Sales skills consistently rank among the essential skills small business owners should cultivate. Many of us entrepreneurs started our companies because we were the ones with the expertise, not because we knew how to run a business. Most of us did not come from a sales background, even though we worked in corporations, so we don’t realize the amount of
What exactly is unconscious bias? We all have a different understanding of bias, so the definition becomes more confusing when adding “unconscious” to it. Unconscious means the part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behavior and emotions Bias means to cause to feel or show inclination or prejudice for or against someone or
Do you know the style of communication you use when speaking to someone? Have you thought about the other person’s style and how you should interact with them? According to Toastmasters International, “communication is a two-way process for reaching mutual understanding through verbal, non-verbal, and written messages. Communication style is defined as the way in which individuals interact with one
Your advisory board members only get together a few times per year. That’s not enough time for them to get to know each other. Regular interaction allows them to understand how each other can best contribute to your company. Having a retreat gives them the time to communicate in a social setting. Pick a place Select a place
We are well into the second month of the year. What are you doing towards making this year your best year ever? There are four things that you should be doing before the end of the first quarter. If you wait too late, you will have missed the chance to start the year off on a good note.
I used to think vision boards were a waste of time until I took the time to do one! It made a difference to write out what I wanted for the future! I didn’t even have to look five years out – I just needed to get through the current year. A vision board puts your dreams into a graphic
We are in December! You and your employees, if you have any, are wrapping up the year. They are scrambling to take the rest of their vacation or personal time off so they don’t lose it. The approaching holiday season, and New Year, symbolize the common adage “out with the old and in with the new,” and it also means
I help business owners create advisory boards – we all know about a company having an advisory board, but do you know that individuals can create a personal advisory board to get them to a particular goal? Yes, you can. An advisory board is simply a group of people whom you have selected to get you to that goal you’ve
When business owners say, “I would like to form a board!” They usually mean an advisory board. I’m not sure if they know that there are four types of boards. So, how are they different? Johanne Bouchard is a governance and leadership advisor to boards, CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs, as well as an expert in board composition and dynamics. I
Social media has moved from an emerging form of communication to the mainstream, and as a result, most small businesses use social media within their marketing strategies. Because this is now the primary communication vehicle for small businesses, owners need to put in policies to guide their employees’ online actions. A social media policy informs employees on the
