Business Turnaround Management

Business Turnaround Management Business Turnaround Management.com is dedicated to helping business of all sizes to become a strategy-focused organization.

Business Turnaround Management is a consulting firm that is dedicated to helping business, both large and small, publicly traded or family owned, become a strategy-focused organization. By using, a tool called the balanced scorecard, we imbedding the primary performance measurements needed to run today’s business in real-time.

Harness Your Anger at WorkAnger is a difficult feeling to manage — especially in a work context. But anger isn’t inheren...
05/04/2022

Harness Your Anger at Work

Anger is a difficult feeling to manage — especially in a work context. But anger isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it can serve you, if you know how to channel it. Here are some strategies to help you manage your anger when it arises at work.

• Identify the needs behind your emotion. Clarifying questions include: What triggered my anger? Which feelings are underneath my anger? What steps can I take toward a resolution?

• Acknowledge that a violation took place. If you’re hurt because of an unfair decision or mistreatment, you’re allowed to feel angry. Acknowledge what you’re feeling and name the violation.

• Avoid excessive venting. Blowing off steam is not as productive as you might think. Rehashing a problem, without moving toward a solution, has been shown to make both you and the people listening to you feel worse, not better.
If you can, compose yourself before sharing your emotions. If your heart is racing and your muscles are tense, give yourself time to calm down before sharing how another's actions made you feel.

• If you can’t communicate your anger, indirectly address your needs. Sometimes, you’ll be angry because of something you just can’t change. In those instances, look for ways to remove yourself from the situation and reach out to a friend or therapist who can help.

• Channel your anger strategically. If you tap into it, anger can actually increase your confidence. Use it as motivation to effectively advocate for yourself.

To Build New Habits, Start with the BasicsForming a new habit in the best of times can be difficult, let alone trying to...
04/13/2022

To Build New Habits, Start with the Basics

Forming a new habit in the best of times can be difficult, let alone trying to make changes when you’re already spent. But just because you’re exhausted, doesn’t mean you can’t build new, healthier habits. The key is to start small. First and foremost, make sleep a priority: go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Most of us go to bed too late to get the amount of sleep we need, so move your lights out time back as needed. Then, work on your nutrition. Aim to drink more water and identify the eating habits that make you feel more energized and less drained. If you're overloaded at work, keep a glass of water and a snack on your desk so that you don't forget to stay hydrated and nourished. Next, fold in some exercise. You don’t need to overdo it. You'll see your overall wellness improve if you do at least 25 minutes of vigorous cardio exercise three times a week. If that seems like too much to start, begin with gentle stretches in the morning and a daily walk in the afternoon, and build up from there. These are the basics, and once you’ve established these habits, it’ll be easier to take on more. Choose one to work on at a time, whether it's focusing on being on time, planning your week in advance, or some other new behavior that you’d like to master, and take it slowly and steadily.

Become a Great Remote MentorRemote work is here to stay. And with this shift comes the need for managers and leaders to ...
04/02/2022

Become a Great Remote Mentor

Remote work is here to stay. And with this shift comes the need for managers and leaders to practice virtual mentorship. Building an effective relationship with a mentee when you’re not in the same location takes extra care. Here’s how. First, focus on trust. Of course, trust is foundational to any developmental relationship and requires even greater intentionality in virtual mediums. Talk about how to make the virtual relationship a safe space for both of you, including agreeing on confidentiality in terms of what will and will not be recorded or shared, and deliver on any promises you make. Your mentee can’t drop by your office to remind you about an introduction you’d offered to make, so earn their trust by following through without being prompted. Also, clarify boundaries and the rules of engagement. In addition to deciding the frequency of communication (which may be different than if you were meeting in person), discuss your preferred mediums for communication. You might opt for a mix of synchronous options such as video-based platforms, internal mentoring systems, and phone calls, as well as asynchronous ones, such as email, messaging, and social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Finally, when possible, collaborate with your mentee. Opportunities to work together on projects won’t be as apparent in the remote environment so seek them out. This will give you a chance to coach your mentee and see their strengths and weaknesses in practice.

No One Wants to Work for a Passive-Aggressive ManagerWorking for a passive-aggressive manager can be extremely frustrati...
03/31/2022

No One Wants to Work for a Passive-Aggressive Manager

Working for a passive-aggressive manager can be extremely frustrating and demoralizing. Maybe your boss passes you off to someone else when you approach them with a problem, continuously finds gentle ways to shut down your ideas without a thoughtful explanation, or even ignores you when you speak. How can you navigate this kind of tricky relationship?

• Build a supportive network. Because a passive-aggressive manager doesn’t confront you directly, it’s easy to second-guess yourself and believe you’re inventing slights. People outside of your organization will be able to offer you a fresh, unbiased perspective, emotional support, and sage advice on how to deal with your boss.

• Don't stoop to their level. You don’t want to earn a negative reputation with your other colleagues so avoid gossiping. But it’s ok to reach out to others if you’re actively and constructively looking for solutions.

• Network internally. Should you want to switch teams or departments at some point, it’s a good idea to make connections in other parts of the company.

• Know when it's time to leave. Once you’ve exhausted all of your options, it might be time to look for greener pastures. Prioritize your well-being and career above all else.

Make Better Decisions, Even Under PressureLearning to make good decisions, without hesitation and procrastination, is a ...
03/28/2022

Make Better Decisions, Even Under Pressure

Learning to make good decisions, without hesitation and procrastination, is a skill that can set you apart from your peers. How can you stop vacillating on tricky choices, especially under pressure? Here are the steps to take when faced with making a tough call. Start by considering many different viewpoints. This doesn’t mean you should seek out everyone’s opinion. Instead, identify the right people with the relevant expertise and give them a chance to clearly articulate their views. Often, these will be colleagues who are closest to the action and implications of the decision in question. Make sure you’re focused on addressing the root cause of a problem — not just the symptoms. If your decision doesn’t get to the heart of the matter, the problem is likely to repeat itself. Also, incorporate a consideration of both the short-term and long-term risks into your decision-making process. It’s tempting to make a call based on what’s going to get you immediate results, but that rarely unlocks the most value.

Make Your Meetings WorthwhileNo one has time for a bad meeting. So be sure you’re not wasting people’s time, including y...
03/25/2022

Make Your Meetings Worthwhile

No one has time for a bad meeting. So be sure you’re not wasting people’s time, including your own, by making each meeting purposeful, inclusive (of the people who actually need to be there), and participatory. Start by inviting people to contribute to the agenda beforehand. This will increase everyone’s buy-in. Then, explain why the meeting matters before you dive into the agenda. For example, you might say, “I’d like this meeting to move us closer to a hiring decision,” or, “We have an important call to make related to next week’s product launch.” Next, divvy up roles. Whose responsibility is it to challenge ideas that are raised? Who’s the final decision-maker? Who’s the notetaker? Who’s the timekeeper? And, remember, as the leader, all eyes are on you. Set the right tone by verbally recognizing valuable ideas, keeping the scope of the meeting focused, and sustaining positivity in the face of conflicts or discussions on difficult topics. Your team will follow suit.

03/23/2022

Make Sure There’s Not an “Old Guard vs. Newcomers” Split on Your Team

If your team has experienced a lot of turnover in the past two years, you might be left leading two distinct camps of employees: the old guard and new arrivals. How can you integrate your new employees in a way that reduces this kind of fracturing? Start by focusing on and investing in onboarding early — especially if your new employees are starting remotely. A robust process should cover at least six to nine months to help people feel fully integrated and should focus on helping newcomers build relationships with colleagues who’ve been around a long time and others who are also new. Reduce resistance to new ideas. Rather than interpreting new thinking as a critique of how you’ve done things, view it as an opportunity to learn and stretch. Avoid saying things like, “We’ve tried that before, and it didn’t work” or “You don’t really understand how we do things here.” Instead, welcome new ideas and give your new hires a chance to shake things up and rack up quick wins. Show your enthusiasm and support for new ways of doing things, especially those that can help your company be more competitive. If the suggestions new leaders offer aren’t appropriate, offer suggestions for how their ideas can fit within — and push — the existing environment.

How to Interrupt Someone Without Completely Disrupting Their FlowInterruptions are a fact of work life. Sometimes it’s n...
03/03/2022

How to Interrupt Someone Without Completely Disrupting Their Flow

Interruptions are a fact of work life. Sometimes it’s necessary to disrupt someone’s flow to ask a question or to communicate key information that’s just come up. When this happens, do what you can to ensure your “sorry to bother you” moment isn’t annoying. Before interrupting, look out for signs that they might be busy or focusing. Are they listed as “away” or “available” online? Do they have the hour blocked off on their calendar? These cues can give you a sense of how intrusive an interruption might be at that moment. If you determine that the person might be available, think about how you can reduce the ask ahead of time. How can you keep the interruption succinct? Are there steps you could complete on your own before bringing them in? It’s all about how you’re perceived — even if these details don’t feel like a big deal to you, presenting the interruption in a manner that highlights your respect for the other person’s time can have a major impact on how they react.

Build Job Security as Your Own BossOne of the best ways to thrive as a freelancer is to build loyalty in your clients. R...
03/02/2022

Build Job Security as Your Own Boss

One of the best ways to thrive as a freelancer is to build loyalty in your clients. Repeat work is considered a goldmine because it can lead to both consistency and referrals. To keep your clients returning, take the following steps.

• Interact with your clients in a personable way. Don’t just focus on the results; build your relationships. Get to know your clients, their challenges, and what their goals are. The better the rapport you develop, and the more interest you show in them as a human, the more they’ll remember you — and keep using your services.

• Find out what other projects they might need help with and offer support. If you don’t hear of any follow-up opportunities during your initial stint, take initiative and tell your employer that you’re open to working on more projects in the future.

• Never over-promise and then under-deliver. Delivering great work on time is paramount to building trust. Don’t get yourself into a situation where you can’t follow through on your promises. Build in extra time where you can.

• Always get testimonials. Ask for feedback on your work. Not only can you use their compliments to attract new clients but having them articulate what’s made the relationship work will increase the chances they turn to you the next time they need a freelancer.

How to Respond When Your Team Is FrustratedSometimes, when you’re a manager, your team gets upset with you. They may be ...
03/01/2022

How to Respond When Your Team Is Frustrated

Sometimes, when you’re a manager, your team gets upset with you. They may be unhappy with a decision you’ve made or a new policy or an increase in workload. Of course, you aren’t in charge of keeping everyone happy all of the time, but you do want to respond to negative emotions so they don’t erode trust or hold your team back. Here are some strategies for managing anger and resentment when they creep up.

• Balance your emotions before reacting to your team’s. Don’t take the anger or resentment personally. See these expressions as data, not a threat, and resist the urge to get defensive or to dismiss your team’s feedback.

• Be curious. Ask for more information. Offer your team members a safe space to vent to you without shame or worry of retribution, and focus on what you can learn from their feedback.

• Enlist their help. Invite them to partner with you to explore solutions that address their concerns and benefit everyone. That way you can channel their frustration into a positive and productive outcome.

• Build deeper trust by owning your part. Even if you weren’t the direct cause of your team’s frustration, own up to any blind spots you may have and commit to continuing to learn and grow.

How to Make Networking Feel Less AwkwardIf networking feels transactional — and even unnatural — to you, you’re not alon...
02/28/2022

How to Make Networking Feel Less Awkward

If networking feels transactional — and even unnatural — to you, you’re not alone. Maybe you take a bit longer to open up to people. Maybe your mind goes blank when you’re trying to make a good impression. Or maybe you feel the need to overcompensate for your nerves with false enthusiasm. How can you reconcile the fact that you should be networking with your equally strong desire to avoid the discomfort of it all? Start by reframing how you think about it. Try thinking of it as a genuine opportunity to make a meaningful connection, rather than a phony, opportunistic interaction. Consider what you have to offer in a situation, not just what you want to take. For example, when you ask someone for career advice or support, you are actually giving them an opportunity to help you — that’s what many people want to do. Explore your authentic curiosity. Before meeting someone new, read a little about them, but do so with the goal of finding something interesting, rather than memorizing the “right” questions to ask in order to make a good impression. It’s a subtle mindset shift, but it can make a world of difference. Finally, don’t try to hide who you are. Be honest — even if that means openly expressing discomfort with the whole networking thing.

Be a Better Leader by Recognizing Your BiasesWhen you’re aware of the biases you hold as a leader, you’ll be better posi...
02/25/2022

Be a Better Leader by Recognizing Your Biases

When you’re aware of the biases you hold as a leader, you’ll be better positioned to correct (or avoid perpetuating) discriminatory behavior on your team. Start by slowing down and questioning your assumptions. Here are a few questions you can reflect on: How would my team describe my leadership style if they were sharing their experience of working with me to others? Do my words and actions actually reflect my intentions? What core beliefs do I hold? How might these beliefs limit or enable me and my colleagues at work? Look for patterns of thinking in your answers. It’s also important to seek out feedback from your colleagues to understand how they perceive you and what you can do better. People whose perspectives and opinions differ from yours are more likely to provide you with insightful feedback. You could say, “I value your opinion and am curious about the impact of my leadership style. Would you be willing to have a conversation about this? Is there something I can improve upon that will have a positive impact on the team?” Taking these steps will help you be a leader who’s self-aware, learning, and constantly challenging their biases.

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