Capture your employee’s creative ideas
Wise entrepreneurs eagerly embrace advice and counsel- especially from their employees. So make it easy for your front-line technicians to share their insights.
management
The Three A’s – Part 3: Affability
Are you nice to your customers? Who isn’t? But are you affable? In the speed of today’s business world being pleasant, friendly or sociable is a luxury many business owners feel that they just can’t afford. Chuck reviews why cleaners and restorers need a little bit of “bedside manner”.
The Three A’s – Part 2: Accessibility
If you are in Emergency Disaster Restoration 24-7 “accessibility” is a no-brainer. But what about the average cleaner? Who should he or she be accessible to? Chuck adjusts our Customer’s Eyeglasses…
Painting Your Success- Part 1
Every day you wake up with a choice- will you create something totally original or just keep following the crowd?
Don’t disrespect “followership”- Part 2
“Followership” plays an important role in being an effective leader. Chuck Violand shares three more suggestions to help you develop your followership skills.
Leadership: Hard to pin down?
What can you learn from a 100 year old race to the South Pole or more recently on Everest? How can the leadership styles displayed there affect your business? Read on…
Don’t disrespect “followership”- Part 1
While leadership is all the rage, Chuck Violand thinks it’s time to build a case for followership. After all, following is a critical component of being an effective leader.
Management lessons from the USS Benfold
Ask yourself these three questions every time you become frustrated in your business. Then apply your answers for positive change in your company.
“Batting lessons” for business owners- Part 2
Everybody wants to work for a winner. They want to follow someone who steps up and tries new things, even if it means striking out occasionally. You may not hit a home run but you just might get an extra base hit!
Hey Business Owner: “Who’s your boss?”
Who’s responsible for planning your time today? Chuck reminds us that what you accomplish each day has a cumulative effect on your business.
Why can’t customer service always be this easy?
Everyone knows Big Billy has always been addicted to the coffee at Starbucks. Now his latest Starbucks experience has turned him into a raving fan. Future SFS attendees be warned …
What % of gross should I be spending to capture new clients?
Chuck and Steve go beyond the percentages with some penetrating questions to help a Philly based cleaner find new clients.
Staying the course-Heads Up vs. Heads Down!
SFS instructor Chuck Violand reflects on the age-old entrepreneurial struggle between the important long-term vision and the urgent short-term reality…
Is Best Buy dying?
Best Buy should be King of the retail electronics world. So what went wrong? What lessons can a small business learn from the mistakes of Best Buy?
To solve problems: “Less can be more”
How many times have you screamed, “Don’t just stand there- DO SOMETHING!” SFS instructor Chuck Violand explains the best strategy may be to “do nothing”…