Blog

Steve

Communicate On Purpose

Employees will only be aware of job purpose (as a relevant and credible dimension of their job role) if leadership and, in particular, their immediate supervisor, reinforces it by communicating it daily—in words and deeds. Most employees are unaware of their purpose—their highest priority—at work. If you were to ask,

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Steve

Balancing productivity and customer service quality

Earlier this summer, I was relaxing by the pool at a well-known resort in Las Vegas. Because it was 100° in the shade, from the moment I settled into my lounge chair I was on the lookout for a beverage server. Within a few minutes, the server appeared carrying a

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Steve

The limitations of virtual-reality training

In 2017 I wrote a blog about a partnership between Walmart and Strivr, a company that designs virtual-reality (VR) training. At that time, Walmart was testing VR-enabled learning in 31 of its Training Academies with aspirations to expand the training to 140,000 associates per year. Two years later, according to this recent

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Steve

Surprise and Delight is Not a Strategy

Businesses that employ techniques to “surprise and delight” customers in an attempt to distract them from noticing systemic flaws in value (for price paid) or product or service quality are misguided. To illustrate, there is a large plumbing and HVAC company in my area that has its technicians carry a

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Steve

Being Capable Is Not Enough

Last fall I traveled to Philadelphia to meet up with several colleagues at a downtown hotel. At check-in, I received a room key emblazoned with the image of a specialty cocktail. After pocketing the key, I grabbed my bag, and headed toward the elevators. In the elevator lobby I noticed

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Steve

Inspiring initiative

Two weeks ago we received a late spring snowstorm that left several inches of snow on our back deck. Because my teenage son was hosting a prom after-party that evening, I approached him at 2:30pm and asked, “Why are you gaming? You have pictures at 5:00 and you’re hosting a

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Steve

The unseating of Sears

After buying our first home in 2000, my wife and I spent many weekends shopping at The Great Indoors, a home décor chain founded by Sears in 1997. One of our early purchases was a Kenmore canister vacuum cleaner. For more than a decade until the retail chain became defunct

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Steve

The true cost of outsourcing

Last week, in preparation for spring break in the mountains, I called my local Ford dealership to ask a couple of questions about my service plan’s coverage of replacement brake pads and to schedule an oil change and tire rotation. Today’s business climate eschews helpful, personalized service in favor of

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