Grab yourself some hot coffee or tea, put your feet up on the desk and enjoy
another issue of the Creative Edge Newsletter.
It's my goal to bring you useful information on such issues as leadership development, hiring and retaining employees, team development, and
succession planning.
But let me tell you a story that
starts and ends with sleep.
That's the perfect
answer...especially if your a cat. A few days ago I sat and watched both
of my cats asleep on the floor. They have a life that revolves around food
and sleep and in no particular order. But they also have a wonderful
sense of curiosity about things in their world. If only we could all
be curious and full of wonder on a regular basis and bring some of that into our
businesses. I read this month's business book selection out of curiosity -
I hope you also find it interesting. Don't forget to enter the drawing.
Also, before I forget, I
need your help today. It is my goal to hit 5,000
subscribers by the beginning of October. So, I am asking you to forward this
to a friend or two (or even 100 of them) and recommend that they subscribe today. I
will make sure it's worth the effort.
Have a successful week,
...Michael
Is your company struggling with managers and
supervisors whose interpersonal skills are not as effective as
they could be? I can help them change that. Contact me!
http://www.creativeleading.com/contact.html
Michael T. Bauer is the President/CCO of Innovative Business Resources, LLC, an
organizational development consulting firm that focuses on unlocking the creative potential in individuals and organizations. Michael's focus is on developing creative leaders, building innovative teams, and transforming organizations into centers of excellence by aligning their leadership and culture with their business strategy.
VOLUME 2.1
August 8, 2006
IN THIS ISSUE
-Reflections
A great
way to start the day!
-Featured Article
Why is
my family-owned business always in conflict?
-The Toolbox
Questions
to help you build a successful business.
-Win A Business Book
"The
Managerial Moment of Truth" by Bruce Bodaken and Robert Fritz
-New Directions
What's
new at Innovative Business Resources, LLC
-It's Your Turn
I would
love to hear from you!
Do you
spend most of your day dealing with Internal conflict and “personality issues?
Take
Our Organizational Assessment Today!
REFLECTIONS
"To be creative you have to contribute something different from what
you've done before. Your results need not be original to the world; few results truly meet that criterion. In fact, most results are built on the
work of others."
- Lynne C. Levesque, Breakthrough Creativity
***GIVE BACK TO
YOUR COMMUNITY***
A great retreat is defined as an experience
that you remember long after you have returned back to the office. It provides an opportunity where people are released from
the daily
grind of work so they can think in new and creative ways. It allows people the time to thoroughly explore their organization's issues and develop
strategies to implement changes. It provides opportunities to test
out ideas and see what may or may not work.
Ultimately, great retreats are an outstanding investment in your
people - if it is tailored to your organization and is facilitated by someone
that has experience working with groups.
Schedule your next retreat with me
and I will give 10% of the fee to a charity of your choice and in your
name. I have room
for a few more retreats during the last few months of 2006. Contact me at www.creativeleading.com/contact.html.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Why Is My Family-Owned Business
Always In Conflict?
By Michael T. Bauer, MSW
Creating, building, and sustaining a family-owned business
is
a fundamental American dream (92% of all US businesses are family-owned), but the odds of being successful are very troubling.
Family-owned business face multiple and unique challenges, many which are never faced by the any other type of company. Not only do they face
the common marketplace dynamics, but they also have to contend with family
issues. Fewer than 33% of all family-owned businesses
make it to the second generation.
The following characteristics are found in successful family-owned businesses:
1. There must be shared vision & values regarding business strategy, relationships, work ethic, money, and success. Without
this shared vision, the business will struggle to balance both worlds.
2. There must be shared influence across generations, among spouses, and among siblings and geared to individual capabilities. Communication
is extremely important.
3. There must be valued traditions that are characteristics of the family and set it apart from other families. Traditions
are often times the glue that keeps generations together and working toward
similar destinations.
4. They must be receptive to learning and growing. Family members need to be open to new perspectives, approaches, and techniques.
This is a critical requirement because it prepares the family and
business to overcome future obstacles.
5. They must be willing to invest in relationship building. Families that have learned how to “play” together can leverage that experience and
turn it into a buffer against difficult times.
6. They must demonstrate caring. It is important, even in business, that family members show empathy for other family members during
good times and the bad times. They must always communicate the message "we
care for you."
7. There has to be earned trust and mutual admiration. The trust is built over time and is based on being consistent with what you say and
what you do. It is based on accountability and integrity.
8. Family members must be available to each other especially during difficult times such as grief. How a family copes with another family
member in crisis is highly correlated with long term family harmony and business success.
Death, sudden illness and a wide range of other events will impact the family at
some point.
9. There has to be respect for privacy for both the individual and for the family unit that exists among this larger family system. Without
privacy, individual, family, and business matters become public knowledge.
This will lead to future problems.
10. Finally, they need to learn how to successfully deal with conflict. The family must learn to address the conflict with finesse. Direct conflict
creates problems for the family and the business. Conflict is manageable,
if done right.
Copyright 2006 Michael T. Bauer, MSW
Would you like to receive our Free White Paper "Family-Owned Business: Is there a More Difficult Business to Run?"
Contact Michael to request a copy. www.creativeleading.com/contact.html
THE TOOLBOX
(Questions
to help you build a successful business)
Take a look at your business. What's old that could benefit from a
new method or technology? Not sure. Go to the library and look through different magazines.
Have you discovered anything new? List a few of them and then go and ask "What ideas do you
have to improve my business?"
WIN A BUSINESS
BOOK - AUGUST 2006
Every month a subscriber to the
newsletter will win a business book just by answering a short question. This month I am giving away a copy of the book
"The Managerial Moment of Truth" by Bruce Bodaken and Robert
Fritz. It's a book that focuses on transforming organizational culture to one
of truth telling and empowerment. Interested? Sign up here: www.creativeleading.com/book-of-the-month.html.
NEW DIRECTIONS
New!!!
Articles and E-briefs: http://www.creativeleading.com/articles.html.
New!!! Additional Resources: http://www.creativeleading.com/resources.html
New!!! Our
Blog: http://www.creativeleading.blogspot.com
Are you interested in business creativity and innovation?If yes, then you need to keep up with my
blog.
NEW!!! Squidoo
Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/creativeleading
Have you seen a Squidoo Lens? Squidoo is a web-based resource for a
variety of topics found on the internet. Take a look at my primary lens.
COMING
SOON!!! Subscriber only telecourses are coming very soon.
promise that there
will be some great ideas passed on during the telecourses.The only way to find out when they begin is by reading this section.
I'm currently setting up the experts to interview. If you'd like to be
interviewed and provide more exposure for your business, please send me and
email with your ideas.
BECOME A PARTNER
Are you a small business owner?
Do you want to earn more without spending more? If
that is the case, then you need to join the IBR-Team. www.creativeleading.com/partnership.html.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Are you part of the LinkedIn
community. Please feel free to link up with me and maybe we can work
together.
IT'S YOUR TURN
What did you think about this issue? Did you find
something that you could use.? Do you have a specific question that you would like to
ask. I would love to hear from you at www.creativeleading.com/contact.html.
ABOUT THE
PUBLISHER OF THE CREATIVE EDGE NEWSLETTER
Michael T. Bauer is the President of Innovative Business Resources,
LLC, an organizational development consulting firm that focuses on unlocking the creative potential
in individuals and organizations tm. His
solutions are individually tailored and to the type and sizes of the business.
Michael enjoys working with family-owned and privately held organizations,
non-profit organizations, service-based firms, healthcare organizations and small business owners/entrepreneurs.
Michael is also a Principal with The Global Consulting
Partnership, a partnership with over 250 consultants throughout the United
States.
Contact Information: Michael Bauer, Innovative Business Resources, LLC,
N88 W17966 Christman Road Menomonee Falls, WI 53051, (262) 853-7716. You
can find more information at www.creativeleading.com
The Creative Edge Newsletter is published two times a month and is always
Free. Your personal information is always kept private. If you found
some success using information from the newsletter, please take a minute and
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Copyright 2005-2006 Michael T. Bauer All rights
reserved.
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