Competitive Advantage

Podcast Episode #40 — 10 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Coach!

By Brandon W. Jones on March 5, 2018 0

Hello, and welcome to the Leadership Done Right Podcast, Episode 40: 10 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Coach!

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A few weeks ago in episode 38, I talked about the importance of coaching and different people that have had coaches. I also talked about what coaching is and what it is not. Today, we’re going to talk about 10 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Coach.

I want to start off by sharing an audio clip from Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins “Why You Need a Coach/Mentor”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYovBIC3qSo

10 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Coach

Getting a coach will help you take your career and life to the next level!

1. Get Clear About Your Goals

If you are anything like me, there’s probably been a time or two where you had a lot on your mind and it was hard to sort it all out. You may have had leaders wanting you to do one thing while others were encouraging you to do something completely different. In cases like these coaching is invaluable. Your coach can help you determine what’s really important to you and help you stay focused on that. [Read more…] about Podcast Episode #40 — 10 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Coach!

The Effective Use Of Limited Resources

By Brandon W. Jones on November 27, 2014 0

In leadership, you have limited resources. You have a limited supply of time, capital, and human resources. Because you have limited resources, it is very important to effectively use your resources. You should not pursue what you consider a less effective use of time, capital, or human resources. It is important to identify what is and is not worth your limited resources.

Five Questions To Determine How To Use Limited Resources

Processes develop and change over time. As a leader, look closely at your organization to identify how to most effectively use your limited resources. The following five questions will help you identify what needs resources and what does not.

1. What is your core business? You company probably has a core business. Identify your core business. Do you serve people or create widgets? Then identify which processes support the core business and which ones do not. If the process does not support the core business, determine if it is worth having. With limited resources, identify the key processes that support the core business. [Read more…] about The Effective Use Of Limited Resources

Why Are Soft Skills Necessary?

By Brandon W. Jones on November 16, 2014 0

Some people think the only thing that matters is whether or not an individual can come up with the correct solution to a problem. In the current global economy the solution is very important, but not as important as how well the solution can be sold. Soft skills are very important and in the remainder of this article I will explain why.

Why are soft skills important?

The following are three reasons why soft skills are important:

The outsourcing in the global economy.
Opening lines of communication.
Creating a comparative advantage.

The outsourcing in the global economy

In the current global economy everything that can be outsourced is outsourced. The labor markets in foreign countries are relatively inexpensive compared to those in the United States. Due to the cost savings created from outsourcing, jobs within the United States have been lost. In the current state, employees must have the soft skills to retain their jobs. The soft skills give the individual workers the advantage over the foreign workers. The soft skills bring the product or service to life and help to develop loyalty. [Read more…] about Why Are Soft Skills Necessary?

Advance Your Qualifications To Become A Better Leader

By Brandon W. Jones on October 2, 2012 2

Within many industries there are different certifications, licenses or other qualifications that give you the right to practice or work within that profession. For most, if not all, of those qualifications there are exams you must take and pass. The exams are very difficult because they cover all materials within that specific discipline.

Professional Exams

In order to pass the exams, most people are required to study long hours to gain a full understanding of the material. Some of the disciplines that have these types of exams are engineering (Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and Professional Engineering (PE) Exam), accounting (Certified Public Account (CPA) Exam), and finance (Certified Financial Adviser (CFA) Exam). There are, however, many areas within these disciplines that people can work without passing the exam and getting the certification.

Within engineering there are many positions that you can hold without becoming a PE. The exams are so difficult that many engineers get into corporate America and don’t take the exams. They find a rewarding career without taking and passing the PE exam, but they may not meet their maximum personal potential. [Read more…] about Advance Your Qualifications To Become A Better Leader

Dissension in the Ranks at Nordstrom

By Brandon W. Jones on February 28, 2010 0

The system at Nordstrom was a failed system. It did not reward the employees based on the hours that the employees put in. There are three areas that the company went wrong.

Three Downfalls of Nordstrom’s Approach

First, it didn’t let the employees know upfront what kind of hours they would be expected to work. Second, it had an overly strong competition between the sales associates within the stores. And third, their pay structure was broken. All three of the above points illustrate that the system was broken.

1. Nordstrom’s Compensation System

As the first point indicates, Nordstrom would hire people under a specific set of duties and responsibilities and expect a completely different set. The managers wouldn’t explain how the compensation system was going to be set up based on the sales per hour structure. Once the employee was hired on, they would then expect them to work extra hours without pay or they would give them bad reviews as not being a team player. [Read more…] about Dissension in the Ranks at Nordstrom

Use HR for A Competitive Advantage

By Brandon W. Jones on February 17, 2010 2

There are many lessons that can be learned from a successful company. Southwest Airlines is a great example of how the proper use of the human resources department can create a competitive advantage. Many companies say their employees are their most important assets, but relatively few companies act accordingly.

I learned from the case study that in big corporations it is actually possible to treat the employees as the most important asset, which in turn it creates a competitive advantage. Southwest Airlines put the needs of their people foremost creating a unity amongst the employees that was very strong.

Create a competitive advantage through HR

As Southwest Airlines demonstrated, the people within a company are the most important asset. When the employees feel needed and appreciated they will work harder. In addition, it is very important for the employer to take care of its employees so the employees can trust the company. One of the biggest factors in employee satisfaction is the measure of trust they have in the company.

An additional factor that was very important to Southwest Airlines was allowing the employees to be themselves. Some companies say they allow employees to be unique. However, immediately upon hiring, they put the employee into the predetermined mold. From the Southwest Airlines case, I was able to learn how to allow people to be themselves. People can be put into a job where they are required to do certain tasks but then given the freedom to make decisions and interact using their best judgment.

Another important factor that leads to employee satisfaction is the employee’s ability to make important decisions without having to constantly ask permission. I’ve worked in situations where I was unsure which decisions I could make and those only the supervisor could make. Those situations created a great amount of uncertainty which hindered my ability to work effectively.

I have also worked in other situations where I was able to make decisions without having to ask my supervisor. Those situations gave me more confidence and allowed me to be a better employee. Additionally, that trust made me more conscientious about my work, since it wouldn’t be reviewed quite as closely.