Posts tagged ‘Voss W Graham’
I was thinking about a topic for a leadership article, yet, the news makers are all talking about the economic problems we are having – even to the point of comparing it to 2008 downturn. Well, while it is similar it is very different, if you take the time to think about everything happening during the past three months to create our economic challenges.
The talking heads and the financial writers have been using scare tactics for the past month, yet, they are still raving about our economy issues. First, please recognize the media only gets ratings and audiences for negative news. Positive news is well basically forbidden on the news today.
Look, the economy is just fine. It is the leaders of both the government and the corporate decision makers who are compounding the problem.
Realizing the issues are complex in nature, take the time to think about what has been happening for the past two – really six months. Congress and the White House have been deadlocked in a bad case of “chicken.”
Yet, the losers will not be either the White House or the members of Congress, the real losers are the people in the United States. Now, it is true that some members of the Congress will probably lose their next election due to the bad reactions from the deadlock. Yet, the reality is – people are losing jobs today due to their “leaders” stupidity. Continue reading ‘Lack of Real Leadership Killing our Economy’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on August 4, 2011 at 1:01 am under Leadership.
Tags: getting us out of economic problems, growth rather than cuts, Leadership, real leaders, think for a change, vision and courage, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Everyday I see examples of good intentions without the correct directional focus hindering the performance of organizations. These moments of contact are usually created during interactions with customers – those folks who actually do pay for everything done within an organization.
Therefore, the question of the day is…
Which direction are your focusing your energy today?
Need some assistance as to what I’m asking you about? It is a simple question with your answer impacting the overall performance of your organization.
Is you energy directed internally towards your operation or externally toward your customers? The answer again has huge impact upon your brand and especially your relationship and perceptions held by your customers. Continue reading ‘What Direction is Your Energy Focused?’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on July 28, 2011 at 11:55 am under Brand and Positioning.
Tags: Brand building, customer experiences, externally focused, Focus of time and energy, focus on customers, internally focused, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
I know this is a provocative title, yet, I wrote it this on purpose. Though the years I have been coaching people – even before coaching was attached to the description – and it continues to amaze me how often a manager is sent to me to be fixed.
In fact, we used to get a number of managers and employees to our Personal Development workshops whereby some of the participants were actually told – “You’re going to this workshop to get Fixed!” Interesting and sad at the same time.
The vast majority of the time the manager or person was not broken, in disrepair, corrupt or “damaged.” What they had in common was a different behavioral style than the rest of the group. Therefore, they got labeled as bad or damaged relative to people skills.
This truly became noticeable to us when we began to get a steady stream of women sent to us by one company. At first, I thought it was an old boy group that didn’t understand how to manage women. Then I realized that was not the case – both genders were sending this women to us. Continue reading ‘Coaching Dilemma – Do All Managers Need to Be Fixed?’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on July 12, 2011 at 10:27 am under Coaching.
Tags: are people ever broken, Behavioral style coaching, hard charging aggressive women, the dilemma of coaching, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Seems everyone today wants to have a top of mind Brand. Whether it a brand for a product or service, the company or a professional person actively working their market.
So, if everyone is trying to build their brand and brand image, why are so few actually succeeding?
Well, it takes more than a wish or hope, it takes hard or focus work and commitment to make it happen. Therefore, you can outsource this project – for big bucks – or you can begin to focus upon building your brand within your organization.
The way I see it, you have have five factors to think about and develop a strategic branding initiative. Here are the five factors you need to address starting today… Continue reading ‘Five Factors for Building Your Brand’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on July 7, 2011 at 5:19 pm under Brand and Positioning.
Tags: Branding, controlling perception using branding, creating a brand image, strategic branding, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Are you using webinars in your marketing strategy is the question for the day.
If you are congratulations on a great choice. If not, then what are you waiting for before using them? The fact is according to the effectiveness research regarding webinars – the longer and more frequently you use them the better the results you will get.
The are four primary reasons for using webinars in your marketing strategy. One of these will make your sales team very happy.
Here are the four primary objectives for using webinars…
- Generating Quality Leads
The key word here is quality. Sales people will get excited knowing the leads they get from webinars will be more focused and qualified than the majority of leads reached by the marketing groups. These are usually much better than even the top trade shows used by your organization.
- Increasing Brand Awareness
Assuming you are using PR (Public Relations) announcements, the next best method is to use webinars to show the expertise and experience to found in your organization. Thus, you can help the PR buzz through the use of well planned and executed webinars.
- Building Customer Loyalty
Many organizations use their webinars as tools to education and assist their customers in the use of their products or services. Actually, the webinars or online meeting services are very cost effective and can cover larger territories without the travel expenses. You will have some costs – possibly a list of prospects to be purchased, the choice of webinar service you choose, and if you bring in any well known speakers or industry experts. The key here is customers know they are getting valuable information and actually begin to look forward to the next topic to be shared. Thus, a new form of customer loyalty is created.
- Growing Your Internal Database
This one is more for your long term success. The depth and quality of your own internal customer and prospect database is one of the most valuable assets your organization can have. You can control your internal database and use it for total campaigns or nurture / drip marketing techniques to increase the opportunities for sales growth. Without an excellent customer database, you will be shooting in the dark for new opportunities. Regular contact or touches are the key element for building trust and strong relationships with your customer base. Remember, when people sign up for your webinars, they are providing information to be added to your customer or prospect database. Over time you can build a huge database of qualified leads for your overall sales and marketing strategy.
There you have the primary objectives for your webinar focus. Again, the research shows the longer you offer webinars the more effective they become for you. You will get better over time at delivering webinars, topics or objectives can be refined to a higher level and most importantly – your customers will use them and this will add value to your relationships.
If you are not using webinar, get a cross functional team together usually lead by the marketing group or sales group and begin to address the different ways you could implement webinars in your organization. The better the planning process for webinars your results will move to a higher level.
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on July 5, 2011 at 1:24 am under Marketing.
Tags: customer loyalty, importance of internal databases, purpose and objectives for webinars, using webinars in marketing strategy, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Had a very interesting discussion this week with a corporate executive who was complaining about the latest integration failures with a recent acquisition. As we discussed and dialogue the subject the issue became quite clear for both of us.
They were relying upon a group of Fast Tracking Managers to development and deploy the integration of the acquired company into their organization. Mistakes and issues were popping up it felt like we were watching a popcorn popper rather than a well organized company prepare for the future.
So what happened in this case (and many similar situations) was a lack of maturity and in depth knowledge about the industry and how people get the job done. In fact, I would call it a Job or Task Maturity Level issue which needs more leadership. In this case, I’m talking about leadership making certain all the “right” issues and elements of a merger or acquisition are being done.
What causes the Fast Track Managers to have a limited frame of reference or even limited choices to ensure their success. So here is the background for Cause and Effort Analysis of a Fast Trackers Mindset. Continue reading ‘Strategic Mistakes Made Due to Fast Tracking’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on July 1, 2011 at 1:54 am under Strategy.
Tags: fast track managers, knowledge, Mentor systems, Strategy and Fast Trackers, successful mergers and acquisition implementation, understanding and wisdom, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Today marks the last day of the first half of the calendar year – and for many of you it is the end of fiscal year for your organization. Good, now for the real test – Are Your People Held Accountable for Their Results?
This apparently is a touchy subject for many people in the corporate world and a misunderstood subject for most entrepreneurs. Why is this so?
First, research has shown a total disconnect between the term accountability and results with large corporate run organizations. Seems the major point of concern for corporate managers is being safe and having job security rather than being accountable for actual or real results. (I know that was a bold statement, yet, I have experienced this disconnect on multiple occasions – even having to change a theme of Key Accountability Identifiers for a group of senior level executives who complained about the use of Accountability in the process, which they did not understand. And, you would know the organization I’m referring to – large international firm.) Continue reading ‘Mid Year Review – Are People Held Accountable?’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on June 30, 2011 at 1:21 am under Performance management.
Tags: Accountability, accountability a key trait for performance standards, Being Accountable for Results, High Performance Factors, results and outcomes, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Today is a time for robust dialogue and though provoking questions about to cut or not to cut people.
Earlier this week I wrote an article on how managers are measured using ROI ratios. The summary of this point is it is easier (notice the word is not effective) to manipulate the ratios by controlling costs usually known as people and investment than real organic revenue growth. Therefore, many managers and key decision makers use the slice and dice method of cost control.
The above points being said, what reality sets in on the organization after you have cut a large percentage of people from the payroll?
A better question should be based upon a qualitative issue. How much knowledge, expertise and unique skill sets just “left the building?” I find that no one actually thinks or talks about this issue when the shears are applied to an org chart. Yet, it should be the number one discussion point of managers prior to any reduction in talent levels. Continue reading ‘Is it Really Important to Keep Employees on Board?’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on June 29, 2011 at 2:27 am under Performance Improvement.
Tags: Corporate Culture, High Performance Factors, Identifying High-Potential Talent, people and organizational talent, Talent levels, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Most leaders are really good planners and develop strategic goals and objectives each year. Sort of a moving average type of thing.
The real issue is getting the execution of the strategic plan into the hands of the people who actually make the strategic plan happen. The everyday workers who come to the office or plant to execute some management plan of action for the day.
However, one of the sad things we continually find when working with organizations of all sizes. The leaders seldom have a clear plan of execution for the strategic plan. Therefore, the Plan sits on the book shelf and collects dust until the next planning session rolls around on the calendar.
Yet, their are high performing organizations – of all sizes and markets – who are achieving superior results to their competitors every year including downturns in the economy. How is this possible? Due to proper execution of their strategic plans – which in many cases has been cut down to a highly focused point of action.
So, let’s take a look at Four Critical Steps to Driving Strategy in Your Organization. Continue reading ‘Driving Strategy Through Your Organization’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on June 28, 2011 at 1:37 am under Strategy.
Tags: Driving Strategic Implementation and Execution, how execute Strategic Plans, steps driving implementation of plans, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
Got into an interesting discussion recently about how managers are measured relative to their job performance. During this dialogue I suddenly became aware of one of the major pitfalls in the measurement process.
What is getting measured has a direct impact on the performance of an organization – revenue growth or cost containment?
The truth is managers have found it much easier to cut or control costs than to focus upon revenue growth. In fact, most managers do not believe their functional group has anything to do with revenue growth. This is a sad yet truthful statement.
The reality of this point is any organization to have long term stability needs growth – especially organic revenue growth. There is a huge need for organizations to commit to having a sales based culture. Continue reading ‘How Are You Measuring ROI Managerial Performance?’ »
Share, Email, Print or Bookmark this
Posted by Voss Graham on June 27, 2011 at 1:02 am under Performance management.
Tags: Focus on Short term Actions, good and bad of ROI measurement, Performance management, real revenue growth, roi measurement, Voss W Graham
Comment on this post.
![[Ask]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/ask.png)
![[BlogBookmark]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/blogbookmark.png)
![[Bloglines]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Faves]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/faves.png)
![[Google]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Newsvine]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/newsvine.png)
![[Reddit]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://insights.inneractiveconsulting.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
