Why Do We Work Such Long Hours?
31 May 2016As I work with clients in many countries, a recurring theme is how to work less hours. Some are doing it but most are still seeking that particular Holy Grail! Trouble is, many think they’re locked in, with no choice but to work crazy hours. Dave, an automotive care business owner, was a seminar participant. […]
The Time-Saving Chart That Made The Car Company Money
17 May 2016Many clients over the years, both in groups and one-on-one coaching with me, have shared the frustration of trying to keep up with follow-up of some kind — either with hot prospects, referral partners, customers or suppliers. It came up again this morning with Henry, who works in the financial services sector. He said: ‘A lot […]
The Magic Bullet That Will Give You More Time
28 April 2016Before I tell you what it is, try these questions: Do you have all the energy you want, every day? Do you get all your work done smoothly and efficiently every day? Is your work/life balance exactly as you desire? Typically, most people will answer ‘no’. Instead, life seems to get busier, work/life balance becomes […]
‘I Never Seem To Get To The Big Jobs!’
1 March 2016Like many beginning business owners, Derek was feeling overwhelmed. As you’ll know if you’ve ever started a business, there are so many details to handle. His question to me: ‘I know there are some key tasks that, if I get started on them, will make a long-term difference. But there are so many immediate tasks […]
Delegation Is Not A One-Stage Process
11 February 2016Ben is a mid-level manager with a team of four, all relatively new in their positions. ‘They need less help than last year, but I still get quite a lot of interruptions asking for things that I think they could have done a bit more work on. It seems they rely on me quite a […]
Robyn Pearce: Keys to Effective Delegation
28 November 2015Last week I told you about Simon and how he was always interrupted. His company perceived him to be poor at delegation, hence my involvement. We identified that he was too available and last week I gave you some solutions for this common business ailment. READ MORE: • Robyn Pearce: Are you too available? • […]
Are You Too Available?
11 November 2015‘Simon, what’s your biggest challenge?’ I asked. He was having a follow-up coaching session after a half-day’s training. ‘I think I’d call it delegation,’ he replied. ‘I seem to be interrupted all day long with team members wanting help. I don’t want to send them away – I know we have to be available for […]
How To Get Engagement From Your Staff
16 September 2015Are you interested in getting full and involved participation from your people? Instead of telling someone to do a task, ask them how they think it should be done. I first read the following story in Les Giblin’s excellent book ‘How to have confidence and power in dealing with people’. He gives credit to […]
Don’t be so available
9 September 2015How much assistance to your staff is too much? Surely good staff management and delegation is to be available when people have questions? Not necessarily. Actually, being ‘there for my staff’ 100% of the time is neither good management nor good delegation. Instead, it causes bottlenecks, frustration, low morale, and blocks your people from learning […]
Can Efficiency Be Taught?
2 September 2015I was having a conversation with my 90-year old aunt about delegation, task management and managing staff – she’d had many years of running teams and offices. She said: ‘Efficiency is a life-long discipline, and not everyone has it or can learn it. Some people are naturally efficient and disciplined. Others are not – they […]