often overwhelmed by the daily challenge of fierce competition, a difficult economic environment and having enough resources to weather soft periods. “Show me the money” Leaders often ponder, “How do I get my business to a better place”. If invited, specialized outside eyes would ask a series of questions to identify, analyze…
Strategic planning… a concept that most of us are familiar with and have probably participated in at some point in our careers. And if we haven’t actively participated in the process, we have at least been impacted by the result of it. But is the time and effort invested in creating a strategic plan a…
Over the decades, large amounts of energy produced data banks of information that went relatively unused and consequently unappreciated. New theories in industrial psychology propose that measurement is the only way to manage objectively. Measurement systems must create value with a focus on operational excellence, product/service leadership and customer intimacy. This process helps us to…
It’s well understood that growing your business is a key element to long term success. Organizations often use break-through technologies, acquisitions, and/or consolidation as primary growth strategies. Those options require lots of money and for many organizations that’s not feasible so they need a lower cost option. A continuous improvement approach to business growth is…