How a recession can lift the fog

Stop for a moment and think back a year and a half. Look how much things have changed. Sure, the economic changes are clear. But let's look at something not as quantitative: people.

I consulted with a corporation two years. They were succeeding and were "full of themselves." Everything seemed to be going their way. They had some great employees, but like most enterprises, they had a lot of so-so performers, too. The trouble, in retrospect, was that their so-so performers acted and had the demands of the top performers. The situation clouded the reality that many of those so-so performers were actually over-compensated. But two years ago, who could say something like that? It was unthinkable.

Today that corporation is recovering from the recession. And what their leadership now views as unthinkable is giving those so-so performers increased compensation, in fact they're fortunate to have a job.

The fog has lifted for all of us. It's time to think introspectively: how good is our product or service? How good am I as a performer? Am I really bringing anything meaningful to the table when I'm in a meeting or on an assignment?

Clearer decisions will be made now that the fog has lifted. That spells opportunities for the right people and the right companies. It also foretells major negative changes for the people and companies that don't perform at a high level.


Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com

The five differences between A+ and C+ performance

It used to be acceptable to do competent work. There was so much work to go around that it just wasn't that critical. But those days are over. Here's why we have to strive for A+ work:

1) Doing an A+ job may be the difference in getting all of your clients' business and getting none. Why should they commit themselves to a company that is not superior to the others that are begging for business?

2) Striving for that A+ performance is motivating to the best people at a company. They want to do great work and are appalled and demotivated by mediocrity.

3) A+ work is profitable. A client will gladly pay for something that is head and shoulders above everyone else. Whether it's for ideas or for a brand new sports car, a client will pay more--if there's clearly a difference.

4) Focusing on doing the best performance is cathartic. It is healthy for a company because it exposes weak areas as well as strengths. Until you test what you're capable of, you'll never fully appreciate what you have (in terms of people as well as capabilities).

5) Doing A+ work leads to efficiency. Yes, it will take less people to do the best work, because the best people are so much more valuable and have a vast output compared to the rest.

There is no reason to do anything other than our best. So what's stopping us?

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com
www.labovsaleschannel.com

Waking Up from the Recession Slumber

As the economy improves, there is a phenomena that is taking place. There is less business going on, yet people seem to be too busy to pick up more slack. True, in many cases, there are less people working due to lay-offs and downsizing. In many cases, we've become accustomed to a slower pace, which isn't going to help us recover.

The salesperson at the empty dealership is not calling you back regarding that car you inquired about (or if he does, it's a day or two later). The product manager is not responding to a market opportunity fast enough to take advantage of it. The supplier is sensing opportunity but they're moving at a snail's pace to do anything about it.

Why? Because some of us are still in the recession slumber. We're drowsy. We don't have our bearings yet. But, we can't just roll over and go back to sleep. It wasn't a bad dream that will go away. The sooner we wake up and get moving the better.

The good news is that some companies will take a Rip Van Winkle approach and try to sleep through this. That's good news if they're your competition.


Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com