Tip #380: 10 Tips To Help You Become A Better Leader

Greetings!

When a business hits some turbulence, an executive's instinct is sometimes to focus on greater efficiency and productivity by tightening control. But the truth is that giving up authority and giving employees independence can improve innovation and success, even during crises. With that in mind, we have put together a number of tips to help you or someone you know become a better leader in the coming months.

10 Tips To Help You Maximize Your Leadership Skills.

Tip #1: Build Better Relationships -- Great leaders know the value of relationships. They know who people are, what is important to them, and what motivates them. Knowing this will help you understand their goals and how you can support them. When you help people, they will care about you and your goals in return.

Tip #2: Get To Know People On A Personal Level -- If you take the time to get to know people you like, they will no doubt come to like you, too. Furthermore, it is always nice to ask people about their families and interests. You will also find that, if people like you, they will be more open to helping you and taking the extra time to get things done.

Tip #3: Develop A Mentoring Program -- Great leaders know that mentoring someone will not only help develop that person's career, but also help leaders refine their skills.

Tip #4: Be Upbeat And Stay Positive -- In the business world, it is easy to criticize what everyone does and to be negative, especially in this economy. As a leader, you need to find ways to stay positive and find ways to do things better, faster and more effectively. It is important to remember that people are not perfect, and while you do need to address poor performance, great leaders know the value of acknowledging when people are doing things correctly. Doing so builds a positive work environment that helps make people feel appreciated.

Tip #5: Know Your Strengths -- We each have strengths and weaknesses. That being said, you will find that it is better to spend time working on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. By doing this, you will find that you can rise to the expert level sooner than you would be by working on your weaknesses. Bottom line: Know what you are good at and keep at it.

Tip #6: Surround Yourself With People Who Complement You -- As I mentioned above, we all have strengths and weaknesses. Great leaders know what their weaknesses are and find people who support their shortcomings. Not because they need to cover their weaknesses, but because they know the benefit of having a strong team -- and when the team wins, everyone wins.

Tip #7: Look At Your Career, Not So Much At The Company -- Great leaders know that they are the ones who will create their own career paths; therefore, they will work on making it happen. And once they become an expert in their selected careers, they will find that they can go almost anywhere they want to go.

Tip #8: Respect Your People -- If you do not like to be around people, let alone lead people, then do not take a leadership position. Conversely, if you do want to be in a leadership position, start building relationships with people by respecting what they do. Additionally, it is important that a great leader never misses an opportunity to learn more about the people behind them. Great leaders never skip an employee's birthday gathering or a holiday party because they are too busy -- they know that work will always be there.

Tip #9: Balance Your Work And Personal Life -- Great leaders are often times driven people, but they know the key to success is to balance work and family. Life is too short for you to live at your job. One day, when work is winding down, you will think to yourself I wished I had done things differently. Unfortunately, it will be too late to do so. Great leaders set career boundaries and know when to spend more time with family and friends. Doing this will make stronger leaders.

Tip #10: Evolve Into Someone You Aspire To Become -- Great leaders know that they are individuals and that, as an individual, they are not required to be like everyone else. They also know that they can take the path less traveled, as the risk is sometimes greater than the reward. To be a great leader, one must become a person of great interest who has great skills.

Executive Summary: When it comes time to lead people, great leaders know the power of information, information they gather from listening to people they respect. They also know what to say, how to say it and when to say it so that during tough times things get done.

For more information, check out our website!

Tip #379: 9 Tips for Getting More People To Open Your e-Mail Campaigns

E-Mail marketing is a cost-effective way to proactively communicate to your database of clients, past clients, prospects and referral sources. And because it is so cost-effective and easy to use, e-mail marketing campaigns have been flooding everyone's inbox - including yours and mine.

Most People Ignore And Delete These e-Mails From Their Inbox

When sending out mass e-mail marketing campaign (through your own server or a third party service like Constant Contact), you need to know that it is easy for someone to not only delete your e-mail but also ignore it. In fact, the national open rate published by Constant Contact is 13%. That means that 87% of the people who receive an e-mail are not opening it. Not only that, it is easy for people who use generic e-mail services like AOL.com, yahoo.com, etc., to click on their "spam" button. And once enough people label your e-mail as "spam," services like Constant Contact will cancel your account.

If you are interested in maximizing the open rate for your e-mail marketing campaigns, we have collected 9 tips and suggestions for you.

9 Tips For Getting More People To Open (And Read) Your Next e-Mail Campaign.

1. Spend Time Writing Your Subject Line: Your subject line is actually your campaign's headline. And as all great copywriters know, a great headline represents 80% of a campaign's success. With that said, we recommend using emotionally driven headlines like: "5 Sure-Fire Ways To Close Your Coldest Prospect" versus "January e-Newsletter." Another one would be: "7 Must-Have Apps For Salespeople (Inc. Magazine Article)" versus "Article By Inc. Magazine."

2. Know Your Subject Line's Length: Excessively long subject lines will also play a role, because long subject lines can distract a reader from opening your e-mail. But more importantly, you need to be cognizant of how e-mail comes across on a smartphone, because you will find that most smartphones will only display about 27 characters - so make sure that the most compelling part of your message is visible first.

3. Pay Special Attention To Your Frequency And Recency Rate: This is an area that you need to spend time on. The reason being is that too many e-mail campaigns in too short of a time span (recency) can do more harm than good. How can you determine the frequency of a campaign? Ask yourself this one question: Is your e-mail list an "opt in" list or one from which you just gathered names from business cards, websites and chamber/association lists. If it is the latter, you need to tread lightly.

4. Make Your Message Easy To Read: It is one thing to get your e-mail opened; it is another to have it read. With that said, make sure that you write your messages in short sentences and paragraphs as well as add short and snappy headlines to introduce new paragraphs. It is also recommended that you use bullets/numbers in order to make it easier for people to read.

5. Be Better At Writing Copy: Compelling marketing messages will not only motivate people to take action, but more importantly, get people to want to read your e-mail campaigns. To help you become a better writer, we recommend buying both of these books: Tested Advertising Methods Fifth Edition by John Caples and The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly. Also, keep this in mind when writing copy:

1. Your subject line is the headline for your campaign.

2. Your content should help/educate people about their job or what your organization does that makes it unique.

c. Use sub-headlines in the body of your campaign to make it easy for people to skim its content.

d. Always provide readers with a risk-free invitational offer to help them take the next step in the buying process.

6. Check Your Spelling And Grammar Before Pressing The Send Button: People reading your e-mail campaigns will catch your spelling and grammar errors. It is a fact of life, so get used to it. Although most people strive for writing perfection, mistakes do happen. To help ensure that your campaign is close to perfect, we highly recommend cutting and pasting your final copy (once it is in the final format) into a Microsoft Word document, and run your spelling and grammar checks. The results will shock you. But be careful still, because Microsoft Word does not catch all grammar and spelling mistakes.

7. Pay Special Attention To The Name Used In The Sent And Reply Field: People will open your e-mail if they know you and/or your company. This is why we recommend, in some cases, that a person's name is used in the 'from' field versus a company name.

8. Avoid Spam Words In Your Subject Line:The majority of e-mail servers use spam detection software to automatically filter (meaning block) e-mails that contains certain words and symbols in their subject line, words like free, stock, eBay, password, mortgage, exclamation points (see below), etc.

Click here to access 100 words that will trigger spam software

9. Don't Use An Exclamation Point In Your Subject Line: It is good practice to not use an exclamation point at the end of your subject lines. In fact, Google bans all types of punctuation from its AdWords ads.

Executive Summary: Outside of the list you are e-mailing to, 60% of your open rate's success is directly related to 1.) Who the e-mail is coming from and 2.) The subject line used. As a good reminder, do not be clever or misleading in your subject line. Additionally, just concentrate on sending your target audience relevant information that can be easily read - and don't forget a call to action by including a risk-free invitational offer.

For more information, visit our website!

Tip #378: The BANT Formula (Developed by IBM)

No matter what you sell, you need to build a relationship with a prospect during the sales cycle. And just as important as that is, you first need to determine which prospects have a greater probability of closing (immediate buyers versus tire kickers). If not, you can waste countless hours talking with prospects that have a low probability of closing.

Originally developed by IBM, the BANT formula is a great tool for sales leaders and salespeople alike. Why? Because it can help them quickly determine if a prospective buyer has the budget, authority, need and time when buying what you sell.

What Is The BANT Acronym?

B = Budget: Determines if there is a budget for what you are selling.
A = Authority: Determines if the person you are talking to has the authority to make a purchasing decision.
N = Need(s): Determines if there is a business need for what you are selling.
T = Time: Determines the timeframe for implementation.

Why Is The BANT Formula Such An Excellent Tool For Salespeople And Sales Leaders?

The BANT formula is an excellent tool for salespeople and sales leaders to use as it helps them quantify the subjective sales process (salespeople are notorious for chasing prospects that have little to no chance of being closed). More importantly, sales leaders now have a simple tool to help a salesperson manage a new sales opportunity.

One Key Component Of The BANT Formula:

Determining if a prospect has the budget for what you are selling is a critical step in the closing process. Without it, a prospect will always be thinking, "That would be a nice thing to have - if I only could afford it." Specifically, the budgeting process typically falls into three categories:

1. Does a prospect have the funds in the company's budget?
2. If a decision maker(s) does not have the budget; can they find the money?
3. If they don't have the funds, will it be available in the future (annual budgets are typical in larger companies)?

Although the "budget issue" is typically one of the most difficult parts to discover, it is one of the most vital parts of the BANT formula. Why? Because 1.) It helps a salesperson to determine if a prospect has the monies to fund the sale and 2.) It helps a salesperson to properly complete their sales pipeline report(s), AKA, a sales forecast.

The Key To The BANT Formula Is Asking The Right Questions.

There are many elements to a successful sales call, but the two most important ones are 1.) Being in control of the sales call and 2.) Asking targeted and specific questions. Seasoned salespeople and sales leaders alike know that it is best to avoid a sales pitch early in the sales cycle; instead, they know the best approach is to take a step back and ask some open-ended probing questions to ensure that there is a good fit and need for what they are selling. Oh, by the way, if you ONLY talk about the features and benefits of what you are selling, a prospect will quickly tune you out.

Know More Details (By Asking The Right Questions).

To help you determine if a prospect is actively looking to buy what you sell, we recommend taking this multi-step process.

Step 1: Determine why the prospect is taking the time from their day to talk with you.
Step 2: Determine what it would mean to them financially if they solved their problem (most people make buying decisions (in a B2B sale) if your product/services can make or save them money).
Step 3: Determine what the prospect's decision-making requirements are when buying what you are selling.
Step 4: Ask the prospect how their company makes buying decisions as well as this person's role in the decision making process.
Step 5: Determine if the person you are talking to can make the final decision when buying what you are selling.

Executive Summary: Ultimately, you need to start the relationship building process with a prospect by asking the right case-building questions - ones that will help you fully understand a prospect's needs, problems, frustrations and desires. Once this is done, you can segue to the budget discussion without asking if a prospect has the money to buy what you sell, putting you in a better position to forecast a sales opportunity.

For more information, please visit our website.

Tip #377: 4 Quick Tips To Help Lead In Tough Times

The phrase "changing times" conjures up a wide assortment of meanings in today's world. Whether you are facing tight cash issues, adverse government regulations, loss of a key staff member or losing a top client, you need to take a step back and look at what can be done to overcome issues like these.

To help you lead during tough times, below, we have compiled four leadership tips in order to help you focus on the key issues that are important to successful managers during tough times.

Click here for another great article about leading during turbulent times at Salary.com

4 Tips For Leading During Tough Times Are:

Leadership Tip #1: Learn How To Navigate -- Anyone can maintain course in calm waters; however, the biggest and most noticeable difference is how a leader performs during tough times as oppose to calm times. Take a step back and develop a vision by seeing what could be done to change things or what could be looming around the corner. Do this for it will help you to be better prepared should something bad happen.

Leadership Tip #2: Avoid Being Just A Manager -- The difference between leaders and managers is that leaders are able to motivate everyone in their organization whereas managers tend to manage the "status quo" or the current process. Should you find that the "status-quo" be the norm in your organization, don't just follow along. We suggest looking into some type of leadership course, buying books or visiting the local library for books on leadership. It would also be to your advantage to see what other leaders are doing by joining network groups or industry associations.

Leadership Tip #3: Work On Creating A Positive Change -- If you truly lead, you will, by default, cause positive changes in your organization. And this change is important, because it breathes life back into an organization. To help you create a positive change in your organization, look for some high-profile leaders and professional coaches in your area or industry, and see what they are doing. To help you get a new perspective on things, you should also consider a subscription to business magazines, like Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur or SUCCESS Magazine.

Leadership Tip #4: Talk With Your Team Regularly -- Picture yourself on an airplane that is hitting a lot of turbulence. Wouldn't you want to know what is going on and how long it will last? Better yet, what is the captain doing to find a smoother altitude? The same goes for your employees when your business starts to hit tough times.

Executive Summary: While you cannot predict all of the events that will affect your business, you can employ the above four strategies to navigate your way through tough times. Leaders who invest time in communicating with their staff, reviewing alternate strategies and staying close to key clients are implementing some of the best practices for leading in both good and bad times.

For more information, please visit our website.

Tip #376: 3 Steps For Positioning Yourself As An Industry Expert

One of the easiest ways to drive sales opportunities and to ensure job security is to become an expert in your field. In fact, the term "expert" carries a tremendous amount of authority, trust, and credibility - the things that reduce the risk of people not buying what you have to sell . . . and goes a long way in ensuring your job security.

3 Steps To Help Position You And/Or Your Business As The Go-To Expert.

Step 1: Focus On A Niche-- Instead of trying to sell or market yourself to everyone (including your own company), you are better off narrowing down your focus to a specific industry/industries or job function. Doing so will help you develop certain skills, buzzwords, and contacts. It will also position you as the resident expert. Recently, a business acquaintance of mine told me how she was able to set herself up as the go-to expert for management/leadership training in three industries (nuclear energy, coal, and solar). When she told me what she was doing, I asked, "Are there enough companies you can target to make a living from it?" She smiled and said, "There are hundreds of locations, and I am the only management/leadership training expert in the country who concentrates on these industries." Find your niche and you will eliminate any sales obstacles or job issues.

Step 2: Write About Your Industry Expertise-- After reaffirming your niche, you need to begin the process of writing about your area of expertise. You could write weekly e-tips, newsletters, books, articles, training manuals, new processes, and techniques; your options are endless. You can even create your own website and design it as a way for people to access your information. If you can, write about things that teach people about your expertise and what you do.

The More Business You Do In An Industry, The More Of An Expert You Will Become.

Once you start marketing yourself on a proactive basis, you will become recognized as an expert in an industry -- even if you never had formal education in it; however, there are times when certification or specific training is needed to truly be considered as an expert.

Step 3: Become A Speaker Or Presenter As Often As You Can-- If you are proactive in networking and publishing articles, you will find that people will ask you to speak at conferences, chamber meetings, and industry associations, or even make presentations within your own organization. Sure, most of us get nervous about speaking in front of a group, but keep this in mind: You will gain instant trust and credibility when you do it.

Executive Summary: Start today by thinking of niches in which you could become an expert. After that, write down ways you can network, i.e. trade shows or associations meetings, as well as targets of opportunities. The key here is building up a database of names/e-mail addresses. After you build this database, start the process of "dripping" on people with e-mails and direct mail campaigns . . . just make sure the content is relevant to whomever you are targeting.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #375: How Much Is "Internet Surfing" Costing Your Business?

It is all too common to stroll by an employee's desk and catch him/her browsing the Internet -- obviously, for personal use rather than business-related research. In fact, the American Management Association (AMA) discovered that 68% of businesses lose money and time on employees who are "Internet surfing."

Internet surfing is the use of work-provided internet access for personal enjoyment while maintaining the appearance of being productive. The trouble with Internet surfing, unfortunately, is that it comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Worse yet, it is typically carried out on software that businesses rely on, such as e-mail and web browsers.

The Five Most Common Forms Of Internet Surfing Are:

1. Chat rooms/instant messaging
2. E-mail correspondence to personal contacts
3. Online gambling
4. Online stock trading
5. Web browsing, primarily to news and sports websites

How Much Is Internet Surfing Costing Your Business?

Of course, not all Internet surfing starts intentionally. Often enough, employees log online to look up something business-related, but, through a series of "wiki moments," they find themselves viewing websites that stopped being work related several clicks ago. However, the bottom line is that Internet surfing is nothing but costly.

Now Read About This Study.

In a study conducted by surfControl, a web-filtering software maker, it was revealed that if 1,000 employees engage in personal web surfing for only one hour a day it would cost that organization up to $35 million a year.

How To Combat Internet Surfing Effectively.

The most obvious way to combat Internet surfing is to monitor Internet usage, but this can be tricky. This is why we suggest including Internet usage policies in your employee handbook. These policies should define which types of websites are considered inappropriate as well as address excessive Internet usage. Furthermore, the consequences for violating these policies should be clearly outlined. Consequences can range from docked pay to having computer privileges restricted.

If you do choose to monitor employee computer usage, be sure to consult with an attorney in order to avoid any legal risks relating to rights to privacy.

Executive Summary: As powerful a tool as the Internet is, especially for businesses, it is also a vehicle for distraction and procrastination. Everyday software, such as e-mail clients and web browsers, provide a temptation for employees to catch up on news or read about their favorite sports heroes.

In order to effectively combat Internet surfing, employers should take preventative measures by writing Internet usage policies into their employee handbooks. And, instead of monitoring the sites employees visit, employers should evaluate how much time employees spend online in order to better address concerns about productivity.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip # 374: The Value Of Sending An Online Survey To Your Customers

The start of a new year is a time of renewal for many businesses, and one of the best ways to help augment the process is to conduct an online customer satisfaction survey (online surveys are great tools to help you determine what is and is not working for customers.)

What You Don't Provide A Customer May Not Be Obvious To You...Even If You Are The President Of Your Company.

As you look back on 2011, you probably learned a lot about your business, but what may not be obvious are the things that a customer desires, wants or needs from your business. With that said, we suggest conducting a satisfaction survey for current customer and past customer. By implementing a survey, you will learn a lot about what your company is doing right and perhaps what you should be doing.

4 Ways To Conduct A Survey.

There are four main ways to implement a survey:

1. Face-to-face interviews
2. Telephone interviews
3. Written questionnaires (faxed or mailed)
4. Online surveys

Out of the survey types listed above, online surveys are by far the most cost-effective, and the results can be quickly compiled with online survey tools. No matter what mode you choose, we suggest keeping three factors in mind: the quality of your e-mail or mailing list, the type of survey questions/choices and, of course, the results.

Survey The Right People.

Before you begin developing your survey questions, put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. You will want to ensure that you know the name of the person being surveyed, his/her title, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. Do not hesitate spending extra time double-checking your database's information.

Ask The Right Questions.

When you are ready to design your survey, ask yourself, what is the objective of this survey? If you are building the survey questions around multiple sections, use a logical break in the sequence of the questions asked. If not, your survey will seem jumbled and confusing. In other words, keep your survey simple and straightforward.

When you are developing the choices for your survey, avoid score-based questions as research has discovered that survey respondents are often too generous with their scores when grading is required. For example, out of a 10-point scale, respondents will typically select 7's, 8's or 9's and rarely ever dip below a 6. Naturally, this results in inaccurate survey data that businesses cannot rely on for evaluation. Because of this, we suggest using:

• Strongly Disagree
• Disagree
• Agree
• Strongly Agree

When asking someone to grade a product, we recommend using a four-step expectation scale, like this:

• More useful than we expected
• About as useful as we expected
• Less useful than we expected
• Below our expectations

Take The Results To The Next Level.

After sending out your survey, wait 1 to 2 weeks before collecting your responses. Keep in mind that when it comes to online surveys, a 30% response rate is considered good. Once you have your responses, use the data as a springboard for discussion with customers. Ask them if the results mirror their own sentiments regarding your services, and inform them of any changes you may soon implement.

Executive Summary: Every business should strive for improvement, especially if they hope to succeed in this ever-changing business climate. One of the best ways to start upgrading or changing things for your business is to ask the people who spend the most time using your products or services-- your customers and past customers.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #373: Employee Motivation = Revenue AND Production

The job of owners, directors or managers is to get things done through their employees. And to make this happen, leaders need to be able to motivate their staff. Nevertheless, for many people, this is easier said than done.

Motivating People Is Poorly Practiced By Many Leaders.

Regardless of all of the research and books on the subject of motivating people in the workforce, employee motivation is not fully understood and often times poorly applied. To truly understand employee motivation, we must understand people (which tends to be the weak link in the process).
Understanding people is a complex process; however, it is a necessary part of effective employee motivation. Once a leader has mastered this skill, effective management and leadership is easily implemented.

On The Job Improvement Is Augmented Through One's Motivation.

No matter what one does for a living, everyone needs to be motivated. Whether you are a cabinetmaker, chef or CEO of a Fortune 100 company, you need to be driven or at least motivated (internally and externally) to do your job.

Not Everyone Has High Self-Motivation.

Self-motivation is a trait that everyone has, but the level of motivation varies from person to person. In order for any business to survive and succeed, it needs to have employees who are highly motivated. While there are scores of options for motivating employees, our research has shown that most people do not know where to start. With that said, we have bulleted a few ideas to get you (or someone you know) started down the right path.

• Set High Expectations And/Or Goals
• Employ Positive Reinforcement
• Treat People, Job Descriptions And Positions Fairly
• Meet An Employee's Need(s)
• Restructure Roles And Responsibilities
• Financial Rewards Based On Job Performance

Employee Motivation = Revenue And Production.

You can improve your staff's motivation quickly (and often times at little or no cost) by following these five steps:

Step 1: Improve Everyone's Work Environment-- Look for simple ways to make it more enjoyable to come to work, like putting on a fresh coat of paint, having clean bathrooms or replacing some worn out carpet. Even a larger or updated company sign can bring new life to the work environment.

Step 2: Make Work More Challenging, Fun And Interesting-- Training workers in new areas and assigning new job tasks can give workers new insights about the business and improve their skill sets. This can build confidence in their ability to perform different job functions and increase worker morale.

Step 3: Give Kudos For A Job Well Done-- Everyone appreciates being noticed when they do something right or go above and beyond their normal responsibilities, especially if the job is monotonous or difficult.

Step 4: Give Money Or Perks For Outstanding Performance-- Make bonuses or perks a motivation for employees to work harder and better at their job. Share their outstanding performance with other employees.

Step 5: Keep An Open Line Of Communication With Everyone-- You need to know if your employees are no longer challenged or have become bored with their job. The only way to become aware of this is when employees are able to communicate their desires to their immediate supervisor. Although no one can accommodate the needs of everyone, you should try your hardest to lend a proactive ear to the needs of your employees.

Executive Summary: There are many factors that motivate people. Surprisingly enough, pay, benefits and working conditions are typically given a low rating. And contrary to popular belief, money is NOT the prime motivator. People want to be respected, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done.

For more information, visit our website.

Tip #372: Five Tips For Improving Your Work Performance

Everyone is looking for an edge in today's demanding and competitive business world. In order to maintain your work's level of performance, new habits need to be formed and refined. That being said, the main key to improving your work's performance is not to be overwhelmed by setbacks or problems but to control problems and improve how your work gets done.

5 Tips For Improving Your Work Performance Are:

Tip #1: Get Rid Of Clutter (Both On Your Desk And In Your Filing System) -- Many of us have let our workspaces become cluttered with papers and knickknacks. Anything that isn't work related should be filed or trashed (and no, we're not talking about your family's pictures or clocks). If your space is out-of-control, then your work may take on that same chaos.

Tip #2: Set Your Daily Priorities In Order -- Before you start your workday, write down a prioritized list of what needs to be done so that you stay focused. This sounds simple, but many people fail to do this exercise.

Tip #3: Work to Quickly Resolve Problems -- When a problem arises, resolve the problem as quickly as possible. Unresolved problems or obstacles can become a big distraction to your work performance.

Tip #4: Stay Organized -- Learn to stay organized; one of the best ways to do this is to circle a date on your calendar for organizing your workspace, and make sure you stick to it.

Tip #5: Know How To Manage Your Team and Your Manager -- It's critical to know when to delegate work out to others and when to accept work delegated to you. In fact, many team leaders fail to utilize their team's capabilities effectively when the workload becomes heavier.

Executive Summary: Remember that you don't need to do all the work yourself, so when your manager asks you to take on a new project, it's ok to sometimes have them set your boundaries and priorities. This may help them realize that, in order to meet the deadline, others need to be involved in order to accomplish the project effectively.

P.S. It has been proven over time that habits take about 30 days to develop. Print these habits out and keep them at hand. Review them frequently until they become routine (feel free to send them to someone who can benefit from them, too).

Tip #371: 5 Quick Steps For Solving Business Problems

Everyone experiences problems at work, but how we approach these problems makes all the difference in how well we resolve them in an efficient manner. In fact, the basics to business problem solving are not too much different from how we solve problems in our private lives. That said, we must first recognize there is a problem, second, identify the cause of the problem, third, gather all facts relating to the problem and, fourth, review the options available for solving the problem.

Click here for more tips to solving business problems

To help you identify each of the named areas, below, you will find five steps for helping you solve even the most complex problems.

The 5 Quick Steps For Solving Problems Are:

Step #1: Define What The Problem Is -- Ask yourself what is the problem? A clear understanding of the problem is the first step in solving it. If you are discussing a problem with a team member, don't assume that all parties involved define the problem in the same manner. Make sure that everyone agrees what the problem is so that there isn't any type of misunderstanding(s).

Step #2: Understand The Root Cause(s) Of The Problem -- We all want to resolve the problem, but we first need to find the root cause of the problem. Was it from miscommunication? Was it from the failure to follow certain processes or procedures? Understanding the root cause will help prevent the problem from happening again.

Step #3: List Possible Solutions To The Problem(s) -- Go to a white board or flip chart and write out a list of possible solutions. It pays to spend extra time on the list, especially if the problem is rather complex in nature or requires communication with a team member, department or remote division to solve the problem.

Step #4: Select The Best Possible Solution -- Rank the solutions in order, with #1 being the best solution. Don't forget to look at the cost(s) associated with each possible solution, too.

Step #5: Make a Decision To Take Action -- Don't wait for the problem to grow out of hand, as it could have a huge rippling effect on your organization, especially if there is a customer involved. In addition, the longer the problem goes unresolved, the more stressful the problem can become for everyone involved. Also, new problems could arise at any time that can distract from solving the old problems if one waits.

Executive Summary: Accepting responsibility for the consequences of actions taken or decision making is the reason most people shy away from taking a leadership role in problem solving. But you don't have to be afraid, as people who are good at problem solving are some of the most valuable and respected people in business. And remember this: Every problem has a solution!