Conflict Among Team Members Can Lead to Better Results
It turns out conflict isn’t always bad. In fact, psychologically it can be extremely positive, especially in a team environment. In reality, conflict exists as a natural and inevitable part of every relationship. And the only way to break free of a negative dynamic within a team is to confront it. Because most people fear conflict, team members engage in repressing their anger and frustration, avoid a person or people threatening the...
Cyber Financial Services: Expertise Without the Overhead. But what does that really mean?
If you own a business, you’re likely very good at what you do. But unless your business is accounting or bookkeeping, you might not be very good at those particular skill sets. Frankly, few business owners are. And, importantly, those skills are a critical part of running a successful company. Like many business owners, you’re faced with a real dilemma. You need serious financial expertise. But your business just can’t afford...
5 Preparations Every Startup Should Make Before Website Launch
Every startup needs to make sure that their website is ready for prime time. The problem is, a lot of startups don’t know what that means. Besides some vague idea about “SEO” and making sure it’s bug-free, too many startup sites launch without the most necessary components for success. Before you flip the switch on your startup’s site, here’s what you need to do: Build...
How to Get Online Reviews for Your Small Business
Question: I notice that some of my competitors have a lot of reviews on sites like Yelp. Other than recruiting staff and friends to write reviews, how can I get customers if I don’t have a lot of online reviews for my business? Answer: Particularly if your sales are focused online, it’s tough to compete if you don’t have any reviews. A recent poll showed most Americans deny that social media marketing influences their...
Managers Can’t Know Everything: 6 Tips for Managing Outside Your Areas of Expertise
Managers, especially top executives, must realize that they can’t be experts in everything. The “manager as expert” might work for an engineer who becomes a manager of an engineering team, but no middle market CEO is an expert in all aspects of the business. You must not only learn how to wear many hats but accept that you will be managing people who have more expertise in a particular area than you do. And while...