Category Archives: Management

Your Fault. My Consequence.

My friend Larry Linne, the author of “Make the Noise Go Away” has a great saying about employee mistakes.”Your Fault. My Consequence.” A good employee will accept responsibility, and be accountable for screwing something up. Unfortunately, it is still the owner’s … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Peter Principle Goes All the Way Down

Every small business, if it is to be successful, needs a competent Second In Command (SIC). In many companies that position is held by dint of tenure or loyalty as opposed to pure ability. When we see a key employee … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Employee Incentives that Work

After four blogs on the long term motivations for running a business, perhaps it is time to return to some more practical advice. One of the most persistent issues for a business owner is trying to motivate employees with incentives. You install … Continue reading

Posted in Management | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alternative Lines of Communication

You are unhappy with an employee’s performance. Following good management practice (praise in public, criticize in private), you meet with him one-on-one to tell him that he is not making the grade. His current project is far behind schedule. His direct reports aren’t … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Management, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Humbug!

It happened again last week. I heard a business owner say “I’ve decided to terminate Bob, but I’m going to wait until the first week in January to do it. I don’t want to ruin someone’s holidays.” I go through … Continue reading

Posted in Management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment