Forward Looking Business Training

 There are times where we find ourselves less than enthusiastic about out lives and what we are doing with them. This can include our family or employment situation as well as our health and fitness. The Pandemic makes things even more difficult, and the handling of it by the authorities can sometimes amplify the situation.  In the end it is up to us what we do in these circumstances: do we remain in our pajamas and waste the day surfing the internet, or do we get dressed and get back to work? Do we crack open the liquor cabinet at noon, or do we lace up and take a 5 kilometer walk? For those who are able to work from home, and let's be realistic, this is not possible in most professions, nothing compares to getting up in the morning, going to the office, having that first cup of coffee with co-workers, and having those interactions. You can find creative ways to still do these things through electronic platforms. For those who are told to work from home yet the daycares are c...

Forward Looking does not mean forgetting about the past; rather, we use it to remind us of what didn’t work, and provide insight of what we might do differently the next time. Looking in the rearview mirror also tells us what is about to pass us, which in its own way, is looking forward. Use what you have learned to your advantage, the good and the bad, and keep one eye on what is coming up behind you.  

‘ It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.’ (Harry S. Truman) There is a concept called ‘Synergy’ which is defined as ‘a sum that is greater than the whole of its parts.’ If eight people each tried to pick up a boulder, individually they will fail... if they do it together, they will succeed. We can apply this concept to almost every aspect of our life and business. ‘None of us is as smart as all of us.’ (Kenneth H. Blanchard) Multi disciplinary teams are the key to an organization ́s success and working together is paramount. Engineers design it, Fabricators build it, Marketers sell it, Mechanics maintain it, and Administrators keep us on track. Each of these people are links to a chain, and collectively they accomplish your goals. The key to all of this is to bring everyone and their skills together and have them work in unison to accomplish their common goal. How do we facilitate Teamwork? The first step is to ensure there is a clear and concise co...

  Right Fit describes the attributes of a person that would make them most suitable to succeed in a role within an organization. There are many factors to be considered in determining the Right Fit, the foundation for which is in our Merit Criteria to be covered in the next section; at the summary level, it includes factors such as: education, experience, knowledge, abilities, personal suitability and should include reliability such as those assessed through criminal, credit, and social media history.   Right Fit also includes having values and goals that are congruent with the organization. For example, a person who does not believe in the reintegration agenda of today’s correctional services, is most likely not going to fit in with that organization.   Right Fit must work both ways; not only must the candidate be the Right Fit for the organization, but the organization must be the Right Fit for the individual. If for example the candidate is searching for an environ...

  The hiring process is often considered a one-sided equation; however, selecting the ‘Right Fit’ should work both ways as the team must have the right members, and the member must have the right team. For those who question the two-sidedness of this, you can be assured the most talented will only stay when the work environment is congruent with their own values, needs and desires.   Selecting the right team member consists of two primary phases: the first being choosing the right candidate, and second, taking the appropriate steps to ensure they are successful.   Selecting the team member includes: -Determining what the ‘Right Fit’ is for your organization - Advertising clearly articulating the Job Description and what you consider as the ‘Right Fit.’ -Assessing potential applicants to ensure they meet the requirements. -Selecting the right candidate.   Ensuring Success includes:   -Providing the chosen team member an appropriate orientation to th...

 The first three of our series of Forward Looking Guides are available on Amazon Kindle. In our time of ill health, social unrest, and economic uncertainty, this is the time for Leadership and Contingency Planning. Copy this link to access our books and guides, or search for author Daniel W Elliot on Amazon Kindle. Forward Looking Guides (3 books) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)

  I live in a small village in Mexico, and as I was taking my daily walk into the town centro, I came across a little girl and her mother. The child, who was about 3 years old was riding what appeared to be a brand new trike, and was stuck. You see, our streets and sidewalks are very rough with broken sections of concrete and cobble stones, and she did not have the strength to get over a bump.   I tried to come to the rescue by pushing the bike from the back wheels, but it would only start to fall over, as the front wheel was stuck on broken concrete. The pushing just turned the front wheel hard to the left making it a brake, the result of this, and the triangular design now making it want to tip over.  Then I was reminded of Dwight D. Eisenhower when he said ‘Pull a string and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.’ From there, I turned the front wheel in the right direction and pulled! The bike with the little girl made it over the hur...