Adding Someone Can Hurt The Mix

Too often, we think if we can add another person to a project team, it will make things better, overcome issues, etc. It seldom works. In fact, adding to a team can hurt unless that person is 100% needed and has a clear responsibility that doesn't overlap with anyone else.

The fewer, the better is the rule:
The fewer people assigned to a project the better
The fewer the people doing a similar job on a team, the better

The fewer the people, the more ownership, the less politics, and the less confusion.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com
LaBov Sales Channel
PB&J Newsletter

Want to be more valuable? Be a "one-timer."

Here's a huge edge for any employee:

Be a communications "one-timer"

A "one-timer" is someone who emails, texts, or communicates clearly enough in-person that there need not be any further clarification. A "one-timer" makes it so clear that there is no confusion or misunderstanding.

Give yourself a communications check-up:
How many times after you send an email or voicemail, do you receive questions to clarify what you said? How often is there confusion of any kind?

If the answer is frequently, you can improve and become more valuable.

BTW, you can under-communicate or over-communicate and be confusing. It's all about the quality of the message and the understanding of your audience. For example, if you use the word "he" several times in your email, yet there are three "he's" it could refer to, you're opening up a world of confusion.

Think and communicate in a clear, simple, succinct fashion. Be a one-timer.

Barry LaBov
LaBov and Beyond
www.labov.com
LaBov Sales Channel
PB&J Newsletter

What Do We Want To Be When We Grow Up?

I've heard numerous execs tell me over the years they needed a strategic plan to determine "what we want to be when we grow up." Usually that statement is more than just a statement, it's a judgment. A judgment that their company is rudderless, it is meandering down the road of business.

Sometimes it doesn't matter what we want our business to be when it "grows up." For example, if you want to run an ultra high-end luxury spa and you're located in an impoverished location, it may be impossible to achieve that dream, despite it being what you want.

Rev. Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Church, is a great resource for businesses. He covers this topic. You can try to match the services or prices of your competition, you can build a huge building or campus for your business, you upgrade every software program, your signage, your website--whatever--but don't think that any of those changes that you think would be great will result in business success. They won't unless they are what your customers will find attractive and will pay for.

My company, LaBov & Beyond Marketing Communications and Training, conducts assessments for corporations to give them the insights they need to "grow up." Learn first, analyze first what your customers love and need from you--whether it's what you dream of. Learn who you are to customers before you change who you are and alienate them. A strategic plan is great only if your customers are co-authors of it.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com
LaBov Sales Channel
PB&J Newsletter