What do lowest-paid employees have to offer, and why should we ask them to help make strategic decisions? This episode starts with an eye-opening (and humbling) discovery. You’ll find out who Foundational are, the #1 question to ask them, why a Fight-Flight-Freeze response is not effective… and which response can add tremendous value to your organization.
Continue reading “Why Foundational Staff Have Strategic Value [Podcast]”
Quality is much different than quantity. It includes sensations and feelings from interviews, discussions, and narrative stories that are difficult to turn into specific numbers.
Although it takes more time to collect, qualitative data is extremely helpful because it provides a depth of understanding about very complex problems.
Continue reading “15 More Places to Look for Strategic Risk in a Company: Qualitative”
The best way to avoid problems and overcome barriers in a company is simple: Listen to the experiences and opinions of your employees. Although listening to negative feedback can feel challenging to leaders, it is one of the most valuable sources of risk intelligence.
In this episode, Grace explains the three ways for frustrated employees offer their opinions and which 5 steps will help you create Healthy Feedback Loops in your organization.
Continue reading “Honeybee, Scorpion, and Nuclear Employees [Podcast]”
There are many places to look for signs that something in your company needs to be adjusted.
In this post, I’ll share 20 different places where your business can look to avoid a potential catastrophe. I also explain how to evaluate these sources for vulnerabilities, and which questions to ask.
Continue reading “20 Excellent Places to Look for Strategic Risk in a Company: Quantitative”
What’s the difference between quantitative data (numbers) and qualitative data (experiences & emotions)?
Keep reading to find out why these are both essential parts of overcoming barriers as an owner, and examples of where to look for vulnerabilities in your business.
Continue reading “Interpreting Numbers and Experiences [Podcast]”
Are you wondering how to tell the difference between data that are based on numbers (quantitative) and those based on sensations and experiences (qualitative)?
Many business owners find it difficult to make the distinction… which can lead to frustration, overwhelm… and eventually to a business that is vulnerable to threats that could cause irreparable harm.
Continue reading “How to Understand the Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Your Business”
What should you do when policies aren’t being followed, customers are upset, and everything starts to fall apart?
These are all symptoms of Frankenstein Management Syndrome: A condition where harmful outcomes occur because leaders are disconnected from the needs of their employees, customers, and community.
Let’s explore what causes this scary condition and how to avoid it.
Continue reading “Frankenstein Management: Why Bias Can Destroy a Great Business”
I thought I knew everything about my company… until the day I stepped out of my management role and into those of front-level staff.
Working in new job tasks was the most eye-opening thing I ever did as a manager. The act of observing their roles first-hand made it crystal clear where the problems were originating. And… spoiler alert: 99% of problems in a company are because of poor management decisions!
I call this boots-on-the-ground observation method the “Employee for a Day experience.”
It’s terrifying, enlightening, humbling, and eye-opening.
And it works like magic.
Here are some ideas for how to implement this incredible (free!) tool for yourself.
Continue reading “10 Variations of the “Employee for a Day” Experience”
What’s the purpose of reviewing your company culture?
Does social media impact a company’s culture?
I answer these questions—and much more—in my Live Facebook Video. Check out the recorded video here, or read the transcript below (including bonus content!)
If you own a business, you are responsible for every detail in your company: hiring, firing, and everything in between.
When a key employee hands you their resignation letter… what is your typical response?
Do you feel alarmed, frustrated, nervous, or angry?
Are you afraid of what could go wrong?
Without a clearly defined processes to deal with unexpected turnover in your company, you will be facing a lot of unknowns. Risk Intelligence is the ability to perceive what could happen before it happens.
If you feel blindsided by a sudden resignation, or shocked by events that forced you to fire key staff members, then it’s time to boost your level of risk intelligence.
