The Latest Column from Larry GallerInbox X
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CS Design, Inc. dba
140 Brockton Pl. Valparaiso, In 46385 219-464-9463 www.larrygaller.com Larry@larrygaller.com Building more profitable, more sustainable, and more enjoyable businesses Notable Quotable: “The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." The latest column published 1/22/12 in the Business Section of “The Times" Expect the best then co-create it!
I was in a meeting recently where we were planning a change in the way a certain task was to be done. One of the people said with a sigh, “we'll explain the new procedure and hope for the best.” And in my head I heard and saw a huge warning sign going off – like a big flashing red light and a very loud fire truck's siren. Then, inside my head, a booming voice yelled, “Hoping for the best won't work… make it a process designed for success!”
So I offered a different approach. Start with telling those doing the task, what the expected outcome would be, tell them why the change was being instituted, tell them who was going to do it, tell them how to do it, tell them how the results would be measured, and then once the new procedure was in place for a short while, ask for input to make the procedure better.
That's the “Managing by Intention” model. Start with what you “intend” the outcome will be and then figure out what you need to do to get that outcome. There is a much higher possibility of success this way than if you dictate a change then hope. Why? Because the people who are actually putting the change into practice will know and understand the background for the change – the who, what, where, and why. This way you've answered their questions before they've formulated them. You've eliminated, or at least diminished, negativity. When it's all explained it isn't as if the change is being instituted as an arbitrary whim or “change for the sake of change.”
One of the goals of every change is to get the people who the change affects to embrace it, or at the very least, to embrace it enough to give it a try. Then, if you ask them to go one step further to co-create it by evaluating and tweaking it to make it stronger and more productive you will have a much better chance of success then if your force it on them, cross your fingers and hope. Send a comment or question to Larry: Larry@larrygaller.com
One Year to Greatness BREAKTHROUGH! Facing the Future... with Confidence! The OYTG group that started a year ago had their last session. I asked the members about their experience. One of them said, "this was an amazing year for me, my business has improved in so many ways but more importantly the improvement will continue. I have so many projects planned for this year and beyond and I am facing the future with more confidence than I have ever had." THE BREAKTHROUGH! So I asked, "what made the change?" "Lea ring that the business is a total system, that everything impacts everything else and that, everything flows from the foundation of the business. By starting the program on the foundation and culture, it becomes easy to develop and improve the marketing and management of the business, Now, we have enough commitments from our clients that I know 2012 will be a record-breaking year and, considering the state of the economy, is amazing!" Wouldn't you like some OYTG Breakthroughs in your business. Now's your chance! The next OYTG group will start with free Introductory Calls January 25 @ 7pm Eastern and January 26 @ 1pm Eastern. If you want BREAKTHROUGHS in your business this award-winning business-building experience is for you. For more info send me email to Larry@larrygaller.com and put "OYTG January" in the subject line.
Musings Last Thursday morning "The Society of Innovators" a local group whose Mission is to create an environment to foster innovation, held a breakfast meeting hosted by Family Express, a chain of 57 convenience stores / gas stations doing $300 Million in sales (and growing!). The presentation was given by CEO Gus Olympidis who immigrated to this area from Greece with $40 in his pocket. In his 45 minute presentation he could have been presenting the "One Year to Greatness" program because he talked about the Foundation and Culture and the two critical Differentiators (Efficient Logistics and Unique Brands) that separate Family Express from its much, much larger competitors. As I was listening, I was musing about the countless number of business owners that should hear him speak. Not only was his presentation inspiring, it was validating because everything he remarked upon is a key point in "OYTG." Come to one of the two Introductory OYTG calls (see above) and, if you share Gus' passion, drive, and guts perhaps you will be giving a simi liar presentation in a few years. Send a comment or question to Larry: Larry@larrygaller.com
FREE STUFF!! Business Assessment I am again offering the highly acclaimed ROCK SOLID™ Business Self-Assessment It's FREE - $99 Value No one knows your business better than you.
But.. you don't know what you don't know - and the BSA (Business Self-Assessment) will help you identify the issues that you don't know (but are there) and clarify the issues you do know. The goal is to help you create a path towards resolving and improving those issues. By investing just ten to fifteen minutes taking an on-line assessment with 28 critical questions, you will have the opportunity to delve into your business in ways you have probably never probed. When you see the recommendations report and discuss it you will become aware, perhaps for the first time, of issues you have identified as challenges to overcome on your road towards realizing your ambition and creating a Rock-Solid™ Business. This assessment considers twenty-eight critical business health factors and, using sophisticated algorithms, creates a Recommendations Report which will give you a roadmap towards a more profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable business. Along with the Recommendations Report you also get a brief telephone analysis meeting with a trained, experienced Business Coach (that's me!). This analysis meeting will help you formulate prioritized actions to overcome the "bad and ugly" parts of your business and also help you make the "good" better, even great! To get started just send me an email Larry@larrygaller.com with "Self Assessment" in the subject line. In the body of the email please state your name, telephone number, business name, and time zone. I will set an appointment with you at a mutually convenient time to conduct the assessment by telephone. This offer is limited to just five Self Assessments per week and is appropriate for businesses with a staff of at least five in total.
FREE Special Report: Policies... Got 'Em? Company policies have got to be in place to manage a business effectively so everyone knows how certain actions are to be handled... from company hours to customer service issues, from time off for vacations or illness to grantees and refunds. Yet many small businesses have only verbal policies, not written out. Staff is given them once when new hires then not reinforced. Policies are important marketing and managing tools. This FREE Special Report will give you insight into how you can better create and enforce policies and help you lead your company to greatness. To receive your free copy just send an email to Larry@larrygaller.comand put "Special Report" in the subject line.
Larry's Speaker's Bureau This year was the busiest I've had for speaking engagements - 22 events all together for a multitude of organizations - service clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Industry Associations, Business Honor Societies. While I'm occasionally short of breath I'm never short of words! Some of the topics I've spoken on this year were:
If your business group is looking for a dynamic presentation on business-building topics I'd be happy to talk to you. EmailLarry@larrygaller.com or phone me at (219) 464-9463 to discuss topics, dates, etc. © Copyright 2012 CS Design, Inc. dba Larry Galler & Assoc. All Rights Reserved This newsletter is completely written by Larry Galler except for comments supplied by readers with attribution
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