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Operations Resources

Every business has its core product/service delivery operations and its support functions.  There needs to be a process-based approach to working through a value chain delivery model to service your core customers/clients. The goals should be to maximize both profit margins and end user satisfaction; efficiency and quality are key. In all organizations, most people work in an operational role, so this category has the potential to make an enormous difference to your success.

Blog Posts

Leadership Thought #385 – The Importance of Succession Planning

July 17, 2012

Far too many organizations are dependent upon far too few people to be successful. I often ask my clients, “What happens to your business if something happens to you?” The answers more often than mot are less than satisfactory. One of the key jobs of a leader is to mitigate risk and one of the biggest risks you have in any company is people risk – starting at the top. It may feed your ego to be critically important to your company but it is no way to build an enduring successful organization.

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Leadership Thought #355 – Growth Comes with Its Own Challenges

May 17, 2012

Business ownership has never been for the faint of heart. On-going change and adaptability is part of the success equation. Even when things go well there are problems you will have to navigate. As you grow, your company and you should be prepared to experience many if not all of the following issues:

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Leadership Thought #335 – Navigating A Seasonal Business

April 13, 2012

Business is hard enough with encumbering it with seasonality issues. I’ve seen many talented and hard working small business owners struggle under the weight of non-seasonal business volume. It’s hard to staff properly, keep good people and manage your cash properly. If you’re not careful it can begin to feel like a “feast or famine” situation which over the years can start to wear you down. Of course there are many people who manage to navigate the “ups and downs” properly, but they are usually pretty disciplined about their business leadership actions. If you are in a seasonal business environment, I encourage you to consider the following:

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    Favorite Articles

  • Are Your Individual Contributors Feeling Isolated?

    The autonomy that many knowledge workers have in the workplace can come with the drawback of professional and personal isolation. This can have a negative impact on projects that require collaboration and creativity. One way organizations can mitigate this is by creating a “lab setting” in which employees agree to regular meetings where they share […]

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  • From start-up to centaur: Leadership lessons on scaling

    This playbook for founder CEOs on scaling from start-up to standout and beyond borrows lessons from the global B2B software-as-a-service industry. Scaling is no easy feat. Even companies that develop successful products have a greater than 80 percent chance of failure.1 Fast-growth companies face constant growing pains, especially at critical inflection points, and investors attribute 65 percent […]

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  • The Challenges of Becoming a Less Hierarchical Company

    More and more organizations are looking to create flatter, less hierarchical models to increase collaboration, agility, and employee empowerment. But recent research at a food processing company in Colombia outlines some stumbling blocks companies might face when trying to change their structure. Specifically, the researchers and company CEO highlight a series of structural and people […]

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    Helpful Websites

  • The Business Model Analyst

    Resource dedicated to business model analysis that also provides downloadable tools

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  • The Ultimate List of Visual Risk Management Techniques

    Risk management is a process in which risks are identified and controlled proactively. It allows businesses to improve their chances of success by minimizing threats and maximizing opportunities. Risk management is essential to a business as it helps prevent financial losses and increase revenue.  Other benefits of risk management include, Help to identify projects that […]

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  • MindTools

    For over 25 years, Mind Tools has been helping people enjoy happy, successful careers with a one-stop learning hub: the Mind Tools Club. Our goals have stood unwavering for a quarter-century: build a dedicated subscription channel to replace multiple searches across countless resources, and deliver a complete toolkit of resources for professional and personal development.

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    Video Favorites

  • The Four Disciplines of Execution

    Great summary of the book: The Four Disciplines of Execution. 4DX® is not theory. It is a proven set of practices that represents a new way of thinking essential to thriving in today’s competitive climate, making this 2nd Edition a book that no business leader can afford to miss. The 2nd Edition provides more than 30 percent […]

    Reading Excerpts

  • How The Mighty Fall by Jim Collins

      Five Stages of Decline: Hubris Born of Success Undisciplined Pursuit of More Denial of Risk and Peril Grasping for Salvation Capitulation to Irreverence or Death   “The concept of hubris is defined as excessive pride that brings down a hero, or alternatively, outrageous arrogance that inflicts suffering upon the innocent.”   Cycle of Arrogant […]

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Interested in learning more about leadership?

Ed’s books on Leadership, Life and Business will elevate your knowledge and give you the confidence to apply it to your personal and professional life. 

Reflections on Life and Leading
On Leadership and Business

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