Blog

Who are you? Why are you here? What is your destiny? Such cosmic-sounding questions can pin down important guiding principles when applied to a business’s mission statement. There are many potential benefits to creating a written mission. It can define who you are as a company, convey the corporate culture, keep management focused on the big picture and inspire team members to work the plan and share in the success. So how do you get…

Remember the last time someone did more for you than expected? Maybe you took your car in for a repair and they returned it freshly washed. Maybe the guy who cuts your lawn also trimmed that shrub growing through the fence. Maybe it was a cashier at the store asking how your day was going … and caring about the answer. Whatever the situation, getting more than you expect feels good and can turn a…

By Steve Fales Jim Collins, author of Good To Great, studied companies that achieved and sustained extraordinary success. Then he found common traits among them. Here is one of Collins’ observations, as recorded in an interview in Business Week magazine: “As I look at the most effective people we’ve studied, a ‘stop-doing’ list or ‘not-to-do’ list is more important than a to-do list, because the to-do list is infinite.” A Not-To-Do list. Amazing! What a…

“Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.” – Pat Riley From sports to government to business, when people pool their talents to reach a common goal, teamwork is the engine that sparks big breakthroughs and exceptional results. In small companies and large organizations, it can strengthen trust between management and employees, open doors that once were closed, and create a freer flow of information at all levels of…

It’s well known that a major key to any relationship is good communication. The same applies to business. Clear internal interactions are vital to employee morale, the completion of tasks, and positive customer experiences. Communication among co-workers can be formal, such as emails, newsletters and meetings, or informal – the proverbial grapevine. Information passed casually often results in important details being lost. Done effectively, however, a proper exchange of ideas can eliminate confusion while providing…

Thanksgiving is a reminder of how a sincere expression of gratitude can build closer, more positive relationships. For businesses and organizations, that means taking the time to show appreciation to customers, employees and vendors. How can you say thanks in ways that are meaningful and motivating? Here are five ideas for sending the right messages to the right people. Write A Note In the era of social media and text messaging, receiving a handwritten thank…

Few words in the business world have as polarizing an effect as meetings. When planned purposefully and run efficiently they can be a catalyst for setting priorities, solving problems and brainstorming ideas that create breakthroughs in the pursuit of important goals. When planned and run poorly, they become a black hole of lost time that undercuts productivity and morale. To make sure your meetings result in actionable insights that signify time well spent, consider putting…

Many businesses think that if they simply hire “good people,” those staff members can later be converted to the organization’s philosophy, code of conduct and work ethic. This chancy hit-or-miss approach will often result in frustration for both management and employee. Instead, a company must have its intentional organizational culture – its Companality® – in mind throughout the recruiting process. Those who interview job candidates must vividly describe the firm, giving examples of the attitudes…

How Building Your Culture Can Transform Your Company’s Future Do you have a winning Companality®? Before you answer, let’s bring the concept quickly into focus. Just as every person has a personality, so every company or organization has a Companality. In fact, whole organizations, even those operating in multiple locations over a wide geography, are uncanny in the consistency of their Companality. McDonald’s. Starbucks. Target. Hilton Hotels. Whether it’s the one near your home, on…

“Show me the money” is a familiar battle cry of overworked/underpaid workers. But mounting evidence suggests that the most effective incentive plans stress personal validation over compensation. Studies by top research firms such as Gallup, Towers Perrin, and the Corporate Leadership Council reveal that the connection employees feel with their companies wield the greatest influence on the effort they put into their work. Major performance drivers include: Trust and integrity – How well managers communicate…

E-mail.  It’s a tremendous tool at the center of most professionals’ lives.  It can also consume our entire day, leaving us feeling drained and defeated come 5:00pm.  If we’re going to be productive, we’ve got to learn to tame this beast.  Here are a few tips that may help. Have A System – Being intentional about how we handle e-mail is a huge first step.  If you’re familiar with phrases like “The Two Minute Rule”…

Businesses looking for a company to help them achieve their marketing goals must often size up a substantial assortment of suitors. There’s no real shortcut to researching a potential marketing firm’s capabilities, professionalism, body of work, roster of contented clients, and price structure. That’s where hard work and diligent digging are indispensable. Once you’ve narrowed the field to the most promising candidates, however, there are a few key factors you should take into account before…

In creative professions like advertising and marketing, the ability to generate fresh ideas is an essential skill. In fact, in most businesses and professions, idea production is an important ingredient in overcoming obstacles, solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities. Fortunately, you don’t have to possess the visionary mind of a Steve Jobs to ignite creative sparks that can lead to better ways of accomplishing goals. Follow these proven idea-inducing tips and techniques, and watch your…

Everyone needs feedback, but giving it effectively can be tricky, especially when the message is negative. Offering criticism properly can be immensely helpful, and providing it poorly can be counterproductive. Here are 12 guidelines to remember the next time you have to tell someone that he or she has done something wrong:

When someone wants out of a relationship, a tried-and-true tactic of making the other person feel better is telling them “It’s not you, it’s me.” In marketing, on the other hand, “it’s not me, it’s you” is the tactic that sends all the right feel-good signals. As proud as you may be of your company, product or service, if you want to convert the most potential customers into paying customers, having an “it’s all about…

  A fulfilled employee is a productive employee . . . and a magnet for attracting loyal customers who appreciate the extra effort and enthusiasm. From employee-friendly national brands like Starbucks and Google, to local businesses that earn word-of-mouth reputations as great places to work, company cultures that cultivate a highly supportive environment set off a positive chain of events. Employees at these companies: Believe from day one that they can make a difference Broaden…

By Bernie Diaz, AdServices A brand is the promise a firm must constantly fulfill in order to reinforce that organization’s positive image. One of marketing’s main functions is to communicate that promise to its target audience. But even with all the marketing tools at an organization’s disposal, including print and broadcast advertising, e-blasts, social media, etc., the greatest asset a firm must count on for brand success is its people.

Tips On Increasing Employee Morale “I love my job.” Think of the power of those words. For employees making that statement it is a comforting self-realization that they are in the right workplace. And for the employer listening to that affirmation, it is a proud acknowledgment that he or she has created a culture where associates are happy, fulfilled and motivated to succeed. As managers, if we truly care about the welfare and development of…

Many of you may recall reading this article in the most recent AdServices newsletter. We have decided to feature it as our latest blog post, based on the importance of the topic. The loyalty and support of established clients ensure the continued success of the company to which they have entrusted their business. This principle is so obvious it is often overlooked. Our corporate responsibility therefore, is to safeguard the trust and confidence customers have…

The January 12, 2009 issue of Advertising Age magazine published the results of a recent survey. Seventy-eight percent of the advertising and marketing professionals who responded said that they believed optimistic messaging in ads will move more product in the current economy. Frankly, I’m surprised. I’m surprised that it was only 78%, and not 100%. The marketing mindset is largely about setting yourself apart from others. The good news is that today, that’s not hard…