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Lorraine Grubbs – Her Road Less Traveled

I’ve always taken the road less traveled… living in far reaching places and accomplishing things I was told “women can’t or don’t do”. That has never stopped me. I was born in Peru spending my childhood years in Tripoli Libya before moving to my adopted hometown of Houston Texas. During my early travels,  I experienced…

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Elaine Kung – Bringing Faith Ministry to the Workplace

Thank God It’s Monday! Elaine Kung Making a Difference through Faith Ministry in the Workplace     They say great things come in small packages. Meet Elaine Kung, a 5’ dynamic force that’s making her mark. Born in Hong Kong, China and raised in poverty, her family made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United…

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Captain Cheryl Pitzer, Traveling at Warp Speed

The Road Less Traveled at Warp Speed Captain Cheryl Pitzer   Captain at FedEx, volunteer pilot for Project Orbis, and rancher of exotic animals – Cheryl Pitzer knows what she wants. She has single-mindedly followed her own Road Less Traveled at warp speed, and she’s making a difference. Here is her story.   I worked…

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Commitment to the New Hire

 Commitment to the New Hire   This month’s article in the series about GIC’s Culture of Commitment is our tenth and focuses on General Insulation’s “Commitment to the New Hire”.   You’ll read stories of employees receiving heartwarming welcomes and others who underwent “trial by fire”. In all cases they stayed because GIC’s family approach made them…

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DELVA – How She Branded Her Way to Success

Not many people ever reach the stature of those who are known only by one name. Hollywood has CHER and MADONNA; Chicago has OPRAH. Here in the Clear Lake area, we have DELVA. She brilliantly mastered the art of branding and became a real estate legend. Ascending from an administrative assistant to the Diva of…

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Captain Lauren Venturini, USAF

Captain Lauren Venturini, USAF     I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with my two brothers. Looking back, I can’t say how we developed our interest in the military since neither of our parents had a military background. My older brother Aaron was the first to join the military when he was accepted…

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Recovered Treasures Thrift Shop – A Community Jewel

Recovered Treasures – A Community Jewel     While on vacation visiting my Peruvian family in Cary, North Carolina  I was invited to Recovered Treasures, a thrift store managed by my cousin Alicia.  Having anticipated spending our time in Cary together lunching, shopping and chatting, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about…

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Culture of Commitment to Sales

In our continuing series highlighting GIC’s Culture of Commitment, this month we are featuring the company’s Commitment to Sales. As any organization knows, the sales department’s job is to generate revenue. Regardless of how cutting edge the operation, a solid sales process must be in place to secure the company’s success.   When a company…

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“It’s Not Just a Job, It’s a Way of Life” Game Wardens

Jennifer Weaver and Jennifer Provaznik, Texas Game Wardens It’s not just a job; it’s a way of life     In my continuing series of interviews with Women Following the Road Less Traveled, I met two individuals who are Texas Game Wardens in Galveston, Texas. After learning more about what they do, I thought their…

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Road to VP in Construction – Melissa Smith

  Melissa Smith, Vice President General Insulation Company   As a leadership coach, I have had the privilege of working with Melissa for the past 10 years. I have watched her grow into the strong leader she is today. She shares many lessons learned on her road less traveled. She overcame personal adversity, found the…

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Inspiring Others Through the Beat of the Drum

Natalie Spiro, President/Owner Drum Cafe West Coast/Midwest   Shift and change energy on this planet by one or by many     Warren Lieberman started the Drum Cafe in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1996. It originated in an actual cafe where drumming was used in a relaxed environment to break down barriers, inspire and bring…

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From the Helm: A Female Perspective of
Life as a Tugboat Captain

Interview With Lindsay Price, Tugboat Captain for Harbor Assist. Operating in the ports of the Greater Houston/Galveston Harbor  –  Written by Lorraine Grubbs As an author, I am constantly on the lookout to highlight people who are taking the road less travelled. I look for people who do things boldly and outside of most peoples’…

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Shelby Zarobinksi – A notable Woman Taking the Road Less Traveled

Shelby Zarobinski, Clydesdale Handler Anheuser-Busch One Team One Dream   Meet Shelby Zarobinski, Budweiser Clydesdale Team Handler. On the road 340 days of the year, working around 60 hours a week, and only one of two females currently traveling as a handler for Anheuser Busch, she is living her dream. I met Shelby during the…

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Andrea Jung – A Notable Woman Taking the Road Less Traveled

Andrea Jung is an executive, non-profit leader, and prominent women’s-issues supporter. Her parents emigrated from China to the United States when Andrea was a child. She was raised in the traditional Asian manner and once admitted to a reporter that she kept a letter in her desk her father wrote to her. In it he wrote,…

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Employees Who Learn Together are Happy Together

Frank Granara, CEO of General Insulation sets the example that anyone with a desire to learn and grow can do so. Over the years many of his employees who showed initiative and an ability to learn have been promoted into more challenging roles which allows them to move up the ranks. Frank is an avid…

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Commitment Beyond GIC Still Loyal After All These Years by Lorraine Grubbs & Melissa Smith

Loyalty…it’s the defining competitive advantage for any business. It’s created when a company puts their people first. Loyalty produces many benefits like less absenteeism, higher productivity, better customer service and a happier workplace. Does that commitment stay with the employee even after they leave? The individuals interviewed are great examples of why GIC’s family atmosphere…

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Having a Best Friend at Work Equals a Happier Workplace

The Harvard Business Review reports that “people who have a “best friend at work” are not only more likely to be happier and healthier, they are also seven times as likely to be engaged in their job. What’s more, employees who report having friends at work have higher levels of productivity, retention, and job satisfaction.” For years…

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Unhappy at Work? Get a Mentor!

  Ask any successful person and they will tell you that they didn’t achieve success alone. Most had a mentor. Mentors are those who have experience in the business world and are willing to help you, having your best interest at heart. This could be a teacher, a coach or a friend willing to help…

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Bored at Work? Here’s What You Can Do

Two Tips to Overcome Complacency at Work   Do you lack energy? Are you bored with your job? Here are two quick tips to get those “happy” endorphins flowing and get you reengaged in your day. Tip One – Exercise: Exercising releases endorphins, which ultimately produce more energy and put you in a better mood.…

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How to Be Happy at Work

Being Happy at Work starts with aligning your personal needs with the job and company you work for. Many people find themselves unhappy at work and blame their unhappiness on a bad boss, a caustic work environment, coworkers they can’t relate to, a lack of appreciation and low pay. While these reasons may be valid,…

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Fun With Balloons Leads to Better Business Results

I use balloons to build teams. Why? Because balloons are fun. They bring out the inner kid in people by tapping into that creativity exuded so naturally as children. Statistics tell us that when people are having fun at work they will:   Be happier Be more creative Be more engaged Deliver better customer service…

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Confused? How to Find the Right Career Path to a Happy Work Experience

Welcome to my continuing series on tips to be happy with your job.   You’ve just graduated from college and looking for the right job. Or you’ve been working for a while and are not making the progress you want. You’ve spent money educating yourself and time working at a job, and now you need…

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Commitment to Health Leads to a Happier Workplace

In our continuing series highlighting the “Culture of Commitment” at General Insulation, we feature employees who are committed to health and wellness.   In the interviews we hoped to hear stories of successful weight loss, exercise and eating habit changes, and we did. What we didn’t expect was to hear about the impact being healthy made…

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Halloween – a Team Building/Community Awareness/Customer Bonding Experience

  Make Halloween a Team Building/Community Awareness/Customer Bonding Experience Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. In earlier blogs I’ve talked about how everyone has an inner child in them that likes to have fun. Top employers have discovered that by tapping into this inner child, they help employees become…

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Thanksgiving – Appreciating Others

  Statistics Say 69% of employees say they would work harder if they felt their efforts were better recognized. 78% said being recognized motivates them in their job. When managers recognize their employees’ performance, they increase employee engagement by nearly 60%.     And yet, 65% of Americans report receiving no recognition or appreciation during…

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People Helping People: From Massachusetts to Texas

    The Lighthouse Charity Team was proud to receive the donation of children’s items from the First Parish Preschool in Norwell, Massachusetts. The  Hitchcock community is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and many residents are still living in hotels, with relatives, etc. while houses are under repair.         …

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A Culture of International Commitment – USA and Beyond

In our continuing series highlighting the “Culture of Commitment” at General Insulation, this article features two employees that take the culture to a whole new dimension – the international community.   Meet Emilio Rodriguez Jr., Export Sales Manager, Caribbean/Latin America   I was born in Cuba. When the Castro regime took over, my father, a…

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High Performance in Action during Hurricane Harvey

Bringing Unity to Community During Disaster Lighthouse Charity Team in Action Hurricane Harvey roared ashore battering the small coastal town of Rockport, Texas. It then quickly made its way to Houston bringing record-breaking torrential rainfall causing one of the worst flooding events in Houston’s history.   This story begins with Sheriff’s Deputy John Bertolino Sr.,…

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National Boss’ Day – What Will You Do For Your Boss?

It was 1993. I was flying from Houston to Dallas on Southwest Airlines seated next to Carol. We were both employees of Southwest, she a Customer Service Agent and I a Marketing Manager. “You know what today is”, she asked? “Yes”, I replied, “it’s National Boss’ Day”. “Well”, she continued, “we happen to have the…

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“Do Something Nice Day” – What will you do for your employees?

Research from industry experts such as Mercer, Gallup, and Hewitt proves the best way to show employees that you care is to recognize and reward them. Take the time on October 5th,  “Do Something Nice Day”,  to surprise your team. People who feel appreciated will be more invested in your company, work harder and give…

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A Culture of Commitment – Behind the Scenes by Lorraine Grubbs & Melissa Smith

In our continuing series to highlight the “Culture of Commitment” at General Insulation, this article features two employees that many people may not have met. These individuals’ activities are performed primarily ‘behind the scenes’. Their roles are important to the ongoing success of GIC.    Ellen Sirois, IT Director, Tax Officer, & Corporate Secretary, Rockland…

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Ten Interview Tips to Land the Best Job

As the Director of Employment at Southwest Airlines, my job was to hire the best. Every year, 2500 applicants out of 100,000 became our ‘warrior spirited’ employees. Southwest, like other top employers, is a coveted place to work and recognized as a Happy Workplace by Forbes and Fortune Magazine. This is the second in my blog…

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Nine Tips to Find the Best Job

As the Director of Employment at Southwest Airlines, my job was to make sure we hired the very best. Every year, 2500 applicants out of 100,000 became our ‘warrior spirited’ employees and many of these individuals used the Nine tips below to catch our attention. Use these tips and increase your chances of getting an…

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Remembering our Military Heroes

Remembering our Military Heroes   Watchfires have been a part of U.S. history dating back to the end of the Revolutionary War when General George Washington had signal fires lit along the Hudson River to let people know the war was over. It is said that following a battle or long march, a large fire was started so those missing or…

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A Culture of Commitment By Melissa Smith and Lorraine Grubbs

General Insulation has successfully been growing, product-by-product, branch-by-branch, customer-by-customer and employee-by-employee since Frank Granara acquired it in 1982. From its original branch in Somerville, starting out of an abandoned church, to the current 50 branches operating throughout North America, this company has conquered many challenges to become the powerhouse it is today.  Their motto and…

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Excellent Time-Saving Idea for Leaders to Communicate

If you find there are too many long reports circulating among your team and wish you could find a way to shorten them without sacrificing critical information, this could be your solution. Ever heard of the 5-15 report? I had not until I worked with the CEO of General Insulation, Frank Granara. Frank asks his…

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Becoming a Leader Will Change You

  Regardless of why you become a leader, the one overarching truth is, leadership will change you. As a leader for over 30 years, here’s how Leadership changed me. I’m always aware of the latest trends Things typically change so much faster outside the company than inside. My team needed to rely on me to…

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Ultimate Decision Making

The Ultimate Decision- Making Classroom   One of the most important leadership attributes needed is the ability to make quality decisions under stress.  I was challenged by one of my clients to help a group of leaders develop better decision-making skills. After much thought and research, I decided, instead of sitting them in a classroom…

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Creating Extreme Ownership

The Secret to Creating Extreme Ownership   We have worked with General Insulation (GIC) as consultants for the past 10 years.  Our role with this 500 employee,  $250+ million company has ranged from business coaches and leadership developers to HR advisors.  Most recently, we had the opportunity to spend time visiting and talking to individuals…

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High Performing Volunteer Team

                   Performance ‘Secrets’ of a Volunteer Team   I had the honor of volunteering as part of the Lighthouse Charity Team (LCT), cooking and serving food for 1200 plus soldiers and their families.  These soldiers are members of the elite 147th Reconnaissance Wing and were celebrating Family Day at Ellington Field in Webster, Texas.…

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Taking a Risk

Take a Risk, Reap the Reward Eddie Janek has experienced a lot in his life. “I’ve been hit by trains, caught under barges, survived World War II and the Korean War, but I wanted just a bit more adventure”. So, for his 90th birthday, he treated himself to a sky dive. His family and friends…

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We are Family

 How this charitable organization lives it From the moment you join the Lighthouse Charity Team (LCT), you hear, “Welcome to our Family!” Their motto, “People Helping People – Cooking for a Cause” is demonstrated throughout their communities as they cook for weekly benefits and fundraisers. Oftentimes companies tout, “We are family”, but don’t show it…

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Creating an Ownership Mentality

   Creating an Ownership Mentality Employees who understand and value a company’s mission are more likely to treat the company like owners.   They will rally together and fight battles that come. Smart companies understand what it takes to create that “warrior spirit” mentality and use it to propel them to success.  Here’s how you can…

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Online Presence

Online Presence:  The Competitive Advantage of the Future   Sears closing their brick and mortar stores?  Macy’s following suit and moving to online sales?  What’s going on?  The Marshall School of Business at USC conducted a study a couple of years ago that revealed that by “2015, it is estimated that Americans will consume both…

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Put People First

  Inspiring Quotes from Award Winning CEOs From the book “How To Create a Happy Workplace” by Lorraine Grubbs   John Johnson – David Weekley Homes We believe people are everything and we live by that philosophy.  Our company is only as good as our people. Our purpose Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives is applied to…

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Happy Workplaces are Healthier Workplaces

Create a Happy Workplace in 2017  Successful businesses know that having Happy Workplaces produces many benefits – higher productivity, less absenteeism and better customer service as a few examples. But one benefit you may not realize is that having a stress free environment produces healthier employees.   According to an article in the Harvard Business Review…

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Ten Benefits of a Happy Workplace

                     When You Put People First   # 1 – Happy Workplaces outperform the competition by 20% # 2 – Happy Workers are 12% more productive # 3 – Happy Employees stay on the job longer thereby reducing              turnover #…

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Make a Bold Move

It’s Never Too Late to Make a Bold Move Meet Birney T. “Chick” Havey   I live in Galveston, Texas.  Last Sunday, walking down a popular tourist area called the “Strand”, I noticed an older gentleman sitting next to a table with a stack of books.  He was wearing a suit jacket and baseball cap. …

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Hiring the Right Fit

Why Hiring the Right Fit is So Critical to The Success of Your Small Business By Lorraine Grubbs  In today’s business environment there is little competitive advantage in price, product and process.  So, smart entrepreneurs rely on the other “P” to keep them on top of their game…People.   By focusing on their People and hiring…

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Small Business Reward and Recognition Tips

By Lorraine Grubbs In a recent SBT article, I learned that “more than 60% of small businesses have fewer than five employees”.  That means, “all hands must be on deck” to keep things running smoothly.  Employees of these small companies are cross-trained to do several jobs in order to maximize efficiency. The question is, how…

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Developing Happy Leaders: Self Assessment

Developing Happy Workplace Leaders: Looking at Me By Lorraine Grubbs     Regardless of size, every company needs strong, competent leaders that know their own strengths and weaknesses.   Creating good leaders takes time and effort.  The investment you make today can pay big dividends down the road in the form of motivated, dedicated, and…

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Developing Happy Leaders – Personal Development Plan

Developing Happy Workplace Leaders Through Personal Development Plans By Lorraine Grubbs   Regardless of size, every company needs strong, competent leaders to help operate and grow the business.  Many leaders are poorly prepared for their leadership roles.  The result?  Low morale, high turnover and poor customer service.  Investing in leadership development can give you a…

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Developing Happy Leaders – Tools and Resources

Developing Happy Workplace Leaders – Tools and Resources By Lorraine Grubbs   Many people have asked,  “Are leaders made or are they born”?  The answer, in my opinion, is both.  Some people possess a natural, intuitive talent for leadership and then there are those who don’t.  The good news is that those who don’t can…

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Shake Up the Office Holiday Traditions

Shake Up the Office’s Holiday Traditions By Lorraine Grubbs   This holiday season shake up your team’s traditional ideas of giving money, canned goods or toys and wake them up to the value of immersing themselves in the activity of giving.  This will help them see the immediate impact of their effort, allow them to…

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Business Success Through Community Help

How Community Can Help Your Small Business By Lorraine Grubbs   This is a story about how a small business in San Leon, Texas overcame the hurdle most start-ups face – lack of working capital.  That means no money for help or advertising.  Owners Matt and Kelly Railean relied on the loyalty of their friends…

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Unique Employees… Outrageous Thinking…Great Business Results

Hiring Unique Employees Opens the Door to Outrageous Thinking and Better Business Results     People are the core of a business. In order to grow your business you must first hire the right people. Some might argue because we are in an advancing technological world the most critical business driver is technology. We argue that at…

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Team Building in the Workplace

Team building in the workplace… When people go into work two things can happen: they will go in with the mindset that they love their job and the people they work with, or they go in less motivated and do the same routine every day without investing themselves in the company or in their coworkers.…

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Celebrate Employees

                      Celebrate Employees Year Round As companies get ready to celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day on Friday, March 3, 2017, below are 10 tips that every company, regardless of size, can use to establish a reward and recognition program that creates loyal employees that produce results every leader is looking for. Employee Appreciation Day dates to…

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How do You Want Your Obituary to Read?

Will Your Obituary Read “Relentlessly Helpful?   Lux Narayan, CEO of Unimetric posed the following question in his March 1st TED Talk:  “What if more people lived their lives trying to be famous in death?” At first I thought, WHAT?  But as I continued watching his talk, it began to make sense.  Lux studied 2000…

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Pennies and Quarters

    Don’t overlook your hidden leaders; it’s like finding quarters in a bucket of pennies. By Lorraine Grubbs The other day while cleaning, I came across my “penny” jar and it was full.  I took it to one of those machines at the store that converts it to dollars.   As I prepared to pour…

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Blueprint for Great Customer Service

The Business Blueprint for Great Customer Service By Lorraine Grubbs Imagine making a one-time decision to place the fate of your entire company in the hands of your Customers.  If your well-placed faith in the good relationship you have with your Customers is right, you get to stay in business.  If not, you’re history. Such…

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Pushing Limits

Leadership Development Pushes Past Comfort Zone A company’s business may not be in a danger zone, but leadership development efforts can’t wait until it is. Even though business is good and the organization is humming along, challenging leaders to break out of their comfort zones and develop the skills needed to sustain and grow the…

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Leadership Between Men and Women

Changing Approaches to Leadership Between Men and Women Today’s American workforce is almost equally made up of men and women. How does this affect the way any leader, whether male or female, deals with employees? Below are five key areas where the difference in gender can impact leadership effectiveness. By ensuring your leaders are aware…

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Drastic Training Measures

How to Zap Business Executives Out of Their Comfort Zones What happens when a corporation’s leadership is engaged, talented and competent – but so stuck in their ways that they can’t quite grasp the importance of acting as a strategic, forward-thinking team? It could be time for drastic measures – so drastic that company vice…

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Disengaged Employee…What Can You Do?

How to Engage a Disengaged Employee Several years ago, the Gallup Organization focused on employee engagement research and determined that a whopping 71% of U.S. workers are disengaged. These employees give poor customer service, lack initiative and don’t go the extra mile. Ultimately, they are costing American companies over $3 billion a year. So what’s…

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Taking Risks

How to Train Your Business Leaders to Take Risks   To drive your company forward, break the pattern of risk avoidance by immersing your leaders in high-risk situations. Thursday, July 7, 2016, 1:41 Pm BY LORRAINE GRUBBS NY DAILY NEWS CONTRIBUTOR In the volatile and ever-changing environment in which businesses find themselves today, it is…

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Know Your Company’s Core Values

Building a Happy Workplace requires that Employees Know and Live Your Company’s Core Values What is a core value?  It’s the basis of how your company thinks and acts.  It guides your decision-making, selection of vendors and employees and dictates how you treat your customers.  It is the backbone of who you are and sets…

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Food: The Hidden Morale Booster

The Hidden Morale Booster…Food in the Workplace Want to boost employee morale?  Don’t overlook an easy and relatively inexpensive way to make an impression on your workforce.  Smart companies utilize “little things”, like providing food and refreshments to employees during working hours in a great environment like the company cafeteria.  This creates an ideal social…

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Recognize Good Work

The Top 3 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do To Build Employee Loyalty Through Recognition  In a recent Small Business Today article, I learned that “more than 60% of small businesses have fewer than five employees”.  That means, “all hands must be on deck” to keep things running smoothly.  Employees of these small companies are cross-trained to…

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Do women and men respond differently to change?

Do women and men respond differently to change?  Published in Smart Business, Authored By: Lorraine Grubbs 12:01am EST July 22, 2016 As a leader in today’s business environment, you may wonder, “Do men and women respond differently to change?” Before answering, consider the following statement by Greek philosopher Heraclitus:   As the Greeks had to…

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Hiring Practices

  Four Secrets Successful Companies Know About Hiring That Creates Loyalty In a world where there is little competitive advantage in price, product and processes, there is another  “P” that companies who are on the cutting edge utilize to keep them ahead of the game: their People.  By focusing on their People and using proven…

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