Posted: November 15, 2011 | Categories: Management

J.C. Penney once said, “One of the biggest causes of business failure is the inability to delegate”

In the late 90’s, I was hired by a prominent graphic designer to help accelerate the growth of his business.  He had just completed a book cover for a high-profile athlete, and things were booming.  He had reached the point where he was doing too much himself, and he wanted to be a better delegator.  He talked about situations where he had assigned his team to meet with clients.   One frequent comment he heard was, “Jim, whenever you are not in the room, the value of your company is cut in half”.  I assumed he wanted to change this.  I was wrong.
Read More…

Posted: November 8, 2011 | Categories: Management

Alright…I was just kidding.  People skills are important…but how important?

John D. Rockefeller, one of the most successful industrialists in the early 20^th century once said,

“The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee, and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun”

Lee Iacocca gave us the Ford Mustang, and he also is credited with leading the Chrysler Corporation from the brink of bankruptcy in the late 70’s to strong profitability within five years.  In his autobiography, he talked about what he called the “kiss of death” on an application.  It was the phrase, “does not work well with others”.  He wouldn’t consider anyone with that on their dossier.
Read More…

Posted: September 19, 2011 | Categories: Management

Our unemployment rate is high. People are working more hours due to layoffs, more job complexity, and higher demands. A national Human Resource Group reports that 60% of people do not like their jobs. As Matthew Kelly points out in his book, The Dream Manager, “workers who are frustrated and resentful are not fully engaged. If they are only 60% engaged, they are only 60% employed.”
Read More…