Category: ‘Management’

What Makes a Chart Ugly?

May 8, 2012 Posted by admin

I know your charts are not entered in a beauty contest so what do I mean by ugly? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Therefore a chart that does not clearly get its point across is ugly.

There are three things that make a chart ugly:

* Lack of Focus

* Wrong Type of Chart

* Poor Color

There are two ways a chart can lack focus; unrelated variables and variables outside of the span of control.

A chart that shows unrelated variables lacks focus. Putting the Accounts Payable with Inventory and Share Price doesn’t make sense. It is like the Sesame Street game. One of these things is not like the others. Share Price is not directly related to either Inventory or Accounts Payable. (more…)

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Categories: Management

The Manager’s Guide to Active Listening

April 28, 2012 Posted by admin

Probably the most valuable thing you can do for your agents, your customers, your fellow workers, and yourself is to learn to be a good listener. It is an uncommon and valuable skill in any situation, but the ability and willingness to be a good listener are extraordinarily valuable for anyone in a management position. Determining how to listen actively and carefully can radically influence your relationships, your efficiency, and your effectiveness as a leader.

Following are some suggestions for helping you to become a better listener.

Focus your attention on the person who is talking to you.

When another person is talking to you, either face-to-face or on the phone, focus your attention on what they are saying. Don’t do other activities at the same time, look elsewhere, or answer another call. If you are speaking face-to-face, look the person in the eye, make sure your body is turned forward, and keep a calm but attentive countenance. By giving the other person your full attention, you’ll not only absorb the message more fully, but you’ll also increase the other person’s confidence that you are listening attentively. (more…)

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Categories: Management

The Decision Dynamic

April 18, 2012 Posted by admin

Have you ever stepped back and watched team members respond to a decision? It’s really an interesting dynamic to watch.

I just watched a group of mid-level managers react to a decision that their management team made – three months ago. There clearly is not commitment amongst this group (once again, these are mid-level managers).

The background – The management team made a strategic decision that impacted everyone within this 75 person company. Somewhere along the decision-making-process-timeline, they thought it would be a good idea to gather input from their employees (novel idea, ha?). So, as a result, they conducted a series of focus groups, gathered employee input, and conducted a follow-up town hall meeting to respond to input gathered during the focus group sessions. (more…)

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Categories: Management
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