Archives: March 2008

Define Annual Objectives with Your Team

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 31

Take charge of your team's performance by working with the group to establish annual performance objectives. By mapping out specific goals to achieve over the course of a year, you...

Be Adaptable and Create a Balance

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 28

Interpersonal skills are extremely important for managers dealing with a wide variety of personalities. All of your employees will be different—each will have his or her own way of thinking...

Keep Your Cool Under Pressure

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 27

Patience is a virtue that every leader should embrace. Panic is the enemy of efficient problem-solving and can be detrimental to the productivity of your workforce. As a small business...

Demonstrate Flexibility When Troubleshooting

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 26

Unplanned change is a business reality. Behaving constructively and calmly in these situations of surprise and unexpected change is a leadership essential, and can sometimes mean experimenting with something you...

Online Banking Payment Options Can Build Customer Loyalty for Retailers

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 25

Consumers have more options than ever when shopping online. Retailers must continue to adapt to offer options that will satisfy customer demands, and keep them coming back for return orders....

Leveraging Consumer-Generated Marketing Campaigns

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 24

Branding is one of the most important tasks for a business, yet it can be one of the most challenging. Building a brand, conveying the brand to the public, and...

The Appeal of Cash-Based Payment Options

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 21

According to a survey conducted by eBillme and Market Platform Dynamics, 64% of small businesses shop and bank online. Convenience and the ability to compare prices make online shopping an...

Take the Time to Answer the Tough Questions

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 20

A small business owner recently asked me: "How will I know when it's time to open a new location to grow my business?" As a coach, I find it helpful...

Great Leadership Requires Curiosity

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 19

Insatiable curiosity is a key to great leadership. In contrast, the leader or business owner who presents himself as the perpetual expert shuts people up, and shuts them down. Curiosity...

Take Precautions When Handling Customers' Personal Information

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 18

[As a small business owner, it is important to be aware of laws that require you to implement safeguards for protecting your customers' information, including proper due diligence when destroying...

Safeguard Your Company from Identity Theft

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 17

If you want to safeguard your company from identity theft, know your employees. Make sure they are who they say they are. At a minimum this requires that you check...

What You Need to Know About Workers' Compensation Insurance

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 14

Workers' compensation benefits provide coverage for medical expenses as well as reimbursement for lost wages when employees are injured on the job. Workers' compensation coverage includes two types of protection:...

What Investors Will Consider When Evaluating Your Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 13

Once you've decided your business needs funding, investors will need to carry out due diligence before finalizing their investments. Though all investors have their own particular considerations when deciding whether...

How Much Can I Ask Employees to Pay for Insurance?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 12

On average, small businesses pay 75% to 100% of the total insurance cost for their employees and 0% to 50% of the cost for an employee's dependents. You can ask...

New Trends in Business Identity Theft

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 11

Businesses can become victims of financial and non-financial types of identity theft. One of the most well-known business and corporate identity theft schemes is standard electronic data breaks, or hacking,...

Why Is Identity Theft a Problem for Businesses?

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 10

While people usually think of identity theft in terms of individuals, a new and disturbing trend is on the rise with exponentially increased potential for damage—the theft of business identities,...

Product Inventors: Vital Questions You Forgot to Answer

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 07

Some inventors come to me and say, "I have this idea. It's the only one of its kind. It's brand new. No one has ever thought of it! In fact,...

What to Consider When Looking at Potential Investors

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 06

So you've made the big decision to look for an investor to hold a stake in your company. The timing is perfect—you don't need the capital just yet, but as...

How to Hire the Perfect Intern

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 05

Interns can be valuable resources for all employers. Don't think that aspiring college and graduate students flock only to large employers when they're looking for experience. If you have a...

How to Make Your Business Investor-Ready

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 04

If you want to ensure that the best financiers are interested in investing in your small business, you need to take charge of the process and make sure you're investment-ready....

Call Tracking Can Gauge Ad Campaign Effectiveness

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on March 03

Measuring the effectiveness of any promotional or advertising campaign has always been a challenge for small businesses. Knowing the money invested in an advertising campaign is delivering solid ROI (return...