Challenges for new CEOs

A recent USA Today Snapshot^® referenced an interesting study. Asked to name the top challenges they face in their first 100 days on the job, 1,400 chief executive officers said:

• Increasing productivity - 30 percent
• Increasing profitability - 20 percent
• Personnel decisions - 13 percent
• Building rapport with new staff - 13 percent

Study results reaffirm Barr Corporate Success's DISC (Dominance-Influence-Steadiness-Compliance) and PIAV (Personal Interests, Attitudes, and Values) profiles for those who work in profit-oriented leadership positions. An interest in the bottom line is critical in roles requiring careful management of resources. A CEO's natural tendency is to focus first on numbers, a comfort zone and primary accountability, rather than "emotional intelligence" strategies.

However, Barr Corporate Success's 20+ years' experience in high-level management strongly suggests that neglect of rapport, teamwork, employee engagement, and motivation seriously impairs strategic plans to improve profitability and productivity. Even CEO's with stellar track records can fail spectacularly if they start off on the wrong footing with their senior leadership teams.

Becoming familiar with current financial conditions in a new post is a no-brainer, but CEO's are well-advised to also establish strong rapport with direct reports. Those who do so reap the benefits of a better grasp of the skills, engagement, and styles of the team who will implement strategies which improve the bottom line. The result is smarter personnel decisions, messages that cascade throughout the corporation, more effective implementation, and very real financial gains. Disregarding the expertise and input of those who best know current conditions has dire consequences in today's difficult business environment.

Yes, market conditions are tough. But now is the perfect time to secure market position, find new markets, and develop a leadership team able to navigate stormy waters. Understandably, business owners and senior management are hesitant to commit scarce capital to consultants. They're right to be cautious. Some consultants offer recycled information, and induce eye-rolling or clock-watching with touchy-feely, time-consuming seminars.

Unlike so many of us, as her associate, I (Jodi) can attest Krissi Barr never wastes time. There may never have been a more effective time manager, or one more able to provide 100 percent signal, 0 percent noise! Our clients have written countless letters to affirm the value Krissi has delivered and the results they've reaped. Barr Corporate Success's services are focused, efficient direct consultations with specific information and hard data which quickly identify wasted time, money, and human capital. Clients are often amazed at the stark difference between Barr Corporate Success's results and those of prior consultants. Executives and their teams are never left thinking that time with Krissi might have been better spent elsewhere.

Let's face it: Only companies with an agile, engaged, and effective senior leadership team will be able to withstand and adapt to these economic conditions. The expertise of Barr Corporate has saved struggling clients before, and improves the bottom line of current clients every day.

Krissi will gladly discuss strategies to overcome the challenges you're facing, and offer concrete strategies to seize opportunities. Call (513-470-8980) or e-mail her today.

The Chicken or the Egg?

In recent years, many studies have shown that high performing companies have employees with high employee morale, but which came first? Do the employees have high morale because their companies are doing well, or is the company performing well because the employees have high morale?

Morale by a Nose!

In The Enthusiastic Employee (Wharton School of Publishing), we see that high morale does indeed have a causative effect. The stock of companies which showed high morale in 2004 outperformed those in the same industries in 2005, as compared with more than 5,500 other companies in the same industries. Those stock market results are largely driven by earnings statements, creating a visible cause-effect relationship between morale and profit.

How is your company morale? Do you know?

Let your workers do the talking...

Marketers are increasingly investing in non-traditional marketing methods such as viral marketing, targeting trendsetters in conversational marketing. You may have the world's best marketing force already in your employ. Don't underestimate the power of employees who love their jobs, and their companies. Tap into the "viral marketing" you already have at your fingertips, and make sure it's working for you.

Barr Corporate Success is a results-oriented consulting firm helping business leverage leadership, build teams, foster accountability, increase profits and sustain long-term growth. To enjoy the benefit of more than 20 years of management excellence, please e-mail Krissi Barr, krissi@barrcorporatesuccess.com.

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Purpose

Because Barr Corporate Success believes in achieving results through strategic thinking and disciplined action, I'd like to first describe this blog's purpose. To succeed in any endeavor, it's useful to begin with some end in mind. Many blogs are spontaneous expressions of what's happening in people's lives, both inner or outer, but this blog is grounded not in personal need for expression, but our desire to enable others to reach heights they had not thought were possible. Your time is valuable, and we respect it. Here, we seek to share useful, practical information for increased execution, understanding, achievement, communication, teamwork, job satisfaction, efficiency, retention... all those factors which lead to both amazing performance and a more satisfying and profitable work life for all. In a word, the purpose of this blog is leadership. In this space, we will be sharing events, activities, books, articles, links, and personal insights from and by business leaders, as well as thought-provoking materials from a variety of sources which can shift your thinking, give new perspective, and spark creative solutions to any challenge. Some entries may be short and factual, some longer and more esoteric, but all will focus on informing, inspiring, and leading. We hope you both enjoy and learn from each and every post. Let's get to work! Return to Barr Corporate Success -- http://www.barrcorporatesuccess.com