With manufacturers and distributors finding it increasingly difficult to find top talent, bridging the skills gap has become a leading managerial task for success and even survival. According to a recent survey, 87% of manufacturers and distributors cannot find the skills required to successfully run their businesses. These results didn’t surprise [...]
As the holidays come to a close work looms depressingly larger for some. Business leaders have to step in to hike motivation levels and bring goals back into focus so that 2015 starts on a strong productive note. Published in ProjectTimes, January 8, 2014 Often, the holiday aftermath can [...]
Technological innovations are abundant, even overwhelming. Rather than trying to modernize at every turn seek to leverage your I.T. department to provide maximum efficiency without non-value added work. We hear a lot about lean, Toyota Production System and the like; however, I rarely hear about Lean I.T. A friend [...]
Communications can get muffled in a busy work environment, but effective leadership makes information delivery a key component in daily operations. In my almost 25 year-career in manufacturing and distribution, I've yet to see a company with "perfect" communications. I've seen a few stars (unfortunately the 20% of the [...]
In the race for increased profits is speed leaving vital priorities behind? Assess all factors before jumping the gun. In today’s new normal business environment, customers want products and services delivered quicker. Investors want month-end numbers faster. Customers expect new products yesterday. Executives are expected to sift through an [...]
Take notice of the impact your nonverbal presence has on those around you to improve your connection with people. I've noticed lately that walking and speaking with confidence can go a long way! Did you know that 93% of your impact comes through nonverbal channels? Perhaps it's best to [...]
Success begins and ends with your customers. I recently was the subject of what's called a "member spotlight" Q&A (question and answer) session about my business. Knowing my business centers on the supply chain, my interviewer asked me to draw a picture of a supply chain. It's always a [...]
How we look, communicate and relate to people makes a statement about us that may have lasting results. Always start off on the right foot. I've discovered that as much as content and results are king, presence matters. First impressions can be paramount. Don't despair if you "missed your [...]
Too busy to communicate? Research reveals that communications skills are lacking in the manufacturing and distribution workers. As much as we know that communication is critical, we often ignore this key area. We are swamped with daily work, getting the month's sales shipped out, learning the latest technical gadget [...]
