ne of the aspects of the hiring process that’s often overlooked by companies is that of cultural fit.  In other words, how well a candidate fits into the overall culture of the organization. While at first glance, that consideration might not seem too important, it’s actually crucial for ensuring a good hire with a high probability of retention.

There are two measures by which you can assess a candidate’s potential for fitting into the company’s culture. Those two are as follows:

·         The candidate’s values or the things that they hold in most esteem.  One way in which to ensure that the candidates you hire share the same values as your company is to pro-actively promote the company’s values. This can be done by posting them on its website, as well as someplace within the building, such as in the lobby. (The statement of values can also include the company’s mission statement.)

·         The manner in which the candidate likes to work.  This pertains to their “preference for production” and how it stacks up against the company’s standard operating procedures. Do they prefer to work alone? Or do they thrive in a more cooperative atmosphere? If there isn’t a match between the candidates’ most efficient mode of operation and the company’s, problems could arise.

Making a good hire a bad one

There’s no doubt that talent and skill set are important components in determining who to hire. In fact, it could even be said that those are the main factors in the decision-making and hiring process. However, it would be a critical mistake to not take into consideration the importance of a good cultural fit.

Without such a fit, a potentially good hire can sour over time. The employee will gradually become less productive, less motivated, and less likely to remain engaged in their position. All that means, of course, that they’re a prime candidate to leave, which is exactly what you don’t want.

If you have any questions about how we can help you with your hiring needs, contact us at 510-432-7596 or E-mail hsullivan@stratsolutions.net.

This often repeated quotation, attributed to Joseph P. Kennedy, is one that is very applicable to today. When we hear that things are not good or when things start to slow down, many people make it worse by getting into a negative thought pattern. It is very easy not be positive. Negative thinking allows us to blame our problems on someone or something else. So like an ostrich, we can put our head in the sand and hope the problem goes away.

One of the most common ways of negative thinking is fearing a scary event in the future, something that perhaps will never happen. You could be spoiling your present for a future that is not even real.

Another common way of negative thinking is imagining things that are not actually there, or thinking ourselves as a victim. At these times, it is useful to differentiate between thoughts and reality. In the end, where are you living, in your thoughts or in reality?

Every day we are inundated with negative news in our newspapers, radio and television.

We are being told how bad the economy is doing, that global warming will destroy our environment, and crime is at its highest levels. With this information in our minds, we have two choices dwell on the positive or on the negative. I suggest you focus on the positive.

As business people, we all know that there are good business times and bad business times.  The key is to have a plan that will get you through both. If you don’t know where you are going how can you possibly get there.

We have all been hearing that the economy is headed for a recession.  The facts are that the mortgage industry went through a tough time and that the price of gas this past summer was at its highest levels.  However, on June 25, 2008, Oracle Corporation reported record sales and profits and surpassed IBM to become the 2^nd largest software company in the world. Their sales are an indicator of future growth in the economy. On the same day, oil futures fell sharply and gas prices inched lower. As of today, gas is half the price of last summer. Does this information mean we can sit back and all will be roses? Probably not! So what does it mean?

It means that in business things happen every day, some good and some bad. We should not try to react but we should plan and take action.  Develop a solid business plan and execute your plan every day. Stay positive by being in charge of your business. Start every day with the attitude that it will be a good and productive day. We still have to be realist but we can be positive realist. So if you have a good business plan with actionable goals that you are implementing daily then you are more like Oracle. If you don’t, then stop procrastinating, take charge of your future, and get going.

For more information about this or other leadership issues contact Hank Sullivan at Strategic Solutions 510-432-7596 or email hsullivan@stratsolutions.net. or go to www.stratsolutions.net

 An example in a business situation is Charlie. Charlie is a new sales manager who decided that in order to increase sales, the sales force would need to generate new accounts. At his next sales meeting he told the sales staff the following: Every one is expected to bring in new business this month. At the end of the month, sales were up slightly but the sales force had not generated any new accounts. When Charlie asked them why they had not generated any new accounts, they responded that they didn’t know that he meant business from new accounts.

What happened?  It is obvious he did not communicate clearly to the sales force. He never told them what he really wanted nor did he ask if they clearly understood how they were expected to increase sales. What could Charlie have done differently?

1. He could have written down what he wanted to say such as: I want each of you to get a specific amount of business this month from new accounts in addition to the amount of business that you have been getting from existing accounts.
2. He could have role played it with another person and asked them what they understood by his request
3. He could have asked all the sales staff at the meeting to tell him how they expected to accomplish the goal
4. He could have asked them to update him regularly on their progress

Communication is not a precise science. It is not the exact transfer of information from one mind to another. Communication is the exchange of ideas between people. It involves not just telling but as importantly listening. Unless the person on the receiving end is receptive to the thoughts being sent, no real communication occurs. If you make a phone call but are unable to make a connection then there would be no sense in talking.

This is true of any form of communication. If no connection is made then no communication occurs.

In business and in our personal lives, in order to be an effective communicator we must first put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. We must be empathic and try to understand how our message might be received. We must give them the message clearly, concisely and then check to make sure that the recipients understand the meaning and what is expected on them.

If you are thinking that you do not have the time to communicate that specifically, then ask yourself how much time do I have to make up for the mistakes that could occur for not being clear.

In order to understand how to get your message across, it is important to examine

four fundamental principles of successful interpersonal communication:

1. The human mind can only fully concentrate on one thought at a time. So don’t make the communication too complicated.
2. The human mind transposes words into pictures. Different words mean different things to different people.
3. Too many words will clutter up communications. Be concise. When communicating keep it as simple and to the point as possible.
4. Be aware that communication always involves non-verbal communication. As an example, if someone is telling you that they are very concerned about you and your issue but takes a cell phone call in the middle of the conversation, they are clearly saying  non- verbally that you are not very important.

Finally, the most effective tool we have for communicating is listening. Benjamin Disraeli noted that “nature has given us two ears but only one mouth.” This may be nature’s way of telling us that listening is vital to our ability to effectively communicate. Below are some effective listening tips:

                            1. Take time to listen

                            2. Be attentive

                            3. Listen with an open mind

                            4. Listen for feelings

                            5. Listen for retention

In summary, for communication to be effective it must be two-way. Both people have to be focused on the conversation and one has to be listening. “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” Anthony Robbins

A successful business coach helps you unlock your potential. Your coach is a person who makes you look deep into yourself and then you will take the action that will lead you down your path of achievement. In sports a good coach helps the players understand that the individual has to set high expectations for themselves and then practice-practice-practice. On game day it is all about the execution of the plays that have been practiced.

In the business world many people simply want to come to work each day and do their job. When they are not performing at the level they want, it is often blamed on some one else. A coach can help you look deeper for solutions that probably require introspection and change. You will probably , like the athlete, have to practice doing things differently to achieve a better result. A certified business coach is trained to listen to your issues and help you find the solutions .