Finding Your Landmark
You probably travel quite a bit by air, as I do. One of the things I enjoy is looking for landmarks as I’m flying into my local airport. I try to find one landmark that tells me where I am relative to my destination. It’s interesting to me that until I find that first landmark, everything looks the same. There have been times, especially on cloudy days, when I didn’t even know the direction of my approach. And when I find that one landmark, everything begins to clarify. Oh, okay, there’s that water tower. I know that shopping center, that neighborhood, etc. But until then, I’m very lost. [Read more…]
Insights From Proverbs: Contention
There’s a proverb that says, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down” (Proverbs 26:20). I talk a lot about being fearless, confronting people, and talking to people, not about them. I think that asking questions is a critical part of leadership, but there’s also prudence in knowing when not to talk, when not to be a “whisperer.” There are times when something is said or done inappropriately and you’re wise to confront that behavior in an appropriate and timely way. There are also times when it’s better to not add fuel to the fire. Maybe if we let things go, if we don’t whisper or talk to others, that will cause the contention to quiet down. [Read more…]
Broad Insights Client Designated “Best Place to Work”
Congratulations to our client, Worthwhile, who was recently named as one of South Carolina’s Best Places to Work! This is no small feat, and we celebrate their accomplishment. We’re also proud of Joseph Bartosch, Broad Insights coach, and his role in coaching them to this achievement.The Genesis of the Goal
Several years ago, we had the joy to begin a coaching relationship with Worthwhile, a Greenville-based technology innovation company. One of the initiatives Joseph introduced was identifying SMART strategic objectives. In that discussion, Worthwhile’s CEO expressed his desire to see the company become one the most desirable employers in the Upstate. The first vital step in committing to that objective was determining how it could be measured. Opinion wasn’t enough. Joseph worked with Worthwhile’s leadership to chart a path toward measuring and improving employment desirability. [Read more…]
Could You Be a Coach?
If you are enthusiastic about growing businesses and helping people, you may have considered becoming a business coach. Perhaps you’re burnt out at your current job, ready for the next phase of your career, or simply at a crossroads in your life. If that sounds like you, here’s an ideal next step: [Read more…]
How to Ensure Your Business Lasts
If you’re like most of the business owners we work with, you spend a lot of time focused on the hard day-to-day work of growing your business. But all too often, that hard work goes down the drain when the time comes to sell or to pass business leadership on to someone else. If you want your business to survive beyond you, you need a good succession plan, and for a successful and smooth transition, that planning should start sooner than you think. Whether selling or transferring to the next generation, you’ll encounter challenges, many of which we’ve seen again and again in other companies we’ve coached. Most business owners find those challenges daunting and, consequently, completely avoid the topic of succession. That’s natural, but it’s bad for you and bad for your business. [Read more…]
Are You Seizing Opportunities?
When you think about seizing opportunities, do you first think of new business opportunities? I think most people do. After working with so many businesses, I think seizing opportunity is really about being proactive as a leader. Here are some of the ways you can seize more opportunities. Last Friday, I was with a new client of mine and I called together the whole production team, about 10-12 people. I introduced myself as the new coach and then asked, “What could we do to get a little bit better? What things frustrate you? What is it that you can’t believe we’re not doing right now as a company?” I received a lot of great ideas, and the next day I had a conversation with some of the leadership about the ideas. I often meet with clients and have these types of conversations. As a leader, you have to seize the opportunity to get better, seize the opportunity to have a conversation, seize the opportunity to empower your people. Your team has thoughts, opinions, and ideas that could help your company grow. [Read more…]
#1 Advice for Becoming a More Effective Leader
Being a leader isn’t based on someone naming you a leader. It’s about whether you have followers or not. The most effective leader sets the direction of the company and provides clarity. Sometimes I’ll talk to business leaders and they act like people are showing up to work and trying not to follow their lead. The truth is, very few people wake up in the morning and head off to work with the intent of doing their jobs incorrectly. So instead of looking around trying to figure out where things are going wrong, we need to look in the mirror. [Read more…]
Insights From My 92-Year-Old Father
For Father’s Day this year, I interviewed my 92-year-old father. I wanted to record his wisdom for myself, my children, and even future generations. I think his insights are valuable for all of us. Here’s what he had to say after looking back on his long life. [Read more…]
Insights From Proverbs: Gossip
As a leader, one of the things you will have to address is office or company gossip. Some people say gossip is just human nature and we need to accept it; I don’t agree. I think about Proverbs 26:20: “For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.” [Read more…](864)761-4141