When you’re watching a close sporting event, you’ll see that sometimes the coach must throw the playbook out the window to win.
Business leaders are, at times, required to quickly adapt.
This advanced program is designed to strengthen the competencies of business owners and executives, set a baseline for both individuals and organizational current leadership, review benchmarks for the current state and help establish goals and priorities for future leadership development and coaching.
This program will help you self-discover, reflect upon and identify the strength of your leadership competencies and skills in ten core areas. These core areas are a unique compilation of knowledge and insights gleaned from top leaders, executives, educators and mentors from around the world.
The 10 core areas include:
Some employees who are great at their technical work may be emerging as potential leaders for the future. As the company grows and retirement of the baby boomer generation accelerates, what are you doing to avoid the high cost of turnover? Are you training your high potential employees to successfully take on new roles in supervision and leadership positions?
The Emerging Leadership Coaching Program is designed for the high potential employees who are part of a company’s transition plans to move into supervision, management and executive leadership roles in the future and for those leaders who want to refresh their own leadership skills.
This program focuses on strengthening leadership through application of best practices in the following 15 areas:
Both programs are designed to provide you with the tools for a leadership journey that will inspire and excite, strengthen the business, and apply leadership best practices. Organizations can use these programs in a group, one-on-one, or customized for their specific needs.
To learn more, contact one of our ThistleSea business coaches at 724-935-1930 or info@thistlesea.com.
When was the last time that you really thought about what you could be if there were no limits?
Read MoreBy Wendy Lydon
In September, I had an exciting vacation with family in Yellowstone National Park. It was one of our all-time favorite trips. The time in the outdoors really provided me with fresh air and reflection time. I picked up several “Advice from . . ." writings authored by Ilan Shamir. I'd like to share those with you and expand the thinking for you to apply to your business.
Be the leader that your employees, colleagues and friends need you to be. Even natural-born leaders sometime find it challenging to be vulnerable. Remember, let them see your authentic and genuine self.
Stop and listen to what is happening in your business. Are you asking customers for feedback – and listening to their responses? Do you listen to what your employees are saying (or not saying) about you, the organization, the customers, etc.? Your customers and employees are saying a lot. Are you listening?
Sometimes the walls of the business seem like they may be closing in on you. Walk outside, breathe in the air – enjoy the open space with your staff. Even your staff needs space to create, innovate and develop. Be sure to give yourself and them the space they need to think!
Don’t take anything for granted. Your most valuable assets are your people – they may be your staff, strategic partners or customers. Appreciate your relationships and the importance of their impact to your business.
Be sure to schedule time to reflect and grow! You need the time to work on your business – not just in it! Make the time to celebrate your success and replicate what has worked well and also to redesign what may need some special attention.
Sometimes, you may find that you are making things a bit more difficult than they need to be. The rigidness and responsibilities of owning a business can be overwhelming. Although "anything is not okay," it can be very refreshing to think outside of the box and allow open brainstorming and creation, both for yourself and your employees. Sometimes you may need to try something new – and see what happens. You may be surprised.
When was the last time you had FUN? Is it part of the culture of your organization? Do you provide team building opportunities for your employees to learn, grow and have fun with one another? You may want to consider scheduling time within your organization to recharge and reinvest in one another!
Business Coaching at ThistleSea Business Development, LLC can help you retain repeat customers and gain referrals through implementing systems that provide consistent customer service but more important great customer experiences.
Read More
CASE STUDY I recently was referred to a business owner by one of my clients. At my first meeting with this business owner, he expressed how absolutely fed up he was with his business. The dream of a successful business had vanished for him. He informed me that he had already gone back to a full-time job with his former employer working for this airline on the graveyard shift as a mechanic. Not a job he wanted, but it paid the bills.
Throwing of the Wrench What transpired was an accident by a subcontractor who did not have insurance while working for him. This subcontractor threatened to hold this business owner liable for the accident. Medical bills, pain, suffering, attorney's costs, and the insurance issues all lead up to him being overwhelmed. After struggling with the business for 8 years, this event was the final wrench that was thrown in the gears of his business and his dreams of having a successful business,
On the advice of his legal counsel, he was advised that his subcontractor agreements did not meet the IRS guidelines for a subcontractor relationship and he would be held liable. On this advice, he should make a settlement payment. Fortunately, the subcontractor released the business owner from this liability with a financial settlement.
Under this pressure, he decided to get small again. The business owner continues to serve his existing customers himself after releasing all other subcontractors. He works this business in the day and the full-time job with the airline as a mechanic at night.
He has stopped answering the phone for the business while his current customers continue to refer new clients to him. In his words: "I just can't take it anymore. I want out. I want to sell." The fear of continuing to run the business has overwhelmed him.
Decisions of the Business Owner Did his dreams of a better life and a great business have to end up this way? What drove him to not seek help and to continue to defend what he really didn't know? Was it fear, pride, greed, inability to communicate, pressure, lack of knowledge, thinking that it cost too much to seek help? Most likely was some or a combination of all these factors? He revealed he did have an informal coach, which was actually another business owner with a similar business, running that business the same way. Not too successfully either, he mentioned.
This business, as with all small businesses for that matter, is the sum of all of the decisions of the owner. 10 examples of the decisions he made includes:
Selling the Business? Naturally, this business owner wants to sell his business for the highest amount he can get for it. "So how much is it worth?" he asked me. How much will the market (buyer) be willing to pay him for this business?
Some quick research revealed that most businesses in his market space are selling and in some demand. This business owner made a small profit for 8 years, but in retrospect did he really have a business? What does he have to sell?
After our discussion, he realized that all he has to sell is some equipment and a list of clients / prospects. Not much after 8 years of hard work. If he is very, very lucky he might get a buyer to pay him a small amount for the equipment and some goodwill. This ending was not at all what he had dreamed. How unfortunate.
Was he disappointed? YES. Did it have to end-up this way? Absolutely NOT.
Leading your Company It was too late for the business owner to save the business in this actual situation above. He had already given up. However, if you're under some pressure from your business you still have the opportunity to build a great business and the life a great business creates for you and your family.
There are many lessons that can be learned from this unfortunate situation. Could this business owner have changed this outcome? Would this outcome be different if some of the decisions made by the owner had been different? Is the business a reflection of the owner's thinking? The answer to all the above is YES.
ThistleSea's business coaches work with business owners everyday to help them to improve the performance of their businesses and the business' value. We offer a Business Effectiveness Evaluation that can help pinpoint your business' strengths and weaknesses in order to develop an action plan for improvement. This plan provides a road map of small steps you can take each day to help you achieve your dreams for your business, leading to a great life.
Isn't it time you sat down with ThistleSea Business Development. Invite us in for a discussion. Call (724) 935-1930 to set-up your free meeting with a ThistleSea Licensed Professional Business Coach. I encourage you take action today!
By John D. Laslavic, LPBC , Business Coach / President, ThistleSea Business Development, LLC
© 2009, ThistleSea Business Development, All Rights Reserved
ThistleSea Business Development
301 Smith Drive, Suite 5
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
724-935-1930
info@thistlesea.com
© 2021 ThistleSea Business Development, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
