Seven Keys to a Good Company

Want to work for a good company, organization, or business?  Look for these seven essential ingredients:

1. An Effective Leader: Look for a company that has good leadership at the top, someone you can trust to do the right thing and treat associates with dignity and respect.  Companies succeed or fail based on their leadership.
2. A Clear Vision: Make sure there is a stated mission, purpose, and direction for the business.  Ask lots of questions before you sign on.  Any reputable business owner knows where she wants to go, and how to get there.
3. Structured Management: Know where you fit into the organization and what your role and responsibilities are.  If this can’t be articulated up-front in early discussions, consider it a warning sign and look further.
4. Appropriate Accountability: People must be held accountable to what is expected of them.  There must be a disciplined approach to oversight of expectations.  Great performers love concise direction and accountability.
5. Camaraderie Amongst Employees: A collegial spirit must be evident.  Colleagues must exhibit a team-oriented, collaborative style.  Look for an environment that is fun and encouraging to be involved in.
6. Good & Open Communication: Is there evidence of clear and concise communication?  It starts at the top and carries forward to all employees.  Too often, listening and speaking with staff is an afterthought of management.
7. Tangible & Psychic Rewards: It’s not all about money, but money is not unimportant.  So look for tangible rewards in compensation and incentives, but also emotional and psychic rewards that mean as much, if not more, to high achievers.

There are other factors that go into a good company and workplace, but you can’t go wrong with focusing on these seven keys.

Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about…..

Business Tips:

• People are a valuable resource to your business, but your best people are your most important asset. Make sure you keep them.
• It’s not what you make in business that counts. It’s what you keep. Growth is good, but profit is better. Build your net bottom line.
• Employees want to do a good job. But many need leadership and management oversight to fulfill their potential. Provide it.

Life Tips:

• When you surround yourself with people who are doing interesting or stimulating things, you will become more innovative.
• Ask yourself: Am I looking for common ground with people, or am I trying to find differences to argue or complain about?
• Start with a dream, convert it to a vision, and then make it a reality. Something big almost always starts with something small.

Here are a couple past articles written by Bill:

Vision & Strategic Planning

Leadership Excellence

Tags: accountability, acievers, Advice, Business, Business Development, Business Tips, camaraderie, communication, Determination, Developing Leaders, Drive, environment, expectations, incentives, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Skills, Learning, Management, Motivation, People Leaders, Personal Development, Relationships, Reputation, Responsibility, rewards, Success, The Mind of a Leader, Vision