Archives: February 2009

Achievement and Sustainability

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 27

How you succeed is every bit as important as what you achieve. In recent decades we have mortgaged the "how" to get quick wins—tremendous value was placed on consumption and...

Stepping Away from the Familiar

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 26

It's human nature to stay with what is familiar, even when we know that a big change is needed. The prospect of venturing into the unknown comes with fear and...

When High Standards Turn Toxic

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 25

When high standards are taken too far, they become counterproductive. Rooted in disappointment that things and people are not as they should be, some level of negativity, stress, and frustration...

Leadership in Uncertain Times

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 24

Leaders who view uncertain times as full of opportunities tend to position their organizations ahead of the pack. Entrepreneurs and small business leaders are particularly well suited to nimble change....

Combining Responsibility and Authority

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 23

Successful delegation requires granting both responsibility and authority. Too often, the two are split—one person or team controls the resources, while another is held accountable for getting the job done....

Breaking Bad News to Employees

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 20

Sooner or later, every small business owner is going to have bad news to share with employees. Here are a few suggestions to help ease the blow: • Break the...

Understanding Rules About Employee Breaks

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 19

Everyone has to eat, and sometimes we all need a break. Seems simple, but the laws governing workplace breaks can be confusing. Federal law sets some standards for breaks as...

Pre-Employment Screening on the Internet

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 18

What if you could almost instantly find out if a job applicant is a bad fit for your organization? Social networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace offer a...

Conducting Interviews

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 17

With a number of businesses downsizing, interviewing and hiring employees may fall on individuals who are not accustomed to the process. Here are some simple tips that can simplify the...

Talk to Business Owners Outside Your Industry

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 16

Many small business owners and managers participate in Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, business networking groups, and conferences. They belong to these organizations and attend events to network with other...

How to Get Back Up When Data Goes Down

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 13

Small businesses are the lifeblood of this economy. The amount of time, money, and resources small business owners invest in their ventures to make them successful is incalculable. What is...

Don't Underestimate Loyalty

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 12

My approach to business is built on two very simple axioms. Thousands of books and countless research projects have explored the direct correlation between "satisfaction," "loyalty," and "profits," but in...

Satisfaction Does Not Equal Loyalty

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 11

It is amazing how many companies don't really understand the long-term value of a loyal customer or employee. They will spend vast sums of money on advertising and promotions trying...

Employee Performance and Customer Satisfaction

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 10

All businesses depend on employees to deliver quality service. For most businesses, improving customer service levels is more important than providing a good product. Research clearly shows a strong link...

Feedback Helps Drive Repeat Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 09

Multiple research studies have shown that measuring employee performance drives revenue and profitability. Continuous measurement helps individual employees overcome weakness, emphasize their strengths, gain a sense of direction, and know...

Putting a Computer Security Policy in Place

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 06

A friend of mine setting up an online printing operation e-mailed me a few weeks ago to ask for advice on setting up formal computer security policies to keep his...

Why Former Employees Are a Cybersecurity Risk

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 05

When most business owners think about securing their computer systems, be it on the desktop or the network, they almost always visualize the primary enemy as an evil hacker looking...

Understanding Cyberspace Threats

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 04

SQL injection. Drive-by downloads. Social engineering. Rootkits. Malware. Rogueware. To the busy small business owner these words and phrases might sound like gibberish, but they're actually terms that describe some...

Reacting to a Shift in Spending Patterns

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 03

Small business owners shouldn't be quick to hit the panic button during economic slowdowns. Remember, business won't immediately grind to a halt. For many small business owners, you're more than...

Approach Chinese Incentives with Caution

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on February 02

For years, foreign investors took advantage of the various incentives local and central Chinese government authorities used to attract investment. But with the passage of new tax laws, this landscape...