Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Fools Part 4

Day 56

Proverbs is all about wisdom, so today's focus of wisdom should be expected... BUT can you slow down enough to better comprehend and more fully apply this advice as a game-changer?

Here is a quick gut check.  Be candid:

1.  As a leader, is there something you know you must do to improve your leadership or company culture, but you keep procrastinating?

2.  Have you been inspired to work on your business instead of inyour business, but you have not made the time to make the change?

3.  Are you so busy that you are not regularly reading/listening to the knowledge of others, fully considering advice, and/or making the time to listen (not talk) to Clients - AND APPLY WHAT YOU LEARN?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then I suggest you have allowed yourself to operate without systems to apply what you learn.  The result is chaos in your schedule and results that are less than you desire.

The second part of Proverbs 1:7 says: 

"...but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

If you love wisdom and instruction, you will apply it.

If you allow yourself to be distracted with lesser priorities, then you essentially "despise" the wisdom and instruction you gain but do not apply.

Take a stand today and make a change.  Why wait any longer?

Need help?  We teach leaders like yourself every day in our LEADERSHIP EssentialsService and Academy, and Accountability Culture program (2 openings left).  The typical return on accountability ("R.O.A.") our Clients seek is $100-250,000 annually from our services.

Let me know if you would like to discuss your challenges.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Fools Part 3

Day 55

What is your reaction when someone gets mad at you?  Do you get mad back?

What is your reaction when someone does not love you or treat you with respect?  Do you treat them the same way in return?

What is your reaction when someone does something that you believe is less quality or quantity than you expect them to do?  Do you do less for them in return?

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

lest you yourself also be like him."  

Proverbs 26:4

Most often leaders behave foolishly when they reactto non-life threatening situations rather than respond to them.  GREAT leaders do not let fools tempt them into poor behavior very often.

Please consider one relationship where you are mirroring a fool's behavior, or the foolish behavior of a person who is often wise in other areas.  Based on your personal beliefs, could you choose a better response?

Why not try that better approach and give it time to bring about positive change?

At the very least you will be the leader you want to be in that area, instead of a fool.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Fools Part 2

Day 54

Wait!  Do NOT delete me!  (LOL...)  This takes less than 43 seconds to consider the second attribute of a foolish leader.  Just breathe in, sip your hot brew, and consider...

"The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise."  (Proverbs 12:15)

This one is complicated...  as many of you know who have gotten BAD advice.

Here are some reasons I have learned it is better to listen to advice rather than turn it off too quickly:

1.  Sometimes the other person is right.

2.  Often times the other person gives me an idea how to improve, even if they are only partially right or even totally wrong.

3.  Yesterday's lesson indicates if you let the other person talk they will either validate their conclusions... or their foolishness.  There is typically value in hearing the person out for a reasonable amount of time.

4.  Seek the advice of more than one person.

5.  Seek advice from people who have your best interests at heart and the courage to tell you when they believe you are wrong.

I close with a similar encouragement to yesterday:

Do not follow the advice of a fool, or the well-intentioned yet incorrect advice of a typically wise person.

P.S.  You did confirm that you achieved your 3Strands last week and defined your next BOLD MOVES (3Strands) for this week, didn't you?  (And followed-up with your team on their 3Strands and daily W.I.N.?)

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Fools Part 1

Day 53

I continue to learn a lot of lessons the hard way.  How about you?  This week focuses on 5 aspects of foolish behavior for leaders that our Clients and me are working on.

"Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning."  (Proverbs 17:28 NIV)

I encourage you this week to NOT follow the example of a fool who talks to fast.  GREAT leaders:

1.  Ask opened-ended questions

2.  Listen carefully

3.  Repeat back part of what they heard to confirm their understanding

4.  Ask open-ended questions

5.  Wait to speak until they can add value

Many people stopped reading already, saying to themselves, "I already know this!"

Me too.

The question is, are you doing it consistently?

This week try a pilot of being slower to respond with answers and quicker to ask open-ended questions.

Do not follow the example of a fool, or the foolish behavior of a typically wise person.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / One Question

Day 52

It is Friday.  You are swamped.  Everyone else is too so stop griping.  Because you are busy, I only have a one question survey for you today.  (It is not really a survey, but one question for accountability.)

Can you focus and complete your 3 Strands this week?  

If not, then you have a discipline problem.  Get help.  A lack of focus costs thousands of dollars, if not millions depending on the time frame you want to consider.

And don't forget to have some quiet time before you start work on Monday to confirm how well you and your team did on your weekly 3 Strands and daily W.I.N. (What's Important Now)...  and plan your BOLD MOVES for next week!

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / What's Your SMaC?

Day 51

Yesterday I taught the 13th of 20 planned webinars on implementing Jim Collins' book, Great by Choice.  The focus was on what he calls "SMaC," which is a Specific, Measurable, and Consistent boundary for how you do business.

This is an incredibly important, yet fairly simple management tool to keep your business focused one what is most important.  I recommend you don't miss it.

You can access the recording of this 30 minute webinar on YouTube through Sunday - SMaC Recipe for Sustained Growth.

You can also subscribe to receive the audio podcasts FREE on iTunes.  

1.  Open iTunes.  

2.  Go to File / Subscribe to Podcast

3.  Enter this link:  /20mc-podcast/rss.xml 

NOTE:  The MANAGEtoWIN 20 Mile Challenge program is not endorsed by Jim Collins.   

The library of 20 Mile Challenge videos, audios and PowerPoint decks are available to our LEADERSHIP Essentials Academy members.  You can attend the webinars FREE - just register.

Let me know if you need help developing SMaC for your organization.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / What You Get Out of Life

Day 50

This is my 50th issue in addition to over 200 full newsletters.  It is a milestone and an opportunity to share one of my favorite reflections from John Ortberg:

"What you get out of life is the person you become."

If this statement does not make you pause, then go get another cup of coffee and come back to read it again.

Certainly you can go in many directions from here, but our focus is Accountability and Systematic Leadership.  Here are  some quick thoughts:

1.  Specifically, in a clear, measurable way, what type of leader do you want to become?  Have you actually defined your destiny this way?  I suggest you list three behaviors you hold yourself accountable to consistently demonstrate.  (Maybe one or more of these you need to develop.)

2.  When we die, the people who love us the most will describe our characternot our achievements, wealth, or status.  What are the three most significant aspects of your character that you want people to discuss when you have left this temporary world.

3.  This week post a Task in Outlook to remind you to ask yourself at the end of each day:  "Based on my behaviors today, am I becoming the leader I want to be?" 

It is Monday.  What a wonderful week to achieve 3 Strands of significanceafter you hold yourself, and your direct reports, accountable to last week's 3 Strands.

For those of you using the daily W.I.N., please follow through on those in an encouraging way to motivate yourself and those around you.

Let me know if you need help.

P.S.  August 22-23 and October 24-25 are our final LEADERSHIP EssentialsAcademies this year.  Email me immediately if you are an Academy member who wants to attend either event but you do not have a written confirmation from us yet, or if you would like to join our Academy.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / He Bet It All

Day 49

Earlier this year I was working a brilliant client who excelled in many ways as a leader and productive member of his company, but he had one weakness that needed boundaries.

He was addicted to risk in business... but that is not all.
 

He never defined his "Death Line," as Jim Collins would say.  A Death Line is the situation that removes you from the game.  Once you cross it, you are "dead."  
 

Collins' talks about this in his book, Great by Choice, that we are applying to our Clients' business in our 20 Mile Challenge program.  Collins gives the example of climbers on Mount Everest who took unnecessary risks and died, versus the more prudent explorers who lived to climb another day.
 

One factor in this executive was some people, personally and professionally, no longer believed in him.  Some even thought he was a loser.  That hurt.  (You do not see this in those articles that encourage failure in business, but the reality is that funders and power people like success A LOT MORE than failure.)
 

This particular Client had to comprehend (deeper knowledge than "understand") that one of his primary motivators was to prove these other people wrong.  That is unhealthy, and I suspect, rarely a successful strategy.
 

What to do?
 

1.  Perspective:  Discuss on a business not a therapy level his primary motivation:  Prove others wrong.
 

2.  Focus:  Help him define one part of the business to focus on, and that must be his primary time commitment weekly.
 

3.  Boundaries:  Define financial boundaries and "bullets, not cannonballs" (small risks to test his ideas without killing his company) for him to pursue that confirm his approach to achieve his #1 focus will succeed.
 

4.  Accountability:  Without accountability he will subconsciously avoid #1-3 above and go back to his risky behavior.  Most of the time we talked daily.
 

It is FRIDAY!  How are your 3 Strands this week?  Are you achieving them all?  I hope so.

Be disciplined.  Confirm your focus daily on your weekly 3 Strandsand daily W.I.N.(What's Important Now)...  and those of your team in an encouraging way.
 

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts
 

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / 50% Depends on People

Day 48

MSPmentor has an interesting article today discussing the changes in MSP software.  At the end Joe Panettieri makes four predictions for 2105 that you need to be working on today, whether you are a managed services provider or in another business:

Some Challenges Will Never Change:  The four biggest issues facing MSPs in 2015 will be:

1.  Developing and productizing your services portfolio.

2.  Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for onboarding and managing customers.

3.  Developing, maintaining and refining compensation models for your sales team.

4.  Finding, retaining and rewarding the right talent.

Notice #1 and #2 depend on having an Accountability Culture with the right people on your team.  Again, the need for great employees and a strong company culture is no longer an option in today's competitive marketplace.  It is a requirement in all industries.

We teach these skills in our LEADERSHIP Essentials Service and Academy.  Prepare now by developing an Accountability Culture in your organization.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Wrong Prize

Day 47
I have a friend at church who has twin, blonde, 4 year old girls who often dress in the same outfits.  His little princesses love our adopted daughter, Izabellah, who is the youngest of our new brood.  Yesterday they grabbed her by the hand at check-in, one on each side of Bellah, and ran off to the church service.

It was a moment...

Our personal and professional lives are a series of experiences, and too often we allow ourselves to get caught up in the noise of life to enjoy the gifts of each day's experiences.  I suggest the following:

Fulfillment in life and success in business lies in the process, not the prize.

It is a new week.  Review your 3 Strandsof last week and stake your claim to achieve results this week in a new, bold set of 3 Strands - and hold your people accountable too!

And follow-up on last Friday's daily W.I.N. and define today's W.I.N. for yourself, or others.

1.  It is important for you to achieve meaningful results (the "prize").

2.  It is equally important to laugh, love, care for others, and dance like no one's looking while you can.

For instance, Brock McFarland of Weston Technology Solutionsis traveling the U.S. this year in a motorhome with his family.  Why?  Because he can - financially, physically, and spiritually.

3.  When you feel rushed, pause and catch your breath.  Focus on something that gives you joy.  Balance pursuit of the prize with gratefulness for the moment.

P.S.  My friend's wife is dying.  Her illness was not part of the plan.  She will leave behind a loving husband and two adorable, twin daughters.  

Enjoy the process of setting 3 Strands weekly and if you like, a daily W.I.N., because results are important.  However, if this is all we do then we are chasing the wrong prize.

Every day you have opportunities to pursue new rewards, but only moments to enjoy that day's unique gifts.

Let me know if you need help on improving your focus, or the processes to gain that perspective.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Share Your One Question Survey

Day 46
Yesterday I encouraged you to prepare for upcoming economic turmoil now, during the good times, rather than when the storms come.

One way to get good feedback on people's true feelings - employees, Clients, vendors... - are great one question surveys.  An effective one-liner can identify a problem, engage a sale, create a bond, and much more.

Let me give you some examples:

1.  Sales:  My "elevator pitch" when I'm on my game is the question, "Have you ever had a bad boss?"  So far everyone says "yes," which leads to a discussion of how our mission at MANAGEtoWIN is "No bad bosses," and asking more questions that lead to explaining what we do.

2.  Client Satisfaction:  My twist on a classic one question Client satisfaction survey is, "Based on the service you received today, how would you respond if someone asked you what you like best about our services?"

3.  Hiring Interview:  "What question did I not ask, that I should have asked you?"  (Sinal's good with this one.)

4.  Peer Review:  "Which of (person's first name)'s natural strengths do you believe he should improve further, how should he do that, and what do you believe will be the impact of this change?  (This one is hard, but when this feedback can be powerful.)

Email me your favorites.  I will send the best out next week.

It is the end of the week.  It has been a GREAT week for our team here.  How about you?

Where are you, and your team, with your 3 Strands for this week?  How about your daily W.I.N.?  Can you FOCUS more?  Think about this during your Sanctuary time this weekend.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Storm Clouds

Day 45
Q:  When is the best time to prepare for a storm?

A:  On a sunny day.  (Have you ever tried sandbagging in a rainstorm?)

Netflix, which I mentioned yesterday recently proved its pundits wrong when they bounced back from disaster in a new subscription pricing model.  The company is stronger than ever.

How did they do it?

Strong company culture cornerstones, and particularly strong company values that they live daily.  This foundation of mission, values, vision, and ACCOUNTABILITY enables them to weather a storm that would have put a lesser company out of business.

Q:  What defined the legacy of Steve Jobs of Apple?

A:  His return after a 12 year exile from the company.

My point:  You have a fantastic opportunity RIGHT NOW to define part of your legacy by preparing for the upcoming economic storms rather than just enjoy stronger sales due to an improving economy.

What are you doing to prepare?  I am notpredicting an end to the world, but rather prudence and vision based on what we can learn from the recent past.

Do you remember laying off good employees in 2008-09?  How about the cash flow challenges?  Avoid that pain and prepare to buy fire-sale assets by preparing now.  

1.  Strengthen your company culture to weather any storm and better take advantage of opportunities.  In good times and bad, PEOPLE are your greatest asset.  Invest time, energy and a bit of cash today to increase employee loyalty, productivity and enthusiasm.  (This is the core of our LEADERSHIP EssentialsService and Academy.)

2.  Invest "bullets" in short-term projects to strengthen your company, but cut an unnecessary monthly overhead.

3.  Improve one service delivery process a month to lower costs, improve productivity, and increase Client loyalty (more important than "satisfaction").

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

 

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / "What do you see?"

Day 44

Recently I rented the second Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr., A Game of Shadows (review) from Netflix.  I do not recommend the movie, but was struck by one line.

 

At one point Holmes is asked, "What do you see?"  He responds, "Everything..." and then goes on to indicate his ability to discern more than most others is both a blessing and a curse.

 

My question to you as a Systematic Leader is an important one that often we allow ourselves to be too busy to answer truthfully:  What do you see?

 

1.  Employees:  How engaged are they?  Why?  What strengths need to be encouraged?  Which weaknesses need to be addressed?  Should you be concerned about a pending negative event with peers, Clients or others?

 

2.  Clients:  How loyal are they?  Are you helping them be successful to the best of your firm's ability?  Where can you better apply your strengths?  What weaknesses do you need to correct before they harm relationships?

 

As Systematic Leaders, rather than the Idea of the Week Bad Bosses we used to be, our processes to fully engage our employees and Clients need to enable us to "see" more than we did before.

 

How is your eyesight?  I suggest this can be an enjoyable challenge to discuss with your partner(s), team and even entire organization.  At the very least, consider a weekly ritual of coffee or a meal with an employee or Client to ask questions that help you discern truly how well you are doing with them.

 

We work on fully engaging employees and Clients in our LEADERSHIP Essentials Service and Academy, and our Accountability Culture program, which only has two openings left.

 

Let me know if you need help.

 

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

 

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Accountability Culture #5

Day 43
Today we return from a holiday weekend and need to FOCUS. I am not trying to be nasty, but we need to forget that it is summer during work hours and push hard for results.

Summer is an ideal time to improve internal processes, particularly for hiring, managing, developing, and retaining great employees, but also for other aspects of our business.

Why? The "slow" (I prefer the term "focused") turtle can gain on or pass the hare during the summer months and prepare for a record-breaking 4th quarter.

For example, what are we doing at MANAGEtoWIN?

1. We are focused on improving the 5th and final key ingredient of an Accountability Culture: Further refining the metrics that measure the most profitable managed service provider organizations. We are doing this in our Accountability Culture coaching program, our free 20 Mile Challenge training based on Jim Collins' Great by Choice book, and our own internal standards for success.

2. We are better defining what people do with our services and how they can achieve a 10X return on working with us. Candidly, like many of our managed service provider Clients, lately we have not communicated our value as well as we could.

3. Two results of #1 and #2 above is later this summer we will implement new MANAGEtoWIN functionality that delivers additional, immediate ROI and ROA (Return On Accountability); and a totally redesigned sales website.

In closing these five communications on an Accountability Culture, let me emphasize the importance of pursuing the right metrics with accountability:

Accountability without good metrics is "chasing your tail." (You get nowhere.).

Great metrics without accountability is dreaming. (Again, no progress.)

Email me if you feel you could be making better progress. The first half of 2013 is already gone.

How did you do on your 3 Strands last week? What BOLD MOVES do you have planned for this week?

Are you doing a daily W.I.N.? How did you do on your final workday last week and what is your W.I.N. for today?

Hold yourself accountable first. Hold your people accountable second, in an encouraging way to deliver the results they set for themselves as a weekly 3 Strands and/or daily W.I.N.

Keep pushing. Turtles rock!

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts. 

Thank you.

Accountability Culture #4

Systematic Power is Step #4 of an Accountability Culture, if I am limited to only five aspects.

You will NEVER achieve your strongest possible company culture unless you are as systematic with your employees as you are with technology, accounting, development, manufacturing, client delivery, sales...

1. This means a system for hiring great people.  (My Hire The Best & Avoid The Rest hiring system has 10 steps.)
2. You need a system for managing people day-by-day, weekly, monthly... through the year.  What does that look like?
3. And what about a system for professional development?  Do you know what certifications your people have, what additional certifications are needed prior to year-end, and what your people want to learn? We track this in Certle along with our vendor programs.
4. Last, but definitely not least, what is your system for retaining top employeesand continuing to motivate them to perform at a high level?

We teach all four of these systems and more in our LEADERSHIP Essentials Service and Academy. Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Accountability Culture #3

Day 41
The Accountability Culture process is more than five steps, so I am struck this morning by the need to remind you of the two most important sincere actions every leader must take to have a strong company culture.

#1 is Meaningful Work.
 

We must give our people meaningful work to do.  What does that mean?  Help each employee understand how their contribution is improving the lives of others.  Be a great storyteller of true examples of your company helping your Clients, and enabling your Clients to help their customers.
 

I am told that the world is currently in a cycle of "we."  This means a large mass of people are motivated by activities that benefit groups rather than themselves.  Regularly reinforcing how your people do meaningful work plugs into this movement.
 

#2 is Sincere Recognition.  
 

We have a simple survey called a Wish List for you to know how your people want to be recognized.  Email me if you want a copy.  Everyone wants to be recognized in different ways, so when you compliment someone (1) Communicate to them in the way they prefer to receive information;  and (2) award them in the way they prefer.
 

Check your approach for Steps 1 & 2 for an Accountability Culture against these two standards and keep them in mind as we move forward.
 

How are you doing on your 3 Strands this week?  Are you on top of the weekly 3 Strands and daily W.I.N.'s of your team?
 

We teach this in our LEADERSHIP Essentials Service and Academy.  

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts
 

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Accountability Culture #2

Day 40
Quick update:  Our Accountability Culture program is 60% full and I expect it to be sold-out this week or next.  Email me if you are interested.  I am the coach working with you in this program and your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.  

It is Monday.  HALF of 2013 is GONE forever...  How are you doing?  Let's return to our steps to having an Accountability Culture with a brief overview of Step #2.  (Step #1 was in my June 21 email.)

Every strong company is built upon four cornerstones of culture ("Company Culture Cornerstones") that flow through the veins of your employees to drive a competitive advantage.

1.  Mission with a Purpose:  Your mission statement is WHY you are in business.  Does your mission statement really says this clearly in a limited number of words that your people have memorized?  A mission is almost a marketing slogan...  how can you grow without defining WHY your company exists and demonstrating this on a daily basis?

2.  Non-Negotiable Values:  Your company values explain HOW your firm does business.  They are crucial to your growth because great values enable employees to make decisions on their own.  Are your people thinking like owners, or people in short-term jobs?

3.  Motivational Vision:  Your company vision is WHERE your company is growing (not "going" in my mind).  Is your vision flat, or inspiring?

4.  Accountability for Consistency:  Accountability confirms WHO is truly contributing versus the people that are holding you back from living your dreams.  Do you have strong systemsof accountability for your people to demonstrate your mission, values and vision on a consistent basis?  If not, then what are you building your company on?

And do not forget... IT IS MONDAY!  A basic part of an Accountability Culture is following-up on your weekly 3 Strands to confirm you made progress on your most important 2013 goals last week and defining your next bold moves for this week.  If you are using a daily W.I.N., then how did you do last Friday?  What's your plan today?

Do not forget to hold your people accountable too.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts
 

Thank You.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / FREE 20MC Video/Audio/PPT

Day 39
Jim Collins wrote an awesome book, GREAT by Choice.  I am teaching how to apply his principles as a managed service provider.  (Mr. Collins does not endorse this project.)

Consider tomorrow's scheduled webinar NOW:  We Are Productively Paranoid.  This session is rich in material that can help your business today, and especially moving forward.

     1.  Watch the video (This video is only available free through Sunday;  then only available to our LEADERSHIP Essentials Academy members.)

 

20 Mile Challenge -- Productively Parnoid

.

     2.  Listen to the audio by subscribing to the podcast:

             -  Open iTunes.

             -  Go to File | Subscribe to Podcast.

             -  Enter this link:  http://www.MANAGEtoWIN.com/20MC-podcast-rss.xml

     3.  Scan my key points in the PowerPoint deck.

No one can achieve a 20 Mile Challenge long-term without an Accountability Culturethat provides employees an environment where they motivate themselves to do their best.  Email me if you want to learn more.

Tomorrow I will continue with the 2nd of 5 steps to develop an Accountability Culture.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Accountability Culture #1

Day 38
Yesterday I did a webinar sponsored by Autotask titled, What's Your Return on Accountability(video here).  Email me if you want a copy of the PPT deck, which is designed to be scanned in less than 5 minutes.

During that event I launched a program to develop an Accountability Culture with up to 10 companies between now and year-end.  We already have sign-ups.  Email me if you are interested.  I am the coach working with you in this program.  The final signup date for new companies is next Friday or when the program sells out.

Over the next six business days I'm going to give you five tips on developing an Accountability Culture that you can do on your own rather than outsource the work to us and gain from our insights in this area that we have developed over the past 11 years.

The first step has three key parts and a lot of discussion / thought:

1.  Company Culture Assessment:  This is a 20 question survey and follow-up discussion about your leadership and client experience.  Email me if you want a free copy.  Our Clients complete this before our Kick-off Call.  It provides quick insights into an organizations current Accountability Culture.

2.  Strengths/Weaknesses Snapshot:  Where is your business today?  What are the biggest pain points?  Having worked with hundreds of companies I ask questions that vary based on the Client.  The key is to identify where your strengths and weaknesses are, and what are your most costly pain points.

3.  Goals:  Where do you want to be by year-end and beyond?  Is it clear, measurable, realistic, and what systematic accountability is in place to get you there?  Obviously this discussion also varies greatly based on the Client's objectives.  We want to see a strong R.O.A. ("Return on Accountability") by year-end, and a lot of measurable progress in July-September.

And do not forget... IT IS FRIDAY!  A basic part of an Accountability Culture is following-up on your weekly 3 Strands to confirm you made progress on your most important 2013 goals this week.  If you are using a daily W.I.N., then how did you do yesterday?  What's your plan today?

Do not forget to hold your people accountable too.

The daily W.I.N. almost sounds like a scratch-off lottery ticket, doesn't it?  The beauty of the system is that if you really focus on your weekly 3 Strands and daily W.I.N. the payout is millions of dollars more than a lottery ticket.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Apply Accountability Now

Day 37
Positive, consistent accountability = higher profits, market share, and opportunity.

How well does your company motivate accountability by all of your employees in these five key areas of your business?

1.  Accounting:  Are your employees focused on achieving profitability, return-on-assets, revenue per sales/service employee?

2.  Operations Software:  Are you are getting the most from your Autotask, ConnectWise, or other business operations software so your business is being held accountable in key areas of sales, service delivery, and Client satisfaction?

3.  Client Loyalty:  Is the experience Clients doing business with your company so good that when they have a problem they believe only you can solve it?

4.  Employee Engagement:  Do you hire great people who are very productive and motivated to see your company achieve its highest possible profits?

5.  Compensation That Pays:  Do you pay people based on performance, not for just showing up and being relatively busy?

The amount of money and opportunity being lost by not operating your business with FULL ACCOUNTABILITY is huge.  We work ourselves to death when higher profits are available if we just get more systematic as leaders.

Here are two opportunities to consider the benefits of greater accountability in your organization:

1.  Return on Accountability Webinar:  Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. PST I am presenting for the first time what may become our flagship business transformation program.  If you want to increase your sales by $250K, $500K, $1 million or more, then you cannot afford to miss this program.  Register here.

2.  Start the Conversation:  At the very least, start inspiring conversation about becoming GREAT Leaders instead of Bad Bosses because this affects every area of your business.  Visit our Indiegogo No Bad Bosses campaign for some tools.

It is Wednesday.  Stay on top of your 3 Strands and daily W.I.N.s.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.