There is a science to selling and there is an art. There is. The steps, well, they really are pretty simple. “Hi, what do you want, here is it, buy it and thank you.” That is pretty much it. Five steps and they always work no matter what. Read a sales book. Same steps. Check […]
You get what you get
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a […]
But the customer is wrong
I just got back from Vancouver. Great session with some managers and one of our conversations turned to customers and their being sometimes wrong. Specifically that they are many times flat out wrong. Despite an alleged thought that they are incredibly right. Now in sales, we have been taught that “the customer is always right”, […]
Insert Task Here
Lately, I have been doing lists. You know, the sheets of paper that say “I will do this today.” Some do not need paper, they can do it in their head. Others use their devices. We do have the technology. Regardless of our method, we all have aspirations for the day. “I will do this […]
Managerial Perfection
In 2011, I published a blog about an aspect of perfectionism. I was looking at what a manager is looking at in an employee and how they might distinguish what they are really looking for in a team member. But what about in ourselves? Are we striving for perfection in ourselves in some way that […]
Management Habits
Yesterday something hit me. When thinking about a growth opportunity in management and leadership, I contemplated how does embracing habits fit into the discussion? Think about it. How often are we influenced by our habits in managing or leading our team? You do anything enough times, regardless of it being either right or wrong, it […]
Willingness to Recommend // Part Two
Another installment on willingness to recommend. It comes from another Wireless Logic manager in Wisconsin. By the way, sorry about the post season, tough loss. This is from Rebecca. I am recently a new aunt, so of course going shopping for new baby clothes is something I was SERIOUSLY looking forward to. In Oshkosh, WI […]
Managerial Resolutions
January 2014. Whew, breathe. What a year. I am not sure what really compels us to make some type of resolution. New year, new opportunity, right? Maybe it is health, maybe relationships. For sure there is more than just one thing to fix or do better. If I had to count…well, stop counting that high. […]
Coaching Personalities // Part Eight // Chris and Deb
What happens when you have to coach managers? We forget that there are some guys and gals who manage 5 or 8 or 20 managers. What happens when we have to give them some instruction? Up till now, the focus has been on the individual manager and now the direction is about a regional or […]
Managerial Ego // The Downside
If you read the last post, it was about wanting to be noticed when things are good. What about when you are thinking (or saying) “Holy Crap”? You see, when things are good, you strive to be noticed…to have your boss and your boss’s boss think you are the golden child. But what if the […]
Management & Leadership Series: Reflection
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. The last installment, Part 52: Reflection (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Joy
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 51: Joy (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Service
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 50: Service (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Grace & Truth
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 49: Grace & Truth (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Awareness
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 48: Awareness (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Respect
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 47: Respect (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Gratitude
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 46: Gratitude (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Honesty
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 45: Honesty (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Courage
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 44: Courage (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Management & Leadership Series: Empowerment
52-week series focusing on the character traits that amplify and enhance management and leadership skills. Part 43: Empowerment (Go to the Resources tab and click Download for the the PDF supporting the video)
Coaching Awareness; a 4-Part chat from 2012
This series proceeds the Coaching Steps podcast. Consider this a moment or two to contemplate coaching and what is behind it.
Coaching Steps; a 5-Part chat from 2012
Coaching can be defined in so many different ways. Is it a sit down or on the fly? Is it challenging, enabling, encouraging, sharing or modeling? Is it training? This is a five part series tales a simple look to see at the what, why, how and to what extent.
Sales & Service; a 4-Part Chat from 2012
Don’t over-complicate the sales and service reality in the retail environment. Keep it simple.
Prioritization
This podcast explores how an idea moves from realization to doing-ness. This is a first of a series of ad lib discussions.
Non-Compliance Podcast
This podcast is meant to add consideration to the blog posts. It highlights two specific ways to look at non-compliance.
Intro to Communication in Retail
This podcast introduces the upcoming blog series on communication in retail. It will look first at what precedes communication. The subsequent postings will cover aspects and tactics within the act of communication, especially with your team and the customer.
Managing Retail during the Holidays; Part Two
This represents our second glance into managing, leading and executing in the retail environment during a very busy time of year. This part looks at how you work with you team.
Managing Retail during the Holidays; Part One
Are you a new retail manager? Do you know what you do not know? The goal of this podcast series is to look at three aspects of managing retail during the crazy time of year. Each part will share insight from a different lens.
Motivation & Generations; Part Two
This moves from the generational environment to the individual choice machine. You decide your own motivation and as manager the best you can do is influence another motivation.
Motivation & Generations; Part One
This podcast is part one of a series meant to look at motivation. Generations matter in the workplace and this is the starting point to better manage how people make decisions.