Better Living

The right processes, the right people, the right results.

[dceowen]

I have always been consumed by an underlying interest in effective management, that of people, materials, resources, and time. On my way to class during my senior year of college, I passed by a table in the hallway that contained a small collection of free books. Usually this consisted of old history or algebra books, other odds and ends titles that no college student would pick up of their own free will. Today, it contained Edward Demmings' Out of the Crisis. A book that I had somehow never made time to read. The article that I have shared consists of Time magazines 25 most influential titles about business management. I would personally suggest off the list Emotional Intelligence, How to Win Friend and Influence People, The Innovator Dilema, Out of Crisis, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Six Sigma Way, and The Toyota Production System. This is a good coverage of both managing production systems, people, and yourself. Each is a challenge on it's own with tremendous rewards for managing efficiently.

[dceowen]

At Detroit Bikes, Idealism Meets The Reality Of Manufacturing In The U.S.A.

Instead of importing bikes from Asia, Zak Pashak thought he could manufacture a superior commuter bike in Detroit and market it to socially and environmentally conscious city riders. But Detroit Bikes has yet to turn a profit, posting a $150,000 loss on 2016 revenue of $3.5 million.

Zak Pashak’s Detroit bicycle company seems to be based on beliefs found in most entrepreneurial articles. This article by Susan Adams is a good reminder that sometimes the way business is currently done cannot be won over by new beliefs, no matter how forward thinking they appear to be. While innovation is at the heart of new companies, sometimes they have to follow their predecessors and see through their own visions.

[dceowen]

How To Keep Employees Engaged With Continuing Education

Think your employees are too busy to care about continuing education? Try again. Here are some tips for managers looking to keep their teams engaged (even on a small budget).

Jeff Kauflin’s article on engaging employees with continuing education brings up a new trend that makes a lot of sense. No longer is the goal to work one job for the rest of your life, which makes additional education and training necessary. The newer generations, especially Millenials, will be known for moving job to job to avoid bogging down. While the article uses continuous education as a tool for employee retention, you can expect many employees to use their new skills to move onto bigger and better things. This is alright. Do your best you can, offer incentives to keep workers around, and don’t burn your bridge when an employee moves on. They can be a valuable resource later on in life, bringing new partnerships, suppliers, or customers onto the radar.

[dceowen]

The charecteristics of a sucessful leader may come naturally for some, but often these traits must be practiced as with any other skill. While a leader often makes for a good manager, a manager doesn't always make for a good leader. Liz Ryan's article discusses the charecteristics found in a strong leader and compares the traits to those of an insecure manager. Two of the attributes that Liz assigns to a good leader that I find to be most important are leading by example, and always encrouaging others to do their best and providing them with the tools to do so.

[dceowen]

Productive Conflict Is Not An Oxymoron

Conflict is inevitable. Combat is optional. Conflict is not inherently bad. Conflict is not some noxious weed that needs to be eradicated from the organizational garden. In fact, conflict—when it’s handled appropriately—can lead to breakthrough solutions. Here are some helpful tips.

There are several key takeaways from Rodger Dean Duncan’s article Productive Conflict Is Not An Oxymoron. He speaks about the importance of what I would call productive communication. This entails several different characteristics, how to approach sensitive issues, how to find the root of the problem by asking good questions, and how to actively listen and respond to the answers you receive. This is an important process to follow, as skirting issues only wastes time and resources, and causes frustration further down the road.

[dceowen]

Three Ways To Optimize Your Agency's Productivity

Optimization is the backbone of every successful business. That’s why it’s always important to measure your efficiency in every aspect of your work.

This article by the Young Entrepreneur Council shows that we can do more with less, and be happier about it. As a society, we get so caught up in standards that have been set for generations. Though not every strategy mentioned is going to work in all industries, they are good reminders of why deviating away from what is expected can yield immense rewards. 

[dceowen]

Are Your Analog Ethics Ready For Digital Leverage?

When small business owners find themselves in the ethical gray area with a customer or other business relationship, there is no rule book we can call on for guidance. We’re on our own because The Universal Code of Small Business Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards doesn’t exist. Yet.

The digital age has presented incredible opportunities for those who take advantage of an ever changing world, but these opportunities are accompanied by vast challenges. Jim Blasingame’s article discusses one set of challenges faced by entrepreneurs and adventurers pushing the boundaries, and that challenge is ethics. Ethics is a standard of life that doesn’t inherently change throughout the years, only the medium through which it is applied changes.