OFW Journals (OFW Stories on the News) and Some OFW Employment, Career & Business Tips

A Team needs to be balanced
[Source: Select International]

On BOTH Sides of the Ball

We've all heard the saying, "the best offense is a strong defense", right?
While that may be true on the playing field, it isn't necessarily the case
in the corporate world. The Offense represents proactive steps that an
organization can take to improve itself. The Defense symbolizes how a
company's reaction to difficulties can make all the difference. To be
successful, you need a good balance of both.

OFFENSE:

a) Provide quality customer service.
Be sure all of your customer-facing reps are crowd pleasers and fan
favorites. While your customers may not stand up and cheer, they will
certainly appreciate quality service, making them more likely to remain
loyal customers.

b) Choose leaders who lead.
Sounds simple, but too often, executives involve themselves in minor,
day-to-day details. This slows (or stops) productivity and results in low
morale. Just as a quarterback depends on his offensive line, business
leaders need to surround themselves with quality managers and support staff.
And then let them do what they were hired to do.

DEFENSE

a) Avoid legal challenges.
If/when the legality of your hiring process is questioned, be prepared to
fight it with real, documented data. Successfully defend against challenges
by providing evidence that your company's hiring process is fair,
non-discriminatory and job-related. This could save hundreds of thousands of
dollars in legal costs and prevent irreparable damage to your company's
reputation.

b) Be honest during tough times.
Organizations sometimes face serious challenges, perhaps from downsizing,
high-profiling firing, poor sales numbers, budget cuts, etc. Don't
underestimate your 'team' - chances are, they probably already sense the
problem. Avoid the rumor mill by being up-front and keeping everyone
informed about the situation.

c) Heed the warning signs.
Free agency is one thing, but if your company is experiencing moderate or
high turnover, especially within the first 12 months of employment, this is
a big red flag. One that seriously impacts your bottom line. Interview
current employees, work with an outside consultant, do exit interviews; just
determine what factors are behind the mass exodus - and fix them.

So, get ready for the big game! If your organization isn't championship
material, don't panic - identify the weaknesses and take the necessary steps
to correct them.

[Source: Select International]
Shared by: Enrique E. San Agustin" enrique@westworkgroup.com