A few points on project management
Schedule, budget, and quality are three of the biggest problems when it comes to project management. Each of those problems are within the power of management to solve. An ownership transition case study
Take a look at how one firm solved its ownership transition dilemma. Bazooka Joe on management
Those fortunes on the Bazooka Comics offer some fantastic management advice. Here’s a sampling. Better managed jobs
Some ways you can make project management more successful in your firm. Big problems in a big firm
Some large companies have so much inertia and time invested in the old way of doing things that meaningful change seems just about impossible. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Cash is king
Nine proven ways to improve your cash flow. Charismatic leaders
Charismatic leaders can have a huge impact on the success of their companies. Charlie Votchahawnee’s legacy
The lack of an ownership transition plan can hurt the people most important to you. Charlie’s story will show you how. Confidence
Confidence is a critical quality for a leader to have. Where does confidence comes from and how can you develop more of it in people who don’t currently have it? Consultant or order-taker
In order to make money in this industry, you need to be a consultant, not an order-taker. And there are important distinctions between the two. Don’t kid yourself
If you want your firm to be a financial success, you can’t kid yourself. First you have to acknowledge and accept that making money is important. Don’t settle for mediocrity
Mediocrity is a bad thing. Here are some ways to make sure your employees to give it their all every day. Emotion in negotiations
Emotion can be a powerful negotiating tool that virtually anyone can use. Focus on what’s important
What allows some firms to make so much more progress and to get so much more accomplished than others? It’s their ability to focus on what’s important. For environmental firms only
Here are some ways your environmental firm may have to change in order to succeed. Frank wouldn’t be happy
A visit to Taliesin West sparks some thoughts on Frank Lloyd Wright. Getting back into the game
Some ways that an employee can get back to earning his or her keep, feeling better, and being much more valued by clients, peers, and co-workers. Getting back to what works
A story of how one firm leader quickly rebounded from a decline by returning to the core strategies that had enabled it to be successful. Going wrong from the start
Some examples of how "problem" companies make bad decisions from the get-go that plague them as long as they are in business. If I were a business development person
Tips on being an effective business development person. Internal ownership transition
A short list of things to consider if your firm is re-evaluating your internal ownership transition plan. Internal transition: myths vs. realities
Setting the record straight on what’s really going on with internal ownership transitions. Isolation
Here are some ways firm leaders end up isolating themselves from the very clients and employees who they desperately need to do their jobs. It takes some of us a long time to learn
A look at some of the crazy things that A/E/P and environmental firms are still doing. It’s a wacky business
Some stories of bizarre behavior by firm leaders and founders. It’s hard to hire
Seven questions you should be asking yourself if you are finding it hard to hire the people you want and need in your firm. Leaders, horses, or something else
Some questions you should be asking yourself to make sure you’re providing strong leadership to your firm. Marketing from the driver’s seat
A story of how one firm used marketing to propel itself to a great year. Mergers and acquisitions—what’s the deal?
Thoughts on what’s going on with mergers and acquisitions in the design and environmental industry. Miserable little demotivators
A warning about how a lousy work environment can turn your people off, big-time. Multi-tasking
Some principals in A/E/P and environmental firms are trying to do too many things at the same time and, as a result, aren’t doing any of them very well. But It doesn’t have to be this way. New rules of business
The A/E/P and environmental business just isn’t what it used to be. The old ways of doing things aren’t working. Here are the new ways of doing business. Now this is training
The way a motor racing school approaches training can provide real lessons for design and environmental consulting firms. Prepare for the unexpected
Questions you should be asking yourself to make sure you’re ready in case disaster strikes. Problems!
A framework to deal with the biggest, nastiest, and scariest problems that come your way. Process marketing questionnaires
Pointers to consider if you are thinking about using surveys in your marketing plans. Real coaching
Some ways that executive coaches can be used to your benefit. Recruiting is selling
The inside scoop on improving recruitment efforts in your firm. Short cuts
Some random thoughts…No one is speaking out…Facing up to employees who leave…Get your therapy Technology fighters
Responses to those firm leaders who are down on technology Thank God for s#%t disturbers
Thoughts on those essential people who constantly push the limits and question the status quo. There’s no reason to fail
Here are some steps that one firm that went out of business could have taken to save it self. There’s nothing inherently bad about business
Some architects and engineers have the attitude that design or technical work is good; the business stuff is bad. Here’s why the "business" of our business really is an admirable calling. These things I know to be true
Some lessons learned in working with hundreds of firms that are related to your success as individuals and as firms. Thoughts on leadership
Ideas on a wide variety of leadership topics. Travelers
Traveling is a fact of life for many A/E/P and environmental consulting firm leaders. If your firm has people who are regularly on the road, here are some important things to pay attention to. Two people who don’t (or won’t) get along
Dealing with people who aren’t getting along can be the biggest aggravation facing firm leaders. Here are some thoughts on dealing with employees who don’t get along. Using what you’ve got
Examples of how some innovative firms are capitalizing on the opportunities that are out there. What do we do with our profits
A story of how one firm decided to allocate its profits. What do you say when
Managers in an A/E/P or environmental firm have to face some tough situations from time to time. Here are some things you can say when handling one of these recurring situations. What goes around…
A look at eight common problem areas that may come back around to bite you on the hindquarters if you’re not careful. What to pay a new employee
Ideas on compensation for new employees and drafting employment offers. When someone you love quits
Thoughts on how to cope with losing a good employee. When the client calls
Ideas on how to handle some common problems that occur when a client or prospective client approaches your firm with a lead. Where are the good people?
Ten ways to find quality employees for your job openings. Work on yourself
Five ways to better handle difficult daily situations. Working it out
A story of how one firm leader regained personal and professional happiness. You don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone
Here are some areas of your firm that you better make sure you’re not taking for granted. You don’t need a bunch of owners
Conventional wisdom says you can’t have a successful A/E/P or environmental firm unless everybody and their brother can buy stock in the company. Here’s why that’s not true. Your greatest asset?
Most firm owners are ignorant of the value their company name could have. Here’s how you can make the best use of your firm’s name asset. Your reputation
Thoughts on how to have a good reputation and you can manage to ruin one. Your second tier
Minimum requirements that you should require in your next generation of leaders—junior principals or associates. |
