30
Apr 13

Ten deadly marketing sins

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: Uncategorized No Comments

The majority of entrepreneurs have no formal marketing plans. They depend on delivering professional work and then on repeat business and on referrals by satisfied clients. ABPLAN has assisted many in developing the necessary plans.

Philip Kotler, marketing’s doyen, wrote the book Ten Deadly Marketing Signs – Signs and Solutions in 2004. In this brief post I can only list these sins and indicate some of the signs, also identified by Kotler, that point to the existence of such sins. Where do you find yourself? read more »

1
Apr 13

Learning how to learn

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: culture, learning, Uncategorized No Comments

Do you have high school or university students in your family?   Last week I had a discussion with a second-year B.Com (Investment) student, the daughter of a friend.  We discussed how to learn.

In the 21st century, we all need to learn continuously.  Many of my clients will recognise the principles of learning. I personally use them in trying to master important new material.  In the text that follows I only provide a brief outline. read more »

28
Feb 13

Five criteria for running your company along global lines

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: leadership, management, organisation No Comments

Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, laid out his five-point plan for an interconnected system for an interconnected world. (A New System for a New Century: Fortune, 4 February 2013.)

It struck me that many MDs of medium-sized companies would be very familiar with Schwab’s five criteria.

read more »

3
Feb 13

The Eight Rules of Leadership

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: culture, leadership, learning, management No Comments

One client was not over the moon about my rather in-depth overview of Henry Mintzberg’s Management (and HM includes leadership under management). Another said my newsletters are too long.

Fortunately I discovered my notes made in 2005 on Jack Welsh’s Eight Rules of Leadership.
Welsh, formerly CEO of General Electric, was named the top manager of the 20th century. read more »

2
Dec 12

A hierarchy of human capabilities

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: communication, culture, leadership, management No Comments

“Success depends on a company’s ability to unleash the initiative, imagination, and passion of employees, and this can only happen if all those folks are connected heart and soul to their work, their company and its mission.” read more »

29
Oct 12

Keep it simple

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: execution, leadership, management, planning No Comments

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed? You just have too much to do and cannot really cope at that moment?

I recently reread a book and three articles on totally different subjects when it struck me how related they were.

All had a single message: Keep it simple. read more »

20
Sep 12

Extraordinary Customer Service – 7 Steps

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: communication, execution, marketing No Comments

A client brought an article about extraordinary service to my attention. The example in the article comes from the hospitality industry. However, the seven recommended steps are applicable to any company.

Any company with clients should provide extraordinary service. What is your experience? Would you agree that most provide a dead-average service not worth a positive mention? read more »

31
Aug 12

Taking care of yourself

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: execution, leadership, management No Comments

Running a business can be taxing. Setting new strategies to cope with new external trends and forces means change. The economic situation adds new demands.

A very interesting article Leadership in a (Permanent) Crisis by Ronald Heifetz Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky appeared in the Harvard Business Review of July/August 2009. It’s as relevant now as when it appeared. I thought the final few paragraphs were especially applicable to a number of my clients.

Country economies are still adapting to new global economic conditions. Uncertainty will remain the norm. The authors cautioned that the “work of leadership demands that you manage not only the critical adaptive responses within and surrounding your business but also you own thinking and emotions. This will test your limits. Taking care of yourself both physically and emotionally will be crucial to your success.” read more »

30
Jul 12

A tribute to Stephen R. Covey – The Seven Habits

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: communication, culture, leadership, learning, management No Comments

Some of my clients have read Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I bought a copy in 1993 but only read it in 1999 – and regretted not having done so sooner.

It is with sadness that I learned of his passing this month – which led me to rereading The Seven Habits. Through the years I have read a number of Covey’s books and also valued The 8th Habit.

While The Seven Habits in style is not a classic business book, it covers the domain of leading/managing in an intriguing and thoughtful way. It prompted me to write this post. read more »

25
Jun 12

Ensuring success when executing strategy: A checklist

posted by: Albert van Niekerk category: communication, culture, execution, leadership, learning, planning No Comments

Any MD or leader senses that a change in strategy means a change in execution and in behaviour.  I have clients who are by now well-versed in leading change and who really relish the execution process especially as they are experiencing success on various levels.

Others who have sailed through usually invigorating strategic planning sessions are still struggling in getting an execution process in place. To them the new processes and new systems which need to be mastered are daunting. They fail to committ themselves step by step.

Every MD knows that execution and changing the behaviour of those you lead are the difficult parts. Google glibly shows that about 15 million articles have been written about the “execution of strategy” and 6.6 million on “leading change”. Save yourself some reading by reading only one checklist on leading change, developed by John P. Kotter, formerly from Harvard University, the preeminent change guru.*1  I abbreviated the content of his eight points to make it even easier.

read more »

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