Do you have Meatloaf Syndrome?
You’ve likely heard of Meatloaf – the American singer and actor known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical performances. In 1993, he released one of his most popular songs, “I’d do anything for love (but I won’t do that)”. While there’s a bit of ongoing discussion about what Meatloaf won’t do for love, the song title actually has applications in the ways we think about and...
If you’re Presiding, You’re not Leading
Your CEO announces its strategic planning season. Every department head is asked to develop and deliver their strategic plan and budget for the coming year. Because they all have proprietary subject matter expertise, each one brings their vision to the table. The presentations are reviewed, some superficial tweaks are made (often in the area of budget) and approved. Then the year continues on, with the CEO checking in periodically to...
Sales success with cookies–How sweet it is
All her life Debbie Fields wanted to be in the cookie business. She loved to bake ’em, and everyone who tasted one said it was the best they’d ever eaten. But as any entrepreneur knows, wanting to go into business, and going into business, are two different things. Debbie lacked the one ingredient to open her cookie shop: money. She went around to banks with a business plan and a plate of cookies until she found someone who believed...
Unifying your dealership data: By ERP or SOP?
Last month we were discussing the finer points of the Service CX (customer experience). As I pointed out in the June issue, managing the CX in the service department is fraught with difficulty. This is primarily because many times the service department interfaces with customers at the point of their greatest need. There is a truck at the dock door waiting to unload, and another truck arriving in 30 minutes. Now the forklift won’t...
What is next on the list and how to get it done
Every time I attend a Board Meeting or Management Meeting the participants always wind up asking “what is next on the list” and how the heck we can get it done, who is going to be responsible, how to measure progress and when to call it quits if the results are NOT what we are looking for. I expect you to go through the same process. After thinking about this I noticed that the way to manage a “Get it Done” process could parallel or...
Six mindsets to breathe oxygen into your people
We all could use a deep breath. Most teams and companies are still figuring out how to help support their people and engage with them remotely, in hybrid settings, and in in-person gatherings. With all that business people have been navigating: differing modes of communication, the expansion of remote workers, global health, issues of racism, social injustice and equity, political and economic uncertainty, they are also expected to...
Why we shouldn’t interview job candidates
Job interviews are mostly nonsense. According to Ron Friedman, a psychologist and author of “The Best Placed to Work”, 80% of people lie during their interviews — so if that’s the case, the information you’re hearing is likely fiction, or at best, inspired by real-world events. Job interviews mean you may hire the best actor on the day — not the best candidate. So don’t do them. Instead, audition. Just like the same way...
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