The Alternative Board - East Valley

PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN

One of the many tools, we offer as TAB Certified Facilitators to help Grow your Business is our Strategic Business Leadership SBL® planning tool. One of the many aspects of strategic planning that SBL focuses on is “completing the mission.” We identify The Critical Success Factors that absolutely must be achieved in order for the business owner to be personally and professionally fulfilled. Once identified, we focus on one or two Goals to achieve the CSF. We now create Strategies to accomplish those goals and finally  Action Plans!

For example:
CSF: I need a better balance of work / time with family
Goal: Hire an assistant with sufficient experience to delegate certain tasks
Strategies:(up to this point we're still dealing with theory)

1. Post the position on an online job board
2. Put an ad in a local paper
3. Contact an employment agency

Action Plan: (this is where the mission gets completed)

1. Get the posting in Craig's list done by Wed. 8/15 – 11:00 AM
2. Place ad in Newsday by Sunday deadline – 8/12
3. Contact Allan at Advice Personnel on Monday 8/13 at 10:00 AM

As you might imagine this is where many business owners admittedly fall short.

If you have an interest in learning more about this proven method of “completing the mission” or if you are in need of assistance in implementing change in your company, e-mail me at allanh@tab-scottsdalenorth.com or call me at 480-656-3565 for a complementary 1 hour executive coaching session.

THE ART OF EFFECTIVE LISTENING

At one of our last Board meetings we had intensive discussions about Negotiating.  It was almost unanimous that the biggest takeaway from the meeting was that we have to listen more effectively.  This not only goes for Negotiating.  Dale Carnegie first said in “How to Win Friends and Influence People” how important listening is.  Peter Drucker emphasized the importance of listening in Time Management.  I heard Steven Covey speaking at a TAB Member conference where he not only emphasized the importance of listening, but was concerned as to why effective listening is not taught or emphasized in Management courses.  Tom Peters, management guru, who wrote “Thriving on Chaos” devoted a whole chapter, entitled “Pay Attention (More Listening)”. Gary Layo, who wrote “Smart Selling”, said the shortest course on selling is “Ask Questions and Listen”.  Even as a Business coach, the first lesson learned is to ask probing questions and listen to the answer.  Yet, with the advent of cell phones, e-mails, and other distractions we have lost the ability to listen.  Some tips for effective listening. 

1. Give your undivided attention to whoever is speaking.  Do not allow interruptions.
2. Let someone finish their thoughts and do not assume that you have the answer before they are finished speaking.
3. Reconfirm what someone has said before you start answering by using phrases like
   1. I appreciate what you are saying. . .
   2. If I understand you correctly…
   3. Do you mean . . .?
   4. Correct me if I am wrong ….

Listening is so important for Growing your Business, and for personal growth that it cannot be ignored.  One final point, we were born with 2 ears and 1 mouth, so we can listen twice as much as you speak.