Tag Archives: employees

Technology- Investment or Expense?

I regularly hear one of my small business owner clients saying something like this. “Dammit! I have to buy another computer. I just spent (fill in) on this one just (fill in) years ago.” Why are we so offended at … Continue reading

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Another small business owner defrauded

I’ll be in Denver, sharpening my saw all weekend at the semi-annual conference of The Alternative Board®, so I’m posting early this week. I had an evening call from a client last night. He recently discovered fraud in a small … Continue reading

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Stoplight 360

I recently saw a fast and easy way to rate your employees that makes the high performers and low performers stand out in a way that can’t be ignored. It uses Stop light Methodology: a red-yellow-green marking system. The advantage … Continue reading

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The Ghost of Ebenezer

Last week three of my clients implemented staff reductions. All three are financially healthy service companies, but they had far more capacity than they had work to fill it. In a service company, of course, capacity means people. Naturally there … Continue reading

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Gifts are not incentives, and incentives shouldn’t be gifts

I knew a couple who owned a company with about 20 employees who had what may be the worst incentive distribution plan I’ve ever seen. The company gave out large holiday bonuses every year at the company party, which was … Continue reading

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2 Responses to Gifts are not incentives, and incentives shouldn’t be gifts

  1. Brad says:

    John, Merry Christmas! I continue to appreciate your insights into small business ownership and the disease of entrepreneurship. It is true that many of us struggle as business owners at this time of the year, missing the target and the meaning of the Season.

    Thanks for your continued friendship, and all the best for the New Year!

    Brad Elmhorst
    Direct Hit Data, Inc.

  2. airhawker says:

    Great post John. Sounds like our family business over the past 40 years! Your post definately opened my eyes and got me to re-think our holiday party and bonus program for tomorrow night!

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